cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional early and progressive loss of brain pericytes but not vascular smooth muscle cells in adult mice with disrupted platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β signaling

Pericytes regulate key neurovascular functions of the brain. Studies in pericyte-deficient transgenic mice with aberrant signaling between endothelial-derived platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) in pericytes have contributed to better understanding of the role of pericytes in the brain. Here, we studied PdgfrβF7/F7 mice, which carry seven point mutations that disrupt PDGFRβ signaling causing loss of pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the developing brain. We asked whether these mice have a stable or progressive vascular phenotype after birth, and whether both pericyte and VSMCs populations are affected in the adult brain. We found an early and progressive region-dependent loss of brain pericytes, microvascular reductions and blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, which were more pronounced in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum than in the thalamus, whereas VSMCs population remained unaffected at the time when pericyte loss was already established. For example, compared to age-matched controls, PdgfrβF7/F7 mice between 4-6 and 36-48 weeks of age developed a region-dependent loss in pericyte coverage (22-46, 24-44 and 4-31%) and cell numbers (36-49, 34-64 and 11-36%), reduction in capillary length (20-39, 13-46 and 1-30%), and an increase in extravascular fibrinogen-derived deposits (3.4-5.2, 2.8-4.1 and 0-3.6-fold) demonstrating BBB breakdown in the cortex, hippocampus and thalamus, respectively. Capillary reductions and BBB breakdown correlated with loss of pericyte coverage. Our data suggest that PdgfrβF7/F7 mice develop an aggressive and rapid vascular phenotype without appreciable early involvement of VSMCs, therefore providing a valuable model to study regional effects of pericyte loss on brain vascular and neuronal functions. This model could be a useful tool for future studies directed at understanding the role of pericytes in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders associated with pericyte loss such as vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke and human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorder.
Enhancing Habermas with Erich Fromm and Kurt Wolff

I employ the arguments of Erich Fromm and Kurt Wolff to enhance Habermas’s ideas. Erich Fromm’s ideas assert that certain modes of human conduct, such as freedom to be materialistic, distances people from the profundities of being, creating a shallow humanity that becomes fixated with commodities and goods. The chapter highlights an ironic consequence of democratic systems made visible by Fromm: that when there is a surfeit of freedom, people retreat from it because such a freedom also offers an overload of decision-making dynamics. By doing so, they blindly defer to an authoritarian personality or institutions that provide dramatic answers and reassurances that make decisions for them. In this chapter, the trinity of the media, market, and medicine is rendered into such an authority. Yet transcendence from this epiphany, can be found in the ideas of Kurt Wolff, harnessed in the chapter to enhance Habermas’s and Fromm’s ideas. Wolff asserts that the experience of life epiphanies is catalytic in providing a high degree of personal truth for those that experience them. Through his surrender and catch thesis, Wolff argues that exceptionally profound moments in the human condition inspire protagonists to confront the meaning of existence in ways that allow them to self-actualize. The significance and utility of Wolff’s surrender and catch thesis cannot be overemphasized: many Cafe attendees only found their mettle to live well after exceptionally close encounters with dying, encounters that declutter life so as to unearth the lucidity and courage needed to continue living.
DARE: A Distributed Adaptation and Failure Recovery Framework for Software Systems

This paper describes DARE, an architecture-based, decentralized framework that provides both self-configuration and self-healing properties to large and highly dynamic software systems. The design of DARE is based on the autonomic computing MAPE-K loop model and integrates architecture discovery mechanisms with recovery and adaptation connectors. This paper describes the design and detailed experimental validation of the DARE framework which show DARE's decentralized capability of dynamically adapting and recovering components.
USA300 MRSA lineages persist on multiple body sites following infection

Abstract BACKGROUND USA300 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a community- and hospital- acquired pathogen that frequently causes infections but also can survive on the human body asymptomatically as a part of the normal flora. We devised a comparative genomic strategy to track colonizing USA300 at different body sites after S. aureus infection. METHODS We sampled ST8 S. aureus from subjects at the site of a first known MRSA infection. Within 60 days of this infection and again 12 months later, each subject was tested for asymptomatic colonization in the nose, throat and perirectal region. 93 S. aureus strains underwent whole genome shotgun sequencing. RESULTS Genome sequencing revealed that 23 patients carried USA300 intra-subject lineages (ISLs), defined as having an index infection isolate (III) and closely related strains. Pairwise distance between strains in different ISLs was 48 to 162 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), whereas within the same ISL it was 0 to 26 SNPs. At the initial sampling time among 23 subjects, we isolated S. aureus from the nose, throat and perirectal sites from 15, 11 and 15 of them, respectively. Twelve months later we isolated S. aureus within the same ISL from 9 subjects, with 6, 3 and 3 strains from the nose, throat and perirectal area, respectively. The median time from initial acquisition of the S. aureus USA300 strains to culture of the index infection was estimated at 18 weeks. Strains in ISLs from the same subject differed in plasmid and prophage content, and contained deletions that removed the mecA-containing SCCmec and ACME regions. Five strains contained frameshift mutations in agr toxin-regulating genes. Persistence of an ISL was not associated with clinical or demographic subject characteristics. CONCLUSION Clonal lineages of USA300 may continue to colonize people at one or more anatomic sites up to a year after an initial infection and experience loss of the SCCmec, loss and gain of other mobile genetic elements, and mutations in the agr operon.
Transcriptional study of hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in male rats: Inflammatory changes are mainly associated with crystal deposition.

Hyperoxaluria associated with renal deposition of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals causes renal injury and inflammation leading to number of diseases including chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is however, not been possible to separate the renal consequences of hyperoxaluria from that of CaOx crystal deposition. We decided to utilize ethylene glycol (EG) model where hyperoxaluria and CaOx crystal deposition can be separated in time. To test our hypothesis, male rats were made hyperoxaluric by administering EG, rats were euthanized and kidneys were extracted on day 14, when occasional crystal is seen in the kidneys and day 28, when all animals have developed renal CaOx crystal deposits. Total RNA was extracted for microarray analysis and genome wide analysis of differentially expressed genes was performed to investigate differences between hyperoxaluria and crystal induced alterations in the kidneys. Immunohistochemical and Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE macromolecular crystallization modulators; genes involved in inflammasome activation; and osteogenic marker genes. Results demonstrate major differences between hyperoxaluria and CaOx crystal induced changes in the kidneys. Injury and inflammation are mainly associated with crystal deposition indicating significant role played by crystal retention.
Acute Trans-Diaphragmatic Herniation of the Caudate Lobe of the Liver

Diaphragmatic liver herniation is often associated with thoracoabdominal trauma. Spontaneous diaphragmatic rupture is a thoracoabdominal emergency and requires a high index of suspicion combined with high-resolution imaging studies for establishing an accurate and timely diagnosis. We present a case report of a patient who was admitted to the emergency department with severe substernal chest pain and shortness of breath who was diagnosed with spontaneous diaphragmatic rupture and caudate liver herniation. The caudate lobe was incarcerated, contributing to the patient's symptoms. A celiotomy was performed and the defect was repaired primarily.
Using MTurk to Distribute a Survey or Experiment: Methodological considerations.

ABSTRACT Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a powerful tool that is more commonly being used to recruit behavioral research participants for accounting research. This manuscript provides practical a...
Deconstructing trait anxiety: a network perspective.

Background and objectives: For decades, the dominant paradigm in trait anxiety research has regarded the construct as signifying the underlying cause of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that s...
Updates on ultrasound research in implant dentistry: a systematic review of potential clinical indications.

Objectives:Ultrasonography has shown promising diagnostic value in dental implant imaging research; however, exactly how ultrasound was used and at what stage of implant therapy it can be applied h...
The Independence of V = L and the CH

Cohen’s technique of forcing was created for the specific purpose of proving the independence of several axioms of set theory from those of general set theory. In this section we will use Cohen’s method to prove the independence of V = L and the CH from the axioms of ZF.
How to Upgrade 1500 Workstations on Saturday, and Still Have Time to Mow the Yard on Sunday

Imagine: It's Saturday afternoon. You run a script, watch it for a while, then go home. When you come back the next day, 1500 workstations and fileservers have new operating systems installed, complete with all your local customizations, with the user data on each one undisturbed and without leaving your office. On December 17, 1994, we did just that. This paper will describe the infrastructure that allows us to perform completely automated updates of a large distributed network of HP UNIX computers. First, we will describe the policies we designed for distributed systems administration. Next, we will describe the tools which we developed or collected to implement these policies, and we will describe how to put it all together to do an upgrade. Throughout we will explain the philosophy behind it all and how our particular implementation could be generalized to other sites. Finally, we will describe some of the lessons learned along the way.
The Reductive Alkylation Reaction

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the reductive alkylation reaction. The chemical reduction of coal can be accomplished in several different ways. The three methods that have been used most frequently to initiate reductive alkylation reactions involve an alkali metal and an electron transfer agent in ether such as tetrahydrofuran, a blue solution of an alkali metal in ether such as triglyme, or a blue solution of an alkali metal in liquid ammonia. The reactions of organic molecules with reducing agents in ether differ from the reactions of the same molecules with reducing agents in ammoniacal solvents. The subsequent chemical reactions of the reduced compounds with other organic reagents also differ. Consequently, the outcome of the reduction reaction and the reductive alkylation reaction depends upon the manner in which the reaction is initiated. The nature of the coal sample plays a very important role in the outcome of the reaction. The aromatic molecules separated from the coal by fragmentation reactions and the molecules freed from the coal by the collapse of the solid matrix transport electrons from the insoluble metal to the remaining portions of the coal.
Pediatric headache: overview.

Purpose of reviewHeadache is a common medical complaint in children and adolescents with the majority having experienced some type of headache by their teenage years. Pediatric headache presentations often differ compared to adults, and children may have difficulty describing their symptoms. Thus, a
Interplay between coronavirus, a cytoplasmic RNA virus, and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway.

Coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV, are enveloped RNA viruses that carry a large positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome and cause a variety of diseases in humans and domestic animals. Very little is known about the host pathways that regulate the stability of CoV mRNAs, which carry some unusual features. Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) is a eukaryotic RNA surveillance pathway that detects mRNAs harboring aberrant features and targets them for degradation. Although CoV mRNAs are of cytoplasmic origin, the presence of several NMD-inducing features (including multiple ORFs with internal termination codons that create a long 3′ untranslated region) in CoV mRNAs led us to explore the interplay between the NMD pathway and CoVs. Our study using murine hepatitis virus as a model CoV showed that CoV mRNAs are recognized by the NMD pathway as a substrate, resulting in their degradation. Furthermore, CoV replication induced the inhibition of the NMD pathway, and N protein (a viral structural protein) had an NMD inhibitory function that protected viral mRNAs from rapid decay. Our data further suggest that the NMD pathway interferes with optimal viral replication by degrading viral mRNAs early in infection, before sufficient accumulation of N protein. Our study presents clear evidence for the biological importance of the NMD pathway in controlling the stability of mRNAs and the efficiency of replication of a cytoplasmic RNA virus.
Cropping System Diversity Effects on Nutrient Discharge, Soil Erosion, and Agronomic Performance

Nutrient, herbicide, and sediment loading from agricultural fields cause environmental and economic damage. Nutrient leaching and runoff pollution can lead to eutrophication and impaired drinking water resources, while soil erosion reduces water quality and agronomic productivity. Increased cropping system diversification has been proposed to address these problems. We used the ArcSWAT model and long-term Iowa field experimental measurements to estimate eutrophication and erosion impacts of three crop rotation systems under two weed management regimes. Rotations were comprised of 2-year corn–soybean, 3-year corn–soybean–oat/clover, and 4-year corn–soybean–oat/alfalfa–alfalfa systems. All were managed with conventional or low herbicide applications. Total N and P runoff losses were up to 39% and 30% lower, respectively, in the more diverse systems than the 2-year corn–soybean system, but NO3–-N leaching losses were unaffected by cropping system. Diversification reduced erosion losses up to 60%. The 3- and ...
UNIT 9.8 Immunoprecipitation

Immunoprecipitation is a technique in which an antigen is isolated by binding to a specific antibody attached to a sedimentable matrix. It is also used to analyze protein fractions separated by other biochemical techniques such as gel filtration or density gradient sedimentation. The source of antigen for immunoprecipitation can be unlabeled cells or tissues, metabolically or intrinsically labeled cells, or in-vitro-translated proteins. This unit describes a wide range of immunoprecipitation techniques, using either suspension or adherent cells lysed by various means (e.g., with and without detergent, using glass beads, etc.). Flow charts and figures give the user a clear-cut explanation of the options for employing the technology.
Reduced Dose Computed Tomography: The Effects of Voltage Reduction on Density Measurements of Urolithiasis.

Abstract CT is a widely used imaging modality in the diagnosis of urolithiasis but subjects patients to ionizing radiation. Reduced dose protocols have recently gained wide acceptance. Stone densit...
P86 Retention Barriers and Facilitators in the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension National Diabetes Prevention Program

Objective To explore perceived barriers and facilitators to participant retention in the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (UA CE)-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). Use of Theory or Research The transtheoretical model posits that individuals undergo various stages of change while adapting to a new and healthier behavior, beginning with precontemplation and ending in maintenance. However, it is well documented that individuals often revert in stages before reaching the maintenance stage. Good indicators of advanced stages in NDPP participants are attendance and retention. NDPP attendance and higher retention rates are associated with improved health outcomes, underscoring their importance in this behavioral-based year-long intervention. Target Audience Adults at risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Program Description NDPP is a group, lifestyle-change intervention offered over 12 months, which has been shown to prevent or delay the onset of T2DM. The program promotes healthy eating, physical activity, and modest weight loss. Evaluation Methods A naturalistic approach was taken to understand perceived barriers and facilitators unique to participant retention in the NDPP offered through the UA CE. A convenience sample (N = 22) participated: a) lifestyle coaches (N = 5); b) participants retained (N = 10); c) participants who dropped out (N = 5); and d) eligible individuals who did not sign up (N = 2). Data was collected through qualitative semi-structured interviews. Results Perceived retention barriers included challenges with make-up sessions, time conflicts, distance traveled, health problems, major life events, and difficulty making permanent changes. Perceived retention facilitators included a strong sense of motivation and accountability, flexible make-up classes, other available UA CE classes, group support, and a caring coach. Conclusions Together, these data suggest that retention for the UA CE-NDPP is complex and more efforts should be placed in tailoring the unique needs of participants to help them stay throughout the program. These findings will help the CE-NDPP become a more effective agent of change in the prevention of T2DM across the US. Funding University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Department of Nutritional Sciences.
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Telephone-Based Chaplaincy Intervention to Decrease Parental Spiritual Struggle.

Spiritual struggles (SSs) are distressing spiritual thoughts associated with poorer health outcomes. This study’s purpose was to test feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of an intervention to decrease SS of parents of children with CF. Parents screening positive for SS were enrolled and were randomized to intervention or attention-control condition. Intervention focused on intra-, inter-, and divine SS. Mixed linear modeling examined between-group differences. We present analyses of N = 23, and participants all showed decreased levels of SS. Acceptability was high; feasibility was higher in the intervention arm. GuideSS_CF is acceptable and feasible and warrants development as a potentially efficacious intervention.
Corporate Environmental Impact: Measurement, Data and Information

As an organization’s environmental impact has become a central societal consideration, thereby affecting industry and organizational competitiveness, interest in measuring and analyzing environmental impact has increased. We develop a methodology to derive comparable and scalable monetized environmental impact estimates by applying characterization pathways and monetization factors to organization level environmental outputs, including carbon emissions, water use, and other emission types. The median environmental impact as a percentage of an organization’s sales (operating income), referred to as environmental intensity, is 2% (22%) suggesting a significant level of ‘hidden liabilities’ and potential for value erosion if environmental impacts are priced. About 60% of the variation in environmental intensity is driven by industry membership, while the rest can be attributed to firm specific factors or to country and more granular industry classifications. Environmental intensity exhibits moderate correlation with various environmental ratings across firms and industries and no correlation across firms within industries. Firms with higher environmental intensity exhibit lower corporate market valuation, consistent with investors viewing environmental impacts as financially material and pricing them in some but not all industries. We document the dynamic materiality of environmental intensity, where the relation between environmental intensity and corporation valuation has become stronger in recent years.
Chapter 5 – Institutional Review Boards

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the development of federal US regulations concerning research involving human subjects and the roles and responsibilities of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). The research goals include the welfare of individual subjects and the gathering of scientific data for application in the future. Therefore, the society has granted a conditional privilege to perform research with human subjects; the condition is that the research must be scientifically sound and conducted in a manner that protects the rights and safeguards the welfare of the participants. The current US system for protecting human research subjects, including the role of IRBs, is undergoing serious evaluation. The IRB system is well developed but ever evolving. Successful evolution of the system depends on learning from the past, understanding current and future needs, and applying knowledge to implement meaningful improvements.
Learning from child welfare case narratives: A directed content analysis of indicators for human trafficking

Abstract Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to facilitate commercial sex, labor, involuntary servitude, peonage debt bondage, or slavery. Youth within the child welfare system are considered to be at risk for sex trafficking victimization. Additionally, the experiences of youth in the child welfare system, particularly abuse and neglect, have been identified as risk factors for youth sex trafficking. One way to further address human trafficking is by understanding what vulnerabilities may put individuals at risk of being a victim of human trafficking. This study analyzed indicators that are believed to increase the risks for sex trafficking among youth in the child welfare system. A qualitative directed content analysis was conducted to analyze child welfare case narratives (N = 167) to examine the extent to which common vulnerability factors for human trafficking (e.g., trading sex for things of value, unwanted physical contact, previous sexual abuse) were present in substantiated child welfare cases flagged for human trafficking. A total of 75 unique items across 10 assessments were used to create the deductive codebook based on existing human trafficking screening tools (e.g., Trafficking Victim Identification Tool, Adult Trafficking Screening Tool). Findings demonstrated that although there was wide variance across narratives, sexual abuse and sex exchange were the most common vulnerability factors expressed in the case intake narratives. Further, the vast majority of screening variables were not represented in the narratives. These findings call for the use of standardized screening tools, as well as a universal definition of human trafficking, in the child welfare system.
Recall of Speech is Impaired by Subsequent Masking Noise: A Replication of Experiment 2.

Introduction The presence of masking noise can impair speech intelligibility and increase the attentional and cognitive resources necessary to understand speech. The first study to demonstrate the negative cognitive effects of noisy speech found that participants had poorer recall for aurally-presented digits early in a list when later digits were presented in noise relative to quiet (Rabbitt, 1968). However, despite being cited nearly 500 times and providing the foundation for a wealth of subsequent research on the topic, the original study has never been directly replicated. Methods This study replicated Rabbitt (1968) with a large online sample and tested its robustness to a variety of analytical and scoring techniques. Results We replicated Rabbitt's key finding that listening to speech in noise impairs recall for items that came earlier in the list. The results were consistent when we used the original analytical technique (an ANOVA) and a more powerful analytical technique (generalized linear mixed effects models) that was not available when the original paper was published. Discussion These findings support the claim that effortful listening can interfere with encoding or rehearsal of previously presented information.
Water: An underappreciated reaction medium for photodimerizations

Abstract Organic solvents have been the sought-after medium to achieve light initiated transformations in laboratories and industries. Given the current emphasis on green chemistry and rising awareness of environmental pollution it may be necessary for us to utilize abundantly freely available, non-toxic and environmentally friendly water as the medium to perform photoreactions. Although water has attracted the attention of organic synthetic chemists, it is yet to receive the indispensable attention of photochemists. In this article we present examples of photocycloaddition reactions of four molecules namely coumarin, indene, cinnamic acid and acenaphthylene that are sparingly soluble in water. Photodimerization of these molecules in water is much faster and occurs at much lower concentrations than in organic solvents. Aggregation probably forced by hydrophobic association is suggested to be the cause for the increased reactivity even at lower concentrations. The dimer distribution in water is different from that in organic solvents. Further work is required to fully understand the mechanism of photodimerization in water. Although the poor solubility of organic molecules in water requires one to irradiate large volumes to collect enough useful amounts, availability of flow reactors and LEDs as light sources should help one overcome the challenges.
A review of the evidence on cigarettes with reduced addictiveness potential.

Abstract Background In May 2018, the Secretariat for the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control convened a meeting to discuss the potential for reducing the addictiveness of tobacco products. A central focus was to review research findings on the behavioral effects of reducing the addictiveness of cigarettes. Methods This manuscript reports the results of a review of the behavioral science literature, updated through April 2021, with special attention to both the potential benefits and unintended consequences of reducing nicotine in cigarettes. Results Available evidence suggests that reducing nicotine content in cigarettes to very low levels could benefit public health in three primary ways, by 1) decreasing uptake of regular smoking, 2) decreasing the amount people smoke, and 3) increasing the likelihood of smoking cessation. Current evidence also suggests that reducing nicotine in cigarettes may produce similar benefits across many important subpopulations of people who smoke, including those with psychiatric comorbidities, those who use other substances, those with low socioeconomic status, young people, people who smoke infrequently and people who prefer menthol cigarettes. Cigarette nicotine reduction could also lead to some undesirable outcomes, such as experiencing withdrawal, product manipulation, an illicit market, and harm misperceptions; strategies that may mitigate each are discussed. Conclusion Overall, behavioral research suggests product standards that limit the nicotine content of combusted tobacco products could render cigarettes and similar products less addictive. The availability of legal, non-combusted products that effectively substitute for cigarettes and the dissemination of public health campaigns that clarify misperceptions about the relationship between nicotine, tobacco and disease may facilitate the extent to which a nicotine reduction policy reduces smoking.
Coronary Dissection and Right Heart Failure Salvaged by PCI With Percutaneous Intraluminal Microaxial RV-Assist Support

Abstract Right heart failure is a dreaded sequelae of proximal right coronary artery occlusion that can complicate an angiogram or percutaneous coronary intervention. This case illustrates the use ...
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Goods and Services: An Input-Output Approach

Preface Section I: Introduction Preface Exploring Environmental Impacts and Sustainability Through Life Cycle Assessment Hybrid LCA Analysis: Combining the EIO-LCA Approach with Other Models Environmental Valuation for Life Cycle Assessment Uncertainty in Estimating Effects Using the Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment Software Section II: Example Applications Preface A Life Cycle Analysis of a Midsize Passenger Car Comparison of Steel and Plastic Fuel Tank Systems for Automobiles Effects of Using Nanotechnology to Stabilize Platinum Group Metal Particles in Automotive Catalysts E-Commerce, Book Publishing and Retail Logistics Construction Materials for Roads and Bridges Environmental Impacts of Services Life-cycle Assessment of Electricity Generation Comparison of Energy Transportation Modes: Coal by Rail and Electricity Transmission Life Cycle Assessment of Residential Buildings in the United States Section III: Further Developments in the EIO-LCA Method Preface Occupational Safety Risks in an Input-Output Framework Development of Regional Economic Input-Output Life-cycle Assessment Models Canadian Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment Model Enterprise and Materials Flow Input-Output Analysis References Appendices: I: Sectors and Outputs in the 1997 US Benchmark EIO-LCA II: Some Alternative Model Forms for EIO-LCA III: Disaggregation Options for Conducting Hybrid Life Cycle Assessments IV: Uncertainty in Leontief Input-Output Equations: Some Numerical Examples V. Potential Compliance of an LCA Study Conducted Using the EIO-LCA Model with the Requirements of ISO 14040, 14041, 14042 and 14043 Standards
Treatment of produced water from oil & gas operations by Membrane Distillation

Membrane Distillation (MD) is a hybrid thermal-membrane process that could be applied in produced water volume reduction applications while simultaneously augmenting sustainable water production in Qatar. A consortium of ConocoPhillips - Global Water Sustainability Center (GWSC), Qatar University (QU) and Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC), was formed to assess the suitability of MD to treat high salinity brines from thermal desalination plants; similar salinity levels could be found in produced water. The pilot scale results showed that MD could operate at 50% recovery and achieve a stable flux of ~5 L/(m 2 .h) at when treating thermal brine at 70,000 mg/L TDS. The effluent produced contained < 10 mg/L TDS.
Speculative Execution and Compiler-Assisted Multiple Instruction Recovery

Multiple instruction rollback is a technique developed for recovery from transient processor failures. Speculative execution is a method to increase instruction level parallelism which can be exploited by both super-scalar and VLIW architectures. The key to a successful general speculation strategy is a repair mechanism to handle mispredicted branches and accurate reporting of exceptions for speculated instructions. This chapter describes compiler-assisted multiple instruction rollback schemes and their applicability to speculative execution repair. Performance measurements across ten application programs are presented. The results indicate that techniques used in compiler-assisted rollback recovery are effective for handling branch and exception repair in support of speculative execution.
Chapter 19 Isolation and Characterization of Nonhistone Phosphoproteins

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the isolation and characterization of nonhistone phosphoproteins. The nonhistone chromosomal proteins play a regulatory role in the control of gene expression. Two of the nonhistone protein (NHP) fractions (I and II) stimulate transcription in vitro , NHP-I by acting on chromatin and NHP-II by acting on DNA. The third fraction (NHP-III) inhibits transcription from DNA. The varied but specific effects of these nonhistone proteins indicate the involvement of nonhistone chromosomal proteins in both positive and negative controls in the differential regulation of gene expression. Nonhistone protein fractions restore histone-inhibited transcription from DNA. If NHP-I is added after DNA and histone have already been interacted, the restoration of histone-inhibited template activity of DNA for RNA synthesis is still effective however requires higher concentrations of the nonhistone proteins. The NHP-III is homogeneous when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
57 Does Pandoraea cause clinical deterioration in healthy CF children

Objective and Methods Clinical significance of Pandoraea, a multi drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, is unknown. A clinical review of 6 CF children who grew Pandoraea in a 2 year period from October 2012 to September 2014 was conducted to answer following questions: (1) Does Pandoraea cause clinical deterioration (as measured by change in FEV1 and BMI) in CF children? (2) To identify most sensitive intravenous antibiotic against Pandoraea . Pt no.Age at first isolationMonths since first growthFEV1 at first growthChange in FEV1 since first growthBMI at first growthChange in BMI since first growthFrequency (Pandoraea/total samples)1736/572946102+ 4%18.88+5.9626/653123878−21%15.91+3.8138/61416997+3%17.18+1.541/265142564−3%16.95+2.0911/266108186+1%17.58+3.002/32 Results See the table. 4 out of 6 children grew Pandoraea frequently. 1 child had the first growth recently, but since the first growth, grew Pandoraea in all samples. 4 out of 5 children had stable or higher lung function 3 years after the first growth. Only child who had a drop in lung function of 21% since first isolation of Pandoraea had poor compliance to treatment and was colonised with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), while others were either PA free or grew PA intermittently. BMI increased by a mean of 19% in 3 years since first growth. Imipenem was the most sensitive Intra Venous antibiotic, followed by Tazocin. Ciprofloxacin was found to be intermittently sensitive. Conclusion In 4 out of 5 children, Pandoraea was not found to cause clinical deterioration, as measured by change in lung function and BMI. Imipenem was the most sensitive antibiotic against Pandoraea .
Direct Determination of Part-per-Billion Levels of Volatile Organics in Water and Soil Samples Using Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry

A low pressure glow discharge ion source has been constructed in our laboratory and interfaced with a quadrupole mass spectrometer for the direct monitoring of trace organic vapors in air. Important features of the ion source include a simple design, low cost, low maintenance, and the ability to sample air directly without the need for membranes, splitters, or capillary restrictors. Although the flow rate of air into the source is approximately 2 standard mL /s, the pressure within the ionization region is maintained at 200 mTorr which reduces interferences caused by the formation of water cluster ions. Furthermore, the high flow rate of air into the ion source provides a simple and convenient means of purging volatile organics from water or soil samples directly into the mass spectrometer without additional apparatus or extensive samples directly into the mass spectrometer without additional apparatus or extensive sample preparation. Early studies with this system indicate that low part-per-billion levels of volatile organics such as benzene or trichloroethylene can be quantitatively determined in water and soil samples either by monitoring headspace above a sample or by direct purging. Analysis time of 2-5 min provides a high throughput of 10 or more samples per hour.
Radiation hydrodynamics of the broad line region in Seyfert galaxies and quasars

The broad line region in quasars and in the nuclei of active galaxies is the site of remarkable hydrodynamic activity unprecedented elsewhere in the universe. Considerable theoretical effort has been directed to determine how this intense radiation is related to high velocity gas motions in these small regions, which, because of their great distances, cannot be resolved by direct observation. A bet ter theoretical understanding of the nature of the broad line-emitting gas involves many novel aspects of radiat ion hydrodynamics and may eventually provide insights into the nature of the mysterious quasar phenomenon itself. Continuum and emission line properties of active galaxies and quasars are sufficiently similar that there is little doubt that both can be accounted for by a similar or closely related physical model. The main difference is one of luminosity~ typical quasars are considerably brighter than Seyfert galaxies. In the discussion below the relevant observations of quasars and active galaxies are briefly reviewed with an emphasis on the physical properties of the line-emitting gas and its immediate environment. Arguments that support the importance of radiat ion forces in producing the observed gas velocities are summarized. Finally, the nature of the acceleration process is described with part icular at tention paid to the various instabilities that may be present and which are generally characteristic of situations in which plasma velocities result directly from the deposition of radiative momentum. In fact, these troublesome instabilities suggest that radiative forces, although very strong, may provide only a part ial explanation of the gasdynamical activity observed.
Nitrate and ammonium ion-selective electrodes as sensors

Abstract Nitrate ion-selective electrodes were successfully applied both in stationary solutions and in flow streams as new analytical techniques for the assay of nitrate reductase activity. An ammonium-selective electrode was similarly used to measure the increase in ammonium ion concentration during the enzymatic reduction of nitrate to ammonium. Preliminary studies on a true enzyme electrode for assay of nitrate ion are discussed.
A model for MOS effective channel mobility with emphasis in the subthreshold and transition region

In this work, the effects of surface potential fluctuations on the channel charge of a MOSFET are studied. By accounting for surface potential saturation, continuous models from below to above threshold are developed for the effective channel carrier concentration, the effective channel conductivity and, most importantly, the effective channel carrier mobility. The modeled mobility shows a dramatic drop-off around the threshold voltage, in agreement with experimental results. The equations developed herein may be used to improve the accuracy of existing transistor models for circuit simulation. >
An ancient seismite response to Taconian far-field forces: the Cane Run Bed, Upper Ordovician (Trenton) Lexington Limestone, Central Kentucky (USA)

Abstract The Cane Run Bed is a prominent unit of micrograined limestone and shale of distal storm origin in the lower part of the Late Ordovician (late Chatfieldian; late Caradoc) Lexington Limestone (Trenton) in central Kentucky, USA. The unit's prominence relates to presence of up to three horizons of penecontemporaneous, soft-sediment deformation that form a distinctive event bed; equivalent horizons of different lithology are also deformed. Concurrence of four lines of evidence, including deformation consistent with a seismogenic origin, widespread distribution in temporally and stratigraphically constrained horizons, a pattern of increasing frequency or deformation intensity toward likely epicentral areas, and the ability to exclude other likely causes, points strongly to a seismogenic origin for each horizon. This interpretation is bolstered by the facts that the deformation contains random fold axes, crosses facies boundaries, is associated with a periodically reactivated basement structural lineament, and crosscuts undeformed beds from both above and below. Moreover, mapping the distribution of deformation intensity allows for the interpretation of possible epicentral areas. The association of Cane Run deformation with other sedimentologic-stratigraphic anomalies related to reactivated basement faults, as well as their coincidence with the inception of a Taconian tectophase, suggest that Cane Run seismites are one of several responses to the distal transmission of far-field forces from the coeval Taconian orogeny into the foreland, largely via zones of basement structural weakness. Units like the Cane Run Bed and its equivalents, whose seismogenic origins can be confidently demonstrated, suggest that seismicity must have had a substantial influence at times on epicontinental sedimentation, even in seas far removed from orogenic sources of stress.
V: Random Walk and Diffusion-Like Models of Photon Migration in Turbid Media

Publisher Summary The chapter focuses on the properties of multiply-scattering or turbid media, and emphasizes results obtained using random walk theory of photon migration in a turbid medium. Methodology based on the theory of random walks is a ubiquitous tool in the analysis of polymer configurations and is central to many of the techniques used to transform data taken from X-ray scattering experiments into useful structural parameters. The types of random walk models that are distinguished by the space in which the walk occurs include the continuum random walk and the lattice random walk. The chapter derives the joint probabilities required for translating optical data into physical parameters for a slab whose properties are homogeneous on a macroscopic scale. There are several approaches for modelling the use of optical techniques by random walk and/or diffusion theory to determine internal structure and inclusions in a multiply-scattering medium. Three categories of applications of the theory will be described (i) laser Doppler flowmetry, (ii) random walk results applied to spectroscopic methods, and (iii) the characterization of the performance of an optical imaging system.
Studies on human placental alkaline phosphatase: II. Kinetic properties and studies on the apoenzyme

Abstract Human placental alkaline phosphatase is a non-specific phosphatase capable of hydrolyzing compounds containing phosphomonoesters and pyrophosphates and of catalyzing both phosphorylation and transphosphorylation reactions. The heat of activation for hydrolysis of 5′-AMP was calculated to be 10,375 cal/mole. A turnover number of 40,500 moles/mole enzyme/min with the substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate is reported. The enzyme is competitively inhibited by inorganic phosphate, arsenate and trimetaphosphate. Inactive apoenzyme, prepared by dialysis against EDTA at pH 5.0, is optimally reactivated by Zn++ or Co++. The Zn++-reactivated enzyme is stable, whereas the Co++-apoenzyme is not. It is concluded that the placental phosphatase is a Zn++-metalloenzyme.
Selling and Building Linked Data: Drive Value and Gain Momentum

Data inside enterprises is exploding. Routinely key decision makers state, “one of the most valuable assets of our organization is actionable information.” Paradoxically, it is often challenging to gather the necessary metrics to build a business case to justify a Linked Data initiative for improved data quality in the face of the well-documented shortcomings of traditional enterprise approaches to data management. Internet standards have matured considerably in the last decade. The number of linked data sets is growing daily and already exceeds well in excess of ten thousand data sets, over 400 of which are published via the US Government at gov as of April 2010. Many of these linked data sets are high quality. Best practices for linking data within the enterprise are increasingly being published in articles, blogs and technical books. One of the pioneering linked enterprise data projects was undertaken by a Fortune 500 company in the early 2000 timeframe. The lessons learned about how to navigate the management and organizational dynamics are relevant today. This chapter outlines the successful strategies for a linked enterprise data initiative, including a consistent metadata management strategy across lines of business, definition and documentation of data ownership and the value of cross-functional teams in the definition, development and deployment of the project.
The Inheritance of Genetic Tumors in Nicotiana Hybrids

Etude du determinisme genetique de tumeurs chez des hybrides Nicotiana glauca (2n=24)×N. langsdorfii (2n=18) selectionnes pour les plantes les plus tumorales
A data compression scheme employing a biologically inspired model

The traditional model in biology for the mode of communication between neurons revolves around the integrate-and-fire model. In this model a neuron will fire only if the amount of incoming signal within a certain amount of time meets or exceeds some threshold (i.e., the incoming signal is integrated). Recent work by Izhikevich (2001) has posed another possible model, which he calls the "resonate-and-fire" model. Details of the model are covered in this paper. This model provides the basis for the ideas discussed below. This paper attempts to show how concepts from Izhikevich's research can be used to implement a novel method for data compression. While there are still many challenges to be overcome, it is hoped that a ratio of 4:1 compression may be possible after compression through conventional methods. In addition, an application of these ideas to a simple form of data encryption is discussed.
Succinct and fast accessible data structures for database damage assessment

This paper presents methods for assessing damage in a database system after an attack is identified and a malicious transaction is detected By using pre-developed data structures our protocols identify all affected transactions and also damaged data items without requiring any log access These data structures are built using bit-vectors and are manipulated using logical AND and OR operations to achieve faster damage assessment.