cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decentralized Modal Analysis and System Identification Using Embedded Markov Parameter Extraction within Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks

As wireless monitoring systems continue to mature as a viable alternative to traditional wired data acquisition systems, scalable approaches to autonomously processing measurement data in-network are necessary. Embedded data processing has the benefit of improving system scalability, reducing the amount of wireless communications, and reducing overall power consumption. A system identification strategy based on Markov parameters is proposed for embedment within the decentralized computational framework of a wireless sensor network. Utilizing the computational resources of wireless sensors, individual sensor nodes perform local data processing to identify the Markov parameters of a structural system. Eventually, the global structural properties (e.g., mode shapes) are assembled by the wireless sensor network base station via an eigensystem realization algorithm executed using the limited number of Markov parameters transmitted by the wireless sensor nodes. The proposed strategy is evaluated using input-output and output-only data recorded during dynamic testing of a balcony structure.
Microwave Excitation and Ionization

Atoms may be ionized by static fields in excess of a threshold field E ≈ l/16n4 where n is the principal quantum number [1]. On the other hand photoionization has a frequency threshold, requiring photons with energy in excess of the binding energy W. The rate of photoionization, though, is proportional to the intensity of the radiation, or E. Midway between these two processes is multiphoton ionization. Ionization by m photons requires that the photon energy be in excess of W/m, and in lowest order perturbation theory the ionization rate is proportional to Im or E2m. This scaling as Im has been observed for m = 21. For higher values of m, or even for m = 21, it is difficult to measure an Im dependence due to dynamic range considerations. Furthermore, it is not clear that the region in which the lowest order solution is valid is physically very interesting, for appreciable ionization will only occur where it is not valid. In these cases it is more useful to describe the multiphoton processes as having field or intensity thresholds. Thus multiphoton ionization qualitatively resembles field ionization.
Making Sense of the Design of International Institutions

The design of international institutions varies in many ways: Institutions can be more or less formal, flexible, independent, precise, inclusive, centralized, and so on. This article classifies the...
Active and Empathic Listening in Social Media: What do Stakeholders Really Expect

Researchers examined expectations and evaluations of active-empathic listening (AEL) during digital dialogic communication between organizations and customers. Through an experimental design, parti...
The Use of Advertising to Encourage Water Conservation: Theory and Empirical Evidence

A growing demand for water in the industrial and residential sectors and increased concerns for environmental quality combined with limited water supply augmentation have raised water scarcity issues and led policymakers to consider policies that enhance water use efficiency. Most water reforms aim to reduce the demand of the agricultural sector, which is the largest user. These efforts include water pricing (see Tsur & Dinar, 1997; Boggess, Lacewell, & Zilberman, 1993); water markets (see Kaiser & McFarl, 1997, for a survey); and trade mechanisms (Brill, Hochman, & Zilberman, 1997). Strong political lobbying and the need to maintain independent domestic food production have led policymakers to direct conservational efforts in the urban residential sector. The capacity to conserve water by raising residential water prices is limited as urban water prices are already high and the elasticity of demand is low. Thus, there is a need to increase voluntary water conservation through education. Educational efforts may include a campaign to encourage installation of water conservation devices and more responsible use of water in gardening, washing, and other activities. Reported residential water savings attributed to past conservation campaigns fall in the range of one to five percent. Michelsen, McGuckin, and Stumpf (1999) report a one to four percent saving in 12 cities in the United States, and the Israeli Water Authority reported a one to five percent saving in 1997 to 2000. Although these numbers are substantial, little is known about the extent that education can further reduce water usage, which affects public campaigns aimed at “de-marketing” or “un -selling” a product. This paper aims to analyze the motivation for choosing advertising as a tool to reduce household consumption of water and to empirically document its effect based on a survey conducted in Israel. To understand voluntary conservation, we use theories that address issues of fairness and labor effort allocation within groups. We incorporate these theories and marketing theories to develop a model to explain water conservation. We empirically test th e framework using a survey done in Israel. Major findings are that, on average, the stated willingness to conserve was about 15 percent and that the fairness theorem holds; i.e., individuals’ willingness to voluntarily conserve water decreases with economic incentives taken by the government.
An open-and-shut strategy: preparation of benzo-fused indanes by ring-opening of a vinylogous acyl triflate and metal-catalyzed Asao–Yamamoto benzannulation

A two-step strategy for the synthesis of benzo-fused indanes is outlined herein. The strategy draws on two independent methodologies: the tandem addition/fragmentation of vinylogous acyl triflates (VATs) and the intramolecular benzannulation of o-alkynylphenyl ketones. Reduction of this strategy to practice involves the use of aryltriazenes as masked aryl iodides; a synthetic equivalent of 2-iodophenyllithium is featured. Benzo-fused indanes are prepared efficiently and in high yield.
Complex two-stage open surgical repair of an aortoesophageal fistula after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Abstract Aortoesophageal fistula after thoracic endovascular aortic repair is a rare but fatal complication, and no clear guidelines exist in the literature for optimal management. Herein, we report a complex case of a patient with an infected thoracic endograft that led to an aortoesophageal fistula. The treatment comprised a two-stage open surgical approach—an extra-anatomic aortic bypass in the first stage, followed by explantation of the infected endograft with ligation of the descending thoracic aorta in the second. This approach controls the focus of infection while allowing flow to the aorta distal to the infected endograft, minimizing visceral ischemia time.
Transformer modelling for distribution system studies. II. Addition of models to Y/sub BUS/ and Z/sub BUS/

For pt.I, see ibid., p.539-46 (1991). New tools and modelling techniques are needed for detailed characterization of the distribution system. A distribution transformer modelling procedure is discussed which represents the distribution transformer with a minimum of input data for network, load, and fault studies, thereby allowing the transformer to be routinely included as part of the distribution network. The method presented illustrates how transformer models are used in formation of Y/sub BUS/ and Z/sub BUS/ system models. >
Tunable Fluorescence from Dye-Modified DNA-Assembled Plasmonic Nanocube Arrays

Colloidal crystal engineering with DNA on template-confined surfaces is used to prepare arrays of nanocube-based plasmonic antennas and deliberately place dyes with sub-nm precision into their hotspots, on the DNA bonds that confine the cubes to the underlying gold substrate. This combined top-down and bottom-up approach provides independent control over both the plasmonic gap and photonic lattice modes of the surface-confined particle assemblies and allows for the tuning of the interactions between the excited dyes and plasmonically active antennas. Furthermore, the gap mode of the antennas can be modified in situ by utilizing the solvent-dependent structure of the DNA bonds. This is studied by placing two dyes, with different emission wavelengths, under the nanocubes and recording their solvent-dependent emission. It is shown that dye emission not only depends upon the in-plane structure of the antennas but also the size of the gap, which is regulated with solvent. Importantly, this approach allows for the systematic understanding of the relationship between nanoscale architecture and plasmonically coupled dye emission, and points toward the use of colloidal crystal engineering with DNA to create stimuli responsive architectures, which can find use in chemical sensing and tunable light sources.
The 2020 New Hampshire Primary: A Look Ahead

Why are two dozen Democratic candidates, ranging from a former vice president and well-known senators to obscure House members and a small-city mayor, all seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020? The size of the Democratic field suggests that the formal and informal mechanisms that kept earlier years’ fields to reasonable sizes have broken down, in part because party leaders want to avoid the appearance of favoring some candidates over others. Debate criteria may serve to winnow the field. Meanwhile, after years of speculation, only former Massachusetts governor William Weld has stepped forward to challenge Trump in the Republican primary.
State Estimation and Real-Time Cyber Secure Power Factor Correction for Utility-Scale DERs

Reactive power (Q) is typically supplied by capacitor banks in conventional electric power distribution systems. However, the increasing use of distributed energy resources (DERs) complicates the ability to regulate voltages using conventional methods. This creates a need for secure network controls for coordinating reactive power compensation. Inverters presently used with wind and solar DERs have the ability to inject Q but do not have real-time information of the amount of Q consumed in the distribution system. In this paper, a combination of a tertiary droop control assisted by an ac-based state estimator for a ring/mesh distribution system is designed to control a 12.47kV DER to supply the required Q. Detailed simulation results show that such a combination can control DERs to keep the power factor greater than 98% at remote distribution substations in a quasi-real-time fashion. The results suggest that the future of distribution management systems (DMS) should follow the same trends in transmission-level energy management systems (EMS) in controlling DERs.
Team-Based Learning in Bioethics Education: Creating a Successful Curriculum for Residents in an Era of "Curricular Squeeze".

Team-based learning has been utilized inside and outside of medical education with success. Its use in bioethics education—particularly in graduate medical education—has been limited, despite its proven pedagogical strength and the critical importance of ethics and professionalism. From 2015–2018, we created and administered 10 TBL bioethics modular exercises using L. Dee Fink’s “Principles of Significant Learning” and the evidence-based methodology of TBL (with some modifications, given the nature of graduate medical education) to pediatric residents. We evaluated the TBL curriculum and report satisfaction scores and qualitative thematic analysis of strengths and weaknesses. Pediatric residents, despite a perception of “curricular squeeze” and lack of interest in ethics, were highly engaged and satisfied with a TBL-only-based bioethics curriculum. We were able to successfully adapt the TBL structure to the situational factors surrounding the rigors and unpredictable nature of clinical graduate education. We offer four “Lessons Learned” for creating and implementing TBL exercises in graduate medical education. TBL can be used in bioethics education successfully, not just for individual exercises, but also to create a comprehensive ethics curriculum.
Getting HIP: A study on the implementation of asynchronous discussion boards as a high-impact practice in online undergraduate survey history courses

Abstract Asynchronous discussion boards are a common pedagogical tool used by history faculty to promote engaged learning, content comprehension, and historical thinking, writing, and research skills in online courses. Although many higher education institutions are increasing their online history course offerings, there is a gap in the literature about the effectiveness of online teaching on student learning. As initiatives aimed at promoting HIPs at colleges and universities continue to grow, there is a need to examine whether the implementation of the asynchronous discussion board can be considered a HIP, especially when promoting writing intensity and undergraduate research in online history courses. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine whether the facilitation of asynchronous discussion boards serves as a HIP. The researcher conducted this study with a total of 167 undergraduate students enrolled in three sections of an online survey United States history course where she taught at a large four-year university in a metropolitan region of the Southeast.
Gender, Racial and Ethnicity Based Trends in Acute Congestive Heart Failure Admissions

Introduction Heart failure is one of the most common causes of readmission in elderly. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the temporal trends in acute heart failure admissions. Methods The national inpatient sample from the year 2002 to 2016 was used. ICD9 and ICD10 codes for acute heart failure were used to identify heart failure admissions. Pearson Chi-square test was used for categorical variables and independent sample t-test for continuous variables. Univariate regression model using demographic characters, age, gender, income, region, and race was used to identify predictors of mortality. Results A total of 11,806,679 adult weighted cases of acute HF were identified. The median age of the patients was 75 (interquartile range: 64-84) years. The proportion of females decreased from 59.0% (7847) in 2002 to 48.7% (368,7864) in 2016 (P Conclusion Overall, the proportion of Hispanics, African American and men increased in heart failure admissions. Mortality though was higher in Caucasians, Asians and men.
A Brief History of Radio Astronomy

In the late 1880s, a scientist by the name Heinrich Hertz conducted a series of experiments where he successfully transmitted and received radio waves across his laboratory. After doing this, Hertz noted in his journal, “I have successfully transmitted and received radio waves and have found them of no practical use.” If only he had realized what he had discovered: the unit of frequency that has since been named in his honor, Hertz (Hz).
The effect of a public transportation expansion on no-show appointments.

OBJECTIVE To test whether there were fewer missed medical appointments ("no-shows") for patients and clinics affected by a significant public transportation expansion. STUDY SETTING A new light rail line was opened in a major metropolitan area in June 2014. We obtained electronic health records data from an integrated health delivery system in the area with over three million appointments at 97 clinics between 2013 and 2016. STUDY DESIGN We used a difference-in-differences research design to compare whether no-show appointment rates differentially changed among patients and clinics located near versus far from the new light rail line after it opened. Models included fixed effects to account for underlying differences across clinics, patient zip codes, and time. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS We obtained data from an electronic health records system representing all appointments scheduled at 97 outpatient clinics in this system. We excluded same-day, urgent care, and canceled appointments. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The probability of no-show visits differentially declined by 0.5 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.9 to -0.1), or 4.5% relative to baseline, for patients living near the new light rail compared to those living far from it, after the light rail opened. The effects were stronger among patients covered by Medicaid (-1.6 percentage points [95% CI: -2.4 to -0.8] or 9.5% relative to baseline). CONCLUSIONS Improvements to public transit may improve access to health care, especially for people with low incomes.
Temperature Dynamics in Rat Brains Exposed to Near-Field Waveguide Outputs at 2.8 GHz.

Biological effects in the microwave band of the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum are thermally mediated. For acute high-power microwave exposures, these effects will depend on transient time-temperature histories within the tissue. In this article, we summarize the transient temperature response of rats exposed to RF energy emanating from an open-ended rectangular waveguide. These exposures produced specific absorption rates of approximately 36 and 203 W/kg in the whole body and brain, respectively. We then use the experimentally measured thermal data to infer the baseline perfusion rate in the brain and modify a custom thermal modeling tool based upon these findings. Finally, we compare multi-physics simulations of rat brain temperature against empirical measurements in both live and euthanized subjects and find close agreement between model and experimentation. This research revealed that baseline brain perfusion rates in rat subjects could be larger than previously assumed in the RF thermal modeling literature, and plays a significant role in the transient thermal response to high-power microwave exposures. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
Topical microbicides: a promising approach for controlling the AIDS pandemic via retroviral zinc finger inhibitors.

Publisher Summary Topical microbicides have the potential to significantly impact the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic by providing vulnerable populations with a self administered method to prevent HIV infection. The identification of a safe and effective HIV‐specific, virucidal microbicide has not been a priority for development, as evidenced by their limited representation in the microbicide pipeline since safety concerns were raised for the nonspecific, detergent, virucide Nonoxynol‐9. The optimal virucidal microbicide would be one that targets not only cell‐free but also cell‐associated virus, acting as a pluripotent, HIV‐specific virucide, capable of targeting multiple steps in the HIV replication cycle. This potentially has been achieved through the discovery and development of the thioester‐based, S‐acyl‐2‐mercaptobenzamide compounds targeting the HIV‐1 NCp7 nucleocapsid zinc finger. Experimental evidence shows that these inhibitors interact with a highly conserved protein sequence in a covalent manner to prevent the replication of both cell‐free (virucidal) and cell‐associated virus by irreversibly ejecting the coordinated zinc ion from the protein, thus altering its structure.
Reel to real

In this article, I circle back to a story I told some time ago, about how the process of legal reasoning mirrors the process of reasoning about decisions in everyday life.
Abstract P258: Prevalence of Obesity and Estimated Medical and Work Loss Costs Attributable to High BMI: The Baptist Health South Florida Employee Study

BACKGROUND: Obesity is strongly related to chronic health problems and concomitant increased healthcare costs for employers. The aim of the study is to explore the distribution of obesity categories and estimate associated health costs among self-insured employees of Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF), a large not-for-profit health care organization. METHODS: Distribution of BMI categories was determined among individuals participating in a voluntary health risk assessment (HRA) available to employees eligible for health benefits. The potential estimates of obesity related costs to BHSF were imputed using CDC's Obesity Cost Calculator based on data from NHIS and MEPS (http://www.cdc.gov/leanworks/costcalculator/disclaimer.html). RESULTS: Overall 9996 (aged 43.1±12.1 years, 75% females, 75% Hispanic, 35% hypertensive, 4% diabetic) employees participated in 2013 annual HRA and wellness fair. The age-adjusted mean BMI was 29.3 (95% CI, 29.1-29.5) for men and 28.3 (95% CI, 28.15-28.45) kg/m2 for women. The t...
Recovering a Tradition of Rural Progressivism in American Public Education.

The following question was asked during a dinner conversation at a rural education conference a number of years ago: "Is there a tradition of rural school progressivism?" At the time, I was reading Lawrence Cremin's The Transformation ofthe School (1961), which remains the best and most complete history of Deweyan progressivism. In it, I had come across several sections that dealt with rural education issues, with references to a handful of good rural schools that seemed to fit within the context of Deweyinspired educational experiments. But a few examples of what would appear, from Cremin's account, to be isolated and unconnected progressive rural schools in the period between 1900 and 1940 hardly constitute what I would cal1 a "tradition" of rural school progressivism. So my unexplored response to the question at that time was a tentative "No." Nevertheless, I remained intrigued by the notion. It stuck with me during the summer of 1998, when I attended a summer gathering ofthe Annenberg Rural Chal-
A Time and a Place for a Peach

ABSTRACTTaste as a sense and as an aesthetic judgment has always been integral to the restaurant dining experience, an experience that is itself a locus of material culture rich in sociocultural symbolism. Chefs around the world are beginning to play with taste by not only manipulating the sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami tastes perceived by the papillae on the tongue, but also by manipulating the taste>memory>emotion reaction invoked by all sensory perception. Two favorite new ingredients are time (which often takes the form of history, or fermentation) and place (which often takes the form of geography, or culture). From Grant Achatz at Next in Chicago to Rene Redzepi at Noma in Copenhagen to Ferran Adria at El Bulli in Catalunya, the world's greatest chefs are serving up a new form of multisensory satiety and satisfaction.
Fluorometric determination of methyldopa in biological fluids

A fluorometric method for the analysis of methyldopa, based on the formation of a fluorophore after oxidation and rearrangement, is described. The drug is isolated from biological fluids by adsorption on alumina and elution with an organic solvent. Fluorescence is linear from 0.1 to 1.5 μg of methyldopa/ml. The assay has a lower limit of sensitivity of 100 ng/ml and is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies following therapeutic doses in animals and humans.
Characterization of a cDNA encoding the β-chain of baboon receptor glycoprotein GPIb

Abstract A cDNA probe, encoding part of the baboon integrin polypeptide, GPIIb, was used to screen a cDNA library derived from baboon platelet polyadenylated mRNA. One cross-hybridizing clone was found to be 94% similar to a human cDNA encoding the β-chain of the receptor for von Willebrand factor, a major component of the platelet-subendothelium attachment mechanism.
PDA usage in healthcare professionals: testing an extended technology acceptance model

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have attracted extensive attention in healthcare organisations because of their potential contribution to enhancing healthcare practice. Successful implantation of PDA is, to a large extent, confined by PDA acceptance by healthcare professionals. This study proposes an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) to predict actual PDA usage. The results support all the hypotheses. Consistent with prior research, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are dominant determinants of usage. Personal innovativeness was found to affect usage directly and indirectly through perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness mediates the effects of job relevance, compatibility, and perceived ease of use on usage. Support also affects usage through perceived ease of use. Overall our proposed model can explain 61.6% of the variance in the healthcare professionals' PDA usage. Implications for IT management in healthcare organisations are discussed.
Developing Rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves for Alabama under Future Climate Scenarios Using Artificial Neural Networks

AbstractHydrologic design of water management infrastructures is on the basis of specific design storms derived from historical rainfall events available in the form of intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves. However, it is expected that the frequency and magnitude of future extreme rainfalls will change due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere. This study evaluated potential changes in current IDF curves for Alabama under projected future climate scenarios. Three-hour precipitation data simulated by five combinations of global and regional climate models were temporally downscaled using artificial neural networks (ANNs). A feed-forward, back-propagation model was developed to estimate maximum 15-, 30-, 45-, 60-, and 120-min precipitation. The results were compared with disaggregated rainfall derived using a stochastic method. Comparison of these two methods indicates that the ANN model provides superior performance in estimating maximum rainfall depths, whereas the st...
Nano-pipette directed transport of nanotube transmembrane channels and hybrid vesicles

Using computational modeling, we simulate the interactions between a nanopipette and transmembrane, end-functionalized nanotubes that are localized within flat bilayers or nanoscopic vesicles. The functional groups (hairs) provide a “handle” for the moving pipette to controllably pick up and move the nanotubes to specific locations in the flat membrane, or the hybrid vesicle to specified regions on a surface. The ability to localize these hybrid vesicles on surfaces paves the way for creating nanoreactor arrays in fluidic devices.
Microfluidic devices for electrokinetically driven parallel and serial mixing

Microfabricated devices for parallel and serial mixing of fluids are demonstrated. To simplify the voltage control hardware, electrokinetic mixing is effected using a single voltage source with the channels dimensioned to perform the desired voltage division. In addition, the number of fluid reservoirs is reduced by terminating multiple buffer, sample, or analysis channels in single reservoirs. The parallel mixing device is designed with a series of independent T-intersections, and the serial mixing device is based on an array of cross intersections and sample shunting. These devices were tested by mixing a sample with buffer in a dilution experiment. Sample fractions of 1.0, 0.84, 0.67, 0.51, 0.36, 0.19, and 0 were generated for the parallel mixing device, and sample fractions of 1.0, 0.36, 0.21, 0.12, and 0.06 for the serial mixing device.
On Mobile Viruses Exploiting Messaging and Bluetooth Services

The exponential growth of mobile messaging worldwide has made it an indispensable tool for social and business interactions. The interoperability between SMS (short messaging service) and IM (instant messaging) networks has enabled mobile users to communicate over the Internet seamlessly. However, the proliferation of cellular phones and handheld devices with messaging capability has also attracted virus writers who increasingly develop malware targeted to mobile handheld devices. The mobile viruses discovered so far have exploited vulnerabilities in Bluetooth to infect a nearby device and then use SMS to spread itself to other devices in the mobile network. This problem is expected to become worse with the growth of MMS (multimedia messaging service), mobile games, mobile commerce and peer-to-peer file-sharing in the near future. We investigate the propagation of mobile worms and viruses that spread primarily via SMS/MMS messages and short-range radio interfaces such as Bluetooth. First, we study these vulnerabilities in-depth so that appropriate malware behavior models can be developed. Next, we study the propagation of a mobile virus similar to Commwarrior in a cellular network using data from a real-life SMS customer network. Each handheld device is modeled as an autonomous mobile agent capable of sending SMS messages to others (via an SMS center), and is capable of discovering other devices equipped with Bluetooth. Since mobile malware targets specific mobile OSs, we consider diversity of deployed software stacks in the network. Our results reveal that hybrid worms that use SMS/MMS and proximity scanning (via Bluetooth) can spread rapidly within a cellular network, making them potential threats in public meeting places such as sports stadiums, train stations, and airports
Ahlfors type estimates for perimeter measures in Carnot-Carathéodory spaces

We study the relationship between the geometry of hypersurfaces in a Carnot-Caratheodory (CC) space and the Ahlfors regularity of the corresponding perimeter measure. To this end we establish comparison theorems for perimeter estimates between an hypersurface and its tangent space, and between a CC geometry and its “tangent” Carnot group structure.
Measuring and modeling exposure from environmental radiation on tidal flats

Abstract To examine the shielding effects of the tide cycle, a high pressure ion chamber was used to measure the exposure rate from environmental radiation on tidal flats. A theoretical model is derived to predict the behavior of exposure rate as a function of time for a detector placed one meter above ground on a tidal flat. The numerical integration involved in this derivation results in an empirical formula which implies exposure rate ∝ tan - 1 ( sin t ) . We propose that calculating the total exposure incurred on a tidal flat requires measurements of only the slope of the tidal flat and the exposure rate when no shielding occurs. Experimental results are consistent with the model.
Inheritance and characterization of pollen fertility in photoperiodically sensitive rice mutants

Low pollen fertility mutants in the M7 generation were identified in the field from ethyl methane sulfonate-treated material of the rice cultivar M-201. M7 plants exhibited low pollen fertility levels (2%–28%) with mean values 7.5-fold less than M-201. Pollen fertility increased 3 to 44-fold when the M7 field plants were ratooned and grown in a growth chamber with a 12 hr daylength. High fertility of all F1's was observed in crosses with normal and pollen sterile lines. Chi squared analyses of five F2 populations indicated that, depending on the cross, pollen fertility was governed by one to three recessive nuclear genes. Transgressive segregation for both low and high fertility was observed in all but one cross. A 19% to 66% increase in fertility of late tillers over main stems was observed in mutants under field conditions. Interruption of the dark period with 5 minute treatments of red or far-red light resulted in altered fertility levels and suggested involvement of phytochrome in regulation of pollen fertility.
Effect of Orbit Data Quality on the Feasibility of Collision Risk Management

An analysis was performed to determine the effect of orbit data quality on the feasibility of collision risk management in low Earth orbit. Collision risk is assumed to be managed by active collision prediction and avoidance. Cost was measured in terms of maneuver frequency. The analysis was performed on a hypothetical satellite constellation. The results of the study indicate that the cost of collision risk management is very sensitive to orbit data quality. Significant collision risk reduction is shown to be very expensive using orbit data of low accuracy. If low-Earth-orbit optical tracker technology can be developed that can produce orbit accuracies similar to those of the Raven telescope in geosynchronous orbit, then significant collision risk reduction may be feasible.
The synchronization problem in covariant relativistic dynamics

In the classical Stueckelberg-Horwitz-Piron relativistic Hamiltonian mechanics, a significant aspect of evolution of the classical n-body particle system with mutual interaction is the method by which events along distinct particle world lines are put into correspondence as a dynamical state. Approaches to this procedure are discussed in connection with active and passive symmetry principles.
Molecularly Imprinted Ion-Exchange Resin for Fe3+

Abstract Ion exchange resins selective for the sequestration of Fe3+ from aqueous solutions containing citrate were prepared by the molecular imprinting technique. Sorption characteristics of imprinted resins prepared with high (85 mole%) and low (3 mole%) amounts of covalent cross‐linking were examined. Experiments to determine loading capacity and selectivity, relative to several metal ions of physiological significance, were performed. The Fe3+ capacity of the highly cross‐linked resin was larger but the selectivity was lower.
Nanocrystalline Todorokite-Like Manganese Oxide Produced by Bacterial Catalysis

We describe the characterization of an unknown and difficult to identify but geochemically and environmentally significant MnOx structure produced by a freshwater bacterium, Leptothrix discophora SP-6, using combined transmission electron microscopy (TEM), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and UV Raman spectroscopy. The large surface-to-volume ratio of the needle-shaped nanocrystalline MnO2 formed around the bacterial cells coupled to the porous, zeolite-like structure has the potential to catalyze reactions and oxidize and adsorb metals.
Contextuality Within Activity Systems and Sustainability of Competitive Advantage

Executive Overview Research on the interactions among activities in firms and the extent to which these interactions help create and sustain competitive advantage has rapidly expanded in recent years. In this research, the two most common approaches have been the complementarity framework, as developed by Milgrom and Roberts (1990), and the NK-model (Kaufman, 1993) for simulation studies. This paper provides an introduction to these approaches, summarizes key results, and points to an aspect of interactions that has not found much attention because neither of the two approaches is well-suited to address it: contextual interactions, i.e., interactions that are influenced by other activity choices made by a firm. We provide a number of examples of contextual interactions drawn from in-depth studies of individual firms and outline suggestions for future research.
Palladium–silver bimetallic catalysts with improved activity and selectivity for ethylene epoxidation

Abstract Palladium addition to silver catalysts for ethylene epoxidation increases both catalyst activity and selectivity to ethylene oxide. These results confirm the predictions from density functional theory calculations that Pd–Ag bimetallics should improve selectivity relative to unpromoted silver. The performance of Pd–Ag catalysts is similar to that of Cu–Ag catalysts investigated previously, although the maximum selectivity obtained for the optimum Pd–Ag catalyst in the present study exceeds that achieved with Cu–Ag catalysts. Although there is evidence for greater complexity in the structure of these catalysts than has been incorporated in DFT models, these results provide an important additional example of catalyst identification and design from first principles.
Narratology, cultural psychology, and counseling research.

Narratological research is defined in relation to narrative theory and a cultural psychology perspective. Narrative concepts and methodology are explained, including the configural mode of understanding and principles of narrative analysis. Examples of application in psychological and counseling research are presented, with a discussion of issues of validity and voice. Suggestions are made on how narrative studies are to be evaluated. It is concluded that narratological research, with its focus on meanings and the storied nature of human life, can be especially useful in discovery research on identity development and the experience of counseling and life transitions.
A traitor in our midst: mesenchymal stem cells contribute to tumor progression and metastasis.

. MSCs are adult multipotent stromal cells with the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types. They are able to migrate toward an injury site and when there become bone, cartilage, fat or muscle, repairing or replacing the damaged connective tissue; however, MSCs can also be recruited to tumor sites
What's bred in the bone

Laetoli: A Pliocene Site in Northern Tanzania. Edited by M.D. Leakey and J.M. Harris. Clarendon: 1987. Pp.591. £90, $150.
International pharmacovigilance: developing cooperation to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

: Much has been accomplished internationally in the past decade to harmonise the much of the process of post-marketing drug risk detection. However, formidable challenges exist in harmonising analytical approaches to such data and in leveraging international database resources to improve the quality of such data. In addition, international challenges continue in the arena of drug risk management once a specific risk has been detected. Especially problematic are the questions of appropriate methodology and metrics to assess the public health impact of our risk management techniques. Finally, international challenges remain in the world of drug risk communication to practitioners, dispensers, and patients. The primary challenge confronting us is that of providing easily accessible, understandable, unbiased information on drug risk to these communities so that truly informed decisions about medicines can be made at the individual patient level. Only by meeting internationally these challenges in drug risk detection, management, and communication can our citizens know how to best use these wonderful pharmacological gifts to which we now have access.
Administrative ethics as justice

This paper presents an ethical framework for decision-making in public administration based on the preeminent value of justice. In discussion of this framework, the paper deals with three major issues. The first of these is the character of the just administrative decision,, the second is the character of of the just public organization, and the third is the impact of a justice-based administrative ethic on the role of the responsible administrator.
Entropy in communication and chemical systems

Entropy plays a central role in communication systems. On the one hand, the objective of communication is to reduce the entropy of some random variable. On the other hand, many useful models of communication networks evolve to a state of maximum entropy given external constraints. Chemical systems also exhibit a similar entropy-maximizing property, as do many systems of interacting particles. This paper reviews this set of fundamental ideas.
Flammability Analysis for Actinide Oxides Packaged in 9975 Shipping Containers

Packaging options are evaluated for compliance with safety requirements for shipment of mixed actinide oxides packaged in a 9975 Primary Containment Vessel (PCV). Radiolytic gas generation rates, PCV internal gas pressures, and shipping windows (times to reach unacceptable gas compositions or pressures after closure of the PCV) are calculated for shipment of a 9975 PCV containing a plastic bottle filled with plutonium and uranium oxides with a selected isotopic composition. G-values for radiolytic hydrogen generation from adsorbed moisture are estimated from the results of gas generation tests for plutonium oxide and uranium oxide doped with curium-244. The radiolytic generation of hydrogen from the plastic bottle is calculated using a geometric model for alpha particle deposition in the bottle wall. The temperature of the PCV during shipment is estimated from the results of finite element heat transfer analyses.
Protection by methylated urates of oxyhemoglobin oxidation induced by sodium nitrite

Abstract When 60 μM sheep oxyhemoglobin was treated with 1.2 mM sodium nitrite, the oxyhemoglobin was completely converted to methemoglobin in 7 min. The addition of increasing concentrations of uric acid (1–10 μM) resulted in a decrease in the rate of methemoglobin formation; at 10 μM, uric acid completely protected the oxyhemoglobin. At a concentration of 5 μM, uric acid and all of the mono- and dimethylurates, with the exception of 3,9-dimethyluric acid, protected oxyhemoglobin from oxidation to methemoglobin by 1.2 mM sodium nitrite; 1,3,9-trimethyl-, 3,7,9-trimethyl-, and 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid did not protect oxyhemoglobin. It was concluded that the hydrogens at nitrogens 3 and 9 of uric acid are necessary for it to prevent the oxidation of oxyhemoglobin by sodium nitrite.
Toxicity of Arsenic (III) and (V) on Plant Growth, Element Uptake, and Total Amylolytic Activity of Mesquite (Prosopis Juliflora x P. Velutina)

The effects of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] on the growth of roots, stems, and leaves and the uptake of arsenic (As), micro- and macronutrients, and total amylolytic activity were investigated to elucidate the phytotoxicity of As to the mesquite plant (Prosopis juliflora x P. velutina). The plant growth was evaluated by measuring the root and shoot length, and the element uptake was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The root and leaf elongation decreased significantly with increasing As(III) and As(V) concentrations; whereas, stem elongation remained unchanged. The As uptake increased with increasing As(III) or As(V) concentrations in the medium. Plants treated with 50 mg/L As(III) accumulated up to 920 mg/kg dry weight (d wt) in roots and 522 mg/kg d wt in leaves, while plants exposed to 50 mg/L As(V) accumulated 1980 and 210 mg/kg d wt in roots and leaves, respectively. Increasing the As(V) concentration up to 20 mg/L resulted in a decrease in the total amylolytic activity. On the contrary, total amylolytic activity in As(III)-treated plants increased with increasing As concentration up to 20 mg/L. The macro- and micronutrient concentrations changed in As-treated plants. In shoots, Mo and K were reduced but Ca was increased, while in roots Fe and Ca were increased but K was reduced. These changes reduced the size of the plants, mainly in the As(III)-treated plants; however, there were no visible sign of As toxicity.
Managers' earnings forecasts and intra-industry information transfers

Abstract The effect that voluntarily disclosed managers' earnings forecasts have on the security prices of the announcing firms and other firms in the same industry is examined. The results are consistent with information content in managers' forecasts and with information transfer between forecast firms and other firms in the industry. These inferences are drawn from firms' abnormal returns computed from single- and two-index pricing models - where the latter includes market and industry indexes. Interestingly, while a positive information transfer is evident with market model residuals, once industry cross-sectional covariation in firms' returns is removed, no directional relation is apparent.
Flight and respiration responses in house flies following topical application of sterilization levels of tepa.

One-day-old house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), were sexually sterilized by topical application of 50 micrograms of tepa. On the day following sterilization, 7 flight characteristics of male flies were compared with those of nontreated males of the same age, using an automatically recording flight mill. An effect upon flight was noted but was not significant. Oxygen consumption of tepa-sterilized and nonsterilized flies of both sexes was determined by a Gilson circular Warburg. A significant (P<0.05) reduction in oxygen consumption by tepasterilized males occurred. Tepa-sterilization had no significant effect upon oxygen consumption in females. Neither sex showed any difference in weight within the 1st day following treatment.
Results of the CZCS validation program

After the launch of the Nimbus-7 satellite carrying the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) in October 1978, validation experiments were carried out wherein ships conducted measurements simultaneously with satellite overpasses. The results of the ship measurements of pigment concentration, diffuse attenuation coefficient, and upwelled radiance, were compared with those derived from the satellite using algorithms developed by the Nimbus Experiment Team (NET) for the CZCS. Results of those validations show that the satellite calculations agree with the ship measurements in pigment concentration in most cases to \pm 35 %, and in diffuse attenuation coefficient, to a somewhat better accuracy. Results of these validation exercises have been applied to develop the algorithms that are now producing the production level products in photographic and magnetic tape formats.
No-Show to Primary Care Appointments: Why Patients Do Not Come

Background: Missed primary care appointments lead to poor disease control and later presentation to care. No-show rates are higher in clinics caring for underserved populations and may contribute t...
Choosing sample path length and number of sample paths when starting in steady state

Consider the problem of estimating the mean of a strictly stationary stochastic process by Monte Carlo sampling for the case in which the process has autocorrelation function {@a^|^s^|, |@a| 1 and t^*=1, n^* and t^*>1, and n^*>1. Results are presented in terms of @a and @q, a relative cost ratio. Also, we extend the analysis to autocorrelation functions that are convex combinations of geometrically decreasing quantities.
Polycrystalline Si 1-x Ge x Thin Film Deposition by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

Polycrystalline silicon germanium (poly-Si1−xGe x ) thin films on a-Si film have been deposited by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD) with SiH4–GeH4–H2. Effect of GeH4/SiH4 and deposition temperature on stoichiometry (x), Si-Ge binding character, composition, hydrogen configuration, crystallinity, preferred orientation, grain size, and surface roughness of poly-Si1−xGe x films has been investigated. Poly-Si1−xGe x deposited on the substrate with amorphous silicon buffer layer on oxide shows better crystallinity and contains the less amount of oxygen than the one deposited directly on the oxide surface. At low temperature region, the Ge–H bond with the small amount of Si–H2 bond is dominant but all hydrogen bonds are desorbed at high temperature. All films have polycrystalline phase and the grain size and (111) orientation increased with increasing deposition temperature in which Ge content also increases at the fixed gas flow rate of GeH4 to total source gas. Poly-Si1−xGe x /Si thin film transistors (TFT) are fabricated and hydrogen during post-hydrogenation process preferentially is attached to Ge dangling bond and the TFT characteristics could be improved.