cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GIS interpolation is key in assessing spatial and temporal bioremediation of groundwater arsenic contamination

Abstract Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater is a global crisis that is known to cause cancers of the skin, bladder, and lungs, among other health issues, and affects millions of people around the world. Due to the time and financial constraints associated with establishing in-depth monitoring programs, it is difficult to monitor and map arsenic concentrations over time and across large areas. The goal of this study was to determine the most accurate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) interpolation method for mapping the effects of bioremediation on groundwater arsenic sequestration across a local-scale study area in northwest Florida (~900 m2) over the duration of a nine-month period (pre-injection, one-month post-injection, and nine-months post-injection). We used groundwater data collected from 2018 to 2019 to visualize arsenic contamination over time. Measured arsenic concentrations from 23 wells were grouped into three categories: (1) decreasing, (2) fluctuating, or (3) largely unaffected by the bioremediation procedure. The accuracy of three interpolation methods was also investigated: Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), Ordinary Kriging (OK), and Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK). Statistical results using the leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) process showed that OK consistently provided the most accurate predictions of arsenic concentrations across space and time ([Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 0.265] and accurately predicted regulatory arsenic concentrations below 0.05 mg/L in nine of 11 wells, while IDW and EBK only accurately predicted four and five wells, respectively. While it was shown that OK tends to underpredict arsenic maxima, this did not affect the overall accuracy of the interpolation compared to results from EBK (RMSE = 0.297) and IDW (RMSE = 0.272). Overall, these interpolations aided in the interpretation of the extent of bioremediation, revealing the need for repeated injections to continuously remove arsenic from the groundwater. The study will provide guidance and evaluation methods for international and governmental organizations, industrial companies, and local communities on how to understand spatial and temporal distributions of arsenic contamination and inform bioremediation efforts at various scales in the future.
Examining Elementary Teachers’ Risk for Occupational Stress: Associations With Teacher, School, and State Policy Variables

Background/ContextIt is widely understood that teachers are plagued by a myriad of challenges that ultimately affect their stress levels, job satisfaction, and effectiveness at work. Teacher stress...
Association between atopic dermatitis and headaches throughout childhood and adolescence-A longitudinal birth cohort study.

Background/objectives Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with sleep disturbance, psychosocial distress, anxiety, depression, and atopic comorbidities, which may be associated with increased headaches. Our objective was to understand the association of AD and comorbid asthma, sleep and mental health disturbances with headaches throughout childhood and adolescence. Methods Data were analyzed from The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study of 4898 urban children born in 1998-2000. Results AD was associated with headaches at age 5 (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.14 [1.27-3.59]), 9 (1.69 [1.27-2.27]) and 15 years (1.71 [1.37-2.14]). AD at age 9 was associated with higher odds of subsequent headaches at age 15 (1.36 [1.05-1.76]). Children with AD at two (1.60 [1.12-2.29]) or all three (1.79 [1.16-2.75]) study-waves had higher odds of headaches at age 15 years. In multivariable repeated measures logistic regression models, significant two-way interactions were found for AD with sleep disturbance (4.59 [3.15-6.69]), attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (2.85 [1.87-4.35]), asthma (2.87 [2.18-3.76]), anxiety (2.47 [1.76-3.48]) or depression (2.86 [1.89-4.34]) as predictors of headaches. Conclusion Children and adolescents with AD, particularly those with sleep disturbances, atopic and mental health comorbidities, had increased headaches. Persistent childhood AD was associated with headaches in adolescence.
Sprinkler application of anaerobically treated swine wastes as limited by nitrogen concentration

INTRODUCTION LITERATURE REVIEW FIELD EXPERIMENT LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS CONCLUSIONS FURTHER DISCUSSION
Brain Drug Targeting: The Future of Brain Drug Development

The thesis of this innovative and challenging book, first published in 2001, is that brain drug development has been restricted by the failure of adequate brain drug targeting, and that this is an increasingly urgent problem as developments in genomics lead to new generations of therapeutic macromolecules. The author, a world leader in the study of the blood-brain barrier and its clinical implications, reviews the field of neurotherapeutics from the point of view of drug targeting. He surveys the scientific and clinical basis of drug delivery across biological membranes, including topics such as genetically engineered trojan horses for drug targeting, antisense neurotherapeutics, and gene therapy of brain disorders. At a time when there are few significant new drug treatments in prospect for common neurological diseases, this authoritative review will encourage a wide range of clinicians and neuroscientists to reexamine the development and use of drugs in treating disorders of the central nervous system.
The Definition of Fatherhood: In the Words of Never-Married African American Custodial Mothers and the Noncustodial Fathers of Their Children

This qualitative study explores the meaning of fatherhood from the perspective of never-married parents. Specifically, the study describes: how African American custodial mothers perceive the roles and responsibilities of their children's fathers; the extent to which these mothers' perceptions and definitions of noncustodial fatherhood are consistent with those of noncustodial fathers and the dominant cultural ideal; and what mothers do to enhance men's paternal participation. A convenience sample of 25 never-married, former couples was drawn from the predominantly African American population of a mid-sized Midwestern city. Data was collected via in-depth interviews with each individual respondent. The findings suggest that African American custodial mothers' expressed definition of ideal fatherhood tends to reflect traditional Western standards, which emphasize the paternal economic role. However, in practice, mothers, like fathers, emphasize the social and emotional aspects of paternal responsibilities. Overall, it appears that while these mothers really want financial support, they are willing to forego economic support in lieu of the social and emotional support fathers provide.
Chapter 5 – Developing Networks to Deal with Complex Health Care Problems

Publisher Summary An interorganizational network constitutes autonomous organizations that come together to reach goals, that none of them can reach individually. The environmental conditions in which organizations operate include the growing complexity of key problems or issues, the increasing interdependence among organizations and institutions, and the accelerating pace of change. This chapter emphasizes on the potential of the interorganizational network as a form of organization suited to dealing with complex problems and issues faced by health care managers in the twenty-first century. The complex demands on organizations cause turbulent environments. Several aspects of the general environment are particularly important: technology, growth of knowledge, globalization, and beliefs and values. Further, interaction among these factors exacerbates the turbulence in which individual organizations must operate. Key features of interorganizational networks, such as loose-coupling/under organization, dispersed power, and leadership among autonomous organizations that comprise the system and noncontinuous joint problem solving have important implications for efforts to develop these complex systems. Network development involves helping the system move from its current undeveloped state toward a more ideal one. This chapter discusses the phases in the network development process: recognizing the problem, holding informal discussions, planning network development, identifying stakeholders, forming a steering committee (SC), convening system stakeholders and visioning the future, and organizing for action.
An Empirical Analysis Of Underlying Factors Affecting The Choice Of Accounting Major

This study explores the factors that influence a student’s choice of major along with students’ perceptions of accounting classes and the accounting profession The results indicate that students are most strongly influenced in their choice of major by a genuine interest in the subject matter. This finding is the same regardless of major and gender. Other influential factors include availability of employment, starting pay, and the ability to interact with people. The factor with the least amount of influence on selection of a major is the expected ease of earning a degree.
Effects of the temporal relationship of feedback and stimulus information upon discrimination-learning strategies

Abstract Second grade Ss and college students were tested under three conditions of the temporal relationship of feedback and stimulus information. In one condition (/+3) feedback was delivered immediately upon S's response while the stimuli were still in view. In another (/0) feedback was also immediate but stimuli were extinguished immediately upon S's response. In the third condition (/−3), stimuli were extinguished immediately upon response and feedback was delayed 3 sec. Major findings among the children were (a) Ss of all conditions coded information at the same (high) average efficiency, (b) Ss of conditions /0 and /−3 recoded with significantly less efficiency than those of /+3, and (c) Ss in condition /+3 manifested primarily efficient information-processing strategies, those in condition /0 showed intermediate performance, and those of condition /−3 showed relatively primitive stereotyped behavior. Among adult Ss performance was uniformly high with little effect on any response measure investigated.
The Poisson algebra of the invariant charges of the Nambu-Goto theory: Casimir elements

The reparametrization invariant “non-local” conserved charges of the Nambu-Goto theory form an algebra under Poisson bracket operation. The center of the formal closure of this algebra is determined. The relation of the central elements to the constraints of the Nambu-Goto theory is clarified.
Splanchnic vein thrombosis in acute pancreatitis: a single-center experience.

Objectives This study aimed to estimate outcomes of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) in hospitalized patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods This was a retrospective study (January 1996 to December 2006) via chart review. Results Over 10 years, 1.8% (45/2454) of patients with AP with a mean (SD) age of 58 (15) years were diagnosed with SVT. Splenic vein thrombosis was the most common form of SVT (30/45 patients, 67%). Seventeen patients were anticoagulated with heparin, when the SVT was diagnosed in the acute stage followed by oral anticoagulation (AC). The thrombosis that was most commonly anticoagulated was portal vein thrombosis in 11 (65%) of 17 patients. Of 17 patients in the AC group, 2 (12%) showed recanalization as compared with 3 (11%) of 28 patients in the non-AC group (P > 0.05). The mortality was 3 (7%) of 45 (2 from the AC group versus 1 in the non-AC group, P > 0.05). Two of these died of multiorgan failure, and the other, from septic shock. None of the deaths were due to bleeding complications. Conclusions Splanchnic vein thrombosis occurred in 1.8% patients of AP. The use of AC was reasonably safe with no fatal bleeding complications. However, there was no significant difference in the recanalization rates in those with and without AC.
Lithium ion conductivity in lithium nitride

Abstract The ionic conductivity of polycrystalline lithium nitride has been determined using ac techniques and complex plane analysis. The ionic conductivity is quite high, so that this material may be an interesting lithium-conducting solid electrolyte.
Radiated energy and the physics of earthquake faulting

On the third day of a recent AGU Chapman Conference, held in Portland, Maine, near the Two Lights fault zones and the Fort Foster brittle zone, conference participants spent the gray June day scrambling over rocky ledges above the crashing surf along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. With field trip leader Mark Swanson, who with his students has studied the area in detail over the past 20 years, participants examined evidence of ancient earthquakes from about 300 million years ago when these rocks were 8 to 10 kilometers deep. This evidence included pseudotachylytes—glass generated by heating during fault slip at midcrustal depths.
Sprengel's deformity of the shoulder: Current perspectives in management

Sprengel's deformity or congenital elevation of scapula is a complex deformity of the pectoral girdle, and results in symptomatic cosmetic and functional disability. Several studies have attempted to analyze the three-dimensional aspects of this deformity; optimal methodologies of quantification and surgical correction techniques have been debated since the condition was first described. This article presents a concise review of the exact pathoanatomy, clinical presentation, imaging techniques, and surgical procedures described in the management of this condition.
Clear-Air Roll Vortices and Turbulent Motions as Detected with an Airborne Gust Probe and Dual-Doppler Radar

Abstract A case-study comparison is made of simultaneous airborne gust probe and dual-Doppler radar measurements of motions associated with roll vortices in the optically clear planetary boundary layer. Inter-comparison of the cross-roll component of motion is emphasized. Some similarities and some differences in the data obtained with the two systems are discussed. Considering the differences in measurement techniques, agreement is good between the independent depictions of the roll structure and quantitative determinations of the intensities and predominant scales of eddy motion. The observed roll vortices fit descriptions and cause-effect relationships from certain models and other observations.
Finite Element Modeling of Annular-Like Acoustic Cavities

A finite element technique has been developed to find natural frequencies and modes of undamped three-dimensional acoustic cavities. This method utilizes the analogy between a special form of the discretized transient heat conduction equations and discretized equations of acoustic pressure oscillation. The proposed technique is verified by applying it to several cavities of known theoretical eigen-solutions. Computed results for an acoustic ring, an acoustic disk, and a pure annular cavity match extremely well with exact solutions. In addition, the condensation scheme is investigated and guidelines of selecting acoustic master nodes appropriately are also discussed in the paper. Using the validated finite element method along with suitable condensation, the eigenvalue problem of an annular-like cavity is solved. Since the exact solution for this case is not possible, finite element computations for natural frequencies and modes are compared with the measured results obtained using an acoustic modal analysis experimental technique; again very good agreement has been found.
2-Naphthyl(carbomethoxy)carbene revisited: combination of ultrafast UV-vis and infrared spectroscopic study.

Ultrafast laser flash photolysis (310 nm) of methyl 2-napthyldiazoacetate (2-NpCN2CO2CH3) in acetonitrile or cyclohexane produces a diazo excited state which absorbs broadly in the visible region (τ = 300 fs). The decay of the excited diazo compound is accompanied by growth of the vibrationally excited singlet 2-naphthyl(carbomethoxy)carbene (1NpCCO2CH3). The singlet carbene absorbs at 360 and 470 nm. In acetonitrile these bands do not decay over 3 ns, but they do decay by ∼50% of their original intensity in cyclohexane in 3 ns. It is concluded that 1NpCCO2CH3 has a singlet ground state in acetonitrile but a triplet ground state in cyclohexane. Related experiments reveal a singlet ground state in Freon-113 and chloroform. This interpretation is supported by ultrafast IR spectroscopy, which confirms that only 1NpCCO2CH3 is formed within 50 ps of the laser pulse rather than a singlet−triplet equilibrium mixture of carbene. The planar singlet relaxes to the preferred perpendicular singlet over a few tens of ...
Effects of light availability on host plant chemistry and the consequences for behavior and growth of an insect herbivore

We examined how light availability influenced the defensive chemistry of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum: Solanaceae). Tomato plants were grown either in full sunlight or under shade cloth rated at 73%. Leaves from plants grown in full sunlight were tougher, had higher concentrations of allelochemicals (chlorogenic acid, rutin and tomatine), and had less protein than leaves from plants grown in shade. We determined how these differences in host plant quality due to light availability affected the behavior and growth of a Solanaceae specialist, Manduca sexta. Both in the greenhouse and in the field, caterpillars on shade-grown plants grew heavier in a shorter amount of time than those on plants that had previously been grown in full sunlight. In contrast, the effects of previous light availability to plants on caterpillar behavior appeared to be minor. To further investigate how light availability to plants influenced herbivore growth, we examined the effects of leaf-powder diets made from tomato leaves of different ages (new, intermediate, or mature) grown in full sunlight or shade on caterpillar performance. Caterpillars fed diets made from plants grown in shade consumed less but grew faster than larvae fed diets made from tomato plants grown in full sunlight. Caterpillars fed diets made from new leaves grew larger in less time than caterpillars fed diets made from intermediate aged leaves. Caterpillars did not survive on the mature leaf powder diets. There were plant-light treatment by larval thermal regime interactions. For example, at 26:15 °C, plant-light treatment had no effect on stadium duration, but at 21:10 °C, stadium duration was prolonged with the full sunlight-new leaf diet compared with the shaded-new leaf diet. In a second diet experiment, we examined the interactive effects of protein and some tomato allelochemicals (rutin, chlorogenic acid and tomatine) on the performance of caterpillars. There were food quality by thermal regime interactions. For instance, at 26:15 °C, neither protein nor allelochemical concentration influenced stadium duration, whereas at 21:10 °C, stadium duration was prolonged with the low protein-high allelochemical diet, which simulated full sunlight leaves. In sum, light availability to plants affected defensive chemistry and protein concentration. The difference in food quality was great enough to influence the growth of a specialist insect herbivore, but the effects were temperature-dependent.
Cosmic conundrums: when cosmology raises questions it can't answer

When cosmology strays into issues like the multiverse and Boltzmann's brains, it's time to call in the philosophers says physicist Joseph Silk
Blue light-emitting diodes with good spectral stability based on blends of poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene): Interplay between morphology, photophysics, and device performance

Spectrally stable blue electroluminescence (EL) is obtained from single-layer polymer light-emitting diodes fabricated from binary blends of conjugated poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) with either thermally stable poly(vinyl diphenylquinoline) (PVQ) or polystyrene. The brightness and EL efficiency of the polymer blend LEDs were enhanced by a factor of 5−14 compared to the PFO homopolymer devices. The additional green emission observed in the EL spectra of pure PFO devices was substantially suppressed in the blend LEDs. The electrical characteristics of the diodes and electric-field-modulated PL spectroscopy results indicate increased spatial confinement induced exciton stability and electron−hole recombination efficiency in the blend devices. The variation of the device performance with blend composition is related to the phase-separated morphology of the blends. The origin of the spectral stability lies in the improved thermal stability of the PFO:PVQ blends due to the high glass transition temperature (T...
Impact of proximity to comprehensive sickle cell center on utilization of healthcare services among children with sickle cell disease

Background The impact of comprehensive care on utilization of healthcare services by children with sickle cell disease (SCD) has not been fully evaluated. We compared the medical care utilization and mortality in children less than 20 years of age with SCD in four regions in the state of Tennessee with and without a comprehensive sickle cell center (CSCC). Methods Rates of hospitalizations, outpatient and emergency department (ED) visits, and deaths were measured in a cohort of children aged <20 years with SCD, enrolled in TennCare, from January 1995 to December 2002. TennCare data linked to Tennessee vital records were used to define the population and identify the outcomes. The patients were classified into one of four regions based on their residential address on the day of their hospitalization or outpatient visit. Results The cohort consisted of 1,214 children with 6,393 person-years of follow-up. Fifty-six percent of patients resided in the region with the CSCC. This region had the highest overall rates of hospitalization for all children (P < 0.001), while ED and outpatient visits were higher in other areas. The death rates ranged from 1.8 to 4.3 per 1,000 person-years in the four regions and did not represent statistically significant differences. Conclusion No clear pattern of improved utilization of medical care services were identified in relation to proximity of residence to a CSCC. This cohort was not large enough to detect small differences in death rates. In addition, other outcomes that incorporate quality of life measures may be more sensitive to differences in medical care. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:66–71. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Emotional Thermostat Intervention: Inspiration From Improvisational Theater

The foundational principles of modern-day improvisational theater were developed independently by Viola Spolin (in California) and Keith Johnstone (in London) specifically for helping children disc...
Development of Tactile Mice for Blind Access to Computers: Importance of Stimulation Locus, Object Size, and Vibrotactile Display Resolution

Graphics are used increasingly in the interface and portrayal of information in application software used by modern computers. This approach, while of benefit to the sighted population, produces significant perceptual and usability problems for the blind. This paper presents the findings of a set of experiments that were conducted to evaluate recognition performance for unseen graphic objects when: a) vibrotactile cutaneous stimuli are directly presented to either the dominant hand tasked with maneuvering a mouse-driven screen sensor, or to the nonactive hand, b) graphical element size and geometric complexity are varied, and c) pixel-to-tactor mapping ratios are varied. Results showed that kinesthetic cues, and pixel-to-tactor resolution of the vibrotactile display were far more important in terms of recognition accuracy and response rate than the locus of cutaneous stimulation.
STEREOTYPE THREAT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: New Findings from a Racially Diverse Sample of College Freshmen

The theory of stereotype threat was developed to account for persistent minority underachievement in American colleges and universities. It hypothesizes that members of minority groups underperform academically because of unconscious fears of living up to negative group stereotypes. While evidence pertaining to stereotype threat has been positive, it mostly comes from small experimental studies of selected undergraduate subjects at a few universities. In this paper we test the theory of stereotype threat on a large, representative population of college and university students. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen, which surveyed nearly 4,000 students at twenty-eight academic institutions, we construct scales to measure stereotype threat and use them to predict grades. We uncover a clear process of disidentification in response to minority stereotyping and show how it, along with other theoretically specified mechanisms, undermines the grade performance of minorities.
Large mitochondrial genome and mitochondrial DNA size polymorphism in the mosquito parasite, Romanomermis culicivorax

Physical characterization of the mitochondrial genome derived from the obligate mosquito parasite, Romanomermis culicivorax has generated some surprising physical properties regarding the molecular structure of nematode mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Restriction enzyme analysis of this mtDNA has revealed a mitochondrial genome size of approximately 26 kb, the largest metazoan mtDNA reported to date. Isofemale lineages are monomorphic for one of three size variants, differing by 500-1,000 base pairs, present in our original field population. Cloned hybridization probes derived from a single region exhibiting a 600 bp size polymorphism share strong homology with several spatially separated sites distributed about the mtDNA. This suggests that the homology is a result of repeated DNA sequence elements contained within this mitochondrial genome that contribute to mtDNA size polymorphism.
Chromogenic values of various ketosteroids in a micro modification of the Zimmermann reaction: comparison with the macro procedure.

Abstract A micro modification of the Zimmermann reaction is described which is sensitive to 2 μg. of 17-ketosteroid. The reaction is carried out in absolute ethyl alcohol at 0 °C. and is applicable to chromatographic eluates. Chromogenic values by both the micro and macro (Callow) procedures are presented on twenty-three 17-ketosteroids, four 3-monoketosteroids, nine 20-ketosteroids of the pregnane and allopregnane series, and seven corticosteroids.
Taxonomy of the Subspecies of Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

In the years since the thurberia weevil, Anthonomus grandis thurberiae Pierce, was described, attempts to separate it from the boll weevil, A. g. grandis Boheman, by using the characters noted by Pierce have met with indifferent success. In an intensive study of specimens clearly representative of the 2 named subspecies of grandis , 3 characters were found to distinguish thurberiae from grandis , namely, curvature of the setae of the pronotum, sculpture of the metepisternum, and shape and sculpture of the scutellum. When these characters were used to define the limits of distribution of thurberiae and grandis , not only was the distribution of the 2 weevils revealed, but also some populations were found to differ from typical forms of both. The name Anthonomus grandis grandis is used for the boll weevil of the Southeastern United States; the thurberia weevil is Anthonomus grandis thurberiae; and the intermediate form, wherein the holotype of grandis falls, is called simply “intermediate.” The data from an examination of more than 4000 specimens are grouped according to geographical areas, and the combined frequency data of the 3 characters of Anthonomus grandis sspp. within the populations show the percentages falling into thurberiae , intermediate, and grandis .
Reversible Inactivation of Myosin Subfragment 1 Activity by Mechanical Immobilization

Abstract The Mg-ATPase activity of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment 1 (S1) is reversibly eliminated when it is aggregated by the force of osmotic pressure dehydration using polyethylene glycol (PEG). Several experiments indicate nucleotides bind aggregated S1, but the effects of binding are attenuated. Compared with S1 in solution, ϵADP binds aggregated S1 with reduced affinity, and the bound ϵADP fluorescence intensity is more effectively quenched by acrylamide. When ATP binds aggregated S1, the tryptophan intensity increases to only 50% of the solution level. Chemical cross-linking of cys-707 to cys-697 by p -phenylenedimaleimide is less efficient for aggregated S1·MgADP. The data are consistent with aggregated S1 being able to bind nucleotide but not being able to complete the usual conformation change(s) in response to binding. If S1 is kept from aggregating by increasing the ionic strength at the same osmotic pressure, its Mg-ATPase activity and ATP-induced tryptophan fluorescence intensity increase are normal. The combined data are consistent with an ATP hydrolysis mechanism in which S1 segmental motion is coupled to its enzymatic activity. In this model, segmental motion is mechanically constrained by aggregation; the constrained S1 can bind ATP, but it cannot complete the hydrolysis mechanism.
Microstructure of reaction-bonded silicon nitride prepared with Si3N4 additions

Abstract The nitridation of silicon compacts containing small amounts of fully reacted silicon nitride powder was investigated. The enhanced microstructural control provided by these Si3N4 particles produced a reaction-bonded silicon nitride material with a greater density and fracture toughness. In particular, more effective control over the unreacted silicon and α β ratio in the nitrided compact was possible. Detailed microstructural examination of the resulting reaction-bonded silicon nitride provided further insight into the controlling reaction mechanisms and the role that these Si3N4 particles play in producing more fully reacted bodies with improved properties.
Dense gas field experiments with obstacles

Abstract A recent dense gas dispersion project is presented, with emphasis on the field experiments. During these experiments we have studied the effect of obstacles on continuous releases of liquefied propane. A solid wall perpendicular to the wind direction was observed to have a general diluting effect on the dense gas cloud, but at some positions above ground level the concentration was intensified in the presence of the obstacle as a result of increased cloud height. Propane concentrations can be derived from sonic anemometer measurements using a new technique, and the paper has a brief discussion of turbulence inside the gas cloud, including gas flux and concentration fluctuations. Two gas sources were used — a nozzle and a cyclone producing releases with and without initial momentum. The jet from the nozzle was found to have an important effect on the dispersion, producing a lot of turbulence and increasing the vertical gas flux.
5-(α-Fluorovinyl)tryptamines and 5-(α-Fluorovinyl)-3-(N-methyl-1′,2′,5′,6′,-tetrahydropyridin-3′- and -4′-yl)indoles—5-(α-Fluorovinyl)tryptamines

5-(α-Fluorovinyl)tryptamines 4a, 4b and 5-(α-fluorovinyl)-3-(N-methyl-1′,2′,5′,6′-tetrahydropyridin-3′- and -4′-yl) indoles 5a, 5b were synthesized using 5-(α-fluorovinyl)indole (7). The target compounds are bioisosteres of 5-carboxyamido substituted tryptamines and their tetrahydropyridyl analogs.
Turbulent skin friction on axial compressor blading

MEASUREMENTS of turbulent boundary layers in strongly-decelerating flow on axial compressor blades operating at low Reynolds numbers have indicated skin friction values differing by as much as 50% from the predictions of conventional friction laws. A new friction law incorporating strong pressure gradient and longitudinal acceleration effects in the wall layer has been found capable of describing the observed behavior. Nomenclature a = stress gradient, d/dy p = static pressure u = longitudinal velocity UT =wall
Communication of Risk Information to Workers and Managers: Do Industrial Hygienists Differ in Their Communication Techniques?

The Hazard Communication Standard and various state and local laws require industrial hygienists to play an active role in risk communication for both management and employees in the industrial environment. This study identifies components that are used in the risk communication process and seeks to understand the influence of organizational and attitudinal factors on this process. Questionnaires were completed by 138 members of the Orange and Los Angeles County sections of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. Results indicate differences in the methods by which industrial hygienists communicate to workers and management about occupational health risks. Multivariate analyses show that respondents with more experience in their field and those who had attended risk communication workshops were more effective when communicating risk to workers.
Pion-nucleus scattering and systematics of the delta-nucleus potential

Abstract A new calculational technique for the isobar-hole model is used to study pion elastic scattering from 16 O, 28 Si, and 40 Ca. The central value of the Δ-nucleus interaction potential is found to be independent of nuclear mass number.
A logic-controllable array of high-density microplasmas

Summary form given only. Previously we have demonstrated the technique of generating arrays of microplasmas in small gaps between the ends of microwave resonators and reference electrodes. These arrays are fabricated using micro-milling of standard microwave substrates and typically operated in atmospheric-pressure argon. Here we demonstrate circuits where individual microplasmas can be switched on or off by low-voltage logic signals. Such switchable microplasmas could be of interest as components in novel circuitry and sensing devices or as patterning elements in atmospheric-pressure deposition of thin films. The switches are implemented as diodes connecting the reference electrodes to a ground plane. Reverse-biasing a diode prevents microwave current from flowing through, causing the reference electrode to float and reducing the voltage across the discharge gap below the level that can sustain a microplasma. Inductors act as a microwave block to isolate the logic control from the microwave power. We use an analytical transmission-line model to examine the behavior of the combined resonant and logic circuits, and to estimate the effects of microplasma formation on circuit behavior. This model and experimental evidence suggest the importance of minimizing stray capacitance to ensure full microplasma suppression. The microplasmas themselves are characterized using spectroscopic techniques. Stark broadening measurements show that microplasmas with electron densities in excess of 1014 cm-3 can be fully controlled by logic voltages of +2 / -5 V. In addition, plasma switching speeds are estimated through time-resolved photography using an ICCD camera.
Overview of Aspergillosis: Pathogenesis and Treatment Options

Aspergillosis is a common fungal infection in a wide range of birds. Although free-living birds tend to be negative for Aspergillus , captive environments or stress may play a role in this fungal disease. Recent data suggest that gross and histopathologic lesions common in Aspergillus infections may be caused by the presence of Pasteurella multocida lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In fact, LPS by itself may produce lesions similar to those produced by conidia. Studies exploring the pathogenesis are reviewed, and two important antifungal drugs are discussed: amphotericin B and itraconazole. The nature and use of these two antifungals are explored. Acidification of itraconazole resulted in increased concentrations of the antifungal metabolite hydroxyitraconazole, allowing it to reach physiologically privileged sites such as the brain. Plasma concentrations of itraconazole vary with the type of bird, possibly because of differences in plasma protein binding between species. Pharmacokinetic considerations are important in developing treatment regimens for mycotic pneumonias.
Oestrogenicity and wastewater recycling : Experience from Essex and Suffolk water

Research into possible endocrine disrupters and their effects, which is necessary to prove the safety of recycling schemes, is described. The research concentrated on the analysis of three steroid oestrogens and on trout bioassay (vitellogenin). The work was carried out in (a) experimental fish tanks using various mixtures of river water and treated wastewater, (b) pilot plants for wastewater and potable water treatment, and (c) monitoring the oestrogenic effects of discharging disinfected treated wastewater into Hanningfield reservoir during the 1995-98 drought. The overall conclusion is that the presence of minute traces of oestrogens in wastewater is not an insurmountable problem because they can be removed by dilution and self-purification in rivers and reservoirs, by activated carbon and ultraviolet radiation in the recycling plant, and by ozone and activated carbon in water-treatment plants.
Monensin-induced cation movements in bovine erythrocytes

Monensin is a carboxylic ionophore that has been observed to increase cation permeability across the membrane of several cell types. Additionally, it is used commercially as an anticoccidial agent and has been found to increase feed efficiency in cattle. The objectives of these experiments were to determine the ability of monensin to stimulate cation (Na and K) transport across the bovine erythrocyte membrane and determine the effects of anion substitution on the action of the compound. Erythrocyte cation analyses revealed that all of the animals used in this study were low potassium (LK). Red cells were incubated in an artificial medium in the presence or absence of monensin, and cell sodium, potassium and water were determined at several time periods. It was observed that monensin stimulated the movement of sodium and potassium down their respective concentration gradients. Cell water content ("D") was observed to increase in response to an elevation in cell cation content. In synthetic media containing acetate, sulfate, citrate, thiocynate and gluconate substituted for chloride as the anion specie in the presence of monensin, there were measureable differences in intracellular sodium and water during the incubation period. The addition of DIDS to the control media containing chloride was observed to inhibit from 60 to 80 percent of the monensin-stimulated sodium movements. The results of this study show that monensin stimulates cation movements in bovine erythrocytes and anion substitutes may alter the action of this ionophore. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the action of monensin can be modified by inhibition of Band 3.
SEARCH-BASED AUTOMATIC CODE GENERATION FOR MULTIPRECISION MODULAR EXPONENTIATION ON MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF GPU

Multiprecision modular exponentiation has a variety of uses, including cryptography, prime testing and computational number theory. It is also a very costly operation to compute. GPU parallelism can be used to accelerate these computations, but to use the GPU efficiently, a problem must involve many simultaneous exponentiation operations. Handling a large number of TLS/SSL encrypted sessions in a data center is an important problem that fits this profile. We are developing a framework that enables generation of highly efficient implementations of exponentiation operations for different NVIDIA GPU architectures and problem instances. One of the challenges in generating such code is that NVIDIA's PTX is not a true assembly language, but is instead a virtual instruction set that is compiled and optimized in different ways for different generations of GPU hardware. Thus, the same PTX code runs with different levels of efficiency on different machines. And as the precision of the computations changes, each architecture has its own break-even points where a different algorithm or parallelization strategy must be employed. To make the code efficient for a given problem instance and architecture thus requires searching a multidimensional space of algorithms and configurations, by generating PTX code for each combination, executing it, validating the numerical result, and evaluating its performance. Our framework automates much of this process, and produces exponentiation code that is up to six times faster than the best known hand-coded implementations for the NVIDIA GTX 580. Our goal for the framework is to enable users to relatively quickly find the best configuration for each new GPU architecture. However, in migrating to the GTX 680, which has three times as many cores as the GTX 580, we found that the best performance our system could achieve was significantly less than for the GTX 580. The decrease was traced to a radical shift in the NVIDIA architecture that greatly reduces the storage resources for each core. Further analysis and feasibility simulations indicate that it should be possible, through changes in our code generators to adapt for different storage models, to take greater advantage of the parallelism on the GTX 680. That will add a new dimension to our search space, but will also give our framework greater flexibility for dealing with future architectures.
Kronecker product and SVD approximations for separable spatially variant blurs

In image restoration, a separable, spatially variant blurring function has the form k(x, y; s, 1) =ki(x,s)k2(y, t). If this kernel is known, then discretizations lead to a blurring matrix which is a Kronecker product of two matrices of smaller dimension. If k is not known precisely, such a discretization is not possible. In this paper we describe an interpolation scheme to construct a Kronecker product approximation to the blurring matrix from a set of observed point spread functions for separable, or nearly separable, spatially variant blurs. An approximate singular value decomposition is then computed from this Kronecker factorization. Keywords: Image restoration, Interpolation, Kronecker product, space variant blur, SVD
FIRST PRINCIPLES SIMULATION ON THE K0.8Fe2Se2 HIGH- TEMPERATURE STRUCTURAL SUPERCONDUCTOR

Abstract Since the synthesis of the first ones in 2008, iron-based high temperature superconductors have been the subject of many studies. This great interest is partly due to their higher, upper magnetic field, smaller Fermi surface around the Γ point, and a larger coherence length. This work is focused on AxFe2Se2 structural superconductor (FeSe, 11 hierarchy; A = K, Cs) as recently observed. ARPES data show novel, electronic structure and a hole-free Fermi surface which is different from previously observed Fermi surface images. We use ab initio density functional theory method to simulate the electronic structure of the novel superconductor AxFe2Se2. We compare this electronic structure with those of other Fe-based superconductors.
Applications of a graph grammar for program control flow analysis

A standard approach to the analysis of program structure for the purpose of code optimization is to construct the "control flow graph" which models the possible execution paths through the program. Various graph algorithms can be applied to the control flow graph to produce data flow information, possible optimizations, etc. [A1,A2,AC,AU2,AU3,CS,HU1,HU2.HU3,Ke1,Ke2,Ke3,Ke4,Sc,U]. Studies of the form of typical control flow graphs indicate that such graphs tend to fall into a restricted subclass of general graphs. For example, empirical investigations have shown that the vast majority of program graphs have no multiple-entry loops [AC,HU2,HU3,Kn1].The recent work on "structured programming" has suggested that "good" programs fall into an even more restricted subclass. In fact, purists recommend that all programs be synthesized from three basic control structures: sequential statements, if-then-else statements, and single-entry single-exit loops [Di,Wi].Formal language theory [HoU] has given us a practical way to specify the set of strings which comprise a given language: via a grammar. It is then a natural idea to extend grammars from the strings to graphs in hopes of getting the same power of expression. Several researchers have used this approach [FKZ,J2,Ro].In this paper we study the applicability of a grammatical approach to describing the set of control flow graphs which arise from "good" programs in the sense proposed by many programming practitioners. The resulting flow graph language contains all those programs constructed according to the purists' rules and also admits programs with multiple-exit loops if such loops are constructed sensibly. The grammar we use is the "semi-structured flow graph" grammar GSSFG which was studied originally in [FKZ]. There are several appealing properties of this grammar; perhaps the most important, from the point-of-view of a compiler-writer, is the existence of a linear-time parsing algorithm which leads directly to a linear-time data flow analysis method [FKZ].In the present work we summarize the results from [FKZ] and address several new questions. First, how often do programs written by people with no knowledge of the SSFG rules fall into the language defined by GSSFG? In other words, is the language a natural one for programming? Second, once a program has been parsed according to GSSFG do benefits other than fast data flow analysis accrue?The paper is organized into three main sections. Section II introduces GSSFG and the parsing algorithm from [FKZ]. Section III is devoted to an empirical study conducted by the authors in an attempt to answer the question of naturalness, described above. Section IV discusses several applications of the graph parse in a "graph attribute grammar" framework. The summary at the end of the paper includes suggestions for further investigation.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN DICHAPTIC PROCESSING

The failure to control for variables known to relate to cerebral asymmetries accounts, in part, for inconsistencies in research reporting sex differences in tactuospatial processing. In the present study, a dichaptic task procedure which attempted to minimize response bias was given to 20 males and 20 females at Grades 1, 6, and undergraduate while controlling for handedness, familial sinistrality, verbal ability, and visuospatial performance. Under these controlled conditions, there was a sex difference in tactuospatial functioning. Males performed more accurately than females with the left hand at all grade levels while there was no difference between right-hand performances. Older males performed more accurately over-all than older females. These results support the hypothesis that the males' right hemisphere is more specialized for spatial processing.
Analysis of Cell Elongation in Red Algae by Fluorescent Labelling

The mechanism of cell elongation in five red algae, Griffithsia pacifica Kylin, G. tenuis C. Agardh, G. globulifera Harvey, Antithamnion kylinii Gardner, and Callithamnion sp. was studied using Calcofluor White ST as a vital, fluorescent cell-wall stain. In each alga elongation of intercalary shoot cells occurs primarily by the localized addition of new cell-wall material rather than by extension of pre-existing cell wall. Cell extension is localized in narrow bands in the lateral walls of a cell; there may be one or two bands per cell and these may be located at the top or bottom of the lateral wall. The number and location of bands of elongation are constant within a species but vary from species to species. Cell walls of elongating intercalary cells of each of these algae are essentially isotropic, indicating a net random orientation of cell-wall microfibrils.