cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Helium Pre-Implantation on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Of Irradiated 316 Stainless Steel

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) specimens of a First Core heat of 316 stainless steel, in both the solution annealed and 20% cold worked condition, were irradiated to 46 dpa at 420 C, to 49 dpa at 520 C, and to 34 dpa at 600 C in FFTF/MOTA. Prior to irradiation, about half of the specimens were pre-implanted with approximately 100 appm of helium, and of these, several of the solution annealed and pre-implanted specimens were aged at 800 C for 2 hr. Post-irradiation density measurements showed little difference in density between the unimplanted alloys and their helium implanted counterparts. Microstructural observations on specimens irradiated at 420 C and 520 C showed relatively minor differences in defect distributions between the unimplanted and the helium implanted materials; in all cases the defect sizes and number densities were consistent with data in the literature. Where possible, irradiation hardening of the alloys was experimentally evaluated by microhardness and shear punch; experimentally obtained values were compared to values calculated using a computer model based on barrier hardening and the microstructural data. All methods indicated relatively small effects of helium implantation, and both measured and calculated values were in agreement with the range of values reportedmore » in the literature.« less
Two-year follow-up of elderly patients with mixed depression and dementia. Clinical and electroencephalographic sleep findings

In a two-year follow-up of 16 patients with mixed symptoms of depression and dementia, eight showed clinical improvement and eight showed deterioration. Improvement at two-year follow-up was associated with several baseline measures: a Folstein Mini-Mental State score of 21 or greater, a Hamilton Depression score of 21 or greater, and a sleep efficiency of less than 75%. These findings suggest that in the elderly with mixed symptoms of depression and dementia, a more favorable outcome is associated with initially greater depressive symptomatology, higher cognitive function, and moderate sleep continuity disturbance ("early morning awakening").
Compaction of fused silica under low-fluence/long-term 193-nm irradiation

The compaction (densification) of fused silica under low fluence (< 1 mJ/cm2/pulse), long term (hundreds of millions of pulses) 193 nm irradiation has been studied. With the use of a finite element analysis, the unconstrained densification, (delta) (rho) /(rho) , is extracted from the experimentally determined wavefront distortion. We find that the densification of silica in the low fluence exposure regime corresponds to what is predicted from the behavior described by: (delta) (rho) /(rho) equals 0.000117 (NI2)0.53 where N equals number of pulses, I equals intensity (mJ/cm2/pulse). Results are presented of high and low intensity studies that establish the utility of the above form as a predictive tool for densification in fused silica.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pro- and antiinflammatory cytokine production after radiofrequency ablation of unresectable hepatic tumors

Abstract Background Experience using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treating unresectable hepatic malignancies is expanding, with promising outcomes and fewer complications compared with cryotherapy. This study examined systemic inflammatory responses after RFA as measured by the appearance of postoperative symptoms and cytokine production. Study design Seventeen patients (11 men, 6 women) aged 40 to 85 years (mean 64.2 years) with unresectable primary and metastatic hepatic tumors underwent RFA. Mean liver volume treated with RFA was 35.3% ± 3.6% (SEM) (median 36.8%). Plasma cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, p55, and p75) were measured from anesthesia induction through 48 hours after RFA. Ex vivo whole-blood cytokine production was measured at baseline, 24 hours, and 48 hours after RFA. Results Cytokine and cytokine-receptor production were not notably altered by RFA. Ex vivo whole-blood endotoxin stimulation indicated that intrinsic cellular immune function remained intact after treatment, although modest decreases in stimulated tumor necrosis factor α production were observed 24 to 48 hours after RFA. Variceal bleeding, hepatic failure, and death occurred in one patient 30 days after RFA. None of the remaining patients exhibited tachycardia or hypotension. Fevers (≥38.5°C) developed in three patients during the first 48 hours postoperatively. There was no association between plasma cytokines and postoperative complications. Conclusions In contrast to previous reports using cryotherapy, systemic inflammatory responses as measured by increased cytokines were not observed after RFA. The cryotherapy-induced "cryoshock" phenomenon was not observed in patients undergoing RFA in our study. We conclude that RFA ablation is fundamentally different than cryotherapy and apparently does not stimulate Kupffer and other hepatic macrophages to produce proinflammatory cytokines.
Sequence Polymorphism of the 16S rRNA Gene of Vibrio vulnificus Is a Possible Indicator of Strain Virulence

Vibrio vulnificus exhibits considerable strain-to-strain variation in virulence. Attempts to associate phenotypic or genotypic characteristics with strain virulence have been largely unsuccessful. Based on a 17-nucleotide difference throughout the sequence of the small subunit 16S rRNA gene, there are two major groups of V. vulnificus designated types A and B. In a survey of the 16S rRNA genotype in 67 V. vulnificus human clinical and nonclinical strains, we determined that the majority of nonclinical isolates are type A (31 of 33) and that there is a statistically significant association between the type B genotype and human clinical strains (26 of 34).
Microbially mediated sulfidization of coal

Abstract Processing Ugljevik lignite with mixed anaerobic cultures containing sulfate-reducing bacteria resulted in significant transfer of sulfur from the sulfatic fraction to the organic sulfur fraction. Although desulfurization had been the objective of the experiments, coal retrieved from microbial cultures was up to 12% higher in total sulfur, and up to 20% higher in the organic sulfur fraction, than coal retrieved from sterile controls. Sulfur mass balances suggested that sulfatic sulfur was rinsed away during processing in controls, but in cultures was reduced to sulfide, which reassociated with coal. Sulfide sorption experiments were performed at pH 7.5 using Ugljevik lignite, a North Dakota lignite, and two Illinois Basin coals, IBC-108 and IBC-101. Respective sulfide capacities were: 22.95, 16.85, 11.44 and 7.36 mg g −1 . Sulfide sorption correlated with ash contents ( r = + 0.86) and with ash free carbon contents ( r = − 0.95). These results cast doubt on reductive removal as a desulfurization option. However, they support the scientific hypothesis that dissimilatory sulfate reduction contributed to diagenesis of high sulfur coal.
From Victim to Offender: The Effects of Male Initiated Violence on Women Arrested for Using Intimate Partner Violence

A number of theorists posit that most women who are arrested for using violence against their intimate partners are in-fact victims of IPV themselves and should be treated as such. However, in this population of women IPV arrestees empirical investigation has yet to explore how physical and emotional victimization experiences are associated with arrest related factors, propensity to be abusive or attitude toward using relationship violence. The current study explores these factors finding no difference in arrest factors between women who (a) deny abuse, (b) report rare/occasional abuse and (c) report frequent/very frequent abuse. However, mixed results were found with regard to participants’ responses on scales measuring propensity to be abusive and attitudes about using violence in marriage. Theoretical and practical related issues are addressed.
Pyruvate-fortified resuscitation stabilizes cardiac electrical activity and energy metabolism during hypovolemia.

AIM: To test the hypothesis that fluid resuscitation with Ringer’s solution enriched with pyruvate (PR), a physiological antioxidant and energy substrate, affords protection of myocardial metabolism and electrophysiological performance superior to lactated Ringer’s (LR) during hypovolemia and hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion. METHODS: Male domestic goats (25-30 kg) were exsanguinated to a mean arterial pressure of 48 ± 1 mmHg. Right hindlimb ischemia was imposed for 90 min by applying a tourniquet and femoral crossclamp. LR or PR, infused iv, delivered 0.05 mmol/kg per minute L-lactate or pyruvate, respectively, from 30 min hindlimb ischemia until 30 min post-ischemia. Time controls (TC) underwent neither hemorrhage, hindlimb ischemia nor resuscitation. Goats were sacrificed and left ventricular myocardium biopsied at 90 min fluid resuscitation (n = 6 per group) or 3.5 h later (n = 9 LR, 10 PR, 8 TC). RESULTS: Myocardial 8-isoprostane content, phosphocreatine phosphorylation potential, creatine kinase activity, and heart rate-adjusted QT interval (QTc) variability were evaluated at 90 min resuscitation and 3.5 h post-resuscitation. PR sharply lowered pro-arrhythmic QTc variability vs LR (P < 0.05); this effect persisted 3.5 h post-resuscitation. PR lowered myocardial 8-isoprostane content, a product of oxidative stress, by 39 and 37% during and 3.5 h after resuscitation, respectively, vs LR. Creatine kinase activity fell 42% post-LR vs TC (P < 0.05), but was stable post-PR (P < 0.02 vs post-LR). PR doubled phosphocreatine phosphorylation potential, a measure of ATP free energy state, vs TC and LR (P < 0.05); this energetic enhancement persisted 3.5 h post-resuscitation. CONCLUSION: By augmenting myocardial energy state and protecting creatine kinase activity, pyruvate-enriched resuscitation stabilized cardiac electrical function during central hypovolemia and hindlimb ischemia-reperfusion.
Temporal Interpersonal Emotion Systems The “TIES” That Form Relationships

Emotion is often framed as an intrapersonal system comprised of subcomponents such as experience, behavior, and physiology that interact over time to give rise to emotional states. What is missing is that many emotions occur in the context of social interaction or ongoing relationships. When this happens, the result can be conceptualized as a temporal interpersonal emotion system (TIES) in which the subcomponents of emotion interact not only within the individual but across the partners as well. The present review (a) suggests that TIES can be understood in terms of the characteristics of dynamic systems, (b) reviews examples from diverse research that has investigated characteristics of TIES, (c) attempts to clarify the overlapping terms that have been used to refer to those characteristics by mapping them to the statistical, mathematical, and graphical models that have been used to represent TIES, and (d) offers pragmatic advice for analyzing TIES data.
THALIDOMIDE: EFFECTS ON EHRLICH ASCITES TUMOR CELLS IN VITRO.

Thalidomide did not inhibit dehydrogenase activity or growth of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in agar. When mixed with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in vitro, thalidomide increased the mitotic activity. The effect of the thalidomide was not altered by the addition of nicotinic or folic acid, or by vitamin B 1 or B 6 . Oxygen uptake by the tumor cells was not affected by thalidomide.
Immune status assay (ISA): a noninvasive procedure for studying allograft rejection.

Abstract Background: There is a need for a simple, sensitive, noninvasive technique for monitoring graft function. We report here on a simple assay called immune status assay (ISA) that determines the status of the graft by simply examining the activation status of blood T cells. Methods: Graft-derived fibroblasts were used as a source of alloantigens and the recipient blood as a source of allograft-specific peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). PBL were added to wells containing donor or third-party graft-derived fibroblasts in the presence or absence of interleukin-2 (IL-2). On day 4 [3H]thymidine incorporation was quantified after the cells were incubated for 3 days at 37 °C, in a 5% CO2 water-jacketed incubator. The results were analyzed using the following equation: % IL 2−/ IL 2+= mean [ 3 H] thymidine uptake in the absence of IL -2 mean [ 3 H] thymidine uptake in the presence of IL -2 X100 Results: The ISA score (%IL-2−/IL-2+) correlated strongly with the outcome of the graft, as it had a sensitivity of 82% for detecting rejections (14/17), and a specificity of 81% (30/37) for detecting non-rejections. Notably, the ISA detected immune T cell activation in the blood of graft rejecting subjects, which were not detected by currently used techniques such as mixed lymphocytes reaction. Conclusion: The ISA is a straightforward procedure that detects allograft rejection with high specificity and sensitivity.
Regulation of Cartilage Acid Hydrolases by Growth Hormone

The in vivo regulation of three acid hydrolases, namely cathepsin D, cathepsin B, and acid phosphatase, by GH was investigated. The costal cartilage cathepsin D and acid phosphatase activities of hypophysectomized rats were reduced relative to those found in normal controls. Treatment of hypophysectomized animals with GH enhanced rat growth rate and increased these two enzyme activities toward normal levels. Results of pepstatin experiments suggested that the elevated cartilage cathepsin D activity corresponded to an increase in enzyme concentration. A degree of specificity in this regulation was apparent because cartilage cathepsin B, unlike cathepsin D and acid phosphatase, was refractory to hypophysectomy and GH treatment. In contradistinction to cartilage, none of these hepatic enzymes responded to GH, and only cathepsin B activity was diminished by hypophysectomy. Centrifugational and detergent studies indicated that changes in enzyme activities induced by GH treatment were not due to the differentia...
Effects of low concentrations of dieldrin and chlormadinone acetate on canine prostatic fluid

Abstract Prostatic fluid was collected from 24 vasectomized mongrel dogs with cystopreputiostomies for 5 mo in each of two experiments; during this time dogs were fed 50 μg/kg body weight/day of chlormadinone acetate (CAP) and/or 15 μg/kg body weight/day of dieldrin. Collections were made for 1 hr under 0.7 mg/kg pilocarpine hydrochloride stimulation. Prostatic fluid volume and acid phosphatase activity decreased in CAP and CAP + dieldrin fed dogs. In Expt. 1 a significant hormone-pesticide interaction (P
Mechanism for the Dynamic Adsorption of CO2 and CH4 in a Flexible Linear Chain Coordination Polymer as Determined from In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy

Adsorption−desorption cycles for CO2 and CH4 on the one-dimensional coordination polymer, catena-bis(dibenzoylmethanato)-(4,4′-bipyridyl)nickel(II), “Ni-DBM-BPY”, showed pronounced step-shape isotherms, where minimal gas adsorption was detected below a threshold pressure and rapid gas uptake was observed above this threshold. Desorption isotherms from the saturated state displayed significant hysteresis from the adsorption isotherm path. Such behavior is rare in one-dimensional coordination polymers that lack a robust framework with permanent porosity. This step-shape adsorption behavior for CO2 was shown by in situ FT-IR measurements to be the result of a structural phase transition in the Ni-DBM-BPY host which arises from a change in conformation of the DBM ligands. After the structural transition, the adsorption spectrum of the adsorbed CO2 changed significantly due to an enhanced CO2 interaction with the host. A similar mechanism can be inferred for CH4 from the isotherm shape, but the host structural...
Remote titration of carvedilol for heart failure patients by advanced practice nurses

Abstract Background β-blockers (BB) in the treatment of heart failure (HF) are frequently underprescribed and underdosed, perhaps because of recommendations for office visits at each dose change. In previous work, we demonstrated the feasibility of remote telephonically assisted BB titration and found favorable effects on morbidity, time to target dose, and low withdrawal rates. In the current expanded evaluation, we reasoned that a structured remote telephonic titration protocol would achieve outcomes comparable to US Carvedilol Trials in regard to optimal dose, titration time, and morbidity. Methods Seventy HF patients were initiated on BB therapy (carvedilol). Before therapy, patients were instructed on BB side effects, pulse taking, and weight monitoring. Patients reported weights, vital signs, and symptoms 3 times per week by phone. Advanced practice nurses counseled, educated, and reminded patients to increase their dose every 2 weeks until target doses were reached. Results A total of 96% reached a therapeutic dose (6.25 mg twice daily). Moreover, 71% of patients reached target doses of 25 mg twice weekly in approximately 8 weeks. No HF hospitalizations occurred during remote titration. Conclusions The use of advanced practice nurses, titration protocols, and telemanagement technologies may improve the number of HF patients initiated and treated with appropriate doses of BB.
Primary carcinoma of the duodenum producing a malignant duodenocolic fistula

A unique case of primary duodenal carcinoma with a malignant duodenocolic fistula is reported. En-bloc resection of the lesion with pancreatico-duodenectomy and right hemicolectomy resulted in a 15-month disease-free interval.
Repair of the Ruptured Distal Biceps Tendon A Systematic Review

BackgroundReinsertion of the acutely ruptured distal biceps is the preferred method of treatment for most patients and is designed to restore flexion and supination strength. It is not clear which, if any, method of fixation is superior or whether a 2-incision or single-incision approach is associated with fewer complications or better outcomes.Hypotheses(1) There is no difference in biomechanical performance between currently used fixation methods, (2) there is no difference in incidence of complications between the 2-incision and single-incision approach, and (3) there is no difference in clinical outcomes between the 2-incision and single-incision approach.Study DesignSystematic review; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsThe authors performed a systematic review of the literature studying treatment of the ruptured distal biceps tendon to determine optimal fixation method as well as surgical approach with lowest incidence of complications and highest proportion of satisfactory results.ResultsThe review identif...
LOEX-of-the-West 2008 : a first time attendee finds Greek sunshine in Las Vegas

Purpose – The purpose of this conference report is to provide a perspective of the LOEX‐of‐the‐West (LOTW) biennial conference from a first time attendee.Design/methodology/approach – Reviews the conference from the perspective of a first time attendee and highlights several sessions that especially reflected the conference themes of experimentation and innovation.Findings – The paper finds the LOTW biennial conference to be a valuable resource to all librarians in general; and especially valuable to new librarians.Originality/value – The paper shows that the conference is of high value for reference and information literacy practitioners.
Inhibition of H3K27me3-specific histone demethylases JMJD3 and UTX blocks reactivation of herpes simplex virus 1 in trigeminal ganglion neurons

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) genomes are associated with the repressive heterochromatic marks H3K9me2/me3 and H3K27me3 during latency. Previous studies have demonstrated that inhibitors of H3K9me2/me3 histone demethylases reduce the ability of HSV-1 to reactivate from latency. Here we demonstrate that GSK-J4, a specific inhibitor of the H3K27me3 histone demethylases UTX and JMJD3, inhibits HSV-1 reactivation from sensory neurons in vitro. These results indicate that removal of the H3K27me3 mark plays a key role in HSV-1 reactivation.
Microstructural features of cracking in autogenous Beryllium weldments

An investigation was conducted to determine the causes of centerline cracking in autogenous Be weldments. In agreement with earlier studies, features on the fracture surfaces consistent with hot shortness cracking were observed. However, the present study reveals a more complicated solidification path than previously described. Analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of the weld centerline revealed low-melting constituents consisting of a MBe12 grain boundary film and nodules containing elemental Al, elemental Si, and AlFeBe4 phases. Possible solidifcation pathways to produce this structure are discussed in terms of available binary and ternary phase diagrams.
Evaluation of (4-[18F]Fluorophenyl)triphenylphosphonium ion. A potential myocardial blood flow agent for PET.

The lipophilic cationic compound, (4-[18F]fluorophenyl)triphenylphosphonium ion (18F-FTPP) was synthesized and evaluated as a potential positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial perfusion agent. 18F-FTPP was prepared from (4-nitrophenyl)triphenylphosphonium nitrate and ammonium [18F]fluoride by nucleophilic aromatic substitution and was purified by high performance liquid chromatography before use. Biodistribution studies were performed in rats at 5, 30, 60 min (five rats per time point). Three rats were evaluated by microPET imaging after injection of 18F-FTPP. In addition, microPET imaging in rabbits (three) was performed before and after occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery with 13NH3 (111 MBq) and 18F-FTPP (74 MBq). Biodistribution data in rats showed rapid blood clearance and high levels of accumulation in the heart; 75:1 heart-to-blood ratio at 30 min. Uptake of radioactivity in the heart was 1.64% ID/G, 1.51% ID/g, and 1.57% ID/g at 5, 30, and 60 min. At 5, 30, and 60 min, lung activity was 0.69% ID/g, 0.03% ID/g, and 0.38% ID/g, and liver uptake was 0.34% ID/g, 0.18% ID/g, and 0.17% ID/g. Heart-to-lung ratios at 5, 30, and 60 min were 2, 5, and 4. Bone accumulation was minimal. MicroPET imaging in both rats and rabbits after injection of 18F-FTPP demonstrated an initial spike of activity in the myocardium corresponding to blood flow followed by a plateau after 1 min. Region of interest analysis of microPET images of normal and LAD-occluded rabbits with 13NH3 and 18F-FTPP indicated similar distributions of the two tracers in both normal and altered blood flow regions. The excellent heart-to-blood ratio of 18F-FTPP and its correlation with 13NH3 distribution in normal and LAD-occluded rabbits suggest that this radiopharmaceutical may have potential as a PET agent for characterizing mitochondrial damage and/or myocardial blood flow.
Stroboscopic visual training improves information encoding in short-term memory.

The visual system has developed to transform an undifferentiated and continuous flow of information into discrete and manageable representations, and this ability rests primarily on the uninterrupted nature of the input. Here we explore the impact of altering how visual information is accumulated over time by assessing how intermittent vision influences memory retention. Previous work has shown that intermittent, or stroboscopic, visual training (i.e., practicing while only experiencing snapshots of vision) can enhance visual–motor control and visual cognition, yet many questions remain unanswered about the mechanisms that are altered. In the present study, we used a partial-report memory paradigm to assess the possible changes in visual memory following training under stroboscopic conditions. In Experiment 1, the memory task was completed before and immediately after a training phase, wherein participants engaged in physical activities (e.g., playing catch) while wearing either specialized stroboscopic eyewear or transparent control eyewear. In Experiment 2, an additional group of participants underwent the same stroboscopic protocol but were delayed 24 h between training and assessment, so as to measure retention. In comparison to the control group, both stroboscopic groups (immediate and delayed retest) revealed enhanced retention of information in short-term memory, leading to better recall at longer stimulus-to-cue delays (640–2,560 ms). These results demonstrate that training under stroboscopic conditions has the capacity to enhance some aspects of visual memory, that these faculties generalize beyond the specific tasks that were trained, and that trained improvements can be maintained for at least a day.
Reconstruction of core axial power shapes using the alternating conditional expectation algorithm

Abstract We have introduced the alternating conditional expectation (ACE) algorithm in reconstructing 20-node axial core power shapes from five-level in-core detector powers. The core design code, Reactor Operation and Control Simulation (ROCS), calculates 3-dimensional power distributions for various core states, and the reference core-averaged axial power shapes and corresponding simulated detector powers are utilized to synthesize the axial power shape. By using the ACE algorithm, the optimal relationship between a dependent variable, the plane power, and independent variables, five detector powers, is determined without any preprocessing. A total of ∼3490 data sets per each cycle of YongGwang Nuclear (YGN) power plant units 3 and 4 is used for the regression. Continuous analytic function corresponding to each optimal transformation is calculated by simple regression model. The reconstructed axial power shapes of ∼21,200 cases are compared to the original ROCS axial power shapes. Also, to test the validity and accuracy of the new method, its performance is compared with that of the Fourier fitting method (FFM), a typical method of the deterministic approach. For a total of 21,204 data cases, the averages of root mean square (rms) error, axial peak error ( ΔF z ), and axial shape index error ( Δ ASI) of new method are calculated as 0.81%, 0.51% and 0.00204, while those of FFM are 2.29%, 2.37% and 0.00264, respectively. We also evaluated the wide range of axial power profiles from the xenon-oscillation. The results show that the newly developed method is far superior to FFM; average rms and axial peak error are just ∼35 and ∼20% of those of FFM, respectively. ©
The effects of soil type and chemical treatment on nickel speciation in refinery enriched soils: A multi-technique investigation

Aerial deposition of Ni from a refinery in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada has resulted in the enrichment of 29 km 2 of land with Ni concentrations exceeding the Canadian Ministry of the Environment’s remedial action level of 200 mg kg � 1 . Several studies on these soils have shown that making the soils calcareous was effective at reducing chemically extractable Ni, as well as alleviating Ni phytotoxicity symptoms in vegetable crops grown in the vicinity of the refinery. Conversely, dolomitic limestone additions resulted in increased uptake of Ni in the Ni hyperaccumulator Alyssum murale ‘Kotodesh’, a plant whose use was proposed as a remediation strategy for this area. In this paper we use multiple techniques to directly assess the role soil type and lime treatments play in altering the speciation of Ni in the Welland loam and Quarry muck soils around the refinery and relate these findings to Ni mobility and bioavailability. Stirred-flow dissolution experiments using pH 4 HNO3 showed that Ni release from the limed Quarry muck and Welland loam soils was reduced (� 0.10%) relative to the unlimed soils (� 2.0%). Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) identified approximately spherical NiO and Ni metal particles, which are associated with no other metals, and range from 5 to 50 lm in diameter. Synchrotron micro-X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies showed that Ni and Al layered double hydroxide (Ni–Al LDH) phases were present in both the limed and unlimed mineral soils, with a tendency towards more stable (e.g., aged-LDH and phyllosilicate) Ni species in the limed soil, possibly aided by the solubilization of Si with increasing pH. In the muck soils, Ni–organic complexes (namely fulvic acid) dominated the speciation in both limed and unlimed soils. The results reported herein show that both soil type and treatment have a pronounced effect on the speciation of Ni in the soils surrounding the Port Colborne refinery. We provide the first evidence that Ni–Al LDH phases can form in anthropogenically enriched mineral field soils at circumneutral pH, and can lead to a reduction in Ni mobility. In the organic soils Ni is strongly complexed by soil organic matter; a property enhanced with liming. Interestingly, increased accumulation of Ni by A. murale grown in the limed muck and loam soils indicates that the plant may be capable of removing Ni from those
Design and control of a smart bed for pressure ulcer prevention

This work details the design, simulation, and experimental testing of a mechanically actuated smart hospital bed for the prevention of pressure ulcers in hospital patients. The smart hospital bed, or Smartbed, is designed to improve the “turning” process currently performed by health care workers, ensuring that patients are turned consistently and decreasing the labor requirement for caregivers. The mechanical structure of the bed is described, along with its advantages over current Smartbed products. Next, dynamic models of the Smartbed actuating systems are discussed along with descriptions of the devised single-unit and overall bed control systems. The control equations determined in simulation are then simplified, allowing them to be implemented in real time by a microcontroller. Finally, the simplified control system is tested against the original dynamic model in simulation, and the actuation of one constructed unit of the multi-unit bed platform is tested with open loop user input, validating design choices and improvements made to the hardware of the mechanism.
No-Core Shell Model Calculations in Light Nuclei with Three-Nucleon Forces

The ab initio No-Core Shell Model (NCSM) has recently been expanded to include nucleon-nucleon (NN) and three-nucleon (3N) interactions at the three-body cluster level. Here it is used to predict binding energies and spectra of p -shell nuclei based on realistic NN and 3N interactions. First results show that NN plus 3N interactions based on chiral perturbation theory lead to a realistic description of 6 Li.
Design of conical corrugated feed horns for wide-band high-frequency applications

This paper presents a new analytical procedure for the design of the conical corrugated feed horns used in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength range, which could achieve wide-band single-mode operation and wide-band, low return-loss impedance matching simultaneously. A test model of the feed horn designed using this procedure displayed excellent performance, and agreed well with the theoretical predictions. >
A Lookup Table to Compute High Energy Cosmic Ray Effects on Terrestrial Atmospheric Chemistry

Washburn University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Topeka, KS 66621,United States of AmericaE-mail: melott@ku.eduAbstract. A variety of events such as gamma-ray bursts and supernovae may exposethe Earth to an increased ux of high-energy cosmic rays, with potentially importante ects on the biosphere. Existing atmospheric chemistry software does not have thecapability of incorporating the e ects of substantial cosmic ray ux above 10 GeV. Anatmospheric code, the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center two-dimensional (latitude,altitude) time-dependent atmospheric model (NGSFC), is used to study atmosphericchemistry changes. We have created a table that, with the use of the NGSFC code, canbe used to simulate the e ects of high energy cosmic rays (10 GeV - 1 PeV) ionizingthe atmosphere. By interpolation, the table can be used to generate values for otheruses which depend upon atmospheric energy deposition by ensembles of high-energycosmic rays. We discuss the table, its use, weaknesses, and strengths.
Associational culture and civic engagement in colonial Lucknow The Jalsah-e Tahzib

Despite their importance in forging notions of civility, civic engagement and political participation, nineteenth century voluntary associations have received little attention in the growing body of literature on the rise and nature of civil society in India. This article explores the mutually constitutive relationship between voluntary association and middle-class formation through the example of the Jalsah-e Tahzib (est. 1868), the first voluntary society in colonial Lucknow. A cross-communal alliance of Hindus and Muslims, representing the city’s traditional service elites and new professional classes, the Jalsah provided a secular forum of discourse and action to an emerging middle class in search of self-determination and empowerment. In investigating the association’s public-sphere activities, its role as a self-styled intermediary between the colonial state and its Indian subjects and its transformation from a literary-cultural society into a politically vocal body, I argue that voluntary associati...
Expression of the SU(2) rotation matrices D(j) in terms of normalized irreducible tensorial matrices

TheSU(2) rotation matricesD(j), specified in terms of axis and angle of rotation, are expressed as linear combination of normalized irreducible tensorial matricces (NITM) of rankl = 0 to 2j rotated to the polar angles of the axis. The rotated NITM are constructed from spherical harmonics of the same rank. Since this formulation requires no matrix products, it may be computationally more efficient than Euler angle formulas, particularly for largej. Rotated NITM and formulas for theD(j) withj = 1/2 andj = 1 are written out explicitly. A formula for the structure constants of the products of conformable NITM is also given in terms of 3-j and 6-j symbols.
An experimental study of speaker verification sensitivity to computer voice-altered imposters

This paper investigates the relative sensitivity of a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) based voice verification algorithm to computer voice-altered imposters. First, a new trainable speech synthesis algorithm based on trajectory models of the speech line spectral frequency (LSF) parameters is presented in order to model the spectral characteristics of a target voice. A GMM based speaker verifier is then constructed for the 138 speaker YOHO database and shown to have an initial equal-error rate (EER) of 1.45% for the case of casual imposter attempts using a single combination-lock phrase test. Next, imposter voices are automatically altered using the synthesis algorithm to mimic the customer's voice. After voice transformation, the false acceptance rate is shown to increase from 1.45% to over 86% if the baseline EER threshold is left unmodified. Furthermore, at a customer false rejection rate of 25%, the false acceptance rate for the voice-altered imposter remains as high as 34.6%.
The Disorder of Consciousness in Schizophrenia

The schizophrenic experience is described as an inability to sustain an intentional focus to attention. Attention is captured by incidental details in the schizophrenic patient's environment, and this gives rise to a spurious sense of significance. The patient's inability to direct a train of thought prevents full access to long-term memory so that early components of perception, which are designed to give early warning . of threat, are overly influential and unmodulated by further mental processing. These hasty ideas are given delusional conviction when they capture attention and induce a sense of significance similar to the false significance of perception. The schizophrenic patient's lack of control over his mental processes makes him passive in relation to his own thinking. It prevents him from attending to the slight promptings of his subconscious, and when these emotions and intuitions are not amplified by being brought into focus, he loses a sense of himself. There have long been reports in the literature, both from clinicians (McGhie and Chapman 1961; Chapman 1966) and from patients themselves (MacDonald I960), that people with schizophrenia have difficulty filtering out irrelevant stimuli and controlling what they pay attention to:
The Right to Connect and Internet Censorship

The new element in governance is social media. Inexorably, its fertile networks of shared information shift power from authorities to citizens and amateurs, including to the “unknown” experts in the “dorm rooms and edges of society” who drive innovation. Tweets may bust trust and undermine authority, but can social media also be a tool for building consensus through deliberation and negotiation among interests? When it comes to governance, is crowd-sourcing any better than populism at generating collective intelligence instead of disruptive “dumb mobs?” Can networks aid the self-administration of society, or does that take institutions with governing authority? In this section, leading Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, technologists and network theorists from Google, Microsoft and the MIT Media Lab join with political scientist Francis Fukuyama and top thinkers from Asia to address these issues.
SEPTIC PULMONARY EMBOLISM COMPLICATING A CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER

Bacteremia is a recognized complication in patients with indwelling central venous catheters. More recently pulmonary embolism in such patients has also been described. Despite abundant clinical experience with these devices, to our knowledge, septic pulmonary embolism has not been reported in adult patients. This case illustrates such a complication.
Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among residents in Guangdong Province, China, 2004 to 2007

Background—As a result of the large variation in geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics in different regions of China, the prevalence and treatment of hypertension in different regions differ widely. However, little is known about the recent trends of hypertension in Guangdong Province in southern China. We assessed the trends in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Guangdong Province between 2004 and 2007. Methods and Results—The Guangdong Provincial Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance, modeled on the national Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance, was conducted every 3 years beginning in 2004 with a representative sample of Guangdong Province residents ≥18 years of age. Data from the Guangdong Provincial Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance I (2004; n=7633) and II (2007; n=6447) were used to describe the trends in the prevalence of hypertension among Guangdong Province adults. Hypertension outcomes were examined with interview and examination d...
Clinical characteristics and effects of GH replacement therapy in adults with childhood-onset craniopharyngioma compared with those in adults with other causes of childhood-onset hypothalamic–pituitary dysfunction

Objective: Adults with childhood-onset (CO) craniopharyngioma (COCP) have poor quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes, but few studies have compared these patients with adults with other causes of CO hypothalamic–pituitary dysfunction. In this study, we compared baseline clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcomes before starting GH replacement therapy in adults with GH deficiency (GHD) due to COCP with those of adults either with CO idiopathic/congenital hypopituitarism (COH) or with CO extrasellar (COE) tumours, and evaluated the 1- and 5-year effects of GH replacement therapy. Subjects and methods: Retrospective analysis of the data recorded in KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) was carried out. Patients with COCP, COH and COE tumours were evaluated at baseline, and after 1 and 5 years of therapy. Results: Compared with COH and COE patients, more COCP patients underwent surgery, had greater abnormalities of body composition and higher prevalence of pituitary hormone deficits (all P!0.001), but comparable fasting glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, marital status, parenthood, living arrangements, education, employment and annual sick-leave days. After 1 and 5 years of GH replacement therapy, similar changes were evident with regard to body composition, fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, QoL, and the level of and satisfaction with physical activity across the three groups. Conclusions: Adults with untreated COCP with GHD at baseline demonstrated more co-morbidities including greater abnormalities of body composition, pituitary hormone deficits and visual field defects. Overall, adults with COCP, COH and COE tumours responded comparably to short- and long-term GH replacement therapy, suggesting that patients with GHD due to COCP benefited from GH replacement therapy to a similar degree as those with other causes of CO hypothalamic–pituitary dysfunction did.
Smooth Muscle Cells, But Not Myocytes, of Host Origin in Transplanted Human Hearts

Background— There is increasing evidence to support a role for stem cells in the regeneration and repair of the human cardiovascular system. However, significant controversy still remains about the extent of chimerism present in blood vessels and myocytes of transplanted human hearts. Methods and Results— We investigated the contribution of infiltrating host cells to human cardiac allografts by evaluating the origin of vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac myocytes in hearts after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. Smooth muscle cells were identified in pathological human coronary artery specimens with antibodies against smooth muscle α-actin. DNA in situ hybridization for the human Y chromosome was then performed on the same samples to identify cells of male origin. Both myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells were examined for the presence of the Y chromosome in sex-mismatched specimens. In positive control samples, 34.7% of nuclei contained a detectable Y chromosome; in sex-mismatched samples, 2....
Effects of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition on apolipoprotein A-II-containing HDL subspecies and apolipoprotein A-II metabolism

This study was designed to establish the mechanism responsible for the increased apolipoprotein (apo) A-II levels caused by the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor torcetrapib. Nineteen subjects with low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dl), nine of whom were also treated with 20 mg of atorvastatin daily, received placebo for 4 weeks, followed by 120 mg of torcetrapib daily for the next 4 weeks. Six subjects in the nonatorvastatin cohort participated in a third phase, in which they received 120 mg of torcetrapib twice daily for 4 weeks. At the end of each phase, subjects underwent a primed-constant infusion of [5,5,5-2H3]l-leucine to determine the kinetics of HDL apoA-II. Relative to placebo, torcetrapib significantly increased apoA-II concentrations by reducing HDL apoA-II catabolism in the atorvastatin (−9.4%, P < 0.003) and nonatorvastatin once- (−9.9%, P = 0.02) and twice- (−13.2%, P = 0.02) daily cohorts. Torcetrapib significantly increased the amount of apoA-II in the α-2-migrating subpopulation of HDL when given as monotherapy (27%, P < 0.02; 57%, P < 0.003) or on a background of atorvastatin (28%, P < 0.01). In contrast, torcetrapib reduced concentrations of apoA-II in α-3-migrating HDL, with mean reductions of −14% (P = 0.23), −18% (P < 0.02), and −18% (P < 0.01) noted during the atorvastatin and nonatorvastatin 120 mg once- and twice-daily phases, respectively. Our findings indicate that CETP inhibition increases plasma concentrations of apoA-II by delaying HDL apoA-II catabolism and significantly alters the remodeling of apoA-II-containing HDL subpopulations.
On-line state and parameter estimation of EPDM polymerization reactors using a hierarchical extended Kalman filter

Abstract A hierarchical extended Kalman filter (EKF) design is proposed to estimate unmeasured state variables and key kinetic parameters in a first principles model of a continuous ethylene–propylene–diene polymer (EPDM) reactor. The estimator design is based on decomposing the dynamic model into two subsystems by exploiting the triangular model structure and the different sampling frequencies of on-line and laboratory measurements directly related to the state variables of each subsystem. The state variables of the first subsystem are reactant concentrations and zeroth-order moments of the molecular weight distribution (MWD). Unmeasured state variables and four kinetic parameters systematically chosen to reduce bias are estimated from frequent and undelayed on-line measurements of the ethylene, propylene, diene and total polymer concentrations. The state variables of the second subsystem are first-order moments of the MWD. Given state and parameters estimates from the first subsystem EKF, the first-order moments and three non-stationary parameters added to the model for bias reduction are estimated from infrequent and delayed laboratory measurements of the ethylene and diene contents and number average molecular weight of the polymer. Simulation tests show that the hierarchical EKF generates satisfactory estimates even in the presence of measurement noise and plant/model mismatch.
Autonomy and School Improvement What Do We Know and Where Do We Go From Here

New “autonomy initiatives” aim to increase schools’ decision-making authority as a strategy to leverage school improvement. These policies build on lessons of previous reforms such as site-based ma...
An optimally portable SIMD programming language

A theoretical foundation is presented for developing much more portable languages for single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) computers. Work in progress on the design and implementation of such a language is described. An optimally portable programming language for SIMD computers, called Porta-SIMD, is presented to demonstrate the feasibility of designing, implementing, and using optimally portable languages. Based on C++, it currently runs on the Connection Machine and Pixel-Planes 4. Optimal portability is defined. A SIMD taxonomy for programmers and a survey of existing SIMD languages are presented. >
Main determinants of efficiency and implications on banking concentration in the European Union

a b s t r a c t This study aims to measure the main determinants influencing bank efficiency. We suggest that the bank efficiency ratio, obtained from the income statement, is positively related to the size of a bank in terms of total assets. However, we believe that such a relationship cannot be maintained for banks over a certain size. By the use of the regression analysis method, we analyze the link between bank efficiency and bank size, using a sample of 3952 banks in the European Union. Our results show that the efficiency ratio stops improving for banks with total assets over $25 billion. Previous literature, using different analysis techniques, does not reach an agreement on this point. Furthermore, our study identifies further variables which negatively affect the efficiency of banks, such as competition and lending diversification, or affect them positively, such as the wholesale funding ratio and income diversification. Our findings imply the need for different bank policies depending on total assets, in order to limit the size and activities of banks.