cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of Private Forest Owners in West Virginia on the Use of Prescribed Fire in Forestry

Prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire to accomplish planned land management objectives. Public acceptance of prescribed fire varies in different parts of the world, and is little known in the state of West Virginia, USA. West Virginia is about 80% forested, and most of the forest land is in private ownership. Further, the region is home to oak (Quercus spp.), a possibly fire-dependent and highly valuable genus. Due to real and perceived risks associated with prescribed fires, it was hypothesized that forest owners are unwilling to accept the use of prescribed fire as a forest management option, even for the regeneration of oak. Non-industrial private forest owners in West Virginia were surveyed to shed light on their attitudes and opinions regarding the use of prescribed fire as a forest management tool. Contrary to the hypothesis, 64% of the responding owners were supportive of the use of prescribed fire. Acceptance was related to knowledge of prescribed fires or of firefighters. Major concerns included personal and property safety and being informed prior to burning. Therefore, while acceptance of prescribed fires among forest owners is high, timely notification can ensure further and, likely, increased, cooperation from the landowners.
Programming Nighttime Activities in Outdoor Adventure Programs

The current study sought to understand how the participant's experience of guided night hiking could be used as a resource for outdoor recreation programming. Many parks, outdoor recreation programs, and other interpretative services are offering nighttime programs for participants, such as star gazing, kayaking, and night hikes (Beeco, 2008; Smith & Hallo, 2011). This may be due to the use of night as one of the remaining frontiers in recreational experiences (Melbin, 1978). As Melbin (1978) suggests with his urban study, placidity with day activities can led to an interest in exploring the utility of night. For example, trekking into the night may provide a different experience for the hiker who has already found the summit on all of their local trails. Programming during these later, less visited hours can provide unique conditions different than traditional daytime experiences (Beeco, Hallo, Baldwin, and McGuire, in press). Specifically, nighttime recreation activities might offer increased challenge, risk, or a sense of solitude. Furthermore, these programs may also attract participants that believe they are competent daytime adventurers, but are intimidated by recreating at night. Nighttime recreation could also provide opportunities to see or hear nocturnal wildlife such as lightening bugs or owls.
Leukocyte Behavior in Atherosclerosis, Myocardial Infarction, and Heart Failure

Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives worldwide than any other. Etiologically, the dominant trajectory involves atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory process of lipid-rich lesion growth in the vascular wall that can cause life-threatening myocardial infarction (MI). Those who survive MI can develop congestive heart failure, a chronic condition of inadequate pump activity that is frequently fatal. Leukocytes (white blood cells) are important participants at the various stages of cardiovascular disease progression and complication. This Review will discuss leukocyte function in atherosclerosis, MI, and heart failure.
Rational and random mutagenesis of firefly luciferase to identify an efficient emitter of red bioluminescence

Firefly luciferase, which emits yellow-green (557 nm) light, and the corresponding cDNA have been used successfully as a bioluminescence reporter of gene expression. One particularly exciting application is in the area of in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Our interest is in developing improved reagents by identifying Photinus pyralis luciferase mutants that efficiently emit red bioluminescence. In this way, the proven advantages of the P. pyralis protein can be combined with the potential advantages of a red-shifted emitter. Using site-directed mutagenesis techniques, we have identified many mutants emitting red bioluminescence. Unfortunately, these enzymes generally have significantly decreased bioluminescence activity. Interestingly, we discovered a mutation, Ile351Ala, that produced a moderate 16 nm red-shift, while maintaining excellent bioluminescence activity. We then undertook a random mutagenesis approach to identify luciferase mutants that emit further red-shifted bioluminescence with minimal loss of activity. Libraries of mutants were created using an error-prone PCR method and the Ile351Ala luciferase mutant as the template DNA. The libraries were screened by in vivo bacterial assays and the promising mutants were purified to enable accurate determination of bioluminescence emission spectra and total bioluminescence activity. We will report the characterization results, including the identification of the randomly altered amino acids, of several mutants that catalyze bioluminescence with emission maxima of approximately 600 nm.
Novel Approach to Transvenous Pacemaker Implantation in a Post-Fontan Adolescent

Postoperative bradycardia is not uncommon following the Fontan procedure in patients with a functional single ventricle. The surgical connections created with various Fontan modifications may complicate access to the atria for transvenous implantation of a permanent pacemaker. We describe approaches to overcoming problems with atrial access in an adolescent with complex congenital heart disease who required permanent transvenous atrial pacing for tachycardia-bradycardia after Fontan surgery.
Dephenolization of industrial wastewaters catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase.

A new enzymatic method for the removal of phenols from industrial aqueous effluents has been developed. The method uses the enzyme polyphenol oxidase which oxidizes phenols to the corresponding o-quinones; the latter then undergo a nonenzymatic polymerization to form water-insoluble aggregates. Therefore, the enzyme in effect precipitates phenols from water. Polyphenol oxidase has been found to nearly completely dephenolize solutions of phenol in the concentration range from 0.01 to 1.0 g/L. The enzymatic treatment is effective over a wide range of pH and temperature; a crude preparation of polyphenol oxidase (mushroom extract) is as effective as a purified, commercially obtained version. In addition to phenol itself, polyphenol oxidase is capable of precipitating from water a number of substituted phenols (cresols, chlorophenols, naphthol, etc.). Also, even pollutants which are unreactive towards polyphenol oxidase can be enzymatically coprecipitated with phenol. The polyphenol oxidase treatment has been successfully used to dephenolize two different real industrial wastewater samples, from a plant producing triarylphosphates and from a coke plant. The advantage of the polyphenol oxidase dephenolization over the peroxidase-catalyzed one previously elaborated by the authors is that the former enzyme uses molecular oxygen instead of costly hydrogen peroxide (used by peroxidase) as an oxidant.
The Development of Foreign Trade and Communication in Costa Rica to the Construction of the First Railway

The poorest, the most abandoned, the most isolated of the Spanish possessions in North America was the province of Costa Rica. Despite valiant efforts made by the royal governors to build roads and to stimulate the production of items for export, the colonial history of the nation indicates a vegetating and unstimulated economy. The smallest settlements made by the Spaniards were scattered throughout the country, and the greatest concentration of population was in the fertile Meseta Central, which had no easy access to the sea. All of the early settlers were “miserably poor with no prospect of finding mines to bring them quick wealth, no export crop in demand in world markets, and no means of bringing such a crop to the coast had it existed.”
The limits of applicability of topological indices

Abstract In recent years topological indices have come prominently to the fore on several different fronts. The prime reason for the wide publicity accorded these indices has been the remarkable ability they possess to correlate and predict the properties of a vast range of molecular species. However, although the indices are now seemingly ubiquitous in the chemical context, they are subject to a number of constraints on their realm of applicability. Here we explore these constraints and attempt to draw realistic boundaries within which the indices may be legitimately used. It is noted in passing that current uses of the indices far from exhaust their manifold future possibilities. Mention is made of some of the numerous promising areas of application still awaiting development.
Anisotropic Diffusion of Mercury in Zinc

The diffusion of mercury has been studied in high-purity zinc as a function of temperature, using the sectioning technique. The diffusion coefficients as measured in single crystals are given by ${D}_{\mathrm{II}}=(0.056\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}\frac{(19700\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}48)}{\mathrm{RT}}]$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec, and ${D}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=(0.073\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006)\mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}\frac{(20180\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}94)}{\mathrm{RT}}]$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec, where ${D}_{\mathrm{II}}$ and ${D}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ are the diffusion coefficients parallel and perpendicular to the hexagonal axis, respectively. Compared to the diffusion of cadmium in zinc, where ${D}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}g{D}_{\mathrm{II}}$, mercury diffuses with a slightly smaller activation energy, and with ${D}_{\mathrm{II}}g{D}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. The results are discussed on the basis of the basal and nonbasal vacancy mechanisms, and the influence of the ion size of the diffusing atom is examined to explain the diffusion anisotropy.
Electron transparency, ion transparency and ion feedback of a 3M GEM

We report the first measurements of electron transparency, ion transparency and ion feedback of a mass produced 3M GEM. Our results indicate that a mass produced GEM and a CERN GEM have similar values of these three quantities.
Intermolecular interactions and excess thermodynamic properties of argon-krypton and krypton-xenon mixtures

Recently, reliable pair-potentials have been obtained for argon, krypton and xenon. Pair-potentials of similar form are obtained for the argon-krypton and krypton-xenon interactions. Three parameters are adjusted to give experimental values for the long-range r -6 term and the excess free energy and excess volume for an equimolar liquid mixture at zero pressure and a specified temperature. The excess thermodynamic properties are calculated from the Barker-Henderson perturbation theory, which has been shown to give good values for the excess thermodynamic properties of mixtures of 6:12 molecules, with the contributions of three-body forces and quantum effects included. Excellent agreement with the excess properties of argon-krypton and krypton-xenon mixtures is found at all concentrations.
THE VALUE OF UNENHANCED HELICAL COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE FLANK PAIN

AbstractPurpose: We developed an algorithm using unenhanced computerized tomography (CT) for the management of acute flank pain and suspected ureteral obstruction.Materials and Methods: During a 25-month interval 417 patients with acute flank pain underwent unenhanced helical CT. The final diagnosis was confirmed by additional imaging or clinical followup. For all patients who underwent additional imaging studies the official dictated radiology reports were used to determine whether the studies were recommended based on CT findings. Cases requiring intervention were evaluated to determine whether additional imaging was performed before the procedure. Medical records were reviewed and/or patients were interviewed to document the course of therapy and long-term outcome.Results: Unenhanced helical CT diagnosed ureteral stone disease with 95% sensitivity, 98% specificity and 97% accuracy. Of the 38 patients requiring intervention, including nephrostomy catheters in 18, lithotripsy in 3 and ureteroscopic stone...
Electronic Structure of Defects on Reduced TiO2 (Rutile) Surfaces

Several TiO 2 (110) surfaces, reduced via different mechanisms, were investigated in ultra-high vacuum using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Spectroscopy (STS) to determine the effect of reduction on the surface atomic and electronic structure. Defect chemistry and its relation to the change of property and structure are discussed.
Lithography with new metallo-organic photoresists

Abstract A new method of depositing plain or structured inorganic films onto inorganic substrates without using evaporating or sputtering equipment is described. This method is based on the use of metallo-organic photopolymerizable compounds. Resist formulations for a large variety of metallo-organic photoresists are described. Oxide deposition is demonstrated and the deposition of metallic copper layers is described.
Axe use efficiency A work theory explanation of an historical trend

In 18th century North America a new form of axe emerged with a heavier head than its older Continental counterpart. The intensive deforestation occurring over that period suggests that this heavier...
Far-infrared spectra of some Fe(1,10-phenanthroline) 2X2 complexes

Abstract The far-i.r. spectra of Fe(1,10-phenanthroline)2X2 complexes (XCl−, Br−, N−3, NCO−, OAc−, CNO− and CN−) have been measured in the 600–140 cm−1 region. The metal—ligand stretching vibrations are dependent on the spin state of Fe(II). For the high-spin complexes (XCl−, Br−, N−3, NCO−, OAc−) the FN(phen) stretches are found at ∼225 cm−1 and the FeX stretches in the 325–180 cm−1 region. For the low-spin complexes (XCN−, CNO−) the FeN(phen) stretches are found at 350–395 cm−1 and the FeX stretches at 520–540 cm−1. The FeCN stretch in K4FeCN6 is assigned at 588 cm−1. The ligand bands are also altered by spin state change. Significant vibrational coupling is found when XCN−.
Design and optimization of a robotic finger

This paper introduces a novel link-driven, 1 DOF, three phalanges robotic finger. In order to improve the grasping performance of BHG-1 hand which is driven by tendon system, a link-driven finger is proposed. First, the design requirements of new finger are given on the basis of the new grasping scheme of BHG-1 hand. Then, the analysis and optimization design procedure of the linkage for the robotic finger is carried out. Through the linkage movement space analysis, the linkage is skillfully embedded in the finger body in the 3D finger modeling process. At last, the grasping simulation of the finger shows that the finger meets the design requirements of BHG-1 hand and has excellent grasping capability and adaptability.
Spontaneous attributional thinking following near-miss and loss-producing traffic accidents

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine whether spontaneous attributional search increases with accident outcome severity, specifically in near-miss versus loss-producing outcomes. Subjects listed the questions that they would ask themselves following traffic accidents that differed in outcome severity and fault. Outcomes involving injury and damage generated more self-questioning; however, the nature of questions did not indicate increased attributional activity. With injury and damage, the subjects' thinking shifted from causes to appropriate actions and possible consequences. Subjects made more internal attributions of causality when at fault, and more stable attributions following the serious outcomes. Injury and damage outcomes produced substancial negative affects, supporting previously hypothesized outcome-and-causal-dimension-related emotions. Stricter penalties were recommended for either at-fault driver when serious consequences were involved. Severity-dependent effects for responsibility, however, were
Observation of mobility anisotropy of electrons on (110) silicon surfaces at low temperatures

Electron mobility anisotropy on thermally oxidized (110) silicon surfaces with very low surface states, and hence negligible ion scattering, is observed and compared with both the classical and quantum theories. The observed anisotropy at low temperatures and high surface electric fields is considerably higher than that predicted by the classical theory, indicating quantization in the surface channel. However, the observed anisotropy is smaller than that predicted by the simple quantum theory of the lowest two electric subbands in which surface roughness and interband phonon scattering are neglected. It is shown that surface roughness of 3 to 5 A based on Ziman's model exists and the energy separation of the two subbands is smaller than the intervalley phonon energies so that these effects should be included in an improved quantum theory. Die Anisotropie der Elektronenbeweglichkeit in thermisch oxydierten (110)-Siliziumoberflachen mit sehr wenigen Oberflachenenergieniveaus (und daher vernachlassigbarer Ionenstreuung) wird beobachtet und sowohl mit der klassischen Theorie als auch mit der Quantentheorie verglichen. Die beobachtete Anisotropie bei niedrigen Temperaturen und in starken Oberflachenfeldern ist betrachtlich groser, als die klassische Theorie vorhersagt. Dies zeigt eine Quantisierung des Oberflachenkanals an. Die beobachtete Anisotropie ist aber kleiner als die von der einfachen Quantentheorie der niedrigsten zwei Teilbander vorhergesagte, in der Oberflachenrauhheit und Phononenstreuung vernachlassigt werden. Es wird gezeigt, das eine Oberflachenrauheit von 3 bis 5 A (nach Ziman) existiert und das die Energiedifferenz der zwei Teilbander kleiner ist als die Energie der Zwischentalphononen, so das diese Effekte in eine verbesserte Quantentheorie einbezogen werden sollten.
NATURE RESERVES: DO THEY CAPTURE THE FULL RANGE OF AMERICA'S BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY?

Less than 6% of the coterminous United States is in nature reserves. As- sessment of the occurrence of nature reserves across ranges of elevation and soil productivity classes indicates that nature reserves are most frequently found at higher elevations and on less productive soils. The distribution of plants and animals suggests that the greatest number of species is found at lower elevations. A preliminary assessment of the occurrence of mapped land cover types indicates that ;60% of mapped cover types have ,10% of their area in nature reserves. Land ownership patterns show that areas of lower elevation and more productive soils are most often privately owned and already extensively converted to urban and agricultural uses. Thus any effort to establish a system of nature reserves that captures the full geographical and ecological range of cover types and species must fully engage the private sector.
Outcomes of cardiac surgery in patients weighing <2.5 kg: Affect of patient-dependent and -independent variables

Objective A recent Society of Thoracic Surgeons database study showed that low weight ( Methods We analyzed the outcomes (hospital mortality, early reintervention, postoperative length of stay, mortality [at the last follow-up point]) in patients weighing Results Hospital mortality in group 1 was 10.9% (n = 16) versus 4.8% (n = 30) in group 2 ( P = .007). The postoperative length of stay and early unplanned reintervention rate were similar between the 2 groups. Late mortality in group 1 was 0.7% (n = 1). In group 1, early outcomes were independent of the STAT risk category, uni/biventricular pathway, or surgical timing compared with group 2. A lower gestational age at birth was an independent risk factor for early mortality in group 1. Conclusions A dedicated multidisciplinary neonatal cardiac program can yield good outcomes for neonates and infants weighing
Sustainability and Manufacturing Philosophy: From Mass Production to Intelligent Energy Field Manufacturing

In the downturn of economy, it is meaningful to reflect on the evolution of engineering philosophies. This paper gives a historical review of major manufacturing philosophies and methodologies, such as mass production, lean manufacturing, systematic innovation, digital manufacturing, and sustainable development. The general strategy of Intelligent EFM and the from nature to nature philosophy of engineering are established to help achieve both prosperity and sustainability.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
New Observables for Direct Detection of Axion Dark Matter

We propose new signals for the direct detection of ultralight dark matter such as the axion. Axion or axionlike particle dark matter may be thought of as a background, classical field. We consider couplings for this field which give rise to observable effects including a nuclear electric dipole moment, and axial nucleon and electron moments. These moments oscillate rapidly with frequencies accessible in the laboratory, $\ensuremath{\sim}$ kilohertz to gigahertz, given by the dark matter mass. Thus, in contrast to WIMP detection, instead of searching for the hard scattering of a single dark matter particle, we are searching for the coherent effects of the entire classical dark matter field. We calculate current bounds on such time-varying moments and consider a technique utilizing NMR methods to search for the induced spin precession. The parameter space probed by these techniques is well beyond current astrophysical limits and significantly extends laboratory probes. Spin precession is one way to search for these ultralight particles, but there may well be many new types of experiments that can search for dark matter using such time-varying moments.
Kinetics of biodegradation of gasoline and its hydrocarbon constituents

Aerobic biodegradation of gasoline and its constituents, benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene were studied by an enrichment from soil indigenous microbial population. The enrichment culture completely degraded 16.1-660 mg/l gasoline in 2.5-16 days respectively, without accumulation of any by-products. The kinetics of gasoline as well as benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene biodegradation was investigated with initial gasoline concentrations of 16.1-62.6 mg/l. The maximum specific rates of biodegradation of benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene were 0.12, 0.38 and 0.19 mg mg biomass-1 day-1 respectively. When benzene and toluene were used as sole substrate, the maximum specific rates of their biodegradation were 62.9 and 16.4 times greater than the corresponding values for a mixture (gasoline). The microbial culture was able to mineralize up to 200 mg/l pure toluene and benzene. Maximum mineralization efficiencies of benzene and toluene were 76.7 +/- 5.1% and 76.8 +/- 1.3% respectively. Self-inhibition and competitive inhibition patterns were observed during the biodegradation of benzene and toluene alone and in the mixture respectively. The observed kinetics was modeled according to Andrews' inhibition model.
Saliva: The misunderstood and underrated fluid

This review begins with a brief consideration of the many roles of saliva. Then a summary is given of the eight studies by our laboratory on the physiological and psychological relationships of stress, relaxation and saliva. This is followed by a consideration of the effects of stress and relaxation on dental caries. Finally, a summary is provided of the two studies by our laboratory on the relationship of stress and relaxation to oral digestion of complex carbohydrates.
Accounting Student Characteristics From 2005–2010 Archival Transcript Data

Prior studies have investigated the characteristics of accounting students using survey data. The authors use archival transcript data to investigate some characteristics of accounting students at one institution, such as trend in graduation rates, distribution of male versus female students, and distribution of transfer versus native students. The authors found the grade from the first intermediate accounting class to be a reliable predictor of accounting student success at graduation. Gender and transfer status were not found to be strong predictors.
Transient phenomenon in A12γφ2-16gφ6 model

Abstract A discontinuous transition associated with the most probable path is predicted in a ( 1 2 )γφ2 - ( 1 6 )gφ6 nonlinear field model, using the fluctuation-scaling procedure of Suzuki. The nature of this transition is attributed to the essential zeros of the drift term. The unexpected unstable branch is argued for from the behaviour of the slowly decaying small central peak.
Efficacy of medical therapy tailored for severe congestive heart failure in patients transferred for urgent cardiac transplantation

Cardiac transplantation can only be performed in a few patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), due to the shortage of donor hearts. The efficacy of current medical therapy tailored for severe CHF, which has not previously been determined for transplant candidates, is of particular importance in patients considered for urgent cardiac transplantation. In this study, 50 consecutive in-patients transferred from other hospitals for urgent transplantation underwent intensive afterload reduction therapy, initially with intravenous and subsequently with oral vasodilators and diuretics tailored to hemodynamic goals. Oral regimens allowed hospital discharge without surgery for 40 of 50 patients. Nineteen of these patients had arrived on inotropic infusions and 32 had received oral vasodilators in the previous month. Cardiac index increased from 1.9 +/- 0.6 to 2.8 +/- 0.7 liters/min/m2, while pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 30 +/- 8 to 15 +/- 4 mm Hg and systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1,800 +/- 800 to 1,100 +/- 200 dynes-s-cm-5. Despite poor initial hemodynamics, ejection fraction 16 +/- 4%, serum sodium 131 +/- 6 mEq/liter, and apparent failure of previous medical therapy, actuarial survival for 24 discharged patients receiving sustained medical therapy alone was 67% at 1 year, with 67% of survivors employed full- or part-time, and 14 of 16 (88%) discharged transplant candidates survived until transplantation. By decreasing the need for transplantation to be performed urgently, increased emphasis on the design of medical therapy may allow more effective distribution of limited donor hearts.
Experiments on the Effect of Plant Losses after Singling on the Yield of Sugar Beet

SUMMARY Removing alternate plants or alternate pairs of plants from sugar beet crops during the first week of either June, July or August decreased sugar yields by 5, 16, and 33 per cent or by 10, 19, and 35 per cent respectively. This factor must be taken into account when making estimates of crop yield losses, due to diseases, based on yield losses suffered by single infected plants.
An Appraisal of an Industrial Air Contaminant by Electrochromatography

(1959). An Appraisal of an Industrial Air Contaminant by Electrochromatography. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 20, No. 5, pp. 387-391.
Genetic mechanisms and evolutionary significance of natural variation in Arabidopsis

Genomic studies of natural variation in model organisms provide a bridge between molecular analyses of gene function and evolutionary investigations of adaptation and natural selection. In the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana, recent studies of natural variation have led to the identification of genes underlying ecologically important complex traits, and provided new insights about the processes of genome evolution, geographic population structure, and the selective mechanisms shaping complex trait variation in natural populations. These advances illustrate the potential for a new synthesis to elucidate mechanisms for the adaptive evolution of complex traits from nucleotide sequences to real-world environments.
The Oilbird: Hearing and Echolocation

Oilbirds can navigate in total darkness by echolocation. The sound energy in their sonar cries is unevenly distributed over the range from about 1 to 15 kilohertz, with a dominant frequency range of 1.5 to 2.5 kilohertz. This corresponds to the most sensitive range of their hearing as determined by neurophysiological methods. Behavioral tests in their home cave indicate that the smallest object avoided by this is a disk 20 centimeters in diameter.
The importance of angular-momentum-four pairs in the dynamics of deformed nuclei

Abstract The Hatch and Levit method for studying the classical equations of motion associated with the IBM is generalized to allow descriptions of motions associated with coherent fermion pairs in shell models. A single- j shell model is studied in the small-amplitude limit. Calculations are done which include only J = 0 and J = 2 pairs and are redone including J = 0, J = 2 and J = 4 pairs. It is found that for deformed nuclei values of dynamical quantities such as β- and γ-vibrational frequencies and the moment of inertia differ in the two calculations. The calculations also indicate that these differences cannot be explained by J = 4 pair components in the ground state which act only as spectators in the excitations. These results suggest that the usual interpretation of the sand d-bosons in the IBM as representing the actions of J = 0 and J = 2 pairs may not be adequate.
Gendered Spaces of Informal Entrepreneurship in Soweto, South Africa

Abstract The full diversity of economic activities in the informal economy is not well understood. The apartheid legacy of limiting informal entrepreneurship explains the most obvious geographical patterns in South Africa. After a decade and a half since the end of apartheid, however, knowledge about the places from which informal entrepreneurs operate is incomplete. Retailing is overemphasized and production firm entrepreneurs, both male and female, remain a neglected spatiality. This study reports on a survey of 100 firms in Soweto and in-depth interviews with 30 firm owners. The findings challenge the representations of isolated urban entrepreneurs dependent on inherited social capital and of women's exclusive engagement in retail. Entrepreneurs create their own social capital in work-related realms, but there are important gender differences. More finely tuned conceptualizations of entrepreneurs and of gendered working spaces need to be developed so that policy does not perpetuate unitary myths and in...
Characterization of Multi Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) Array. Statistical approach

The novel Hamamatsu Multi Pixel Photon Counter Array S12045(X) is an array of 16 individual MPPCs (3×3 [mm2]) (further in the article MPPC array channel) each with 3600 G-APD (Geiger-mode Avalanche Photodiode) pixels (50×50 [μ m2]). Each MPPC in the array works with its individual reverse bias voltage around 70[V]. We studied the main features of each MPPC array channel for 2800 MPPC arrays at different temperatures. Two measurement systems were built to extract Gain, Breakdown Voltage, Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE), Optical Cross-talk and Dark rate for each MPPC array channel. The article describes the characterization process of MPPC arrays used in GlueX experiment (Jefferson Lab, Hall D). The hardware and the performed data analysis are described, which include new analytical expressions to obtain the number of photoelectrons and Optical Cross-Talk. The dynamical behavior of characterization parameters is presented as well.
Effects of Polyelectrolytes on Drug Transport II: Permeation

The permeation rate of salicylate across a dialysis membrane was studied in the presence of various types of carboxymethylcellulose. The presence of the polymer in the salicylate solution increased the permeation rate of salicylate. The data were analyzed with a diffusional model in which the viscosity and charge effects were evaluated separately.
Scalar glueball mixing and decay

We provide the first explanation of the counter-intuitive scalar glueball couplings to pseudoscalar mesons found in lattice QCD and predict hitherto uncalculated decay modes. Significant a{sub 1}{pi} and ({pi}{pi}){sub S}({pi}{pi}){sub S} couplings are found. We demonstrate the equivalence of linear and quadratic mass matrices for glueball-quarkonium mixing. The equivalence of formalisms which deal with a glueball-quarkonium basis and only a quarkonium basis is demonstrated. We show that the f{sub 0}(1500) is not the heaviest state arising from glueball-quarkonium mixing for a glueball mass consistent with lattice QCD. The masses and couplings of scalar mesons, as well as their valence content, are calculated. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
An Empirical Examination of the Roles of Ability and Gender in Collaborative Homework Assignments

The author investigates how ability and gender affect grades on homework projects performed by assigned pairs of students in an undergraduate macroeconomics course. The assignment grade is found to depend on the ability of both students, and the relative importance of the stronger and weaker student differs in predictable ways depending on the kind of assignment. Male-male pairs earn lower grades than male-female or female-female pairs, controlling for the measured ability of the students.
A mutual information-based framework for the analysis of information retrieval systems

We consider the problem of information retrieval evaluation and the methods and metrics used for such evaluations. We propose a probabilistic framework for evaluation which we use to develop new information-theoretic evaluation metrics. We demonstrate that these new metrics are powerful and generalizable, enabling evaluations heretofore not possible. We introduce four preliminary uses of our framework: (1) a measure of conditional rank correlation, information tau, a powerful meta-evaluation tool whose use we demonstrate on understanding novelty and diversity evaluation; (2) a new evaluation measure, relevance information correlation, which is correlated with traditional evaluation measures and can be used to (3) evaluate a collection of systems simultaneously, which provides a natural upper bound on metasearch performance; and (4) a measure of the similarity between rankers on judged documents, information difference, which allows us to determine whether systems with similar performance are in fact different.
The use of L-DOPA in the diagnosis of hyposomatotropism in children.

L-dopa in a dose ranging from 125–500 mg was given to 4 normal children and to 60 children with short stature (height 6 ng/ml). Of the patients with non-endocrine short stature, 13.2% failed to respond to L-dopa, 14.8% failed to respond to arginine, and 15.4% failed to respond to insulin. All patients with deficient responses to either arginine or insulin exhibited normal responses to L-dopa; conversely, all patients in this group with deficient responses to L-dopa showed normal responses to one o...
Cost Assessment of Highway Bridge Network Subjected to Extreme Seismic Events

A transportation network is the economic backbone of a developed country. For that reason, it is important that the network maintain functionality after catastrophic natural events and minimize downtime to reduce adverse effects on society and the economy. A holistic framework that integrates seismic risk, vulnerability of system components, and a traffic model is developed. This framework is used to evaluate the direct and indirect costs associated with extreme seismic events. The combined effect of ground motion and liquefaction is considered to estimate the seismic risk of the system. Bridges are considered the most vulnerable network components. The concept of fragility curves is used to combine the probability of bridge failure with the postevent functionality of the network. An integrated traffic model is used to predict route choices after an earthquake. Finally, the developed framework is used to estimate the earthquake risk of the test bed transportation network in the San Francisco Bay Area of C...
Behaviorally important characteristics of the mucous trail of the marine gastropod Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say)

Abstract The marine mud snail Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say) is able to detect both the presence and the polarity of mucous trails of conspecifics. This study has examined the effects of various chemical and physical treatments of mucous trails on trail-following. Snails did not follow trails that had been exposed to 80 °C, 95 % ethanol, or hyaluronidase. Trail-following was not affected by exposing trails to milder heat treatment, to mechanical disturbance, to Pronase and α-amylase, to the lectins concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin, or to antiserum against trail mucus. Structural elements in mucous trails were revealed upon exposure of trails to antiserum and a fluoroscein conjugate. Changes in behavioral responses to trails were accompanied by changes in these structural elements, suggesting that structural integrity of mucous trails is important in the trail-following phenomenon.
Procedures and standards for accurate spectrophotometric measurements of specular reflectance

Procedures and standards that have been developed at the National Research Council of Canada for the accurate measurement of specular reflectance are discussed for both absolute and relative methods over the spectral range 250 to 2500 nm. There has been an increasing demand for these types of measurements, particularly for coated samples approaching the extremes of 0% reflectance and 100% reflectance. In some applications of these coatings, such as energy conservation and control, conventional methods of measuring specular reflectance give insufficient accuracies for the prediction of optical performance. Details of alignment procedures for both absolute and relative reflectance methods, the preparation and application of several candidate reflectance standards, and the compensation, attenuation, and verification procedures that have been developed to improve the precision and accuracy of specular reflectance measurements are described. Using these various techniques, one can routinely achieve accuracies of 0.3% reflectance at reflectance values as high as 97% and as low as 4%.
The Joint Impact of Drought Conditions and Media Coverage on the Colorado Rafting Industry

Decreased instream flows are thought to negatively impact river recreation, such as whitewater rafting. Runoff declines are often accompanied by high temperatures, wildfires, and associated media coverage. Very few studies have examined the impact of these accompanying factors, and none have disentangled their influence. Using regression analysis of data from the Arkansas River in Colorado, we find that reduced flows usually decrease the number of whitewater rafting customers, although very high flows also deter rafting activities. More importantly, negative media coverage of wildfires also appears to have adverse impacts on rafting tourism, controlling for instream flows and weather.
Upper limit for the presence of superheavy elements in monazite from Madagascar

Elastic scattering of 12-MeV $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ ions from targets made from Madagascar monazite shows no evidence for the presence of superheavy elements. Upper limits on fractional atomic abundances are 3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ for ekathorium and 6 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ for eka-lead.
Tazobactam prevention of emergence of resistance

We wanted to see whether a beta-lactamase inhibitor, tazobactam, would prevent the emergence of resistance in mixed cultures that contained piperacillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides, and Escherichia coli. We also wished to determine if tazobactam would prevent the emergence of resistance to piperacillin of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae containing the new cefotaxime-cefatzidime hydrolyzing beta-lactamase, TEM-3
Network characterization of phenol–formaldehyde thermosetting wood adhesive

Abstract Pure resole, phenol–formaldehyde was cured under a variety of conditions and evaluated by thermomechanical analysis, swelling studies and 13 C cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Swelling tests showed that this system has a polymer–solvent interaction parameter in the range 0.92 to 0.99. Measured crosslink densities and glass transition temperatures were found to correlate with proton longitudinal relaxation in the rotating frame, T H 1 ρ . Deuterium enrichment was used to show that spin diffusion makes a significant contribution to T H 1 ρ . However, the correlations established demonstrate that lattice effects are not obscured. It is shown that deuterium enrichment dilutes the spin system thereby providing a more sensitive probe of motional processes and network cure. These findings establish a method for the evaluation of cured phenol–formaldehyde within a wood-based composite.
Radioisotope radiotherapy research and achievements at the University of Missouri Research Reactor

The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) in collaboration with faculty in other departments at the University of Missouri has been involved in developing new means of internal radioisotopic therapy for cancer for many years. These efforts have centered on methods of targeting radioisotopes such as brachytherapy, embolisation of liver tumors with radioactive microspheres, small-molecule-labelled chelates for the treatment of bone cancer, and various means of radioimmunotherapy or labelled receptor agent targeting. This work has produced two radioactive agents, Sm-153 Quadramet™ and Y-90 TheraSphere™, which have U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the palliation of bone cancer pain and treatment of inoperable liver cancer, respectively. MURR has also pioneered development of other beta-emitting isotopes for internal radiotherapy such as Re-186, Re-188, Rh-105, Ho-166, Lu-177, and Pm-149, many of which are in research and clinical trials throughout the U.S. and the world. This important work has been made possible by the very high neutron flux available at MURR combined with MURR's outstanding reliability of operation and flexibility in meeting the needs of researchers and the radiopharmaceutical industry.
PRESSURE DROP IN ICE-WATER SLURRIES FOR THERMAL STORAGE APPLICATION

Pressure drop and flow characteristics were studied for ice-water slurries in 7.6 in-long horizontal pipes of diameters 0.1 m and 0.05 m. Ice fractions ranged from 0 to 16% in the experiments, and the latter represented considerable thermal storage potential. Reynolds numbers at zero ice fraction were above 105. The plug flow regime, which occurred at ice fractions above 8% and corresponded to significant drag reduction from the alt-liquid case, was modeled and a pressure drop correlation equation was developed. The modeling was guided by the visual observations of the flow structure during the experiments. A correlation was also developed for the minimum ice fraction necessary to reach the plug flow regime.
Contraceptive use among the poor in Indonesia.

Context: Indonesia has experienced a dramatic increase in contraceptive use and an equally dramatic fertility decline over the last 30 years. Yet recent reductions in family planning funding program decentralization and the diminishing role of the public sector as a service provider may lead to lower use among poor women. Methods: The data for analysis were drawn from the 2002-2003 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey. Bivariate techniques were used to compare overall contraceptive use reliance on specific methods source of supplies and reasons for nonuse of contraceptives between poor and better-off-women. Multivariate regression assessed the association between use of a modern method and selected social demographic and attitudinal characteristics. Results: Better-off women wanted significantly fewer children than did moderately or extremely poor women (2.8 vs. 3.0-3.4) were more likely to approve of family planning (93% vs. 87-91%) and were more likely to believe their spouses approved (91% vs. 80-87%). Better-off women and moderately poor women had higher odds of using modern contraceptives that did extremely poor women (odds ratios 1.6 and 1.4 respectively). Compared with women who gave a nonnumeric response those who wanted two or fewer children had higher odds of using a modern method (2.0). The odds were also higher among women who lived in a district in which the mean ideal number of children was below the national median (1.5). Conclusion: Governmental efforts to increase contraceptive use among poor women need to focus on changing attitudes toward smaller family sizes and family planning. (authors)
Gas-phase tropospheric chemistry of biogenic volatile organic compounds: a review

Large quantities of non-methane organic compounds are emitted into the atmosphere from biogenic sources, mainly from vegetation. These organic compounds include isoprene, C10H16 monoterpenes, C15H24 sesquiterpenes, and a number of oxygenated compounds including methanol, hexene derivatives, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. In the troposphere these organic compounds react with hydroxyl (OH) radicals, nitrate (NO3) radicals and ozone (O3), and play an important role in the chemistry of the lower troposphere. In this article the kinetics, products and mechanisms of the tropospheric reactions of biogenic organic compounds are presented and briefly discussed.
Mechanical Properties of NiAl Nanocomposite Intermetallic Alloys With Varying Porosity

Recent advancements in the field of nano-technology focused attention on developing materials with new and useful characteristics. In particular, there is interest in designing nanocomposite thermites for combustion synthesis applications. The composite material consists of nano-scale particles that are in nearly atomic scale proximity but constrained from reaction until triggered. Once initiated, the reaction will become self-sustaining and a new intermetallic alloy product will be produced. An example of this type of reaction is between Ni and Al such that a nickel-aluminide alloy is produced (Eq. (1) [1].Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Prevention of experimental carotid artery thrombosis by applaggin.

Applaggin, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation via binding to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, was examined in an anesthetized canine model of arterial thrombosis formation secondary to arterial wall injury. Both carotid arteries were isolated and instrumented with flow probes, intravascular anodal electrodes and adjustable constrictors. The right carotid artery was injured initially and served as the control response to vessel wall injury in each animal, whereas the left carotid was injured after applaggin administration (1.0 mg/kg, i.v.). Arterial occlusion in the control vessel occurred in each of seven animals. Time for occlusive thrombus development was 125.6 +/- 15.2 min. One of the seven left carotid arteries occluded after applaggin. Thrombus weight was greater in control vessels (44.2 +/- 7.0 mg) vs. thrombus weight after applaggin (11.2 +/- 2.4 mg). Cyclic flow variations occurred in all control arteries before development of an occlusive thrombus. In contrast, cyclic flow variations were observed only in two of seven vessels injured after applaggin. One of the latter vessels developed an occlusive thrombus. Platelet counts, heart rate and blood pressure were unaltered over the course of the experimental protocol. Ex vivo platelet aggregation to arachidonic acid was examined before and after applaggin administration. Platelet-rich plasma from animals having initial normal baseline aggregation no longer aggregated 30 min after administration of applaggin. Aggregation returned to normal within 3 hr. Applaggin binds to stimulated and unstimulated platelets and two classes of binding sites were identified. The results demonstrate that applaggin possesses an antithrombotic effect in the experimental model of canine carotid artery thrombosis.