cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-Situ Formation of Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

A process has been developed in our laboratories in which the reinforce ment of engineering thermoplastics is generated during melt processing. The process con sists of blending thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers with engineering thermoplastics in an extruder. On extruding these blends through a sheet die, films (or sheet) are formed in which the LCP phase exists in the form of thin fibrils. The formation of fibrils depends on the presence of certain hydrodynamic conditions defined by the viscosity ratio, capil lary number, and flow type. The sheets are then drawn to impart molecular orientation in the LCP phase. Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) sheets reinforced with several different LCP's have been formed in which the properties are significantly enhanced. The modulus of these sheets represented almost a fourfold increase over that of the pure PPS sheet. The dynamic torsional properties of the sheet are also determined using a Rheometrics Mechanical Spectrometer and results are correlated with the str...
A micromechanical analysis of fiber crack propagation in composite materials due to transverse tensile loads

Abstract The fiber crack propagation in composites due to transverse tensile loads is studied using a micromechanical model and Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. To approach the problem, a three domain cylindrical model is introduced to simulate the fiber cracking. The model problem is then solved by the dislocation and singular integral equation techniques. The stress intensity factors of the fiber crack are calculated for various situations. It is found that fiber anisotropy has hardly any effect on the fiber crack propagation; “reverse composites” (composites in which fiber is less stiff than the matrix, such as Nicalon/SiC ceramic composite) virtually eliminate fiber crack propagation.
Bellocchio: A New Technique For Detecting And Mitigating Artifacts From Seismic Data

Almost every 3-D seismic survey contains artifacts that affect seismic imaging, seismic interpretation, and ultimately estimates of reservoir properties. These artifacts, apparent in amplitude and frequency, can be attributed to • Seismic acquisition and/or processing parameters (periodic artifacts, e.g., inline striping on marine data) • Geologic factors in the overburden (non-periodic artifacts, e.g., shallow-gas shadowing) It is highly desirable to be able to remove the artifacts from the post-stack seismic data with an inexpensive filtering operation. In this presentation we will introduce a new technique for filtering 3-D seismic data to remove artifacts and show examples using synthetic models and actual data. The technique has been developed, tested, and applied to synthetic and actual 1-D, 2-D and 3-D signals. The technique, nicknamed “Bellocchio” (loosely translatable as “Sharp Eye”), is composed of two main parts: detection and mitigation. The fundamental assumption behind the technique is that for features to be clearly labelled as artifacts they need to have consistent vertical and spatial non-geological patterns. The identification and preliminary quantification of such patterns require a sharp vision through the seismic data. The technique is very general and can remove periodic and non-periodic artifacts provided that we have available an estimate of the spatial character of the perturbations (artifacts) and that the perturbations are additive to the true geological conditions in the subsurface.
Evaluation of Harm in the Pharmacotherapy of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract Objective Current treatment options for irritable bowel syndrome are limited and often poorly studied. A select few drugs have been studied in irritable bowel syndrome, and the number needed to treat is frequently used to assess the relative efficacy of these treatments. However, side effects are an important consideration in the clinical decision on which particular treatment to use. This study examines trials of subjects with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and constipation who are receiving a drug intervention deemed of merit by the American College of Gastroenterology task force and compares these therapies to examine the number needed to harm using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Methods Potential studies of irritable bowel syndrome treatments were identified through a search of MEDLINE (1950 to April 2011), EMBASE (1980 to April 2011), the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, and the bibliography of recent meta-analyses. Clinical trials of pharmacotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome were eligible for inclusion only if a description of adverse events and the number of patients who discontinued treatment because of adverse events were reported. The relative risk of experiencing an adverse event requiring discontinuation of treatment was used to determine the number needed to harm. In addition, the number and severity of adverse events were summarized. Results Twenty-six clinical trials (4 with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, 3 with lubiprostone, 6 with tricyclic antidepressants, 8 with alosetron, and 5 with rifaximin) were included. Lubiprostone was safe with insignificant harm in one combined phase III trial. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors did not have enough data for a reliable meta-analysis of harm but seemed to be safe. More rigorous data were available for tricyclic antidepressants, alosetron, and rifaximin; the numbers needed to harm were 18.3, 19.4, and 8971, respectively, and the numbers needed to treat were 8, 7.5, and 10.6, respectively. For tricyclic antidepressant and alosetron, an adverse event resulting in discontinuation of the study medication occurred for every 2.3 and 2.6 patients who benefited from a drug, respectively. For rifaximin, this number was 846 patients. In addition, adverse events were more common with tricyclic antidepressants and alosetron. Conclusion In irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, tricyclic antidepressants and alosetron are associated with a significant number needed to harm compared with rifaximin. Apart from lubiprostone, treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation is limited to small studies (with poor descriptions of side effects), although lubiprostone and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors appear safe.
A randomized, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic, cross-over study of duodenal or jejunal administration compared to nasogastric administration of omeprazole suspension in patients at risk for stress ulcers

A randomized, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic, cross-over study of duodenal or jejunal administration compared to nasogastric administration of omeprazole suspension in patients at risk for stress ulcers
A comparison of the FREDDY and holmium lasers during ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Two laser devices that are used today in endoscopic treatment of renal and ureteral calculi are the frequency-doubled double-pulse neodynium:YAG (FREDDY) and Holmium:YAG lasers. The mechanism of action of these lasers differs, thus conferring potentially different safety and efficacy profiles. The in vitro efficacy of these lasers in treating urinary stones has been explored, but to our knowledge no study compares the in vivo efficacy. The purpose of this study is to compare the stone-free and complication rates of the FREDDY and holmium lasers. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were included in the study (from January 2004 to September 2006) if they had adequate documentation of stone size and location, postoperative stone burden, and perioperative complications. Stone-free status was determined based on intraoperative findings and postoperative imaging. Complications included bleeding, ureteral perforation, any intraoperative event necessitating termination of the procedure, ureteral stricture, hydronephrosis, and admission to the hospital with a diagnosis related to the procedure. RESULTS: Sixty patients with adequate follow-up were identified. Thirty patients were treated with FREDDY and 30 patients with Holmium laser. Fisher's exact test was employed for statistical analysis. There was no significant difference in the average stone size between the FREDDY and Holmium groups, which were 6.7 mm and 6.1 mm, respectively. Stone-free rates in the FREDDY and Holmium groups were 76.7% and 93.3%, respectively, P = 0.149. The complication rates were 17.4% in the FREDDY group and 10% in the Holmium group, P = 0.667. CONCLUSION: The complication and stone-free rates did not significantly differ between the FREDDY and Holmium lasers, though there was a trend toward a higher stone-free rate and lower complication rate with the holmium laser. Holmium laser may be more effective than the FREDDY laser in fragmenting calcium oxalate monohydrate stones. The device and laser fiber costs were comparable.
Larval competition alters susceptibility of adult Aedes mosquitoes to dengue infection.

Dengue, the most important human arboviral disease, is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extent, by Aedes albopictus. The current distributions of these invasive species overlap and are affected by interspecific larval competition in their container habitats. Here we report that competition also enhances dengue infection and dissemination rates in one of these two vector species. We determined the effects of competition on adult A. aegypti and A. albopictus, comparing their susceptibility to infection with a Southeast Asian strain of dengue-2 virus. High levels of intra- or interspecific competition among larvae enhanced the susceptibility of A. albopictus to dengue virus infection and potential for transmission, as indicated by disseminated infections. Doubling the number of competing larvae (A. albopictus or A. aegypti ), led to a significant (more than 60%) increase in the proportion of A. albopictus with disseminated dengue-2 infection. Competition-enhanced vector competence appears to result from a reduction in ‘barriers’ (morphological or physiological) to virus infection and dissemination and may contribute to the importance of A. albopictus in dengue transmission. Similar results for other unrelated arboviruses suggest that larval competition, common in mosquitoes, should be considered in estimates of vector competence for pathogens that infect humans.
Healing of hymenal injuries in prepubertal and adolescent girls: a descriptive study.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to identify the healing process and outcome of hymenal injuries in prepubertal and adolescent girls. METHODS. This multicenter, retrospective project used photographs to document the healing process and outcome of hymenal trauma that was sustained by 239 prepubertal and pubertal girls whose ages ranged from 4 months to 18 years. RESULTS. The injuries that were sustained by the 113 prepubertal girls consisted of 21 accidental or noninflicted injuries, 73 secondary to abuse, and 19 “unknown cause” injuries. All 126 pubertal adolescents were sexual assault victims. The hymenal injuries healed at various rates and except for the deeper lacerations left no evidence of the previous trauma. Abrasions and “mild” submucosal hemorrhages disappeared within 3 to 4 days, whereas “marked” hemorrhages persisted for 11 to 15 days. Only petechiae and blood blisters proved to be “markers” for determining the approximate age of an injury. Petechiae resolved within 48 hours in the prepubertal girls and 72 hours in the adolescents. A blood blister was detected at 34 days in an adolescent. As lacerations healed, their observed depth became shallower and their configuration smoothed out. Of the girls who sustained “superficial,” “intermediate,” or “deep” lacerations, 15 of 18 prepubertal girls had smooth and continuous appearing hymenal rims, whereas 24 of 41 adolescents9 hymens had a normal, “scalloped” appearance and 30 of 34 had no disruption of continuity on healing. The final “width” of a hymenal rim was dependent on the initial depth of the laceration. No scar tissue formation was observed in either group of girls. CONCLUSIONS. The hymenal injuries healed rapidly and except for the more extensive lacerations left no evidence of a previous injury. There were no significant differences in the healing process and the outcome of the hymenal injuries in the 2 groups of girls.
Bow Hunter's Syndrome Causing Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency in a Young Man with Neck Muscle Hypertrophy

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency is characterized by impaired blood flow within the posterior circulation, producing symptoms of vertigo, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, and syncope. Given these nonspecific symptoms, the diagnosis of vertebrobasilar ischemia may be difficult to distinguish from more benign conditions. A healthy 37-year-old man presented to our clinic with near syncope upon turning his head to the left. Dynamic angiography revealed occlusion of the left vertebral artery at C7 with 90° head rotation to the left, consistent with bow hunter's syndrome. No obvious bony abnormalities were identified on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans. Transient rotational vertebral artery syndrome, a rare cause of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, has most often been reported at the C1-2 level, and the majority of cases occur in patients >50 years of age because of degenerative osteophytes and contralateral atherosclerosis. We present the unusual case of a young man with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency and discuss the potential effects of weightlifting and neck muscle hypertrophy on vertebral artery flow dynamics.
Recovery from the hepatic acute phase response in the severely burned and the effects of long-term growth hormone treatment

Abstract Background : Administration of growth hormone (GH) to burned children decreases acute phase proteins and increases constitutive proteins when used during the acute hospitalization. Treatment during convalescence has not been examined. Methods : Seventy-six children with total body surface area burned (TBSAB) ≥40% were randomized to either placebo or GH (0.05 mg/kg/day) from discharge to 1 year after burn. Subjects were followed for an additional year. Levels of constitutive proteins and acute phase proteins were measured at discharge and 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. Data are expressed as mean±S.E.M. Results : Albumin and transferrin levels increased during convalescence to the normal range but pre-albumin and retinol binding protein (RBP) levels remained below normal for at least 24 months. Acute phase proteins α 1 -acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein, and haptoglobin decreased ( P 2 -macroglobulin increased from discharge to 6 months. C-3 complement remained elevated for at least 2 years after burn. Changes were similar in both groups with no effect for GH treatment. Conclusion : Some hepatic acute phase and constitutive proteins remain abnormal even 2 years after injury. GH treatment during convalescence has no effect on hepatic acute phase protein changes.
Comment on ‘Banana–doughnut kernels and mantle tomography’ by van der Hilst and de Hoop

SUMMARY The claim by van der Hilst and de Hoop that finite-frequency (FF) inversion of seismic traveltimes does not result in measurable improvements in tomographic images is misguided, and based upon a biased selection of images in the upper mantle, where wave front healing effects are indeed small, and where our models are generally poorly resolved because we primarily used teleseismic waves that travel steeply in the upper mantle; and upon an improper application of statistics to the better-resolved anomalies in the lower mantle. If station corrections for long-period P waves are computed using ray theory, as we do, unmodelled FF effects may be responsible for slow anomalies of up to 0.3 per cent beneath very small island stations, but these effects are negligible for larger islands such as Reunion and Kerguelen. The presence of a plume beneath these islands is the most probable explanation for the observed low velocities.
Shared and disparate components of the pathophysiologies of fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia differ in their association with maternal disease but share a similar placental pathology. Moreover, mothers who have had pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia or IUGR are at elevated later-life cardiovascular risk. Why, then, do some women develop IUGR and others develop preeclampsia? In this clinical opinion, based on a review of the literature, we hypothesize that both women experiencing preeclampsia and IUGR enter pregnancy with some degree of endothelial dysfunction, a lesion that predisposes to shallow placentation. In our opinion, preeclampsia develops when abnormal placentation, through the mediator of elevated circulating cytokines, interacts with maternal metabolic syndrome, comprised of adiposity, insulin resistance/hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and coagulopathy. IUGR develops in the absence of antenatal metabolic syndrome. Among these women, the baby is affected by shallow placentation but the mother does not develop clinically apparent disease. This conceptualization provides a testable framework for future etiologic studies of preeclampsia and IUGR.
Fractalkine/CX3CL1 production by human airway smooth muscle cells: induction by IFN-γ and TNF-α and regulation by TGF-β and corticosteroids

Chemokine synthesis by airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) may be an important process underlying inflammatory cell recruitment in airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive ...
On wideband modular design of small arrays of planar dipoles

In this paper we propose a new approach to design small broadside arrays comprised of identical square radiators attached side to side. The individual radiator (the unit cell) has the size ~λ/2×λ/2, where λ is the wavelength at a center frequency. We intend to show that the individual radiator may be designed in such a way that the 2×1 array, 3×1 array, 2×2 array, 4×1 array, 3×2 array, 3×3 array, 4×2 array, and the 4×4 array of these identical radiators may have the same impedance bandwidth of ~2.5:1, over the same band of frequencies. At the center frequency, the array gain will always approach a value predicted by the array area rule [1]-[3], for any considered array geometry. While single antenna systems do achieve bandwidths far greater than 2:1, there is a degree of complexity in their design and construction. Some of the common examples of such antennas are the spiral [4], [5] and the log-periodic antennas [6]. Furthermore, the arrays so designed will have a superior gain at lower frequencies. The present modular approach may be used for low-cost larger-volume small broadside array design.
Seeing storms behind the clouds: Biases in the attribution of anger

Abstract Anger-prone individuals are volatile and frequently dangerous. Accordingly, inferring the presence of this personality trait in others was important in ancestral human populations. This inference, made under uncertainty, can result in two types of errors: underestimation or overestimation of trait anger. Averaged over evolutionary time, underestimation will have been the more costly error, as the fitness decrements resulting from physical harm or death due to insufficient vigilance are greater than those resulting from lost social opportunities due to excessive caution. We therefore hypothesized that selection has favored an upwards bias in the estimation of others' trait anger relative to estimations of other traits not characterized by such an error asymmetry. Moreover, we hypothesized that additional attributes that i) make the actor more dangerous, or ii) make the observer more vulnerable increase the error asymmetry with regard to inferring anger-proneness, and should therefore correspondingly increase this overestimation bias. In Study 1 ( N =161), a fictitious individual portrayed in a vignette was judged to have higher trait anger than trait disgust, and trait anger ratings were more responsive than trait disgust ratings to behavioral cues of emotionality. In Study 2 ( N =335), participants viewed images of angry or fearful faces. The interaction of factors indicating target's formidability (male sex), target's intent to harm (direct gaze), and perceiver's vulnerability (female sex or high belief in a dangerous world) increased ratings of the target's trait anger but not trait fear.
Cable-Stayed Versus Classical Suspension Bridge

The development of cable-stayed bridges is traced back to the 1600's. The cable-stayed bridge is a new type of bridge concept that has just started to attract the attention of bridge engineers in the United States. A comparative study of existing bridges has shown that cable-stayed bridges have a definite place in the economical design of bridges for intermediate spans and challenge the supremacy of the conventional suspension bridge in the long-span range. A comparison between classical suspension and cable-stayed is presented on the basis of stiffness, optimization of cable-weight, and aerodynamics. A general conclusion is stated that a cable-stayed system is stiffer and more economical than a suspension system of camparable span. Wind effects have been investigated very thoroughly for suspension bridges and such analysis is also required for cable-stayed bridges. It is indicated that because of inherent system stiffness and damping, the cable-stayed system is not as sensitive to wind oscillation as a conventional suspension system.
Limitations of power conversion systems under transient loads and impact on the pulsed tokamak power reactor

The impact of cyclic loading of the power conversion system of a helium-cooled, pulsed tokamak power plant is assessed. Design limits of key components of heat transport systems employing Rankine and Brayton thermodynamic cycles are quantified based on experience in gas-cooled fission reactor design and operation. Cyclic loads due to pulsed tokamak operation are estimated. Expected performance of the steam generator is shown to be incompatible with pulsed tokamak operation without load leveling thermal energy storage. The closed cycle gas turbine is evaluated qualitatively based on performance of existing industrial and aeroderivative gas turbines. Advances in key technologies which significantly improve prospects for operation with tokamak fusion plants are reviewed.
Improved Doppler tracking and correction for underwater acoustic communications

The performance of coherent acoustic communication systems involving moving platforms (e.g., underwater vehicles and ships) is adversely effected by Doppler shift resulting from relative motion of the transmitter and receiver. This paper presents a series of innovations which, together, dramatically improve the response to Doppler shift of a widely-used adaptive receiver algorithm. The innovations include a frequency-shift estimator, time-scale interpolator and robust phase-locked loop (PLL). These techniques reduce the computational load of the coherent equalizer and provide accurate Doppler tracking. Results from at-sea testing are presented to illustrate the performance of the combined algorithm.
Interhemispheric communication of abstract and specific visual-form information.

Abstract Pairs of letters were compared after being viewed in different visual fields (i.e. across-hemispheres, AH) or in the same visual field (i.e. within-hemisphere, WH). In an abstract-category comparison task, participants decided whether two letter exemplars belonged to the same abstract category (e.g. “k” and “K”) or not (e.g. “k” and “P”) and performed more accurately in AH trials than in WH trials. In a specific-exemplar comparison task, they decided whether two letters within the same abstract category were the same specific exemplars (e.g. “k” and “k”) or not (e.g. “k” and “K”) and performed more accurately in WH trials than in AH trials. This pattern of results was observed when the exemplars in a category were visually similar (e.g. “k” and “K”, “ a ” and “ a ”) but not when they were visually dissimilar (e.g. “a” and “A”). The reversed association technique was used to confirm the independence of subsystems underlying abstract category and specific-exemplar comparisons. Most important, the results support the theory that a specific-exemplar subsystem is more detrimentally affected by interhemispheric transfer of information than an abstract category subsystem.
Hearing Assessment of At-risk Infants: Current Status of Audiometry in Young Infants

This study reports hearing status on a consecutive series of infants who had required neonatal intensive care. A relatively high percentage of infants demonstrated hearing impairment. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the pediatrician who often serves a "case manager" role for families. An underlying assumption is that pediatricians are better equipped to advise parents and make referral decisions if they have an awareness of the current audiologic assessment strategies for infants and young children. The strengths and limitations of the currently employed methodologies are defined and discussed.
From Homo economicus to Complex Subjectivities: Reconceptualizing Farmers as Pesticide Users

: Through empirical analysis and theory, this paper critiques technocratic regimes of protection vis a vis pesticide use, which are efforts limited to technical rationality and didactic communication of pesticide risks that model pesticide users as self-responsible individuals (ie Homo economicus). Data reveal that knowledge of pesticide risk does not translate into greater protective gear use, within the Costa Rican case presented and more broadly. This circumstance, across first and third world contexts, leads me to develop a more holistic conceptualization of farmers’ subjectivities that highlights numerous constraints—informational, political economic, cultural, individual, and environmental—to which farmers are subject. This conceptualization reveals the inadequacy of most efforts to address farmers’ protective gear use, and leads me to propose a multi-tiered solution to pesticide problems, including an industrial hygiene approach and fostering subjectivities through participatory research involving pesticide users.
Targeting serum antibody for cancer diagnosis: a focus on colorectal cancer.

The ability of the immune system to magnify the appearance of disease by generating relatively large amounts of antibody in response to small amounts of disease makes it a natural biosensor, and serum antibodies have emerged as promising biomarkers for the detection of cancer. This review summarizes recent progress in targeting serum antibodies for cancer diagnosis, with a particular focus on colorectal cancer (CRC). Several serum antibodies have been detected at increased levels in CRC patients, including p53, carcinoembryonic antigen, Ras, topoisomerase II-α, histone deacetylase 3 and 5, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3, tropomyosin and cyclin B1. As each antibody is only present in a limited proportion of patients (usually < 40%), a combination of serum antibodies that defines the ‘immunological signature’ of cancer needs to be developed. High-throughput methods to identify new serum antibodies for cancer diagnosis are also reviewed.
Genetic Diversity in Soybean

It is the purpose of this paper to illustrate the impact of geography, climate, and humankind in shaping the present-day genetic diversity in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Examination of soybean germplasm collections around the globe reveals that an enormous phenotypic range in genetic traits exists in soybean, which is well beyond the phenotypic range observed in the wild progenitor (Glycine soja Seib. et Zucc.). Maturity date, seed coat color, plant height, seed size, and seed yield are noted examples of traits which have a wider phenotypic range in G. max than in the wild G. soja. The diversity found in domesticated soybean is the result of over 3,000 years of cultivation in which Chinese farmers selected more than 20,000 landraces ( defmed as cultivars that predate scientific breeding). The extensive range in phenotype embodied in landraces today is the result of the slow spread of soybean throughout geographically diverse Asia (China first, then Korea and Japan), the continual occurrence of natural mutations in the crop, and both conscious and unconscious selection for local adaptation. The more recent spread of soybean out of Asia in the past 250 years, coupled with modem breeding efforts of the past 70, has intensified and globalized the process of local adaptation and increased the phenotypic range in soybean beyond that of landraces. The increased range in phenotype for modem cultivars includes increases in seed yield, elevation of seed protein/oil concentration, and development, only within the past 20 years, of commercial cultivars that are sufficiently tall and adapted to be grown profitably near the equator. The phenotypic range and distribution observed in modem cultivars and antecedent landraces have clear biogeographical interpretations which relate primarily to genetic alteration of photoperiod response (a prerequisite to adaptation to diverse latitudes) and tolerance to climate extremes. Although the phenotypic range in genetic traits has been expanded in modem soybean through global dispersal and genetic recombination, it is perhaps surprising that that these factors have not had a corresponding positive impact on genetic diversity of modem breeding programs outide of China.. Genetic diveresity in breeding programs is important as a concept, because it is a measure of the potential of a country to develop new and substantially improved cultivars. For the purposes of this paper, genetic diversity in breeding programs is defined, as ge-
Toluene mineralization and growth potential of Pseudomonas putida PaW164 under toluene-limiting conditions.

Toluene-induced cells of Pseudomonas putida PaW164 (pWWO-164) were monitored for growth potential, maintaining the TOL plasmid, and potential toluene mineralization activity in toluene-amended and nonamended soil. A follow-up study was done in a carbon-free mineral salts solution to obtain further information on physiological changes that occur during starvation. These studies showed that there was a larger decline in colony forming units (CFUs) recovered on a toluate- or benzoate-defined mineral salts medium than on a complex agar medium, a greater percent decrease of CFU than of potential mineralization activity, no decrease in direct counts, and no loss of the TOL plasmid during starvation. Toluene-induced cells also showed an increasing lag time and a decreasing potential for mineralization of 14C-toluene with starvation. In contrast, the lag time for mineralization of glucose was longest at the onset of starvation and reached a minimum by 3 days; thereafter, the potential for glucose mineralization remained high.
Mechanical and electrochemical response of a LiCoO2 cathode using reconstructed microstructures

Abstract As LiCoO 2 cathodes are charged, delithiation of the LiCoO 2 active material leads to an increase in the lattice spacing, causing swelling of the particles. When these particles are packed into a bicontinuous, percolated network, as is the case in a battery electrode, this swelling leads to the generation of significant mechanical stress. In this study we performed coupled electrochemical-mechanical simulations of the charging of a LiCoO 2 cathode in order to elucidate the mechanisms of stress generation and the effect of charge rate and microstructure on these stresses. Energy dispersive spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy imaging was used to create 3D reconstructions of a LiCoO 2 cathode, and the Conformal Decomposition Finite Element Method is used to automatically generate computational meshes on this reconstructed microstructure. Replacement of the ideal solution Fickian diffusion model, typically used in battery simulations, with a more general non-ideal solution model shows substantially smaller gradients of lithium within particles than is typically observed in the literature. Using this more general model, lithium gradients only appear at states of charge where the open-circuit voltage is relatively constant. While lithium gradients do affect the mechanical stress state in the particles, the maximum stresses are always found in the fully-charged state and are strongly affected by the local details of the microstructure and particle-to-particle contacts. These coupled electrochemical-mechanical simulations begin to yield insight into the partitioning of volume change between reducing pore space and macroscopically swelling the electrode. Finally, preliminary studies that include the presence of the polymeric binder suggest that it can greatly impact stress generation and that it is an important area for future research.
Inequalities for a class of polynomials satisfying p(z)≡z n p(l/z)

Let be a polynomial of degree n and let p′(z) be the derivative of p(z). Then it is well known that and .In this paper we obtain inequalities analogous to these inequalities for polynomials satisfying and with all their coefficients lying in a sector. Our results generalize and sharpen some of the known results.
Persistent Systemic Production of Human Factor IX in Mice by Skeletal Myoblast-Mediated Gene Transfer: Feasibility of Repeat Application to Obtain Therapeutic Levels

Myoblast-mediated gene transfer and its repeated applications were tested for achieving a long-term stable systemic production of human factor IX (hFIX) at a therapeutic level in SCID mice. Primary skeletal myoblasts were stably transfected with a hFIX expression plasmid vector, pdLMe4βAhIXm1, which contains a hFIX minigene under the control of a β-actin promoter with muscle creatine kinase enhancers. Myotubes derived from the myoblasts produced 1,750 ng hFIX/106 cells/24 hours in culture. hFIX secretion by the myoblasts and thereof derived myotubes were equally efficient, and myotubes were shown to have a sufficient secretory capacity to handle a substantially elevated production of hFIX. After intramuscular injection of 5, 10, and 20 × 106 myoblasts, SCID mice stably produced hFIX into the systemic circulation proportional to the number of implanted cells, and the expression levels were maintained for at least up to 10 months (end of the experiment). Additional cell injections administered to animals that originally received 10 × 106 cells approximately 2 months later elevated the systemic hFIX levels to an average of 182 ± 21 ng/mL, a therapeutic level, which persisted for at least 8 months (end of the experiment). These results indicate that long-term, stable systemic production of hFIX at therapeutic levels can be achieved by repeated application of myoblast-mediated gene transfer.
Individual differences in phase shifts of the human circadian system and performance deficit.

At periodic intervals throughout the biological day, assessments were made for a week prior to intercontinental flight yielding a reference of biological time set to the environment of origin, for two weeks at the temporally displaced environment of destination, and for a week following return to the environment of origin. Assessments made included rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, palmar evaporative water loss, urinalysis, reaction time, decision time, critical flicker fusion, subjective fatigue and well-being, and intellectual facility. The intercontinental flights consisted of east-west and west-east flights which permitted a comparative analysis of bidirectional effects of time zone displacements and a north-south flight which provided an appraisal of effects solely attributable to prolonged flight. Shifts of the phase of circadian periodicity manifested by the physiological functions were effected by the east-west and west-east flights but not by the north-south flight. Bidirectional differences in lag time and extent of dissociation were revealed, but these may be due to individual variability. All flights engendered significant increment in subjective fatigue. Only one flight, the east-west, produced significant performance deficit indicating that while rapid translocation through many time zones does effect physiological phase shifts requiring 4-6 days for completion and impairment of well-being, these phenomena are not accompanied by a commensurate change in the efficiency of basic psychological functions. Language: en
Impact of Participation in Cooperatives on the Profitability of Dairy Farms in the United States

Past research has established the necessity of farmer participation for a cooperative’s success. However, there is a lack of study on whether the reverse is true, i.e., whether participating in cooperatives benefits farmers. The aim here is to address that important issue using the 2005 ARMS dairy data for the entire USA.
High resolution simulation of nonstationary Gaussian random fields

Simulation of random fields is a fundamental requirement for many spatial analyses. For small spatial networks, simulations can be produced using direct manipulations of the covariance matrix. Larger high resolution simulations are most easily available for stationary processes, where algorithms such as circulant embedding can be used to simulate a process at millions of locations. We discuss an approach to simulating high resolution nonstationary Gaussian processes that relies on generating a stationary random field followed by a nonlinear deformation to produce a nonstationary field. A spatially varying variance coefficient accounts for local scale effects. The nonstationary covariance function is estimated nonparametrically, and the deformation function is then estimated in a variational framework. We illustrate the proposed approach on synthetic datasets, a challenging temperature dataset over the state of Colorado and a regional climate model over North America.
Time Dependent Angular Analysis of Bs(d) → J/ψϕ(K*0) and a measurement of $\frac{\Delta\Gamma_s}{\Gamma_s}$

We present preliminary measurements from a combined analysis of lifetimes and transversity amplitudes for and and present the first direct measurement of the width difference in system using 260 pb-1 CDF Run II data. For , we obtain , , . The decay amplitudes and lifetime are also measured.
Retention of Amino Acids in the Hemolymph of the Large Milkweed Bug

There have been many measurements of hemolymph solutes and many suggested functions of hemolymph. Important to both these types of research is the length of time a solute stays in the hemolymph. In relation to our interest in the possible function of hemolymph solutes in the regulation of feeding, we have analyzed the time course of injected and ingested amino acids in the hemolymph of the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas).
Direct observation of dynamic shear jamming in dense suspensions

Liquid-like at rest, dense suspensions of hard particles can undergo striking transformations in behaviour when agitated or sheared. These phenomena include solidification during rapid impact, as well as strong shear thickening characterized by discontinuous, orders-of-magnitude increases in suspension viscosity. Much of this highly non-Newtonian behaviour has recently been interpreted within the framework of a jamming transition. However, although jamming indeed induces solid-like rigidity, even a strongly shear-thickened state still flows and thus cannot be fully jammed. Furthermore, although suspensions are incompressible, the onset of rigidity in the standard jamming scenario requires an increase in particle density. Finally, whereas shear thickening occurs in the steady state, impact-induced solidification is transient. As a result, it has remained unclear how these dense suspension phenomena are related and how they are connected to jamming. Here we resolve this by systematically exploring both the steady-state and transient regimes with the same experimental system. We demonstrate that a fully jammed, solid-like state can be reached without compression and instead purely with shear, as recently proposed for dry granular systems. This state is created by transient shear-jamming fronts, which we track directly. We also show that shear stress, rather than shear rate, is the key control parameter. From these findings we map out a state diagram with particle density and shear stress as variables. We identify discontinuous shear thickening with a marginally jammed regime just below the onset of full, solid-like jamming. This state diagram provides a unifying framework, compatible with prior experimental and simulation results on dense suspensions, that connects steady-state and transient behaviour in terms of a dynamic shear-jamming process.
Pulse-Duration-Dependent-Free-Carrier-Absorption in Semiconductors

The free carrier absorption in InSb was found to depend on the pulse duration of the picosecond CO2 laser pulse. This is interpreted as the effect of incomplete carrier relaxation within the laser pulse duration. An electron energy relaxation time of 5.6 ps was derived from the observation. The present experiment presents a new method of measuring relaxation times in semiconductors and metals.
Osteosclerotic Bone Dysplasia of the Craniofacial Bones

Melorheostosis is a rare sclerosing bone dysplasia which is characterized by a localized, diffuse thickening of the cortical bone mainly affecting diaphysis of long bones, and bones of hand and feet unilaterally. Involvement of the maxillofacial region is rare and the diagnosis is mainly based on radiographic features. We report a rare case of a 5 year old girl with Osteosclerotic Bone Dysplasia (Melorheotosis) of multiple craniofacial bones.
Management and inspiriting of knowledge workers

Intelligence capital for enterprises is mastered by knowledge workers,with which they can create value and form core competitiveness for their enterprises.The paper discussed the classification and loyalty of knowledge workers,performance exam and some problems noticeable in the course of management and inspiriting which help develop and enhance competitiveness.
Less of this one? I'll take it: New insights on the influence of shelf-based scarcity

Abstract Recently, Parker and Lehmann (2011) demonstrated shelf-based scarcity influences consumer preference. In addition to replicating their work across four studies, we extend their findings with evidence that shelf-based scarcity cues 1) impact consumer willingness-to-pay, 2) increase the likelihood of selecting an unfamiliar brand, and 3) influence actual product choice in a field study. Furthermore, we replicate the original study in a different research context that extends beyond packaged goods, with visible inventories that are only 25% different from one another, utilizing a different presentation format. Taken together, this research demonstrates that shelf-based scarcity is a robust heuristic that has far-reaching and stable effects on consumer purchase decisions.
Quantifying Uncertainty in Activity Volcano Relationships for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an important electrochemical reaction and a major bottleneck for fuel cells. Due to the existence of a scaling relation between the adsorption energies of two key intermediates involved in ORR, OOH*, and OH*, the electrocatalytic activity for the ORR, to a first approximation, is determined by a single descriptor. This descriptor-based approach has been used to screen for electrocatalyst materials that have an optimal binding energy of oxygen intermediates. However, given that this descriptor-based search relies on several approximations, it is crucial to determine the overall predictability of the descriptor-based model to determine the activity of a catalyst. In this work, we develop a formalism for estimating uncertainty for the activity of a catalyst in an electrocatalytic reaction scheme and apply this framework to determine errors involved in describing the ORR activity. We perform density functional theory calculations using the Bayesian Error Estimation Funct...
Strange events in the proton

It is well known that atomic nuclei, which make up the bulk of the visible matter in the universe, are made of protons and neutrons. But what are protons and neutrons made of? The simple answer is that they consist of up and down quarks that are bound by the strong nuclear force: the proton contains two up quarks and a down quark, while the neutron contains two down quarks and an up quark.
Inculcating Materialist Minds: Scientific Propaganda and Anti-Religion in the USSR During the Cold War

After 1947, and the liquidation of the Union of Militant Atheists, the Soviet Znanie Society, besides scientific propaganda, had transferred to it the function of propagating atheistic views throughout the USSR. This chapter will analyze how the battle between scientific atheism and religious belief was waged from above domestically by the Soviet regime in the era of the Cold War. It will begin with an overview of the relationship between anti-religious propaganda and scientific enlightenment in the period 1918–1946, leading into the immediate post-Second World War era. The chapter will then analyze the Znanie Society’s role in this development during the early Cold War, document various well-known scientists and propagandists involved in its formation, as well as discuss its eventual fracturing from within.
Expulsion Litigation and the Limits of in Loco Parentis, 1860-1960:

Background/ContextLegal scholars often contrast the litigiousness of contemporary American higher education with a bygone era characterized by near-absolute respect for academic authority. Accordin...
Coupled axial-torsional vibration in turbine generator rotors

Vibration of long turbine blades may provide a coupling mechanism between the axial and torsional modes of vibration of bladed rotors. A mathematical model is presented, together with results for a large Canadian turbine generator.
A novel screening platform for electromicrobiology: A 3-D paper-based sensing array with conductive PEDOT:PSS

We demonstrate an electrically conductive paper-based screening platform for the high-throughput and rapid characterization of the electricity-producing capability of microorganisms. This novel screening sensor substantially improved the device fabrication, sensitivity, reliability, and scalability by simply patterning hydrophilic reservoirs in paper with hydrophobic wax boundaries and adding water-dispersed electrically conducting polymer mixture, poly(3,4-ethylened ioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT :PSS) to the reservoirs. The microporous paper structure ensured a large surface area and efficient mass transfer to and from the electrodes while the conductive polymers enhanced electrocatalytic activity and the rate of bacterial extracellular electron transfer. We validated the utility of the sensor array by studying how strategic genetic modifications impacted the electrochemical activity of various Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant strains. Within 50 mins, we successfully determined the electricity generation capacity of five isogenic mutants of P. aeruginosa.
Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in older adults

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia and it typically afflicts older adults, with a median age at diagnosis of 71. Traditional treatments for CLL have included chemotherapy, which can often be difficult for older patients to tolerate. Given the variability in fitness, cognition and comorbidities amongst older patients, a geriatric evaluation should be considered prior to commencement of cytotoxic therapy. More recently, novel oral agents are proving to be both safe and effective in this population, redefining the field of CLL therapy. In this article we describe high and low-risk disease and discuss contemporary treatment paradigms. We will discuss how the inclusion of targeted therapies may improve outcomes in older patients with CLL being treated in the frontline and relapsed settings. Finally, we will touch on new treatments and combination therapies that are undergoing further study and discuss their potential utility in the older patient with CLL.