cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of volumetric absorbed dose for mobile fluoroscopic 3D image acquisition.

Mobile fluoroscopy (c-arm) units offering 3D image reconstruction are becoming more common in surgical settings. Although these images are "CT-like" and sometimes replace the postoperative CT, the acquisition is technically very different from a traditional CT acquisition. Dose assessment is complicated by a large beam width, automatic exposure rate control, and a rotation of less than 360°. The purpose of this work was to explore the impact of these factors on the volumetric dose calculation and to provide practical recommendations for clinical physicists assessing dose from these units using commonly available equipment. CTDIW was calculated using the IAEA method for dosimetry of wide beams and compared to scans of the 32-cm CTDI phantom using the full beam width and a 20-mm collimated beam width. The impact of the partial rotation on the CTDIW calculation was assessed by acquiring measurements at four and twelve positions on the phantom periphery. For the system tested, the CTDIW was calculated to be 16.1 mGy using the IAEA method with default clinical protocol. Results showed that measuring CTDIW with the full beam width or a collimated beam width alone resulted in CTDI values of 19.0 mGy and 19.5 mGy, respectively. Using four peripheral measurements instead of 12 resulted in a difference of 4% for a collimated beam and 6% for an open beam. Variations in positioning on the order of a few centimeters resulted in a variation of only 4% with an open beam. The excellent reproducibility of the measurements using the full beam width suggests that this simple method is adequate for year-to-year comparisons. In contrast, the IAEA method is difficult to employ, particularly with 180° acquisitions. Use of peripheral measurements in excess of the usual four is time-consuming and not necessary for most applications obtained with the geometry specific to this system.
Electrochemical and Kinetic Studies of Nitrogenase: Brief Review and Recent Developments

Nitrogenase is a two-component redox enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia in aqueous solution according to reaction (1). The two redox component proteins that comprise the $${N_2} + 6{\rm{e}} -+ 6{{\rm{H}}^ + } = 2{\rm{N}}{{\rm{H}}_3}$$ (1) nitrogen-reducing enzyme are the MoFe protein containing 32 iron and 2 molybdenum atoms (MW = 230,000), and the MgATP2-binding iron protein, containing 4 iron atoms (MW = 65,000). Both proteins can be independently purified and when recombined in the presence of a source of electrons and the energy-yielding substrate MgATP2-catalyze reaction (1). The electron transfer sequence from the low potential electron source through the component proteins to the reducible substrate N2 constitutes a major area of research in attempting to understand the mechanism of nitrogenase catalysis. Such questions as which protein component first accepts the low potential electrons, how MgATP and electrons are coupled during catalysis, what types of electron transfer centers are present in the proteins and what are their redox properties are all fundamental questions that are being actively investigated.
Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumors: what an endocrinologist should know

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), also known as "oncogenic osteomalacia", is a rare cause of osteomalacia. TIO often has an insidious onset characterized clinically by progressive muscle weakness and bone pain with fractures. The hallmark biochemical finding is a persistent low serum phosphorus concentration due to renal phosphate wasting. The vast majority of cases of TIO result from production of the phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) by a histologically distinctive mesenchymal tumor, termed "phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor" (PMT). Circulating FGF23 induces internalization of renal sodium/phosphate co-transporters resulting in reduced proximal tubular phosphate reabsorption. FGF23 also inhibits production of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D which is inappropriately low or normal in the context of hypophosphatemia. Diagnosis is often delayed owing to the rarity of the condition and an underappreciation for the role of phosphorus as a cause for the constellation of symptoms. Primary treatment for TIO is identification of the offending tumor and surgical removal. However, these tumors are notoriously difficult to find, precluding the opportunity for a curative surgery in many. In such cases, phosphate and calcitriol therapy is used to improve symptoms and heal the osteomalacia. Recently, molecular genetic studies have shown recurrent genetic events in PMT, including the novel fusions FN1-FGFR1 and less commonly FN1-FGF1. These fusion events are hypothesized to result in autocrine/paracrine signaling loops within the tumor, spurring tumorigenesis. This review will cover the clinical features, imaging characteristics, pathologic features, molecular genetic aspects, and therapy of PMT, with a brief discussion of other neoplasms that may cause TIO.
Mechanisms of Normal Biological Mineralization of Calcium Carbonates

Normal biogenic calcium carbonate is deposited as calcite or aragonite with preferred crystal orientation. The site of mineralization is isolated, and the parent medium may have a unique composition. In most cases, the mineral is deposited on an organic matrix. The insoluble matrical fraction is composed of varying quantities of different classes of macro-molecules, and its surface may be hydrophobic. The soluble matrical fraction from bivalve molluscs is primarily a sulfated, high molecular weight glycoprotein that selectively binds calcium. This glycoprotein is assigned a primary role in crystal nucleation in the ionotropic nucleation hypothesis. Postnucleation growth may be controlled in varying degrees by the bathing medium and by the insoluble matrix.
Brazil’s Options Narrow

This chapter takes the reader behind the scenes at the crucial Rio conference in January 1942 showing the difficulties reaching a position regarding the Axis that all the republics could accept. Brazil worked closely with the Americans, but was cautious not to alienate Argentina and Chile. The Axis governments threaten war if relations were broken. The role of Sumner Welles was critical to maintaining Brazilian support. Franklin Roosevelt’s close relations with Getulio Vargas were important. The problem of arms for the Brazilian forces was a key element. Much of the narrative deals with behind-the-scenes conversations and meetings. Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Welles had a permanent falling out because of decisions at the conference. While the conference went on, American Colonels Lucius D. Clay and Robert C. Candee had surveyed the northeast to get a clearer idea of the region. Little could be done to organize joint defense until an overall agreement was reached on the nature of the proposed alliance. Military Attache Miller’s distrust of the Brazilian chief of staff reached a breaking point, and he was recalled to Washington. His continued decline in influence and status is followed. The question of American troops being sent to Brazil is viewed negatively by the Brazilians. Axis submarines begin attacking Brazilian ships bringing the war closer. After the conference Finance Minister Artur de Sousa Costa went to Washington to set the relationship on a more beneficial footing. Rumors of Argentine military preparations proved incorrect, but Brazilians worried. The need for the air bases to supply the Allies operations grew more intense. The US Navy developed close ties with the Brazilians, while the US Army was viewed with suspicion. The Army grew dissatisfied with Ambassador Jefferson Caffery, but Vargas thought highly of him. The US Army did not have confidence in the Brazilian military. The signing of the political-military accord in May 1942 provided cover for an alliance. The auto accident that sidelined Vargas from May to September 1942 endangered the fragile arrangements the two countries created.
Modeling Human Decision-Making during Hurricanes: From Model to Data Collection to Prediction

Hurricanes are devastating natural disasters. To effectively plan to help people at risk during a hurricane, a model of human decision-making is needed to predict people's decisions and to potentially identify ways to influence those decisions. In this work, we propose a generative model of human decision making based on a Markov Decision Process where we explicitly model concerns, risk perception, and information. As a first step toward evaluating the model, the work presented here focuses on one step of the decision part of the model. We created a questionnaire based on the model and collect data from 2018 Hurricanes, Florence and Michael. The results show that, across hurricane data-sets that we collected, the features of the models correlate well with evacuation decisions and our model outperforms existing methods in most cases, demonstrating the validity of the proposed model.
Model-free 3D localization with precision estimates for brightfield-imaged particles

Volumetric imaging and 3D particle tracking are becoming increasingly common and have a variety of microscopy applications including in situ fluorescent imaging, in-vitro single-molecule characterization, and analysis of colloidal systems. While recent interest has generated discussion of optimal schemes for localizing diffraction-limited fluorescent puncta, there have been relatively few published routines for tracking particles imaged with bright-field illumination. To address this, we outline a simple, look-up-table based 3D tracking strategy, which can be adapted to most commercially available wide-field microscopes, and present two image processing algorithms that together yield high-precision localization and return estimates of statistical accuracy. Under bright-field illumination, a particle’s depth can be determined based on the size and shape of its diffractive pattern due to Mie scattering. Contrary to typical “super-resolution” fluorescence tracking routines, which typically fit a diffraction-limited spot to a model point-spread-function, the lateral (XY) tracking routine relies on symmetry to locate a particle without prior knowledge of the form of the particle. At low noise levels (signal:noise > 1000), the symmetry routine estimates particle positions with accuracy better than 0.01 pixel. Depth localization is accomplished by matching images of particles to those in a pre-recorded look-up-table. The routine presented here optimally interpolates between LUT entries with better than 0.05 step accuracy. Both routines are tolerant of high levels of image noise, yielding sub-pixel/step accuracy with signal-to-noise ratios as small as 1, and, by design, return confidence intervals indicating the expected accuracy of each calculated position. The included implementations operate extremely quickly and are amenable to real-time analysis at frame rates exceeding several hundred frames per second.
NSF funding opportunities

Guy-Alain Amoussou, is a computer science program director in the Division of Undergraduate Education Directorate for Education and Human Resources. His passion for undergraduate research is fueled by the reward of witnessing how it academically transforms students. His research is interdisciplinary with a focus on design activities related to software systems. He involves his students in two types of undergraduate research. The first type is in senior capstone courses. The second is in the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site. The REU site with the common theme of design is interdisciplinary, involving students and faculty from computer science, mathematics, art/graphic design, and natural resources/Geographic Information Systems. His current scholarship and creative activities include interests in collaborative/interdisciplinary design research, software systems, design knowledge and information assurance; computing education and undergraduate research with a focus on the integration of underrepresented groups. His teaching included science of design, software engineering, information resource management/knowledge management, programming languages, and telecommunications. Over the past five years, his work was supported by six NSF awards. Prior to coming to NSF he was a Professor of Computer Science and Director of International Programs at Humboldt State University, a California State University.
Development and initial validation of the Clinician Attitude Toward Violence Affecting Women With Disabilities (CAVAWD) Scale: An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND The study aim was to develop and psychometrically assess an instrument to measure clinician attitude and competence in understanding violence affecting women with disabilities. METHOD Data were collected from 419 clinicians with a master's degree or higher. Once collected, data was split randomly into two equal groups. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the first half of the data (n = 209) and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the second half of the data (n = 210) to establish construct validity. The draft instrument thus generated was designated as the Clinician Attitude Toward Violence Affecting Women With Disabilities (CAVAWD) Scale, which includes 4 factors (perception of problem, training competency, screening and reporting competency, and policy awareness). These four factors loaded on 40 items, with an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.898 and McDonald's omega of 0.903, explaining 58.7% of the total variance. RESULTS Initial psychometric assessment of CAVAWD showed good reliability and consistent construct validity through 4 moderate to highly loaded factors that are interpretable and parsimonious. CONCLUSION Further testing is needed; however, at present, the CAVAWD may be potentially useful to evaluate and measure counselor attitude, competency, and understanding of violence affecting women with disabilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Gulf of Mexico Pipeline Activity Correlations

Pipeline requirements in field development depends upon site-specific (local) and network (global) characteristics, and there are significant temporal and dimensional aspects distinct from other offshore activity variables such as wells and structures, making its evaluation complicated and challenging. Ownership issues play an important role in destination selection and mileage requirements, and construction cycles lead to lumpy and volatile data series. In this chapter correlations are developed that quantify pipeline activity in the Gulf of Mexico in terms of system attributes. Shallow and deepwater regions are considered separately. The chapter ends with a discussion of the limitations of correlation models.
Advances in Quantum Deep Learning: An Overview.

The last few decades have seen significant breakthroughs in the fields of deep learning and quantum computing. Research at the junction of the two fields has garnered an increasing amount of interest, which has led to the development of quantum deep learning and quantum-inspired deep learning techniques in recent times. In this work, we present an overview of advances in the intersection of quantum computing and deep learning by discussing the technical contributions, strengths and similarities of various research works in this domain. To this end, we review and summarise the different schemes proposed to model quantum neural networks (QNNs) and other variants like quantum convolutional networks (QCNNs). We also briefly describe the recent progress in quantum inspired classic deep learning algorithms and their applications to natural language processing.
Brain Tau Imaging: Food and Drug Administration Approval of 18F-Flortaucipir Injection.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common of neurodegenerative dementias. Currently, there are more than 5.8 million Americans with AD. Worldwide, there are at least 50 million people with AD or other dementias, and these numbers are projected to triple by 2050 ([1][1]). Timely and accurate
Early alphavirus replication dynamics in single cells reveal a passive basis for superinfection exclusion

Summary While decades of research have elucidated many steps in the alphavirus lifecycle, the earliest replication dynamics have remained unclear. This missing time window has obscured early replicase strand synthesis behavior and prevented elucidation of how the resulting activity gives rise to a superinfection exclusion environment, one of the fastest competitive phenotypes among viruses. Using quantitative live-cell and single-molecule imaging, we characterize the strand preferences of the viral replicase in situ, and measure protein kinetics in single cells over time. In this framework, we evaluate competition between alphaviruses, and uncover that early superinfection exclusion is actually not a binary and unidirectional process, but rather a graded and bidirectional viral interaction. In contrast to competition between other viruses, alphaviruses demonstrate a passive basis for superinfection exclusion, emphasizing the utility of analyzing viral kinetics within single cells.
Spectral Flux-Based Convolutional Neural Network Architecture for Speech Source Localization and its Real-Time Implementation

In this article, we present a real-time convolutional neural network (CNN)-based Speech source localization (SSL) algorithm that is robust to realistic background acoustic conditions (noise and reverberation). We have implemented and tested the proposed method on a prototype (Raspberry Pi) for real-time operation. We have used the combination of the imaginary-real coefficients of the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and Spectral Flux (SF) with delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming as the input feature. We have trained the CNN model using noisy speech recordings collected from different rooms and inference on an unseen room. We provide quantitative comparison with five other previously published SSL algorithms under several realistic noisy conditions, and show significant improvements by incorporating the Spectral Flux (SF) with beamforming as an additional feature to learn temporal variation in speech spectra. We perform real-time inferencing of our CNN model on the prototyped platform with low latency (21 milliseconds (ms) per frame with a frame length of 30 ms) and high accuracy (i.e. 89.68% under Babble noise condition at 5dB SNR). Lastly, we provide a detailed explanation of real-time implementation and on-device performance (including peak power consumption metrics) that sets this work apart from previously published works. This work has several notable implications for improving the audio-processing algorithms for portable battery-operated Smart loudspeakers and hearing improvement (HI) devices.
Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential: Education Reform in Kenya

In Kenya, a broad education reform was implemented after recognizing that the current system was not aligned with the country’s vision of producing globally competitive learners with competencies for the twenty-first century. The implementation process began with a pilot in 2017 and is planned to continue through 2028. In addition to the introduction of a competency-based curriculum, key components of the reform are a commitment to achieving a 100% transition from primary to secondary school by eliminating exam-based barriers to transition and a provision of a wide range of pathways for students to follow. Under the vision of “Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential”, the reform is grounded in the idea that learning should be active and individualized rather than teacher-centric and that schools – including secondary schools – are a place for developing a wide range of competencies and behaviors in addition to the traditional academic skills. In doing so, the government of Kenya seeks to reframe deeply-held cultural perspectives on education’s purpose and content. Such cultural shifts will require significant outreach and training efforts to achieve the buy-in from both families and teachers, and at this stage, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will succeed.
The relationship between work and mental health outcomes in Black men after serious injury.

Abstract Objectives To explore the association between return to work (RTW) and mental health outcomes in Black men in Philadelphia recovering from serious traumatic injuries. Methods We analyzed data from 498 Black men aged ≥ 18 years living in Philadelphia who were admitted to a Level I trauma center for injury between January 2013 and June 2017. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the association between pre-injury occupation, RTW and depression or PTSD 3 months after hospitalization. Results In adjusted analyses, men who had not RTW at follow-up had higher odds of poor mental health outcomes than men who had RTW (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.8, 4.2). Additional significant factors included: younger age, lack of or public health insurance and higher lifetime experiences of racism. Conclusions The mental health recovery trajectory of injured Black men living in Philadelphia is associated with RTW and other factors that can influence financial stability and economic resources. Policy implications Programmatic strategies that seek to optimize recovery after injury in Black men should include consideration of key structural factors such as employment, financial stability, and the impact of racism-related exposures.
Risk of bias assessments in systematic reviews and meta-analyses of behavioral interventions for substance use outcomes.

Abstract Objective This study aims to explore the current practice of risk of bias assessment in systematic reviews of behavioral clinical trials published in substance use journals and how assessment results were incorporated into meta-analysis. Study design and setting The authors searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of behavioral interventions published from 2016 to 2020 in 40 substance use journals. Two authors independently screened and extracted relevant information from each review. Different tools for risk of bias assessment and approaches of incorporating the risk of bias assessment results into meta-analysis were summarized. Results The study identified 35 systematic reviews and meta-analyses of behavioral clinical trials. Among the 35 reviews, 31 (89%) assessed the risk of bias of their included studies. Twelve (39%) of the 31 reviews incorporated these assessment findings into their meta-analysis of intervention effects (e.g., conducted meta-regression or subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, limited the synthesis only to the “high quality” studies). Conclusion Performing and reporting risk of bias assessment remain inconsistent in published systematic reviews. Future systematic reviews and meta-analyses are encouraged to connect their risk of bias assessment findings with meta-analysis and follow the most updated PRISMA guidelines in reporting the methods and results of risk of bias assessment.
Lost productive work time after mild to moderate traumatic brain injury with and without hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: Lost productivity after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a large component of the economic costs of brain trauma in the United States. This is the first prospective study of employment after mild TBI to include patients not admitted to a hospital. METHODS: Concurrent inception cohorts of 210 working-age adults with mild to moderate TBI and 122 patients who sustained general trauma not involving the brain were recruited at a trauma center and followed up to 6 months later. Outcomes were time from injury until first day worked and problems reported after resuming work. RESULTS: Most patients who worked after their injury remained employed 6 months later in a similar capacity as before the injury. No consistent differences were demonstrated between employment outcomes of patients with mild TBI and those with general trauma. The majority of nonhospitalized patients with mild TBI did not work for at least 1 month and did not begin working until 1 to 3 months after injury. Most patients with moderate TBI remained unemployed at 6 months postinjury. Patients with lower preinjury occupational status tended to have longer work absences. CONCLUSION: Lost productive work time after nonhospitalized TBI may cause significant economic costs because these injuries are frequent. Contrary to the theory that brain injury is more disabling to patients in cognitively demanding occupations, patients with higher job status tended to begin work earlier. A technique is needed to screen patients with mild TBI for risk of employment problems. Rehabilitation after moderate TBI may help to minimize lost productivity.
The Dialectical Methods of Marshall McLuhan, Marxism, and Critical Theory

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to help reclaim McLuhan's media and social / historical theories for critical theory, arguing that McLuhan employed a form of dialectical theory containing basic elements of dialectics developed by Hegel, Marx, and, later, his contemporaries of the Frankfurt School. This essay will examine McLuhan's published writings for analysis of his dialectical methodology and compare his work closely with the work of Walter Benjamin, and the work of Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, lines of inquiry paralleling Judith Stamps's Unthinking Modernity. The central argument is that McLuhan's method, like Marx's radical dialectical method, was not a mechanistic, technological determinism. Instead, McLuhan was mining the interstices of media interaction for openings that allow human awareness and autonomy. This study attempts to reclaim McLuhan by showing that his method was open-ended and processual, not only in his early work, but in the later and posthumous work as well. Resume: Cet essai cherche a ramener au sein de la theorie critique les theories mediatiques et socio-historiques de McLuhan, en insistant sur le fait que la forme de la theorie dialectique qu'il emploie est basee sur les dialectiques elaborees par Hegel, Marx et plus tard par les contemporains de McLuhan, a savoir les membres de l'Ecole de Francfort. En se penchant sur les ecrits publies de McLuhan, cet essai analyse sa theorie dialectique et procede a une comparaison approfondie de ses oeuvres a celles de Walter Benjamin, Max Horkheimer et Theodor Adorno--une recherche qui nous rappelle Unthinking Modernity de Judith Stamps. L'argument principal est que la methode de McLuhan, de meme que la methode dialectique radicale de Marx, ne representait en aucun cas un determinisme mecaniste et technologique. McLuhan examine plutot les interstices de l'interaction des medias pour y trouver les ouvertures qui permettraient une conscience humaine et une autonomie plus grandes. Cette etude essaye de revendiquer l'importance des ecrits de McLuhan en montrant que sa methode etait sans limites fixes et suivait un processus precis, non seulement dans ses premiers ouvrages, mais egalement dans son oeuvre mure et dans ses publications posthumes.
Selective attention, cortical evoked responses, and brain function in human subjects: A critical review and theory

A theoretical framework is proposed to account for the facts of selective attention in terms of cortical redundancy and cortical-subcortical interactions as measured by the Average Evoked Response and the background EEG. The recent research concerning AER correlations of selective attention is reviewed and found to be lacking in methodological coherence. This lack is found to contaminate existing theory regarding selective attention and brain function. An alternative approach is explored and its findings are found to yield the present theory.
Public Awareness, Perception, and Use of Online Physician Rating Sites

Patients are increasingly turning to online physician ratings, just as they have sought ratings for other products and services. Much of what is known about these sites comes from studies of the ratings left on them.1 Little is known about the public’s awareness and use of online physician ratings, and whether these sites influence decisions about selecting a physician.
Spatial organization of cat visual system. I. Distribution and interaction of photic responses in cortex.

The distribution of photic responses in the parasagittal cortical plane of the locally anesthetized cat was studied with respect to target location in the vertical plane of the visual field, level of adapting background, intensity of light flash, and the degree of spatial and temporal interaction elicited by dual light flashes. Confirming earlier studies, the cortical locus of the largest amplitude, shortest latency response (the “maximal” response) shifted predictably with change in field location, independent of adaptive level, flash intensity or presence of general anesthesia (barbiturate). All photic stimulation in the locally anesthetized cat, however, produced a widespread cortical distribution of lower level (“submaximal”) responses which were of functional significance, as demonstrated by the spatial interaction between responses to dual light flashes. This latter spatial interaction could be elicited interocularly and was altered by administration of barbiturates. Results both confirm and qualify classic concepts of topological projection as applied to the visual system of the cat.
Wind measurements from an orbital platform using a lidar system with incoherent detection: an analysis

A lidar system from an orbital platform is used to simulate the measurement of winds in the atmosphere using different scattering regimes. A high-resolution Fabry-Perot interferometer with a multiple-ring anode detector is used in the simulations. The main factors that limit the accuracy and spatial resolution of the measurement, such as laser bandwidth, detector resolution, and pointing accuracy, have been considered. It is shown that winds in the troposphere and stratosphere can be measured with an accuracy of 2 m/sec using the backscattered signal from aerosols and from cloud tops. In the mesosphere a wind accuracy of 5 m/sec can be achieved using the backscattered signal from the resonance fluorescence of sodium.
Antibiotic compounds with action against bacterial viruses: neohydroxyaspergillic acid.

Abstract Cultures of a strain of Aspergillus sclerotiorum yielded a new antibiotic, neohydroxyaspergillic acid, active against some bacteriophages. The substance was isolated in pure form and found to be isomeric with hydroxyaspergillic acid, which it resembles in many respects. Activities of the compound against certain bacteria, fungi, and viruses are reported.
CO2 capture using calcium oxide under biomass gasification conditions

Abstract A laboratory scale CO 2 capture apparatus was designed, fabricated, and tested for performing CO 2 capture via carbonation of fine calcium oxide (CaO) with particle size in micrometers. This apparatus included a fixed-bed reactor made of stainless steel (12.7 mm in diameter and 76.2 mm long) packed with CaO particles dispersed in sand. The reactor was heated and maintained at isothermal conditions (500–595 °C) during each experiment. The pressure along the reactor was kept constant using a back pressure regulator. The conditions of the experiments were relevant to biomass gasification with in situ CO 2 capture. 1% CO 2 in 99% N 2 flowed through the reactor at a flow rate of 150 ml/min (at standard conditions). The CO 2 percentage of the outlet gas stream was measured by using a CO 2 analyzer and was used to calculate the conversion of CaO. The results indicated that the rate of CaO carbonation considerably increased with reactor temperature increasing from 500 °C to 595 °C. The conversion rates of CaO carbonation were well fitted to Lee's and Shih's models for CO 2 capture in dry and moist stream, respectively.
Your Inner Clock Is on Steroids

Shift work and jet lag are bad for you. They disturb your inner circadian clock(s) and are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, breast cancer, strokes, and heart disease. Seemingly all tissues in our bodies have the ability to maintain a 24-hour cycle that
On the emission bands of CCl

Some new bands of CCl are recorded and these together with those reported by earlier workers are arranged in a vibrational scheme. The electronic transition is $^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}$, the doublet separation for the $^{2}\mathrm{II}$ state being 138 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. By way of comparison it is mentioned that the uncondensed transformer discharge gave C${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ bands in the case of C${\mathrm{F}}_{4}$, CCl, and ${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ bands in the case of C${\mathrm{Cl}}_{4}$ and only ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$ bands in C${\mathrm{Br}}_{4}$. It is pointed out that the supposed CBr bands reported by Durie and Iredale are not due to CBr but due to ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$.
Peripheral capsaicin receptors increase in the inflamed rat hindpaw: a possible mechanism for peripheral sensitization

The vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1) is activated by capsaicin, heat and protons and is localized on primary sensory neurons. The present study investigates whether VR1 increases in the inflamed hindpaw thereby contributing to the peripheral sensitization and heat hyperalgesia that characterizes the inflamed state. Forty-eight hours after intraplantar injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant into one hindpaw, there is a significant increase in the proportion of VR1-labeled unmyelinated axons in digital nerves in the inflamed (32.8 +/- 5.9%) compared to normal (17.1 +/- 2.6%) hindpaws (t-test, P<0.01). A few, small diameter myelinated axons are labeled in normal and inflamed rats with no change in percentages following inflammation. The data suggest that an increase in number of unmyelinated sensory axons expressing VR1 may be one mechanism underlying peripheral sensitization of nociceptors in inflammation.
Geospatial approaches to characterizing agriculture in the Chincoteague Bay Subbasin

Most agricultural information is reported by government sources on a state or county basis. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate use of geospatial data, the 2002 Agricultural Cropland Data Layer (CDL) for the mid-Atlantic region, to characterize agricultural, environmental, and other scientific parameters for the Chincoteague Bay subbasin using geographic information systems. This study demonstrated that agriculture can be characterized accurately on subbasin and subwatershed bases, thus complimenting various assessment technologies. Approximately 28% of the dry land of the subbasin was cropland. Field corn was the largest crop. Soybeans, either singly or double-cropped with wheat, were the second most predominant crop. Although the subbasin is relatively small, cropping practices in the northern part were different from those in the southern portion. Other crops, such as fresh vegetables and vegetables grown for processing, were less than 10% of the total cropland. A conservative approximation of the total pesticide usage in the subbasin in 2002 was over 277,000 lbs of active ingredients. Herbicides represented the most frequently used pesticides in the subbasin, both in number (17) and in total active ingredients (over 261,000 lbs). Ten insecticides predominated in the watershed, while only small quantities of three fungicides were used. Total pesticide usage and intensity were estimated using the CDL. Nutrient inputs to cropland from animal manure, chemical fertilizer, and atmospheric deposition were modeled at over 30 million pounds of nitrogen and over 7 million pounds of phosphorous. Crops under conservation tillage had the largest input of both nutrients.
A Test of Schmidt's Schema Theory of Discrete Motor Skill Learning.

Abstract Schmidt's (1975) schema theory was tested with subjects who had to emit a rapid aiming response while wearing prism glasses. The glasses enabled them to view the target, but not their responding limb or the outcome of the movement. The problem was to determine the effect of (a) training with variable target practice, and (b) experiencing visual displacement information of the target, prior to training, on performance in transfer to a novel target distance. A 2 × 2 (type of practice × displacement information) factorial design was used, in which four groups of 15 male college subjects performed 60 training trials with verbal knowledge of results. The groups with variable target practice had less error on initial transfer to the novel target and throughout transfer than the groups with nonvariable target practice. No evidence was found to indicate that rate of learning for a novel target distance during transfer in the absence of KR is a positive function of the variability of target practice in tr...
An in Vivo Blood Microsampling Device for Pharmacokinetic Applications

This paper describes an in vivo microsystem for automated blood microsampling from a lab mouse for pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. Intended to be mounted as a "backpack" on a mouse, it uses a micro-needle, reservoir, and an actuator. It is designed to suddenly prick the animal for a time-point sample, minimizing the potential impact of stress-related endocrine changes. The blood is collected by the 33-gauge micro-needle (210 mum OD) into the ap1 muL micro-electro-discharge machined steel reservoir. The small volume enables repeated sampling, permitting a full PK profile to be obtained from a single mouse. The voice coil actuator provides a peak force of ap170 mN, which can easily pierce the needle through mouse skin. The device was tested for blood vessel sampling using a mock vessel with adjustable pressure, and the reservoir was filled in <0.15 sec by a combination of the capillary effect and blood pressure. For interstitial fluid sampling, the capillary effect of the needle inner surface was enhanced by electropolishing. Blood from fresh bovine tissue was collected into the reservoir to simulate interstitial fluid sampling.
SU-E-P-14: A Practical Approach of Small Field Dosimetry Measurement for Patient-Specific IMRT/SRS/SBRT

Purpose: To design and implement a small‐field IMRT/SRS/SBRT dosimetry measurement with a regular‐size ion chamber and films. Methods: An acrylic phantom was constructed and commissioned to sandwich a Kodak EDR2 radiographic film. After a patient QA plan was delivered, the phantom was shifted superiorly by 10 cm and a reference plan was delivered on the same film. The reference plan has four‐field‐box beam geometry with 4 × 4 cm2 field size. Since the dose distribution of the reference plan was uniform and large, the absolute dose of the reference plan can be accurately measured separately with a regular‐size ion chamber (diameter: 0.6 cm). After normalization, a two‐dimensional absolute dose distribution can be obtained and compared to that calculated by Eclipse Treatment Planning System. An in‐house software written in MATLAB was used to analyze films. Two‐dimensional gamma indexes were calculated to evaluate patient QA plans. Results: Three patient‐specific IMRT/SRS/SBRT QA plans were used to verify the feasibility of the method. The prescription dose of the reference plan was 3.5 Gy. The scatter dose from one plan to the other plan (which is 10 cm or more away) is very small ( 1 failure rates were 0.2%, 0.2%, and 0.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Since the scatter dose from another plan 10 cm (or more) away was very small, this method allows one to measure the dose of any small target with a regular‐size ion chamber and films without volume limitation.
Your Firm’s Mobile Devices: How Secure Are They?

Mobile communication devices are taking the world by a storm. They offer significant benefits. But when deciding whether your company can benefit from giving mobile devices to employees, it is important to think strategically. Do you have a comprehensive mobile security strategy? Do you have a well-thought-out set of policies and procedures in place? The authors of this article take a critical look at mobile device security. Then they provide a detailed set of checklists to help you develop strategic goals; effectively manage mobile devices; protect company data; and evaluate the effectiveness of your security plan. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Photon energy storage in organic materials— The case of linked anthracenes☆

Abstract Criteria for the photochemical conversion of solar energy are reviewed in terms of utilization of photoactive organic materials. Endoergic valence isomerizations which may be driven by visible light are proposed for study. These isomerizations store electronic excitation energy as chemical potential energy. Products of the proposed photoreactions are kinetically stable for energy storage over controllable periods. Stored energy is retrieved by thermal or catalytic recycling to the original photoactive substance. Such organic materials are potentially useful as additives to working fluids of conventional solar-thermal conversion units. Photon energy storage is illustrated in several examples which utilize 300–500 nm radiation for isomerizations with storage capacities of about 400 J/g (about 100 cal/g). New data including quantum efficiencies, storage capacities and conditions for recycling are presented for a series of linked anthracenes. A photocalorimeter capable of direct measurement of storage enthalpies is described. The economic and physical requirements of a photochemical storage material are outlined, and several systems for the conversion of solar energy on an appropriate scale are suggested.
Biomechanics of the venous wall under simulated arterial conditions.

The failure of vein graft conduits implanted in the arterial circulation has been hypothesized to occur in part due to the exposure of the graft to altered biomechanical and fluid shearing forces. In the present study, these forces are characterized for canine internal jugular veins (IJV) exposed to realistic arterial flow dynamics. Freshly excised vein segments were mounted into a pulsatile perfusion apparatus and exposed to arterial flow conditions (P = 11575mm Hg and Q = 110 ml min−1) for 2 h. Dynamic measurements of intraluminal pressure and flow rate and vessel wall radial distension were acquired to accurately quantitate the incremental modulus of elasticity; hoop, axial and radial wall stresses; and fluid shearing forces within the vessel. Identical measurements were performed on canine carotid arteries (CCA) to serve as a comparison. Under arterial conditions, IJV segments demonstrated a significant elevation (p < 0.05) over the CCA in the incremental elasticity modulus, along with a corresponding elevation in hoop and axial wall stresses. Additionally the average wall shearing rate to which the IJV endothelial surface was exposed was a factor of six less than that observed in the CCA. These results are discussed in relationship to the clinical situation of vein graft adaptation to arterial hemodynamics.
Multipath Fluctuation Effects in Track-While-Scan Radar

A theoretical model of diffuse multipath reflections from rough surfaces is applied to the prediction of multipath power distribu tions in radar coordinates: elevation angle, time delay, and Dop pler frequency. These distributions are used to predict radar tracking errors in elevation angle, for both monopulse and scan ning antenna systems, and typical results are presented. These show a small increase in tracking error for scanning systems, on radially approaching targets, caused by sensitivity of these trackers to amplitude scintillation of the composite direct-plus multipath signal. Effects of knife-edge diffraction and of vegetation ion are briefly considered.
Fish behavioral ecology: Pros, cons and opportunities

(1993). Fish behavioral ecology: Pros, cons and opportunities. Marine Behaviour and Physiology: Vol. 23, Behavioural Ecology of Fishes, pp. 7-27.
Modified Nissen fundoplication for reduction of fundoplication failure

Failure of the Nissen fundoplication can be secondary to disruption of the wrap or slippage of the stomach upward within the wrap. A modification of the Nissen fundoplication was devised and implemented between 1982 and 1995 to eliminate these complications. This report describes the modification and the results. Commonly, the Nissen fundoplication uses a single anterior row of sutures securing the wrapped stomach to the esophagus. This modification reinforces the wrap with two additional rows of suture, one right lateral and one left lateral, each further anchoring the wrapped stomach to the esophagus. This retrospective analysis compares the Nissen and modified Nissen fundoplications performed at our institution. Fundoplication operations were considered a failure if they required a reoperation secondary to wrap disruption or stomach slippage. Data were analyzed using the chi 2 method. A total of 948 fundoplication procedures were performed; 326 Nissen and 622 modified Nissen. Follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 13 years (mean, 6 years). Thirteen wrap disruptions and six stomach slippages occurred in the Nissen group (5.8%); 10 wrap failures and no stomach slippages occurred in the modified Nissen group (1.6%), P < .05. The authors conclude that this modification of the Nissen fundoplication significantly reduces wrap disruptions and stomach slippages.
An integrated collection of software engineering standards

The IEEE Software Engineering Standards Committee has taken deliberate steps to unify and integrate its collection of software engineering standards. Encouraging results are apparent in its latest publication, which is organized around a single architecture for the SESC collection. This article explains the principles of the SESC collection and describes our progress toward integrating the various standards within it.
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the leg

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is an underdiagnosed cause of chronic exertional leg pain. The syndrome most commonly occurs in young adult recreational runners, elite athletes, and military recruits. CECS is caused by increased intracompartmental pressure within a fascial space; however, the mechanism of why pain occurs is unknown. Symptoms are classically pain in the affected compartment at the same time, distance, or intensity of exercise. CECS is a clinical diagnosis; however, it is confirmed by intracompartmental pressure testing. Fasciotomy is the treatment of choice for athletes who would like to maintain the same level of activity. Athletes who have a release of the anterior and lateral compartments have a high success rate.
High-altitude hypersonic flow effects on the lateral range capability of entry vehicles.

High altitude hypersonic viscous flow degradation of L/D effects on entry vehicle lateral range capability
Problematic detoxification of estrogen quinones by NAD(P)H-dependent quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione-S-transferase.

Estrogen exposure through early menarche, late menopause, and hormone replacement therapy increases the risk factor for hormone-dependent cancers. Although the molecular mechanisms are not completely established, DNA damage by quinone electrophilic reactive intermediates, derived from estrogen oxidative metabolism, is strongly implicated. A current hypothesis has 4-hydroxyestrone-o-quinone (4-OQE) acting as the proximal estrogen carcinogen, forming depurinating DNA adducts via Michael addition. One aspect of this hypothesis posits a key role for NAD(P)H-dependent quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in the reduction of 4-OQE and protection against estrogen carcinogenesis, despite two reports that 4-OQE is not a substrate for NQO1. 4-OQE is rapidly and efficiently trapped by GSH, allowing measurement of NADPH-dependent reduction of 4-OQE in the presence and absence of NQO1. 4-OQE was observed to be a substrate for NQO1, but the acceleration of NADPH-dependent reduction by NQO1 over the nonenzymic reaction is less...