cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concentration modulation spectroscopy with a pulsed slit supersonic discharge expansion source

Abstract Frequency modulated discharges are combined with pulsed slit supersonic expansions to provide an intense, long path source of jet-cooled radicals/molecular ions for direct absorption laser spectroscopy. The high modulation frequency (100 kHz) permits lock-in detection of the modulated absorbance signals at sensitivities down to 7.3×10 −7 absorbance/Hz 1/2 (within 40% of the shot noise limit) and provides excellent discrimination for radical or molecular ion spectra in the presence of much higher precusor concentrations. The sensitivity of these methods is demonstrated with direct absorption spectral data on sample jet-cooled molecular ions (H + 3 ) and hydrocarbon radicals (CH 3 CH 2 ).
Science—and me: Subject matter and identity in secondary school science teachers

This article explores the relationship between subject matter and secondary science teacher identity, or sense of self. Based on the recent literature on identity and responses of five secondary science teachers in in-depth interviews, I develop a multidimensional model of identity and discuss the role of subject matter in the teachers' descriptions of who they are as people and professionals. I offer implications of this relationship for science education reform and teacher education. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 35: 811–834, 1998.
Reaction kinetics of ethylene glycol reforming over platinum in the vapor versus aqueous phases

First-principles, periodic, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are carried out on Pt(111) to investigate the structure and energetics of dehydrogenated ethylene glycol species and transition states for the cleavage of C−H/O−H and C−C bonds. Additionally, reaction kinetics studies are carried out for the vapor phase reforming of ethylene glycol (C2H6O2) over Pt/Al2O3 at various temperatures, pressures, and feed concentrations. These results are compared to data for aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol on this Pt catalyst, as reported in a previous publication (Shabaker, J. W.; et al. J. Catal. 2003, 215, 344). Microkinetic models were developed to describe the reaction kinetics data obtained for both the vapor-phase and aqueous-phase reforming processes. The results suggest that C−C bond scission in ethylene glycol occurs at an intermediate value of x (3 or 4) in C2HxO2. It is also found that similar values of kinetic parameters can be used to describe the vapor and aqueous phase reforming ...
Vocalizing choice prior to responding hinders discrimination learning

Experiments with both children and adults replicated earlier findings that vocalizing choice before responding resulted in significantly more errors than vocalizing choice after responding. The difference appeared to be due to poorer performance with prior vocalization rather than to better performance with subsequent vocalization.
Seaming of geosynthetics

Abstract Owners of containment facilities are using geosynthetics at an increased rate. A major concern in their use is the ability to field seam the materials such that the design function of the geosynthetic is transferred through the seam. This paper discusses potential concerns and describes quality assurance techniques that will, when utilized, help ensure that the facility will be constructed according to the design.
The Role of Interlibrary Loan in Disaster Preparedness and Recovery

Interlibrary loan serves an important function within disaster recovery, as it is the method that will likely be used in order to get materials that are otherwise damaged or inaccessible to local users. Since interlibrary loan ensures the continuity of service, it is important for interlibrary loan departments to prepare before a disaster occurs, identifying key issues and concerns, so that if and when the challenge comes they can meet it most effectively, fulfill users’ needs, and demonstrate their value.
Hepatitis B Vaccination Responders vs. Non‐responders on Hemodialysis: Baseline Patient Characteristics

Vaccination of Hemodialysis (HD) patients for the Hepatitis B virus is recommended. However, the rate of seroconversion at 30–75% is lower than that of the general population at 90 + %. In prior dialysis studies, younger patient age predicted seroconversion. Objective: To analyze baseline characteristics of HD patients with different vaccination responses. Method: A retrospective analysis of 2 distinct groups of HD patients: Group 1 (responders) seroconverted after 1 series of standard Hep B vaccination (40 mcg IM at 0,1,6 mos.), Group 2 (non-responders) failed to convert after 3 such series. All subjects were Hepatitis B & C Ab (-) at the start of HD. These two groups were compared in their age, sex, race, laboratory values, cause of renal failure, access type, nPCR, Kt/V at the initiation of HD to determine which factors may have predicted vaccination response. Results: 78 patients were identified as responders, 30 patients as non-responders. By univariate analysis, baseline lab tests did not differ for: WBC, albumin, phosphorous, calcium, intact PTH, ferritin, total iron, or HCT. The groups did not differ in racial mix or male:female ratio. Access type did not differ, averaging 60% catheter use at start of HD. Variable responder non-responder p Diabetes 29% 79% .040 Age (avg. ± SEM) 50 ± 1.8 57 ± 2.5 .041 Wt. (kg) 69 79 .023 The groups differed in average age, prevalence of diabetes and weight (Table). Responders had a significantly lower serum bicarbonate (20 meq/L vs. 23 meq/L, P = .040), though nPCR and Kt/V did not differ. Conclusion: HD patients who failed to responded to the Hep B vaccination after 3 series were older, more likely to be diabetics and weighed more than those who did respond after only 1 vaccination series. The responders were slightly more acidotic, though there were no differences in nPCR or serum albumin.
Maturation of the immune response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

Abstract The average affinity of rabbit antibodies directed against the capsular polysaccharide of Type III pneumococci and harvesed at various times during the immunization procedure was determined by equilibrium dialysis. The results show that during prolonged immunization with pneumococci, the immune response matures, that is, there is a progressive increase in the average affinity of the elicited antibodies. This is attributed to a selective process occurring in the system based on a competition for antigen between antigen-sensitive cells and serum antibody. On occasions, antibody components of restricted structural heterogeneity are produced. These are assumed to be the product of clones of cells that have overgrown the immune system. It is proposed that the selective advantage possessed by these clones is that their product is of markedly higher affinity than that of prior antibody in the system.
DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPACT AUTOMATED ROBOTIZED SAMPLE PREPARATION FOR LARGE SERIES OF COMPLEX ANALYSES SYSTEM FOR LARGE SERIES OF COMPLEX ANALYSES

A compact automated robotized sample preparation system has been developed for large sries of complex analyses. The use of SCARA robot is profitable on both better handling and less space requirement of the system.A simple mechanical changer for the finger makes possible to handle various equipments. We designed another robot exclusively for filtration. Both robots work concurrently on the same turntable
Flow phenomena in rocks : from continuum models to fractals, percolation, cellular automata, and simulated annealing

In this paper, theoretical and experimental approaches to flow, hydrodynamic dispersion, and miscible and immiscible displacement processes in reservoir rocks are reviewed and discussed. Both macroscopically homogeneous and heterogeneous rocks are considered. The latter are characterized by large-scale spatial variations and correlations in their effective properties and include rocks that may be characterized by several distinct degrees of porosity, a well-known example of which is a fractured rock with two degrees of porosity---those of the pores and of the fractures. First, the diagenetic processes that give rise to the present reservoir rocks are discussed and a few geometrical models of such processes are described. Then, measurement and characterization of important properties, such as pore-size distribution, pore-space topology, and pore surface roughness, and morphological properties of fracture networks are discussed. It is shown that fractal and percolation concepts play important roles in the characterization of rocks, from the smallest length scale at the pore level to the largest length scales at the fracture and fault scales. Next, various structural models of homogeneous and heterogeneous rock are discussed, and theoretical and computer simulation approaches to flow, dispersion, and displacement in such systems are reviewed. Two different modeling approaches to these phenomena are compared. The first approach is based on the classical equations of transport supplemented with constitutive equations describing the transport and other important coefficients and parameters. These are called the continuum models. The second approach is based on network models of pore space and fractured rocks; it models the phenomena at the smallest scale, a pore or fracture, and then employs large-scale simulation and modern concepts of the statistical physics of disordered systems, such as scaling and universality, to obtain the macroscopic properties of the system. The fundamental roles of the interconnectivity of the rock and its wetting properties in dispersion and two-phase flows, and those of microscopic and macroscopic heterogeneities in miscible displacements are emphasized. Two important conceptual advances for modeling fractured rocks and studying flow phenomena in porous media are also discussed. The first, based on cellular automata, can in principle be used for computing macroscopic properties of flow phenomena in any porous medium, regardless of the complexity of its structure. The second, simulated annealing, borrowed from optimization processes and the statistical mechanics of spin glasses, is used for finding the optimum structure of a fractured reservoir that honors a limited amount of experimental data.
The Value of a Salaried Hospital Recruiter for Blood Donors

The employment of a salaried individual for recruitment of blood donors to replace blood transfused to patients at the Denver Veterans Administration Hospital has resulted in an average increase of 1,566 units of blood replaced per year since 1966. The recruitment program is described and results compared to the nearby Colorado General Hospital which has the same physician staff and similar sources of patients. The latter hospital, without a similar donor recruitment program during this period showed no improvement in amount of voluntary blood replacement. This very successful approach to donor recruitment at the Denver Veterans Hospital has more than offset the cost of the program to the hospital.
More thoughts on plaques and tangles

Abstract Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) contain unique antigenic determinants and determinants in common with several normal cytoskeletal proteins which include the high molecular weight neurofilament proteins, microtubule associated proteins and vimentin. The unique determinants are found in nearly all NFT whereas the determinants in common with normal cytoskeletal proteins are generally detected only in a fraction of NFT. It remains to be determined whether a particular type of cytoskeletal protein is more involved than others in the formation of NFT and if posttranslational modification of certain normal proteins is responsible for the expression of unique antigenic determinants.
Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Pneumonia in a Lung Transplant Recipient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 61-year-old woman who underwent lung transplantation developed severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia and experienced respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. She was treated initially with aerosolized ribavirin monotherapy; RSV hyperimmune globulin was later added to her regimen. Lung transplant recipients are acutely susceptible to respiratory infections, including community-acquired respiratory viruses. Respiratory syncytial virus is particularly difficult to treat in immunocompromised patients because of the lack of proved pharmaceutical agents and solid scientific evidence by which to guide therapy. The most important factor appears to be the early start of therapy; immunocompromised patients who develop RSV pneumonia and subsequent respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation have a mortality rate approaching 100%. This case report demonstrates the successful treatment of RSV pneumonia with the combination of aerosolized ribavirin and RSV hyperimmune globulin in a severely ill lung transplant recipient who required mechanical ventilation.
THE ROLE OF INTENTIONS IN WORK MOTIVATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR GOAL-SETTING THEORY AND RESEARCH

The concepts of goal and intention have not been adequately differentiated in the work motivation and goal-setting literatures. As discussed in theories of intentional behavior (Ajzen, 1985; Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Kuhl, 1985; Ryan. 1970), intention is a cognitive representation of both means and end, and, thus, is a broader concept than goal. It is argued here that an examination of the nature and role of intentions in the motivational process helps clarify several issues in the work motivation literature, including the process by which assigned goals influence behavior.
Characterization of the molecular structure of cyclic alkenes isolated from Narragansett Bay sediment

Abstract Sedimentary hydrocarbons in Narragansett Bay are composed of a large anthropogenic component, originating principally from inputs of petroleum products, and a smaller natural component, originating from both marine and terrigenous sources. The natural component is often dominated by a series of 25 and 30 carbon branched and cyclic alkenes, of which the origin and molecular structures are presently unknown. A chromatographic method has been developed for the isolation of these branched and cyclic alkenes from sedimentary lipid extracts. The compounds isolated have been subjected to catalytic hydrogenation and the products analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Comparison of the molecular weights of the intact alkenes and hydrogenated analogues, obtained from the GC/MS analysis, has established the number of double bonds and rings present in the individual compounds. Upon hydrogenation, two cyclic 30 carbon alkenes formed isomers which were easily separated by glass capillary gas chromatography. This information, in conjunction with the mass spectral fragmentation pattern observed for the hydrogenated compounds, has led to the formulation of a tentative structure for the cyclic portion of the hydrocarbon skeleton.
Forward and backward serial recall

Abstract The present study examined whether forward and backward serial recall performance reflects different codes, or different levels of processing complexity. One hundred twenty-two participants saw sequences of 2 to 9 letters (phonologically similar or dissimilar) for 1 second each in the center of a computer screen, and recalled the letters in forward or backward order. Participants correctly recalled more when letters were phonologically dissimilar, and when recall direction was forward. No interaction was found between direction of recall and phonological similarity, which suggests that a phonological code was used for both forward and backward recall. Also, forward and backward recall did not differentially predict SAT performance, which suggests that forward and backward recall required a similar level of processing complexity.
The comparative effects of big endothelin-1, endothelin-1, and endothelin-3 in the human fetal-placental circulation

Abstract OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effects of big endothelin-1, endothelin-1, and endothelin-3 and whether endothelin-converting enzyme was present in the human fetal-placental circulation. STUDY DESIGN: Single cotyledons of term placentas were dually perfused in vitro, and increases in fetal-placental perfusion pressure to bolus injections of big endothelin-1, endothelin-1, and endothelin-3 (8 x 10 -10 to 1 x 10 -7 mol/L) were recorded. Responses to big endothelin-1 (10 -7 mol/L) were measured in the same placenta before and after perfusion of the fetal-placental circulation with the neutral metalloprotease inhibitor phosphoramidon (10 -5 mol/L), which acts as an endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor. All experiments were performed in at least five separate placentas. RESULTS: Significant concentration-dependent increases in fetal-placental perfusion pressure were seen with endothelin-1 ( p p p p t test). CONCLUSION: The three endothelins tested are vasoconstrictors, and endothelin-converting enzyme is present in the fetal-placental circulation. (AM J OBSTET GYNECOL 1992;167:1651-6.)
Evidence That Rapid Vesicle Replenishment of the Synaptic Ribbon Mediates Recovery from Short-Term Adaptation at the Hair Cell Afferent Synapse

We have employed both in vitro patch clamp recordings of hair cell synaptic vesicle fusion and in vivo single unit recording of cochlear nerve activity to study, at the same synapse, the time course, control, and physiological significance of readily releasable pool dynamics. Exocytosis of the readily releasable pool was fast, saturating in less than 50 ms, and recovery was also rapid, regaining 95% of its initial amplitude following a 200-ms period of repolarization. Longer depolarizations (greater than 250 ms) yielded a second, slower kinetic component of exocytosis. Both the second component of exocytosis and recovery of the readily releasable pool were blocked by the slow calcium buffer, EGTA. Sound-evoked afferent synaptic activity adapted and recovered with similar time courses as readily releasable pool exhaustion and recovery. Comparison of readily releasable pool amplitude, capture distances of calcium buffers, and number of vesicles tethered to the synaptic ribbon suggested that readily releasable pool dynamics reflect the depletion of release-ready vesicles tethered to the synaptic ribbon and the reloading of the ribbon with vesicles from the cytoplasm. Thus, we submit that rapid recovery of the cochlear hair cell afferent fiber synapse from short-term adaptation depends on the timely replenishment of the synaptic ribbon with vesicles from a cytoplasmic pool. This apparent rapid reloading of the synaptic ribbon with vesicles underscores important functional differences between synaptic ribbons in the auditory and visual systems.
Order versus access: news search engines and the challenge to traditional journalistic roles:

This article examines tensions between new media forms and traditional journalistic practice through the rise of news search engines that index news stories from across the web. Specifically, Google News is taken up as a case study because of its popularity and its insistence on not using human editors. Conflicting normative articulations of journalism arise between traditional news and news search engines: the former promotes an interpretive order through purposefully structuring the news product to create a meaningful map of what is important, while the latter promotes diversity through creating easy access to different viewpoints and multiple versions of a story without legitimating one view over another. As a result, tensions form around questions of what journalism does and what it should do.
Comparison of baseline conditions to investigate syntactic production using functional magnetic resonance imaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans has revealed increases in brain activity associated with various mental activities that are task-dependent. However, changes in brain activity have been dependent on baseline as well as experimental tasks. In the present study, fMRI was applied to investigate the most appropriate baseline task, picture naming or passive viewing of nonsense objects, to isolate syntactic processes related to 14.7-s blocks of silent sentence generation in 10 neurologically normal adults. The aim of this comparison was to determine the most suitable baseline task for the purpose of elucidating changes in the neural substrates of sentence generation following therapy for syntax production problems. Use of naming but not passive object viewing as a baseline task obscured activity in Broca's area, a region previously shown to be involved in syntactic processing. These results suggest that passive viewing of nonsense objects serves as a more appropriate baseline comparison than object naming for investigating sentence processing.
Reliability and security of RAID storage systems and D2D archives using SATA disk drives

Information storage reliability and security is addressed by using personal computer disk drives in enterprise-class nearline and archival storage systems. The low cost of these serial ATA (SATA) PC drives is a tradeoff against drive reliability design and demonstration test levels, which are higher in the more expensive SCSI and Fibre Channel drives. This article discusses the tradeoff between SATA which has the advantage that fewer higher capacity drives are needed for a given system storage capacity, which further reduces cost and allows higher drive failure rates, and the use of additional storage system redundancy and drive failure prediction to maintain system data integrity using less reliable drives. RAID stripe failure probability is calculated using typical ATA and SCSI drive failure rates, for single and double parity data reconstruction failure, and failure due to drive unrecoverable block errors. Reliability improvement from drive failure prediction is also calculated, and can be significant. Today's SATA drive specifications for unrecoverable block errors appear to allow stripe reconstruction failure, and additional in-drive parity blocks are suggested as a solution. The possibility of using low cost disks data for backup and archiving is discussed, replacing higher cost magnetic tape. This requires significantly better RAID stripe failure probability, and suitable drive technology alternatives are discussed. The failure rate of nonoperating drives is estimated using failure analysis results from a4000 drives. Nonoperating RAID stripe failure rates are thereby estimated. User data security needs to be assured in addition to reliability, and to extend past the point where physical control of drives is lost, such as when drives are removed from systems for data vaulting, repair, sale, or discard. Today, over a third of resold drives contain unerased user data. Security is proposed via the existing SATA drive secure-erase command, or via the existing SATA drive password commands, or by data encryption. Finally, backup and archival disc storage is compared to magnetic tape, a technology with a proven reliability record over the full half-century of digital data storage. In contrast, tape archives are not vulnerable to tape transport failure modes. Only failure modes in the archived tapes and reels will make data unrecoverable.
A Cross-Cultural and Cross-Media Comparison of Female Nudity in Advertising

SUMMARY This study examines to what extent degrees of nudity presented in advertising differ across five countries (Brazil, China, South Korea, Thailand, and the U.S.). Content is examined by media type (TV vs. magazine) and product category (congruent vs. others). Results show that Thai and U.S. ads employ the highest degrees of nudity, whereas Chinese ads present the lowest degrees. Across all the countries, magazine ads and congruent-product ads employ higher degrees of nudity than TV ads and non-congruent product ads. The effect of product type on degrees of nudity is stronger in TV ads than in magazine ads and the interaction effect between media type and product type also varies across the countries. Our study provides richer and more specific implications for global advertising strategy with respect to representation of models and use of sex appeals.
Effect of a Pluronic ® P123 Formulation on the Nitric Oxide-Generating Drug JS-K

Purpose O2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate] or JS-K is a nitric oxide-producing prodrug of the arylated diazeniumdiolate class with promising anti-tumor activity. JS-K has challenging solubility and stability properties. We aimed to characterize and compare Pluronic® P123-formulated JS-K (P123/JS-K) with free JS-K.
RE-Analyzer: from source code to structured analysis

The RE-Analyzer is an automated, reverse engineering system providing a high level of integration with a computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tool. Specifically, legacy code is transformed into abstractions within a structured analysis methodology. The abstractions are based on data flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, and entity-relationship data models. Since the resulting abstractions can be browsed and modified within a CASE tool environment, a broad range of software engineering activities are supported, including program understanding, reengineering, and redocumentation. In addition, diagram complexity is reduced through the application of control partitioning: algorithmic technique for managing complexity by partitioning source code modules into smaller yet semantically coherent units. This approach also preserves the information content of the original source code. It is in contrast to other reverse engineering techniques that produce only structure charts and thus suffer from loss of information, unmanaged complexity, and a lack of correspondence to structured analysis abstractions. The RE-Analyzer has been implemented and currently supports the reverse engineering of software written in the C language. It has been integrated with a CASE tool based on the VIEWS method.
How to undertake cooperative R&D projects in the Former Soviet Union

Over the past several years, the U.S. Department of State has assisted in supporting international facilities in Moscow and Kiev, which provide weapons scientists in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) the opportunity to redirect their talents to peaceful activities. In 1997, the science centers established the Partners Program as a means to enable private American industry, universities, scientific institutions, and governmental and nongovernmental organizations to fund research at FSU institutions via two centers. Partners benefit through tax-free direct payments to FSU project teams, duty-free import of project equipment, financial control and regular audits, project agreements stipulating rights and privileges of the partner and institute, host government support and preapproval of projects, and strict protection of business confidential information.
Globalization: The Great Equalizer?

Getting Globalization Right: The Dilemmas of Inequality. Edited by Joseph S. Tulchin, Gary Bland. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2005. 261 pp., $55.00 cloth (ISBN: 1-58826-346-0), $22.50 paper (ISBN: 1-58826-322-3). In the fifth century BC, Plato (2000:745) warned Athenian legislators that “in a state which is desirous of being saved from the greatest of all plagues—not faction, but rather distraction—there should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty, nor, again, excess of wealth, for both are productive of both these evils.” Despite Plato's warning, growing inequality has become the signature of our times. Considering the scandalous gulf of inequality, it is not surprising that the subject has captured the imaginations of many scholars and yielded an enduring literature (see, for example, Seligson and Passe-Smith 1998; Tilly 1998; Hurrell and Woods 1999; Cornia 2005). Joseph Tulchin and Gary Bland's edited volume— Getting Globalization Right: The Dilemmas of Inequality —is a welcome addition. In seven detailed case studies (Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey), the contributors to Getting Globalization Right explore how democratic countries have dealt with the combination of globalization pressures, deepening problems of income distribution, and the absence of clear policy options (p. 3). Rather than measuring the impact of globalization on poverty, they focus on how these democracies have or have not been able to deal with the persistent dilemmas created by inequity. The common thread throughout the volume is the idea that globalization is not independent of politics, and, thus, “politically effective and responsive democracy” is the key to “getting globalization right” (p. 3). As Steven Friedman and Simon Schwartzman demonstrate in their …
Acousto-optic photonic switch

An acousto-optic architecture is presented to implement a nonblocking space-division switch with O(N) complexity. Signal degradation is minimal so that the switch is suitable for nonregenerative application within optical networks; it is also capable of rapid reconfiguration. Experiments for a 1 × 4 switch show an insertion loss ranging from 4.6 to 5.6 dB, a worst-case signal-to-cross-talk ratio of better than 30 dB, and a reconfiguration time of 1.46 μsec.
Stormwater runoff plumes observed by SeaWiFS radiometer in the Southern California Bight

Understanding the factors that influence the incidence and dispersal patterns of freshwater runoff plumes in southern California is important for management of coastal water quality. Significant river discharge is associated with episodic winter rainstorms, leading to turbid pollutant and pathogen-laden stormwater plumes that are clearly visible nearshore in the Southern California Bight. We analyzed 1.1-km spatial resolution seaspectral reflectance data acquired in 1997–2003 by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), focusing on four regions with distinctive adjacent watershed properties: Ventura, Santa Monica Bay, San Pedro Shelf, and Orange County/San Diego. The area of each plume was detected by the backscattering characteristics of surface waters, i.e., normalized water-leaving radiation of green–yellow wavelength 555 nm (nLw555). Plume area size was correlated with the rainstorm magnitude, which was estimated from atmospheric precipitation averaged over the total area of the watersheds connected to the seashore. The time lag between rainstorm and maximum plume was one day in San Pedro Shelf and two days in other three regions. Assessing maximum correlation between precipitated rainwater and the plume size, we estimated the optimal nLw555 values best characterizing the plume boundaries in each of the four study regions. Another quantitative characteristic derived from maximum correlation between rainwater and plume size was the ‘‘coefficient of persistence’’, related to the speed of freshwater discharge and the time of plume water dissipation; it was also different in different watersheds. The primary factors regulating the relationship between rainstorm and plume were watershed land-use characteristics, size, and elevation.
A Matlab/TMS320/TMS340 image processing environment

Some methods of augmenting Matlab with programmable digital signal processors (DSPs) and graphics processors are described which provide the capability for fast processing, fixed-point and binary representation and manipulation, and image display. These capabilities are attained by using three separate processors, the Texas Instruments TMS320C25 fixed-point DSP, the TMS34010 graphics processor, and a PC-AT. The graphics processor is used to store one or more full size images, typically the VGA standard 640*480 pixel range, with many other supported formats available. It also serves as a RAM buffer permitting random access of sub-images from Matlab and facilitating reformatting and related operations as well. The signal processor acts as a fast fixed-point coprocessor. Both data and programs can be downloaded and uploaded to the processor from within Matlab, utilizing special Matlab functions written for this purpose. The many Matlab 1- and 2-D functions are used to process images, typically by accessing and rewriting 64*64 pixel blocks in the graphics processor's frame buffer. >
The network neutrality inquiry

Purpose – The article addresses the FCC Network Neutrality Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to clarify its importance, timeliness and concerns in relation to Commission market administration and industrial rationalization duties and obligations. It notes industry rivalry, proposed regulatory policy concerning managed services and non‐discriminatory network administration, and voluntary and mandatory Network Neutrality standards.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides and analysis of the FCC Notice.Findings – The article notices the FCC's approach to “non‐discriminatory” conduct as a feasible public policy, which could stimulate innovation and investment. It specifies fruitful areas for Network Neutrality public policy.Originality/value – The article concisely evaluates a major FCC initiative.
Is it too late to learn lessons for the future of Iraq

A wide range of efforts has been offered on ‘winning the peace’ in Iraq. This article examines the judgements of several comparative studies on post-conflict nation-building, and it introduces 1990s Russia as an additional source of ‘lessons learned’. Beyond the widely recommended attention to the large and small technical tasks in the areas of security, democracy, administrative capacity, and economic reconstruction, this paper points to the importance of dynamics such as a real and lasting commitment by the United States and the coalition, the emergence of widely supported and particularly talented Iraqi leadership, and increased evidence of ‘learning’ among Iraqi elites and masses and among the coalition and international community.
Urban School Reform from a Student-of-Color Perspective:

The achievement gap between students of color and their White counterparts still exists. Identifying and understanding alterable factors in the schooling process that can help to close this gap is critical and has captured national attention. This article looks at one school community’s efforts to fundamentally alter the structure, curriculum, and instructional practices in ways that would help to provide greater educational opportunities for all students. Using heterogeneous grouping in tandem with curricular and pedagogical changes, the ninth-grade program at Liberty High School was modestly successful in creating a learning environment that was intellectually challenging and culturally enriching. Educators at Liberty High School believe such changes will lead to greater academic success for all students and particularly students of color.
Propranolol suppression of ocular HSV-1 recurrence and associated corneal lesions following spontaneous reactivation in the rabbit.

Purpose. Hyperthermia has been shown to induce HSV-1 ocular shedding in mice. Systemic administration of propranolol significantly reduced the recovery of infectious virus in the tears, cornea, and trigeminal ganglia of mice subjected to hyperthermia. The present study was performed to determine the effects of systemic propranolol on ocular shedding and recurrent corneal epithelial lesions in the rabbit model.Methods. New Zealand white rabbits were infected with HSV-1 strain McKrae or 17Syn +. After latency was established, the animals were treated with systemic propranolol or saline (control) and examined by slit lamp biomicroscopy for corneal lesions. Tear film swabs were cultured to determine the frequency and duration of viral shedding.Results. Propranolol caused a significant reduction in the frequency and duration of ocular HSV-1 shedding and a reduction in the frequency of recurrent corneal epithelial disease, compared with saline treatment.Conclusions. These results suggest that beta-adrenergic re...
The effect of selenium in the hen's diet on egg production, hatchability, performance of progeny and selenium concentration in eggs

Abstract Studies were conducted on the effects of supplemental selenium upon the performance of S.C.W.L. hens raised from hatching on selenium-low, semipurified diets (0.02 p.p.m. Se) containing adequate vitamin E. In hens continued on a Se-low laying diet, supplements of 0.015 p.p.m. Se and 0.030 p.p.m. Se as Na2SeO3 significantly increased egg production and hatchability. The Se concentration in the eggs was approximately equal to the dietary Se level throughout a 13 week period. When fed a selenium-low chick starter diet, offspring of the hens receiving 0.030 p.p.m. Se showed improved growth, but no protection against exudative diathesis and no improvement in hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity. When selenium-depleted hens were fed a low selenium (0.027 p.p.m.) practical diet, supplementation of 0.1 p.p.m. Se as selenomethionine significantly increased egg production. Hatchability of fertile eggs from the unsupplemented group fell to 42% after 6 weeks, while the values for the hens receiving either selenite or selenomethionine (0.1 p.p.m. Se) remained at approximately 90%. By 20 weeks, the hens receiving 0.1 p.p.m. Seas Na2SeO3 showed improved egg production as compared to those on the basal diet, and hatchability fell below 10% for the unsupplemented group but remained at 90% for the group receiving Se. The concentration of Se in eggs from hens fed the basal diet alone and supplemented with 0.1 p.p.m. as selenite and selenomethionine was 0.026, 0.121 and 0.124 p.p.m., respectively, after 3 weeks. After 15 weeks eggs from hens fed the basal diet alone and supplemented with 0.1 p.p.m. Se as selenite contained 0.035 and 0.138 p.p.m. Se, respectively. Both supplements of Na2SeO3 and selenomethionine delayed the onset of symptoms of exudative diathesis. The results indicate a nutritional requirement for selenium for normal hatchability, egg production and performance of progeny.
Time evolution to similarity solutions for polymer degradation

The theory of polymer decomposition is basic in understanding polymer and plastics stability, durability, characterization, and recycling. Polymers degrade by chain scission occurring randomly along the chain, at the chain midpoint, at the chain end, or by a combination of random chain-scission and chain-end scission. Mathematical solutions for polymer degradation were previously constrained to particular stoichiometric kernels (usually random scission) and to specialized distributions (such as the exponential distribution). Because the first term in a Laguerre-polynomial expansion is the gamma distribution and the initial molecular-weight distributions (MWDs) of polymers can be represented as superposed gamma distributions, the mathematical solution is represented as the time evolution of generalized gamma distribution parameters. Such solutions show how the first three moments of the MWD evolve in time for each of the chain-scission models. The rate coefficient for random chain scission is assumed to depend on MW x as x{sup {lambda}}, and the stoichiometric kernel is symmetric as in random or midpoint chain scission. Except when {lambda} = 0, the distribution evolves to a similarity solution with the MW and time appearing together in the dimensionless group, x{sup {lambda}}/{beta}(t). The case of chain-end scission, however, has no similarity solution.
Work in progress - mobile computer based classroom assessment

Formative assessment of student progress and attitudes is important to our continuous improvement process, but collecting and compiling the data is burdensome without using computer tools. This research is to set up a mobile computer based lab that enables faculty who teach in traditional classrooms without computers to use testing and survey tools. The technologies necessary to develop such system including wireless communication, World Wide Web (WWW), database, and mobile computing are investigated in this research. The real-time based formative assessment of student is proposed. A hardware configuration for real-time assessment is also proposed in the research
A plan-commit-prove protocol for secure verification of traversal path

Security is an important issue in wireless sensor networks. With the growing scope of ad-hoc wireless sensor networks, many of its applications require more than just data authentication. The sensor nodes that receive data from other sensor nodes not only need to authenticate the data but also need to trust the associated information. In particular, in this paper we discuss the problem when a mobile node sends data as well as its location information to the static sensor nodes deployed randomly over a two dimensional area. It could be seen, that, a simple data authentication mechanism cannot ensure that the mobile node always provides the correct location information and it does not cheat about the location or the path it has taken for movement. In this paper we provide a "plan-commit-prove" protocol for secure verification of location and traversal path claim and analyze the security aspects of the protocol. The mobile node generates a movement plan and broadcasts a commitment to some neighboring nodes; at a later point in time static nodes verify the planed movement claims of the mobile node by sampling the commitments at various points on the path.
MACA-P: a MAC for concurrent transmissions in multi-hop wireless networks

This paper presents the initial design and performance study of MACA-P, a RTS/CTS based MAC protocol that enables simultaneous transmissions in multihop ad-hoc wireless networks. Providing such low-cost multihop and high performance wireless access networks is an important enabler of pervasive computing. MACA-P is a set of enhancements to the 802.11 DCF that allows parallel transmissions in many situations when two neighboring nodes are either both receivers or both transmitters, but a receiver and a transmitter are not neighbors. Like 802.11, MACA-P contains a contention-based reservation phase prior to data transmission. However, the data transmission is delayed by a control phase interval, which allows multiple sender-receiver pairs to synchronize their data transfers, thereby avoiding collisions and improving system throughput.
Using predicate path information in hardware to determine true dependences

Predicated Execution has been put forth as a method for improving processor performance by removing hard-to-predict branches. As part of the process of turning a set of basic blocks into a predicated region, both paths of a branch are combined into a single path. There can be multiple definitions from disjoint paths that reach a use. Waiting to find out the correct definition that actually reaches the use can cause pipeline stalls.In this paper we examine a hardware optimization that dynamically collects and analyzes path information to determine valid dependences for predicated regions of code. We then use this information for an in-order VLIW predicated processor, so that instructions can continue towards execution without having to wait on operands from false dependences. Our results show that using our Disjoint Path Analysis System provides speedups over 6% and elimination of false RAW dependences of up to 14% due to the detection of erroneous dependences in if-converted regions of code.
Absence of disulfiram-type reactions to single and multiple doses of cefonicid: a placebo-controlled study

Disulfiram-type reactions after ingestion of alcohol have been reported in patients treated with a number of cephalosporin antibiotics; predominantly with agents containing the methylthiotetrazole side chain, although other similar configurations have also been implicated. Since cefonicid has a sulphonic acid thiotetrazole substitution, we investigated the possibility of a cefonicid-ethanol interaction in 15 healthy volunteers. During the first two crossover phases of the study, single 1 g doses of cefonicid followed by ethanol challenges were compared to placebo followed by ethanol challenges. In the third phase, all volunteers received three consecutive 1 g doses of cefonicid given at 24 h intervals followed by an ethanol challenge. At no time did any of the subjects experience a disulfiram-type reaction, and their blood aldehyde concentrations did not increase throughout the study.
Preventing treatment interference: the nurse's role in maintaining technologic devices.

Abstract Background: Treatment interference, the disruption or self-removal of technologic devices, is a primary reason for application of physical restraints in acute and critical care settings. The processes of care surrounding treatment interference and the prevention of device disruption have not been comprehensively analyzed. Objectives: To describe the processes used by critical care nurses to prevent treatment interference in critically ill older adults. Methods: Participant observation field research was conducted in medical and intermediate medical intensive care units. Data were analyzed by using the constant comparative method and event analysis. Results: Maintaining technologic devices is almost exclusively a nursing responsibility and involves the skillful assessment of patient awareness and trustworthiness and interpretation of behaviors. Critical care nurses are most protective of those devices for which accidental removal is perceived as life threatening: endotracheal tubes, arterial catheters, and central venous catheters. Nurses assess patients' cognitive status, mobility, strength, and trustworthiness, as well as device considerations such as replacement difficulty and device necessity. In addition to verbal strategies, such as explaining, nurses use distraction, deception, comfort measures, watchful family members, physical restraints, and sedation to prevent treatment interference. Conclusion: This analysis considers the social context of the intensive care unit, including roles and the human-technology interaction. It illustrates the tremendous responsibility that nurses assume in maintaining technologic devices. Next steps in research and policy development are also considered. (Heart Lung® 2000;29:60-69)
Forming groups into teams through virtual interactions: Researching remote collaborators and “getting to know you”

Research suggests that collaborators prefer to begin projects during face-to-face encounters, but in many organizations, team members are unable to meet their collaborators outside of a virtual setting. Working solely at a distance can prove to be a challenge, particularly early in a project when virtual collaborators need to get a sense of roles, tasks, and one another. How do—and how can—remote collaborators maneuver through the early stages of a project: getting to know one another and building a working relationship? How can we learn about and study how professional communicators collaborate with others at a distance? We have begun to explore such questions by developing approaches that can add voices of practitioners to the growing research literature. We place issues that surfaced during a pilot of our research instruments within the contexts of the literature on virtual collaboration and our own experiences as they relate to developing remote teams. From all of these sources, we suggest issues to consider when forming remote teams.