cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for an inhibitor of herpes simplex virus in transformed hamster cells.

SummaryExtracts of HSV-2-trans-formed hamster cells inhibit plaque formation of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in normal hamster cells. Extracts also inhibit replication of HSV. The inhibitor is a soluble component of the cells, and probably does not act directly on extracellular virus. The inhibitor is not a classicial interferon since the inhibition is temperature-sensitive and the replication of VSV is not impaired.Dr. Ronald Duff supplied helpful suggestions for this study. This investigation was supported by Contract NO1 CP 53516 within the Virus Cancer Program of the National Cancer Institute, NIH, PHS.
Therapy of patients with head injuries: Key parameters for management

Background: Secondary brain injury, presumed secondary to ischemia, increases the mortality and morbidity of traumatic brain injury. Although many mechanisms appear to be involved, many potential ischemic insults result from changes in readily observable physiologic variables. Methods: A focused search of scientific articles published in English to determine what data are available to suggest parameters within which key physiologic variables should be maintained. Results: Few data demonstrate that maintenance of variables within specific ranges alters outcome; however, considerable evidence establishes associations with poor outcome and hypotension, intracranial hypertension, and cerebral venous saturation. Key parameters vary somewhat based upon the phase of treatment after injury. Other variables, such as systemic oxygen delivery and brain saturation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, are less well linked to outcome. Conclusions: Further research is necessary to establish that manipulation of physiologic variables to maintain them within preset ranges improves outcome.
Breaker of Barriers? Notes on the Geopolitics of the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham

ABSTACTIn the last two years, the so-called “Islamic State in Iraq and Sham” has transformed the Syrian Civil War, effecting serious confrontations in Iraq and Lebanon, dismantling security regimes along the Iraq-Syria border, and causing the mass exodus of ethno-religious communities across the region. These dramatic events are often interpreted through the official rhetoric of the group itself, which draws on discourses of the “Sykes-Picot” conspiracy and narratives of returning to Islamic principles. Tempting though it is to deconstruct such rhetoric on its own, efforts in this direction have over-emphasised its Islamic and territorial elements to the detriment of a deeper understanding of the locally varying, strategic nature of ISIS’s activities in the Middle East. Accordingly, this paper considers how local interests articulate with ISIS’s transnational movement, looking at their activities along the border region of Syria, Iraq, and Turkey. It begins with a discourse analysis of one important narra...
End-of-Life and Palliative Care Curricula in U.S. Social Work Graduate Programs

Social workers have a high probability of relating to clients with terminal illnesses and their families. Yet, end-of-life education in U.S. graduate programs of social work has been somewhat limited. A recent guideline by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) sets standards for social work practice in palliative and end-of-life care. This article presents the results of a 2012 survey of U.S. social work graduate programs to determine curricula offerings in end-of-life and palliative care. Results suggest that the majority of graduate social work programs are addressing the NASW guidelines; however, less than half of students participate in the offering(s).
Diffusional Processes in Metallurgical Interconnections

Diffusional processes, either solid- or liquid-state, are essential in promoting reliable metallurgical interconnections used in many electronic packaging applications. The same phenomena often degrade the integrity and reliability of the interconnections as well. In this talk, both examples are presented to illustrate how the diffusional processes are important in many interconnection technologies. Thermocompression bonding, eutectic bonding, soldering and liquid-phase bonding are chosen for this purpose. Several issues related to soldering, such as dissolution, intermetallic formation and microstructure of solder joints, will also be discussed in terms of diffusional processes.
Chronic chlorpheniramine therapy: subsensitivity, drug metabolism, and compliance.

To investigate whether patients develop true subsensitivity to antihistamines during chronic therapy, we studied 14 adult subjects who received chlorpheniramine for 3-day and 3-week trials of therapy. Titrated skin tests to histamine and compound 48/80, chlorpheniramine blood levels (by HPLC), compliance, and side effects were monitored and compared during the two courses of therapy and their respective 72-hour washout periods. We found a significant correlation between chlorpheniramine blood levels and skin test suppression during both the 3-day and 3-week therapies. The 3-day chlorpheniramine therapy was more clinically effective (measured by skin test suppression corrected for serum chlorpheniramine concentration) than the 3-week therapy (P less than .01). Chlorpheniramine serum half-lives and 2-hour chlorpheniramine blood levels were not significantly different after the 3-day and 3-week trials. Compliance was significantly worse (P less than .01) during 3-week therapy. Medication side effects (particularly drowsiness) were frequently reported during both courses of therapy. We conclude that subsensitivity to chlorpheniramine does develop in adult patients receiving 3 weeks of therapy. This subsensitivity is not explained by changes in drug metabolism. In addition to subsensitivity, poor compliance may contribute to sub-therapeutic results during chronic antihistamine therapy. Side effects from antihistamines may also require individualization of therapy for certain patients.
A modeling study of tidal energy extraction and the associated impact on tidal circulation in a multi-inlet bay system of Puget Sound

Abstract Previous tidal energy studies in Puget Sound have focused on major deep channels such as Admiralty Inlet that have a larger power potential. This paper focuses on the possibility of extracting tidal energy from minor tidal channels of Puget Sound by using a hydrodynamic model to quantify the power potential and the associated impact on tidal circulation. The study site is a multi-inlet bay system connected by two narrow inlets, Agate Pass and Rich Passage, to the Main Basin of Puget Sound. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was applied to the study site and validated for tidal elevations and currents. We examined three energy extraction scenarios in which turbines were deployed in each of the two passages and concurrently in both. Extracted power rates and associated changes in tidal elevation, current, tidal flux, and residence time were examined. Maximum instantaneous power rates reached 250 kW, 1550 kW, and 1800 kW, respectively, for the three energy extraction scenarios. Model results suggest that with the level of energy extraction in the three energy extraction scenarios, the impact on tidal circulation is very small. It is worth investigating the feasibility of harnessing tidal energy from minor tidal channels of Puget Sound.
Late Migration of a CardioMEMS TM Wireless Pulmonary Artery Hemodynamic Monitoring Sensor

The CardioMEMSTM heart failure (HF) system is an ambulatory pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system designed to help manage patients with difficult to control HF symptoms and to reduce the need for hospitalizations due to acute HF exacerbations. It is currently approved for use in patients with New York Heart Association class III symptoms and a previous hospitalization for congestive heart failure within the last year, regardless of ejection fraction.1,2 The entire system consists of a small pressure sensor (Figure 1) that is percutaneously placed in a branch pulmonary artery and can be remotely interrogated, in the hospital and at home, using a receiver. Figure 1. CardioMEMSTM Sensor. CardioMEMSTM and St. Jude Medical are trademarks of St. Jude Medical, LLC or its related companies. Reprinted with permission of the publisher. Copyright ©2017, St. Jude Medical. Available evidence within the literature indicates that the device implant is a safe process with no major complications being reported.1–4 The implant procedure is simple and involves a pulling thread that secures the tightly bound sensor to the delivery catheter. Once pulled, the nitinol …
Tax Treaty Aspects of the McDonald's State Aid Investigation

Supporting the European Commission’s conclusion that Luxembourg was under no treaty obligation to exempt income attributable to a U.S. branch of a McDonald’s Luxembourgian subsidiary, this paper suggests two alternative methods for reaching the same result in ways that avoid possible obstacles in the commission’s approach.
Motivating healthy eating: The role of presentation format and health consciousness

Abstract Research on improving healthy eating has shown that paternalistic strategies, which rely on educating consumers and increasing health consciousness (HC), tend to be ineffective. The present research explores an approach that relies on subtle environmental changes and consumers’ innate motivations to improve food decision making. Specifically, we test whether changes in the presentation format (picture vs. text) of healthy food items can increase hedonic perceptions and consumption intentions, especially among consumers low in HC. In Study 1, participants evaluated the hedonic and health-related properties of a fruit salad. In Study 2, participants evaluated the hedonic- and health-related properties of an entree (zucchini pasta with cauliflower sauce) and indicated their consumption intentions. The results show that while health-related perceptions did not change as a function of presentation format or HC, participants low in HC rated a healthy food item as more hedonically pleasing and were more likely to choose that item when it was presented in picture rather than text format. In contrast, presentation format did not influence the evaluations and consumption intentions of participants high in HC.
United States Democratic Presidents: Impact on the African American Economic Predicament

This paper examines the impact of policies and programs implemented by Democratic Presidents in the United States on the economic predicament of African Americans. Policies and programs implemented by the Clinton Administration between 1992 and 2000 were examined to better understand the extent to which democratic administrations respond to pressing social and economic issues specific to African Americans. This paper focuses primarily on the impact of these policies and programs on African Americans residing in the Delta region of the United States. The Delta region is the focus of this evaluation for several reasons. First, it has a well documented and extensive history of poverty among African Americans. Secondly, the Delta has a proportionally large African American population and federal policies and programs, historically, have been ineffective at significantly improving the economic predicament of African Americans in the region.
American Guilt: a challenge for contemporary emotions history

This article assesses the unexpected increase of references to guilt in American culture, from the mid-20th century onward. The increase came against a pattern of decline over the previous hundred years, and also runs counter to many interpretations of growing American individualism and self-indulgence. The article deals also with the increasing criticisms of guilt, as damaging and unpleasant, that became increasingly common from the 1920s onward. A focus on guilt associated with parenting brings these themes into clearer focus, helping to explain the rise in guilt references – with causes that are fairly clear in the area of parenting – but also the disconcerting combination with resentments about guilt as harmful and unfair. Several parental reactions, particularly by the 1990s, followed from the tensions over patterns of guilt.
Religious Parties, Religious Political Identity, and the Cold Shoulder of Liberal Democratic Thought

Elements of the relation between religion and politics are standard themes in political theory: toleration and free exercise rights; the parameters of separation of church and state; arguments for and against constraints imposed on religious discourse by philosophic norms of “public reason”. But religious parties and partisanship are no part of political theory, despite contemporary interest in “value pluralism” and in liberal democratic theory's capacity to address multicultural, religious, and ethnic group claims. This essay argues that religious parties are missing elements in discussions of “identity politics”. They play an important role not just in expressing but also in constructing and mobilizing religious political identity. Political activity linked to parties is a principal way of bringing diffuse, politically unorganized groups, whose leaders are self-appointed and not regularly accountable for the way they represent co-religionists in political life, into the democratic mainstream. With political organization and especially partisanship, the “fact of pluralism” is made concrete for democratic purposes.
Social SQL: Tools for Exploring Social Databases.

Social media are constructed from the collective contributions of potentially millions of individuals and present an increasingly common and large scale form of database. As these databases grow in social and technical importance exploration of their structure is needed. The social nature of much of this data is an added opportunity and challenge, providing contributions to social science questions about large scale social behavior while raising technical thresholds caused by the scale and complexity of the data. The detailed records of the interactions of users of social media form a foundation for higher level representations of the behavior of users and communities in these systems. Social networks are a key structure in social media databases. In the following several visualization tools are used to illustrate social networks and other structures within these data sets. These images highlight behavioral motifs that can be understood through social science theories about roles and social structure. The result is a deeper understanding of the dynamics that drive the creation of user generated content in social media. This process suggests the need for an extension for the structured query language (SQL) that explicitly supports social queries.
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment in an Integrated CAD Environment: The Ecologue Approach

Construction and operation of buildings is a major cause of resource depletion and environmental pollution. Computational performance evaluation tools could support the decision making process in environmentally responsive building design and play an important role in environmental impact assessment, especially when a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach is used. The building domain, however, presents notable challenges to the application of LCA methods. For comprehensive environmental impact analysis to be realized in a computational support tool for the building design domain, such tools must a) have an analysis method that considers the life cycle of building construction, operation, and decommissioning, b) have a representation that is able to accommodate the data and computability requirements of the analysis method and the analysis tool, and c) be seamlessly integrated within a multi-aspect design analysis environment that can provide data on environmentally relevant building operation criteria.
Primary Pancreatic Lymphoma: An Uncommon Presentation in the Pancreatic Tail

Primary pancreatic lymphoma is a rare form of pancreatic cancer that represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to its rarity and presentation mimicking pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Herein, we report a case of a 57-year-old Caucasian male who presented with left-sided chest pain, epigastric pain, and melena. Abdominal imaging was remarkable for a large, necrotic mass near the tail of the pancreas extending into the splenic hilum and left kidney. Biopsy of the mass confirmed lymphoma of B-cell origin. The patient was diagnosed with Stage IV disease and started on chemotherapy. This case combines an uncommon presentation of lymphoma with a rarely documented primary site in the tail of the pancreas.
Detection Orthogonality in Macromolecular Separations. 2: Exploring Wavelength Orthogonality and Spectroscopic Invisibility Using SEC/DRI/UV/FL.

We continue herein the exploration of detector orthogonality in size-based macromolecular separations. Previously [5], the sensitivity of viscometric detection was juxtaposed to that of differential refractometry (DRI) and light scattering (LS, both static and dynamic), and it was shown that viscometry is a truly orthogonal detection method to both DRI and LS. Here, via the size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis of blends of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate), we demonstrate the orthogonality of DRI to UV detection and, within the UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum, we also explore the phenomenon of “wavelength orthogonality:” Analytes observable by one detection method are shown to be spectroscopically invisible to another method, or even to the same detection method when operating at a different wavelength. While generally focusing on blends of analytes of different molar masses (different sizes in solution), we also investigate the less-explored case of blends of coeluting analytes (same sizes in solution) where detector orthogonality can inform one’s knowledge of whether or not coelution has occurred. Finally, by incorporating a fluorescence (FL) detector into the experimental set-up, we demonstrate not only its orthogonality to DRI detection but also its sensitivity to the presence of even minor (≈ 1%) fluorescent components in a sample. We hope the present experiments assist in understanding the complementarity of different spectroscopic detection methods and also help highlight the potential role of FL detection, a method which has been largely overlooked in macromolecular separation science.
De la Venus del espejo a la desmembración del cuerpo femenino: estereotipos pictóricos femeninos en Las manos de Velázquez (2006), de Lourdes Ortiz

Lourdes Ortiz’s Las manos de Velazquez includes a great number of pictorial referents that become part of the novel through detailed descriptions or by means of allusions. The protagonist, a professor of art history and an expert on Velazquez’s painting, interprets reality through the lens of art; for that reason, he resorts to the iconographic catalog of negative female stereotypes that have been in circulation in Western culture since time immemorial to project his frustration and his impotence, to reflect on the age difference between him and his wife, to corroborate his wife’s alleged infidelities, and even to justify his own marital indiscretions. The pictorial texts selected to express his mental states also reveal his prejudice, his misogyny, his pedophilic inclinations and his erotic fantasies.
Pedagogies of Resistance: Why Anti-Muslim Racism Matters

The following interview with a collective of scholars describes the organization, conceptualization, and thematic framework of the online syllabus #IslamophobiaisRacism. The goals of the syllabus i...
Digital Resistance: How Online Communication Facilitates Responses to Racial Microaggressions:

Recent research finds negative impacts of racial microaggressions, defined as racial slights, on a variety of outcomes. Targets of racial microaggressions often report feeling pressured to remain s...
N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (1 , 0) anomaly multiplet relations in six dimensions

We consider conformal and ’t Hooft anomalies in six-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (1, 0) superconformal field theories, focusing on those conformal anomalies that determine the two- and three-point functions of conserved flavor and SU(2)R currents, as well as stress tensors. By analyzing these correlators in superspace, we explain why the number of independent conformal anomalies is reduced in supersymmetric theories. For instance, non- supersymmetric CFTs in six dimensions have three independent conformal c-anomalies, which determine the stress-tensor two- and three-point functions, but in superconformal theories the three c-anomalies are subject to a linear constraint. We also describe anomaly multiplet relations, which express the conformal anomalies of a superconformal theory in terms of its ’t Hooft anomalies. Following earlier work on the conformal a-anomaly, we argue for these relations by considering the supersymmetric dilaton effective action on the tensor branch of such a theory. We illustrate the utility of these anomaly multiplet relations by presenting exact results for conformal anomalies, and hence current and stress-tensor correlators, in several interacting examples.
Reliability Analysis of Mechanical Systems Based on the First Four Moments of Input Parameters

AbstractThe performance of a mechanical or structural system can be improved through a proper selection of its design parameters such as the geometric dimensions, external actions (loads), and mate...
Lipid peroxidation products as predictors of oxidant-mediated disease in preterm infants.

Preterm infants are susceptible to “oxygen radical diseases” (ORD). 8-isoprostane (8-IP) is a bioactive eicosanoid generated by reactive oxygen species-catalyzed peroxidation of arachidonic acid. M...
Supervisor emotional exhaustion and goal-focused leader behavior: The roles of supervisor bottom-line mentality and conscientiousness

Research on emotional exhaustion demonstrates its consistent effect on workplace performance. In an effort to extend the literature regarding the relationship between emotional exhaustion and workplace performance, we draw on conservation of resource (COR) theory to explain and establish the relationship between supervisor emotional exhaustion and goal-focused leader behavior (i.e., a critical aspect of job performance for supervisors). Goal-focused leader behavior entails helping employees by facilitating performance via strategically using policies and practices to effectively communicate organizational goals and align employees’ efforts with these goals. We also integrate bottom-line mentality (BLM) theorizing to explain why a relationship exists between supervisor emotional exhaustion and supervisor BLM as it represents a problematic and dysfunctional mentality. Specifically, we propose supervisor BLM mediates the relationship between supervisor emotional exhaustion and goal-focused leader behavior. We also examine the moderating influence of supervisor conscientiousness on this mediated relationship. We examine these relationships in a multi-source field study and find support for our proposed moderated mediation model. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Linking far-from-equilibrium defect structures in ceramics to electromagnetic driving forces

Electromagnetic (EM) field exposure during materials synthesis offers the opportunity to engineer novel atomic structures and modify reaction kinetics beyond the capabilities of conventional routes. We demonstrate the first experimental evidence that even low energy EM fields can influence atomic structural arrangements, resulting in rapid low-temperature crystallization and phase transitions in ceramic oxides. Synchrotron X-ray characterization, coupled with first-principles calculations, show that phase stability is mediated by oxygen vacancy-induced structural distortions. These distortions are dependent on the local electric field intensity, validating a longstanding hypothesis that high local field strengths (exceeding 106 V m−1) act as a driving force in field-driven materials synthesis. This information linking field strength with atomic structure lays the foundation to deploy EM fields to explore regions of phase space and material properties not readily accessible in nature.
Gutting out Myc to decrease ceramides.

MYC is a transcription factor controlling growth and nutrient metabolism. Luo et al. now link intestinal expression of MYC to impairments in glucose, lipid and body-weight homeostasis by uncovering novel roles of MYC in regulating the glucagon-like peptide GLP1 and the ceramide-biosynthesis regulator CERS4. Myc deletion in the intestinal epithelium prevents or reverses diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis in mice. Critically, people with obesity display elevated MYC and CERS4 expression in the ileum, thus further supporting the clinical relevance of these findings.
A Dusty Atmospheric River Brings Floods to the Middle East

Torrential rainfall and rapid snowmelt in April 2017 caused deadly floods in northwestern Iran. An atmospheric river (AR), propagating across the Middle East and North Africa, was found responsible...
Neural signatures of compression in the retelling of past events

When we retell our past experiences, we aim to reproduce some version of the original events; this reproduced version is often temporally compressed relative to the original. How does such compression of memories manifest in brain activity? One possibility is that a compressed retrieved memory manifests as a neural pattern which is more dissimilar to the original, relative to a more detailed or vivid memory. However, we argue that measuring raw dissimilarity alone is insufficient, as it confuses a variety of interesting and uninteresting changes. To address this problem, we examine brain pattern changes that are consistent across people. We show that temporal compression in individuals' retelling of past events predicts systematic encoding-to-recall transformations in a number of higher associative regions. These findings elucidate how neural representations are not simply reactivated, but can also be transformed due to temporal compression during a universal form of human memory expression: verbal retelling.
Growth Hormone-Resistant Syndromes: Long-Term Follow-Up

Recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) has been approved as a therapeutic agent for short stature due to primary IGF-I deficiency following clinical trials that lasted more than 10 years. The first childre
Effects of 6-hydroxynicotinate 3-monooxygenase gene knockout (∆nicC) on nicotinate degradation and virulence modulation in Bordetella pertussis (LB266)

Due to increased incidence of whooping cough, further investigation of the pathogenic mechanisms of its causative agent, Bordetella pertussis, is of medical importance. Previous in vitro assays indicate a correlation between elevated nicotinate concentrations and the down-regulation of virulent toxins (e.g. pertussis toxin and adenylate cyclase) in B. pertussis. Furthermore, recent genomic analyses reveal a unique nicotinate degradation pathway in B. pertussis. This study analyzes the effects of disrupting the gene that codes for 6-hydroxynicotinate 3-monooxygenase (NicC), the enzyme predicted to catalyze the committed step in this pathway. A nicC knockout strain (ΔnicC) of B. pertussis Tohama I was created by insertion of a chloramphenicol-resistance (CmR) gene via allelic exchange. Analyses by HPLC assays and RT-PCR of nicotinate degradation and the resulting effects on virulence modulation, respectively, in ΔnicC and the wildtype Tohama I strains of B. pertussis are ongoing.
Accurate Relativistic Calculations Including QED Contributions for Few-Electron Systems

Abstract Relativistic calculations of energy levels of few-electron atoms, including the Breit interaction and radiative corrections, are treated using two different methods: many-body perturbation theory and the configuration-interaction method. The point of departure of both methods is the no-pair Hamiltonian, which is briefly discussed. To set a foundation for few-electron calculations, the Dirac equation is reviewed and radiative corrections to energy levels of one-electron ions are discussed. Second-, third-, and all-order many-body perturbation theory, is applied to ground states of helium and helium-like ions and to low-lying states of lithium and lithium-like ions. Corrections from the Breit interaction are included in these studies. The relativistic configuration-interaction method, including the Breit interaction, is applied to excited states of few-electron atoms and ions. Radiative corrections to n =2 states of highly-charged lithium-like ions are discussed in detail.
Unique biphasic band shape of the visible circular dichroism of bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane: Excitons, multiple transitions or protein heterogeneity?

Over a decade and a half ago, when the first visible membrane suspension circular dichroic (CD) spectrum of the purple membrane (PM) was presented, two mechanisms were proposed to account for the observed biphasic shaped CD band: ( a ) excitonic interactions among the retinals of the sole protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in the crystalline structure of the PM, and ( b ) combination of CD bands with opposite rotational strengths due to a retinal-apoprotein heterogeneity of the bR molecules or due to two possible close-lying long-wavelength transitions of the retinal of the bR with opposite rotational strengths. Since that time, an impressive body of experimental and theoretical evidence has been accumulated, mostly consistent with an exciton model but many at serious odds with any heterogeneity or multiple transition model. Recently, a number of articles have appeared reporting analyses of new experimental observations which are proposed to cast serious doubts on the viability of the exciton model, and therefore, may revive the heterogeneity or multiple transition model as an explanation for the unique shape of the CD band of the PM. The intent of this article is to demonstrate that if all observations found in literature baring on this question are considered in toto and in a consistent manner, they can be interpreted without exception by excitons, and furthermore, that there is no plausible evidence available to warrant the revival of the heterogeneity or multiple transition model as an explanation for the unique shape of the biphasic CD band of the PM.
Reactive power control with an energy management system in single phase AC microgrids

This paper presents a novel control strategy to achieve unity power factor with an energy management system (EMS) in an AC microgrid. The digitally controlled, power electronics based EMS controls the microgrid in both grid-connected and islanding mode by making sure that energy is harvested from distributed resources, stored in batteries, and available at all times for critical loads. In this paper a new EMS prototype is presented which offers reactive power compensation as an auxiliary service. Modeling and simulations are presented and verified experimentally on a laboratory prototype.
Application of a coupled ecosystem-chemical equilibrium model, DayCent-Chem, to stream and soil chemistry in a Rocky Mountain watershed

Atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen species have the potential to acidify terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, but nitrate and ammonium are also critical nutrients for plant and microbial productivity. Both the ecological response and the hydrochemical response to atmospheric deposition are of interest to regulatory and land management agencies. We developed a non-spatial biogeochemical model to simulate soil and surface water chemistry by linking the daily version of the CENTURY ecosystem model (DayCent) with a low temperature aqueous geochemical model, PHREEQC. The coupled model, DayCent-Chem, simulates the daily dynamics of plant production, soil organic matter, cation exchange, mineral weathering, elution, stream discharge, and solute concentrations in soil water and stream flow. By aerially weighting the contributions of separate bedrock/talus and tundra simulations, the model was able to replicate the measured seasonal and annual stream chemistry for most solutes for Andrews Creek in Loch Vale watershed, Rocky Mountain National Park. Simulated soil chemistry, net primary production, live biomass, and soil organic matter for forest and tundra matched well with measurements. This model is appropriate for accurately describing ecosystem and surface water chemical response to atmospheric deposition and climate change.
Fish farming: socio-economic innovations to empower the small farmer

Fish farming currently accounts for approximately 46% of all consumed fish, which is a dramatic increase over the past 20 years. Problems such as mixing of farmed with wild fish, transgenic fish, disease, pollution, antibiotic resistance and regulations are addressed. These are juxtaposed with positives such as food insecurity and malnutrition alleviation and economic empowerment that occur as a result of fish farming. Socio-economic innovations and entrepreneurship through fish farming will continue to be a positive response overall to our era of global economic and financial crisis.
Infrared spectra of ultrastable zeolites derived from type Y zeolites*1

Abstract An infrared spectroscopic study has been carried out on ultrastable zeolites derived from type Y zeolites and on their precursors. Both the hydroxyl stretching (3400 to 3800 cm −1 ) and the silica-alumina vibrational (300 to 1300 cm −1 ) regions of the spectra have been investigated. The effect of moisture content in the zeolite environment during calcination on the infrared spectrum of the zeolite has been established. An increase in moisture content at fixed calcination temperature results in additional absorption bands in the hydroxyl stretching region and in shifts to higher frequencies of absorption bands in the framework vibrational region, due primarily to dealumination of the zeolite framework. An increase in calcination temperature at fixed moisture content has a similar effect. Other effects observed are the suppression of dehydroxylation with increasing moisture content at temperatures up to 760 °C, and an increase in the degree of ordering of the zeolite structure under 100% steam at high temperatures. The last phenomenon is interpreted as being due to a structural rearrangement, involving silica migration into the vacancies created by the dealumination process. Pyridine adsorption experiments were done to determine the type of acid sites on ultrastable zeolites.
Electron spin resonance of mn2+ in strontium borate compounds and glasses*

Abstract The ESR spectra of Mn 2+ -doped x:y strontium borate polycrystalline compounds ( x:y = 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 ) have been investigated using a judicious mixture of matrix diagonalization and computer simulation techniques. In these compounds, crystal field parameters fall in the range d/h = 0.487 to 1.57 GHz. E/D = 1/10 to 1/3 and hyperfine coupling constants vary between A = 82 and 98 G. The primary Mn 2+ sites are probably substitutional for strontium ions in both the compounds and the glasses. A lack of complete structural information on the compounds of this system precludes any detailed calculations concerning Mn 2+ sites using the fine structure parameters. Mn 2+ -doped strontium borate glass spectra in the range 20–40 M% SrO are relatable to the spectra occurring in the 1:3 and 1:2 compounds. The ubiquitous nature of the Mn 2+ glass spectrum in alkali borate, alkali silicate, alkaline-earth borate and other oxide glass systems can be understood as arising from singularities of powder patterns which are stationary with respect to changes in both D and E/D. This interpretation allows glass spectra resulting from random distributions of different primary sites to have similar envelopes.
Assumptive planning and execution: A simple, working robot architecture

In this paper, we present a simple approach to interleaving planning and execution based on the idea of making simplifying assumptions. Since assumptions can be tragically wrong, this assumptive approach must ensure both that the robot does not believe it has solved a problem when it has not and that it does not take steps that make a problem unsolvable. We present an assumptive algorithm that preserves goal-reachability and in addition we specify conditions under which the assumptive architecture is sound and complete.
Prevention of Pericyte Ghost Formation in Retinal Capillaries of Galactose-Fed Dogs by Aldose Reductase Inhibitors

• A distinguishing feature of early diabetic retinal vascular changes is the selective degeneration of pericytes (mural cells) from the retinal capillary vessels. Loss of these pericytes has been proposed to be associated with decreased capillary tonicity, the formation of microaneurysms, and vessel dilation. The role of aldose reductase in the progression of diabetic retinopathy has been investigated in age- and sex-matched beagles fed a 30% galactose diet with or without the aldose reductase inhibitors sorbinil or M79175. Eyes were periodically enucleated from dogs in each group and their retinal capillaries were examined as trypsin-digested flat preparations. Before the clinical appearance of retinal changes, pericyte ghost formation was observed in the eyes of three fourths of the dogs after 21 months and all of the dogs after 24 months of galactose feeding. Many of the capillaries containing pericyte ghosts demonstrated an apparent proliferation of endothelial cells and acellular vessels. No pericyte ghosts or abnormal findings were observed in retinas from either normal control (zero of nine) or galactose-fed dogs treated with aldose reductase inhibitors (zero of 16). These findings indicate that aldose reductase inhibitors can prevent the formation of pericyte ghosts and other subsequent capillary changes in experimental retinopathy.
Rh-Incompatible Platelet Transfusion Therapy in Cancer Patients

The clinical histories of 30 consecutive Rh0D-negative oncology patients transfused with Rh0D-incompatible platelet concentrates were analyzed. No evidence of sensitization to the Rh0D antigen was found whatsoever, in spite of the large numbers of Rh0D-incompatible platelet transfusions given to these patients. The results of this work seem to indicate that patients with malignant diseases, who are undergoing various forms of antineoplastic therapy, are immunomyelosuppressed, and have severe thrombocytopenia, can safely receive platelets from Rh0D-positive donors without developing evidence of immunization to Rh0D antigens.
Accuracy Analysis Of Earthwork Calculation Based On Triangulated Irregular Network (Tin)

Abstract In most of conventional methods for calculating earthwork, the assessment of accuracy contains many uncertainties. This paper discusses the relationship between the accuracy of terrain data and that of the earthwork calculation. The main research method is propagation of error, and a formula is created which expresses the quantity relationship that how the errors of terrain data effects the accuracy of earthwork calculation. Setting the different values of parameters, the relative errors can be calculated. Through adjusting values of parameters, it is easy to make a plan of data acquisition that is cost-optimal and meets the accuracy requirement of the land consolidation. In the end, the calculating methods with different sources of terrain data are discussed.
Effect of a finite angular resolution on the measurement of polarization correlation parameters in electron--heavy-noble-gas collisions

We present the results of a simple model calculation that highlights the effect of the finite (i.e., nonzero) angular resolution of electrostatic energy analyzers on the measurement of polarization correlation parameters in electron-photon coincidence experiments. It is demonstrated that measurements can yield drastically reduced ''apparent'' parameters in cases where the coincidence parameters vary rapidly as a function of electron scattering angle. For example, a measurement of the P/sub 1/ parameter for Ar(/sup 1/P) excited by 100-eV electrons which are scattered in the forward direction and detected by an analyzer with an angular resolution (full width at half maximum) of 3/sup 0/ will yield an apparent P/sub 1/ value of 0.83 compared to the nominal value of 1.00. Since the measurement of P/sub 1/ in the forward direction reveals important information about the relative contributions of direct excitation and exchange excitation, it is imperative that an experiment can distinguish a P/sub 1/ value truly smaller than unity from an ''apparent'' value which is reduced merely by instrumental effects.
Detection of V-type nerve agent degradation products at electrodes modified by PPy/PQQ using CaCl2 as supporting electrolyte

Electrochemical detection without derivatization was used to detect thiol-containing degradation products of V-type nerve agents. Electropolymerization of pyrrole was used for entrapment of the biocatalyst PQQ to produce a sensor. Various parameters which affect the detection processes such as the type of the supporting electrolyte used during electrodeposition and the thickness of the polypyrrole film were examined and optimized. Electocatalytic oxidation of thiols by the PPy/PQQ electrode was strongly affected by the presence of Ca2+ cations during electrodeposition of the PPy/PQQ. Cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and amperometry have been used for electrode characterization. Amperometric detection of the V-type nerve agent thiol degradation products 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol (DMAET) and 2-(diethylamino)ethanethiol (DEAET) was performed at 0.38 V. Linear calibration plots were observed for these compounds. The detection limits of 4.5 and 3 μM were obtained for DMAET and DEAET respectively, with sensitivities of 1.18 and 1.37 nA μM−1 cm−2.
Supersonic coaxial jet experiment for computational fluid dynamics code validation

An experiment is described that has been conducted to acquire data for the validation of computational fluid dynamics codes used in the design of supersonic combustors. A coaxial nozzle has been designed to produce two uniform, pressure-matched coaxial flows at its exit. The center flow is a 95% He and 5% O 2 mixture at Mach 1.8, and the surrounding flow is air at Mach 1.8. The flow in the resultant supersonic, coaxial jet, which contains compressible mixing layers, is studied. Various methods have been employed in studying the jet flowfield, including schlieren visualization, pitot pressure, total temperature and gas sampling probe, surveys, and RELIEF velocimetry. Boundary conditions and uncertainties are characterized. VULCAN, a structured grid Navier-Stokes code, has been used to calculate the nozzle and jet flowfields, and the results are compared to the experiment.
Effect of barbituric acid on the self-polymerization reaction of bismaleimides

Barbituric acid (BTA) was used as an initiator for the homopolymerization of bismaleimide (BMI). The reaction was controlled by the amount of barbituric acid and ended up with solvent-soluble oligomers. The effects of varying the amounts of BTA, as well as the reaction time, on BMI's self-polymerization reaction were investigated. The thus-formed oligomers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), infrared spectra (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The degree of reaction increased proportionally to the concentration of BTA or the length of the reaction time. Thus, solvent-soluble BMI oligomer can be controlled and obtained.
Effect of Nitrogen Pressure and Diluent Content on the Combustion Synthesis of Titanium Nitride

This paper reports the effects of gas pressure and diluent content on the combustion synthesis of titanium nitride was investigated. Combustion of titanium powder samples containing TiN as a diluent in the concentration range 0 to 60 wt% was carried out in a nitrogen atmosphere at pressures in the range 0.1 to 1.4 MPA. Analysis of the dependence of combustion wave velocity on temperature gave an activation energy of 342 {plus minus} 50 kJ {circle dot}mol{sup {minus}1}, which is in good agreement with reported values for the diffusion of nitrogen in titanium nitride.
Micro Phase Shifting

We consider the problem of shape recovery for real world scenes, where a variety of global illumination (interreflections, subsurface scattering, etc.) and illumination defocus effects are present. These effects introduce systematic and often significant errors in the recovered shape. We introduce a structured light technique called Micro Phase Shifting, which overcomes these problems. The key idea is to project sinusoidal patterns with frequencies limited to a narrow, high-frequency band. These patterns produce a set of images over which global illumination and defocus effects remain constant for each point in the scene. This enables high quality reconstructions of scenes which have traditionally been considered hard, using only a small number of images. We also derive theoretical lower bounds on the number of input images needed for phase shifting and show that Micro PS achieves the bound.
Mechanical behavior modeling of thaw-weakened soil

Abstract Freeze–thaw action produces a loose, wet soil that undergoes large deformation when subjected to vehicle loads and is responsible for “thaw weakening” of pavement systems. Because of the difficulty and expense in large-scale experiments, a finite element analysis was desired for the detailed study of thaw weakening. Neither a material model for thawing soil behavior nor detailed test data for large strains on thaw-weakened soil were available. Therefore, both were developed and are presented here. The material model must be capable of capturing the major behaviors of thawing soil subjected to rapid loading from vehicles in a near-surface condition. A common subgrade soil from New England, which was used in experimental studies of full-scale road sections, was chosen to represent a typical frost-susceptible silty sand. The soil was subjected to a suite of saturated and unsaturated triaxial testing, duplicating the conditions measured during thaw. The triaxial test data was used to calibrate a modified Capped Drucker–Prager plasticity model. The thawed soil material model was validated using independent test data of direct shear on thawed samples. The validated model was then implemented in application simulations of moving vehicle loads (a rolling wheel) on paved and unpaved roads with freeze–thaw layering.
Does the addition of an oral barium tracer improve the ability of the preliminary abdominal radiograph to assess efficacy of colonic cleansing? A prospective randomized controlled evaluation.

Background: Weinvestigated whether the ability of preliminary abdominal radiography to assess the adequacy of colonic preparation is improved by the addition of an oral barium tracer to the laxative preparation and the optimal dosage of this tracer. Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled evaluation of four parallel groups of adult patients was performed. All patients were scheduled to a receive a double-contrast barium enema at a tertiary care hospital or an outpatient clinic. Results: One hundred nineteen patients were randomized into four groups. There was no significant difference in the ability of plain abdominal radiography to predict the adequacy of the bowel preparation between the control group and the groups given 60 or 150 g of barium tracer. There was an improved correlation between findings of preliminary abdominal radiography and the adequacy of colon preparation between the control group and the group given 240 g of oral barium tracer (67% vs. 90%). Conclusion: The use of a large amount (240 g) of oral barium tracer with the colonic preparation improves the ability of preliminary abdominal radiography to predict the adequacy of colonic cleansing.