cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors between an Indigenous and a Non-indigenous Sample from New Zealand and the United States of America

While there has been a substantial amount of literature published on environmental beliefs and behaviors, cross-cultural research in this area, particularly comparisons between indigenous vs. non-indigenous people, remains limited. The current study conducted a comparison of the environmental beliefs and behaviors, as well as political attitudes, between an indigenous and a non-indigenous sample of New Zealand and the US (total n =322). Respondents included students at the University of Waikato in New Zealand (Māori and European New Zealanders) and the University of North Carolina Pembroke in the US (Lumbees and non-indigenous Americans). The participants provided responses regarding their ecological worldview, belief in global climate change, and participation in environmentally responsible behaviors as well as their political attitudes, including system justification and political liberalism. Results showed that the New Zealand sample was more politically liberal and demonstrated more environmentally friendly beliefs and behaviors than the US sample. The indigenous group did not differ in their environmental beliefs or behaviors from their non-indigenous counterpart, but did endorse less system justification. Mediation analyses indicated that ecological worldview and belief in global climate change together fully mediated the link between political liberalism and environmentally responsible behavior. Implications of these findings for environmental behavior research and education are discussed.
Reducing Barriers to Behavioral Treatments for Insomnia: A Qualitative Examination of Veterans' Perspectives of BBTI.

Objective: Although behavioral treatments are recommended for treating insomnia disorder, these treatments are not the most commonly provided treatments due to numerous barriers (e.g., treatment le...
A Preliminary Exploration of Virtual Reality-Based Visual and Touch Sensory Processing Assessment for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sensory abnormalities are experienced by 90 – 95% of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that impacts at least 1 in 132 children worldwide. Virtual reality (VR) technologies can precisely present sensory stimuli and be integrated with human sensing technologies to automatically detect sensory responses, and thus has a potential to improve sensory assessment objectiveness and sensitivity, compared to traditional questionnaire-based methods. However, there is a lack of evidence to demonstrate this potential. Therefore, we designed and developed a preliminary sensory assessment VR system (SAVR) to objectively and precisely evaluate the visual and touch sensory processing differences between adolescents with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers through game playing. A controlled experiment was conducted with 12 adolescents with ASD and 12 TD adolescents. Participants’ sensory pattern was assessed by SAVR and a widely used traditional questionnaire-the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile (AASP). We hypothesized that: 1) compared to AASP, SAVR can find more significant differences between the two participant groups, and 2) there are significant and strong correlations between the SAVR results and the AASP results. Statistical analyses of the experimental data supported the hypotheses. The implication and limitations of this preliminary exploration as well as future works are discussed.
Framework for Understanding Cybersecurity Impacts on International Trade

Cybersecurity concern is becoming a key issue for trade policy. Issues of international trade policy have recently gained increased attention. Of course, restrictions on international trade regarding technology have long existed – on imports and exports, as well as on direct foreign investment in the United States. But cybersecurity has not been a key issue for trade policy – until now. This is because of the wide adoption of information and communications technologies (ICTs), like the Internet-of-Things (IoT), cloud computing, and big data analysis in the digital society.
The role of affect in chronic pain: A systematic review of within-person symptom dynamics.

Abstract Objective: Chronic pain is conceptualized as a biopsychosocial phenomenon that involves both physical and emotional processes. The vast majority of research regarding these facets of chronic pain characterizes differences between individuals. In this review, we describe problems with assuming that differences between persons accurately characterize within-person processes. We also provide a systematic review of studies that have examined within-person relationships between pain and affect among individuals with chronic pain. Method: Articles published by December 2020 that pertained to within-person assessment of pain and emotion, affect, or mood were identified. Data regarding study design, adherence, and concurrent and prospective relationships among pain and affect variables were extracted and summarized. Results: Of 611 abstracts, 55 studies met inclusion criteria. Results suggest that individuals with chronic pain tend to experience increased negative affect and decreased positive affect when experiencing more severe pain (rpooled = .18 and − .19, respectively). However, the size of these effects appeared smaller than between-person associations, and there was evidence of significant variability between individuals. Examination of predictive relationships between pain and affect largely suggested the tendency of symptoms to predict themselves, rather than pain predicting affect or vice versa. Conclusions: Consistent with group-level relationships, experiencing more severe pain relative to an individual's average seems to be associated with more negative affect and less positive affect. However, individuals vary in the size and even direction of these effects. More research is necessary to understand the implications of such variability for the assessment and treatment of chronic pain.
Pollinators and plant nurseries: how irrigation and pesticide treatment of native ornamental plants impact solitary bees.

A key conservation goal in agroecosystems is to understand how management practices may affect beneficial species, such as pollinators. Currently, broad gaps exist in our knowledge as to how hortic...
On the Complementarity of Data Selection and Fine Tuning for Domain Adaptation.

Domain adaptation of neural networks commonly relies on three training phases: pretraining, selected data training and then fine tuning. Data selection improves target domain generalization by training further on pretraining data identified by relying on a small sample of target domain data. This work examines the benefit of data selection for language modeling and machine translation. Our experiments assess the complementarity of selection with fine tuning and result in practical recommendations: (i) selected data must be similar to the fine-tuning domain but not so much as to erode the complementary effect of fine-tuning; (ii) there is a trade-off between selecting little data for fast but limited progress or much data for slow but long lasting progress; (iii) data selection can be applied early during pretraining, with performance gains comparable to long pretraining session; (iv) data selection from domain classifiers is often more effective than the popular contrastive data selection method.
A Comparison of Earnings Management Between Not-for-Profit and For-Profit Hospitals

The purpose of this paper is to compare earnings management patterns of not-for-profit (NFP) hospitals and for-profit (FP) hospitals. Most of prior studies on earnings management use samples of either FP organizations (e.g., Burgstahler and Dichev 1997) or NFP organizations (e.g., Leone and Van Horn 2005). Using a sample of hospitals from the State of California over the period of 1995-2005, this study is the first to compare directly between earnings management practices of the two types of organizations. The study shows that the FP hospitals are involved in more aggressive earnings management practices. The results show that FP hospitals tend to manipulate earnings upward more aggressively when their earnings before discretionary accruals are poor, and they downplay their earnings more than their NFP hospitals counterparts when their earnings before discretionary accruals are exceptionally high.
Optimizing circuit allocation for bandwidth reservations in dynamic virtual circuit networks

Modern research and education networks, such as ESnet and Internet2, offer the capability to increase the reliability and predictability of big data transfers through the reservation of bandwidth in the form of dynamic (on-demand) virtual circuits interconnecting pairs of geographically distant end sites. Because each end site utilizes a circuit in the same manner as a VLAN, the number of circuits that can be simultaneously active is limited. In this paper, we address the problem of maximizing the number of bandwidth reservations that can be serviced by a set of virtual circuits while minimizing the number of required virtual circuits. We develop an algorithm, called CA, that solves this problem and compare its performance with a simplified version, called S-CA, and a baseline FCFS algorithm, through both offline and online simulations. We demonstrate that CA performs up to 30% better than S-CA and up to three times better than FCFS.
Reexamining the promise of parent participation in special education: An analysis of cultural and social capital

Highly regulated parent participation in special education requires both parents and teachers to use cultural and social capital relative to education legislation, disability, and parenting. Examined through a Bourdieuian analytical lens, data from focus groups and individual interviews with families provide examples of the salience of disability in the acquisition and use of cultural and social capital in educational contexts, serving to both reify dominance and support individual agency. [special education, Bourdieu, cultural capital, disability]
Peer Relationships in Organizations

(2001). Peer Relationships in Organizations. Administration in Social Work: Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 85-103.
The impact of an integrated approach to science and literacy in elementary school classrooms

This study investigates the efficacy of an integrated science and literacy approach at the upper-elementary level. Teachers in 94 fourth grade classrooms in one Southern state participated. Half of the teachers taught the treatment unit, an integrated science–literacy unit on light and energy designed using a curriculum model that engages students in reading text, writing notes and reports, conducting firsthand investigations, and frequent discussion of key concepts and processes to acquire inquiry skills and knowledge about science concepts, while the other half of the teachers taught a content-comparable science-only unit on light and energy (using materials provided by their districts) and provided their regular literacy instruction. Students in the treatment group made significantly greater gains on measures of science understanding, science vocabulary, and science writing. Students in both groups made comparable gains in science reading comprehension. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 49: 631–658, 2012
Functional Determinants in Euclidean {Yang-Mills} Theory

We study functional determinants entering the path integral for topologically non-trivial sectors of Euclidean SU(2) Yang-Mills theory and we derive some results in exact closed form.
Attraction and oviposition responses of the fungus gnat Bradysia impatiens to microbes and microbe-inoculated seedlings in laboratory bioassays

Laboratory tests were conducted to examine preferences of Bradysia impatiens Johannsen (Diptera: Sciaridae) larvae and adults for various microbes associated with greenhouse crops. Fungus gnat larvae and adults exhibited a preference for cultures of Pythium spp. over the medium used to grow the pathogens. Larvae also exhibited a preference for geranium seedlings infected with pathogenic Pythium spp. [P. aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitz., P. ultimum Trow, and P. irregulare Buis. (Oomycota: Peronosporales)] over non-inoculated plants. Adult fungus gnats exhibited a strong ovipositional preference for the aforementioned Pythium spp. as well as a variety of other microorganisms, including the pathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis basicola (Berk. & Br.) (Ascomycota: Microascales), the geranium-infecting bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii (Brown) Dye (Proteobacteria: Xanthomonadales), the non-pathogenic species Pythium torulosum Coker & P. Patt. and Pythium graminicola Subramaniam, the pathogen-suppressive fungus Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), and the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). Our study is the first to demonstrate that fungus gnats are attracted to and/or stimulated to oviposit by a wide array of living microorganisms both in pure culture and in association with plant seedlings. These findings have important implications with respect to the potential role of fungus gnats in plant pathogen transmission.
Dark matter in the MSSM golden region

Dark matter is examined within the 'golden region' of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. This region satisfies experimental constraints, including a lower bound on the Higgs mass of 114 GeV, and minimizes fine-tuning of the Z boson mass. Here we impose additional constraints (particularly due to experimental bounds on b{yields}s{gamma}). Then we find the properties of the dark matter in this region. Neutralinos with a relic density that provides the amount of dark matter required by cosmological data are shown to consist of a predominant gaugino (rather than Higgsino) fraction. In addition, the U(1){sub Y} gaugino mass parameter must satisfy M{sub 1} < or approx. 300 GeV.
Revisiting status-envy: does the theory hold up?

This study reassesses the validity of the status-envy hypothesis of sex identity acquisition. Tests of the relationship of the measures employed in existing status-envy research to more direct indexes of the inde pendent variables suggest that status-envy investigations are not tapping the conditions that are conducive to envy of the female status. More direct tests of the status-envy theory also indicate that the hypothesis is not supported by the available data. Divergent causes and interpretations of the proposed consequences of status-envy are proposed.
Hyperspectral monitoring of chemically sensitive plant sentinels

Automated detection of chemical threats is essential for an early warning of a potential attack. Harnessing plants as bio-sensors allows for distributed sensing without a power supply. Monitoring the bio-sensors requires a specifically tailored hyperspectral system. Tobacco plants have been genetically engineered to de-green when a material of interest (e.g. zinc, TNT) is introduced to their immediate vicinity. The reflectance spectra of the bio-sensors must be accurately characterized during the de-greening process for them to play a role in an effective warning system. Hyperspectral data have been collected under laboratory conditions to determine the key regions in the reflectance spectra associated with the degreening phenomenon. Bio-sensor plants and control (nongenetically engineered) plants were exposed to TNT over the course of two days and their spectra were measured every six hours. Rochester Institute of Technologys Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation Model (DIRSIG) was used to simulate detection of de-greened plants in the field. The simulated scene contains a brick school building, sidewalks, trees and the bio-sensors placed at the entrances to the buildings. Trade studies of the bio-sensor monitoring system were also conducted using DIRSIG simulations. System performance was studied as a function of field of view, pixel size, illumination conditions, radiometric noise, spectral waveband dependence and spectral resolution. Preliminary results show that the most significant change in reflectance during the degreening period occurs in the near infrared region.
An improved modulation format and signal processing scheme for ACSB systems

An improved modulation, demodulation and signal processing scheme for Amplitude-Compandored Single Sideband (ACSB) systems will be described, which offers correction for the adverse effects of the rapid fading characteristic of the mobile environment, reduces the possibility of adjacent channel interference, and is suitable for use in either satellite-aided or terrestrial mobile communications systems operating well into the UHF region. Furthermore, it lends itself very well to an almost completely digital implementation, eliminates the requirement for costly and bulky SSB IF crystal filters, and should significantly reduce the size and cost of ACSB mobile equipment utilizing the technique.
Combining Light-Harvesting and Charge Separation in a Self-Assembled Artificial Photosynthetic System Based on Perylenediimide Chromophores

Self-assembly of robust perylenediimide chromophores is used to produce an artificial light-harvesting antenna structure that in turn induces self-assembly of a functional special pair that undergoes ultrafast, quantitative charge separation. The structure consists of four 1,7-(3‘,5‘-di-tert-butylphenoxy)perylene-3,4:9,10-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(carboximide) (PDI) molecules attached to a single 1,7-bis(pyrrolidin-1-yl)perylene-3,4:9,10-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(carboximide) (5PDI) core, which self-assembles to form (5PDI−PDI4)2 in toluene. The system is characterized using both structural methods (NMR, SAXS, mass spectroscopy, and GPC) and photophysical methods (UV−vis, time-resolved fluorescence, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy). Energy transfer from (PDI)2 to (5PDI)2 occurs with τ = 21 ps, followed by excited-state symmetry breaking of 1*(5PDI)2 to produce 5PDI•+−5PDI•- quantitatively with τ = 7 ps. The ion pair recombines with τ = 420 ps. Electron transfer occurs only in the dimeric system ...
Geographic Variation in the South American Cricetine Rodent Bolomys lasiurus

Variation in cranial morphology of Bolomys lasiurus was examined using univariate and multivariate statistical procedures to evaluate approximately 1,000 specimens grouped into seven samples. Sexual dimorphism was found for 20 of the 24 characters analyzed, and the extent of dimorphism is similar throughout the range of the species. Principal components and cluster analyses indicated the presence of two distinct groups: (1) the northernmost Amazonian specimens and (2) significantly smaller specimens from other parts of the species' range.
Theory of chemisorption and reactions on metal surfaces

A review of theoretical methods used to describe chemisorption and adsorbate reactions on metal surfaces is contained in this report. A comprehensive perspective on state-of-the-art electronic structure methods suitable for these problems and a review of applications that illustrate current capabilities of theory are presented. First-principles ab initio and density functional methods and semiempirical approaches that permit the calculation of adsorbate energetics, structure and spectra are emphasized. In addition to the chemisorption of molecules and molecular fragments, applications include gas-surface reactions, dissociative processes and surface reactions involving coadsorbed species. Many of the applications are relevant to transition metal heterogeneous catalysis. Both slab and atomic cluster methods are described. Methods are critiqued, with reference to published applications, to illustrate capabilities and limitations of different approaches. An extensive compendium of applications is included.
Evaluation and treatment of fever in the non-neutropenic child with cancer.

Purpose To document the current approach to the evaluation and treatment of febrile non-neutropenic children with cancer by surveying American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO) members. Methods Five hundred ninety-five ASPHO members were sent questionnaires polling their current practices in the evaluation and treatment of clinically stable, febrile (oral temperature of 38 degrees C x2, or >or=38.3 degrees C), non-neutropenic (absolute neutrophil count > 500/microL) pediatric cancer patients who have no identifiable bacterial infection. Patients were assigned to one of four groups based on the presence or absence of a central venous catheter (CVC) and no source (NS) or presumed viral source (VS) for fever. Results Three hundred sixteen ASPHO members (53%) responded and 300 questionnaires were evaluable. If a CVC was present, respondents universally drew blood cultures (99% NS, 96% VS) from the CVC, but only one third drew peripheral blood cultures (33% NS, 29% VS). If a CVC was not present, the majority of respondents (80% NS, 61% VS) drew peripheral cultures. ASPHO members started empiric antibiotics more frequently in patients with a CVC (69% NS, 55% VS) than in patients without a CVC (33% NS, 23% VS). Most did not admit these patients to the hospital (40% CVC and NS, 33% CVC and VS, 22% no CVC and NS, 19% no CVC and VS). ASPHO members with more years of experience were more likely to obtain peripheral blood cultures if a CVC was present and to admit a patient without a CVC. Conclusions Nearly all respondents obtained a blood culture from the CVC in the initial assessment of the febrile, non-neutropenic patient with a CVC, but other evaluation and management practices varied considerably.
Pharmacology of dopamine neurons innervating the prefrontal, cingulate and piriform cortices

The pharmacology of a number of distinct dopamine (DA) systems was studied. Those DA projections possessing autoreceptors (striatum, olfactory tubercle and piriform cortex) exhibited large changes in DA metabolism in response to systemic administration of DA agonists and antagonists. In contrast, in those DA systems which lack autoreceptors (the prefrontal and cingulate cortical innervations) little or no response to DA agonists and a diminished response to DA antagonists was seen. When DA metabolism was inhibited by administration of a MAO inhibitor, reductions in HVA were observed in all brain regions studied. DA turnover appeared faster in the prefrontal and cingulate cortices than in the DA systems possessing autoreceptors.
Distance-dependent metal-enhanced fluorescence from Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of alkyl-NBD derivatives on silver island films.

We described the effect of fluorophore distance from the silver island films (SIFs) on the metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) from two newly developed long-chain nitrobenzoxadiazole derivatives (NBD-C16 and NBD-C18). The well-established Langmuir−Blodgett technique is used to deposit the fluorophores at defined distances from the SIFs surface, and an inert amphiphilic stearic acid is used to control the distance. NBD probes deposited directly on the SIFs surface show the highest metal-enhanced fluorescence of ∼32-fold, and both of the probes that were studied show a consistent decrease in metal-enhanced fluorescence when increasing the distance from the fluorophore to the SIFs surface. The lowest fluorescence enhancement of ∼4-fold is observed for the probes located 90 nm from the SIFs surface. Additionally, we also have noticed the shortest fluorescence lifetimes for the NBD probes deposited directly onto the SIFs surface, and the lifetimes are consistently increased when increasing the distances between ...
Detecting ammonia injury on stone fruit

Resume La concentration minimale d'ammoniac provoquant une deterioration des fruits a noyau varie de 0,04 a 0,3%, suivant la qualite des fruits et le temps d'exposition au gaz (1,2,3). On peut s'attendre a une alteration par l'ammoniac s'il se produit une fuite de fluide de la machine frigorifique. Lorsqu'on ne remarque pas d'odeur d'ammoniac on se fie aux symptomes visuels de l'alteration pour determiner la cause de la deterioration. Les symptomes de l'alteration par l'ammoniac, en particulier plusieurs jours apres l'exposition, peuvent etre semblables a ceux provoques par d'autres matieres nocives existant dans l'environnement apres recolte, comme une exposition excessive aux fumigenes utilises pour lutter contre les insectes ou aux detergents utilises pour laver les fruits a la station fruitiere. L'auteur a etudie deux essais chimiques qualitatifs simples pour deceler les residus d'ammoniac.
Coordinate transformation of the six-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation: Calculation of the Kramers rate constant

The six-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation, a variational functional, and a coordinate transformation are used to derive an expression for the Kramers rate constant. An explicit equation is obtained for the rate of adsorption of a diatomic molecule on a molecular surface as a function of the potential energy between the diatomic molecule and the molecular surface, the physical properties of the diatomic molecule, the viscosity surrounding the active site, and the temperature.
Descriptors of American Physical Therapy Association physical therapist members' reading of professional publications

One of the components of evidence-based practice (EBP) is reading the literature. The purpose of this investigation was 1) to determine which publications are read most frequently by physical therapists (PTs), 2) to identify employment and education characteristics related to reading patterns, and 3) to determine how PTs use information gained from reading professional publications. A survey was constructed, pretested, revised, and then mailed to a random sample of 1,000 physical therapists, 500 from the general American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) membership and 500 from the combined Geriatric and Orthopedic section memberships. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. After all mailings, 43.3% of the sample responded. Of those responding, 66.3% were employed as clinicians, 14.7% as clinician-administrators, 6% as educators, and 4.9% as administrators. Overall, and for clinicians, the two most frequently read professional publications were non peer-reviewed. For clinician groups “patie...
The distribution of fitness effects in an uncertain world

The distribution of fitness effects (DFE) among newly arisen mutations has critical implications for a wide range of research themes in evolutionary biology and quantitative genetics. While mathematical models have played an important role in predicting and interpreting empirical features of the DFE, the theory has largely ignored environmental heterogeneity, and the potential for genetic tradeoffs for fitness between environmental contexts that are relevant to single populations. Environmental change can alter the genetic basis of fitness over time or space by way of two possible routes: (1) by altering the orientation of natural selection; and (2) by altering the phenotypes expressed by a given genotype (i.e., phenotypic plasticity). While both phenomena are widely observed in nature, their implications for the DFE have yet to be incorporated within a formal model. Here, we develop an extension of Fisher’s geometric model that explicitly considers the relative impact of fluctuating selection and plasticity on the DFE. We show that environmental heterogeneity generally exacerbates evolutionary constraints by reducing the fraction of mutations that are beneficial, and increasing the pervasiveness of fitness tradeoffs between environmental contexts. In this sense, environmental heterogeneity and pleiotropy have analogous effects on adaptation. We demonstrate that heterogeneity – like pleiotropy – constrains the range of genetic pathways that are accessible to adaptive evolution, and increases the importance of balancing selection during adaptation.
Changes in psychiatric consultations over ten years

We report on the day-to-day functions of a consultation-liaison psychiatric service during a two-month period separated by ten years. As general hospitals transformed their delivery of services during the 1990s, we hypothesized that the day-to-day role of the consultation-liaison service would change in terms of the population served, timing of evaluations, and recommended interventions. Using a chart review, we retrospectively examined consultations referred to an adult consultation-liaison service at a university hospital during the same two-months in 1990 (N=75) and 2000 (N=90). Patients in 2000 were less educated, more likely to be divorced and more likely to be minorities. The 2000 patients appeared to have more severe psychiatric illness and to be more medically complicated. These findings have implications in the context of cost effective health care.
Utility of feature mapping in ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation

Abstract Feature mapping presents us with a novel philosophy in ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation that utilizes maximum information from different data acquisition and signal feature domains for possible complete material characterization and defect analysis in a variety of different materials and structures. Feature mapping is a powerful technique that covers a wide area of data acquisition and analysis techniques applying both physically and statistically based principles. This procedure, beyond standard normal beam applications, employs many seldom used but interesting data collection procedures such as critical angles, surface waves, plate waves and backscattering techniques. It forms these into an extremely versatile data acquisition protocol, followed by detailed analysis through a state of the technology signal processing, pattern recognition and expert system and/or artificial intelligence implementation practice. This Paper explains the various existing possibilities for clever physically based data collection, and the types of feature domains and features available for anomaly representation in materials. Typical results are discussed to illustrate the capabilities and utilities of the feature mapping techniques, including a normal beam longitudinal wave high frequency area ratio feature mapping (F-map) system, oblique incidence shear wave amplitude F-maps, and plate leaky wave amplitude F-map results for interfacial weakness in an adhesive bond structure. Also discussed are the results from a normal beam longitudinal wave amplitude and frequency bandwidth F-map for crack detection in a composite material, as well as a backscattered energy F-map for defect edge detection in composite materials.
Ion-Induced Rectification of Nanoparticle Quantized Capacitance Charging in Aqueous Solutions

Ion-induced rectification of nanoparticle quantized capacitance charging was studied using nanoparticle self-assembled monolayers in aqueous solutions in the presence of some unique electrolyte ion...
Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications

Battery safety has been a very important research area over the past decade. Commercially available lithium ion batteries employ low flash point (<80 °C), flammable, and volatile organic electrolytes. These organic based electrolyte systems are viable at ambient temperatures, but require a cooling system to ensure that temperatures do not exceed 80 °C. These cooling systems tend to increase battery costs and can malfunction which can lead to battery malfunction and explosions, thus endangering human life. Increases in petroleum prices lead to a huge demand for safe, electric hybrid vehicles that are more economically viable to operate as oil prices continue to rise. Existing organic based electrolytes used in lithium ion batteries are not applicable to high temperature automotive applications. A safer alternative to organic electrolytes is solid polymer electrolytes. This work will highlight the synthesis for a graft copolymer electrolyte (GCE) poly(oxyethylene) methacrylate (POEM) to a block with a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) poly(oxyethylene) acrylate (POEA). The conduction mechanism has been discussed and it has been demonstrated the relationship between polymer segmental motion and ionic conductivity indeed has a Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) dependence. Batteries containing commercially available LP30 organic (LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate (EC):dimethyl carbonate (DMC) at a 1:1 ratio) and GCE were cycled at ambient temperature. It was found that at ambient temperature, the batteries containing GCE showed a greater overpotential when compared to LP30 electrolyte. However at temperatures greater than 60 °C, the GCE cell exhibited much lower overpotential due to fast polymer electrolyte conductivity and nearly the full theoretical specific capacity of 170 mAh/g was accessed.
An Alternative Look at the Constant-Gain Kalman Filter for State Estimation Over Erasure Channels

This technical note studies state estimation problems subject to data loss. We consider a class of switched estimators, where missing data is replaced by optimal estimates. The considered class of estimators encompasses a number of estimation schemes proposed in the literature. We show that the estimator that minimizes the steady-state estimation error covariance within that class, is given by a constant-gain Kalman filter which was previously proposed as an alternative to the Kalman filter with intermittent observations. As a by-product of our results, we derive expressions that allow one to compare, analytically, popular suboptimal data-dropout compensation mechanisms.
Mesenteric/Celiac Duplex Ultrasound Interpretation Criteria Revisited

Background Several published studies with a small sample size have reported differing results of duplex ultrasound (DUS) utilizing different threshold velocities in detecting significant stenosis of superior mesenteric (SMA) or celiac arteries (CA). The present study is based on the largest number of mesenteric duplex/angiography correlations reported to date for the diagnosis of SMA/CA stenosis. Methods One hundred fifty-three patients (151 SMA and 150 CA) had both DUS and arteriography. Receiver operator curves (ROC) were used to analyze peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and SMA or CA/aortic PSV ratio in detecting ≥50% and ≥70% stenosis. Results For SMA (151 arteries: 84 with ≥50% stenosis [54 of which had ≥70% stenosis] based on angiography): the PSV threshold that provided the highest overall accuracy (OA) for detecting ≥50% SMA stenosis was ≥295 cm/s (sensitivity [sens.] 87%, specificity [spec.] 89%, and OA 88%); and for detecting ≥70% SMA, it was ≥400 cm/s (sens. 72%, spec. 93%, and OA 85%). The EDV threshold that provided the highest OA for detecting ≥50% stenosis was ≥45 cm/s (sens. 79%, spec. 79%, and OA 79%); and for ≥70% stenosis was ≥70 cm/s (sens. 65%, spec. 95%, and OA 84%). ROC analysis showed that PSV was better than EDV and SMA/aortic PSV ratio for ≥50% stenosis of SMA (P = .003 and P = .0005). For celiac arteries (150 arteries: 105 with ≥50% stenosis [62 of which had ≥70% stenosis]): the PSV threshold that provided the highest OA for ≥50% stenosis was ≥240 cm/s (sens. 87, spec. 83%, and OA 86%); and for ≥70% stenosis was ≥320 cm/s (sens. 80%, spec. 89%, and OA 85%). The EDV threshold that provided the highest OA for ≥50% stenosis was ≥40 cm/s (sens. 84%, spec. 48%, and OA 73%); and for ≥70% stenosis was ≥100 cm/s (sens. 58%, spec. 91%, and OA 77%). ROC analysis showed that PSV was better than EDV and SMA/aortic PSV ratio for ≥50% stenosis of CA (P Conclusions PSV values can be used in detecting ≥50% and ≥70% SMA/CA stenosis and were better than EDVs and ratios. Previously published data must be validated in individual vascular laboratories. Our results will need prospective validation.
Effects of particle size on the decomposition of ammonium carbonate

Abstract The decomposition of ammonium carbonate having three different particle size distributions has been studied by DSC. The samples consisted of large particles (302 ± 80 μ m), intermediate particles (98 ± 36 μ m) obtained by grinding the larger particles, and small particles (30 ± 10 μ m) obtained by fracturing the large particles with ultrasound. Data from the decomposition of the intermediate particles gave the best fit with a first-order rate law. The bulk of the data for decomposition of the larger particles followed either a D3 or F1 rate law while a D3 rate law fit most of the data from decomposition of the smallest particles.
Removal of singularities and analogs of the Sokhotskii–Weierstrass theorem for Q -mappings

We prove that an open discrete Q-mapping $$ f:D \to \overline {{\mathbb{R}^n}} $$ has a continuous extension to an isolated boundary point if the function Q(x) has finite mean oscillation or logarithmic singularities of order at most n – 1 at this point. Moreover, the extended mapping is open and discrete and is a Q-mapping. As a corollary, we obtain an analog of the well-known Sokhotskii–Weierstrass theorem on Q-mappings. In particular, we prove that an open discrete Q-mapping takes any value infinitely many times in the neighborhood of an essential singularity, except, possibly, for a certain set of capacity zero.
Tissue distribution and antitumor activity of topotecan delivered by intracerebral clysis in a rat glioma model.

OBJECTIVE Intracerebral clysis is a drug delivery technique that depends on convection-enhanced microinfusion to achieve therapeutic drug levels within the brain. In this study, brain tumor-bearing rats were treated with topotecan delivered systemically and by the intracerebral clysis method. Our objective was to determine the efficacy and tissue distribution of topotecan delivered by intracerebral clysis. METHODS The C6/Wistar rat glioma model was used after a thymidine incorporation assay determined topotecan sensitivity of C6 cells in vitro. Long-term survival of animals provided objective measurements of efficacy; records of animal weight during treatment and neurological status served to approximate toxicity. Topotecan tissue penetration was measured in samples of ex vivo tumor and surrounding brain tissue with high-pressure liquid chromatography. RESULTS Dose escalation demonstrated significant sensitivity of C6 glioma cells to topotecan (median lethal dose, 0.19 micromol/L). Eleven of 12 rats bearing established intracerebral C6 glioma and receiving topotecan by intracerebral clysis survived beyond the end point of 120 days; no untreated control or systemically treated animal survived beyond 26 days (n = 18; P < 0.005). Histopathological assessment of animals demonstrated significant tumor masses in the brains of intraperitoneally treated animals and untreated control animals. In contrast, no residual tumor was found in the brains of intracerebral clysis groups. Animal weights during treatment were markedly reduced by intraperitoneal dosing (n = 6) but not by low-dose intracerebral clysis (32 microg/kg/d for 5 d; n = 6). None of the low-dose intracerebral clysis-treated animals demonstrated neurological toxicity, and one high-dose intracerebral clysis-treated animal (160 microg/kg/d for 2 d; n = 6) died during follow-up. Topotecan was detected well beyond the boundaries of the tumor and even in the contralateral hemisphere in animals treated with intracerebral clysis. CONCLUSION Topotecan delivered by the intracerebral clysis method is effective for treatment of brain tumors in the rat glioma model. These studies provide compelling justification for further preclinical testing to formally evaluate toxicity and efficacy with variable dosing schedules.
Living with breast cancer in text and image: making art to make sense

Post-modern social scientists are moving beyond text-based evidence to gain understandings of embodiment and experiences of illness. This essay explores works of art produced by two women with breast cancer: Jo Spence, a British photographer, and Martha Hall, an American who created artists' books. It shows how they construct meaning in the production and display of their art and builds an argument about the benefits of developing a visual sociological imagination.
Measuring Subject Specific Muscle Model Parameters of the First Dorsal Interosseous In Vivo

Subject specific musculoskeletal models typically base some or all of their parameters on a source other than the subject being modeled. Evidence demonstrates that cadaveric measurements do not always scale appropriately to every subject, yet many musculoskeletal models still rely heavily on cadaveric based data. This study focused on the First Dorsal interosseous (FDI) given its unique function as the sole abductor of the second metacarpophalangeal joint. There were two purposes to this study: (1) to describe the procedures that can be used in vivo to determine the properties of a model of the FDI. (2). To determine the model parameters required to characterize the FDI for a group of four subjects. Parameters were determined using ultrasound imaging and a custom-built finger dynamometer. Some parameters were measured directly while other parameters had to be estimated using a least-squares criterion. For example, the parameters for the force–length properties were determined by fitting a model to experimentally determined data, with maximum isometric force values ranging from 86 to 102 N, and optimum lengths from 41 to 53 mm. It was shown that full characterization is possible for the FDI with parameters that are physiologically reasonable, but which showed variability between subjects. This model and approach for parameter identification will allow for more detailed analysis of the function of the FDI.
Butterflies Under Cover: Cuban and Puerto Rican Gay Masculinities in Miami

Life histories of ethnic Cuban and Puerto Rican gay men who live in Miami-Dade County, Florida are examined to explore the strategies men employ to deal with their stigmatized sexuality, their nego...
Novel antagonist to agonist switch in chimeric G protein-coupled alpha-factor peptide receptors.

Abstract The α-factor analog desTrp1,Ala3 α-factor (dTA-α-factor) acts as an antagonist for both the S. cerevisiae α-factor receptor (c-αFR) and the S. kluyveri α-factor receptor (k-αFR). Chimeric α-factor receptors in which a portion (residues 250-303) of the seven hydrophobic segments were derived from the k-αFR and the rest from c-αFR conferred potent activation of cellular responses by dTA-α-factor including induction of FUS1 expression without significantly affecting binding. Chimeric receptors with all hydrophobic segments derived from one receptor did not express sensitivity. We propose that dTA-α-factor represents an antagonist that that has an activation energy barrier to activating c-αFR and k-αFR but which retains a latent potential to act as an agonist.
The paradoxical effect of medical insurance on delivery of surgical care for infants with congenital anomalies.

Abstract Objective Caring for neonates with major congenital anomalies has significant financial implications for the treating institution, which can be positive or negative depending on whether the patient has insurance. We hypothesized that insured affected neonates born in non–children's hospitals would be more likely to be treated on site, whereas uninsured neonates would be more likely to be transferred. Patients and Methods We used the Kids' Inpatient Database to study neonates with congenital anomalies who were born in US non–children's hospitals. We performed bivariate analysis using the χ 2 test and adjusted for covariates with multiple logistic regression. Results Uninsured patients were 2.57 (95% confidence interval, 1.83-3.62) times more likely to be transferred compared with patients with private insurance or Medicaid, after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. This trend increased over time between 1997 and 2006. Conclusions The current reimbursement structure in the United States incentivizes non–children's hospitals to retain insured patients with congenital anomalies and transfer uninsured patients with these same anomalies. This places a disproportionate financial burden on children's hospitals while paradoxically causing insured infants to be cared for at hospitals that may not be best equipped to provide complex care.
MDS: roadblock to differentiation.

In this issue of Blood, Will et al identify aberrant expansion of distinct stem and progenitors in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and demonstrate that MDS stem cells are functionally abnormal and harbor genetic and epigenetic alterations.1
Interior-Point Method for Nuclear Norm Approximation with Application to System Identification

The nuclear norm (sum of singular values) of a matrix is often used in convex heuristics for rank minimization problems in control, signal processing, and statistics. Such heuristics can be viewed as extensions of $\ell_1$-norm minimization techniques for cardinality minimization and sparse signal estimation. In this paper we consider the problem of minimizing the nuclear norm of an affine matrix-valued function. This problem can be formulated as a semidefinite program, but the reformulation requires large auxiliary matrix variables, and is expensive to solve by general-purpose interior-point solvers. We show that problem structure in the semidefinite programming formulation can be exploited to develop more efficient implementations of interior-point methods. In the fast implementation, the cost per iteration is reduced to a quartic function of the problem dimensions and is comparable to the cost of solving the approximation problem in the Frobenius norm. In the second part of the paper, the nuclear norm approximation algorithm is applied to system identification. A variant of a simple subspace algorithm is presented in which low-rank matrix approximations are computed via nuclear norm minimization instead of the singular value decomposition. This has the important advantage of preserving linear matrix structure in the low-rank approximation. The method is shown to perform well on publicly available benchmark data.
Phase Separation in InGaN Epitaxial Layers

Epitaxial layers of InGaN were deposited by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on a GaN layer/sapphire substrate in order to ascertain compositional variation in the GaN-InN system. Samples were examined with In contents from x = 0.09 to 0.31. Plan-view images obtained by transmission electron microscopy reveal a domain structure within which the composition is modulated. Satellites appear around the fundamental reflections in the diffraction pattern. The spacing between the satellite and the reflection can be related to the wavelength of the modulations. Equations are derived for modulations in the [101] and [112] directions. Modulations were measured in the [101] direction and found to be about λ = 3.2 nm for all samples. Strain energy considerations explain the observation of modulations along different directions.