cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The dielectric relaxation time of collagen over a wide temperature range

The dielectric properties of collagen were measured at two hydration levels over a frequency range of 101–105 Hz and at temperatures from 298–470 K. In the low-frequency range, dielectric dispersion was observed which results from Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars polarization. The relaxation times for a collagen sample containing loosely bound water were shorter than for a collagen sample containing only structural water in the temperature range 298–390 K. Above 390 K, continuous decrease in the relaxation times was observed for both samples.
Inelastic electron scattering in amorphous silicon nitride and aluminum oxide with multiple-scattering corrections.

Electron-energy-loss measurements for an amorphous chemical-vapor-deposited silicon nitride film and evaporated sapphire in the broad energy range 1--200 eV are investigated. A method, not requiring the zero-loss peak, to remove the multiple scattering is discussed, applied, and the optical constants obtained. An Elliot-type model used with aluminum oxide gives a valence-exciton binding energy of 1.36\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 eV with a band gap of 9.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 eV. The unexpected strength of the nitrogen 2s transition is noted in silicon nitride.
Update on chancroid: an important cause of genital ulcer disease.

Chancroid is a major cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide, and occurred at epidemic rates in the United States in the late 1980s. Though the recent epidemic in the U.S. appears to be waning, a number of areas continue to report significant numbers of cases. Chancroid is a particular concern, because, like other diseases that cause genital ulceration, it is associated with an increased risk for transmission or acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Recent studies have advanced the understanding of chancroid epidemiology, and new diagnostic tests may improve the ability to recognize and appropriately treat chancroid. Increased awareness of chancroid, with appropriate treatment for suspected lesions, along with public health efforts to implement prevention in high-risk populations, will be critical to prevent ongoing transmission of chancroid, and potentially ongoing transmission of HIV.
Leukocytes Cause Inflammatory Response to Traumatized Articular Cartilage in Acute Phase of Joint Injury

Painful and inflamed joints result from joint trauma involving disruption of the cartilage [1]. The pathogenesis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis is not well understood but is most likely multifactorial. Other factors, such as inflammation, may be a critical precursor for post-traumatic arthritis. Transient acute synovitis and inflammation following a traumatic event can persist for months and may be representative of a serious joint injury [2]. Joint effusion aspirates from patients in the acute phase of injury have a higher level of activated leukocytes and an increased rate of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production relative to autologous peripheral blood [3]. In an in vitro study, the presence of inflammatory leukocytes caused more chondrocyte death isolated from traumatized matrix region relative to impacted cartilage alone [4]. Our previous study showed that severe trauma may not be a good predictor for the development of post-traumatic arthritis since chondrocyte death and matrix loss was minimal up to seven days post-trauma [5].Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Double-walled carbon nanotube solar cells

We directly configured double-walled carbon nanotubes as energy conversion materials to fabricate thin-film solar cells, with nanotubes serving as both photogeneration sites and a charge carriers collecting/transport layer. The solar cells consist of a semitransparent thin film of nanotubes conformally coated on a n-type crystalline silicon substrate to create high-density p-n heterojunctions between nanotubes and n-Si to favor charge separation and extract electrons (through n-Si) and holes (through nanotubes). Initial tests have shown a power conversion efficiency of >1%, proving that DWNTs-on-Si is a potentially suitable configuration for making solar cells. Our devices are distinct from previously reported organic solar cells based on blends of polymers and nanomaterials, where conjugate polymers generate excitons and nanotubes only serve as a transport path.
Directional Dependence of the Nuclear-Spin-Lattice Relaxation Time in Cubic Metals Caused by Divacancy Diffusion

We have calculated the dependence of the nuclear-spin-lattice relaxation time on the angle between the applied field and the crystal axes which would be caused by divacancy self-diffusion. The distinctive angular dependence found is expected to be useful in identifying the self-diffusion mechanisms in metals such as Na, Ag, and Al, for which it has been suggested that divacancy contributions to self-diffusion are important.
Closed-loop supply chains in process industries: An empirical study of producer re-use issues

Abstract Closed-loop supply chain research has primarily focused on discrete industries, leaving important issues involving waste disposal and re-use in process industries unaddressed. This exploratory study investigates re-use issues and practices related to process industry firms—from the producer's perspective—with the objective of identifying important issues that need further research in the field. Site visits were conducted to identify and clarify re-use issues unique to process industry firms for the purpose of developing a mail survey instrument. The mail survey provided detailed information about the sources of returned product and materials and the subsequent re-use decisions made by 141 different manufacturing facilities in a wide variety of process industries including chemicals, food, rubber, and plastics. Results indicate that process industry firms are quite diverse, that some common beliefs about re-use in process industry firms do not apply to all process types in these industries, and that research efforts are needed in the areas of network design and product acquisition; inventory; production planning and control; and scheduling. The paper concludes by identifying specific research questions important to re-use in process industry environments.
Pharmacologically initiated defecation for persons with spinal cord injury: effectiveness of three agents

Abstract Objective: To compare the effectiveness of hydrogenated vegetable oil-based bisacodyl (HVB) suppositories, polyethylene glycol-based bisacodyl (PGB) suppositories, and polyethylene glycol-based, glycerine, docusate sodium mini-enemas (TVC) in subjects with upper motor neuron spinal cord lesions. Study Design: Prospective randomized double blind. Fifteen subjects received one of 3 HVB and 3 PGB suppositories in randomized sequence for each of six scheduled bowel care sessions. Additionally, 10 subjects received 3 TVC. The analysis used timed events that divided the bowel care sessions into discrete intervals. The analysis also compared digital simulations, incontinence, and quantity of stool. Wilcoxon rank sum tests and paired t tests were used to compare the means of intervals during bowel care initiated by HVB, PGB, and TVC. Results: (means in minutes and p values): Time to Flatus —HVB, 32; PGB, 15; TVC, 15; p p Flatus to Stool Flow —HVB, 6.7; PGB, 5.5; TVC, 3.9; p p Defecation Period —HVB, 36; PGB, 20; TVC, 17; p p Wait Until Transfer —HVB, 10.9; PGB, 10.7; TVC, 7.4; p p Total Time for the bowel program—HVB, 74.5; PGB, 43; TVC, 37; p p p p amount of stool produced —HVB, 3.30; PGB, 3.49; TVC, 3.38; p p p p p p p p Conclusion: Bowel care took less time when initiated with the PGB bisacodyl suppository or TVC mini-enema as compared with the HVB bisacodyl suppository ( p
A game-theoretic model for protest in the context of post-communism

Abstract In recent years, large-scale protests have forced several incumbent governments in former Soviet countries from power. Scholarly examinations of these events have lacked a cohesive explanation of the reasons for the success of certain movements and the failure of others. This study uses prior research on the dynamics of protest to formulate a game-theoretic model for why protest takes place and how its eventual outcome comes about. The model is tested through logistic regression analyses of monthly protest data. The statistical analysis shows that elections, prior protests and government transgressions increase the likelihood of anti-government protests.
Bisphosphonate therapy in the oncology setting.

Patients with metastatic cancer and bone involvement are at chronic risk of skeletal complications, including bone pain, fractures, spinal cord compression and hypercalcaemia of malignancy. Therapies targeting the primary malignancy are often unable to prevent skeletal complications, which often require orthopaedic surgery, radiation therapy and analgesics. Intravenous bisphosphonates can reduce the risk of skeletal complications and the requirement for palliative radiation therapy. Since its broad regulatory approval, zoledronic acid (ZOMETA®, Novartis Pharma AG/Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation) 4 mg by 15-minute intravenous infusion has become widely used to treat bone metastases from all solid tumours and is becoming the standard of care for advanced breast cancer and multiple myeloma. Additionally, cancer treatment-induced bone loss is an emerging problem in clinical oncology, and bisphosphonates – particularly intravenous bisphosphonates – may provide benefits even before bone lesions develop. Fu...
Early Removal of Urinary Catheter After Surgery Requiring Thoracic Epidural: A Prospective Trial

Objectives To prevent urinary retention, urinary catheters commonly are removed only after thoracic epidural discontinuation after thoracotomy. However, prolonged catheterization increases the risk of infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of urinary retention and catheter-associated infection after early catheter removal. Design This study described a prospective trial instituting an early urinary catheter removal protocol compared with a historic control group of patients. Setting The protocol was instituted at a single, academic thoracic surgery unit. Participants The study group was comprised of patients undergoing surgery requiring thoracotomy who received an intraoperative epidural for postoperative pain control. Interventions An early urinary catheter removal protocol was instituted prospectively, with all catheters removed on or before postoperative day 2. Urinary retention was determined by bladder ultrasound and treated with recatheterization. Measurements and Main Results The primary outcomes were urinary retention rate, defined as bladder volume>400 mL, and urinary tract infection rate. Results were compared with a retrospective cohort of 210 consecutive patients who underwent surgery before protocol initiation. Among the 101 prospectively enrolled patients, urinary retention rate was higher (26.7% v 12.4%, p = 0.003), while urinary tract infection rate improved moderately (1% v 3.8%, p = 0.280). Conclusions Early removal of urinary catheters with thoracic epidurals in place is associated with a high incidence of urinary retention. However, an early catheter removal protocol may play a role in a multifaceted approach to reducing the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Unrealized Partisanship: A Theory of Dealignment

This paper develops a theory of partisan dealignment from which it examines the contemporary dealignment of the American electorate. The theory specifies three factors: the vividness of the existing alignment, the stability of the issue agenda, and the ambiguity of party issue positions, which condition the extent to which new voters are socialized into the existing party alignment. When these conditions are favorable, as they were in American politics from the New Deal until the early 1960s, most voters adopt their parents' partisanship. However, as the conditions become less favorable--as they clearly did beginning in the mid-1960s--increasing numbers of voters fail to "realize" their expected partisanship and become Independents instead. The strain toward unrealization is most intense for those who are most vulnerable, voters with issue attitudes that are sharply at odds with their inherited partisanship. Thus, Unrealized Democrats are consistently more conservative than Democrats while Unrealized Repu...
Dendritic Cell Targeting of Survivin Protein in a Xenogeneic Form Elicits Strong CD4 + T Cell Immunity to Mouse Survivin

To determine whether strong CD4+ T cell immunity could be induced to a nonmutated self protein that is important for tumorigenesis, we selectively targeted the xenogeneic form of survivin, a survival protein overexpressed in tumors, to maturing dendritic cells in lymphoid tissues. Dendritic cell targeting via the DEC205 receptor in the presence of anti-CD40 and poly(I:C) as maturation stimuli, induced strong human and mouse survivin-specific CD4+ T cell responses, as determined by IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2 production, as well as the development of lytic MHC class II-restricted T cells and memory. Immunity was enhanced further by depletion of CD25+foxp3+ cells before vaccination. anti-DEC205-human survivin was superior in inducing CD4+ T cell responses relative to other approaches involving survivin plasmid DNA or survivin peptides with adjuvants. However, we were unable to induce CD8+ T cell immunity to survivin by two doses of DEC205-targeted survivin or the other strategies. Therefore, significant CD4+ T cell immunity to a self protein that is overexpressed in most human cancers can be induced by DEC205 targeting of the Ag in its xenogeneic form to maturing DCs.
Application of a high throughput Alamar blue biofilm susceptibility assay to Staphylococcus aureus biofilms.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis biofilms differ in structure, growth and regulation, and thus the high-throughput method of evaluating biofilm susceptibility that has been published for S. epidermidis cannot be applied to S. aureus without first evaluating the assay's reproducibility and reliability with S. aureus biofilms. Methods: Staphylococcus aureus biofilms were treated with eleven approved antibiotics, lysostaphin, or Conflikt®, exposed to the oxidation reduction indicator Alamar blue, and reduction relative to untreated controls was determined visually and spectrophotometrically. The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) was defined as ≤ 50% Alamar blue reduction and a purple/ blue well 60 min after the addition of Alamar blue. Because all of the approved antibiotics had MBICs >128 μg/ml (most >2048 μg/ml), lysostaphin and Conflikt®, with relatively low MBICs, were used to correlate Alamar blue reduction with 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2Htetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction and viable counts (CFU/ml) for S. aureus ATCC 29213 and three clinical isolates. Alamar blue's stability and lack of toxicity allowed CFU/ml to be determined from the same wells as Alamar blue absorbances. Results: Overall, Alamar blue reduction had excellent correlation with XTT reduction and with CFU/ml. For ATCC 29213 and two clinical isolates treated with lysostaphin or Conflikt ® , Alamar blue reduction had excellent correlation with XTT reduction (r = 0.93-0.99) and with CFU/ml (r = 0.92-0.98). For one of the clinical isolates, the results were moderately correlated for Conflikt® (r = 0.76, Alamar blue vs. XTT; r = 0.81, Alamar blue vs. CFU/ml) and had excellent correlation for lysostaphin (r = 0.95, Alamar blue vs. XTT; r = 0.97, Alamar blue vs. CFU/ml). Conclusion: A reliable, reproducible method for evaluating biofilm susceptibility was successfully applied to S. aureus biofilms. The described method provides researchers with a simple, nontoxic, relatively inexpensive, high throughput measure of viability after drug treatment. A standardized biofilm Alamar blue assay should greatly increase the rate of discovery of S. aureus biofilm specific agents.
Measuring Cognition in Teams: A Cross-Domain Review

Objective:The purpose of this article is twofold: to provide a critical cross-domain evaluation of team cognition measurement options and to provide novice researchers with practical guidance when ...
Fine-Tuning of Neurogenesis is Essential for the Evolutionary Expansion of the Cerebral Cortex

We used several animal models to study global and regional cortical surface expansion: The lissencephalic mouse, gyrencephalic normal ferrets, in which the parietal cortex expands more than the temporal cortex, and moderately lissencephalic ferrets, showing a similar degree of temporal and parietal expansion. We found that overall cortical surface expansion is achieved when specific events occur prior to surpragranular layer formation. (1) The subventricular zone (SVZ) shows substantial growth, (2) the inner SVZ contains an increased number of outer radial glia and intermediate progenitor cells expressing Pax6, and (3) the outer SVZ contains a progenitor cell composition similar to the combined VZ and inner SVZ. A greater parietal expansion is also achieved by eliminating the latero-dorsal neurogenic gradient, so that neurogenesis displays a similar developmental degree between parietal and temporal regions. In contrast, mice or lissencephalic ferrets show more advanced neurogenesis in the temporal region. In conclusion, we propose that global and regional cortical surface expansion rely on similar strategies consisting in altering the timing of neurogenic events prior to the surpragranular layer formation, so that more progenitor cells, and ultimately more neurons, are produced. This hypothesis is supported by findings from a ferret model of lissencephaly obtained by transiently blocking neurogenesis during the formation of layer IV.
Scalable VR application authoring

This course will provide attendees with the technical information needed to create their own compelling, scalable, interactive VR applications using VR Juggler. The, course begins with the foundations needed for building VR Juggler applications. It follows with a session on VR Juggler scalability from shared memory high-end workstations to clusters of commodity PCs. The following sessions focus on effective use of VR Juggler as a desktop-to-immersive visualization tool, including the portability of interaction methods. The course concludes with advanced VR Juggler embedded features such as virtual characters and collaboration.
Assessing Climate Variability Impact on Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria in Surface Water

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the impacts of climate variability on thermotolerant coliform bacteria (TCB) transport in the Upper Pearl River watershed (UPRW) in Mississippi. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied using daily observed stream flows and TCB concentration data. The SWAT model was successfully calibrated and validated using both manual and automatic methods from February 2011 to June 2012 (NSE and R2 up to 0.79). The Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG), a stochastic weather generator, with the global climate model, CCSM3, which was developed by the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) was used for future climate variability simulations. The Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) A1B of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was simulated for the mid (2046–2065) and late (2080–2099) 21st century. The SWAT model simulated TCB concentrations in surface water and demonstrated reasonable performances (R2 up to 0.59 and NSE u...
The Economic Theory of Urban Traffic Congestion: A Microscopic Research Agenda

For presentation at CESifo Venice Summer Institute 2001, Workshop on Environmental Economics and the Economics of Congestion: Coping with Externalities, Venice International University, San Servolo, July 18-19,2001.
Optical properties of Asian mineral dust suspended in seawater

The spectral optical properties of Asian mineral dust suspended in seawater exhibit significant variability associated with the origin (and, hence, the chemistry and mineralogy) and particle size distribution of the samples. The measurements of dust samples from different locations show that the mass-specific absorption coefficient of particles, a , at a wavelength of light l 5 440 nm, varies from about 0.028 m 2 g 21 for the soil dust from Chinese desert * near Dunhuang to 0.15 m 2 g 21 for the soil dust of volcanic origin in Cheju Island (South Korea). At l 5 400 nm, this range is 0.05‐0.23 m 2 g 21 . The aerosol sample collected in the Sea of Japan during a massive dust storm in East Asia shows a (l) . 0.1 m 2 g 21 for l , 425 nm. The mass-specific scattering coefficient,b (l), ranges from ** p about 0.8 to 1.5 m 2 g 21 at blue and green wavelengths for the samples examined. The single scattering albedo, vo, increases with wavelength. For l . 400 nm, vo was .0.78 for the sample from Cheju Island and .0.9 for other samples. In the near-infrared region (750‐850 nm), where absorption by dust particles is small or undetectable, vo was close to 1. In the coastal marine environments, mineral particles often represent a significant fraction of suspended particulate matter because of river discharge, coastal erosion by wave and current action, and bottom resuspension. Much of this material is efficiently trapped on the continental shelves and slopes. In the open ocean, it is generally assumed that the abundance of mineral particles is sufficiently low that the optical properties of surface water are dominated by plankton microorganisms and associated detrital matter (Morel and Prieur 1977). However, it has long been recognized that atmospheric transport and the deposition of mineral dust originating from arid and semiarid continental regions covers a large part of the global ocean (Prospero 1990). This source of minerogenic particles has been of major interest to studies of the vertical particle fluxes to the deep ocean (Kremling and Streu 1993) and the delivery of iron to the upper water column (Duce and Tindale 1991). The role of mineral particles in ocean optics remains poorly known, although their
Sosa on reflective knowledge and Knowing Full Well

Part of a book symposium on Ernest Sosa's Knowing Full Well. An important feature of Sosa's epistemology is his distinction between animal knowledge and reflective knowledge. What exactly is reflective knowledge, and how is it superior to animal knowledge? Here I try to get clearer on what Sosa might mean by reflective knowledge and what epistemic role it is supposed to play.
The effect of dissociation on the sensory status.

The sensory status has been studied for many years. Some feel very strongly that Bagolini striated lenses and the Worth 4 Dot test provide vital information regarding patients’ overall ability to maintain fusion and/or alignment. Furthermore, some feel strongly that these tests should be done early in the exam, preferably first, so as not to disturb the patient’s tenuous hold on fusion. There are no known documented studies that compare sensory tests taken at the beginning of the exam to those taken at the end of the motility exam. Our study found that obtaining sensory results of Bagolini striated lenses and Worth 4 Dot glasses done at the conclusion of the evaluation produce the same or better fusional abilities when these tests are done prior to dissociation.
COMMERCE, CULTURE, AND THE RISE OF ENGLISH POWER

Barclays: the business of banking, 1690–1996 . By Margaret Ackrill and Leslie Hannah. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Pp. xxi+481. ISBN 0-521-79035-2. £45.00. The worlds of the East India Company . Edited by H. V. Bowen, Margarette Lincoln, and Nigel Rigby. Woodbridge: Boydell, 2002. Pp. xvii+246. ISBN 0-85115-877-3. £45.00. Kingship and crown finance under James VI and I, 1603–1625 . By John Cramsie. Woodbridge: Boydell, 2002. Pp. xi+242. ISBN 0-86193-259-5. £50.00. Mammon's music: literature and economics in the age of Milton . By Blair Hoxby. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002. Pp. xii+320. ISBN 0-300-09378-0. $45.00. Usury, interest, and the Reformation . By Eric Kerridge. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002. Pp. 206. ISBN 0-7546-0688-0. £55.00. The rise of commercial empires: England and the Netherlands in the age of mercantilism, 1650–1770 . By David Ormrod. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Pp. xvii+400. ISBN 0-521-81926-1. £55.00. The rhetoric of credit: merchants in early modern writing . By Ceri Sullivan. London: Associated University Presses, 2002. Pp. 217. ISBN 0-8386-3926-7. £38.00. The unshackling of the European economy from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries was achieved, ironically, by the forging of new and stronger chains of trade and credit within nations, across regions, and around the globe. The seven books under review explore that process from different disciplinary standpoints, but chiefly as it affected England, the country that would become emblematic of commercial advancement and under whose sway the modern capitalist system emerged. How England managed this feat financially and commercially, politically and culturally, amidst the shifting opportunities and perils of these centuries is answered with an often impressive sophistication and imagination that take us well beyond hackneyed analyses prompted by the Weber–Tawney thesis.
PI3K-Akt Pathway Suppresses Coagulation and Inflammation in Endotoxemic Mice

Objective— In endotoxemia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a systemic inflammatory response and intravascular coagulation. Monocytes orchestrate the innate immune response to LPS by expressing a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the procoagulant molecule, tissue factor (TF). In this study, we analyzed the role of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway in the activation of coagulation and the innate immune response in a mouse model of endotoxemia. Methods and Results— Wortmannin and LY294002 were used to inhibit the PI3K-Akt pathway. We found that wortmannin inhibited LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation in blood cells. Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway significantly increased TF mRNA expression in blood cells, TF antigen, and thrombin–antithrombin III levels in the plasma, and fibrin deposition in the liver of endotoxemic mice. Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway also strongly enhanced LPS-induced cytokine expression and the levels of soluble E-selectin in the plasma, suggesting enhanced activation of both monocytes and endothelial cells. Wortmannin treatment also increased the number of macrophages in the liver and kidney of endotoxemic mice. Finally, wortmannin and LY294002 dramatically reduced the survival time of endotoxemic mice. Conclusions— These data suggest that the PI3K-Akt pathway suppresses LPS-induced inflammation and coagulation in endotoxemic mice.
On-state reliability of amorphous silicon antifuses

A unified model of the on-state reliability of a-Si antifuses is presented. This physical model accounts for both thermal activation and electromigration. Temperature at the conductive link is the temperature at which the antifuse is stressed and is controlled by the stress current, not the ambient. To ensure a 10 year lifetime, a-Si antifuses should be operated at a current value less than 60% of its programming current value.
Insulin regulation of glucose transport and phosphorylation in skeletal muscle assessed by PET.

The current study examined in vivo insulin regulation of glucose transport and phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of healthy, lean volunteers. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and compart...
Giving Back to the Community

My argument is that the assimilationist approach will become increasingly problematic as new types of neighborhoods such as "ethnoburbs" and multiracial neighborhoods emerge in major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and the personal and political experiences of Asian Americans become increasingly diverse within these shifting contexts. Although it is beyond the scope of this study to identify the eventual fate of Asians in the U.S., the article aims to explicate some of the processes through which these groups may create and maintain political ties to the ethnic community. With specific focus on the Korean American community in Los Angeles, the purpose of the study is to understand why some 1.5 and second generations return to the political institutions of the ethnic community despite residential and socioeconomic mobility into middle-class, suburban neighborhoods outside the ethnic enclave of Koreatown. In other words, what are the psychological, political, and structural advantages of maintaining ethnic tie...
Reduced Bimolecular Charge Recombination Loss in Thermally Annealed Bilayer Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices with Large External Quantum Efficiency and Fill Factor

Thermally annealed bilayer heterojunction was shown to be an alternative approach to form the bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) structure and yield superior device performance compared to blend-solution-processed BHJ organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. The best poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/(6,6)- phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) based bilayer structure OPV showed an external quantum efficiency approaching 82%, a high fill factor of 74%, and the power conversion efficiency of 5.1%, which are higher than those of the blend-solution-processed BHJ OPV devices. In contrast to the BHJ formed from blend solution, richer acceptor, e.g. PCBM, close to the cathode, or different morphology, was generally found in thermally annealed bilayer films. However, the physical mechanism for improved performance in thermally annealed bilayer films was rarely investigated in previous studies. Here, the amount of long-lived photogenerated charges with lifetime longer than 1 μs, which was characterized by the time delayed collection field method, was slightly enhanced by about 5% in the thermally annealed bilayer devices. Nevertheless, the bimolecular recombination coefficient was strongly decreased by 350% with transient photovoltage/ photocurrent measurements, conclusively demonstrating that the significantly reduced bimolecular recombination loss is a major contribution to the increased efficiency in the thermally annealed bilayer OPVs.
Noise Analysis and Negotiation Tool for Terminal RNP Procedure Design

Approach and departure procedures based on Required Navigation Performance (RNP) standards have substantial flexibility compared to conventional approaches using groundbased navigation. Designing optimal RNP procedures is challenging due to the strong emphasis placed on noise and other environmental objectives in addition to cost, throughput, and safety requirements. In this research, a trade-space exploration tool is developed in order to resolve multiple, conflicting environmental and performance tradeoffs in designing RNP procedures. The tool incorporates an automatic flight path generator as well as FAA’s Integrated Noise Model (INM) enhanced by a new automated user front end. It generates a large set of feasible RNP routes and evaluates them in terms of fuel burn, flight time, throughput, greenhouse gas emissions and noise exposure. This multi-dimensional tradeoff analysis offers an exploration of the full solution space to identify a set of feasible options instead of attempting to identify a single optimal solution. The tool also provides visualization of the tradeoffs and can serve as a negotiation tool to mediate between community groups, airports and airline stakeholders. The tool’s generic setup allows it to be applied to different runways and airports. The framework is presented and its capabilities are shown for potential RNP approach procedures to Boston Logan (BOS) Runway 22L.
Morphological identification of physiologically characterized afferents innervating the turtle posterior crista.

The turtle posterior crista consists of two hemicristae. Each hemicrista extends from the planum semilunatum to the nonsensory torus and includes a central zone (CZ) surrounded by a peripheral zone...
Spatial, Spectral, and Coherence Mapping of Single-Molecule SERS Active Hot Spots via the Discrete-Dipole Approximation

The electromagnetic scattering properties of Ag nanoparticle aggregates known to be antennas for single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering are investigated from a continuum electrodynamics perspective. High-resolution mappings of the spatial, spectral, and polarization dependence of the volumes of the aggregate’s electromagnetic hot spots reveal multiple active regions for enhanced Raman scattering activity by molecular chromophores. Further analysis of these regions using maps of polarization surface-charge density shows that some hot spots are due to the collective and phase-coherent excitation of localized surface-plasmon resonances, whereas others derive from interfering plasmonic excitations resulting from scattering from gaps and surfaces. The latter are still capable of generating intense local fields at certain excitation energies, whereas the former tend to provide the most spatially delocalized regions of high electromagnetic-field strength.
Delta-sigma modulation for digital mobile fronthaul enabling carrier aggregation of 32 4G-LTE / 30 5G-FBMC signals in a single-λ 10-Gb/s IM-DD channel

A delta-sigma modulation-based digital mobile fronthaul architecture is experimentally demonstrated to support carrier aggregation of 32 4G-LTE or 30 5G-FBMC signals in a single-λ IM-DD channel with capacity enhancement of 3–4 times compared with CPRI.
State Clean Indoor Air Laws and smoking among adults with poor mental health

Persons with mental illness smoke at twice the rate of the general United States (US) population and die an average of 25-years younger, often from preventable diseases. This study seeks to determine whether disparities in smoking have increased over the past decade and whether Clean Indoor Air Laws (CIALs) are associated with changes in smoking among those with poor mental health. We used a fixed-effects model for estimation. CIALs were associated with 15 per cent decreased odds of smoking among adults in the US. Among those with poor mental health, these same laws had no effect. Between 2000 and 2010, the disparity in smoking rates between these two populations has steadily increased from 1.8 to 2.2 times greater. Given the lack of association between tobacco laws and smoking among those with poor mental health, alternative and more targeted tobacco reduction efforts may be necessary.
Distribution Characteristics of Organochloride Pesticides Residues in Topsoil in Southern Guizhou

In order to study the pollution status of organochlorine pesticide(OCPs)residues in topsoil in southern Guizhou,97soil samples from 12counties in southern Guizhou were collected and analyzed. The detection results showed that the banned HCHs and DDTs were detected,theΣOCPs residues range was from not detected to 8.99μg/kg,among them,ΣHCHs andΣDDTs had the highest detection rate as main pollutants,with average values of 1.31μg/kg and 0.50μg/kg.It could be concluded that OCPs residues level was lower in southern Guizhou compared with reports of other areas.
Practical Application of GM Model in Potential Problems of the Source College Candidates in China

With a brief review of the development of China's college education,based on a GM model,the writer made a forecast analysis in the college demand on students which will be supplied by high schools,so that it could demonstrate the pptential peoblems of increasing enrollment of tertiary schools in China.Meanwhile,the writer gave some suggestion on this point.
Unintended consequences of a quality measure for acute bronchitis.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether diagnostic coding shifts might undermine apparent improvements resulting from the 2007 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure on avoidance of antibiotics for the treatment of adults with acute bronchitis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 466.0). STUDY DESIGN Time series analysis within a primary care network for 3 successive winter seasons from 2006 to 2009. METHODS All initial adult visits with a primary diagnosis code of 466.0 or 490 (bronchitis, not otherwise specified) were analyzed. Multivariable analysis accounted for clustering of observations by physician. RESULTS The percentage of visits treated with antibiotics declined significantly for code 466.0 (76.8% to 74.4% to 27.0% of visits over the 3-year study period; P <.0001 for trend) but did not decline for code 490 (86.6% to 87.6% to 82.1% of visits; P = .33 for trend). Use of the 490 code rose significantly over the study period, from 1.5% of total bronchitis visits in year 1 to 84.6% of total bronchitis visits in year 3. As a result, the odds of an antibiotic prescription for codes 466 and 490 combined decreased slightly in year 3 compared with year 1 (odds ratio 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.78-0.99). CONCLUSIONS While performance on the specific HEDIS measure improved dramatically during this study period, overall antibiotic prescribing did not decline substantially. Quality measures that assess performance on specific diagnosis codes are imperfect and do not account for shifts in diagnosis coding.
Abstract 113: Monocytes Embedded in Plasma Clots Synthesize Coagulation Factors: Balancing Procoagulant and Anticoagulant Signals

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that vascular cells acutely regulate fibrin clot structure and stability. However, the mechanisms by which fibrin clots push vascular cells, in particular leukocytes, to synthesize pro-and anti-coagulant proteins is unknown. Here, we characterize monocyte-derived pro-and anti-coagulant activity in clots. Methods: Human monocytes were isolated from whole blood using CD14 microbeads. In parallel, cell-free plasma was isolated and clot formation induced in the presence of monocytes by the addition of tissue factor and calcium. RNA was isolated using RNAzol. Cell surface tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) as well as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was measured by ELISA. TF activity was measured using a chromogenic factor Xa assay. Results: Monocytes embedded within plasma clots transcribed mRNA for uPAR (2.3-fold), uPA (9.5-fold), TF (9.2-fold), TFPI, and PAI-1 (6.2-fo...
Hemmung postsynaptischer Potentiale im Nucleus gracilis

1. Das vom Nucleus gracilis an nicht narkotisierten Katzen unter Curare abgeleitete Antwortpotential auf elektrische Reizung des cervicalen Hinterstranges wird beschrieben. 2. Reizung der Formatio reticularis des Mittelhirnes oder des Bruckentegmentum verursacht eine vorubergehende Hemmung der postsynaptischen Komponenten des Keulenkernpotentiales. 3. Der Mechanismus dieser Hemmungswirkung sowie ihre funktionelle Bedeutung und diejenige verwandter Einflusse der Formatio reticularis auf afferente Systeme wird besprochen.
The influence of pavement–vehicle interaction on highway fuel consumption by field measurement

AbstractField experiments are performed in which Fuel Consumptions (FCs) are measured by operating passenger car over thirteen one-mile roadway sections at two highway speeds in Florida. The sections are composed of 6 flexible pavement sections and seven rigid pavement sections with varied pavement surface conditions and testing temperature. The first objective is to capture the fuel differences between flexible pavement and rigid pavement considering the effect of pavement roughness and pavement temperature. By ANalysis of COVAriance (ANCOVA), results show less fuel is consumed on rigid pavement opposed to flexible pavement by 2.25% at 93 km/h and 2.22% at 112 km/h. Fuel differences are found statistically significant at 95% Confidence Level (C.L.). Fuel savings on rigid pavement exhibits good agreement with authors’ Phase I direct comparison field study. Furthermore, fuel data from flexible pavement is applied to calibrate the Highway Development and Management IV (HDM-4) FC model in order to detect and...
Association of Transverse Testicular Ectopia and Seminal Vesicle Cyst

AbstractThe first case of simultaneous transverse testicular ectopia and a congenital seminal vesicle cyst is reported in a patient with coexistent upper urinary tract disorders. The literature relevant to these anomalies is reviewed and the rationale for complete Urologic evaluation of the patient with a lower urinary tract anomaly is encouraged.
Zero Sum Society

The operating environment of the typical firm in the late twentieth century is very different from the prevailing environment described by Alfred Marshall nearly a century ago. Marshall wrote near the end of the industrial revolution, which transformed agricultural society during the nineteenth century into a society of manufacturers. The individual entrepreneur had not yet given way to the modern stock company. Research and product development mainly proceeded at the initiative of individuals, rather than large organizations. Management science as a discipline did not exist, and the hand of government was not ever-present in its attempts to redistribute or to improve market efficiency.
Characterization of Latexes by Optical Methods

In this paper we attempt to give an overview and an understanding of the various optical methods for the characterization of latex particles. The methods considered are all in situ so that electron microscopy has been excluded. Emphasis has been placed on the basic theoretical understanding of the methods in order to reveal the strengths and limitations of each approach. The essential concepts of the methods are presented as a guide to evaluating detailed procedures and applications that may be found in the abundant literature on light scattering. At the same time, we have introduced a new approach in section II and a new contribution from our own laboratory in section III.
Opening garden gates: Teachers making meaning of school gardens in Havana and Philadelphia

Abstract This article examines how garden educators in Havana, Cuba and Philadelphia, United States navigate the challenges and opportunities provided by local school settings and the larger policy and social contexts to think about and explain garden education as valid and valuable pedagogy. Havana and Philadelphia educators explain their own perspectives on school garden programs by drawing on situated pedagogical paradigms about the contributions garden programs make to schools and the schooled individual. In so doing, they build personally relevant meaning and public validation of garden work in institutional and community settings, creating gateways for implementation of school gardens.
715. Impact of Aging on Recombinant Adeno-Associated and Lentiviral Vector Transduction Efficiency in the Rat Nigrostriatal and Striatonigral Systems

Clinical trials currently examine the efficacy of viral vector-mediated gene delivery for treating age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). While viral vector strategies have been successful in preclinical studies, to date, human clinical trials have been unsuccessful. This may be partially due to the fact that preclinical studies fail to account for advanced age as an important covariate despite aging being the primary risk factor for PD. Previously, we found that gene transfer using recombinant adeno-associated virus pseudotype 2/5 (rAAV2/5) results in decreased transduction efficiency in the aged (20 month) rat midbrain as compared to young adult (3 month) rat at 12 days post-injection (Polinski et al., 2014, PMID: 25457558). Specifically, injection of rAAV2/5 expressing green fluorescent protein (rAAV2/5 GFP) to the substantia nigra (SN) of aged rats resulted in: 1) ~60% fewer cells expressing detectable GFP, 2) ~50% less striatal GFP protein, and 3) 4-fold lower GFP mRNA expression than identical injections into the young adult rat SN. These results were generalizable over rat strain, duration of expression, and location sampled in the nigrostriatal system. In the present series of experiments, we investigated whether the phenomenon of deficient transduction in the aged brain is generalizable to other vector constructs. Further, since the striatum is the structure most often targeted in PD gene therapy clinical trials, we examined the impact of aging on transduction efficiency in striatum. Aged (20 month) and young adult (3 month) male Fischer 344 rats were stereotaxically injected into the SN or striatum with rAAV2/5, rAAV2/2, rAAV2/9, or lentivirus (LV) expressing GFP. Four weeks after injection in the SN, three of the four vector constructs (rAAV2/5, rAAV2/2, and LV) were less efficient in transduction of the aged nigrostriatal system as assessed through levels of GFP protein in the striatum. In contrast, rAAV2/9 was equally as efficient in aged as compared to young adult rats. These results implicate vector capsid-related steps of transduction in the deficiencies observed in the aged brain as this is the only difference between the rAAV pseudotypes used. Results examining whether similar deficiencies are observed following intrastriatal injection of the four vector constructs are pending. Outcome measures will include stereological quantification of NeuN+ or GFP+ cells in the striatum and measurement of GFP protein levels in striatonigral terminals. Aging-related deficits in transduction have the potential to negatively impact current and future gene therapy trials. Our results will identify which vector constructs are better suited for transduction of the aged nigrostriatal and striatonigral systems to optimize future gene therapy clinical trials for age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Probably approximately correct learning in stochastic games with temporal logic specifications

We consider a controller synthesis problem in turn-based stochastic games with both a qualitative linear temporal logic (LTL) constraint and a quantitative discounted-sum objective. For each case in which the LTL specification is realizable and can be equivalently transformed into a deterministic Buchi automaton, we show that there always exists a memoryless almost-sure winning strategy that is "e-optimal with respect to the discounted-sum objective for any arbitrary positive ". Building on the idea of the R-MAX algorithm, we propose a probably approximately correct (PAC) learning algorithm that can learn such a strategy efficiently in an online manner with a-priori unknown reward functions and unknown transition distributions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first result on PAC learning in stochastic games with independent quantitative and qualitative objectives.
Liquid water content in ice estimated through a full-depth ground radar profile and borehole measurements in western Greenland

Abstract. Liquid water content (wetness) within glacier ice is known to strongly control ice viscosity and ice deformation processes. Little is known about wetness of ice on the outer flanks of the Greenland Ice Sheet, where a temperate layer of basal ice exists. This study integrates borehole and radar surveys collected in June 2012 to provide direct estimates of englacial ice wetness in the ablation zone of western Greenland. We estimate electromagnetic propagation velocity of the ice body by inverting reflection travel times from radar data. Our inversion is constrained by ice thickness measured in boreholes and by positioning of a temperate–cold ice boundary identified in boreholes. Electromagnetic propagation velocities are consistent with a depth-averaged wetness of ∼ 0.5–1.1 %. The inversion indicates that wetness within the ice varies from