cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drainage‐basin evolution and aquifer development in a karstic limestone terrain South‐Central Texas, U.S.A.

The Edwards artesian aquifer occurs in cavernous limestones of Cretaceous (Albian) age within the Balcones fault zone in south-central Texas. The major recharge and discharge zones of the aquifer are contained within the upper reaches of three river systems: the Nueces, the San Antonio, and the Guadalupe. Within these watersheds, recharge dominates in the semiarid Nueces basin to the west while most discharge occurs farther east from wells in the subhumid San Antonio basin and from springs in the subhumid Guadalupe basin. This long-distance transfer of ground water (up to 240 km) is a result of several factors: depositional and early diagenetic history of the limestone host rock, geometry and magnitudes of fault displacement, and physiographic responses to faulting. The loci of greatest discharge from the aquifer occur in an area that was exposed subaerially with concomitant porosity enhancement due to dissolution of limestone during late Early Cretaceous time. This area also was subjected to the greatest fault displacement during Miocene time. Thus, faults and associated joints superimposed additional avenues for porosity and permeability development onto an area that already had considerable secondary porosity. Further determinants on aquifer properties resulted from late Tertiary and Quaternary drainage evolution in response to faulting along the Balcones trend. The strike of the fault zone lay at acute angles to the courses of the main trunk streams in the ancestral Guadalupe and San Antonio River systems, whereas in the Nueces basin the trend of the fault zone was normal to the courses of the main streams. Thus, as a fault-line scarp began to form in the eatern basins, scarp-normal streams were incised rapidly into northwest-trending canyons. These steep-gradient streams captured the eastward-flowing major streams in the easten watersheds. These pirate streams incised into the aquifer at the lowest topographic levels within the region because of: 1. The sudden acquisition of extensive catchment areas in a subhumid area; and 2. Steep stream gradients that reflected the larger fault displacement in the east. The low topographic points of discharge became the loci of major springs. Recharge is dominant in the Nueces basin mainly because streams cross permeable limestone units at higher topographic levels than in the San Antonio and Guadalupe basins. The topographic characteristics of the Nueces watershed resulted from a combination of diverse factors: lesser fault displacement, no major stream piracy, and less vigorous erosion because of a semiarid climate.
Familial paraganglioma and gastric stromal sarcoma: A new syndrome distinct from the Carney triad

Paragangliomas may be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner either alone (as in PGL1, PGL2, and PGL3 syndromes) or as a component of a multiple tumor syndrome (as in von Hippel-Lindau disease and neurofibromatosis type 1). In this article, we describe 12 patients (7 male and 5 female) with an average age of 23 years from five unrelated families that manifested paraganglioma and gastric stromal sarcoma; the tumors were inherited in an apparent autosomal dominant manner, with incomplete penetrance. Seven patients had paraganglioma, four had paraganglioma and gastric stromal sarcoma, and one had gastric stromal sarcoma. The paraganglioma was multicentric and the gastric stromal sarcoma multifocal. Because of the rarity of gastric stromal sarcoma and its multifocality, the young age of the patients, and the unlikelihood of coincidental co-occurrence of paragangliomas and gastric stromal sarcomas, we suggest that a new syndrome exists with these two main components, a condition that is familial and distinct from the Carney triad.
Applications of polymeric materials for condensing heat exchangers

Manufacturers have begun to investigate the use of plastic materials for use in condensing heat exchangers attached to high-efficiency gas-fired furnaces. However, a number of technical problems have slowed the use of polymers in this application. While a low thermal conductivity relative to metals is one limitation, a more significant problem relates to the unknown performance of polymers in the harsh chemical environment of a condensing heat exchanger. Recent years have seen some major developments in the use of coatings and plastics for hightemperature service in heat exchangers. In these studies, commercially available acid-resistant and heat-resistant polymers were tested, primarily as protective coatings on metal heat exchanger elements, in both experimental- and prototypecondensing heat exchangers. These studies indicated that the effectiveness of polymers as coatings was sensitive to the presence of pinholes, and thus, the coating thicknesses had to exceed 0.25 mm to insure adequate protection. The use of a covering, rather than a coating, was found to be one method of insuring pinhole-free coatings. In this study several all-plastic heat exchanger elements were found to perform satisfactorily as heat exchanger elements in a gas-fired condensing heat exchanger. This investigation identified several promising polymeric materials that survived 10,000 cycles in a highly acidic condensing heat exchanger. The polymers that successfully survived this evaluation included fluorinated ethylene propylene, poly(phenylene sulfide), polysulfone, poly(ether imide), and poly(tetrafiuoroethylene).
Chronology of the Invasion of the Tennessee and Cumberland River Systems by the Mississippi Silverside, Menidia audens, with Analysis of the Subsequent Decline of the Brook Silverside, Labidesthes sicculus

The Mississippi Silverside, Menidia audens, was first encountered in Kentucky Reservoir, the most downstream reservoir on the mainstem Tennessee River, in 1991. Over the next 19 years, it invaded all nine mainstem reservoirs, consisting of 1049 river km, and two tributary reservoirs, at an average rate of 55 km per year. This species was first encountered in Barkley Reservoir, the lowermost reservoir of the Cumberland River, in 1990, and has since established populations throughout at least 402 river km of the mainstem Cumberland River. Following the first record of M. audens in an unimpounded section of a Tennessee River tributary during 1998, 1048 sites were sampled throughout the Tennessee River system and this species was documented in only eight additional unimpounded tributaries, indicating aversion to lotic systems. Following the invasion of Tennessee River reservoirs by M. audens, mean abundance of the Brook Silverside, Labidesthes sicculus, linearly decreased with time. Electrofishing catch per u...
Economic Lot Sizes with Seasonal Demand

The simplest economic lot size formula containing only carrying costs and ordering costs is here extended to include the case of seasonal demand. Shortages and uncertainty are not allowed. The key step is the fitting of an analytical function to the seasonal demand pattern by means of harmonic analysis. This requires the demand to be specified as that consumed during N discrete and equal time periods. This function can then be manipulated to obtain the average inventories and optimum ordering times for the N possible ordering patterns using a graphical method of solution. The lowest-cost ordering pattern can then be determined by comparing the costs of the N ordering patterns. Limitations to the method are noted.
Technique for Measuring Grain Boundary Mobility and Its Application to Potassium Chloride

A simple technique for investigating boundary mobility is outlined and applied to the study of boundary migration in melt-grown bicrystals of KCl containing pure twist boundaries. An unexpectedly high activation energy, 4 to 6 ev, is found for movement of the twist boundaries.
Comparison of three approximations to the linear-linear nodal transport method in weighted diamond-difference form

Two previously derived approximations to the linear-linear nodal transport method, the linear-nodal (LN) and the linear-linear (LL) methods, are reexamined, together with a new approximation, the bilinear (BL) method, that takes into account the bilinear nodal flux moment. The three methods differ in the degree of analyticity retained in the final discrete variable equations; however, they all possess the very high accuracy characteristic of nodal methods. Unlike previous work, the final equations are manipulated and cast in the form of the classical weighted diamond-difference (WDD) equations (not just a WDD algorithm). This makes them simple to implement in a computer code, especially for those users who have experience with WDD algorithms. Other algorithms, such as the nodal algorithm, also can be used to solve the WDD-form equations. A computer program that solves two-dimensional transport problems using the LN, LL, or the BL method is used to solve three test problems. The results are used to confirm our algebraic manipulations of the nodal equations and also to compare the performance of the three methods from the computational, as well as the theoretical, point of view. The three methods are found to have comparable accuracies for the problems studies, especially on meshesmore » that are sufficiently fine.« less
Corporate Governance: Does One Size Fit All?

A variety of corporate governance practices have been adopted by various world regulators in the past 20 years. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that mandating corporate governance practices and corporations' voluntarily use of Anglo-Saxon practices both seem to lead to suboptimal firm performance, whether those practices are principle based, as in the British system, or rules based, as in the American system. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identifying the Roles of Microgravity and Reduced Pressure on the Ease of Ignition of Solid Combustibles

The absence of gravity is known to have a significant effect on both the heat and mass transport processes controlling the ignition of solid combustible materials. In situations such as those encountered in human space exploration vehicles, the lack of natural convective flows and the presence of low velocity forced HVAC flows increases the risk of material ignition on board essentially because materials exposed to an external radiant flux will heat up more rapidly. In addition to microgravity, human space exploration vehicles are designed to operate with a reduced total internal cabin pressure (although with constant oxygen partial pressure to enable human breathing). This reduction in cabin pressure may further decrease the convective heat losses from solid surfaces, leading to faster heating of combustible materials and therefore raising the fire hazard on board. Furthermore, the environmental variables such as the reduced gravity or total pressure may also affect mixing processes and chemical kinetics. These effects are not well understood and there is a need for further studies on the process of ignition of solid combustible materials in spacecraft environments. In this work, the combined effect of microgravity and reduced ambient pressure on the transport processes prior to the piloted ignition of an externally irradiated solid fuel is analyzed through a numerical model developed using the CFD code Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). An emphasis is made on distinctly identifying the influence on the ignition delay time and the mass flux at ignition of different gravitational levels, reduced pressure or a combination of these two conditions with air as an oxidizer. The numerical results are compared to experiments at 1g for a range of sub-atmospheric pressures and extrapolated for 0g and different geometries. The results of this work can guide in the selection of materials in future space exploration vehicles and indicate the most conservative testing ambient conditions.
Análisis de los discursos de la planificación escrita de un grupo de profesores de educación infantil

Resumen: Los discursos de la planificacion pedagogica forman parte del discurso esco-lar y de aquellos que incitan a la accion. Su funcion instrumental es coordinar, de ma-nera anticipada, las intenciones educativas, el tiempo, los espacios de comunicacion y las acciones -del profesor y alumnos- que han de ocurrir en el aula escolar, con el obje-to de alcanzar la meta comun. En este contexto, el estudio tiene como proposito cono-cer las caracteristicas de los discursos escritos de los profesores de educacion infantil. El enfoque metodologico adoptado es el de la Teoria Fundada (TF), esencialmente, el ‘diseno sistematico’, propuesto por Strauss y Corbin (2002), cuya propuesta permite incorporar el metodo deductivo y distintas tecnicas de analisis. En el marco del corpus de referencia, conformado por 60.570 palabras, se identifica el sub-corpus compuesto por los discursos escritos –oficiales e in extenso - de la planificacion docente, cuya uni-dad de analisis va surgiendo de los datos. Algunos de los hallazgos del estudio dejan en evidencia que, si bien es cierto existe un formato estandarizado en los discursos de la planificacion escrita, se observa heterogeneidad en sus componentes. Asimismo, la au-sencia o escasa presencia de objetivos educacionales dejan visible, en todos los casos del corpus de trabajo, la falta de intencionalidad pedagogica y un marcado enfasis en la programacion de actividades para los alumnos. Palabras Clave: Discurso de la planificacion, destinatarios, contrato didactico, esque-ma actancial, discurso pedagogico.
Mitigation, adaptation, and climate change: results from recent research on US timber markets.

Abstract This paper reviews recent studies that have addressed how US timber markets may adapt to climate change, and how US forests could be used to mitigate potential climate change. The studies are discussed in light of the ecological and economic assumptions used to estimate adaptation. Estimates of both economic impacts and carbon sequestration costs depend heavily on the assumptions and methods used, although some general conclusions can be drawn. Studies of economic impacts suggest that average market effects in the United States may range from +$1.3 to +7.4 billion per year by the middle of the next century. Estimates of the cost of sequestering carbon have generally increased over the last 10 years, with a current range of
Improved time-frequency filtering using an STFT analysis-modification-synthesis method

Time-frequency representations provide a convenient method for analyzing signals whose frequency content changes with time, and specifically those signals with components that overlap in time and/or frequency. In this paper we suggest a technique for optimally concentrating components of a signal in the time-frequency plane via a particular choice of analysis window for the short-time Fourier transform (STFT), as well as an efficient method of optimal least-squares synthesis of a component of interest from the STFT. Using the described synthesis method in conjunction with an optimally localized STFT yields a very accurate estimate of a component that may not otherwise be separable from other components or noise in the signal. >
Science and Pseudoscience in Developmental Disabilities: Guidelines for Social Workers

Individuals with a developmental disability can now be provided a variety of empirically supported treatments that have been shown to be useful in promoting educational attainments, social and vocational skills, and self-care, and in reducing behavioral problems. Unfortunately, a large number of pseudoscientific or bogus therapies continue to be offered to this population and their families. We review the characteristics of pseudoscientific and bogus treatments and provide several examples of unsupported or harmful interventions offered by contemporary social workers and other human service professionals, to the detriment of people with disabilities. We encourage social workers to identify pseudoscientific interventions and avoid providing these, in favor of using empirically supported treatments.
Leveling the playing field: Attention mitigates the effects of intelligence on memory

Abstract Effective attention and memory skills are fundamental to typical development and essential for achievement during the formal education years. It is critical to identify the specific mechanisms linking efficiency of attentional selection of an item and the quality of its memory retention. The present study capitalized on the spatial cueing paradigm to examine the role of selection via suppression in modulating children and adolescents’ memory encoding. By varying a single parameter, the spatial cueing task can elicit either a simple orienting mechanism (i.e., facilitation) or one that involves both target selection and simultaneous suppression of competing information (i.e., IOR). We modified this paradigm to include images of common items in target locations. Participants were not instructed to learn the items and were not told they would be completing a memory test later. Following the cueing task, we imposed a 7-min delay and then asked participants to complete a recognition memory test. Results indicated that selection via suppression promoted recognition memory among 7–17 year-olds. Moreover, individual differences in the extent of suppression during encoding predicted recognition memory accuracy. When basic cueing facilitated orienting to target items during encoding, IQ was the best predictor of recognition memory performance for the attended items. In contrast, engaging suppression (i.e., IOR) during encoding counteracted individual differences in intelligence, effectively improving recognition memory performance among children with lower IQs. This work demonstrates that engaging selection via suppression during learning and encoding improves memory retention and has broad implications for developing effective educational techniques.
Determinants of Pain Severity Changes in Ambulatory Patients With Cancer: An Analysis From Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Trial E2Z02

Purpose To understand changes in pain severity over time and to explore the factors associated with pain changes in ambulatory patients with solid tumors. Patients and Methods We enrolled 3,106 patients with invasive cancer of the breast, prostate, colon/rectum, or lung from multiple sites. At baseline and 4 to 5 weeks later, patients rated their pain level on a 0 to 10 numerical rating scale. A 2-point change in pain score was defined as a clinically significant change in pain. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to examine the effects of pain management and demographic and clinical factors on change in pain severity. Results We analyzed 2,761 patients for changes in pain severity. At initial assessment, 53.0% had no pain, 23.5% had mild pain, 10.3% had moderate pain, and 13.2% had severe pain. Overall, one third of patients with initial pain had pain reduction within 1 month of follow-up, and one fifth had an increase, and the improvement and worsening of pain varied by baseline pain score. Of the...
Identifying At-Risk Dementia Caregivers Following Institutionalization: The Nursing Home Admission-Burden and Nursing Home Admission-Depression Prognostic Tools

The current study developed prognostic tools to identify dementia caregivers at-risk for clinically relevant burden or depressive symptoms following nursing home admission (NHA) of their family members. A retrospective, longitudinal design was used that included 1,610 dementia caregivers who provided data prior to and up to 6 months following nursing home admission. Response operant characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to test and validate two prognostic tools: the NHA-Burden and NHA-Depression tools. An ROC curve yielded a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 62.5% at a cutoff score of 5.41 for the NHA-Burden Prognostic tool. A second ROC curve indicated a sensitivity of 75.4% and a specificity of 62.5% at a cutoff score of 7.45 for the NHA-Depression tool. Clinicians may wish to utilize cutpoints on the NHA-Burden and NHA-Depression tools to ensure that more persons who are at-risk for clinically significant burden or depression during NHA are identified.
Evidence for the preparation of a nonstationary state from the optical double resonance spectrum of NO2

Abstract In addition to the narrow resonances from the hyperfine structure of the NO 2 excited state, a broad resonance appears in the optical radio frequency double resonance spectrum. It has a pressure-independent linewidth, corresponding to a lifetime of 0.4 ± 0.1 μs, which is attributed to the preparation to the preparation of a nonstationary state by the excitation source.
Homology modeling of the insect chitinase catalytic domain- oligosaccharide complex and the role of a putative active site tryptophan in catalysis

Knowledge-based protein modeling and substrate docking experiments as well as structural and sequence comparisons were performed to identify potential active-site residues in chitinase, a molting enzyme from the tobacco hornworm, Munduca sexta .W e report here the identification of an active-site amino acid residue, W145. Several mutated forms of the gene encoding this protein were generated by site-directed mutagenesis, expressed in a baculovirus-insect cell‐line system, and the corresponding mutant proteins were purified and characterized for their catalytic and substrate-binding properties. W145, which is present in the presumptive catalytic site, was selected for mutation to phenylalanine (F) and glycine (G), and the resulting mutant enzymes were characterized to evaluate the mechanistic role of this residue. The wild-type and W145F mutant proteins exhibited similar hydrolytic activities towards a tri-GlcNAc oligosaccharide substrate, but the former was approximately twofold more active towards a polymeric chitin-modified substrate. The W145G mutant protein was inactive towards both substrates, although it still retained its ability to bind chitin. Therefore, W145 is required for optimal catalytic activity but is not essential for binding to chitin. Measurement of kinetic constants of the wild-type and mutant proteins suggests that W145 increases the affinity of the enzyme for the polymeric substrate and also extends the alkaline pH range in which the enzyme is active. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Revised Prognostic Staging System for Light Chain Amyloidosis Incorporating Cardiac Biomarkers and Serum Free Light Chain Measurements

Purpose Cardiac involvement predicts poor prognosis in light chain (AL) amyloidosis, and the current prognostic classification is based on cardiac biomarkers troponin-T (cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP). However, long-term outcome is dependent on the underlying plasma cell clone, and incorporation of clonal characteristics may allow for better risk stratification. Patients and methods We developed a prognostic model based on 810 patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis, which was further examined in two other datasets: 303 patients undergoing stem-cell transplantation, and 103 patients enrolled onto different clinical trials. Results We examined the prognostic value of plasma cell-related characteristics (ie, difference between involved and uninvolved light chain [FLC-diff], marrow plasma cell percentage, circulating plasma cells, plasma cell labeling index, and β(2) microglobulin). In a multivariate model that included these characteristics as well as cTnT and NT-ProBNP, only FLC-diff, cTnT, and NT-ProBNP were independently prognostic for overall survival (OS). Patients were assigned a score of 1 for each of FLC-diff ≥ 18 mg/dL, cTnT ≥ 0.025 ng/mL, and NT-ProBNP ≥ 1,800 pg/mL, creating stages I to IV with scores of 0 to 3 points, respectively. The proportions of patients with stages I, II, III and IV disease were 189 (25%), 206 (27%), 186 (25%) and 177 (23%), and their median OS from diagnosis was 94.1, 40.3, 14, and 5.8 months, respectively (P Conclusion Incorporation of serum FLC-diff into the current staging system improves risk stratification for patients with AL amyloidosis and will help develop risk-adapted therapies for AL amyloidosis.
Rat liver GTP-binding proteins mediate changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and organelle fusion

The variety of mitochondrial morphology in healthy and diseased cells can be explained by regulated mitochondrial fusion. Previously, a mitochondrial outer membrane fraction containing fusogenic, a...
Hepatocellular carcinoma: IVIM diffusion quantification for prediction of tumor necrosis compared to enhancement ratios.

Abstract Purpose To correlate intra voxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion parameters of liver parenchyma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with degree of liver/tumor enhancement and necrosis; and to assess the diagnostic performance of diffusion parameters vs. enhancement ratios (ER) for prediction of complete tumor necrosis. Patients and methods In this IRB approved HIPAA compliant study, we included 46 patients with HCC who underwent IVIM diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in addition to routine sequences at 3.0T. True diffusion coefficient ( D ), pseudo-diffusion coefficient ( D *), perfusion fraction (PF) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were quantified in tumors and liver parenchyma. Tumor ER were calculated using contrast-enhanced imaging, and degree of tumor necrosis was assessed using post-contrast image subtraction. IVIM parameters and ER were compared between HCC and background liver and between necrotic and viable tumor components. ROC analysis for prediction of complete tumor necrosis was performed. Results 79 HCCs were assessed (mean size 2.5cm). D , PF and ADC were significantly higher in HCC vs. liver ( p D /PF and ER, and significant correlations between D /PF/ADC and tumor necrosis (for D , r 0.452, p D had the highest area under the curve (AUC 0.811) for predicting complete tumor necrosis. ER outperformed diffusion parameters for prediction of complete tumor necrosis (AUC>0.95, p Conclusion D has a reasonable diagnostic performance for predicting complete tumor necrosis, however lower than that of contrast-enhanced imaging.
Combined optical and TEM investigations for a detailed characterization of soot aggregate properties in a laminar coflow diffusion flame

Abstract In order to develop soot models that include effects due to particle aggregation, data must be obtained from flames containing all of the relevant chemical and physical processes that affect the evolution of a soot particle. In this study, the effective radius of gyration of aggregated soot is experimentally determined in nitrogen-diluted ethylene coflow diffusion flames using 2-D multi-angle light scattering (2D-MALS). High spatial resolution is achieved by minimizing signal blur that results from imaging light scattering from the probe volume at oblique angles. The results are validated at six locations in the flame through comparison to an effective radius of gyration derived from transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis of thermophoretically-sampled soot. Simulations are used to model the path taken by a soot particle to reach the TEM grid to ensure the sampling measurements have the spatial resolution necessary to differentiate between aggregate properties at different radial locations in the flame. A radial distance δ is determined from which the front face of the probe is offset from the desired sample location. The ability of the probe to separately capture wing and centerline soot morphology is confirmed by comparison to a previous time-resolved laser-induced incandescence (TiRe-LII) measurement of primary particle diameter. The observed increase in polydispersity and maximum diameter of primary particles along the flame wing compared to the centerline is thought to be a result of surface growth. Excellent agreement is found between the effective radius of gyration derived from 2D-MALS and TEM analysis. The TEM results not only confirm the optical measurement but also elucidate the effective radius of gyration, which depends on aggregate size and polydispersity.
Surface Dose Measurements of kV XVI Cone-Beam CT System Using NanoDot Optical Stimulated Luminescence Dosimeters

Surface doses received during seven different imaging protocols (using the kV XVI imager) were measured on a Rando phantom surface using nanoDot optical stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLD) for three different body regions (head and neck, chest and pelvis). For each protocol, the surface dose was measured at four different locations on the surface of the phantom (ANT., POST., LLAT. and RLAT.). The surface dose at any location in the irradiated area can range between 0.008 cGy (fast head and neck protocol) and 4.38 cGy (symmetry 4D). The average surface dose in the irradiated area ranged between 0.038 cGy and 2.34 cGy. The measured doses were compared with nominal scan dose, provided by the vendor and calculated doses.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Analysis of Cell Components

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy signatures of living intact HeLa cervical cancerous cells and a mixture of HeLa cellular organelles are compared. Preliminary data demonstrate that distinct differences between intact cells and mixtures of organelles can be detected.
Direct observation of hydrides formation in cavity-grade niobium

Niobium is an important technological superconductor used to make radio frequency cavities for particle accelerators. Using laser confocal microscopy we have directly investigated hydride precipitates formation in cavity-grade niobium at 77 and 140 K. We have found that large hydrides were usually formed after chemical or mechanical treatments, which are known to lead to a strong degradation of the quality factor known as $Q$ disease. From our experiments we can conclude that hydrides causing $Q$ disease are islands with a characteristic thickness of $\ensuremath{\gtrsim}100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nm}$ and in-plane dimensions $1--10\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. Our results show that mechanical polishing uploads a lot of hydrogen into bulk niobium while electropolishing leads to a mild contamination. Vacuum treatments at $600--800\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$ are demonstrated to preclude large hydride formation in line with the absence of $Q$ disease in similarly treated cavities.
Modeling the Energy Release Characteristics of THPP Based Initiators

Bridge-wire initiators using titanium hydride potassium perchlorate (THPP) as pyrotechnic are commonly found in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. In certain automotive airbag applications, the fraction of initiator energy transferred to the surrounding gaseous environment is of primary importance. In this research, analytical methods describing the total energy provided by the pyrotechnic initiator and the fraction of initiator energy transferred to the gaseous surroundings are presented. Total energy content is calculated for THPP with two different subhydride values. A value of 7.0 kJ/g for the specific THPP formulation used in this work is determined. The total energy content is used in an additional model developed to predict the transient pressures obtained by the discharge of THPP initiators into spherical 100 cm 3 , 40 cm 3 and 10 cm 3 test fixtures filled with argon gas ranging in initial pressure from 3.45 to 34.5 MPa. The transient pressure model uses known THPP burn rate parameters to describe the rate of energy release in conjunction with an extinction parameter approach to account for heat lost to the test vessel walls. The extinction parameter is found empirically through a non-linear regression approach using experimental data obtained in the 100 cm 3 test vessel. The value for the extinction parameter found using the 100 cm 3 data is then used for model predictions in the 40 cm 3 and 10 cm 3 volumes. Theoretical predictions for pressure rise rate are compared to experimental data over the entire range of initial pressures. Model predictions agree with experimental data for all vessel sizes tested. Therefore, the extinction parameter approach developed in this work offers potential as a method for predicting pyrotechnic initiator output in test vessels having similar geometry but disparate volumes.
Benefits and costs to plain-fronted thornbirds (Phacellodomus rufifrons) of interactions with avian nest associates

AnSTRACT.--From 1990 through 1993, I examined the interactions among a group of bird species in central Venezuela that use the multichambered stick nests of the Plain-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons). Eleven species besides thornbirds, referred to as associates, used thornbird nests as nest sites and, in some cases, roost sites. During the 18-month study, 130 incidents of associates nesting in thornbird nests were recorded. More than 90% of thornbird territories observed for at least two breeding seasons (n = 33) had at least one associate nesting attempt. Four species accounted for over 86% of the attempts by associates: Cattle Tyrants (Machetornis rixosus), Stripe-backed Wrens (Campylorhynchus nuchalis), Saffron Finches (Sicalis fiaveola), and Troupials (Icterus icterus). Sometimes thornbird and associate nesting attempts overlapped, taking place within the same nest in different chambers, or in different thornbird nests within a territory. Nine of 27 (33%) thornbird nesting attempts at the beginning of the 1991 breeding season overlapped associate attempts, and 5 of 26 (19%) overlapped in 1992. Nesting with associates involved benefits and costs for the thornbirds. In 1991, thornbird nesting attempts that overlapped Troupial nesting attempts were no more likely to succeed (33% successful, n = 6) than attempts with no associate overlap (28% successful, n = 18). Thornbird attempts that overlapped those of other species, however, were significantly more likely to succeed than attempts with no overlap (100% successful, n = 3). In 1992, patterns were similar (0% successful with Troupials, n = 2; 10% successful with no associates, n = 21; 33% successful with other associates, n = 3), although high thornbird nest mortality and small sample sizes precluded statistical analysis. Thornbird nesting attempts that overlapped two associate nesting attempts (n = 7, 1991 and 1992 combined) had a high success rate (71%). Rainfall in the month before fledging was positively associated with the number of fledglings produced in 1991, but not in 1992. Nest-guarding behavior by associates and enhanced mobbing of predators (demonstrated in predator-presentation experiments) were likely mechanisms of enhanced reproductive success when thornbirds nested with associates. Thornbirds often were treated with aggression by associates, and circumstantial evidence indicated that Troupials sometimes preyed on thornbird eggs and nestlings. Valuable nest sites may lead coexisting species to converge, rather than diverge, in their use of this resource. Received 20 February 1995, accepted 26 July 1995.
Control of basidiospore germination in Schizophyllum commune

The lag phase encountered during the germination of basidiospores of Schizophyllum commune was extended by 5-8 h upon the addition of cell-free extracts prepared from dikaryotic fruitbodies; after this delay, germination progressed normally. Bovine serum albumin did not have any inhibitory effects on germination. This delay of germination was dependent on the amount of protein in fruitbody extracts, with maximum effects being observed at 400 ,tg protein/mi. Treatment of spores with fruitbody extracts for as short as 5 min was sufficient to cause maximal delay of spore germination. Addition of fruitbody extract to spores after eight hours of inoculation in broth had no effect on germination. This inhibitory activity present in fruitbody extracts was specific in that basidiospore germination was only inhibited by cell-free extracts prepared from homologous dikaryotic fruitbodies. The delaying substance was sensitive to proteases and heat but unaffected by DNase or RNase, suggesting that the factor is a protein.
APHID GENOTYPES, PLANT PHENOTYPES, AND GENETIC DIVERSITY: A DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA.

It is well known that many populations possess substantial amounts of electrophoretically detectable genetic variation. There is accumulating evidence that this variation has adaptive significance, and that environmental heterogeneity is an important factor in the maintenance of this variation (see Hedrick et al., 1976, for a review). In the case of clonal organisms, genetic diversity can be maintained in a population if no clone is relatively most fit in all environments. This argument may be applied to a variety of ecological relationships, including that of an aphid to its host plant. Specifically, we hypothesize that there is an interaction between aphid genotypes and host plant phenotypes such that no aphid clone is relatively most fit on all host phenotypes. The plausibility of this hypothesis is supported by three recent studies of natural populations of phytophagous insects (Edmunds and Alstad, 1978; Mitter et al., 1979; Moran, 1981), and by the vast literature on crop plants and their arthropod pests (e.g., Cartier, 1963; Hatchett and Gallun, 1970; Lowe, 1974; Gould, 1979). In this paper we report on an experiment designed to test the hypothesis of interaction between aphid genotypes and host plant phenotypes, using a new methodology for the analysis of life history data (Lenski and Service, 1982).
Digital Immortality vs. “The Right to be Forgotten”: A Comparison of U.S. and E.U. Laws Concerning Social Media Privacy

This paper examines the contrast between United States and European Union laws concerning social media users’ right to remove their online presence permanently. Currently, the United States and European Union represent two distinct approaches to the right of individuals to permanently remove personal content from social media. U.S. law favors social media companies keeping profile content within the digital sphere even when that person no longer wants it there. The European Union’s approach social media privacy gives users more rights to remove themselves entirely from social media permanently (General Data Protection Regulation, Article 17, 2012). Using Myres McDougal’s (1959) legal theory of international laws’ effect on national policy, this legal study examines the social media privacy laws of the United States and European Union concerning user control of personal content. From this analysis, future implications of this international conflict, specifically the legal delineation of public and private spheres in the 21st Century, are suggested.
Management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Severe Insulin Resistance.

Syndromes of severe insulin resistance (IR) include mutations of or autoantibodies to the insulin receptor and lipodystrophy (1). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), although rare, can occur in these patients, even in the context of hyperinsulinemia, due to impaired insulin signaling. DKA can be extremely challenging to treat, and few clinicians are experienced or comfortable in using the high doses of insulin required. We describe aggressive management of DKA in three patients with syndromic severe IR. An 18-year-old man with compound heterozygous mutation of the insulin receptor presented with DKA. He had poorly controlled diabetes (A1C 14% [130 mmol/mol]) treated with U-500 insulin (1,500 units/day), metreleptin (recombinant human methionyl leptin as an experimental drug), and metformin (2 g/day). Two weeks prior, he underwent a root canal for an abscessed tooth but did not take the prescribed antibiotics. Antibiotics were subsequently initiated. One day after discharge, he developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and worsening jaw pain and swelling. Two days later, he developed fatigue, malaise, and Kussmaul respirations. He presented to an outside hospital with DKA with a pH of 7.08, partial pressure CO2 of 27 mmHg, and bicarbonate of 8 mmol/L. He received fluid resuscitation for an estimated 10% dehydration. In collaboration with National Institutes of Health (NIH) physicians, an insulin drip was started at 100 units/h that was gradually increased to 1,000 units/h on the first day and 2,000 units/h on the second day, without improvement of acidosis (Fig. 1 A ). Because of the lack of improvement despite massive doses of insulin (>50,000 units/day) and intravenous antibiotics, bicarbonate was given and dental extraction performed. He improved thereafter on 2,000 units/h of insulin, which …
Codon usage is a stochastic process across genetic codes of the kingdoms of life

DNA encodes protein primary structure using 64 different codons to specify 20 different amino acids and a stop signal. To uncover rules of codon use, ranked codon frequencies have previously been analyzed in terms of empirical or statistical relations for a small number of genomes. These descriptions fail on most genomes reported in the Codon Usage Tabulated from GenBank (CUTG) database. Here we model codon usage as a random variable. This stochastic model provides accurate, one-parameter characterizations of 2210 nuclear and mitochondrial genomes represented with >104 codons/genome in CUTG. We show that ranked codon frequencies are well characterized by a truncated normal (Gaussian) distribution. Most genomes use codons in a near-uniform manner. Lopsided usages are also widely distributed across genomes but less frequent. Our model provides a universal framework for investigating determinants of codon use.
Ambulante Schlafmedizin muß beßer honoriert werden

Die Schlafmedizin soll in den Katalog der stationsersetzenden Masnahmen aufgenommen werden, fordert der Bundesverband der Pneumologen (BdP). Auf jeden Fall mus aus Sicht des Berufsverbandes eine Regelung gefunden werden, die ein kostendeckendes Betreiben eines ambulanten Schlaflabors erlaubt, da sonst eine bundesweit einheitlich gute Versorgung von Patienten mit obstruktiver Schlafapnoe nicht gewahrleistet werden kann.
The impact of link layer assisted multimedia adaptation in wireless networks

Higher layer protocols in wireless networks need to dynamically adapt to observed network response. A common approach in multimedia is to employ end-to-end monitoring to estimate quantities of interest like delay, delay jitter and available bandwidth. We show by experimentation that end-to-end adaptation does not work in networks with wireless 802.11 links. Transport measurements are unreliable and converge very slowly. Therefore we develop a link layer assisted architecture for one and multi hop wireless networks. We first show that end-to-end mechanisms cannot scale to many connections and it is preferable to merely use low rate non adaptive streams. On the other hand our link-network feedback architecture is very successful and scalable to number of connections. It offers increased QoS when this is feasible, or otherwise at least the QoS of a low rate transmission.
Nonaqueous Polyelectrolyte Solutions as Liquid Electrolytes with High Lithium Ion Transference Number and Conductivity

Although the small-molecule lithium salt solutions currently employed in lithium-ion batteries display high ionic conductivity, σ, most of the initial current is carried by the electrochemically inactive anion, resulting in concentration polarization of the salt during cycling. Liquid electrolytes with high Li+ transference number, t+, and high σ could improve battery performance by limiting these concentration gradients. We propose lithium-neutralized polyanions in solution as an intriguing strategy to attain both high t+ and high σ at room temperature and validate the approach using a model system. Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (PFG-NMR) is used to attain self-diffusion coefficients of the ions and hence t+. Conductivity calculated from PFG-NMR showed good agreement with conductivity measured using a conductivity meter. Although the polyelectrolyte solutions exhibit maxima in conductivity at around 0.5 M Li+ (1.5 mS/cm), t+ continuously increases with concentration, achie...
Swimming in sensors and drowning in data: what is needed for UASs to be effective?

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) have been touted as being of great value for agriculture. However, they have not yet permeated the fabric of the agriculture research or agriculture production systems significantly. This paper seeks to explain why adoption is low relative to excitement and to provide some guidance on what is needed for UASs to be effective in agriculture research and agriculture production.
Aspirin Hypersensitivity and Desensitization in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease – Challenges and Solutions

Aspirin or Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA), the platelet cyclooxygenase- 1 enzyme (COX-1) inhibhitor is the sine qua non of pharmacotherapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Combination therapy of Aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor (Clopidogrel, Prasugrel or Ticagrelor) is all the more important in patients with acute coronary syndromes and in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) especially with drug eluting stents. Interruption of Aspirin treatment in this group of patients can cause catastrophic major adverse cardiac events, especially stent thrombosis in post PCI patients. But, some patients are unable to tolerate Aspirin due to adverse reactions , most commonly gastrointestinal intolerance and bleeding manifestations which are usually predictable and dose related. However, Aspirin can also cause a spectrum of hypersensitivity reactions, which can be very alarming and sometimes even life threatening. In this article we will be reviewing the classification, pathophysiologic mechanisms and management of the challenging problem of Aspirin hypersensitivity.
Watching shear thinning in creep: Entanglement-disentanglement transition

Abstract We have carried out various rheometric experiments to probe the nonlinear rheological behavior of two well-entangled 1,4-polybutadiene solutions using both stress-controlled and rate-controlled startup shear. At a polymer concentration of 2% neither wall slip nor shear banding occurs, and there is no visible edge failure. At a moderate level of shear stress, the shear rate can take an induction time tind longer than the reptation time to rise toward an eventual steady-state value. The time tind for the entanglement-distanglement transition (EDT) shortens exponentially with increasing stress. The state of entanglement also changes in response to a sinusoidal stress σ0sinωt when its amplitude σ0 is beyond a threshold to produce a sufficiently high strain amplitude γ0 (>1). Moreover, the evolution of the state of chain entanglement during and after constant-stress creep has been studied using two different protocols. The first switches from creep to rate-controlled startup shear to determine the stress overshoot characteristic. In the second protocol, after creep to different stages, the sample is evaluated for its ability to undergo elastic recovery. We found that the overshoot response to the rate switching weakens and the ability to undergo elastic recoil deteriorates as the EDT progresses. These changes are clearly inherent because edge instability could not produce such effects. Thus, it is confirmed that an entanglement-disentanglement transition is a leading characteristic rheological response of these solutions.