cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social responsibility and corporate web pages: Self-presentation or agenda-setting?

Abstract The recent growth of the Internet and World Wide Web has become a focus for both the popular press and social science scholars. The authors of this study examined how large corporate entities are making use of the Web to present themselves as socially responsible citizens and to advance their own policy positions. Analysis of a random sample of Fortune 500 companies revealed 90% had Web pages and 82% of the sites addressed at least one corporate social responsibility issue. More than half of the Web sites had items addressing community involvement, environmental concerns, and education. Few corporations, however, used their Web pages to monitor public opinion on issues or advocate policy positions. The number of social responsibility items on a Web page was positively correlated with the size of an organization and the implementation of tools to make a Web site more navigable, but was unrelated to a corporation's ranking within its industry. The researchers also distinguished between messages that proclaim the corporation does “no-harm”, and items that extol an organization's “good deeds.” Industry groups differed on the no-harm subscale but not good deeds.
Preliminary investigations of superconducting glass-ceramics in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-B-O system

Abstract We have made glasses with starting batch stoichiometries (Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu) 4-3-3-4, 2-2-2-3 and 2-2-1-2 by a melt-quench process. Glasses thus formed superconduct upon suitable heat treatment due to devitrification of the Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O 8 phase. Upon addition of a glass-former (boric acid/silica), we were able to form stable glasses in a variety of batch compositions. Some of these compositions showed crystallization of the Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O 8 phase and were also superconducting in the 90 K range.
Coalinga's caveat

No one had foreseen that a shock as large as Ms 6.7 could strike at the eastern edge of the California Coast Ranges near the town of Coalinga. No faults of any age cut the gently folded sediments at the earthquake focus, and equally astonishing, no ground breakage accompanied the earthquake. A month would pass before surface rupture did occur, in a sequence of large aftershocks (see cover: large blue circles west of the yellow main shock) on a minor adjacent fault. The May 2, 1983, earthquake, which caused $31 million in damage and took one life, alerted the seismological community to the earthquake potential of active folds. Leveling surveys demonstrated that Anticline Ridge (whose fold axis plunges southeast through the main shock) uplifted 0.5 m during the event, while adjacent Pleasant Valley (see cover: red and white squares immediately southwest of the aftershocks) subsided half that amount. The surface deformation is best explained by a fault that slipped over a depth of 4–12 km but does not reach the surface. Identification of earthquake risk has proceeded almost exclusively on the premise that faults capable of generating large shocks must extend to the surface. Surface faults that do not cut young deposits are not deemed active, even if the faults displace older beds at greater depth. At Coalinga, on the other hand, the fault, the seismic slip, and the aftershocks are confined to deeper and therefore older strata. The fault is invisible on seismic reflection profiles, but it is indisputably active. The surface fold which built Anticline Ridge appears to have formed as a consequence of repeated slip events at depth. From the pattern of earthquake deformation, R. Stein and G. King have argued that many folds mask subsurface thrust faults and that these folds may largely deform elastically in jumps, rather than through steady and aseismic ductile deformation. In retrospect, a number of large thrust earthquakes over the last 30 years have uplifted anticlines, dropped synclines, and produced little or no ground rupture, such as the 1964 Ms 7.5 Niigata shock in Japan. Thus, despite the paucity of bounding faults, the folded eastern margin of the California Coast Ranges must now be regarded as a possible target for large thrust events. The uplift rate of the folds should guide judgments of relative activity. Ominously, the Kettleman Hills anticline, which abuts the Coalinga aftershocks to the southeast, is rising at twice the rate of Anticline Ridge. (These processes will be discussed at the AGU Fall Meeting in the Tectonophysics session entitled “Mechanics of Large-Scale Faulting and Earthquakes,” scheduled for Friday morning, December 7; see abstracts in this issue for more information.)
A Framework for Assessing Collaborative Capacity in Community-Based Public Forest Management

Community-based collaborative groups involved in public natural resource management are assuming greater roles in planning, project implementation, and monitoring. This entails the capacity of collaborative groups to develop and sustain new organizational structures, processes, and strategies, yet there is a lack of understanding what constitutes collaborative capacity. In this paper, we present a framework for assessing collaborative capacities associated with community-based public forest management in the US. The framework is inductively derived from case study research and observations of 30 federal forest-related collaborative efforts. Categories were cross-referenced with literature on collaboration across a variety of contexts. The framework focuses on six arenas of collaborative action: (1) organizing, (2) learning, (3) deciding, (4) acting, (5) evaluating, and (6) legitimizing. Within each arena are capacities expressed through three levels of social agency: individuals, the collaborative group itself, and participating or external organizations. The framework provides a language and set of organizing principles for understanding and assessing collaborative capacity in the context of community-based public forest management. The framework allows groups to assess what capacities they already have and what more is needed. It also provides a way for organizations supporting collaboratives to target investments in building and sustaining their collaborative capacities. The framework can be used by researchers as a set of independent variables against which to measure collaborative outcomes across a large population of collaborative efforts.
Calculation of antiproton yields for the fermilab antiproton source

Abstract The available experimental data for antiproton production are described by an analytical formula, including target nucleus dependence. This formula, in conjunction with a Monte Carlo program that includes the effect of hadronic showers, is used to optimize the design of the Fermilab Antiproton Source. Comparison is made with measurements of yields at the CERN Antiproton Accumulator.
Radiation therapy of pineal region tumors: 25 new cases and a review of 208 previously reported cases.

Abstract Purpose: Malignant pineal region tumors are rare neoplasms arising in midline structures of the brain. This report analyzes the influence of histology, tumor location, radiation dose, treatment volume, age and cerebrospinal fluid findings on freedom from relapse, freedom from spinal relapse and survival. Methods and Materials: Patient and treatment parameters of 25 cases of pineal region tumors managed at Stanford University are presented, and an additional 208 published cases were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to delineate parameters predictive of freedom from relapse, freedom from spinal relapse, and survival for all 233 patients. Results: The 5- and 10-year freedom from relapse for Stanford patients was 63% and 46%, respectively. The 5-and 10-year survival for Stanford patients was 67% and 61%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year freedom from relapse for the total 233 cases was 66% and 61%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival for all patients was 74% and 68%, respectively. For the entire group, biopsy confirmed germinoma and non-biopsied tumors had superior freedom from relapse compared to non-germinoma germ cell tumors ( p = 0.03, p = 0.005, respectively). Non-biopsied patients had improved survival compared to non-germinoma germ cell tumors ( p = 0.004). Pineal parenchymal tumors had worse freedom from relapse compared to non-biopsied patients ( p = 0.04). For patients with suprasellar tumors, germinomas were associated with improved freedom from relapse compared to non-germinoma germ cell tumors ( p = 0.02). Simultaneous pineal and suprasellar tumors had superior survival compared to solitary tumors of pineal ( p = 0.04), suprasellar ( p = 0.03), or third ventricle location ( p = 0.03). Twenty-two patients (9.4%) developed isolated spinal relapse. Five- and 10-year spinal relapse rates for all patients were 11%n and 13%. Survival after spinal relapse was 19%. Pineal parenchymal tumors had lower freedom from spinal relapse compared to non-biopsied patients ( p = 0.001). For tumors located in the pineal gland, germinomas and pineal parenchymal tumors had lower freedom from spinal relapse than did non-biopsied patients ( p = 0.006, p = 0.004, respectively). Pineal germinomas had lower freedom from spinal relapse than germinomas with suprasellar location ( p = 0.04). Univariate and multivariate analysis identified tumor histology as the most significant predictor of freedom from relapse, freedom from spinal relapse and survival. Conclusion: Histologic type had the greatest impact on outcome. Treatment recommendations should be based on assessment of histologic type and extent of disease.
Phonon induced desorption from helium films

We have investigated the problem of desorption from thin helium films on sapphire crystals, and find evidence in favor of single phonon processes.
Adaptive control of propellant slosh for launch vehicles

The use of adaptive system to stabilize a launch vehicle with sloshable fuel is discussed. The adaptive system is based on a laser sensor to measure fluid displacement in the tank, a recursive-least-squares estimator to assess the natural frequency of the sloshing fuel, and a linear filter to stabilize the unstable fuel slosh. The method is found to be promising for a pitch-plane, single pendulum model.
ideologies of sexual inequality and strategies for change in male‐female relations

An identity of beliefs about maleness and femaleness among the males and females of any society has generally been presumed. This paper examines the sexual ideologies of societies characterized by sexual inequality in terms of divergences between male and female beliefs and in terms of potentials for political change. Four sorts of sexual ideologies are put forward as ideal types. Differences in patterns of protest and change are examined as they correlate with these types.
Do Sukuk (Islamic Bonds) Have a Role in Today’s Global Capital Markets?

Both conventional bonds and sukuk attempt to mobilize funds from entities with surplus funds to those with shortages, in line with the objectives of a financial system. But there are structural and risk–return differences between the two. In conventional bonds, the contract is based on the sale of debt. With sukuk, the performance of the contract is closely linked to an asset or a project in which the rewards and risks are shared. The two financing alternatives are clearly different. Conventional bonds are based on debt instruments (IOUs), whereas sukuk financing is based on equity-like arrangements. Conventional bond issuers can mitigate financial risk by issuing sukuk that do not introduce the possibility of bankruptcy in case of financial difficulty or default. Sukuk investors can benefit from a collateralized, maturity-specific, limited-risk, equity-like claim. Sukuk issues are available to governments, financial institutions, and investors regardless of their religious background, beliefs, and faiths. The use of sukuk along with conventional bonds offers additional opportunity for bond issuers of all kinds around the world.
KIRKPATRICK'S LEVELS OF TRAINING CRITERIA: THIRTY YEARS LATER

Kirkpatrick's model (1959a, 1959b, 1960a, 1960b) of training evaluation criteria has had widespread and enduring popularity. This model proposed four “levels” of training evaluation criteria: reactions, learning, behavior, and results. Three problematic assumptions of the model may be identified: (1) The levels are arranged in ascending order of information provided. (2) The levels are causally linked. (3) The levels are positively intercorrelated. This article examines the validity of these assumptions, the frequency of each level in published evaluation studies, correlations from the literature in regard to Assumptions 2 and 3, and implications for the researcher and training manager.
History of Metals in Colonial America

The story of the introduction and growth of the technology of metals in the North American colonial period entails significant developments beyond the transfer of the technology from the Old World to the New. In the struggle to create an indigenous industry, in the efforts to encourage and support the work of metals craftsmen, in the defiance of British attempts to regulate manufacturing of metals, the colonial society developed a metals technology that became the basis for future industrial growth. The author traces colonial industrial development from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries in nine chapters: Before Jamestown, Metals in the Early Colonies, Copper in the Colonies, Colonial Iron: The Birth of an Industry, Metals Manufacture in the Colonial Period, Colonial Iron: Regulation and Rebellion, Metals and the Revolution, The Critical Years, and Reflections on the End of an Era. "
Genetics of glycopeptide resistance in Gram-positive pathogens

Glycopeptide resistance in enterococci, first detected in 1986, has since spread worldwide and represents a major health problem. Importantly, it has been recently acquired by Staphylococcus aureus. We shall review the genetics which accounts for this successful dissemination and discuss the possible origins of the resistance genes.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Potentiates Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Effects on Renal Bradykinin and cGMP

Angiotensin (Ang) receptor blockers (ARBs) increase bradykinin (BK) by antagonizing Ang II at its type 1 (AT(1)) receptors and diverting Ang II to its counterregulatory type 2 (AT(2)) receptors. Because the effect of ARBs on BK is constrained by the short half-life of BK and because ACE inhibitors block the degradation of BK, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that an ACE inhibitor can potentiate ARB-induced increases in renal interstitial fluid (RIF) BK levels. We used a microdialysis technique to recover BK and cGMP in vivo from the RIF of sodium-depleted, conscious Sprague-Dawley rats infused for 60 minutes with the AT(1) receptor blocker valsartan (0.17 mg/kg per minute), with the active metabolite of the ACE inhibitor benazepril (benazeprilate, 0.05 mg/kg per minute), or with the specific AT(2) receptor blocker PD 123,319 (50 microg/kg per minute) alone or combined. Each animal served as its own control. RIF BK and cGMP levels increased significantly over 1 hour in response to valsartan, benazeprilate, or both but not to a vehicle control (P<0.01). The combined benazeprilate-valsartan effect was greater than the sum of their individual effects, suggesting potentiation rather than addition, and was abolished by PD 123,319. We demonstrate for the first time that an ACE inhibitor (benazepril) and an ARB (valsartan) potentiate each other, and we postulate that such combinations may be beneficial in clinical states marked by Ang II elevation, such as chronic heart failure, postinfarction left ventricular dysfunction, and hypertension.
Evaluation of the Early Extraction Method of Determining Capillary Permeability by Theoretical Capillary and Organ Models

The early extraction method of measuring capillary permeability was evaluated with theoretical models of capillaries and organs. The organs consisted of feeder lines and a capillary bed that was either homogeneous or heterogeneous with respect to capillary length or flow. The capillary permeability of the model organ determined by the early extraction method was compared with the actual permeability of the capillaries from which the organ was constructed. The main results of this analysis are: (1) If all the capillaries are identical and if the extravascular volume of distribution of the diffusible indicator is at least three times as large as the capillary volume, then the early extraction method provides a satisfactory measure of the capillary permeability. (2) If the capillaries are identical but the extravascular volume is about the same size as the capillary volume, then the early extraction method can lead to a qualitative underestimate of the permeability, namely assigning a significant diffusion limitation to a substance which is actually flow limited. (3) If the capillaries are not identical, either through differences of flow or length, then the early extraction method can again lead to the assignment of a significant diffusion limitation to a substance which is actually flow limited.
Protein Targeting to the Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane of Plasmodium falciparum

Red blood cell (RBC) invasion and parasitophorous vacuole (PV) formation by Plasmodium falciparum are critical for the development and pathogenesis of malaria, a continuing global health problem. Expansion of the PV membrane (PVM) during growth is orchestrated by the parasite. This is particularly important in mature RBCs, which lack internal organelles and no longer actively synthesize membranes. Pfs16, a 16-kDa integral PVM protein expressed by gametocytes, was chosen as a model for studying the trafficking of material from the parasite across the PV space to the PVM. The locations of Pfs16-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter proteins containing distinct regions of Pfs16 were tracked from RBC invasion to emergence. Inclusion of the 53 C-terminal amino acids (aa) of Pfs16 to a GFP reporter construct already containing the N-terminal secretory signal sequence was sufficient for targeting to and retention on the PVM. An amino acid motif identified in this region was also found in seven other known PVM proteins. Removal of the 11 C-terminal aa did not affect PVM targeting, but membrane retention was decreased. Additionally, during emergence from the PVM and RBC, native Pfs16 and the full-length Pfs16-GFP reporter protein were found to concentrate on the ends of the gametocyte. Capping was not observed in constructs lacking the amino acids between the N-terminal secretory signal sequence and the transmembrane domain, suggesting that this region, which is not required for PVM targeting, is involved in capping. This is the first report to define the amino acid domains required for targeting to the P. falciparum PVM.
Reassessing the Limits of Structural Empowerment: Organizational Constitution and Trust as Controls

There is a growing belief among some that employee empowerment provides the most appropriate basis for designing and implementing new organizations. However, from a structural perspective, empowerment represents a moral hazard dilemma for managers, with the possibility of control loss and decreased organizational outcome. While there are several mechanisms for tempering the potential downside of empowerment, we focus on two: organizational constitutions and the development of trusting relationships. We present six specific propositions relating to organizational constitution and trust as controls for tempering the potential downside of empowerment.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE POLITICAL USE OF FORCE

Throughout the post–World War II period the president has been called upon to make decisions concerning the use of force as a political instrument. The explanation that is offered is based upon a characterization of the president as a cybernetic human decision maker facing limitations. These limitations, in conjunction with the complexity of the environment, lead presidents to develop and use a relatively simple decision rule. The dependent variable, which is the probability of the use of force at any point in time, is explained in terms of enduring and essential concerns, which are operationalized as coming from the international, domestic, and personal environments. Data are taken from Blechman and Kaplan's Force Without War. On the basis of our estimation and evaluation, presidential decisions to use force are based on factors in all three arenas.
A Case of Subcapsular Liver Abscess Secondary to Perforating Ulcer of Gastric Cancer

Intrahepatic abscess is an unusual complication of peptic ulcer disease. We present a case of gastric cancer in which the ulcer penetrated into the left lobe of liver with subsequent abscess and fistula formation. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed ulcers and a fistula opening in the antrum. Abdominal computed tomogram showed a subcapsular liver abscess adjacent to the gastric antrum. Subtotal gastrectomy with curettage of the fistulous tract was performed. The final diagnosis was the signet ring cell gastric carcinoma complicating subcapsular liver abscess. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in Korea.
Experimental compaction of ooids and lime mud and its implication for lithification during burial

ABSTRACT Compression tests of prepared mixtures of varying proportions of ooid and lime mud under continuous and intermittent increase of force to 96,000 lbs (43,636 kg) (equivalent to 7636 psi or 555 kg/cm2) show that ooids may remain undeformed, volume reduction notwithstanding. Survival of undeformed ooids appears to be a function of lime-mud content. A high proportion of lime mud keeps the ooids in a floating dispersed state and force acts isotropically on these particles. Hence a linear relationship exists between increasing proportion of lime mud and proportion of undeformed ooids. As the proportion of lime mud increases that of broken ooids decreases. Hence ooids (and shell fragments) remain unbroken in micritic limestones, even though the original carbonate sediment may have undergone significant compaction. Furthermore grains in a grain-supported sediment are liable to greater degree of deformation than grains in a mud-supported sediment. Deformation of particles may not accompany shrinkage in volume under compactive stress. Experimental compaction resulted in crushed, buckled, faulted, split, spalled, and diagonally fractured ooids. Incremental confining pressure yielded concavo-convex and longitudinal contacts, whereas continuous increase in confining pressure resulted in concavo-convex contacts only. In uncompacted samples all observed grain contacts are point contacts. Prelithification compaction of ooids in carbonate sediments, in contradistinction to deformed lithified rock, rarely displays a homogeneous deformation fabric. Inhomogeneous deformation of grains thus appears to be an important characteristic for distinguishing a fabric generated by overburden compaction of unlithified sediment from that of tectonically deformed rigid rocks.
Price cap regulation: what have we learned from 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry?

Price cap regulation (PCR) has now been employed in the telecommunications industry for more than a quarter century. We review the experience with PCR and offer an explanation for its popularity. PCR’s design flexibility, its ability to limit undesirable strategic behavior, declining industry costs, and developing competition all enhanced the appeal of PCR. We also review some surprises that have arisen under PCR and discuss the implications of the experience with PCR in the telecommunications industry for regulatory policy in other industries.
Inactivation of NPC1L1 Causes Multiple Lipid Transport Defects and Protects against Diet-induced Hypercholesterolemia

NPC1L1, a recently identified relative of Niemann-Pick C1, was characterized to determine its subcellular location and potential function(s). NPC1L1 was highly expressed in HepG2 cells and localized in a subcellular vesicular compartment rich in the small GTPase Rab5. mRNA expression profiling revealed significant differences between mouse and man with highest expression found in human liver and significant expression in the small intestine. In contrast, liver expression in mouse was extremely low with mouse small intestine exhibiting the highest NPC1L1 expression. A mouse knock-out model of NPC1L1 was generated and revealed that mice lacking a functional NPC1L1 have multiple lipid transport defects. Surprisingly, lack of NPC1L1 exerts a protective effect against diet-induced hyperlipidemia. Further characterization of cell lines generated from wild-type and knock-out mice revealed that in contrast to wild-type cells, NPC1L1 cells exhibit aberrant plasma membrane uptake and subsequent transport of various lipids, including cholesterol and sphingolipids. Furthermore, lack of NPC1L1 activity causes a deregulation of caveolin transport and localization, suggesting that the observed lipid transport defects may be the indirect result of an inability of NPC1L1 null cells to properly target and/or regulate caveolin expression.
ARG389GLY beta-1 adrenergic receptor polymorphism and left ventricular remodeling changes to beta-blocker therapy

The β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR) contains a common functional polymorphism at codon 389 (Arg389Gly). In vitro studies indicate that Arg389 has greater basal and agonist stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. We hypothesized that the Arg389Gly polymorphism was associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling changes to a β-blocker. We prospectively enrolled 47 β-blocker naive patients with ischemic or non-ischemic heart failure (HF). Patients received metoprolol CR/XL (MXL) 12.5–25 mg/d, titrated q 2 weeks (as tolerated) up to 200 mg/d or highest tolerated dose over 8 weeks. Patients completed a 2D echocardiogram at baseline and at the end of study, which occurred 3 months after attainment of highest tolerated MXL dose during titration. An ANCOVA with baseline measures and MXL dose as covariates was used to compare changes in ejection fraction (EF), LV end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters (LVEDD and LVESD, respectively), between genotypes. The % of patients with non-ischemic HF, HF duration, and heart rate reduction was similar between genotypes. The final MXL dose was 136 mg/d for Arg389Arg and 103 mg/d for Gly389 carriers. Gly389 carriers experienced progressive ventricular dilatation reflected by increases in LVEDD and LVESD, while patients with the Arg389Arg genotype had an attenuation of LV remodeling. The difference in LVEDD was statistically significant between groups. In conclusion, the codon 389 genotype is associated with LV remodeling changes from β-blocker therapy. (See Table) Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P2–P2; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.006 Table 1. Arg389Arg (n=20) Gly389 Carriers (n=27) P* Baseline Final Baseline Final * For comparison of change from baseline between genotypes. Means ± SD. EF (%) 24 ± 6 29 ± 11 22 ± 8 23 ± 11 0.15 LVEDD (mm) 62 ± 12 61 ± 11 63 ± 9 66 ± 9 0.01 LVESD (mm) 53 ± 11 51 ± 13 54 ± 10 56 ± 12 0.12
Parallelizing dynamic programming through rank convergence

This paper proposes an efficient parallel algorithm for an important class of dynamic programming problems that includes Viterbi, Needleman-Wunsch, Smith-Waterman, and Longest Common Subsequence. In dynamic programming, the subproblems that do not depend on each other, and thus can be computed in parallel, form stages or wavefronts. The algorithm presented in this paper provides additional parallelism allowing multiple stages to be computed in parallel despite dependences among them. The correctness and the performance of the algorithm relies on rank convergence properties of matrix multiplication in the tropical semiring, formed with plus as the multiplicative operation and max as the additive operation.This paper demonstrates the efficiency of the parallel algorithm by showing significant speed ups on a variety of important dynamic programming problems. In particular, the parallel Viterbi decoder is up-to 24x faster (with 64 processors) than a highly optimized commercial baseline.
Associations of home food availability, dietary intake, screen time and physical activity with BMI in young American-Indian children.

Objective To evaluate associations between home environmental factors and BMI of young American-Indian children. Design Cross-sectional and prospective study. Setting School-based obesity prevention trial (Bright Start) on a Northern Plains Indian reservation in South Dakota. Mixed model multivariable analysis was used to examine associations between child BMI categories (normal, overweight and obese) and home food availability, children's dietary intake and physical activity. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, socio-economic status, parent BMI and school; prospective analyses also adjusted for study condition and baseline predictor and outcome variables. Subjects Kindergarten children (n = 424, 51 % male; mean age = 5.8 years, 30 % overweight/obese) and parents/caregivers (89 % female; 86 % overweight/obese) had their height and weight measured and parents/caregivers completed surveys on home environmental factors (baseline and 2 years later). Results Higher fast-food intake and parent-perceived barriers to physical activity were marginally associated with higher probabilities of a child being overweight and obese. Vegetable availability was marginally associated with lower probabilities of being overweight and obese. The associations between home environmental factors and child weight status at follow-up were not significant. Conclusions Findings indicate that selected aspects of the home environment are associated with weight status of American-Indian children. Obesity interventions with this population should consider helping parents to engage and model healthful behaviours and to increase availability of healthful foods at home.
Phase transition and superconductivity of SrFe2As2 under high pressure

High pressure x-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements have been carried out on SrFe2As2 to a pressure of 23 GPa and temperature of 10 K using a synchrotron source and designer diamond anvils. At ambient temperature, a phase transition from the tetragonal phase to a collapsed tetragonal (CT) phase is observed at 10 GPa under non-hydrostatic conditions. The experimental relation that T–CT transition pressure for 122 Fe-based superconductors is dependent on ambient pressure volume is affirmed. The superconducting transition temperature is observed at 32 K at 1.3 GPa and decreases rapidly with a further increase of pressure in the region where the T–CT transition occurs. Our results suggest that TC falls below 10 K in the pressure range of 10–18 GPa where the CT phase is expected to be stable.
Effects of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties of ZnO Nanowires

We report, for the first time, effects of annealing of ZnO NWs grown on p-Si substrates. ZnO NWs are grown using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and thermal annealing was performed in situ under nitrogen ambient at different stages of the growth process. Increasing the annealing temperature of the ZnO seed epi-layer from 635 °C to 800 °C does not affect the morphology of the grown NWs. In contrast, annealing the NWs themselves at 800 °C results in a 48% decrease of the surface area to volume ratio of the grown NWs. The optical quality can be improved by annealing the seed layer at a higher temperature of 800 °C, although annealing the NWs themselves does not affect the defect density.
Seasonal selection of estuarine bacteria by water temperature

Abstract A series of observations on heterotrophic bacteria planktonic in a temperate estuary, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, have been made to determine whether seasonal changes in water temperature are sufficient to select thermal and taxonomic types. Semi-monthly samples obtained for two one-year periods and one half-year period were examined for changes in bacterial populations. More than 2500 isolates were determined as to genus and some six hundred representative isolates were examined simultaneously for their growth-temperature spectra at 20 temperatures 2°C apart. The growth range of natural bacterial populations varied with water temperature, but lagged two months out of phase. This seasonal shift in temperature range for growth gave opposing indications of population changes with only small differences in incubation temperatures. All thermal types detected could be isolated and their population trends observed by reincubating pretempered plates at 0, 18, and 36°C after surface-inoculation. Mesophilic isolates (growth above 10°C and optimum above 30°C) were only obtained on the 36°C plates when the water temperature was above 10°C. A number of these isolates were cold sensitive and labile below 18°C. Obligate psychrophiles (growth below 16–20°C, 9–10°C optimum) were only obtained on 0°C plates when water temperatures were below 10°C. Two additional thermal types were obtained on both the 0°C and 18°C plates. Organisms which grew at 0°C and had a broad optimum growth range between 10°C and 30°C were considered to be facultative psychrophiles while organisms which also grew at 0°C, but had a narrower optimal peak around 18–20°C were considered psychrotolerant. In addition to these main thermal types, a few isolates of several taxonomic groups exhibited a tendency for multiple temperature optima. The seasonal selection of thermal types by water temperature occurred in all taxonomic groupings. There was no apparent suppression or enhancement of any taxonomic group due to temperature.
Optimal Glucose Management in the Perioperative Period

Hyperglycemia is a common finding in surgical patients during the perioperative period. Factors contributing to poor glycemic control include counterregulatory hormones, hepatic insulin resistance, decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, use of dextrose-containing intravenous fluids, and enteral and parenteral nutrition. Hyperglycemia in the perioperative period is associated with increased morbidity, decreased survival, and increased resource utilization. Optimal glucose management in the perioperative period contributes to reduced morbidity and mortality. To readily identify hyperglycemia, blood glucose monitoring should be instituted for all hospitalized patients.
Ultrasound as used in thoracoabdominal trauma.

Appropriate evaluation of the patient with a potential thoracoabdominal injury should include a safe and reliable method to determine the need for operative intervention; the low sensitivity of physical examination, however, has encouraged clinicians to rely on diagnostic tests, such as the CT scan and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL). Despite their many positive qualities, these tests do have some drawbacks. 9,10,14,23,29 Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is an invasive and very sensitive procedure that may result in a nontherapeutic celiotomy with its attendant morbidity. 30 Computed tomography scan requires that the patient receive contrast agents and be transported from the protected resuscitation area to the radiology suite and therefore should not be performed in the patient who is hemodynamically unstable. Because it is portable, noninvasive, rapid, and easily repeatable, ultrasound is especially suited for the trauma setting and is quickly becoming an accepted modality for the assessment of injured patients. Furthermore, computer-enhanced high-resolution imaging and multifrequency specialized transducers have enhanced its user-friendly quality so that extensive training is not required to master the focused ultrasound examinations that are used to evaluate the injured patient. 33,34,35
Selective Photooxidation of a Mustard-Gas Simulant Catalyzed by a Porphyrinic Metal–Organic Framework

The photooxidation of a mustard-gas simulant, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), is studied using a porphyrin-based metal–organic framework (MOF) catalyst. At room temperature and neutral pH value, singlet oxygen is generated by PCN-222/MOF-545 using an inexpensive and commercially available light-emitting diode. The singlet oxygen produced by PCN-222/MOF-545 selectively oxidizes CEES to the comparatively nontoxic product 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfoxide (CEESO) without formation of the highly toxic sulfone product. In comparison to current methods, which utilize hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent, this is a more realistic, convenient, and effective method for mustard-gas detoxification.
Communication and Risk Sharing in Teams: An Experimental Analysis

One of the potential ways in which team based compensation can lead to improved performance is through superior risk sharing among individuals. However, past research does not provide encouraging results regarding the ability of team to affect risk-taking behavior. I report the results of an experiment that demonstrates that decision-makers make more risk neutral decisions under team based compensation than under individual incentives. This result arises in the absence of communication; however, communication does have incremental value and results in decision that are more risk neutral.
Effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia on VT, f, and VI of nestling and adult bank swallows

The effects of hypoxia, hypercapnia, and hypoxic hypercapnia on ventilation, and breathing pattern in adult and nestling bank swallows (Riparia riparia) were assessed. The CO2 threshold above which inhaled minute volume (VI) increased significantly in adults and nestlings was 0.045. At each level of fractional concentration of inspired CO2 (FICO2), ventilation in nestlings was lower than that in adults. At a FICO2 of 0.09, VI of adults increased by 284%, whereas VI in nestlings changed 238%. Adult bank swallows also showed a blunted ventilatory response to hypoxia, and the nestling's response was similar to other birds. Adults exhibited greater changes in VI at all levels of hypoxic hypercapnia compared with nestlings. Combined hypoxic and hypercapnic stimuli had an additive effect on ventilation in both groups. Chronic exposure of nestlings to the hypercapnia and hypoxia within burrows seems to significantly alter their ventilatory response to these respiratory stimuli.
SOCIAL FACILITATION OF MALE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, INTRASEXUAL COMPETITION, AND SEXUAL SELECTION IN THE GUPPY, POECILIA RETICULATA (PISCES: POECILIIDAE).

Sexual selection, as defined by Darwin (1871), consists of two components-competition among individuals of one sex for the opposite sex and an ultimate choice of mates by the latter. Because females generally invest more in offspring production than do males, intrasexual competition is most intense among males, and females ultimately choose among the competing males (Fisher, 1930; Trivers, 1972). Bateman (1948) demonstrated experimentally that intermale competition exists in laboratory populations of Drosophila. In his experiments, most females found mates, but only a low proportion of males did so. Because of intermale competition, most males were unsuccessful in mate acquisition, while a few mated more than once. Generally, a promiscuous mating system is seen in species in which males invest much less in offspring production than do females. Where males and females are equal in reproductive effort, males cannot afford to be promiscuous, so selection favors monogamy (Trivers, 1972). The live-bearing teleost family Poeciliidae is an example of a group of organisms in which males and females exhibit disparate reproductive investments. Females produce large yolky eggs which are fertilized and retained in the ovarion follicles until the young are self-sufficient. Males, on the other hand, invest nothing but gametes, playing no role in care of their offspring. Thus, it would be advantageous for a male to mate with as many females as possible, but for a female to be selective
Data-Driven CFD Modeling of Turbulent Flows Through Complex Structures

Abstract The growth of computational resources in the past decades has expanded the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) from the traditional fields of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics to a number of new areas. Examples range from the heat and fluid flows in nuclear reactor vessels and in data centers to the turbulence flows through wind turbine farms and coastal vegetation plants. However, in these new applications complex structures are often exist (e.g., rod bundles in reactor vessels and turbines in wind farms), which makes fully resolved, first-principle based CFD modeling prohibitively expensive. This obstacle seriously impairs the predictive capability of CFD models in these applications. On the other hand, a limited amount of measurement data is often available in the systems in the above-mentioned applications. In this work we propose a data-driven, physics-based approach to perform full field inversion on the effects of the complex structures on the flow. This is achieved by assimilating observation data and numerical model prediction in an iterative Ensemble Kalman method. Based on the inversion results, the velocity and turbulence of the flow field can be obtained. A major novelty of the present contribution is the non-parametric, full field inversion approach adopted, which is in contrast to the inference of coefficient in the ad hoc models often practiced in previous works. The merits of the proposed approach are demonstrated on the flow past a porous disk by using both synthetic data and real experimental measurements. The spatially varying drag forces of the porous disk on the flow are inferred. The proposed approach has the potential to be used in the monitoring of complex system in the above mentioned applications.
Dependence of silicon ablation regimes on fluence during ultrafast laser irradiation

Models and experiments were developed to study femtosecond laser ablation of silicon using 800 nm, 40 fs pulses with fluences ranging from 0.5 to 35 J/cm2. At low fluences, ablation was found to occur due to bubble formation and splashing within the melt layer. At higher fluences, it was found that the ablation depth exceeded the melt layer depth due to shockwave ablation. The variation in ion flux and ion velocity was also studied both experimentally and theoretically. It was found that the variation in ion flux is mainly dependent on the variation in the average charge state, with only a small variation in the total number of ions above . Comparisons between the theoretical and experimental ion flux showed that higher charge state ions received greater portion of the laser energy compared with lower charge state ions.
Roundz-filters and round subsets ofβX

A characterization of remote points inβR is given by means of primez-filters and is generalized toz-filters on arbitrary completely regular Hausdorff spacesX and to subsets ofβX.
Swelling of Hydrophilic Polymer Brushes by Water and Alcohol Vapors

We examine the effect of end-tethering, grafting density (σ), chemistry of polymer side chain, and solvent type on the vapor swelling of hydrophilic polymer brushes. Using a library of samples derived by postpolymerization modification of a poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brush, we determine the extent of vapor swelling and solvent uptake at different vapor pressures of water, methanol, and ethanol using spectroscopic ellipsometry. We compare the results from neat PDMAEMA and PDMAEMA quaternized by methyl iodide with chemically analogous samples prepared by spincasting bulk PDMAEMA. We find that brush samples swell to greater extents than spuncast samples, indicating a role for end-tethering in the vapor uptake process. Furthermore, vapor swelling of polymer brushes depends strongly on both polymer and solvent chemistry. We demonstrate that the extent to which σ affects vapor sorption inside the brush depends on polymer side chain chemistry, indicating an interdependence of the observe...
Automatic personal fitness assistance through wearable mobile devices: poster

Acknowledging the powerful sensors on wearable mobile devices enabling various applications to improve users' life styles and qualities, this paper takes one step forward developing a automatic personal fitness assistance through wearable mobile devices to assess dynamic postures in workouts. In particular, our system recognizes different types of exercises and interprets fine-grained fitness data to an easy-to-understand exercise review score. The system has the ability to align the sensor readings from wearable devices to the earth coordinate system, ensuring the accuracy and robustness of the system. Experiments with 12 types of exercises involve multiple participants doing both anaerobic and aerobic exercises in indoors as well as outdoors. Our results demonstrate that the proposed system can provide meaningful review and recommendations to users by accurately measure their workout performance and achieve 93% accuracy for workout analysis.
High frequency radar for coastal marine monitoring of currents and vessels

Use of shore-based high frequency (HF) radar systems for environmental monitoring have become widespread in many countries around the world. In the U.S. various regions, such as the west and northeast coasts, have been instrumented. In California alone, some 50 radar stations contribute to the realtime monitoring of surface currents as part of the state's Coastal Ocean Currents Monitoring Program (COCMP). As recent events in the Gulf of Mexico highlight, environmental security can often hinge upon maintaining comprehensive monitoring systems that are in place and contributing to modeling and response systems at the time of any incident. Beyond real-time surface current maps, low-cost HF radar systems have the potential to contribute to offshore vessel tracking out to ranges of 180 km from the shoreline. Instrument networks that contribute multi-use functionality, such as HF radar networks, provide for effective and efficient long-term installations.
Measurement of nanoscale molten polymer droplet spreading using atomic force microscopy

We present a technique for measuring molten polymer spreading dynamics with nanometer scale spatial resolution at elevated temperatures using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The experimental setup is used to measure the spreading dynamics of polystyrene droplets with 2 μm diameters at 115-175 °C on sapphire, silicon oxide, and mica. Custom image processing algorithms determine the droplet height, radius, volume, and contact angle of each AFM image over time to calculate the droplet spreading dynamics. The contact angle evolution follows a power law with time with experimentally determined values of -0.29 ± 0.01, -0.08 ± 0.02, and -0.21 ± 0.01 for sapphire, silicon oxide, and mica, respectively. The non-zero steady state contact angles result in a slower evolution of contact angle with time consistent with theories combining molecular kinetic and hydrodynamic models. Monitoring the cantilever phase provides additional information about the local mechanics of the droplet surface. We observe local crystallinity on the molten droplet surface, where crystalline structures appear to nucleate at the contact line and migrate toward the top of the droplet. Increasing the temperature from 115 °C to 175 °C reduced surface crystallinity from 35% to 12%, consistent with increasingly energetically favorable amorphous phase as the temperature approaches the melting temperature. This platform provides a way to measure spreading dynamics of extremely small volumes of heterogeneously complex fluids not possible through other means.