cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Colicins and microcins: the next generation antimicrobials.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the bacteriocins produced by E. coli— namely, colicins and microcins and explores their potential role in agriculture, bioaugmentation, and human health. Colicins and microcins are the primary defense systems found in Escherichia coli . The antimicrobial properties of microcins and colicins make them excellent candidates for application in human and veterinary medicine. The chapter particularly focuses on the colicins and microcins that specifically kill human and animal pathogens, thereby illustrating the potential of these compounds to serve as the next generation of antibiotics. Microcins can also be useful indicators of pathogen presence in poultry. The chapter also provides an overview of novel uses and new antibiotics generated form colcins and microcins. Some colicins and microcins toxins can induce apoptosis and some share common features with apoptosis-induced proteins. As a result they have the potential of becoming an attractive tool to understand apoptosis and might be utilized as cell targeted drugs. Finally, this abundant and diverse family of toxins has the real potential of becoming the next generation of pharmaceuticals.
A parallel architecture for high-speed analog Viterbi detectors

A parallel architecture for an analog implementation of the Viterbi algorithm is presented. The implementation uses mostly continuous-time circuitry to achieve high speed and low complexity. The architecture also allows the designer to reduce the sampling rate required for a given baud rate at the expense of additional circuitry. >
Towards a Functional GDSS: A New Framework

One of the deficiencies of most Group Decision Support (GDSS) systems today is that they typically ignore the general processes by which most organizations make decisions. Many purported GDSS systems ignore the decision process almost entirely and function simply as Group Support Systems (GSS) or GroupWare, facilitating group discussion and interaction, but not supporting the whole decision-making process. More well-developed GDSS systems currently available will support a streamlined model of decision-making, but do not account for the many variables involved in organizational decisionmaking (e.g. accounting for the different types of decisions to be made, variables not considered or evident in the recognition and diagnosis of the problem, and interrupts of the decision-making process). This paper proposes a framework for a GDSS based upon the decision-making model conceptualized by Mintzberg, Raisinghani, and Theoret. Mintzberg’s model considers the different processes involved with making decisions based upon the decision type, reiteration of certain phases of the decision-making process, and the likelihood of interrupts which will disrupt or delay the progression of completing the decision. This framework is also modularized which will allow for the incorporation of many related developments in IT and DSS which will assist the decision makers in each phase of the decision-making process.
Dynamic analysis and controller design for a center-point-clamped ac-ac converter

In this paper, a novel topology based on center-point-clamped circuit configuration for ac-ac power conversion has been presented. This converter introduces a unique methodology to clamp the voltage to the mid-point of the input transformer thus reducing voltage blocking requirements on the bi-directional switches employed in such direct ac-ac converter. Operating principles as well as dynamic analysis for the proposed converter have been presented in the paper. A feedback controller has been designed for closed loop control of the proposed center-point-clamped ac-ac converter. Simulation results presented in the paper verify that the proposed converter offers high power transfer efficiency compared to conventional ac-dc-ac converters, and smaller output voltage ripple along with reduced voltage stress on the bi-directional switches when compared to other direct ac-ac converters.
A Review of “The Sage Dictionary of Qualitative Management Research”

Management scholars compete to define the best research paradigm for understanding management. Inspired by the success of the natural sciences, quantitative management research relies on statistica...
Design of a dynamic dermofluorometer for the measurement of skin perfusion

ABSTRACT The design of a two-channel dynamic dermofluorometer to monitor skin perfusion using a fluorescent dye is reported in this paper. The hardware of this system consists of an optical module (flashlamp, optical fibers, dichroic beamsplitters and optical wavelength filters), an electrical module, and aMacintosh computer. This system is controlled by software written using LabVIEW and MPW C runningwith the support of a Lab-NB multifunction board. This instrument is capable of real-time data acquisition,curve fitting and display. Two fluorescent dyes, carboxyfluorescein and sodium fluorescein, were used inpreliminary animal studies (6 rats). Each dye was injected intravenously and its signal collected by anoptical fiber bundle (diameter 3.2 mm) placed on the skin. The washin time constants were similar for bothdyes (approximately 5 miii.), but sodium fluorescein exhibited a much slower clearance time constant (110 mm. vs. 65 mm.). The instrument was tested on four normal human volunteers. The washin time
Characterization of the mechanisms producing bending moments in polysilicon micro-cantilever beams by interferometric deflection measurements

Polysilicon micro-cantilever beams and doubly-supported beams are fabricated and conditioned with phosphorus doping and high-temperature anneal cycles to assess the effects of process history and geometry on polysilicon microstructure rigidity. Using a Linnik interferometer, deflection trends for series of beams are measured and compared for several process conditions. Two bending moments can induce beam deflection: the first due to the beam boundary support, and the second due to stress nonuniformity through the beam thickness. A comparison of polysilicon microstructure deflection behavior for doping and annealing conditions is presented and discussed. >
Closed-form solutions for oscillators with inelastic impacts

Abstract A class of vibrating systems with perfectly stiff amplitude limiters is considered by means of non-smooth time substitutions. The motion is represented as a combination of oscillating component, which is due to cyclic collisions with the limiters, and a slow decay caused by the gradual energy loss at collision times. A specific modification of the two variable expansions is used, where the non-smooth (triangle wave) temporal argument is viewed as a fast time while the energy decay is described in a slow time scale. As a result, closed-form analytical solutions are obtained that automatically satisfy collision conditions with the energy loss. Three qualitatively different basic types of vibrations are considered to cover periodic, frequency modulated, and amplitude–frequency modulated motions.
Fast Differential Thermal Analysis

Differential thermal analysis has special value for the analysis of metastable states. In order to establish the thermal properties quickly, fast DTA is necessary. In prior ICTA meetings the study of slow melting polymer crystals above the melting temperature was reported (1). Present work deals with the fast DTA of glasses in their transition region. Calculations of the temperature gradient in cylindrical DTA cells revealed that typically 1 g samples can be analyzed with negligible gradient within the sample with 1–10°C/min heating rates. Cutting the size to 1 mg, the heating rates can be increased to 100–1000°C/min. Extrapolations would indicate that microgram samples could be heated with 104–105°C/min heating rates. Detailed theoretical analyses of the DTA-curves as a function of changes in heat capacity at different heating rates are reported and experimental verification on the glass transitions of glucose, selenium, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(2,6-dimethyl 1,4-phenylene ether) are given.
A multinomial formulation for efficient simulation of periodic on/off sources

We develop a system model for estimating the cell loss probability utilizing a traffic source derived from the connection traffic descriptors rather than a stochastic model. We use a multinomial formulation for the Monte Carlo simulation to remove the correlation associated with estimating bursty events. We use importance sampling to increase the efficiency of the simulation. For the experimental examples considered here, the improvement in simulation efficiency compared to conventional Monte Carlo simulation is inversely proportional to the estimate.
Comparative Effects of Pollen and Seed Migration on the Cytonuclear Structure of Plant Populations. I. Maternal Cytoplasmic Inheritance

We explicitly solve and analyze a series of deterministic continent-island models to delimit the effects of pollen and seed migration on cytonuclear frequencies and disequilibria in random-mating, mixed-mating and self-fertilized populations. Given the critical assumption of maternal cytoplasmic inheritance, five major findings are (i) nonzero cytonuclear disequilibria will be maintained in the island population if and only if at least some migration occurs each generation through seeds with nonrandom cytonuclear associations; (ii) immigrant seeds with no cytonuclear disequilibria can strongly affect the genetic structure of the island population by generating significant and long-lasting transient associations; (iii) with all else being equal, substantially greater admixture disequilibria are generally found with higher rates of seed migration into, or higher levels of self-fertilization within, the island population (with the possible exception of the heterozygote disequilibrium); (iv) pollen migration can either enhance or reduce the cytonuclear disequilibria caused by seed migration, or that due to mixed-mating in the absence of seed migration, but the effect is usually small and appears primarily to make a noticeable difference in predominantly outcrossing populations; and (v) pollen migration alone cannot generate even transient disequilibria de novo in populations with completely random associations. This same basic behavior is exhibited as long as there is some random outcrossing in the island population. Self-fertilized populations represent a special case, however, in that they are necessarily closed to pollen migration, and nonzero disequilibria can be maintained even in the absence of seed migration. All of these general results hold whether the population is censused as adults or as seeds, but the ability to detect nonrandom cytonuclear associations can depend strongly on the life stage censused in populations with a significant level of random outcrossing. We suggest how these models might be used for the estimation of seed and pollen migration.
Direct Contact Membrane Distillation-Based Desalination: Novel Membranes, Devices, Larger-Scale Studies, and a Model

We report here direct contact membrane distillation results from modules having 0.28 m2 of membrane surface area employing porous hydrophobic polypropylene hollow fibers of internal diameter (330 μm) and wall thickness (150 μm) with a porous fluorosilicone coating on the outside surface. The brine salt concentration and temperature and the distillate temperature and velocity were varied. Water vapor fluxes approach values obtained earlier in much smaller modules. As the brine temperature was increased from 40 to 92 °C, water vapor flux increased almost exponentially. Increasing the distillate temperature to 60 from 32 °C yielded reasonable fluxes. Salt concentration increases to 10% led to a small flux reduction. An extended 5-day run did not show any pore wetting. A model using the mass transfer coefficient km as an adjustable parameter predicted the brine temperature drop, distillate temperature rise, and water vapor flux well for the large module and the smaller module of 119-cm2 surface area.
The effect of asymmetric entry costs on Bertrand competition

Abstract By permitting firms to have different entry costs, I generalize two previously studied models of two-stage entry and pricing amongst Bertrand competitors. I find that the existing results depend critically on the symmetry assumption. For example, if firms’ entry decisions are observed before price-setting occurs, then total welfare can increase following the introduction of a potential entrant, in contrast to the unambiguous welfare reduction found in the symmetric setting. If firms’ entry decisions are unobserved before price-setting occurs, then the expected price typically decreases or remains unchanged following the introduction of a potential entrant, in contrast to the unambiguous price increase found in the symmetric setting. In both price-setting environments, competition increases following the introduction of potential entrants with sufficiently low entry costs, a finding that is obscured by focusing on the symmetric models.
Young Muslim women in the United States: identities at the intersection of group membership and multiple individualities

There is an apparent contradiction between theories such as social identity and cultural studies that approach identity from a group standpoint, and feminist theory that is centered on women's individuality. Nevertheless, as young Muslim women in the United States face the challenge of integration, they negotiate their identity at the intersection of adjustment to western secular values, allegiance to their community, and desire to follow their own individual path. In doing so, they develop coexisting identities that allow them to articulate sense of belonging and individual choices within a fluid process that may evolve over time: rather than being antagonistic, group perspective and feminist focus complement each other in their description of young Muslim women's identity negotiation process.
Generalized Parametric Analysis of Charged Periodic Structures for Reducing Electron Backscatter in Sgemp Simulators

In a previous article 11], parametric analysis was conducted using simplifying assumptions that the periodic structures consisted of an extremely thin wire. The present article relaxes that restriction so that the thin wire is replaced by periodic structures consisting of conducting cylinders of finite radii. The generalized problem is then solved using a series approach in place of conformalmapping techniques used before. Due to the symmetry of the problem, the matching conditions at the boundaries are greatly simplified. The least-squared-error fitting procedure indicates signlificant differences in the thin-line charge approximation and corresponding large radii cases. However, for most cases of interest, theoretical conclusions of the previous article provide good design parameters. Following the procedures established in the previous article, the electron trajectories are computed along with the fraction of electrons that escape as a function of energy, angles of departure, and grid geometry.
Unexpected Capsule Endoscopy Images Reveal Aspiration.

The video capsule was successfully removed from the right bronchus intermedius using flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The patient tolerated the procedure well and recovered without further complications. He declined further endoscopic work up of his anemia. It was thought to be multifactorial due to chronic kidney disease and underlying myelodysplasia. He responded well to iron therapy and epoetin injections, with no further anemia. Few case reports exist in the literature of aspirated video capsules.1,2 This case serves to increase recognition of this possible adverse event.
A small hemagglutinating component in preparations of Newcastle disease virus.

SummaryDisproportionate sedimentation in the high speed centrifuge of hemagglutinins and infective principle of Newcastle disease virus in suspensions of infected allantoic membranes has been reported. This suggests the presence in such preparations of two hemagglutinating particles of different sizes; one of these appears to be identical with the infectious principle, the other, smaller one, according to all indications is non-infectious. The specificity of this smaller hemagglutinin has been established by hemagglutination-inhibition tests. The medium in which the virus is suspended apparently does not effect the sedimentation of hemagglutinating capacity. Experiments employing Seitz filtration have been unrevealing.
Order-disorder effects in GaAs(110)-oxygen interaction: A LEED-ups analysis

Cleaved GaAs(110) surfaces were exposed to oxygen (106 − 5 × 1010 L) and analysed by LEED and UPS. Very important changes in the electron diffraction occur at 108 L and the analysis of the LEED pattern shows a bulk-like diffraction superposed on a high background, implying that a thin layer (1–3 A) disordered by the oxidation covers the GaAs lattice relaxted to its bulk structure.
Quadratic integration: Theory and application to the electronic structure of platinum

Abstract In this paper we present a general computational technique for deriving fine histogram representations of singular k-dependent integrals for any crystalline solid. Detailed consideration is given to the errors involved in such integrals, and in their representations. Comparisons are made to previous work and the special advantage of each technique is emphasized. Applications of the quadratic (QUAD) technique are made to platinum using the combined interpolation scheme showing the total, band and basis function (S-part) density of states. These densities of states are based on histograms of width 0.001 Ry, 1 000 000 Monte Carlo points in 1/48th of the Brillouin zone, and have an intrinsic accuracy of better than 1%. The extrinsic accuracy of the platinum band structure used here is somewhat poorer than 1%, and the special problems of materials with a steep derivative in the density of states at the Fermi energy is considered. Comparisons with the temperature and magnetic field dependent susceptibility and the specific heat data suggest that enhancement effects in platinum are small.
Subcritical (Hot) Water/Ethanol Extraction of Nonylphenol Polyethoxy Carboxylates from Industrial and Municipal Sludges

Subcritical (hot) water with ethanol as modifier was used to extract nonylphenol polyethoxy carboxylates (NPECs) with 1−4 ethoxy groups from sludge samples. Quantitative recovery of native NPECs from sludge was accomplished by extracting 0.25 g samples for 20 min with 30% (v/v) ethanol in water at 75 °C and 150 bar. NPECs in the water/ethanol extract were concentrated by a strong anion exchange (SAX) Empore disk. The NPECs were simultaneously eluted and derivatized to their methyl esters in an autosampler vial. Although carbon dioxide, hot water, and methanol-modified hot water were evaluated for NPEC recovery, ethanol-modified hot water yielded the highest recovery of native (unspiked) NPEC from sludge. Samples analyzed for this study included an anaerobically-digested municipal sludge, a commercial product containing anaerobically-digested municipal sludge and yard waste, and secondary clarifier sludge obtained from a paper mill. NPEC concentrations ranged from 27 to 113 μg/g with NP2EC as the most abun...
Comments on B. Kumaravadivelu's “The Postmethod Condition: (E)merging strategies for Second/Foreign Language Teaching”“Alternative to” or “Addition to” Method?

are all subtitled in Japanese. Thirdly, I would like to react to the comment about my not having read any of the recent literature on the subject of learning strategies, specifically related to the use of Oxford's strategy inventory. Oxford attaches to her five-page response a reference list with 18 entries, 12 of which are unpublished master's theses or doctoral dissertations, papers read at conferences, published in a journal unavailable in Japan or marked "in press." It is simply not possible for overseas researchers to have access to such materials. I would happily participate in collaborative research. However, although the call for collaboration is useful, researchers in Asia often find a patronizing attitude toward their work and their ideas. I am glad Oxford and Green are working to overcome this by actively working toward collaborative research. To conclude, my position is that there are different kinds of research which produce different results which may be of interest. Research dealing with human beings is notoriously fuzzy and shows a great deal of variation. I welcome that and see such variation as the norm. It is only through supportive collaborative research as well as supportive feedback to others that we can ever hope to begin to fill in the gaps on our journey to better understanding of how human beings learn and communicate in the world.
Symbols and structuralism in the andes: A case of theory obscuring the facts

Billie Jean Isbell. To Defend Ourselves: Ecology and Ritual in an Andean Village. Institute of Latin American Studies, Latin American Monographs No. 47. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1978. xv + 298 pp.
Some comments on acne vulgaris in adolescents

Summary The importance of acne to theadolescent is commented upon and the desirability of treating and understanding him or her, as well as the disease, is emphasized. Data indicating the association of acne with the process of maturation and showing little relationship to emotional disorders are presented. The pathology and treatment of acne are reviewed and commented upon.
Photoswitchable Gas Permeation Membranes Based on Azobenzene- Doped Liquid Crystals. II. Permeation-Switching Characterization Under Variable Volume and Variable Pressure Conditions

Stimuli-responsive gas permeation membranes hold substantial potential for industrial processes as well as in analytical and screening applications. Such "smart" membrane systems, although prevalent in liquid mass-transfer manipulations, have yet to be realized for gas applications. We report our progress in developing gas permeation membranes in which liquid crystalline (LC) phases afford the active region of permeation. To achieve rapid and reversible switching between LC and isotropic permeation states, we harnessed the photomechanical action of mesogenic azobenzene dyes that can produce isothermal nematic-isotropic transitions. Both polymeric and low-molecular-weight LC materials were tested. Three different dye-doped LC mixtures with mesogenic azo dyes were infused into commercially available track-etched porous membranes with regular cylindrical pores (0.4 to 10.0 μm). Photoinduced isothermal phase changes in the imbibed material produced large and fully reversible changes in the permeability of the membrane to nitrogen with 5 s of irradiation at 2 mW/cm 2 . Using two measurement tools constructed in-house, the permeability of the photoswitched membranes was determined by both variable-pressure and variable-volume methods. Both the LC and photogenerated isotropic states demonstrate a linear permeability/pressure (ideal sorption) relationship, with up to a 16-fold difference in their permeability coefficients. Liquid crystal compositions can be chosen such that the LC phase is more permeable than the isotropic-or vice versa. This approach is the first system offering reversible tunable gas permeation membranes.
Autograft and Allograft Unite Similarly in Lateral Column Lengthening for Adult Acquired Flatfoot Deformity

Background Lateral column lengthening (LCL) is used to address the forefoot abduction associated with the adult acquired flatfoot. This opening wedge osteotomy can be filled with either allograft or autograft bone.
INHERITANCE OF SMUT RESISTANCE IN HYBRIDS OF EARLY GOTHLAND AND MONARCH OATS

My strains of Early Gothland and Monarch oats differ in a very striking fashion in their behavior to the Missouri races of loose (Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Jens.) and covered (U. levis (K. & S.) Magn.) smuts. Early Gothland has consistently shown a high degree of susceptibility to the loose smut and, at the same time, it has been almost entirely resistant to the covered smut. The Monarch variety has reacted in exactly the opposite manner, proving to be extremely resistant to the loose smut, while showing complete susceptibility to the covered (I, 2, 3, 6, io). During the five years 1926-I930 various types of experiments have been carried out with these two varieties in which plants were inoculated with either the loose or the covered smut. Thirteen different experiments were made in which 279 plants of Early Gothland were inoculated with loose smut and of these 263 (94.2 percent) were infected; in ten of these experiments all the inoculated plants were smutted. In comparative experiments, 586 plants of this oat variety were inoculated with the covered smut and only 6 (about i percent) were infected. During the same years, 526 plants of Monarch oats were inoculated with loose smut in thirteen experiments, and only 6 (i. i percent) were infected. On the other hand, 452 plants were inoculated with the covered smut, and 445 (98.4 percent) were infected; in eleven out of the thirteen experiments all of the plants were smutted. The most obvious morphological difference between these two oat varieties is the color of the glumes or hulls of the ripe grain; in Early Gothland the glumes are white or pale yellowish, while in Monarch they are blackish brown. Early Gothland is a rather late maturing oat, with moderately large panicles, the branches of which droop slightly at the outer ends. The spikelets are usually two-grained, sometimes three-grained; the outer grains are rather long (I8-22 mm.), slender, and long pointed. Awns are rather numerous on the spikelets of the panicles, but usually they are not fully developed nor twisted at the base. Monarch is a somewhat earlier maturing oat. The stem and sheaths are dark green and quite glaucous at the time of heading. The panicles are rather wide-spreading, more or less lax, with the branches drooping from the middle outward. Awns are rather common in the panicle, but rarely 1 Brooklyn Botanic Garden Contributions no. 6I. Published at the expense of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, out of the order determined by the date of receipt of the manuscript. 803
Insulin-like growth factor—I and insulin reduce leucine flux and oxidation in conscious tumor necrosis factor-indused dogs1

Background . We have tested the hypothesis that insulin-like growth factor—I (IGF-I) or insulin can prevent the protein catabolic effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Methods . After a 2-hour basal period TNF was infused (prime, 2.5μg·kg −1 ; constant, 31.25 ng·kg −1 ·min −1 ) for 4 hours into conscious dogs to create the catabolic state. After 2 hours of TNF infusion either recombinant human IGF-I (n=5) or recombinant human insulin (n=5) was infused for an additional 2 hours. A third group (n=5) received TNF alone for 4 hours. Results . TNF infusion caused an increase in both glucose production, reflected by [6,6-d 2 ]glucose tracer data, and net protein catabolism, reflected by both [1- 13 C]leucine and [ 15 N 2 ]urea tracer methods. IGF-I and insulin both significantly reduced the rates of appearance of leucine and leucine oxidation to a similar extent, resulting in the significant decrease in net protein catabolism. Conclusions . IGF-I and insulin can ameliorate the catabolic effects of TNF on protein and glucose metabolism equally effectively, although more IGF-I is required on a molar basis.
Science and Technology for Individuals, Societies, and the Environment and Satellite Technologies: Advanced High Resolution Picture Transmission Applications for the Science Classrooms

This article introduces a satellite technology, High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT), for a science activity. HRPT is a digital data stream transmitted from environmental satellites. The HRPT imagery is capable of providing real-time studies of regional geology, glacial processes, atmospheric processes, ocean circulation, coastal processes, hydrology, and so on. Obtaining and manipulating HRPT data creates a variety of exciting experiences in science classrooms. A Science and Technology for Individuals, Societies, and the Environment (STISE) teaching model was developed to use satellite technologies for science activities. STISE is a conceptual model for addressing key cognitive and affective parameters when designing science lessons. STISE is designed to encourage students to understand science and technology from their levels of cognition, then relate their understanding to the environment, levels of societies, and their lives. Relationships among science, technology, and society become both obvi...
Mental Impairment in the Elderly: Medical‐Legal Assessment

As life expectancy has lengthened, research has been increasingly directed toward improving the quality of life in old age. Social agencies work in the field of socioeconomic factors, and medical research seeks the causes and remedies for mental deterioration. It is time to review the legal status of the mentally impaired elderly and to ensure that our lawmakers are cognizant of the changing situation. Before any characterization of mental capacity is made, a comprehensive investigation should be carried out to make sure that no potentially correctable physical disorder underlies perceived mental disabilities. In the past, the law has taken a global view of mental capacity. A person was adjudged either competent for all purposes or incompetent on a similar universal basis. A system is suggested to change this outdated approach and to assess separately the divisible components of mental capability. This would permit the courts to delineate their judgments and allow persons with partial mental incapacities to live a fuller life than if they had been declared totally incompetent.
The relation between OB stars, H II regions & molecular clouds

Observational and theoretical results over the last few years have highlighted the interrelationship between OB stars, ultracompact H II regions and molecular clouds. We review recent observational data and models for ultracompact H II regions, and show where the data fit and do not fit the models which have been designed to explain them.
An experimental study of partially premixed flame sound

Abstract The occurrence of oscillating combustion and combustion instability has led to resurgence of interest in the causes, mechanisms, suppression, and control of combustion noise. Noise generated by enclosed flames is of greater practical interest but is more complicated than that by open flames, which itself is not clearly understood. Studies have shown that different modes of combustion, premixed and non-premixed, differ in their sound generation characteristics. However, there is lack of understanding of the region bridging these two combustion modes. This study investigates sound generation by partially premixed flames. Starting from a non-premixed flame, air was gradually added to achieve partial premixing while maintaining the fuel flow rate constant. Methane, ethylene, and ethane partially premixed flames were studied with hydrogen added for flame stabilization. The sound pressure generated by methane partially premixed flames scales with M5 compared to M3 for turbulent non-premixed methane flames. Also, the sound pressure generated by partially premixed flames of ethane and ethylene scales as M∼4.5. With progressive partial premixing, spectra level increases at all frequencies with a greater increase in the high-frequency region compared to the low-frequency region; flames develop a peak and later a constant level plateau in the low frequency region. The partially premixed flames of methane, ethylene, and ethane generate a similar SPL as a function of equivalence ratio when the fuel volume flow rate is matched. However, when fuel mass flow rate is matched, the ethane and ethylene flames produce a similar SPL, which is lower than that produced by the methane flame.
Cybercounseling: A New Modality for Counselor Training and Practice

The practice of professional career counseling has evolved to include various computer technologies and services including the Internet. Due to the Internet becoming a pervasive part of society, increasing numbers of mental health practitioners around the world are incorporating the electronic medium into their service delivery. As increasing numbers of counselors use the Internet, professional organizations are developing ethical guidelines for practitioners to follow. This paper discusses ethical considerations related to cybercounseling and provides implications that practitioners should consider when evaluating the medium.
Application of linear programming to antireflection coating design

The antireflection coatings consist of layers whose optical thicknesses are quater waves or multiples thereof. Linear programming is used to minimize the reflectance and at the same time restrain the refractive indices to values that are attainable. Examples are given of coatings for visual optics and for higher refractive index substrates such as lithium niobate.
HEAT AND WATER-VAPOR FLUXES IN AIR FLOWING SOUTHWARD OVER THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

Abstract Turbulent transports of sensible heat and water vapor have been measured from an airplane within southerly-flowing air masses over the western North Atlantic Ocean. It is found that the lower levels of these air masses are unstable and warmed by the transport, of heat from the water below, while the higher levels are stable and warmed by diffusion from the subsidence-inversion air aloft. Average values of the upward flux of sensible heat were found to be 2.1 mcal cm−2 sec−1 in the middle latitudes and 0.1 mcal cm−2 sec−1 in the tropics. The downward heat flux was 0.3 mcal cm−2 sec−1 in the region above the potential temperature minimum formed between the warm air aloft and the water-warmed air below. The flux of latent heat of condensation in the form of water vapor was found to be less than the flux of sensible heat from the ocean in the middle latitudes within 300 km of the east coast and about one order of magnitude greater than the sensible flux farther offshore and in the tropics. The observ...
Rapid training system self‐assessment

A systematic self-assessment mirrors quality system and certification models, thus making a strong argument for high-quality design, control, and management of the training function. Accomplished for the ongoing betterment of the function, not as a summative judgment of conformance, it discovers strengths and weaknesses and results in a common understanding of performance expectations, distribution of best practices, and the performance calibration and development of a strong training team.
Resonance-induced condensate shedding for high-efficiency heat transfer

Abstract Condensers are heat rejection devices vital to industrial-scale systems including those found in the process and power industries. In a dropwise condensation system, the heat transferred to the condensing surface is related to the size distribution of attached drops. This study subjects a vertically-oriented condensing surface to mechanical vibrations ranging from 100 to 400 Hz, exciting the resonance modes of appropriately sized condensate drops. Resonating drops mobilize and shed from the surface at smaller size and with greater frequency than compared to a case without vibration, reducing the population of large, thermally inefficient drops on the surface. Excitation frequencies of 100 and 200 Hz yielded net improvement in estimated heat transfer rate in excess of 70% over the stationary case, suggesting that substantial reductions in fuel usage and footprint may be realized by applying this concept in condenser design.
Influence of patellofemoral articular geometry and material on mechanics of the unresurfaced patella

Abstract Patellar resurfacing during knee replacement is still under debate, with several studies reporting higher incidence of anterior knee pain in unresurfaced patellae. Congruency between patella and femur impacts the mechanics of the patellar cartilage and strain in the underlying bone, with higher stresses and strains potentially contributing to cartilage wear and anterior knee pain. The material properties of the articulating surfaces will also affect load transfer between femur and patella. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanics of the unresurfaced patella and compare with natural and resurfaced conditions in a series of finite element models of the patellofemoral joint. In the unresurfaced analyses, three commercially available implants were compared, in addition to an ‘ideal’ femoral component which replicated the geometry, but not the material properties, of the natural femur. Hence, the contribution of femoral component material properties could be assessed independently from geometry changes. The ideal component tracked the kinematics and patellar bone strain of the natural knee, but had consistently inferior contact mechanics. In later flexion, compressive patellar bone strain in unresurfaced conditions was substantially higher than in resurfaced conditions. Understanding how femoral component geometry and material properties in unresurfaced knee replacement alters cartilage contact mechanics and bone strain may aid in explaining why the incidence of anterior knee pain is higher in the unresurfaced population, and ultimately contribute to identifying criteria to pre-operatively predict which patients are suited to an unresurfaced procedure and reducing the incidence of anterior knee pain in the unresurfaced patient population.
Quantification and potential availability of non-symbiotically fixed 15N in soil

Non-symbiotic N2 fixation was studied under laboratory conditions in two soils from Pakistan (Hafizabad silt loam and Khurrarianwala silt loam) and one from Illinois, USA (Drummer silty clay loam) incubated in a 15N-enriched atmosphere. N2 fixation was greatest with the Drummer soil (18–122 μg g−1 soil, depending upon the soil treatment) and lowest with the Khurrarianwala soil (4–81 μg g−1 soil). Fixation was increased by the addition of glucose, a close correlation being observed between the amount of glucose added and the amount of N2 fixed in the three soils (r = 0.96). Efficiency of N2 fixation varied with soil type and treatment and was greatest in the presence of added inorganic P. Application of Mo apparently had a negative effect on the amount and efficiency of N2 fixation in all the soils. The percentage of non-symbiotically fixed 15N in potentially mineralizable form (NH 4 + -N released in soil after a 15-day incubation period under anaerobic conditions) was low (2%–18%, depending upon the soil treatment), although most of the fixed N (up to 90%) was recovered as forms hydrolysable with 6N HCl. Recovery in hydrolysable forms was much greater for the fixed N than for the native soil N, indicating that the former was more available for uptake by plants.
Sonication mediated covalent cross-linking of DNA to single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract Sonication with nucleic acids has become a standard method for obtaining aqueous dispersions of carbon nanotubes. On the basis of theoretical studies and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) imaging a widely accepted model for DNA association with SWCNT is one in which the DNA binds through non-covalent π-stacking and hydrophobic interactions. Following the standard procedures established by others to prepare DNA associated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), we have determined that sonication generates radical intermediates then form covalent anchors between the DNA and SWCNT. In light of this finding, results from studies on DNA associated carbon nanotubes, need to be more carefully interpreted.
Truncation error analysis of lattice Boltzmann methods

A truncation error analysis is performed for models based on the lattice Boltzmann (LB) equation. This analysis involves two steps: the recursive application of the LB equation and a Taylor series expansion. Unlike previous analytical studies of LB methods, the present work does not assume an asymptotic relationship between the temporal and spatial discretization parameters or between the probability distribution function, f, and its equilibrium, distribution, feq. Effective finite difference stencils are derived for both the distribution function and the primitive variables, i.e., density and velocity. The governing partial differential equations are also recovered. The associated truncation errors are derived and the results are validated by numerical simulation of analytic flows. Analysis of the truncation errors elucidates the roles of the kinetic theory relaxation parameter, τ and the discretization parameters, Δx and Δt. The effects of initial and boundary conditions are also addressed and are shown to significantly affect the overall accuracy of the method.
Illness severity adjustment for outcomes analysis: validation of the ICISS methodology in all 821,455 patients hospitalized in North Carolina in 1996.

Background: Previous work has demonstrated that the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision (ICD-9) Based Illness Severity Score (ICISS) methodology developed by Rutledge and Osler can perform well in this role as a severity adjustment tool in trauma patients. The purpose of the present study was to extend this previous work to determine the ability of ICISS to predict outcomes in all types of hospitalized patients. Methods: The ICISS methodology was used to derive predictions of survival, length of hospital stay, and hospital charges in the entire study population. Results: A total of 821,455 hospitalized patients in North Carolina in 1996 had complete data available for analysis. The overall hospital mortality rate was 2.9%. ICISS was an accurate predictor of hospital survival in all hospitalized patients (accuracy 95.9%, sensitivity 97.2%, and specificity 52.7%.) The area of the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.93. By adding age to the model, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve increased to 0.95. ICISS also explained a large amount of the variance in hospital stay and charges (R2 = 0.38 and 0.56, respectively, P < .0001). Conclusions: This study extends previous work suggesting that ICISS may be an important improvement over other presently available severity adjustment models. If these findings are confirmed in comparison with other predictive tools, ICISS may find an important place in assessing illness severity. (Surgery 1998;124:187-96.)
Exploring the Relationship Between Experiential Avoidance, Alcohol Use Disorders, and Alcohol-Related Problems Among First-Year College Students

Abstract Objective: This study explored the relationship of experiential avoidance (eg, the tendency to avoid, suppress, or otherwise control internal experiences even when doing so causes behavioral harm) to alcohol use disorders and alcohol-related problems. Participants: Cross-sectional data were collected from 240 undergraduate college students in their first year in college between December 2009 and April 2010. Methods: Participants completed a diagnostic interview and online self-report survey. Results: Students with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence had significantly higher levels of experiential avoidance relative to students with no alcohol use disorder diagnosis. A hierarchical linear regression analysis found that experiential avoidance significantly predicted alcohol-related problems, even after controlling for gender and psychological distress. Furthermore, experiential avoidance mediated the relationship of psychological distress to alcohol-related problems. Conclusions: These finding...
The use of space in living systems theory: Extensions and applications

Space, especially physical or geographical space, is a very important concept in living systems theory (LST). Indeed, along with time, it is included in the very definition of a concrete living system. But while time has its own critical subsystem in LST, space receives relative neglect. There is no space subsystem, but space is discussed in the boundary and supporter subsystems. The problem here is that discussion of the boundary emphasizes the regulation of matter-energy and information flows, while discussion of the supporter emphasizes vertical support rather than lateral spacing. The purpose of this paper is to rectify the relative neglect of spacing by unifying the scattered discussion of space in LST. After discussing space in the boundary and supporter subsystems at six levels (the organism, group, organization, community, society, and supranational), the paper extends and complements the literature of LST by discussing additional relevant literature on space, and by discussing possible applications at the six levels.
Prokaryotic expression, purification, and reconstitution of biological activities (Antiprotease, antitumor, and heparin-binding) for tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2.

Abstract We report the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) (also known as PP-5, placental protein-5; MSPI, matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor) in E. coli as a 25-kDa nonglycosylated protein with a glycine substituted for aspartic acid at the amino terminus. High-level expression of TFPI-2 was obtained with pRE1 expression vector under the transcriptional and translational controls of the λP L promoter and λcII ribosome-binding site, respectively, with ATG initiation codon. TFPI-2 was produced as inclusion bodies and accounted for 25–30% of the total E. coli proteins. The inclusion bodies containing TFPI-2 were solubilized with urea, sulfitolyzed, purified, and refolded through a disulfide interchange reaction. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited plasmin with an inhibition constant ( K i ) of 5 nM that is similar with the TFPI-2 expressed in a mammalian system. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 bound heparin and also inhibited plasmin, regardless of whether the enzyme was in the fluid phase or was bound to the membranes of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. In addition, refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited radiolabeled matrix degradation and Matrigel matrix invasion by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and B16-F10 melanoma cells. Together, our results suggest that glycosylation is not essential for antiprotease, antitumor, and matrix-binding activities of TFPI-2. Based on these collective data, we conclude that a biologically active nonglycosylated TFPI-2 can be produced in E. coli and that the protein can be produced in high-enough quantities to conduct in vivo studies for determination of the role of this inhibitor in tumor invasion and metastasis.
Fast rule matching for learning classifier systems via vector instructions

Over the last ten years XCS has become the standard for Michigan-style learning classifier systems (LCS). Since the initial CS-1 work conceived by Holland, classifiers (rules) have widely used a ternary condition alphabet {0,1,#} for binary input problems. Most of the freely available implementations of this ternary alphabet in XCS rely on character-based encodings---easy to implement, not memory efficient, and expensive to compute. Profiling of freely available XCS implementations shows that most of their execution time is spent determining whether a rule is match or not, posing a serious threat to XCS scalability. In the last decade, multimedia and scientific applications have pushed CPU manufactures to include native support for vector instruction sets. This paper presents how to implement efficient condition encoding and fast rule matching strategies using vector instructions. The paper elaborates on Altivec (PowerPC G4, G5) and SSE2 (Intel P4/Xeon and AMD Opteron) instruction sets producing speedups of XCS matching process beyond ninety times. Moreover, such a vectorized matching code will allow to easily scale beyond tens of thousands of conditions in a reasonable time. The proposed fast matching scheme also fits in any other LCS other than XCS.