cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Verification of Expedited Freezing of Nanoparticle-Enhanced Phase Change Materials (NEPCM)

Highly-conductive nano-sized particles are dispersed into phase change materials (PCM) to improve their effective thermal conductivity, thus leading to suspensions that are referred to as nanoparticle-enhanced PCM (NEPCM). In order to assess the extent of expedited phase change due to the enhanced thermal conductivity, the one-dimensional unidirectional freezing process of NEPCM in a finite slab was investigated experimentally. Thermocouple readings were recorded at several equally-spaced locations along the freezing direction in order to monitor the progress of the freezing front. As an example, cyclohexane (C6 H12 ) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were chosen to develop the NEPCM with three different volume fractions (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 vol%). It was shown that the freezing rate for the 0.5 vol% NEPCM is considerably raised as compared to pure cyclohexane. However, further increase of the fraction of nanoparticles to 1.0 and 2.0 vol% did not linearly expedite freezing. Significant sedimentation of nanoparticles was observed for the 2.0 vol% NEPCM. Additionally, in this case the undesirable supercooling phenomenon was enhanced, which suppresses the growth rate of the solidified NEPCM.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Rewriting the Qing Constitution: Bao Shichen's “On Wealth” (Shuochu)

In 1801, with Heshen recently deposed and the Jiaqing emperor having assumed his personal rule, a young household tutor named Bao Shichen wrote an ambitious essay—Shuochu (On Wealth)—laying out the reforms he believed would set the Qing empire back on the path to political strength and economic prosperity. Although Bao would go on to achieve celebrity as a reformist advisor to high-ranking policy-makers, this particular work, in which he presents his most comprehensive statement on political economy, remained unpublished for more than a century. In the final decade of the Qing it was rediscovered and published by Liu Shipei and his associates in the National Essence (guocui) movement, hailed as a prescient document anticipating current political trends and presenting strong similarities to Western political practice. The present article explores the content of this work in detail, arguing that, despite its relatively cautious tone, it does indeed offer a bold and somewhat populist revision of the unwritten constitution that governed the Qing empire.
Inspiration, Coalition, and Substitution: External Influences on Postcommunist Transformations

There has been a recent explosion of interest in the external influences on the political and economic transformations of postcommunist states. This article consolidates several analytical advances in this literature and distills three main functions of external actors, namely, to lengthen the time horizons ofpostcommunist politicians, to expand the circle of interested reformers, and t o deter opponents of reform. The article argues that a focus on external influences is a growth area for good conceptual work only if it addresses the union of foreign and domestic influences, rather than treating them as stylized alternative explanations. The central point is that outside actors should be considered as striving to influence the choices of existing domestic actors with whom they can be seen to form a kind of informal coalition. At bottom, outsiders do best through a combination of strategies: strengthening domestic actors already committed to their approach, winning over new domestic actors to their priorities, and preventing the unconvinced from obstructing reforms.
Characterization of a blood-meal-responsive proton-dependent amino acid transporter in the disease vector, Aedes aegypti.

SUMMARY After anautogenous mosquitoes ingest the required blood meal, proteins in it are rapidly cleaved, yielding a large pool of amino acids. Transport of these amino acids into gut epithelial cells and their subsequent translocation into other tissues is critical for oogenesis and other physiological processes. We have identified a proton amino acid transporter (PAT) in Aedes aegypti (AaePAT1, AAEL007191) which facilitates this transport and is expressed in epithelial cell membranes of larval caecae and the adult midgut. AaePAT1 encodes a 475 amino acid protein showing high similarity to Anopheles gambiae AGAP009896, Culex pipiens CPIJ011438 and Drosophila melanogaster CG7888. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes the transport kinetics showed AaePAT1 is a low affinity transporter with low substrate specificity, having K m and V max values of about 7.2 mmol l –1 and 69 pmol oocyte –1 min –1 , respectively, for glutamine. A number of other amino acids are also transported by this PAT. In female adult midgut, AaePAT1 transcript levels were induced after ingestion of a blood meal.
The Ferrier Lecture: Neuroglial Cells: Physiological Properties and a Potassium Mediated Effect of Neuronal Activity on the Glial Membrane Potential

Neuroglial cells constitute a separate class of cells in the nervous system; they have been studied intensively since their original description by Virchow in 1846. As a rule anatomists find no difficulty in recognizing them by their staining properties, their shape and configuration as well as by their characteristic location between and around neurons. Electron microscopy has in recent years added much important subcellular detail and has shown how intermingled neurons and glial cells are, being separated from each other by narrow clefts 100 to 200 A wide (figures 1 A, B and 5, plates 1, 2 and 4). These studies have not changed the well-established grouping of mammalian glial cells into two main classes, the oligodendrocytes and the astrocytes . It is customary to state that glial cells outnumber neurons by 10 to 1 in the vertebrate nervous sytem. They are, however, smaller and according to some rough estimates they make up as much as 50% of the volume of mammalian brains. That glial cells differ significantly from neurons was clear from the beginning because they do not possess axons and, unlike mammalian neurons, they retain their ability to divide throughout life. The possible role of the large mass of glial cells in our nervous system has been of continued interest. During the past decade this interest in the physiology of neuroglia has been reinforced, largely under the stimulus of electron-microscopic and chemical studies of the nervous system. Among the numerous recent reviews and symposia only a few will be mentioned (Windle 1958; Nakai 1963; Mugnaini & Walberg 1964). The recent studies of the physiology of neuroglial cells have been reviewed by Kufller & Nicholls (1966) and a biblio­graphy on neuroglia has been compiled by Little & Morris (1965).
On the choice of optimum FET size in wide-band transimpedance amplifiers

The main figure of merit for transimpedance amplifiers used in amplifying photocurrents in fiber-optics systems is the optical sensitivity. This sensitivity is determined by the equivalent input noise current of the amplifier. To obtain the best noise performance, most transimpedance amplifiers with FET input stages are designed using a result that prescribes making the capacitance of the input FET equal to the photodiode capacitance. It is shown that this is not necessarily the most favorable practice when using FETs in scaled submicrometer technologies. For example, it may compromise the stability of the amplifier. >
IFN-γ and TNF-α production in γ-irradiated blood units by mononuclear cells and GVHD prevention

Abstract Gamma-radiation of blood products is considered the mainstay of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease prevention. Previous studies have detected lymphocyte inhibition rate in blood components just one time after irradiation but there is evidence of cellular variability with production of cytokines at different storage time which could be related with irradiation activity and cellular damage repair. IFN-γ, a Th1 cytokine, and TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory one, had a central role in the stimulation of cellular and inflammatory reactions. In this study whole blood was collected from five volunteer healthy donors and each donor bag was divided into two satellite bags: one of them was exposed to 137Cs-irradiation with a 2500 cGy dose. Samples for cytokine production, detected by ELISA methods, and proliferative response, evaluated by incorporation of H 3 thymidine, were taken at the following storage time: 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The time-response curve of irradiated mononuclear cells from blood bags (BBMC) in mitogenic activation showed a time-related inhibition of cell proliferation with an enhanced response only after 24 h of storage and about 84% inhibition at 96 h. A similar pattern is follow by IFN-γ production after OKT3 stimulation. TNF-α levels both in lipopolysaccharide stimulated or unstimulated cells were always high. This data suggest that BBMC cells maintain the ability to produce cytokines after γ-radiation. On the ground of this study seems to be necessary to evaluate hypothetical risk associated with the administration of cytokine via irradiated blood components.
Self‐administered treatments for depression: A review

Although there are numerous self-help books for depression, relatively few have been empirically tested. However, those that have been used in clinical trials have fared well, with an average effect size roughly equivalent to the average effect size obtained in psychotherapy studies. Computer-based treatments are being developed and appear promising as an alternative to bibliotherapy for those interested in self-administered treatments. This article provides a summary of the depression bibliotherapy literature and discusses several remaining questions such as effectiveness versus efficacy, practice applications, ethics, and future research.
Postthrombotic vein wall remodeling: Preliminary observations

Background Postthrombotic syndrome is characterized by a fibrotic vein injury following deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We sought to quantify the change in vein wall thickness in patients who fail to resolve DVT by 6 months and whether there were differences in blood or plasma levels of inflammatory proteins associated with venous remodeling. Methods Patients presenting with confirmed lower extremity DVT were prospectively recruited for this study. Duplex imaging of the lower extremity venous system was performed, and blood was collected at entrance and repeat evaluation with blood draw and ultrasound imaging at 1 and 6 months. DVT resolution and thickness of the vein wall was quantified by ultrasound imaging in each segment affected by thrombus, and a contralateral, unaffected vein wall served as a control. Gene and protein expression of inflammatory markers were examined from leukocytes and serum, respectively. Analysis of variance or Student t-tests were used, and a P Results Thirty-two patients (12 patients with DVT resolution at 6 months, 10 patients with persistent thrombus at 6 months, and 10 healthy controls) were compared. Both resolving and nonresolving DVT were associated with a 1.5- to 1.8-fold increased vein wall thickness at 6 months (P = .008) as compared with nonaffected vein wall segments. However, the thickness of the affected segments was 1.4-fold greater in patients who had total resolution of the DVT by 6 months than in patients who had persistent chronic thrombus 6 months after presentation (P = .01). There was a four- to five-fold increased level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) antigen in thrombosed patients compared with nonthrombosed patient controls (P Conclusions This preliminary study suggests ongoing vein wall remodeling after DVT, measurable by ultrasound and associated with certain biomarkers. At 6 months, the vein wall is markedly thickened and directly correlates with resolution. This suggests that the vein wall response is initiated early following thrombus formation and persists even in the presence of total resolution.
Neutrophil Emigration in the Skin, Lungs, and Peritoneum: Different Requirements for CD11/CD18 Revealed by CD18-deficient Mice

To determine the role of CD11/CD18 complexes in neutrophil emigration, inflammation was induced in the skin, lungs, or peritoneum of mutant mice deficient in CD18 (CD18−/− mutants). Peripheral blood of CD18−/− mutants contained 11-fold more neutrophils than did blood of wild-type (WT) mice. During irritant dermatitis induced by topical application of croton oil, the number of emigrated neutrophils in histological sections of dermis was 98% less in CD18−/− mutants than in WT mice. During Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, neutrophil emigration in CD18−/− mutants was not reduced. These data are consistent with expectations based on studies using blocking antibodies to inhibit CD11/CD18 complexes, and on observations of humans lacking CD11/CD18 complexes. The number of emigrated neutrophils in lung sections during Escherichia coli pneumonia, or in peritoneal lavage fluid after 4 h of S. pneumoniae peritonitis, was not reduced in CD18−/− mutants, but rather was greater than the WT values (240 ± 30 and 220 ± 30% WT, respectively). Also, there was no inhibition of neutrophil emigration during sterile peritonitis induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate (90 ± 20% WT). These data contrast with expectations. Whereas CD11/CD18 complexes are essential to the dermal emigration of neutrophils during acute dermatitis, CD18−/− mutant mice demonstrate surprising alternative pathways for neutrophil emigration during pneumonia or peritonitis.
High-sensitivity, high-speed InGaAs photoconductive detector

In0.53Ga0.47As photoconductive detectors with low dark current and high speed are obtained by multiple energy H bombardment on p-type material. The dark current of the detectors is 10μA, the detectivity at 1.31μm is 1 A/W and the bandwidth is 1.8 GHz at a source-drain bias of 6V for 5μm contact spacing.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA IN A PRE-ADOLESCENT GIRL: A MULTIMODAL BEHAVIOUR THERAPY APPROACH*

— A multimodal method of behavioural therapy was used in the case of a pre-adolescent girl with anorexia nervosa. This followed two previous admissions to a paediatric department. Three main conclusions emerged from pre and post therapy objective evaluations. Weight gain in anorexia is a necessary but insufficient basis for sustained improvement. Important interactive psychosocial factors have to be adequately addressed to improve the chances of effective therapy. A focused approach relevant to each of a number of important different, but overlapping, areas is likely to facilitate better potential for treatment effectiveness than a general (‘non-specific’) management approach.
Plasmonics: Chip-based component devices and metamaterials

Dispersion control and active materials integration have yielded plasmonic components including i) three-dimensional single layer plasmonic metamaterials ii) all-optical, electro-optic and field effect modulation of plasmon propagation iii) plasmon-enhanced absorption in solar cells.
Perioperative Voice Recovery: A Wound-Healing Perspective

To describe the wound healing process through an oversimplified graphic, a classic cartoon in a Dermatology Clinics textbook shows a Volkswagen Beetle, with the license plate TRAUMA that has driven...
Real-time adaptive optimization of wavefront reconstruction algorithms for closed-loop adaptive optical systems

In recent years several methods have been presented for optimizing closed-loop adaptive-optical (AO) wave-front re- construction algorithms. These algorithms, which can significantly improve the performance of AO systems, compute the reconstruction matrix using measured atmospheric statistics. Since atmospheric conditions vary on time scales of minutes, it becomes necessary to constantly update the reconstruction so that it adjusts to the changing atmospheric statistics. This paper presents a method for adaptively optimizing the reconstructor of a closed-loop AO system in real time. The method relies on recursive least square techniques to track the temporal and spatial correlations of the turbulent wave-front. The performance of this method is examined for a sample scenario in which the AO control algorithm attempts to compensate for signal processing latency by reconstructing the future value of the wave-front from a combination of past and current wave-front sensor measurements. For this case, the adaptive reconstruction algorithm yields Strehl ratios within a few percent of those obtained by an optimal reconstructor derived from a priori knowledge of the strength of the turbulence and the velocity of the wind. This level of performance can be a dramatic improvement over the Strehls achievable with a conventional least squares reconstructor.
An Additive Increase Smooth Decrease (AISD) Strategy for Data and Streaming Applications

Voice over IP and video applications continue to increase the amount of real-time traffic over the Internet. These applications utilize the UDP protocol because TCP is not suitable for streaming applications since its congestion control mechanism can change the connection's transmission rate drastically, affecting the user-perceived quality of the transmission. Nonetheless, the use of end-to-end flow and congestion control mechanisms for streaming applications has been acknowledged as an important measure to ease or eliminate the congestion collapse problem in the Internet, and the unfairness problem that exist when TCP and UDP share the same congested bottleneck link. In this paper, we propose the smooth fair TCP SACK-based (SF-SACK) protocol to address these problems. SF-SACK implements the well-known end-to-end window-based congestion control algorithm of TCP but uses an additive increase smooth decrease (AISD) strategy that considers history in the evolution of the congestion window. Through simulations and experimentation, we show that if SF-SACK is used by both streaming and data-oriented applications, streaming applications receive a smooth service, and fairness is achieved. If SF-SACK is used for streaming applications only, it is unfair to TCP (not TCP-friendly) but substantially fairer and beneficial than UDP.
Contribution of catabolic tissue replacement to the turnover of stable isotopes in Danio rerio

Stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in organisms can trace nutrient sources and determine trophic interactions. However, time is required for an organism to reflect the isotopic composition of its diet. The rate at which an organism incorporates the isotopic signature of its food has a growth (k) component and a metabolic tissue replacement (m) component. This study shows that metabolic tissue replacement accounts for between 68% and 80% of the observed changes in isotopic signature in zebra danio (Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822)) muscle following a dietary shift, with the remainder owing to growth of new tissue. The half-lives of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur were ~53, ~147 and ~58 days, respectively. This indicates that a significant period of isotopic disequilibria exists before zebra danio resemble dietary isotopic composition. These results show that catabolic replacement of tissue, as well as growth, must be taken into account when predicting the rate of isotope incorporation in warm-water f...
Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use Among Adolescents The Influence of Bonds to Family and School

There has been a tremendous increase in the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use among adolescents in recent years. Research now indicates that the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use is greater than the prevalence of other illicit drug use, excluding marijuana. Despite these recent trends, there is a dearth of research in the social sciences on this issue. Furthermore, existing research on this topic is largely atheoretical. Using the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative survey of persons age 12 and older, the current study examines the impact of social bonds to family and school on nonmedical prescription drug use among adolescents. The findings provide support for social control theory. Adolescents with strong bonds to family and school are less likely to report nonmedical prescription drug use. Important implications and future research needs are discussed.
Explicit constructions of algebraic-geometric codes

We propose a simple construction of algebraic-geometric codes which are subcodes of Goppa codes and which coincide with Goppa codes in many cases. The codes we construct have the advantage that for an explicitly given extension of the rational function field, one can easily obtain explicit bases and therefore an exact formula for the dimension. Furthermore, we show that in many cases good upper and lower bounds for the minimum distance can be obtained
Missed, Misused, or Mismanaged Improving Early Detection Systems to Optimize Child Outcomes

Early detection efforts have been shown to vary greatly in practice, and there is a general lack of systematic accountability built into monitoring early detection effort impact. This article reviews current early detection practices and the drawbacks of these practices, with particular attention given to prevalent issues of mismeasurement, misuse, and mismanagement across the Child Find system under Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The benefits of a nationally recognized research and/or consensus-driven "baseline definition" for which children should be deemed Early Intervention (EI) or Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) eligible are discussed. Recommendations are provided to better identify and serve young children with developmental-behavioral problems (as well as their families), and to cultivate more cohesive standards for professional practice in referring children for appropriate medical, social, and educational services. Language: en
Three‐Dimensional and Stereo Observations in Glass and Ceramic Systems

The secondary electron emission mode of the scanning electron microscope, used for the observation of surface topography, can be implemented by selective etching of specimens. Further enhancement of the three-dimensional nature of scanning electron micrographs may be obtained by employing stereomicroscopy techniques. The three-dimensional aspect of micrographs at high magnification is especially useful in studying micro-structural details of a broad range of materials. Secondary electron emission variation, caused by compositional differences, can provide additional information. Examples of the study of phase separation in glass, pore morphology in porous glass, surface character as well as size and shape of glass spheres and ground glass particles, and nucleation and crystal growth at interfaces and in glass-crystal systems are illustrated.
Perspectives on Technology in Learning and Teaching Languages

Rapid evolution of communication technologies has changed language pedagogy and language use, enabling new forms of discourse, new forms of authorship, and new ways to create and participate in communities. The first section of this article identifies and discusses four key issues arising from the recent technology-related literature (the status of CALL, its theoretical grounding, its cultural embeddedness, and its effectiveness). The second section synthesizes research findings from three current areas of research: computer-mediated communication, electronic literacies, and telecollaboration. The third section develops implications for teaching and research, highlighting the importance of the teacher, new understandings of language and communication, critical awareness of the relationships among technology, language, culture, and society, and new trends in research methods.
Effects of Melatonin on Appetite and Other Symptoms in Patients With Advanced Cancer and Cachexia: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Purpose Prior studies have suggested that melatonin, a frequently used integrative medicine, can attenuate weight loss, anorexia, and fatigue in patients with cancer. These studies were limited by a lack of blinding and absence of placebo controls. The primary purpose of this study was to compare melatonin with placebo for appetite improvement in patients with cancer cachexia. Patients and Methods We performed a randomized, double-blind, 28-day trial of melatonin 20 mg versus placebo in patients with advanced lung or GI cancer, appetite scores ≥ 4 on a 0 to 10 scale (10 = worst appetite), and history of weight loss ≥ 5%. Assessments included weight, symptoms by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, and quality of life by the Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT) questionnaire. Differences between groups from baseline to day 28 were analyzed using one-sided, two-sample t tests or Wilcoxon two-sample tests. Interim analysis halfway through the trial had a Lan-DeMets monitoring boundary...
Synthesis and bioassay of improved mosquito repellents predicted from chemical structure.

Mosquito repellency data on acylpiperidines derived from the U.S. Department of Agriculture archives were modeled by using molecular descriptors calculated by CODESSA PRO software. An artificial neural network model was developed for the correlation of these archival results and used to predict the repellent activity of novel compounds of similar structures. A series of 34 promising N-acylpiperidine mosquito repellent candidates (4a–4q′) were synthesized by reactions of acylbenzotriazoles 2a–2p with piperidines 3a–3f. Compounds (4a–4q′) were screened as topically applied mosquito repellents by measuring the duration of repellency after application to cloth patches worn on the arms of human volunteers. Some compounds that were evaluated repelled mosquitoes as much as three times longer than N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), the most widely used repellent throughout the world. The newly measured durations of repellency were used to obtain a superior correlation equation relating mosquito repellency to molecular structure.
Powering autonomous cubic-millimeter devices

The reported results are concerned with powering miniature autonomous devices using radio-frequency (RF) energy, not requiring batteries or wires. The century-old concept of transmitting energy using RF is now practical for numerous applications. The method of evaluating the receiving area of miniature antennas is presented, and implemented using a particular antenna profile with inherent electrical inductance and capacitance properties. The research demonstrates the ability to obtain the theoretical antenna effective area. The results facilitate the economical fabrication of an antenna as an integral part of a printed circuit board or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device
Ecological sensitivity: a biospheric view of climate change

Climate change is often characterized in terms of climate sensitivity, the globally averaged temperature rise associated with a doubling of the atmospheric CO2 (equivalent) concentration. In this study, we develop and apply two new ecological sensitivity metrics, analogs of climate sensitivity, to investigate the potential degree of plant community changes over the next three centuries. We use ten climate simulations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, with climate sensitivities from 2–4°C. The concept of climate sensitivity depends upon the continuous nature of the temperature field across the Earth’s surface. For this research, the bridge between climate change and biospheric change predictions is provided by the Equilibrium Vegetation Ecology model (EVE), which simulates a continuous description of the Earth’s terrestrial plant communities as a function of climate. The ecosensitivity metrics applied to the results of EVE simulations at the end of the twenty-first century result in 49% of the Earth’s land surface area undergoing plant community changes and 37% of the world’s terrestrial ecosystems undergoing biome-scale changes. EVE is an equilibrium model, and, although rates of ecological change are not addressed, the resultant ecological sensitivity projections provide an estimate of the degree of species turnover that must occur for ecosystems to be in equilibrium with local climates. Regardless of equilibrium timescales, the new metrics highlight the Earth’s degree of ecological sensitivity while identifying ecological “hotspots” in the terrestrial biosphere’s response to projected climate changes over the next three centuries.
THE ABUSE OF PROBABILITY IN POLITICAL ANALYSIS: THE ROBINSON CRUSOE FALLACY

The decision to stay at home when you have no umbrella and rain is probable is an appropriate problem for decision theory. The decision to speed when you are in a hurry and the police might be patrolling is a game against a rational opponent. Treating the latter like a problem for decision theory is what I call the Robinson Crusoe fallacy. It is quite common and leads to incorrect conclusions. If the game has no pure strategy equilibrium, changes in the payoffs to a player affect not that player's strategy but the strategy of the opponent in equilibrium. For example, modifying the size of the penalty does not affect the frequency of crime commitment at equilibrium, but rather the frequency of law enforcement. I provide examples of this fallacy in regulation, international economic sanctions, and organization theory and argue that it stems from inappropriate use of the concept of probability.
A submillimeter-wave planar diode mixer-design and evaluation

A 345-GHz mixer using a planar GaAs Schottky diode has been designed and tested. The design process used nonlinear and linear numerical mixer analysis as well as scale-model impedance measurements. Using a planar diode eliminates the disadvantages of mechanical instability and labor-intensive assembly associated with conventional whisker-contacted diodes. Test results indicate performance on the same level as that of the best whisker-contacted room-temperature mixers for submillimeter wavelengths. >
Simulated maximum likelihood estimation of multivariate mixed‐Poisson regression models, with application

This paper proposes and implements simulated maximum likelihood estimation of bivariate count models with unrestricted correlation pattern of unobserved eterogeneity. The implementation incorporates both antithetic acceleration and adjustment for first-order simulation bias. Both the Monte Carlo simulation evidence and an application to health utilization data confirm that the method is reliable and feasible in data analysis.
A Dynamic Model for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among U.S. Troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom

We develop a dynamic model in which Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) servicemembers incur a random amount of combat stress during each month of deployment, develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if their cumulative stress exceeds a servicemember-specific threshold, and then develop symptoms of PTSD after an additional time lag. Using Department of Defense deployment data and Mental Health Advisory Team PTSD survey data to calibrate the model, we predict that---because of the long time lags and the fact that some surveyed servicemembers experience additional combat after being surveyed---the fraction of Army soldiers and Marines who eventually suffer from PTSD will be approximately twice as large as in the raw survey data. We cannot put a confidence interval around this estimate, but there is considerable uncertainty (perhaps ±30%). The estimated PTSD rate translates into ≈300,000 PTSD cases among all Army soldiers and Marines in OIF, with ≈20,000 new cases each year the war is prolonged. The heterogeneity of threshold levels among servicemembers suggests that although multiple deployments raise an individual's risk of PTSD, in aggregate, multiple deployments lower the total number of PTSD cases by ≈30% relative to a hypothetical case in which the war was fought with many more servicemembers (i.e., a draft) deploying only once. The time lag dynamics suggest that, in aggregate, reserve servicemembers show symptoms ≈1--2 years before active servicemembers and predict that >75% of OIF servicemembers who self-reported symptoms during their second deployment were exposed to the PTSD-generating stress during their first deployment.
An Innovative Method of Model Integration to Forecast Spatial Patterns of Shoreline Change: A Case Study of Nags Head, North Carolina*

Many coastal erosion models are designed to be used at transects or discrete points but they produce valid results only for locations that meet a set of well-defined criteria. Results obtained from these models are difficult to generalize, since adjoining areas may not meet these requirements. In this paper, a GIS-based methodology is described for combining the results from two two-dimensional coastal erosion models and a three-dimensional static inundation model to forecast the possible response of a coastline to several alternative sea level rise scenarios. These shoreline forecasts are unique in that they integrate results obtained from several different models and allow graphical representations of these alternative future shorelines to be produced. Coastal planners may use these integrated shoreline forecasts to assess the possible impact of sea level rise on a given region. To demonstrate this methodology a case study was conducted for Nags Head, North Carolina.
Hydrodynamic control of benthic mats of Didymosphenia geminata at the reach scale

Algal blooms caused by the stalk-forming diatom Didymosphenia geminata impact the habitat structure and functioning of stream ecosystems. We evaluated site-specific geomorphic controls on D. gemina...
Algorithms for Efficient Filtering in Content-Based Multicast

Content-Based Multicast is a type of multicast where the source sends a set of different classes of information and not all the subscribers in the multicast group need all the information. Use of filtering publish-subscribe agents on the intermediate nodes was suggested [5] to filter out the unnecessary information on the multicast tree. However, filters have their own drawbacks like processing delays and infrastructure cost. Hence, it is desired to place these filters most efficiently. An O(n2) dynamic programming algorithm was proposed to calculate the best locations for filters that would minimize overall delays in the network [6]. We propose an improvement of this algorithm which exploits the geometry of piecewise linear functions and fast merging of sorted lists, represented by height balanced search trees, to achieve O(n log n) time complexity. Also, we show an improvement of this algorithm which runs in O(n log h) time, where h is the height of the multicast tree. This problem is closely related to p-median and uncapacitated facility location over trees. Theoretically, this is an uncapacitated analogue of the p-inmedian problem on trees as defined in [9].
Fatty acid composition of depot fat of shorebirds collected at mid-continental stopover sites during spring migration

Despite the critical role of fat in providing energy for large-scale seasonal movements, little is known about the fatty acid composition of shorebird depot fat. Fatty acid composition is important because it may impact flight performance and seasonal migratory movements. We analyzed the fatty acid composition of depot fat of 12 species of shorebirds collected during spring migration at stopover sites in Kansas from two different subcutaneous fat depots (furcular and saddle depots). Five fatty acids (palmitate (16:0), palmitoleate (16:1), stearate (18:0), oleate (18:1n-9), and vaccenate (18:1n-7)) accounted for 70-96% of the total composition of depot fat despite the diverse foraging behaviors of the species sampled. This similarity in fatty acid profiles may be due to a limited availability of high-lipid food items in the shallow water and mudflat habitats where migratory shorebirds forage in the southern Great Plains. In addition, shorebird depot fat was composed primarily of long-chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (i.e., 16- and 18-carbon), fatty acids thought to be more easily converted to energy during migration. Depot fat in the furcular depot was similar in composition to fat from the saddle depot, and we found no differences in fatty acid composition of the adipose tissue of males and females. Thus, our results suggest that representative shorebird depot fat fatty acid profiles can be obtained even if investigators are limited to sampling one sex, and that adipose tissue collected from saddle depots provide representative samples so biopsies can be limited to areas of the body with the least impact on flight performance.
Effect of the presence of remnant thyroid tissue on the serum thyroid hormone balance in thyroidectomized patients

OBJECTIVE We and others recently reported that in total thyroidectomy (TT), serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels during levothyroxine (L-T4) therapy were low compared to the preoperative levels, suggesting that the presence of the thyroid tissue affects the balances of serum thyroid hormone levels. However, the effects of remnant thyroid tissue on these balances in thyroidectomized patients have not been established. METHODS We retrospectively studied 253 euthyroid patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent a TT or hemithyroidectomy (HT). We divided the cases into the TT+supplemental L-T4 (+L-T4) group (n=103); the HT+L-T4 group (n=56); and the HT-alone group (n=94). We compared the postoperative serum levels of free T4 (FT4) and free T3 (FT3) and the FT3/FT4 ratio in individual patients with those of controls matched by serum TSH levels. RESULTS The TT+L-T4 group had significantly higher FT4 (P<0.001), lower FT3 (P<0.01) and lower FT3/FT4 (P<0.001) levels compared to the controls. The HT+L-T4 group had FT4, FT3 and FT3/FT4 levels equivalent to those of the controls. The HT-alone group had significantly lower FT4 (P<0.01), equivalent FT3 (P=0.083), and significantly higher FT3/FT4 (P<0.001) ratios than the controls. CONCLUSIONS The presence of the remnant thyroid tissue was associated with different thyroid hormone balances in thyroidectomized patients, suggesting that T3 production by remnant thyroid tissue has a substantial effect on the maintenance of postoperative serum T3 levels.
Decay of Eu 158

The beta decay of ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{158}$ to levels in ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{158}$ was studied by means of scintillation crystals, beta-gamma, and gamma-gamma coincidence techniques. The sources of the 46\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 min ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{158}$ activities were obtained from the ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{158}(n, p){\mathrm{Eu}}^{158}$ reaction. As observed in singles and coincidence spectra, the following gamma-ray transitions have been identified: 79.5, 182, 520, 610, 750, 820, composite 950, 1110, 1190, 1260, 1330, 1960, and 2180 keV. The composite 950-, 1110-, and 1190-keV gamma-ray transitions were observed in coincidence with beta particles of kinetic energy greater than 900 keV. Beta-gamma coincidence experiments yielded the maximum energies of the principal inner beta branches as 2520\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}120, 1950\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}230, and 1115\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}90 keV. The ground-state energy difference between ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{158}$ and ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{158}$ has been determined as 3450\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}150 keV, based on these data. The transition data are shown to be consistent with a decay scheme based on previously proposed levels.
U.S., “rogues” hold out

(2001). U.S., “rogues” hold out. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 57, No. 5, pp. 18-19.
Rare World: Designing for Dispersed Populations with Rare Diseases

Researchers have created innovative designs to address common chronic conditions, but little is known about how to design for or even study rare disease populations. I have completed an interview study and a study in a Facebook group to understand the needs and challenges of people with rare disease. I intend to design solutions to the challenges identified in these two studies, focusing largely on support from family and friends.
The serological survy of Toxoplasma infection in Wuhan city

This study aimed to the present situation of Toxoplasma infection in Wuhan, Hubei province, so as to supply the scientific evidence for the strategy of treatment and prevention. The ELISA assay was used to determine the concentration of IgG of Toxoplasma in blood serum of the persons. Total 3 009 persons were determined, 141 of whom were positive and the total positive rate was 4.69%. Among these, the positive rate in special population(veterinarians, stockmen, meat-sellers, owners of pet dogs or cats, pregnant women, blood donors) was 6.51% (117/1 798), and the one of ordinary crowds (control group) was 1.98% (24/1 211). The difference between the two kinds of crowds was very significant (P 0.01). There were no significant differences among different districts, sexualities, nations, and cultural degree. These results suggested that the serology positive rate of the persons was highly related to the time the perosons toughing the infected animals. The veterinarians, stockmen, meat sellers, and the owners of pet dogs or cats were the high-risk group. In this study, the positive rate of pregnant women and blood donor was higher than the ordinary crowds, which should be payed much attention. It was suggested that serological monitoring should be employed to these crowds, so that effective intervention methods wese used in time.
Die rahmenbeschlusskonforme Auslegung des nationalen Rechts

In der Rechtssache Pupino stellt der EuGH erstmals eine Verpflichtung zur rahmenbeschlusskonformen Auslegung des nationalen Rechts auf. Diese Verpflichtung folgt der ebenfalls von der Rechtsprechung entwickelten richtlinienkonformen Auslegung. Der Gerichtshof hat in der Rechtsache Pupino — soweit uberblickbar — erstmals eine fur einen Rechtsakt der (ehemaligen) ersten Saule entwickelte Auslegungsmethode auf einen Rechtsakt der (ehemaligen) dritten Saule ubertragen. Aufgrund der unterschiedlichen Ausgestaltung der beiden Saulen traf diese Entscheidung nicht nur auf Zustimmung.1 Der folgende Beitrag soll zunachst die zu verwendenden Begriffe determinieren, die Unterschiede zwischen Gemeinschafts- und Unionsrecht darlegen und auf die Rechtsnatur des Rahmenbeschlusses eingehen. Schlieslich werden Begrundung fur die und Umfang der rahmenbeschlusskonformen Auslegung untersucht und die Konsequenzen fur das osterreichische Recht sowie die methodischen Vorgaben fur die osterreichischen Gerichte herausgearbeitet.
Control of a Robot Using Brain Computer Interface to Aid in Rehabilitation

In this paper, we develop methods to assist people with disability to control robot using brain computer interface. Using a new technique based on action grammar, robot is able to carry out tasks such as opening a door knob simply by recognizing the intention of the user. To successfully implement this concept we have developed techniques that help articulated robot to become spatially aware. We provide a set of actions which can be combined using action-grammar that is modelled using stationary Markov decision process. We demonstrate our methodology using two tasks (i) screw-insertion and (ii) door-opening.
On adaptive random search techniques

Several adaptive random search techniques for the solution of optimization problems involving noisy multimodal hills have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, the convergence properties of several of these methods are compared experimentally using digital simulations. In these methods, the performance index is evaluated at each iteration of the search. The rate at which the performance index, evaluated at the sample points, decreases as a function of the number of iterations is used as an estimate of the convergence rate of each method. The comparisons are based on average results obtained using several simulation runs. These runs start at random points. Therefore, the effects of the starting point tend to be averaged out.
Affliction for Procreators in the Eschatological Crisis: Paul’s Marital Counsel in 1 Corinthians 7.28 and Contraception in Greco-Roman Antiquity

The interpretation of 1 Cor. 7 in terms of an ideal of sexual asceticism has been widely critiqued and fallen out of favor. The majority of scholars explain Paul’s preference for celibacy in terms of its expedience (1) for serving the Lord (cf. 7.32-35) and (2) for avoiding ‘affliction in earthly life’ (cf. 7.28). Against the latter reason to prefer celibacy, this article argues that Paul associates procreation, not marriage, with affliction, and that he warns those who marry in order to procreate to expect affliction in the last days. Marriage and sex are (now) simply to avoid ‘burning’ with sexual desire, leading to sexual immorality, not for having children. In support, Paul abandons the traditional obligation of procreation and procreative sex and permits sexual abstinence ‘by agreement, for a period [fit for something] in order to devote yourselves to prayer’ (7.5b). The unstated purpose here is to spare the Corinthians affliction as a result of having children in the coming days, as expected in some...
How does prior explicit knowledge affect the efficacy of explicit instruction and feedback? The case of the personal a in L2 Spanish:

This study examined the effectiveness of explicit instruction and feedback, focusing on degrees of prior knowledge of the personal a in intermediate level second language (L2) Spanish. On the prete...
Modeling of worn surface geometry for engine blade repair using Laser-aided Direct Metal Deposition process

Abstract Engine blade repair requires obtaining the worn area and generate corresponding tool path for deposition. In this paper, an automated worn surface modeling method was proposed to regain the missing volume of damaged blades. Reverse engineering was utilized to reconstruct models of blades. The reconstructed damaged model was best-fitted with the nominal model. Cross-section area comparison method was used to detect the damaged layers. Ray casting method was adopted to intersect the damaged layers to extract the missing volume. Tool path was generated and repair experiment was performed using Laser-aided Direct Metal Deposition process to validate the proposed method.
Family Matters: Textual Memory and the Politics of Loss in Gómez Manrique’s Consolatorias

his article examines Gomez Manrique’s consolation poems, ‘No pocas vezes’ (1456–1457), written for his sister, Juana Manrique, and the ‘Consolatoria’ (1480), written for his wife, Juana de Mendoza, as part of a corpus of works composed in response to the Manrique family’s political misfortunes. Although these two poems share thematic similarities to Boethius’ De Consolatione Philosophiae, Gomez nevertheless breaks with the tradition of the classical consolation by composing ‘No pocas vezes’ and the ‘Consolatoria’ as textual monuments to his family’s virtuous lineage. Specifically, Gomez consoles his sister and wife by establishing their superiority to contemporary examples of Fortune’s victims, such as Alvaro de Luna, and interpreting their present suffering as a sign of the Manrique family’s future prosperity based on the example of Job. By presenting Juana Manrique and Juana de Mendoza as examples of the Manrique clan’s virtue, these two consolation poems also privilege Gomez’s perspective as author and architect of his family’s literary legacy.
An efficient protocol for negotiation over multiple indivisible resources

We study the problem of autonomous agents negotiating the allocation of multiple indivisible resources. It is difficult to reach optimal outcomes in bilateral or multi-lateral negotiations over multiple resources when the agents' preferences for the resources are not common knowledge. Self-interested agents often end up negotiating inefficient agreements in such situations. We present a protocol for negotiation over multiple indivisible resources which can be used by rational agents to reach efficient outcomes. Our proposed protocol enables the negotiating agents to identify efficient solutions using systematic distributed search that visits only a subspace of the whole solution space.