cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statistical study of vacancy diffusion in TiC and TaC

Density functional theory (DFT) simulations, Metropolis Monte Carlo (MMC), and kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations were performed to understand the mechanisms of mass diffusion in a group IVB transition metal carbide, TiC, and a group VB transition metal carbide, TaC. The DFT calculations were used to obtain the vacancy formation energy and migration energy of a variety of microstates for off-stoichiometric TiC and TaC. MMC simulations, based on our DFT results, were used to determine the ensemble average of the metal vacancy formation energy and determine the average size metal-vacancy clusters present in these materials. kMC simulations were used to determine the ensemble average of the migration energy barrier as well as understand how the vacancies in these materials, on average, migrate. These collective results show that metal vacancy migration in TiC and TaC are quite different, where Ti vacancies should be surrounded by four to five carbon vacancies whereas, on average, tantalum vacancies are surrounded by one or zero carbon vacancies. However, the carbon vacancies substantially contribute to metal vacancy diffusion in both these materials, as the metal vacancy statistically will have a carbon vacancy near it before and after migration. From these results, we find that the activation energy of metal vacancy diffusion is 7.66 eV in ${\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.995}{\mathrm{C}}_{0.97}$ and 6.41 eV in ${\mathrm{Ta}}_{0.995}{\mathrm{C}}_{0.97}$, which agrees reasonably well with experimentally reported activation energies. These results give further insights into the mechanisms associated with mass diffusion within the transition metal carbide families, an important insight needed to better elucidate high temperature diffusional creep responses which is often difficult to assess experimentally.
Early Predictors of Near-Shore Spinal Injuries Among Emergency Department Patients

Abstract Background Spinal injuries (SIs) can pose a significant burden to patients and family; delayed surgical intervention, associated with interhospital transfer, results in worse outcomes. Objective This study aimed to identify early patient-centered factors associated with risk for near-shore SIs to assist clinicians with expeditious medical decision-making. Methods We performed a multicenter retrospective study of all adults transported from Ocean City, Maryland to two emergency departments (EDs) and one regional trauma center for evaluation of suspected SIs from 2006 to 2017. Outcomes were any SI and any spinal cord injury (SCI). Multivariable logistic regression was performed for association of environmental and clinical factors with outcomes. Results We analyzed 278 records, 102 patients (37%) were diagnosed with any SI and 41 (15%) were diagnosed with SCIs. Compared with patients without SI, patients with SI were more likely to be older (48 vs. 39 years), male (90% vs. 70%), with pre-existing spinal condition (62% vs. 33%), and injury caused by diving (11% vs. 2%). Multivariable logistic regression showed age (odd ratio [OR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.11), diving (OR 3.5; 95% CI 3–100+), and wave height (OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.35–15.2) were associated with any SI, and a chief complaint of extremity numbness or tingling (OR 5.73; 95% CI 1.2–27.9) was associated with SCI. Conclusions We identified older age, diving, and higher wave height as risk factors for any SI and symptoms of numbness and tingling were associated with SCIs. Clinicians should consider expediting these patients’ transfers to a trauma center with neurosurgical capability.
Leveraging Mindful Abstraction as a Tool for Liberation: Lessons From an International Education Undergraduate Course

With this article, we trace how specific pedagogical techniques can help pre-service teachers connect abstract topics related to international education policy to their own experiences and those of...
Model-free Reinforcement Learning for Stochastic Stackelberg Security Games

In this paper, we consider a sequential stochastic Stackelberg game with two players, a leader, and a follower. The follower observes the state of the system privately while the leader does not. Players play Stackelberg equilibrium where the follower plays best response to the leader’s strategy. In such a scenario, the leader has the advantage of committing to a policy that maximizes its returns given the knowledge that the follower is going to play the best response to its policy. Such a pair of strategies of both the players is defined as Stackelberg equilibrium of the game. Recently, [1] provided a sequential decomposition algorithm to compute the Stackelberg equilibrium for such games which allow for the computation of Markovian equilibrium policies in linear time as opposed to double exponential, as before. In this paper, we extend that idea to the case when the state update dynamics are not known to the players, to propose an reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm based on Expected Sarsa that learns the Stackelberg equilibrium policy by simulating a model of the underlying Markov decision process (MDP). We use particle filters to estimate the belief update for a common agent that computes the optimal policy based on the information which is common to both the players. We present a security game example to illustrate the policy learned by our algorithm.
How much can you say in a tweet? An approach to political argumentation on Twitter

Besides Donald Trump, its most famous user, some 330 million people use Twitter as a platform for communication, much of it political. Yet, given the 280 character limit, how much can you say in a tweet? Although much has already been written about Twitter, little attention has been given to the nature of the argument found there. To begin filling this gap, it is necessary to identify the basic units of such an argument. Identifying them as speech acts, we demonstrate here by discourse analysis how by virtue of the enthymematic quality of public argument, much argument can be communicated even by singular speech acts and even by speech acts other than assertion.
“In My Safe Space”: Social Support for LGBTQ Users in Social Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) has long been an important research focus in HCI since the 1960s. In the past five years, we have seen a more pronounced rise of VR, especially social VR. In particular, social VR is becoming increasingly popular within the LGBTQ community. Yet, little research explores how LGBTQ users participate in social VR and how social VR has potential to support them by affording a range of inclusive interactions. Based on eight interviews and two months of participatory observations, in this paper we report findings of our preliminary study of LGBTQ users’ engagement in social VR, especially regarding how social VR may afford social support for these users. Our study contributes to better understanding the nuanced experiences of LGBTQ users in social VR so as to create more inclusive and safe social VR spaces for all.
Seeking Alpha in the Housing Market

We examine short term trades in the housing market over the period 2000–2013 using nationally representative data across multiple U.S. housing markets. Such trades, often characterized as “house flipping”, have gained currency in recent years with reality television shows depicting success and failure. We find evidence of returns in excess of market house price index growth (which we call alpha) during certain time periods with results that also vary across distressed versus non-distressed acquisition strategies.
Dealer Financing in the Subprime Auto Market: Markups and Implicit Subsidies

Does dealership discretion to mark up interest rates hurt subprime auto borrowers? We use unique transaction-level data to examine finance and vehicle profits in the subprime auto market with three main results. First, financing subprime customers is costly for dealerships due to loan discounts that are only partially offset by proceeds from interest rate markups. Second, financing is costliest to dealers for deep subprime customers with low credit scores and low incomes. Third, instead of offsetting financing costs, vehicle markups are lowest for deep subprime customers. Finance margins and vehicle markups are also positively correlated more generally.
REGN1908-1909 monoclonal antibodies block Fel d 1 in cat allergic subjects: Translational pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

REGN1908-1909, a 1:1 cocktail of two fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), REGN1908 and REGN1909, is being evaluated for treatment of cat allergy. Both REGN1908 and REGN1909 bind to the dominant cat allergen, Fel d 1. Adults with cat allergy confirmed by skin prick test (SPT) were randomized to single subcutaneous administration of placebo (n = 6) or REGN1908-1909 at doses of 150 (n = 6), 300 (n = 6), or 600 mg (n = 6). Blood samples were taken at prespecified time points for pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis and exploratory evaluation of biomarkers (IgE and SPT). Safety was assessed. Drug concentration-time profiles in serum for ascending doses of REGN1908-1909 were consistent with linear PKs. Noncompartmental analysis showed that maximum concentration (Cmax ) and exposure increased proportionately with dose, with similar time to maximum concentration (Tmax ) for REGN1908 and REGN1909 (6.2 to 8.2 days across doses), and a longer terminal half-life for REGN1908 (~ 30 days) relative to REGN1909 (~ 21 days). Adverse events were not dose dependent; there were no dose-limiting toxicities. REGN1908-1909 is characterized by linear and dose-proportional kinetics of the two individual mAb components. A single 600 mg dose maintains total mAb mean concentrations in serum above the target (mean of ~ 10 mg/L) for 8-12 weeks. Maintaining this mean target concentration resulted in translational pharmacodynamic effects: maximal mast cell degranulation in a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis mouse model, and maintenance of clinical efficacy measured by Total Nasal Symptom Score in a previous proof-of-mechanism study.
Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common disease in developed countries and affects more than half of the population in low- and middle-income countries. In the past decade, studies have shown that biological and sociological factors have a significant effect on the occurrence and development of AD. Among them, genetic and environmental factors, pathophysiological characteristics, and unhealthy lifestyle factors cause the neurological symptoms. Among them, the risk factors of cognitive decline in the elderly caused by lifestyle can be intervened in the early stage. If some adults can overcome these risk factors as early as possible, they can predict that they will gradually reduce their cognitive impairment over time, and the likelihood of developing AD will decrease in the future.
Effect of Build Height on Temperature Evolution and Thermally Induced Residual Stresses in Plasma Arc Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel

Plasma arc additive manufacturing (PAM) is receiving an increasing attention because of its efficiency of dimensional size and cost, as compared to other additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. Despite the capacity of building medium to large-scale components by PAM, the heat-transfer behavior could be significantly influenced by component size (or build height) during processing. Understanding this build size effect on heat transfer is critical to predict the microstructure and mechanical properties and optimize the processing parameters. In the present work, the site-specific evolutions of the temperature and residual stresses along the build height were investigated under varying energy densities during PAM processing. A finite element method (FEM) was used to discretize and solve the thermomechanical partial differential equations (expressing the conservation of energy and momentum) governing the plasma arc additive manufacturing process. We studied the transient temperature and subsequent thermally induced residual-stress fields in PAM 304 stainless steel components with different deposition heights. Our study provides general insight into the residual-stress development in wire-based additively manufactured engineering materials.
Improving the Efficiency of Address-Based Frames with the USPS No-Stat File

Address-based sampling (ABS) frames are based on the Computerized Delivery Sequence (CDS) file, made available to qualified vendors by USPS. Because of low rural coverage for in-person surveys, researchers often resort to hybrid sampling frames that utilize ABS in areas where coverage is expected to be high and traditional field enumeration in areas where coverage is expected to be low. The more areas that are allocated to the ABS portion of the hybrid frame, the greater the cost savings. Since 2009, USPS has made available the No-Stat file, a supplement to the CDS file that contains approximately seven million predominately rural addresses not found on the CDS file. Although the overall coverage gains provided by the No-Stat file are modest, No-Stat addresses are clustered in relatively small geographic areas. In a hybrid frame design, clusters of No-Stat addresses could move some areas that otherwise would rely on field enumeration to the ABS portion of the frame, lowering field costs. This paper measures the efficiencies that are gained by including the No-Stat file for a specified hybrid frame design and coverage estimator. Efficiency gains vary widely across states, and are greater for higher coverage thresholds.
Statutory Equitable Subrogation

This article discusses a Wyoming Supreme Court case which refused to accept the Restatement’s position that equitable subrogation ought to be available to refinancers even though they know or have constructive notice of intervening other creditors.
Constructing and Implementing a Web-Based Graduate Social Policy Course

Abstract This article reports on the construction and implementation of a Web-based graduate social policy course. In developing the online teaching strategy, the framework of a constructivist model of computer-mediated instruction was used to conceptualize the design of the course. The author used formative and summative approaches in pilot testing this course in cyberspace, with the intent of teaching it online later as a regularly scheduled semester course. The author contends that careful planning and critical thinking are paramount in computer-mediated instruction, if this method of delivering courses in higher education is to be successful and meaningful.
Publics in history

Les AA. portent leur attention sur les notions de secteur public et de societe civile. Ils soulignent que, dans la perspective marxiste, la notion de societe civile est une categorie residuelle. Ils decrivent de quelle maniere Talcott Parsons et Jurgen Habermas envisagent le role et le statut de la societe civile dans le contexte democratique. Ils presentent la theorie du secteur public developpee par Habermas. Ils montrent que la notion de secteur public joue un role considerable dans la sociologie politique actuelle. Ils considerent que l'action sociale doit etre envisagee dans son contexte socio-structurel, culturel, psycho-sociologique et organisationnel.
Calcium-sensing receptor in rat vagal bronchopulmonary sensory neurons regulates the function of the capsaicin receptor TRPV1

New findings • What is the central question of this study? Extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is known to play a critical role in the maintainance of systemic calcium homeostasis. Recent studies suggest that CaSR is also involved in many biological processes unrelated to Ca2+ balance. However, the expression of CaSR and its potential interaction with transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor type 1 (TRPV1) function in bronchopulmonary afferent nerves is not known. • What is the main finding and its importance? Our immunohistochemical study demonstrated the expression of CaSR in bronchopulmonary sensory neurons. Our patch-clamp recordings showed that strong activation of CaSR inhibits, whereas reduced CaSR function potentiates, the capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 current in these neurons. Our data suggest that CaSR plays an integrative role in bronchopulmonary afferent signalling. Extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) has been known to play a critical role in the maintainance of systemic Ca2+ homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that CaSR is also expressed in many tissues that are not directly related to plasma Ca2+ regulation, such as the central and peripheral nervous system, where the function of this receptor remains to be defined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of CaSR and its potential interaction with transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor type 1 (TRPV1) in rat vagal bronchopulmonary sensory neurons. Our immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated the expression of CaSR in these sensory neurons as well as in trachea and lung parenchyma. Results from our whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in isolated neurons showed that strong activation of CaSR with high concentrations of its agonists, including spermine, NPS R-568 and Ca2+, inhibited the capsaicin-evoked whole-cell inward current. Blockade of CaSR with its antagonists NPS 2390 and NPS 2143 significantly enhanced the capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 current. These data suggest that CaSR is likely to be involved in the integration of primary bronchopulmonary sensory inputs in physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions.
Molecular Characterization of Rare Single Tumor Cells

Rare cells can be defined as those of less than 0.1% frequency.Ultra-rare cells can be defined as those of less than 0.001% frequency. These are terms for ease of discussion and are not universally agreed upon. In terms of flow cytometry and cell sorting, rare cell applications not only push the limits of the technology but also require levels of staining specificity beyond those assumed by most biologists. It is important for engineers to understand that good technology can bemade irrelevant by bad cell staining and preparation. The greatest difficulty with rare cell applications is not the immediate technological constraints but the requirement that there be no weak links in the experimental methodology anywhere in the process from cell preparation, flow cytometry/cell sorting and data analysis or subsequent analysis of isolated cells. Each and every one of these steps in the methodology must be excellent and the entire process must be thought through to eliminate or deal with the weaker links of a given rare cell application. For reviews on rare event analysis techniques, see Refs. [1–3]. There are many rare cell applications of importance to basic or clinical research. The ones discussed in this paper help show the range not only of the applications but also of the technological challenges to engineers working in this field. Some basic research examples that are briefly discussed include: (1) isolation of rare cell clones with specific mutations or transfected genes, (2) isolation of clones with combinatorial libraries of inserted genes and (3) studies of environmentally inducedmutations in human cells.
Responses of adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase to weight loss affect lipid levels and weight regain in women.

This study determines whether changes in abdominal (ABD) and gluteal (GLT) adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in response to a 6-mo weight loss intervention, comprised of a hypocalori...
Understanding Human Development: Toward a Comprehensive Framework

Across a variety of scientific fields, ranging from genetics to neurophysiology to developmental psychology to cultural psychology, our understanding of human development has increased exponentially in the last three decades. The time is ripe to unite all these perspectives in a bold effort to create a comprehensive understanding of the nature and sources of human growth and development. This article presents the rationale for this proposal, describes a research area (growth of executive function during school transition) that could realize this integration, and outlines the challenges needed to bring it to fruition.
Interpretation of Well and Field Data in a Heterogeneous Layered Aquifer Setting, Appalachian Plateau

Ground-water flow systems in the Appalachian Plateau coalfield balance the conflicting controls of topographic relief and hydrostratigraphic layering. Appropriate use of field observations (springs, streams) and abundant domestic well information (water levels, pumping test results, records of yield, and water-producing zones) helped resolve ambiguities about a typical system in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The effective scale for hydrostratigraphic division is by sandstone-dominated members as aquifers and intervening shale-clay members as aquitards. The flow system is stratified in the intervalley ridges; heads, controlled primarily by the dissected aquifer outcrop, drop discretely to lower aquifers. Discrete ground-water discharge and lateral head changes indicate local heterogeneity, enhanced by mine-subsidence effects. The principal valleys carry a topographically controlled system, for which they serve as recharge feeders.
Measurement Of Position And Shape Using An Optical Fiber And A Frequency Modulated Semiconductor Laser

The analytic method of variable density image is generally used to recognize the shape of an object by visual processing. On the other hand, by using the data of the distance from the object, the accurate sampling of the shape which is independent of the contrast between objects and others is realized and the shape recognition is simplified. Therefore, the effective method for measuring a distance is required in fields of computer aided design and automatic measurement. Recently, the measurement of a distance using the principle of triangulation and the laser beam has been put to practical use. 1)
Characteristics of a radio-frequency micro-dielectric barrier discharge array

Micro-dielectric barrier discharges (mDBDs) are known for being stable, high-pressure and non-thermal plasma sources. mDBD arrays consist of micro-plasma devices (10–100 µm) in which the radio frequency (rf)-excited electrodes are covered by dielectrics. In certain applications, independent control of individual mDBDs in an array is required for charge extraction to treat dielectric surfaces. When using the mDBDs to produce plumes of charged species, there are potential direct or indirect interactions between the mDBD devices. In this paper, we discuss the characteristics of atmospheric mDBD arrays sustained in N2 with an O2 impurity using results from a two-dimensional simulation. The device of interest consists of a sandwich structure using layers of dc and rf biased electrodes to help shape the plume. We found that the adjacency of the mDBDs and the dielectric properties of the materials being treated are important to the interactions between mDBDs in the array. Scaling laws are presented for operating characteristics of these mDBD arrays as a function of material properties, geometry, driving voltage waveform and gas mixture.
inositol tetrakisphosphate liberates stored Ca2+ in Xenopus oocytes and facilitates responses to inositol trisphosphate

1. The actions of the putative second messenger inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) were studied by injecting it into voltage-clamped oocytes while recording Ca(2+)-dependent chloride membrane currents and, in some experiments, fluorescence signals from Ca2+ indicators. 2. Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 evoked a rise in intracellular Ca2+ and associated chloride current in oocytes bathed in normal or Ca(2+)-free Ringer solutions. The fluorescence Ca2+ signal showed a prolonged rise with superimposed oscillations, whereas the current reflected only the oscillatory component. 3. Injections of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) evoked currents showing an initial transient, followed by oscillations. Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 evoked similar oscillations, but the transient component was usually small or absent. Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was about 20-fold less potent than Ins(1,4,5)P3, as measured by comparing doses required to elicit currents with the same integral. The most sensitive oocytes responded to about 1 fmol Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and 0.1 fmol Ins(1,4,5)P3. 4. Injections of Ins(2,4,5)P4 evoked oscillatory currents, with a potency about three times greater than Ins(1,4,5)P3. Ins(1,3,4)P4 was ineffective in some oocytes even at doses of several picomoles, but in other oocytes evoked small transient and oscillatory currents with a potency 100 times or more less than Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. 5. Injections of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 made into the animal hemisphere of the oocyte evoked larger currents than injections into the vegetal hemisphere. 6. Photo-release of Ins(1,4,5)P3 from caged Ins(1,4,5)P4 loaded into the oocyte was used to examine interactions between Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Injection of low (ca 1 fmol) doses of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 shortly before a light flash greatly facilitated currents evoked by photo-release of near-threshold amounts of Ins(1,4,5)P3. This facilitation was unaffected by removal of extracellular Ca2+ and arose because Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 reduced the threshold amount of Ins(1,4,5)P3 required to evoke a response. 7. Larger amounts (several femtomoles) of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 depressed responses evoked by photo-release of Ins(1,4,5)P3. This may arise because Ca2+ liberated by Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 inhibits the ability of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to release further Ca2+. 8. We conclude that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 liberates intracellular Ca2+ in the oocyte in a manner similar to that of Ins(1,4,5)P3, and suggest that a physiological role for Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 may be to facilitate responses to Ins(1,4,5)P3.
Amenities as an Economic Development Tool: Is there Enough Evidence?:

The argument for using amenities as an economic development tool appears to be a powerful one. Even if such a strategy failed to attract industry, constituents presumably would benefit. Outside of ...
Kinetics of the reaction of nitric oxide with hydrogen

Mixtures of NO and H2 diluted in argon or krypton were heated by incident shock waves, and the infrared emission from the fundamental vibration-rotation band of NO at 5.3 microns was used to monitor the time-varying NO concentration. The reaction kinetics were studied in the temperature range 2400-4500 K using a shock-tube technique. The decomposition of nitric oxide behind the shock was found to be modeled well by a fifteen-reaction system. A principle result of the study was the determination of the rate constant for the reaction H + NO yields N + OH, which may be the rate-limiting step for NO removal in some combustion systems. Experimental values of k sub 1 were obtained for each test through comparisons of measured and numerically predicted NO profiles.
A Firmware Voltage Controller for a Robotic Arm

Educational table-top robotic arms are used for robotics instruction at many colleges and universities. One of the most popular educational robots is the Rhino XR-2, a five-axis articulated coordinate robotic manipulator which features closed-loop feedback control with dc servomotors and optical encoders. This paper describes some enhancements to the XR-2 controller, including a global form of speed control that is obtained through pulse-width modulation of the applied motor voltage. No changes to the original controller hardware are needed to implement the new features. Instead, the expanded command set is added by simply replacing the Intel 8748 controller chip with one containing new firmware.
Parthenogenesis in scorpions: some history - new data

Parthenogenesis, a rare phenomenon in Chelicerates, apart from mites, is reviewed in scorpions, notably Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello from Brazil, Tityus columbianus (Thorell) from Colombia and Tityus metuendus Pocock from Peru and Brazil. Thelytokous parthenogenesis (with all-female broods) is most often observed. The only known exception to this is T. metuendus in which arrhenotoky (all-male broods) has been observed. In the present paper, current ideas regarding parthenogenesis in scorpions are summarized. The notion of geographic parthenogenesis ('parthenogenese geographique'), coined by Vandel in 1928, is discussed. This rule is tentatively exemplified by a new case of parthenogenesis reported in a scorpion of the genus Tityus C. L. Koch, inhabiting 'Pico da Neblina' in Brazil / Venezuela.
MRI-Based topographic parcellation of human cerebral white matter.

Abstract We describe a virtually automatic comprehensive parcellation of the human cerebral central white matter, which is based upon T1-weighted MRI scans. The system, which is “rule-based,” is developed from prior anatomic studies of the human brain and experimental studies of connectivity in animals as elaborated in the companion manuscript. Boundaries which delineate anatomic subregions of the white matter are computed from the geometric features of anatomic landmarks visible in the imaging data. The fiber systems of the central white matter are ordered topographically into three compartments, reflecting the inferred arrangements of principal neural systems pathways. These include an outer radiate (fibers principally radially aligned), an intermediate sagittal (fibers principally sagittally aligned), and deep bridging (fibers bridging hemispheres or cortex and deep structures) compartments. Each of these compartments is secondarily parcellated into smaller units to increase the anatomic specificity and spatial resolution of the system. The principal intended uses for this system of anatomic subdivision are for the volumetric characterization of forebrain white matter in normal and abnormal brains and for precision and specificity of localization in focal lesion-deficit correlation studies.
Effect of Sucrose on the Production of Acetaldehyde and Acids by Yogurt Culture Bacteria

Abstract Yogurt cultures were grown in homogenized milk containing 2% fat, 12% solidsnot-fat, and 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16% sucrose. Following incubation, the pH, titratable acidity, acetaldehyde and cell numbers of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus were determined. In general, growth and acid production were inhibited in media containing 4% or more sucrose. Acetaldehyde production was decreased in media containing 8% or more sucrose. The flavor thresholds determined for acetaldehyde in milk, milk plus 8% sucrose, and milk plus 8% sucrose plus strawberry flavoring were .8, 1.0, and 11.7ppm, respectively. The masking effect of the flavoring was judged to be of greater importance to the perceived acetaldehyde note than the influence of sucrose on bacterial growth in fruit-flavored yogurt.
Rapid transport of viruses in a floodplain aquifer

Abstract An unconfined floodplain aquifer near Missoula, MT, was instrumented with 89 monitoring wells and 20 four-port multilevel samplers. Bromide, bacteriophages MS2, PRD1 and ∅X174 and the attenuated enterovirus, polio virus (type-1 CHAT strain), were seeded into the aquifer as slug injections. Bromide transport rates ranged between 22–29 m/d. Input concentrations of the tracers and the placement of monitoring wells limited detection of bromide and polio virus to 19.4 m and the detection of three bacteriophage to 40.5 m downgradient from the injection point. After 7.5 m of transport, the calculated relative attenuations [Harvey R. W and Garabedian S. P. (1991) Env. Sci. Tech. 25, 178–185] for MS2, PRD-1, ∅X174 and attenuated polio virus were 49, 71, 65 and 99%, respectively. During the 72-h experiment, die-off was negligible (less than 1%) and attachment of virus to sediment surfaces resulted in the overall differences in bromide and virus behavior. Although relative attenuations at downgradient monitoring wells indicated that the virus tracers were attaching to aquifer material along the flowpath, virus peaks arrived at observation wells at rates similar to the bromide peak. The high collision efficiency of the attenuated polio virus resulted in breakthrough curve truncation. Natural attenuation of slug input virus over a “typical” source–supply set-back distance of 30.5 m would most likely not reduce virus concentrations to proposed acceptable risk levels in this or a similar cold-water high-velocity groundwater system.
An approach for structuring instructional developer-client consulting experiences

The need for a dependable population of "clients" for instructional design seminar students led to the idea of engaging student teachers in this role. Graduate students in instructional supervision who were taking an ID course were paired with middle school student teachers. The under-graduates were taught how to identify and articulate instructional problems and the ID students were trained in instructional design and consulting skills as regular components of their respective seminars. Structured interaction between the two groups was on an individual basis via personal contact, telephone, audio tapes and written reports. Instructional problems encountered ranged from motivation to knowledge of resource materials and teaching strategies. Alternatives presented by the developers included flexible grouping, contracting for interest and motivation, and action plans for the student teachers’ perceived self-inadequacies. This approach was highly successful both in terms of the ID course objectives for an early consulting experience and in that it became something of an entry vehicle for establishing the credibility and demand for instructional developers within public school systems.
Custom executive education program charters: a beneficial task and useful template

Purpose – This paper introduces readers to the usefulness of, design of, and an example of a custom executive education program charter. As such, charters are posed as a key task to complete at the outset of a new custom executive education provider/client relationship. Design/methodology/approach – This paper codifies the attributes of a well-conceived and well-crafted program charter based on a number of years of having led custom executive education program design, development, and delivery activities. Findings – Six components of a useful and substantive custom executive education program charter are identified. Each is discussed as are the roles that a completed charter can contribute to in an ongoing custom executive education provider/client relationship. Practical implications – The field-inspired custom executive education program charter insights presented are immediately actionable by program providers and/or the client sponsors of such programs. Originality/value – Readers are provided with a ...
Numerical coupled hartree-fock parallel polarizabilities for FH and CO

Abstract Parallel static electric dipole polarizabilities for FH and CO have been computed using the numerical partial-wave SCF procedure within the coupled Hartree-Fock approximation. Our polarizability values are compared with previous LCAO results, and the reasons for the frequently erratic convergence of the latter are discussed.
The Bulgarian anomaly: demographic transition and current fertility.

A historical fertility pattern in Europe has been described in which relatively late and nonuniversal marriage served to hold aggregate fertility levels far below those existing elsewhere in the world. This pattern included advanced age of marriage of women a small difference in the age of husband and wife and a relatively large proportion remaining single through the fertile years. Sometime around 1880 fertility within marriage began to decline from high levels while the marriage rate was high. It is apparent that in 1900 the marriage rate in Bulgaria was higher than in western countries; by 1960 the level of marital fertility was lower than any western country except Sweden. In most European countries around 1930 the proportion of people married at earlier ages rose thus reducing the number who passed through the fertile years without formal marital experience. There was also a gradual but dramatic decline in crude birth rates and reproduction rates in some Eastern European countries from 33.7 in Bulgaria for instance in 1880 to 1.05 in 1970. Eastern Europe seems to have bypassed the demographic stage where aggregate fertility declines as the result of a sharp decline in the proportion married; instead a pattern of high and relatively early nuptiality has been maintained but eventually low overall fertility rates have been achieved by means of very low levels of marital fertility. The author explains the role of legal abortion systems in causing recent fertility declines while at the same time bringing out historically grounded demographic characteristics which set Bulgaria apart from the other European countries. These characteristics include: 1) the steep decline of infant mortality during the postwar period 2) the pattern of landholding which resulted from the persistance of the extended household organization providing men and women with incentives for early marriage and 3) small initial landholdings which could have produced concern for birth limitation. Coitus interruptus and use of illegal abortions are offered as the principal explanations of the actual achievement of low marital fertility in the 19th-20th centuries. Legalization of abortion had a relatively limited effect on aggregate fertility since a high degree of control over fertility already existed in the 1950s. 2 explanations offered for Bulgarian fertility patterns are: 1) standardization across countries indicates the structurally-specific birth rates for Bulgaria were much lower than crude rates indicated at the time of the abortion reform suggesting that the extent of unwanted births was already low and 2) there is evidence that induced abortion may have played a larger role in the original development of low fertility. Caution is required in drawing conclusions for developing countries from such a narrow experience.
Dynamic electromechanical eddy current force modeling

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to validate dynamic analytic force modeling techniques with experimental results. The performance of previously presented 2-D and 3-D eddy current models will be assessed when the steady-state models are coupled to a dynamic mechanical model. Design/methodology/approach – The previously presented 2-D analytic model was formulated in terms of the magnetic vector potential in conductive region and magnetic scalar potential in non-conductive region whereas the 3-D model was formulated in terms of the magnetic vector potential in both the conductive and non-conductive regions. Findings – This paper experimentally confirms that incorporating the heave velocity term is important for accurately predicting the forces under dynamic mechanical motion while using a steady-state eddy current solution. A close agreement between the experimental and the dynamic analytic-based eddy current solution was achieved. Research limitations/implications – The force results presented from t...
Danish Ethical Demands and French Common Goods: Two Moral Philosophies

Abstract: Is Knud Eiler Logstrup's conception of the ethical demand as deeply incompatible with the central theses of 20th century French Thomistic moral philosophy as it seems to be? Discussion of this question requires attention to both the Lutheran and the phenomenological background of Logstrup's thought; a consideration of the Danish and French social contexts in which the claims of the two moral philosophies were developed; and an enquiry into how far aspects of each are complementary to rather than in conflict with the other. An historical explanation for the genesis of the kind of normativity without norms defended by both Logstrup and Levinas is proposed.
The Effect of Urea and Invert Sugar (Urevert) on Cerebral Damage Occurring After Cardiac Arrest

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Two groups of 15 dogs each were subjected to five minutes of ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation stops all circulation. The brain was, therefore, subjected to a measured period of complete anoxia. The circulation was restored on the second after five minutes. This was done by hand pumping of the heart and by mechanical insufflation of the lungs with oxygen. The coordinated heart beat was restored. One test-group of dogs was given a solution of urea and invert sugar in water intravenously as soon as the period of anoxia was terminated. Otherwise the management of each group of dogs was the same. The conclusion is that intravenous administration of urea, invert sugar and water did not protect the dog after measured periods of cerebral anoxia. The mortality in the treated group was higher than in the untreated group. According to these experiments urea does not have the same beneficial effect as does hypothermia and it is not a replacement for hypothermia after resuscitation of the heart. The effect of hypothermia was published. It was determined in two groups of ten dogs each. The dogs in each series were given either promethazine or chlorpromazine in addition to morphine or meperidine to prevent shivering. There were no recovery dogs in the control group. There were three recoveries in the group under hypothermia and the survival period before death was longer in this group. The results in these two series of dogs, cooled and not cooled, are not the same as in the control series reported in this paper. The conclusion is that promethazine and chlorpromazine contributed to death in each series of dogs. The increased death rate seems to be significantly greater when these drugs were used.
Physical and Chemical Interactions between Mg:Al Layered Double Hydroxide and Hexacyanoferrate

Abstract The physical and chemical interactions of ferrocyanide (potassium and ammonium salts) and ferricyanide (potassium salt) with Mg:Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) (having Mg:Al ratios of 2 and 3) are investigated using powder XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. Physically, the potassium ferricyanide is shown to intercalate with a small local field deformation similar to that seen for hexacyanocobaltate (III) in similar materials. Chemically, the reduction of ferricyanide to ferrocyanide upon intercalation is confirmed. Physical interactions of ferrocyanide with 3:1 LDH are shown spectroscopically to include the possible generation of anions in differing environments. Chemically, ferrocyanide is shown to generate cubic ferrocyanides (of the type M2MgFe(CN)6, where M=K+ or NH+4) under conditions where free Mg2+ is likely present in solution, namely, solutions with a pH lower than ∼7.5. It is shown that the reported 2112-cm−1 band found in some chemically altered LDH ferrocyanide is indeed due to interlayer ferricyanide, but that the 2080 cm−1 band is due to the cubic material.
Indirect micro-method for milk fat determination.

Abstract Standard micro-hematocrit equipment was used to develop an indirect micromethod for milk fat determination. Close agreement was found between the centrifugation values and both Mojonnier and Babcock methods. The method was found to be suitable for cows’ as well as rats’ milk.
Electromigration in two-level bamboo grain structure Al(Cu)/W interconnections

Abstract Electromigration in two-level Ti/Al(0.5%Cu)/Ti lines with interlevel W stud interconnects has been investigated using both drift velocity and resistance techniques. It is shown that the mass depletion from the cathode end correlates with resistance change and electromigration failure in line/stud chains. The mean time to failure was found to be weakly dependent on linewidth from 1.9 μm (two grains across any linewidth) to 0.7 μm (bamboo structure). The dominant mass transport path is along the edges of the metal line.
Lens clarity after 3-port lens-sparing vitrectomy in stage 4A and 4B retinal detachments secondary to retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective To assess lens clarity after 3-port lens-sparing vitrectomy for stages 4A and 4B tractional retinal detachment secondary to retinopathy of prematurity. Methods In a retrospective, interventional, consecutive clinical case series, 108 eyes of 102 patients who underwent lens-sparing vitrectomy for stages 4A and 4B tractional retinal detachment from February 1, 1998, through January 31, 2004, were reviewed. All procedures and follow-up examinations were performed by a single surgeon. Lens clarity was assessed at the final follow-up examination. Results Of the 108 eyes reviewed, 102 (94.4%) maintained clear lenses at the final follow-up examination, which ranged from 6 to 48 months (mean, 32 months) after the procedure. Thirty-two eyes had stage 4A detachments and 76 eyes had stage 4B. Conclusions Three-port lens-sparing vitrectomy may be performed with relatively low risk of cataract formation during the early postoperative period. Maintenance of a clear crystalline lens during the critical period of visual development may lead to better functional outcomes.
Manipulating Membrane Fatty Acid Compositions of Whole Plants with Tween-Fatty Acid Esters

This paper describes a method for manipulating plant membrane fatty acid compositions without altering growth temperature or other conditions. Tween-fatty acid esters carrying specific fatty acids were synthesized and applied to various organs of plants growing axenically in glass jars. Treated plants incorporated large amounts of exogenous fatty acids into all acylated membrane lipids detected. Fatty acids were taken up by both roots and leaves. Fatty acids applied to roots were found in leaves, while fatty acids applied to leaves appeared in both leaves higher on the plant and in roots, indicating translocation (probably in the phloem). Foliar application was most effective; up to 20% of membrane fatty acids of leaves above the treated leaf and up to 40% of root membrane fatty acids were exogenously derived. Plants which took up exogenous fatty acids changed their patterns of fatty acid synthesis such that ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids remained essentially unaltered. Fatty acid uptake was most extensively studied in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), but was also observed in other species, including maize (Zea mays L.), mung beans (Vigna radiata L.), peas (Pisum sativum L.), petunia (Petunia hybrida L.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Potential applications of this system include studying internal transport of fatty acids, regulation of fatty acid and membrane synthesis, and influences of membrane fatty acid composition on plant physiology.
Laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication for diaphragmatic paralysis and eventration: An objective evaluation of short-term and midterm results

Objectives We sought to objectively assess our outcomes after laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication for symptomatic hemidiaphragmatic paralysis or eventration using a respiratory quality-of-life questionnaire and pulmonary function tests. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all symptomatic patients with hemidiaphragmatic paralysis or eventration who underwent laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication from March 1, 2005, through August 31, 2008. Patients with primary neuromuscular disorders were excluded from our analysis. We collected St George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores (a respiratory quality-of-life questionnaire) and pulmonary function test results preoperatively and at 1 month and 1 year postoperatively. A 2-sided significance level of .05 was used for all statistical testing. Results During the study period, 25 patients underwent laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication (9 right-sided and 16 left-sided plications); 1 patient required conversion to a thoracotomy. St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total scores (59.3 ± 26.8) improved by more than 20 points on average (a reduction of ≥4 points after an intervention is considered a clinically significant improvement). This improvement was statistically significant at 1 month (36.6 ± 15.9, P = .001) and maintained significance at 1 year (30.8 ± 18.8, P = .009). Similarly, percent predicted maximum forced inspiratory flow (93.2% ± 34.1%) was significantly improved 1 month after plication (113.9% ± 31.8%, P = .01) and maintained significance at 1 year (111.5% ± 30.9%, P = .02). Conclusions Our objective evaluation of laparoscopic diaphragmatic plication for hemidiaphragmatic paralysis or eventration demonstrated significant short-term and midterm improvements in respiratory quality of life and pulmonary function test results. This approach represents a potential paradigm shift in the surgical management of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis or eventration.