cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Boundaries in Climate-Water Discourse

“Boundary” is a deceptively simple term for a very complex ensemble of ideas, expectations, and theories. From a social science perspective, boundaries may (among other things) spatially define the limits of authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty; map the edges of identity; define market and service areas; filter flows; or legitimize surveillance. By contrast, in scientific disciplines such as climatology and hydrology, boundary metaphors may facilitate description (e.g., atmospheric or oceanic structure), locate the point at which specified conditions (or changes in those conditions) begin and end, or define the shape and size of the spaces into which data are aggregated. Unlike politically defined boundaries, the definitions and functions of these boundaries are derived through scientific inquiry. Water resource management is one of the areas in which the two discourses of water and boundaries meet and sometimes collide. Climatological, hydrological, and social science research would benefit from a more sharply focused examination of how different uses of “boundary” as concept and as material reality might influence the nature and range of water resource management options deemed feasible to implement under various types of climatic conditions.
Mechanical Loosening of Total Knee Arthroplasty

In the process of evaluating possible risk factors for failure of total knee arthroplasty, multiple studies have attempted to identify patient characteristics that may predispose one to a poor result. During this process, a number of such characteristics have been suggested to affect the outcome of total knee arthroplasty, and evidence has been presented to support and refute each one of these assertions. In general, these patient characteristics can be divided into two broad categories: a) those related to patient demand, and b) those related to the quality of the bone. Factors studied in regard to patient demand on the prosthesis include the patient's age, weight, and activity level. Factors studied in regard to the bone quality include the patient's primary diagnosis, medical condition, sex and degree of preoperative joint deformity.
Numerical Solver for Infinite Horizon Linear Quadratic Regulator Problems Using Laguerre Function and Ritz Method

A central computational issue in solving infinite-horizon Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) problems is the treatment of the horizon. In this paper, we directly address this issue by implementing the Laguerre Functions and Ritz method. By rigorous proof, it is shown that the proper class of Laguerre Functions can optimally estimate the unknown state and control input of the LQR problem. The error analysis of the proposed method is also provided. We have also used a benchmark problem to show the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed technique and compared this with the other popular numerical methods.
Measurement of the energy gap in oxygen-annealed Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ delta high-Tc superconductors by tunneling spectroscopy.

The superconducting energy gap has been determined in homogeneous, oxygen-annealed ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8+\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ (BSCCO) single crystals by tunneling spectroscopy. Normal-metal--insulator-- superconductor (NIS) point-contact tunneling measurements made on cleaved surfaces of these BSCCO crystals exhibit a well-defined gap with a low conductance, G(V), within the gap region. The conductance and change of G(V) within the gap region differs from the behavior expected for either a gapless or BCS-like superconductor. Analysis of data from both NIS and superconductor-insulator-superconductor junctions provides a consistent scale for superconductivity with 2\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\approxeq}6.8${\mathit{kT}}_{\mathit{c}}$. In addition, since this gap structure is reproducible at different surface positions of these oxygen-annealed crystals we conclude that spatial variations in 2\ensuremath{\Delta} and a high density of states within the gap are not intrinsic to the BSCCO system.
In Defense of the Study Counterplan.

This essay argues that the study counterplan can withstand criticism and that it continues to be a viable option for negative advocates. The essay responds specifically to practical criticisms of t...
Cultural Aspects of the Pharmacological Treatment of Depression: Factors Affecting Minority and Youth

The cultural and demographic profile of the United States is undergoing a rapid transformation. In many areas of the country, there is no longer an ethnic majority but a multiplicity of racial and cultural groups.
The World Is a Necessary Being

A standard conception of metaphysical modality accepts that (i) Some de re modal claims are true, (ii) These should be understood in terms of a possible worlds semantics, and (iii) There is trans-world identity. For instance, it seems true that Humphrey could have won the election. In possible worlds speak, we say that there exists a possible world where Humphrey wins the election. Furthermore (given trans-world identity), had that possibility been actualized instead of this one, Humphrey—our Humphrey, the very same man—would still have existed. Here, I argue that this way of understanding de re modal claims, in conjunction with certain other plausible assumptions, entails that The World (i.e., the enormous object which has both you and I as proper parts) is a necessary being.
The Impact of Classroom Climate on Aggression and Victimization in Early Adolescence

Identifying factors that influence peer aggression and victimization is important because of their high prevalence rates and associated negative outcomes during early adolescence. Limited research ...
Effects of endoscopic sinus surgery on objective and subjective measures of cognitive dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition that has been associated with cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on the subjective and objective measures of cognitive dysfunction and related quality-of-life measures in CRS. METHODS Thirty-five adults with CRS refractory to medical therapy were prospectively enrolled. Preoperatively and postoperatively (≥4 months), subjects completed objective neurocognitive evaluation with the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) platform and multiple questionnaires, including the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), a modified World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (ctHPQ), 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), Sinus Control Test (SCT), Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD), Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). RESULTS Thirty-three of 35 patients satisfactorily completed the study. Postsurgical improvement in the CFQ was 46.7 ± 18.4 to 31.9 ± 17.8 (p < 0.001). Neurocognitive testing revealed significant improvements in mathematical processing (p = 0.003) and matching to sample (p = 0.023), as well as a significant decline in simple reaction time (p = 0.026). In addition, improvements were noted for SNOT-22 (54.8 ± 21.4 to 24.8 ± 21.1, p < 0.001), SCT (9.3 ± 2.6 to 3.9 ± 3.8, p < 0.001), PSQI (10.7 ± 4.5 to 6.9 ± 4.0, p < 0.001), BDI-II (14.0 ± 9.9 to 8.9 ± 9.0, p < 0.001), QOD (17.6 ± 13.4 to 9.9 ± 12.3, p = 0.001), and FSS (4.6 ± 1.4 to 3.1 ± 1.5, p < 0.001). There was significant improvement in overall presenteeism (7.3 ± 1.4 to 8.4 ± 1.3, p = 0.029). Analysis by polyp status revealed significant improvement in mathematical processing and matching to sample in only CRS patients without polyps. CONCLUSION ESS is associated with improvement in subjective and some aspects of objective cognition.
Observation of persistent species temperature separation in inertial confinement fusion mixtures.

The injection and mixing of contaminant mass into the fuel in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions is a primary factor preventing ignition. ICF experiments have recently achieved an alpha-heating regime, in which fusion self-heating is the dominant source of yield, by reducing the susceptibility of implosions to instabilities that inject this mass. We report the results of unique separated reactants implosion experiments studying pre-mixed contaminant as well as detailed high-resolution three-dimensional simulations that are in good agreement with experiments. At conditions relevant to mixing regions in high-yield implosions, we observe persistent chunks of contaminant that do not achieve thermal equilibrium with the fuel throughout the burn phase. The assumption of thermal equilibrium is made in nearly all computational ICF modeling and methods used to infer levels of contaminant from experiments. We estimate that these methods may underestimate the amount of contaminant by a factor of two or more. The influence of contaminants is one of the factors hindering self-sustained thermonuclear burn in inertial confinement fusion. Here, the authors present evidence, through simulations and experiments, that contaminants do not fully reach thermal equilibrium, and thus their amount is usually underestimated.
Method for Successfully Inducting Individuals Who Use Illicit Fentanyl Onto Buprenorphine/Naloxone.

Background and objectives Individuals exposed to fentanyl are at risk of precipitated withdrawal using typical buprenorphine/naloxone induction procedures. Methods This case series describes buprenorphine/naloxone inductions of four individuals who tested positive for fentanyl. Results Buprenorphine-precipitated withdrawal was observed in two individuals who completed a conventional buprenorphine/naloxone induction strategy. Two more individuals completed a revised buprenorphine/naloxone induction strategy that did not precipitate withdrawal. Discussion and conclusion Using multiple 2 mg doses of buprenorphine/naloxone in patients already in mild/moderate withdrawal improved outcomes. Scientific significance Persons who use illicit fentanyl might be less likely to experience precipitated withdrawal from this revised buprenorphine/naloxone induction strategy. (Am J Addict 2021;30:83-87).
Lived Experiences of Females With Entrepreneurship in Sudan: Networking, Social Expectations, and Family Support:

Extensive research exists on female entrepreneurship in developed countries such as North America and Europe; however, there is limited research on women entrepreneurs in African nations, specifica...
The added value of new covariates to the brier score in cox survival models

Calibration is an important measure of the predictive accuracy for a prognostic risk model. A widely used measure of calibration when the outcome is survival time is the expected Brier score. In this paper, methodology is developed to accurately estimate the difference in expected Brier scores derived from nested survival models and to compute an accompanying variance estimate of this difference. The methodology is applicable to time invariant and time-varying coefficient Cox survival models. The nested survival model approach is often applied to the scenario where the full model consists of conventional and new covariates and the subset model contains the conventional covariates alone. A complicating factor in the methodologic development is that the Cox model specification cannot, in general, be simultaneously satisfied for nested models. The problem has been resolved by projecting the properly specified full survival model onto the lower dimensional space of conventional markers alone. Simulations are performed to examine the method's finite sample properties and a prostate cancer data set is used to illustrate its application.
Line Impedance Estimation

Line impedance estimation provides crucial information for power-line communication (PLC), power quality estimation, and grid-connected power electronics applications. Online techniques are particularly useful as the line impedance is time-dependent. This work uses a phase-controlled switch to generate a turn-on transient, which provides information about the line. Previous switching-based approaches focus on fitting line characteristics to a model. This article extends previous work by using a common electrical load in place of previously used capacitors, inductors, and short circuits. Nonparametric line impedance estimation is also demonstrated. An inrush transient generates a current with a wide-bandwidth spectral content to replace a sinusoidal injection sweep. Good estimation performance is demonstrated from dc up to 200 kHz.
Engaging community and governmental partners in improving health and mental health outcomes for children and adolescents impacted by HIV/AIDS in Uganda

The African region remains the world's most affected region in the HIV epidemic. A related consequence of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including in Uganda, is the high prevalence of children and adolescents who have lost one or both parents to this virus or who have been perinatally infected. Guided by the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability (PRISM) framework, this paper describes the strategies by which we have engaged community and government partners in research using three NIH-funded randomized clinical trials testing an evidence-based combination intervention aimed at improving health and mental health outcomes among children and adolescents impacted by HIV/AIDS in Uganda. We specifically lay out four strategies that have been used to facilitate stakeholder engagement, namely consultative meetings, stakeholder accountability meetings, training of key players (task-shifting), and policymaker engagement. We emphasize that community collaborations and partnerships are especially critical when implementing combination interventions that require a high level of communication and coordination among multiple implementation partners. We underline that building and sustaining long-term relationships and communication with the stakeholders can allow the researchers to successfully design rigorous studies that are responsive to local needs and can make a difference especially in low-resource settings. Finally, we highlight that the process of engagement and collaboration can be guided by conceptual frameworks.
A two-dimensional analytical unit cell model for redox flow battery evaluation and optimization

Abstract Cell performance optimization is important for improving the system efficiency of a redox flow battery. To gain better insights into key controlling factors of system efficiency, this work first proposed a theoretical model for a unit cell by extending a two-dimensional analytic model to a full cell. The model is then used for cell performance optimization after validating it with experimental and numerical modeling data. With the results, the activation, equilibrium, and pump energy losses are identified as the dominant battery energy losses. A guideline for reducing these sources is also proposed. Following the guideline, the mass transport coefficient is shown as a key control factor of equilibrium energy loss and Coulombic efficiency (CE). Approaches are then proposed to improve CE and system efficiency. The mass transport also controls pump rate optimization by reducing equilibrium energy loss. An optimal electrode porosity design can further improve a battery’s system efficiency based on an optimal porosity predicted by our model. The model also demonstrates distinct behaviors and overestimation in system efficiency when reduced to a zero-dimensional model. With the model, the guideline, and new insights, this work provides a reliable and efficient tool for the evaluation and optimization of redox flow batteries.
Kratom Alkaloids as Probes for Opioid Receptor Function: Pharmacological Characterization of Minor Indole and Oxindole Alkaloids from Kratom

Dry leaves of kratom (mitragyna speciosa) are anecdotally consumed as pain relievers and antidotes against opioid withdrawal and alcohol use disorders. There are at least 54 alkaloids in kratom; however, investigations to date have focused around mitragynine, 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7OH), and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP). Herein, we probe a few minor indole and oxindole based alkaloids, reporting the receptor affinity, G-protein activity, and βarrestin-2 signaling of corynantheidine, corynoxine, corynoxine B, mitraciliatine, and isopaynantheine at mouse and human opioid receptors. We identify corynantheidine as a mu opioid receptor (MOR) partial agonist, whereas its oxindole derivative corynoxine was an MOR full agonist. Similarly, another alkaloid mitraciliatine was found to be an MOR partial agonist, while isopaynantheine was a KOR agonist which showed reduced βarrestin-2 recruitment. Corynantheidine, corynoxine, and mitraciliatine showed MOR dependent antinociception in mice, but mitraciliatine and corynoxine displayed attenuated respiratory depression and hyperlocomotion compared to the prototypic MOR agonist morphine in vivo when administered supraspinally. Isopaynantheine on the other hand was identified as the first kratom derived KOR agonist in vivo. While these minor alkaloids are unlikely to play the majority role in the biological actions of kratom, they represent excellent starting points for further diversification as well as distinct efficacy and signaling profiles with which to probe opioid actions in vivo.
Enhancing spatial skills of preschoolers from under-resourced backgrounds: A comparison of digital app vs. concrete materials.

Spatial skills support STEM learning and achievement. However, children from low-socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds typically lag behind their middle- and high-SES peers. We asked whether a digital educational app-designed to mirror an already successful, spatial assembly training program using concrete materials-would be as effective for facilitating spatial skills in under-resourced preschoolers as the concrete materials. Three-year-olds (N = 61) from under-resourced backgrounds were randomly assigned to a business-as-usual control group or to receive 5 weeks of spatial training using either concrete, tangible materials or a digital app on a tablet. The spatial puzzles used were an extension of items from the Test of Spatial Assembly (TOSA). Preschoolers were pretested and posttested on new two-dimensional (2D) TOSA trials. Results indicate that both concrete and digital spatial training increased performance on the 2D-TOSA compared to the control group. The two trainings did not statistically differ from one another suggesting that educational spatial apps may be one route to providing early foundational skills to children from under-resourced backgrounds.
The Restlessness of Resistance: Community, Myth, and Negativity in Law

Peter Fitzpatrick’s intellectual relationship with Jean-Luc Nancy centred on the related problems of myth and community. In this article, I will explicate the ‘restlessness of the negative’ that Nancy describes in Hegel, in order to further develop Fitzpatrick’s notion of ‘law as resistance’. Set against the backdrop of myth and community, law can be understood as a community’s fragmentary attempt to explicate its essence. Modern law becomes an artefact of the negative twisting through a community’s attempts to construct itself through a Nancian ontology of ‘being singular plural’. In this manner, one might understand Fitzpatrick’s claim that there is ‘always more to be done’ as affirming the necessity of some extra-formal legality—that is, the political—that must be opened through the resistance wrought by negativity.
Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Algorithms Using COVID-19 Chest X-ray Images and Dataset

The COVID-19 pandemic, which first surfaced in Wuhan China, continues to have a devastating effect on the health and economies of affected countries, especially the United States. To contain the spread of the virus, it is imperative to have a system that can automatically identify the virus in people who show or do not show visible symptoms after being infected. This study aims at summarizing and comparing popular machine learning algorithms and determining which algorithm can best predict the presence of the virus in people by analyzing Chest X-ray images. While VGG16 and Support Vector Machines predicted the presence of the virus with the highest accuracy, all of the other studied techniques in this study i.e., decision tree, random forest, gradient boosting, and XGBoost also performed well and can prove useful not only in detecting asymptotic COVID-19 individuals, but also in eliminating the threatening virus surge we have experienced recently worldwide.
Green Light: Toward an Art of Evolution

How humans' aesthetic perceptions have shaped other life forms, from racehorses to ornamental plants. Humans have bred plants and animals with an eye to aesthetics for centuries: flowers are selected for colorful blossoms or luxuriant foliage; racehorses are prized for the elegance of their frames. Hybridized plants were first exhibited as fine art in 1936, when the Museum of Modern Art in New York showed Edward Steichen's hybrid delphiniums. Since then, bio art has become a genre; artists work with a variety of living things, including plants, animals, bacteria, slime molds, and fungi. Many commentators have addressed the social and political concerns raised by making art out of living material. In Green Light, however, George Gessert examines the role that aesthetic perception has played in bio art and other interventions in evolution. Gessert looks at a variety of life forms that humans have helped shape, focusing on plants-the most widely domesticated form of life and the one that has been crucial to his own work as an artist. We learn about pleasure gardens of the Aztecs, cultivated for intoxicating fragrance; the aesthetic standards promoted by national plant societies; a daffodil that looks like a rose; and praise for weeds and wildflowers.
Monopsonistic Wage Discrimination and Employment Effect under Conditions of Constant Labor Supply Elasticity

This note exploits an alternative but simple way to examine the employment effect of wage discrimination when the constant elasticity labor supply curves are strictly concave. The Bernoulli inequality applied in this paper allows us to show that wage discrimination increases total employment in a relative simple way, without resorting to complicated manipulations as were used by Formby, Layson and Smith (1983) and Shieh (2001).
Reaction of dATP with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in vitro.

Extensive methylation was found upon reaction of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea with dATP. The products of this reaction were purified by repeated anion exchange column chromatography and were found to consist of adenine deoxyribonucleotides methylated on the base moiety, terminal phosphate, or both. Products methylated on the adenine ring were identified by co-migration of acid-hydrolyzed samples with authentic standards on reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Products methylated on the sugar phosphate moiety were identified by digestion with snake venom phosphodiesterase, alkaline phosphatase, or both followed by polyethyleneimine cellulose thin layer chromatography. The results demonstrate production of gamma-phosphate-methyldATP, beta-phosphate-methyl-dADP, 1-methyldATP, and gamma-phosphate-methyl-1-methyldATP as well as the relatively unstable products 3-methyldATP and gamma-phosphate-methyl-3-methyl-dATP. The identities and amounts of products formed during this reaction in vitro are consistent with our finding that cellular deoxyribonucleotide pools are a significant target for N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (Topal, M. D., and Baker, M. S. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 2211-2215).
Polyoxometalates covalently bonded with terpyridine ligands

A terpyridine ligand is covalently linked to a hexamolybdate cluster through the Mo-N imido bond, paving the way for the preparation of hybrids containing covalently bonded transition metal complexes and polyoxometalate clusters.
Influenza A H1N1 induces declines in alveolar gas exchange in mice consistent with rapid post-infection progression from acute lung injury to ARDS.

Background Patients with severe seasonal or pandemic influenza pneumonia frequently develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). One clinical diagnostic criterion for ARDS is the PaO2:FiO2 ratio, which is an index of alveolar gas exchange. However, effects of H1N1 influenza infection on PaO2:FiO2 ratios and related pathophysiologic readouts of lung function have not been reported in mice. Methods To develop a method for determining PaO2:FiO2 ratios, uninfected mice were anesthetized with pentobarbital, diazepam/ketamine, or inhaled isoflurane. Subsequently, they were allowed to breathe spontaneously or were mechanically ventilated. After 15 minutes exposure to room air (FiO2 = 0·21) or 100% O2 (FiO2 = 1·0), carotid PaO2 was measured. To determine influenza effects on PaO2:FiO2, mice were challenged with 10 000 p.f..u./mouse influenza A/WSN/33. Results PaO2:FiO2 ratios were abnormally low (≤400 mmHg) in spontaneously breathing mice. Mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure was required to obtain PaO2:FiO2 ratios in uninfected mice consistent with normal values in humans (≥600 mmHg). At day 2 following infection PaO2:FiO2 ratios indicated the onset of acute lung injury. By day 6, PaO2:FiO2 ratios were <200 mmHg, indicating progression to ARDS. Impaired gas exchange in influenza-infected mice was accompanied by progressive hemoglobin desaturation, hypercapnia, uncompensated respiratory acidosis, hyperkalemia, and polycythemia. Conclusions Influenza infection of mice results in impairment of alveolar gas exchange consistent with rapid development of acute lung injury and progression to ARDS. PaO2:FiO2 ratios may be of utility as clinically relevant and predictive outcome measures in influenza pathogenesis and treatment studies that use mouse models.
A High-Frequency Field-Programmable Analog Array (FPAA) Part 1: Design

The design of a high-frequency field-programmable analog array (FPAA) is presented. The FPAA is based on a regular pattern of cells interconnected locally for high frequency performance. No switches of any kind are used in the signal path of a cell: programming of the functions, parameters, and interconnections is achieved solely by modifying cells’ bias conditions digitally. Limited global signal interconnections are also available for those application circuits which cannot be mapped onto locally-only interconnected structure. Key circuits of the FPAA have been fabricated in a CPI transistor-array bipolar technology.
Protestantism, authoritarianism and democracy: A comparison of The Netherlands, The United States and South Africa

Abstract Protestantism took on a similar Calvinist cast among ascendent Dutch during the Reformation to the Puritans in America, and the Afrikaners in South Africa. These three societies, however, developed very different political systems. The social and historical reasons for these differences are traced. Elements in Protestantism that could potentially lead to different forms of liberal democracy on the one hand, or to authoritarianism on the other, are explored. The different patterns of secularization, or lack thereof, are also delineated in each of the cases.
The effect of alkyl and alkenyl succinic acids on cell size and metabolism of a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract Washed cells of a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa rapidly decrease in size when placed in salt solutions. Upon incubation a slow increase in size occurs as a result of ion influx. This increase is accelerated in the presence of alkyl and alkenyl succinic acids with chain lengths greater than 10 carbon atoms and is proportional within limits to the concentrations of the detergents. As a result of the ion influx the oxidation of succinate and benzoate is accelerated. Salicylate inhibition of the oxidation of succinate and benzoate is eliminated by the detergents; streptomycin inhibits succinate oxidation only in their presence. The detergents partially reverse streptomycin inhibition of benzoate oxidation.
Your network or mine? The economics of routing rules

In many markets, including payment cards and telecommunications, service providers operate networks that support customer transactions with each other. When the two sides of a transaction belong to more than one network in common, the question arises as to which network will carry the transaction. We show that the answer depends on a combination of who has the formal authority to choose and the parties' network subscription decisions. Our central finding is that granting formal authority to one side of the market can increase the extent to which transactions run over the network preferred by the other side of the market. We also characterize competing networks' equilibrium choices of routing rules and prices.
Comparison of diagnostic quality of motion picture experts group-2 digital video with super VHS videotape for echocardiographic imaging.

Abstract Background Motion Picture Experts Group–2 (MPEG2) is a broadcast industry standard that allows high-level compression of echocardiographic data. Validation of MPEG2 digital images compared with super VHS videotape has not been previously reported. Methods Simultaneous super VHS videotape and MPEG2 digital images were acquired. In all, 4 experienced echocardiographers completed detailed reporting forms evaluating chamber size, ventricular function, regional wall-motion abnormalities, and measures of valvular regurgitation and stenosis in a blinded fashion. Comparisons between the 2 interpretations were then performed and intraobserver concordance was calculated for the various categories. Results A total of 80 paired comparisons were made. The overall concordance rate was 93.6% with most of the discrepancies being minor (4.1%). Concordance was 92.4% for left ventricle, 93.2% for right ventricle, 95.2% for regional wall-motion abnormalities, and 97.8% for valve stenosis. The mean grade of valvular regurgitation was similar for the 2 techniques. Conclusions MPEG2 digital imaging offers excellent concordance compared with super VHS videotape.
The Measurement of Industrial Noise

(1952). The Measurement of Industrial Noise. American Industrial Hygiene Association Quarterly: Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 136-157.
Allograph modeling for online handwritten characters in devanagari using constrained stroke clustering

Writer-specific character writing variations such as those of stroke order and stroke number are an important source of variability in the input when handwriting is captured “online” via a stylus and a challenge for robust online recognition of handwritten characters and words. It has been shown by several studies that explicit modeling of character allographs is important for achieving high recognition accuracies in a writer-independent recognition system. While previous approaches have relied on unsupervised clustering at the character or stroke level to find the allographs of a character, in this article we propose the use of constrained clustering using automatically derived domain constraints to find a minimal set of stroke clusters. The allographs identified have been applied to Devanagari character recognition using Hidden Markov Models and Nearest Neighbor classifiers, and the results indicate substantial improvement in recognition accuracy and/or reduction in memory and computation time when compared to alternate modeling techniques.
Individual Differences and the Meanings of Vocal Emotional Expressions

This study was an examination of the relationships among self-concept, sex, and the connotative valence of vocal emotional expressions. Seventyeight Ss were assigned to one of three groups on the basis of self-concept scores. Six emotional expressions were rated using semantic differential scales with highest loadings on a General Evaluation factor. A 3X2X6X2 factorial design was used, and data were analyzed by a fixed effects analysis of variance procedure. Results revealed main effect differences in the meanings of the six emotions, which were confounded by interactions for both speaker and listener sex. Ss having low self-concept did not distort the emotional meaning as predicted.
The reactions of 2-halogenoethylamines at the noradrenaline receptor-storage complex.

Abstract The alkylation reactions of 2-halogenoethylamines are briefly reviewed. The rates of recovery of aortic strips following exposure to 2-halogenoethylamines have been determined and arguments are presented which suggest that the anionic site of the α-receptor, complementary to the ammonium function of noradrenaline, may be best represented by a carboxylate anion. Some evidence is presented which indicates the presence of a second nucleophilic site in close proximity to the carboxylate anion. The irreversible actions of 2-halogenoethylamines at the noradrenaline storage site(s) are discussed. It is suggested that alkylation of a non-regeneratable nucleophilic group is involved in the inactivation of noradrenaline storage mechanisms.
Interconnection of DG to Secondary Network Distribution Systems: An Update

This paper will present an update of the work presently being done by a range of organizations in the area of policy, technology and practices for interconnection of various types of distributed generation (DG) systems to the utility distribution network grids. We will present a description of a new initiative being sponsored by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's (MTC) DG Collaborative for novel design for control and coordination of DG sources on secondary distribution network systems.
The interplay between microRNAs and histone deacetylases in neurological diseases.

Neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, represent a prevalent group of devastating illnesses with few treatments. Each of these diseases or conditions is in part characterized by the dysregulation of many genes, including those that code for microRNAs (miRNAs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Recently, a complex relationship has been uncovered linking miRNAs and HDACs and their ability to regulate one another. This provides a new avenue for potential therapeutics as the ability to reinstate a careful balance between miRNA and HDACs has lead to improved outcomes in a number of in vitro and in vivo models of neurological conditions. In this review, we will discuss recent findings on the interplay between miRNAs and HDACs and its implications for pathogenesis and treatment of neurological conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and stroke.
Negotiating Continuity of Self at Home: Restorative Strategies and Home Spaces Used by Caregivers and Care Recipients

ABSTRACTCaregiving at home disrupts comforting routines for caregivers and the family member in their care. The physical structure of a home can support or thwart everyday efforts to restore normalcy and balance, especially in a caregiving situation. In a qualitative study undertaken recently by the author and students at the University of Northern Iowa, nine sets of caregivers and care recipients from Midwestern America were interviewed in their homes to examine home-based coping efforts to restore balance. This article reports the analysis of the interviews through six scenarios that illustrate home-based restorative strategies for maintaining continuity of self–familiar routines, social connections, and restructured time. These strategies revealed specific ways in which connections, separations, and transitions within home spaces supported meaningful experiences.
Studies of Euglena gracilis in aging cultures. I. Light microscopy and cytochemistry

Cells of synchronously growing populations of Euglena gracilis Klebs were studied at intervals from logarithmic into late stationary phases of growth to determine morphological and cytochemical changes related to aging. Morphological changes included transformation of dividing to non-dividing cells as generation time (GT) reached infinity; decrease in cell counts as viability of cells decreased; increase in pH of the culture medium; clumping of cells and giant cell formation; loss of motility; and accumulation of orange-to-brown aging pigments. Cytochemical studies using Gomori technique and Burstone's azo-dye method revealed increase in acid-phosphatase precipitate reaction with increasing age of cultures. Localised initially near the reservoir, the reaction product subsequently spread towards the perinuclear area and, eventually, throughout the cytoplasm until the acid-phosphatase precipitate was widely distributed. Using NBT and TPT, SDH activity of comparable cell samples showed varied activity. Fluor...
HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF ALTERING PCO2 DURING HYPERVENTILATION

In order to assess the mechanism of hyperventilation induced pulmonary vasodilation, 8 newborn lambs were chronically instrumented for measuring pressures in the aorta (PAo), pulmonary artery (PPa), left atrium, and superior vena cava, and pulmonary blood flow (Qp). Two-five days following surgery, the lambs were paralyzed and ventilated with a hypoxic gas mixture in order to raise PPa. They were then mechanically hyperventilated. Without changing the ventilator settings, normocarbia was reproduced by adding CO2 to the inspired gas.
Second Clutch Viability of Chionoecetes Bairdi Rathbun (Decapoda: Majidae) Inseminated Only at the Maturity Molt

ABSTRACT The ability of female Chionoecetes bairdi, that copulated only one time following their maturity molt, to fertilize subsequent egg clutches was monitored. One group (N = 10) was held with males and the other (N = 11) without them until the extrusion of their second annual egg clutch. All 10 females with access to males produced second clutches with 95-100% of their eggs dividing. In the group of 11 isolated from males only 9% (N = 1) of the females produced clutches in which eggs initiated division. Females with access to males had more eggs in their clutches than the isolated females. A single insemination at the maturity molt typically did not provide sufficient stored sperm to fertilize subsequent egg clutches in C. bairdi. Apparently multiple inseminations are an important aspect of the reproductive biology of this species.
Effects of Crystallinity on Electrical Properties and Structure of Semicrystalline Polyimides

The semicrystalline polyimide studied here has been developed by NASA Langley Research Center and film processed by Foster Miller Inc. Aromatic polyimides posess a unique property combination. The outstanding thermal stability (T g above 230 C and Tm above 355 C) in addition to such other properties such as excellent radiation and solvent resistance is supported by excellent mechanical and electrical properties. For instance the tensile modulus of LARC-CPI is 513 ksi at 25 C and 206 ksi at 232 C, G1c=37.8 in lb/cm2 [1].
Size and phase control of cobalt-carbide nanoparticles using OH- and Cl- anions in a polyol process

Exchange coupled cobalt–carbide nanocomposites and single-phase Co2C nanoparticles were synthesized using the polyol process. Hydroxide and chloride anions were used to control carbide phase and particle shape. Synthesized CoxC nanocomposites exhibited average diameters around 300 nm. CoxC nanocomposites synthesized at 0.25 M [OH−] and [Cl−] formed clusters of capped nanorods, whereas synthesis at 0.37 M [OH−] and [Cl−] produced clusters of long blade-like particles. For single-phase Co2C, an [OH−] and [Cl−] of 0.71 M was used and produced clusters of ellipsoidal grains. The CoxC nanocomposites comprised of capped nanorods possessed a BHmax of 1.65 MGOe with a magnetic saturation and coercivity values of 38 emu/g and 2.4 kOe, respectively. Co2C possessed a saturation magnetization of 16 emu/g and coercivity of 1.3 kOe.
Low-temperature heck reactions of axially chiral o-iodoacrylanilides occur with chirality transfer: implications for catalytic asymmetric heck reactions.

Low-temperature Heck reactions of chiral o-iodoacrylanilides with achiral palladium catalysts occur with efficient transfer of chirality from the chiral axis of the precursor to the new stereocenter of the product. The results suggest that the primary stereocontrolling step in asymmetric Heck reactions is a dynamic kinetic resolution (oxidative addition to the C−I) bond and not a face selective reaction (complexation or insertion to the alkene).
The Effect of Surface Preparation on Apparent Surface pKa's of ω-Mercaptocarboxylic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers on Polycrystalline Gold

We have measured the apparent surface pKa values of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed from 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) and thioctic acid (TA) on evaporated gold film electrodes with a range of surface roughness (Ra from 1.3 to 6.3 nm as measured by AC mode atomic force microscopy). The surface roughness is induced and controlled with electrochemical etching via multiple potential cycles between 0.2 and 1.5 V (versus Ag/AgCl/1.0 M KCl) in 100 mM H2SO4 with KCl concentrations ranging from 0.10 to 10 mM. The pKa's are measured by determining the capacitance of the surface using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a range of controlled ionic strength (μ = 0.25 M) buffer solutions. The results for 3-MPA are striking, exhibiting a strong logarithmic correlation (R2 = 0.988) between the KCl concentration used in the electrochemical etching solutions and the apparent surface pKa. Over the range of KCl concentrations, the surface pKa of 3-MPA shifts from 6.5 to 8.4. However, the relationship betwe...
Can Stories save Us? Tim O'Brien and the Efficacy of the Text

(1994). Can Stories save Us? Tim O'Brien and the Efficacy of the Text. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 2-15.
Structure and Expression of the Human MEP1A Gene Encoding the α Subunit of Metalloendopeptidase Meprin A

Abstract The human genome contains several sequences that are similar to the MEP1A gene encoding the α subunit of metalloendopeptidase meprin A. We now report the first genomic structure for the human MEP1A gene that maps to chromosome 6p21. The gene spans approximately 45 kb and consists of 14 exons and 13 introns. Overall, about 6.7% (3 kb) of the MEP1A gene corresponds to the exon sequences. Tissue specificity of the MEP1A gene expression was examined by dot blot analysis of poly(A) RNA from 50 different human tissues. The MEP1A mRNA was detected for the first time in kidney and appendix in addition to colon and small intestine previously known to express the gene. The elucidated gene structure and tissue-specific expression of the MEP1A gene set the stage for investigating regulation and function of the gene and related sequences in the human genome.
Environmental cadmium exposure and osteoporosis: a review.

To review the published literature investigating the association between cadmium exposure and osteoporosis. A review of published peer-reviewed literature based on a priori criteria was completed. Odds ratios (OR) were abstracted or estimated from observational studies to calculate a pooled OR using inverse variance weighted random effects models. The review identified seven studies with a pooled OR of OR = 2.22 (95 % CI: 1.16, 4.28) [I 2 = 54.8 % (p < 0.05)] (comparing highest urine cadmium category to lowest). In women over the age of 50 years, the pooled OR was 1.82 (95 % CI: 1.63, 2.02) [I 2 = 73.1 % (p < 0.05)]. A dose response evaluation (six studies) suggested increasing odds for osteoporosis with increasing urine cadmium levels. This review detected an association between cadmium exposure and the occurrence of osteoporosis in a small number of cross-sectional studies which requires confirmation in using prospective study design.
Searches forn → [nbar]oscillationsand proton decay

Abstract Current status of baryon instability search is reviewed in this lecture. Proton decay with the modes and rates predicted by the original SU(5) grand unification model was not observed experimentally. The possibility of alternative baryon nonconservation scenario corresponding to the left-right symmetric unification schemes and evolving at the intermediate energy scale of ∼105 GeV is considered. One of the most spectacular manifestations of the physics of such energy scale would be an observation of neutron to antineutron transitions. Future prospects of baryon instability search are discussed.
Comparing the potential effectiveness of conservation planning approaches in central North Carolina, USA

Abstract We compared four approaches to conservation site selection to protect forest biodiversity in the Triangle Region of North Carolina, USA. Using biological inventory data and an inventory-based conservation plan as benchmarks, we evaluated the potential effectiveness of a focal species plan and three “simple” plans (large forested patches, close to wetlands and riparian areas, diverse forest types). Effectiveness was measured in three ways: the number of inventory elements captured at least once by the plan (representation), the total number of inventory elements captured (completeness), and the proportion of land in the inventory-based plan included (overlap). We further examined the potential effectiveness of the simple plans by calculating their overlap with land identified by the focal species approach. The simple and focal species plans did not differ markedly in terms of representation, but diverged when completeness and overlap were considered. Although representation rates for all four plans were relatively high, lower rates for completeness and overlap raise concerns about long-term viability. The simple plans did not identify the same lands as the focal species plan, and are thus unlikely to provide appropriate habitat for the focal species. Each approach we tested failed to capture some subset of species and communities, highlighting the importance of explicit conservation targets and consideration of ecological processes. Forced to act quickly and with little data, our findings suggest using initially a set of complementary simple plans, each focused on a different habitat type. This should be considered a stopgap measure, however, while more sophisticated plans are constructed, defining explicit conservation targets and considering ecological processes.
A Leviathan central bank: Modeling seigniorage in a money search model

This paper studies the nature of optimal monetary policy under a utility-maximizing monetary authority in a micro-founded model of money based on Lagos and Wright (2005). Such a monetary authority represents a monopoly private money supplier or situations where fiscal policy drives monetary policy and hence the name Leviathan. Under no commitment, I characterize an equilibrium with reputation concerns. The centralized market interaction is modeled as an infinitely repeated game between the Leviathan monetary authority (a large player) and the economic agents (small players), where the size of the players refers to the ability to influence aggregate outcomes. This large–small player dynamics pins down the equilibrium set of payoffs. Under the assumption that agents do not refuse to use money purely for coordination reasons, the one shot game has a unique Nash equilibrium with maximum inflation tax. The set of equilibria is considerably enlarged in the infinite repetition of the game and equilibria with a lower inflation tax can also be supported by providing appropriate incentives to the money supplier.
Effects of sublethal doses of chlordane on the hemocytes and midgut epithelium of Periplaneta americana.

Chlordane caused some apparent increase in the total hemocyte count in treated American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.). Correspondingly, plasmatocytes, granular hemocytes, spherule cells, and cystocytes increased in number. Patterns of transformation of fusiform plasmatocytes into round forms, and cellular degeneration of the 4 types of hemocytes were inconsistent. No granular or cellular debris was observed in the hemolymph of treated cockroaches. In the midgut epithelium, chlordane caused disruption of formation of the peritrophic membrane, increased vacuolization, and accelerated the rates of mitotic and secretory activities in the epithelial cells.