cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coincidence Errors in a Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) and a Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer (CAS), and the Improved Performance of a Modified CDP

AbstractCentral to the aerosol indirect effect on climate is the relationship between cloud droplet concentrations Nd and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations. There are valid reasons to expect a sublinear relationship between measured Nd and CCN, and such relationships have been observed for clouds in a variety of locations. However, a measurement artifact known as “coincidence” can also produce a sublinear trend. The current paper shows that two commonly used instruments, the cloud droplet probe (CDP) and the cloud and aerosol spectrometer (CAS), can be subject to significantly greater coincidence errors than are typically recognized, with an undercounting bias of at least 27% and an oversizing bias of 20%–30% on average at Nd = 500 cm−3, and with an undercounting bias of as much as 44% at Nd = 1000 cm−3. This type of systematic error may have serious implications for interpretation of in situ cloud observations. It is shown that a simple optical modification of the CDP dramatically reduces ov...
Linear methods for approximation of some classes of holomorphic functions from the Bergman space

We construct a linear method {ie910-01} for the approximation (in the unit disk) of classes of holomorphic functions {ie910-02} that are the Hadamard convolutions of the unit balls of the Bergman space A p with reproducing kernels {ie910-03}. We give conditions for ψ under which the method {ie910-04} approximates the class {ie910-05} in the metrics of the Hardy space H s and the Bergman space A s , 1 ≤ s ≤ p, with an error that coincides in order with the value of the best approximation by algebraic polynomials.
Effects of weather on the retrieval of sea ice concentration and ice type from passive microwave data

Effects of wind, water vapor, and cloud liquid water on ice concentration and ice type calculated from passive microwave data are assessed through radiative transfer calculations and observations. These weather effects can cause overestimates in ice concentration and more substantial underestimates in multi-year ice percentage by decreasing polarization and by decreasing the gradient between frequencies. The effect of surface temperature and air temperature on the magnitudes of weather-related errors is small for ice concentration and substantial for multiyear ice percentage. The existing weather filter in the NASA Team Algorithm addresses only weather effects over open ocean; the additional use of local open-ocean tie points and an alternative weather correction for the marginal ice zone can further reduce errors due to weather. Ice concentrations calculated using 37 versus 18 GHz data show little difference in total ice covered area, but greater differences in intermediate concentration classes. Given the magnitude of weather-related errors in ice classification from passive microwave data, corrections for weather effects may be necessary to detect small trends in ice covered area and ice type for climate studies.
Mechanism of α-latrotoxin action at nerve endings of neurohypophysis

Abstract The neurotoxin α-latrotoxin elicits spontaneous exocytosis of neurotransmitter from neurons and peptide hormones from endocrine cells. While the mechanism of action is not fully understood, both Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent pathways participate in the facilitation of release, with the relative contribution of the pathways differing among neuronal and endocrine cell types. Here, we investigate the actions of α-latrotoxin on neuroendocrine nerve endings that emanate from central nervous system neurons and, therefore, are unique in that they possess properties of central nerve endings and endocrine cells. Using intracellular [Ca2+] measurements both calcium-independent receptors for latrotoxin (CIRL or latrophilin) and neurexin 1α receptors were found to be functionally present. Interaction of α-latrotoxin with these receptors stimulated secretion of vasopressin and oxytocin neuropeptide. The secretory response was entirely dependent upon toxin-mediated extracellular Ca2+ influx, although α-latrotoxin also consistently triggered mobilization of Ca2+ from an intracellular store. The mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ relied on α-latrotoxin-mediated Na+ influx and was blocked by the protonophore FCCP, thereby implicating mitochondria as the Ca2+ store being mobilized. Using the whole cell recording configuration of the patch clamp, we report that α-latrotoxin interaction with the CIRL receptor on these nerve endings resulted in ionic pore formation, generating unitary inward current steps of 20 pA and a channel conductance of approximately 220 pS in Ca2+-free saline. Thus, α-latrotoxin stimulates Ca2+-dependent exocytosis in neurohypophysial nerve endings through receptor interaction and insertion of Ca2+ permeable membrane pores. While α-latrotoxin mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ stores the elevation in [Ca2+] reached is insufficient to trigger measurable exocytosis.
Patient reports of undesirable events during hospitalization

BACKGROUND: Thus far, incident reporting in health care has relied on health professionals. However, patients too may be able to signal the occurrence of undesirable events.
Improvvisamente l'inverno scorso/Suddenly, Last Winter: Queer Sex in Public

ABSTRACTThis review essay focuses on Improvvisamente l'inverno scorso/Suddenly, Last Winter (Hofer and Ragazzi 2008), a documentary depicting the vicissitudes of a law in favor of civil unions, both gay and straight, that the Prodi government tried to pass without success in 2007. Through a variety of creative means—ranging from a sympathetic voice-over narrator, to montage, sound effects and animation, to a serious inquest reminiscent of Pasolini's Comizi d'amore/Love Meetings (1963)—the directors capture the homophobic climate and media circus that ensued after the proposed legislation was announced, strategically inserting themselves and their relationship not only in the film, but in Italy's public discourse, and asserting their right to be visible and recognized as a same sex couple in the capital's public spaces.
STUDIES OF HAN-BASED MONOPROPELLANT DROPLET COMBUSTION

Abstract Combustion of hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN)-based monopropellant droplets and droplet components was considered. Individual droplets of 13 M HAN, XM46, HAN-glycine-water, TEAN-water, and HAN-methanol-water mixtures were suspended from a quartz fiber and heated with a wire-loop igniter at pressures ranging from 1 to 10 atm in nitrogen or air environments. High-speed video imaging of droplet shape changes with color CCD camera and UV ICCD camera imaging of flames were performed in addition to gas-phase thermocouple temperature measurements. The 13 M HAN droplets did not display any flames in nitrogen or air environments. However, XM46 and HAN-glycine droplets displayed colorful luminous flames in air but not in nitrogen environments. XM46 and HAN-glycine droplets of similar diameters had similar lifetimes, although their flame characteristics and flame lifetimes were quite different. The XM46 flame had a distinct rapidly expanding flame traveling at about 1 m/sec, and HAN-glycine flames lasted alm...
A quantitative study on the in vitro release of histamine from leukocytes of atopic persons.

Abstract Blood from forty-one persons with atopic disease was incubated with various concentrations of specific antigen. The amount of histamine released into the plasma was measured chemically. Histamine was released by concentrations of pollen extract as low as 0.01 meg. protein nitrogen per liter of blood; more histamine was released by greater amounts of antigen until a maximum level was reached at antigen concentrations of from 4 to 20 meg. P.N. per liter of blood. Histamine release tended to be suppressed by high concentrations of antigen unless massive amounts were used (4,000 meg. P.N. per liter of blood), at which point nonspecific release occurred. The degree of skin reactivity of the subjects studied was related inversely to the antigen concentration producing maximal histamine release. The rate of histamine release was apparently linear, maximum release being approached only after at least thirty minutes of incubation of blood with the specific antigen.
Syntropic Ecotoxicology: A Heuristic Model for Understanding the Vulnerability of Ecological Systems to Stress

This paper argues for a syntropic, multilevel conceptualization of ecotoxicology beyond the simple organism-level effects of poisons. Such a concept embraces complex systems, ecotoxicology, ecoepidemiology, and ecosystem health and integrity. One way of thinking about the relative stability of ecosystems and their biological and nonbiological components is the conditional (Bayesian) probability of their coherent versus incoherent response to perturbation. Anthropogenic and natural stress may change the structure, function and/or organization of dissipative systems at any level, compromising self-regulation and making unstable incoherent responses more probable. Syntropic ecotoxicology argues for increased understanding of how ecotoxic agents or events may be disrupting self-regulating mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, organismal, population, and/or community levels—their multilevel ecotoxicodynamics. In parallel, and adaptive to new knowledge, interdisciplinary teams of scientists, policy makers, and other stakeholders must collaborate effectively to mobilize and integrate financial, human, material, and information resources to prevent and control existing priority deterministic stressors.
Airfoil Drag Prediction and Decomposition

The accuracy and the consistency of numerical techniques for the prediction of the aerodynamic drag of airfoils in viscous transonic and subsonic flows are explored. Attention is paid to the calculation of the total drag as well as to the decomposition of the drag into its physical components: viscous drag and wave drag. Two different Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solvers are used to generate the flowfield solutions for the NLF(1)-0416 and the RAE 2822 airfoils. The results show that wake integration can produce results comparable with those the often-used surface integral technique, thus demonstrating that wake integration has great potential in simplifying drag calculations for more complex problems such as multielement airfoils or complex three-dimensional configurations
Localized Decision-Making for Materials Transportation Systems Subject to Stochastic Uncertainty

Programming and installation of Materials Transportation Systems (MTS) in a manufacturing setting represent a significant portion of the investment in these systems. The costs are often so high that this alone presents a barrier to adoption amongst midsize manufacturers. Furthermore, the resulting systems are just as costly to reconfigure, limiting the flexibility of the resulting manufacturing facility to product changes. This research examines a localized decision-making scheme, in which individual manufacturing components are enhanced with an amount of intelligence and autonomy to enable the system to automatically self-program. Through an example, we study this paradigm versus fixed programming alternatives as the stochastic variability of the manufacturing setting increases. Localized Decision-Making enables a plug-n-play autonomy that can readily adapt to changes and deal with uncertainties in manufacturing.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
A data compression method applicable to first-order convergent iterative procedures

A data compression method is presented that is generally applicable to first-order convergent iterative procedures that employ subspace expansions or extrapolations based on successive correction vectors. This method is based on the truncation of insignificant information in successive correction vectors. Although the correction vectors themselves may be severely truncated with the proposed approach, the final solution vector may be represented to arbitrary accuracy. A feature of the proposed method is that more slowly convergent iterative procedures allow the correction vectors to be more severely truncated without affecting the overall convergence rate. The method is implemented and applied to the iterative Davidson diagonalization method. If the compressed representation of the expansion vectors can be held in main computer memory, then a significant reduction in the I/O requirements is achieved.
Balanced Central Schemes for the Shallow Water Equations on Unstructured Grids

We present a two-dimensional, well-balanced, central-upwind scheme for approximating solutions of the shallow water equations in the presence of a stationary bottom topography on triangular meshes. Our starting point is the recent central scheme of Kurganov and Petrova (KP) for approximating solutions of conservation laws on triangular meshes. In order to extend this scheme from systems of conservation laws to systems of balance laws one has to find an appropriate discretization of the source terms. We first show that for general triangulations there is no discretization of the source terms that corresponds to a well-balanced form of the KP scheme. We then derive a new variant of a central scheme that can be balanced on triangular meshes. We note in passing that it is straightforward to extend the KP scheme to general unstructured conformal meshes. This extension allows us to recover our previous well-balanced scheme on Cartesian grids. We conclude with several simulations, verifying the second-order accuracy of our scheme as well as its well-balanced properties.
Dual Blockade of the Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System: Beyond the ACE Inhibitor and Angiotensin-II Receptor Blocker Combination

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), an important regulator of blood pressure as well as fluid and electrolyte balance, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Blockade of the RAAS with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-II (ANG-II) receptor blockers (ARBs) lowers blood pressure, decreases morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, and decreases proteinuria and the rate of decline in renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease. Although these drugs are highly effective and are widely used in the management of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, current treatment regimens with ACEIs and ARBs may not completely suppress the RAAS. Combinations of ACEIs and ARBs have been shown to be superior to either agent alone for some, but certainly not all, composite cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. With the growing appreciation of the role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of cardiorenal diseases and the recent approval of the direct renin inhibitor (DRI), aliskiren, additional combination strategies have emerged that may offer novel ways to more fully suppress the RAAS. This review examines what is presently known about ACEI/ARB combination therapy and explores alternative combination strategies that include DRIs and mineralocorticoid receptor blockers (MRBs).
Kinetics of isothermal hydrogenation of magnesium with TiH2 additive

Abstract Ball-milled magnesium hydride with titanium hydride as a catalytic additive has been demonstrated to have excellent hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics in recent studies, and is considered to be a promising material for hydrogen storage and thermal energy storage applications. The present work investigated the hydrogenation kinetics of this material across a wide temperature range, from room temperature to 200 °C using a Sieverts type apparatus. The kinetics tests were conducted under a methodically designed isothermal condition to minimize the thermal gradient effect, which is often neglected in the literature. It was found that the hydrogenation kinetics under isothermal conditions were significantly different from those under non-isothermal conditions. Additionally, it was determined that the hydrogenation kinetics under isothermal conditions were numerically best fit by the Johnson–Mehl–Arrami model.
HRP study of cerebellar corticonuclear-nucleocortical topography of the dorsal culminate lobule--lobule V--in a prosimian primate (Galago): with comments on nucleocortical cell types.

The distribution of retrogradely labeled cerebellar nucleocortical (NC) cells and anterogradely labeled corticonuclear (CN) fibers was investigated in a prosimian primate (Galago) by means of horseradish peroxidase as a tracer. Iontophoretic and pressure injections were made in the cortex of lobule V and the resultant patterns of label were determined in the cerebellar nuclei. Following iontophoretic injections in vermal (zone A), intermediate (zones C1, C3), and lateral (zone D) cortices, retrogradely labeled cells were present in medial (NM), anterior interposed (NIA), and lateral (NL) cerebellar nuclei, respectively. Larger injections that involved A-C2 zones resulted in NC label in NM, medial NIA, and throughout the posterior interposed (NIP) nucleus. Retrogradely labeled NC cells were usually found in areas of their respective nuclei that also contained anterogradely filled CN axons. In addition, retrogradely labeled cells were seen contralateral to some injections. Contralateral NC cells were found mainly in the NM and NIP and seemed to be labeled in response to injections that involved zones A, C2, and possibly x on the opposite side. No contralateral CN labeling was seen. It appears that the NC projections of lobule V follows a basic zonal (sagittal) orientation and that most are reciprocal to CN fibers arising from the same cortical area. There is evidence of zonal heterogeneity in the ipsilateral NC projection. Iontophoretic injections placed in adjacent zones resulted in markedly different numbers of retrogradely labeled NC cells in their respective nuclei. Also, after pressure injections that involved two or more adjoining zones, the number of labeled NC cells was large in one nucleus but minimal in an adjacent nucleus. These data suggest that different cerebellar cortical zones have quantitatively different NC input; this may relate to specific functional demands placed on each nucleus and its corresponding cortical zone. On the basis of their known connections, it is hypothesized that there are at least three and possibly four categories of NC cells. Ipsilateral reciprocal NC cells are found in, or on the periphery of, CN terminal fields formed by axons originating from the same cortical area to which the NC cells project. Ipsilateral nonreciprocal NC cells are located outside the CN terminal field and may even be found in an adjacent nucleus; these are fewer in number than the reciprocal population. Contralateral NC cells are found in the opposite cerebellar nuclei and appear to be topographically related to the ipsilateral contingent as well as to the injection site. It is probable that different types of NC cells have individualized functional characteristics.
A review and synthesis of monoterpene speciation from forests in the United States.

Abstract The monoterpene composition (emission and tissue internal concentration) of major forest tree species in the United States is discussed. Of the 14 most commonly occurring compounds (α-pinene, β-pinene, Δ3-carene, d-limonene, camphene, myrcene, α-terpinene, β-phellandrene, sabinene, ρ-cymene, ocimene, α-thujene, terpinolene, and γ-terpinene), the first six are usually found to be most abundant. Expected regional variability based on the monoterpene composition fingerprints and corresponding tree species distribution and abundance is examined. In the southeast, α-pinene and β-pinene seem to dominate monoterpene emissions, while in the northern forests emissions are distributed more evenly among the six major compounds. In some parts of western forests, β-pinene and Δ3-carene can be more abundant than α-pinene. Among the other eight compounds, β-phellandrene and sabinene occasionally are significant percentages of expected local monoterpene emissions. Ocimene and ρ-cymene are estimated to be more common in regions dominated by deciduous broadleaf forests, although total emission rates are generally lower for these forests relative to those dominated by conifers. These percentages are compared with monoterpene composition measured in ambient air at various sites. Estimated monoterpene emission composition based on local forest species composition agrees fairly well with ambient measurements for the six major compounds. The past assumption that α-pinene composes approximately 50% of total monoterpene emissions appears reasonable for many areas, except for possibly the northern coniferous forests and some areas in the west dominated by true firs, spruce, and western pines (lodgepole and ponderosa pines). The oxygenated monoterpenes such as camphor, bornyl acetate, and cineole often compose high percentages of the monoterpenes within plant tissues, but are much less abundant in emission samples. Even after adjusting for lower vapor pressures of these compounds, emission rates relative to the hydrocarbon monoterpenes are often lower than would be expected from their internal concentrations. More study is warranted on monoterpene emission rates and composition, especially from the spruces, true firs, hemlocks, cedars, and some deciduous species such as the maples. Non-invasive canopy level and whole ecosystem flux studies are also needed to establish uncertainty estimates for monoterpene emission models.
An Examination of Lanthanide Additives on the Performance of Cu-YSZ Cermet Anodes

Abstract The effect of various lanthanide additives on the performance of Cu–yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), cermet anodes for solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) was investigated at 973 K for H2 and the direct oxidation of butane. In all cases, the lanthanide oxides were added to the SOFC by impregnation of a porous YSZ matrix with aqueous solutions of the nitrate salts, followed by decomposition of nitrate ions by calcination. Ceria was found to be significantly more effective in promoting SOFC performance compared with the other lanthanides, and the performance of the lanthanide additives followed the catalytic activity observed for butane oxidation with 100 Torr each of butane and O2. Samaria doping of ceria led to a slight decrease in performance but also decreased the catalytic activity of ceria for butane oxidation. Membrane-reactor studies with propylene fed to Cu–molybdena–YSZ anodes at 723 K showed a high selectivity to acrolein, while Cu–ceria–YSZ anodes showed only total oxidation products under these conditions, implying that the catalytic properties of the oxides must be important. Finally, the application of these results to improved SOFC for direct oxidation of hydrocarbons is discussed.
Picosecond field-assisted photoemission from yttrium microstructures

We report the in situ formation of nearly periodic microstructures of different grain size by a 266-nm, 10-psec, 10-Hz laser beam with different energies. Photoelectric emission from these surfaces exhibits enhancement of photoelectric quantum efficiency caused by the changes in the work function and optical absorption. Because of the microstructures, the surface field is also enhanced over the applied field, leading to field-assisted photoemission. For the voltages applied in these experiments, the electron yield increases nearly linearly with the applied field, owing to the Schottky effect. A least-squares fit of the data to the theoretical expression for emission under the Schottky effect yields surface field enhancements of 8–15 over the applied field.
Novel field-induced asymmetry in the remanent magnetization of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O7

THE dynamics of trapped vortices of magnetic flux in the high-Tc oxide superconductors have been much studied1–4, but remain poorly understood; in particular, we have much to learn about vortex 'creep' at low temperatures. Using a scanning Hall micro-probe to measure directly the spatial and temporal variation of the flux density in YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals, we have uncovered a remarkable asymmetry in the magnetization profile, which is induced by the direction of the field (applied normal to the a–b crystal face). The external field imparts a rotation to the vortex motion, which strongly distorts the remanent profile away from the form predicted by conventional critical-state models5. This rotation was not anticipated and, to our knowledge, is not accounted for in existing theories.
Professional education of nurses to care for children who are retarded

Resume Tout comme les autres professions du domaine de la sante, le nursing se preoccupe depuis longtemps de promouvoir et maintenir une sante optimale. En raison de sa preparation professionnelle, l'infirmiere est equipee pour aider l'individu et les familles a faire face aux tensions et crises causees par la maladie ou la mauvaise sante. Lorsqu'elle soigne les arrieres, l'infirmiere se preoccupe surtout de prevention, de depistage des cas des les debuts et de la promotion du developpement optimum de l'enfant arriere. L'administration des soins effectifs et satisfaisants aux arrieres se fonde sur des principes et des pratiques qui sont a la base meme de tous soins infirmiers et representent aussi l'objectif visant a promouvoir et maintenir la sante. Ceci comprend les soins durant la maladie, ainsi que l'aide a l'individu et aux familles au cours des crises de developpement. On commence par faire une evaluation infirmiere en se basant sur l'observation du malade et de sa famille, et sur la communication avec eux; on se familiarise ainsi avec le dossier medical du malade et les tests subis par lui, puis on consulte les infirmieres et autres membres de l'equipe sanitaire qui s'occupent egalement de lui. L'obstacle qui semble limiter, le plus souvent, la capacite de l'infirmiere a administrer des soins de qualite aux personnes arrierees est principalement sa reaction a l'etiquette “arrieration mentale”. Ce label, et le classement des malades sous cette categorie, empechent frequemment l'infirmiere de faire le plein emploi de ses capacites, pour assurer des soins analytiques en sa capacite d'infirmiere professionnelle. L'education effective en soins aux arrieres comporte l'essentiel des soins infirmiers professionnels, bien qu'un effort particulier soit realise pour aider les eleves a reconnaitre et savoir comment vaincre leurs sentiments nes du label “arrieration mentale”. Une preparation adequate aide l'infirmiere a se sentir satisfaite lorsqu'elle reussit a vaincre ce defi de la plau haute importance porte a sa capacite d'infirmiere, notamment la promotion du developpement optimum des enfants et adultes qui ne possedent qu'une seule caracteristique commune, celle d'etre des arrieres mentaux.
A system for providing tactile EMG biofeedback

This report describes a flexible and inexpensive biofeedback system for providing discrete pulses against the skin surface at a frequency proportional to the level of activity from selected muscle groups. The primary components consist of a voltage controlled pulse generator and a tactile transducer. Other system capabilities include the production of digital information for recording devices and the providing of pulsed auditory EMG biofeedback. The system may be particularly applicable for the experimental reduction of psychological and muscle tension.
Active pattern projection for increasing range of pulsed range sensors

Phase-only spatial light modulators provide active pattern projection. Unlike incoherent techniques, the pattern energy is inversely proportional to the total pattern area. If the patterns consist of spots or regions of light energy, it is possible to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio within these regions. A 3DV Systems’ Zmini range finder works with fast switching of the illumination source to form the “light wall” and fast gating of the reflected image entering the camera. Zmini operates by using a high speed shutter to temporally clip the energy field going to one camera chip while allowing the full pulsed energy to go to a second camera chip. The second chip captures the albedo which is effectively pixelwise divided out of the shuttered chip, leaving values that are proportional to depth. Thus, video rate time of flight depth information is attained. By combining these two technologies, we can extend the operating range of the Zmini shuttered depth finder significantly. In this paper, we present a feasibility report on the range property of the Zmini. The spatial light modulator under investigation is a 512 × 512 element, phase-only, liquid crystal device recently produced by Boulder Non-linear Systems Incorporated.
IL-1β decreases expression of amyloid precursor protein gene in human glioma cells

In Alzheimer's disease a small fragment of the amyloid protein precursor (APP), called beta 4, is a characteristic component of senile plaques in brains of affected patients. Efforts to intervene in Alzheimer's disease include approaches by which APP levels can be decreased in brain. The study described here demonstrates the expression of APP gene in four cell lines that originated from human brain glioblastomas. In one line, HTB 17, APP mRNA level was approximately 25% the APP mRNA found in human brain and 150% that found in human liver. To ascertain whether or not APP expression in HTB 17 cells could be modulated by a cytokine associated with the inflammatory response, cells were cultured in the presence of IL-1 beta. A significant decrease in APP mRNA accompanied treatment of glioma cells with IL-1 beta.
The ratio of aerosol optical absorption coefficients to sulfur concentrations, as an indicator of smoke from forest fires when sampling in polar regions

Abstract Analyses of aerosol composition data from seven National Park Service locations in Alaska were performed. All of the sampling sites in Alaska experience aerosol pollution from long distance and regional sources. One of the most important regional sources of particles in the area is wood smoke from forest fires. The Denali National Park aerosol data and the corresponding meteorological data made it possible to identify samples of background (long-range-transported) aerosol, which are likely to be without contamination from local and regional sources. Background values of optical absorption (BABS) and sulfur concentration for this site are well correlated and in ranges of 2 × 10 −7 −50 × 10 −7 m −1 and 10–350 ng m −3 , respectively. Positive matrix factorization method was used for obtaining information about possible sources of aerosol in the remote locations. Seasonal variations with maxima during the winter-spring season and minima in summer were observed for the sulfur concentration but not for BABS. Seasonal variations were always higher for the more northerly locations. The influence of emissions from regional sources on the BABS values was higher than for sulfur concentrations. The ratios of optical absorption coefficient to sulfur concentration were used to characterize the relative influence of regional pollution sources on the measured particle compositions.
Distributed Detection With Adaptive Topology and Nonideal Communication Channels

This paper investigates the increase in detection reliability that an adaptive network (with adaptive topology and channel-dependent decision and fusion rules) can provide, compared with a fixed topology network. We consider a network, consisting of N local detectors and a fusion center (FC), that is tasked with accessing the presence or absence of a phenomenon of interest (POI) at a specific location. The intensity of the signal emitted by the POI when present follows a power law attenuation model. Assuming that sensors transmit binary modulated local decisions over orthogonal nonideal channels, where these channels are modeled as additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) or fading, we consider two classes of network topologies: 1) sequential topology; and 2) parallel topology. Under Bayesian criterion we derive the optimal channel-dependent rules and error probabilities for these topologies and establish the dependency of the errors on the received signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs) of the sensing and communication channels. For N=2, our extensive simulation results indicate that the optimality of parallel network is limited and demonstrate the average performance gain of topology adaptation. The results also reveal that the performance gain and the optimal topology are dictated by the system parameters (e.g., transmit powers and distances) and the design search space (i.e., whether the locations of the local detectors are fixed or optimized).
Mining for allosteric information: natural mutations and positional sequence conservation in pyruvate kinase.

Although the amino acid sequences and the structures of pyruvate kinase (PYK) isozymes are highly conserved, allosteric regulations differ. This suggests that amino acids with low conservation play important roles in the allosteric mechanism. The current work exploits a 'natural screen'- the 122 point mutations identified in the human gene encoding the erythrocyte PYK isozyme and associated with nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia - to learn what amino acid positions in PYK may be important for allosteric regulations. In addition to the mutations, we consider the conservation of each amino acid position across 241 PYK sequences. Three groups of residue positions have been created, those with: (1) no disease causing mutation identified; (2) a disease causing mutation identified and high conservation across isozymes; and (3) a disease causing mutation identified and low conservation. Mutations at positions not identified in the natural screen are likely to be tolerated with minimal loss of function. Mutations at highly conserved positions are more likely to disrupt properties common to all PYK isozymes (e.g., structure, catalysis). Residues in the third group are likely to be involved in roles that are necessary for function but not common to all isozymes (e.g., allostery). Many of the Group 3 residues are located in the C-domain and to a lesser extent the A domain. IUBMB Life, 58: 31 - 38, 2006
Computer simulation of multi-storey structures subjected to ground motion

Abstract A hybrid computer system has been used to simulate some five-storey structures excited by ground motion. Five types of buildings were investigated to find the effect of some structural parameters on the dynamic response of the buildings. The factors that have been considered are the distribution of stiffness and mass in the structure, the type of foundation condition, and the action of viscous damping. The results indicate that it may be reasonable to calculate the base shear forces, created by ground motion, as a function of the fundamental period of the building. In the case of lightly damped structures, however, the distribution of forces through the height of the structure is also shown to be dependent on the other dynamic characteristics of the building, as well as the frequency content of the ground motion. Viscous damping considerably reduces the forces acting on a structure, and also tends to eliminate modes of vibration other than the fundamental. A pinned-end foundation condition is also shown to reduce the forces acting on the lower storeys of a building compared with the fixed-end condition.
Influence of phonons on exciton transfer dynamics: comparison of the Redfield, Förster, and modified Redfield equations

Abstract The effect of the reorganization of phonons on exciton transfer dynamics is examined. Starting from a general quantum master equation, we obtain population transfer rates for the Redfield, the Forster, and the modified Redfield equations and compare the predictions of these three models over various ranges of parameters. It is shown that the validity of the traditional Redfield equation is justified by a broad spectrum of phonons rather than a small magnitude of electron–phonon coupling strength as is usually implied. The modified Redfield equation suggested by Zhang et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 108 (1998) 7763] is shown to have a wide range of applicability and to reduce numerically to the traditional Redfield equation and the Forster equation in the respective limiting cases.
ALIENACIÓN CULTURAL Y DISLOCACIÓN DE LA SUBJETIVIDAD EN "EL AMANTE BILINGÜE" DE JUAN MARSÉ

En este estudio me propongo analizar las visiones de la idea de la identidad y las caracteristicas que la definen dentro del conflicto de la fragmentacion y la multiplicidad en la novela El amante bilingue (1990) de Juan Marse. Marse hace una exploracion de las identidades contemporaneas y la problematica de la identidad individual y colectiva dentro de un espacio temporal y cultural concreto. Esta creacion y exploracion tematica son debidas a los nuevos horizontes y direcciones abiertos en la novela espanola de los anos sesenta con novelas como Tiempo de silencio (1962) de Luis Martin Santos y Senas de identidad (1966) de Juan Goytisolo. La novelistica de ambos escritores supone una superacion del realismo social objetivo y de la norma realista que habia caracterizado a la mayoria de las novelas de la decada anterior. Juan Marse forma tambien parte importante de esta nueva orientacion y renovacion de la novelistica. Su obra Ultimas tardes con Teresa, de 1966, rompe asimismo con la tradicion anterior y abre camino para una novela dialectica. Gonzalo Sobejano analiza la novela como una parodia del realismo social, en cuanto que la novela realista se vuelve indirecta, subjetiva y satirica (349). Siguiendo estas pautas de la critica, la novela El amante bilingue (1990) supone una parodia sarcastica a nivel social, individual y cultural en un ambito temporal y local concreto: la ciudad de Barcelona a finales de los anos ochenta. A finales del siglo xix se habia producido en Cataluna un gran desarrollo industrial. El modernismo habia traido avances economicos, culturales y de afirmacion de una identidad catalana. Sin embargo, la dictadura franquista impuesta despues de la Guerra Civil supuso un retroceso en este sentido de identidad al prohibirse el uso de la lengua catalana en favor de un centralismo impuesto autoritariamente. Con el final del periodo franquista y la transicion a un sistema democratico, se devuelve a Cataluna el derecho a una cultura y un lenguaje propios. Mediante un proceso de “normalizacion” se intenta extender e, incluso, imponer el uso del catalan a una poblacion no
The effects of aging on the cyclic stress-strain behavior and hysteresis loop evolution of lead free solders

Solder joints in electronic assemblies are typically subjected to thermal cycling, either in actual application or in accelerated life testing used for qualification. Mismatches in the thermal expansion coefficients of the assembly materials leads to the solder joints being subjected to cyclic (positive/negative) mechanical strains and stresses. This cyclic loading leads to thermomechanical fatigue damage that involves damage accumulation, crack initiation, crack propagation, and failure. While the effects of aging on solder constitutive behavior (stress-strain and creep) have been examined in some detail, there have been no prior studies on the effects of aging on solder failure and fatigue behavior. In this investigation, we have examined the effects of several parameters (aging, temperature, strain/stress limits, and solder alloy composition) on the cyclic stress-strain behavior of lead free solders. Uniaxial SAC lead free solder specimens were subjected to cyclic (tension/compression) mechanical loading. Samples were cyclically loaded under both strain control (constant positive and negative strain limits) and stress control (constant positive and negative stress limits). The hysteresis loop size (area) was calculated from the measured cyclic stress-strain curves for a given solder alloy and temperature. This area represents the strain energy density dissipated per cycle, which can be typically correlated to the damage accumulation in the joint. Most tests in this investigation were performed with SAC105 solder alloy. However, the effect of solder composition was examined in a limited way by testing four SAC alloys (SAC105, SAC205, SAC305, SAC405) with varying silver content (1–4%) under strain controlled cycling. In addition, the effect of the testing temperature has also been studied by performing cyclic testing of SAC405 samples at four different temperatures (25, 50, 75, and 100 °C). Prior to cyclic loading, the specimens in this study were aged (preconditioned) at 125 °C for various aging times (0–6 months). From the recorded cyclic stress-strain curves, we have been able to characterize and empirically model the evolution of the solder hysteresis loops with aging. Similar to solder stress-strain and creep behaviors, there is a strong effect of aging on the hysteresis loop size (and thus the rate of damage accumulation) in the solder specimens. The observed degradations in the fatigue/cyclic behavior of the lead free solders are highly accelerated for lower silver content alloys (e.g., SAC105), and for aging and testing at higher temperatures. In our current work, we are also subjecting aged solder samples to cyclic loading until failure occurs. Our ultimate goal is to understand the effects of aging on the thermomechanical fatigue life.
Predictive Value and Discriminant Capacity of Cepstral- and Spectral-Based Measures During Continuous Speech

Summary Objectives/Hypothesis The purpose of this study was to determine the relative strength of various cepstral- and spectral-based measures for predicting dysphonia severity and differentiating voice quality types. Study Design Prospective, quasi-experimental research design. Methods Twenty-eight dysphonic speakers and 14 normal speakers were included in this study. Among the dysphonic speakers, 14 had a predominant voice quality of breathiness and 14 had a predominant voice quality of roughness. Cepstral and spectral analyses of the first and second sentences of the Rainbow passage were performed, along with perceptual ratings of overall dysphonia severity. Linear regression was performed to determine the predictive capacity of each variable for dysphonia severity, and discriminant analysis determined the combination of variables that optimally differentiated the three voice quality types. Results A four-factor model that incorporated the cepstral- and spectral-based measures produced an R value of 0.899, explaining 81% of the variance in auditory-perceptual dysphonia severity. Cepstral peak prominence (CPP) showed the greatest predictive contribution to dysphonia severity in the regression model. The discriminant analysis produced two discriminant functions that included both CPP and its standard deviation (CPP SD) as significant contributors ( P Conclusions Acoustic measures reflecting the distribution of harmonic energy and low- to high-frequency energy in continuous speech, along with the variability (standard deviations) of each, were highly predictive of dysphonia severity when combined in a multivariate linear model. Cepstral-based measures showed the highest capacity to discriminate voice quality types, with better classification accuracy for normal and dysphonic-breathy than for dysphonic-rough voices.
Internal Ca2+ release in yeast is triggered by hypertonic shock and mediated by a TRP channel homologue

Calcium ions, present inside all eukaryotic cells, are important second messengers in the transduction of biological signals. In mammalian cells, the release of Ca2+ from intracellular compartments is required for signaling and involves the regulated opening of ryanodine and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors. However, in budding yeast, no signaling pathway has been shown to involve Ca2+ release from internal stores, and no homologues of ryanodine or IP3 receptors exist in the genome. Here we show that hyperosmotic shock provokes a transient increase in cytosolic Ca2+ in vivo. Vacuolar Ca2+, which is the major intracellular Ca2+ store in yeast, is required for this response, whereas extracellular Ca2+ is not. We aimed to identify the channel responsible for this regulated vacuolar Ca2+ release. Here we report that Yvc1p, a vacuolar membrane protein with homology to transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, mediates the hyperosmolarity induced Ca2+ release. After this release, low cytosolic Ca2+ is restored and vacuolar Ca2+ is replenished through the activity of Vcx1p, a Ca2+/H+ exchanger. These studies reveal a novel mechanism of internal Ca2+ release and establish a new function for TRP channels.
Clinical nurse leaders in the community: Building an academic faculty practice partnership

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) emphasis on preventive care and primary health has given community organizations and outpatient care environments renewed attention. Nursing has been offered the opportunity to lead healthcare into a new era. One of the two new nursing programs to be given life in this movement is the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). The CNL is a graduate level educated nurse who specializes in healthcare systems leadership, a facilitator of care in the complex healthcare environments of today. They are equipped to see the wider and broader perspective of things, assess needs, research the best interventions for problems identified, implement these interventions, and evaluate the processes and outcomes of the interventions. This paper describes the experience of a school of nursing and health professions and a community non-profit organization in developing a community faculty practice partnership allowing for CNL, nurse practitioner, and Doctorate of Psychology students to be placed at a community clinic serving high-risk patients. The Synergy Model of community partnership formation by Lasker and Weiss is used as the complimentary model to show how the CNL approach to a microsystem can be effectively adopted into the community setting with beneficial outcomes to both parties of the partnership.
Internet-based manufacturing scheduling: architecture and implementation

In view of today's "time-based competition," scheduling manufacturing operations using the most advanced scheduling tools has become a crucial issue for manufacturers. This can be achieved by using an Internet-based scheduling system. The main considerations in designing such a system are how to provide an effective scheduling tool without major investment, and how to ensure fast and easy access for manufacturers who have diversified computational platforms and settings. This paper presents such an Internet-based scheduling system that meets these considerations. The system is a novel combination of judiciously selected components with several architectural design options, and delivers high quality scheduling solutions in a reasonable computational time via a user friendly and secure Internet environment. The testing results are compared for different implementations of scheduling systems and results for problems of different sizes are provided.
High Art Down Home: An Economic Ethnography of a Local Art Market

High Art Down Home: An Economic Ethnography of. Local Art Market. Stuart Planner. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. xiii. 250 pp., index, bibliography, notes, glossary, appendixes, tables, figures.