cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Integrated Preventive Operation Framework for Power Systems During Hurricanes

Severe weather is the primary cause of power outages in the U.S. Despite the availability of weather forecast information, such data are not systematically integrated into operation models. This article proposes an integrated framework to convert weather forecast into appropriate information for preventive operation during hurricanes so that the power outages induced by hurricanes can be reduced. To achieve this goal, first, a structural model of the transmission towers is developed to estimate failure probabilities based on the wind speed. These probabilities are then integrated within a day-ahead security-constrained unit commitment framework to guide preventive operation. The resulting day-ahead schedule will be more reliable as it will rely less on the elements that are likely to fail. Simulation studies, conducted on the IEEE 118-bus system affected by synthesized Irma and Harvey hurricanes, showed that the proposed framework was able to prevent 33% to 83% of the blackouts. Further research is required to investigate the impacts of flooding, damage to the distribution network, and weather forecast uncertainty.
[Expression changes of tumor-related gene mRNA in workers who smelt arsenic].

OBJECTIVE To explore the changes and influencing factors about expressions of tumor-related gene mRNA in workers who smelt arsenic. METHODS There were 37 workers who smelt arsenic, 43 workers who stopped exposure to arsenic for 85 days, and 51 individuals as control group which selected by random cluster sampling. Arsenic species( iAs, MMA, and DMA) in urine were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer with an As speciation pretreatment system. Real time PCR( RT-PCR)was performed to detect the expressions of 4 tumor-related gene mRNAs. RESULTS The concentrations of iAs, MMA and DMA in urine of workers who smelt arsenic, stopped exposure to arsenic for 85 days, and control group were( 133. 97 ± 109. 53), ( 208. 93 ±171. 43) and( 820. 35 ± 487. 39) μg/( g·creatinine)( workers who smelt arsenic), ( 123. 31 ± 112. 72), ( 176. 21 ± 157. 19) and( 467. 73 ± 392. 17) μg/( g·creatinine)( workers who stopped exposure to arsenic), ( 1. 55 ±1. 49), ( 0. 10 ±0. 09) and( 10. 47 ±7. 85) μg/( g·creatinine)( control group). Compared to control group, the concentrations of 3 arsenic species were all higher in worker came from arsenic smelting. Compared to workers who were smelting arsenic, DMA are lower in workers who stopped exposure to arsenic for 85 days( P < 0. 05). The relative mRNA expressions of Lin28, Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas in 3 groups were( 8. 88 ± 2. 42), ( 6. 87 ± 1. 10), ( 7. 24 ± 2. 31) and( 8. 23 ±2. 90)( workers who smelt arsenic), ( 6. 21 ± 2. 94), ( 5. 81 ± 1. 72), ( 4. 50 ± 1. 59)and( 6. 89 ± 2. 35)( workers who stopped exposure to arsenic), ( 5. 60 ± 1. 43), ( 5. 56 ±0. 98), ( 4. 88 ± 1. 39) and( 6. 92 ± 1. 87)( control group). Compared to control group, relative mRNA expressions of Lin28, Bax, Bcl-2 and Fas were all higher in worker who were smelting arsenic( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION The expressions of tumor-related gene mRNAs are high in workers who smelt arsenic, and the methylation metabolism of arsenic play great role in the process of relative mRNAs expresses.
Literacy assessment of preimplantation genetic patient education materials exceed national reading levels.

In vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing (IVF+PGT-M) reduces the risk of having a child affected by a heritable condition, yet only one-third of eligible patients are aware of this reproductive option. Access to education materials written at appropriate literacy levels could raise patients’ awareness, but there is a mismatch between patient reading ability and the literacy demand of most materials. This study aimed to systematically identify written education materials on IVF+PGT-M and evaluate their literacy levels. We hypothesized that materials would fail to meet standards set by the Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To identify patient education materials about IVF+PGT-M from academic databases and public-facing sources, an environmental scan was performed. Materials were analyzed using three validated scales: Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool, and Clear Communication Index. Seventeen patient education materials about IVF+PGT-M were identified from patient education databases, a consumer search engine, and professional organizations. The median reading level was 14.5 grade, median understandability was 74.2%, and median comprehensibility was 73.3%. For most American adults, materials about IVF+PGT-M are not readable, understandable, or clear. The Joint Commission requires patient education materials be written at or below 5th grade reading level and the CDC recommends a 90% minimum score for comprehensibility. No evaluated material met these guidelines. Patient education materials that exceed average American literacy skills may perpetuate disparities in the utilization of IVF+PGT-M. Materials that communicate this complicated subject at an understandable level are needed.
A Multidisciplinary Capstone Design Project to Satisfy ABET Student Outcomes

This paper presents a multidisciplinary open-ended capstone design project where students designed, built, and test drove a Formula Society of Automatic Engineers (FSAE) electric vehicle. The capstone team included students from computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs. Each student worked in on a subteam, namely, mechanical design, drivetrain, supervisory control and data acquisition, and battery management system. A thorough description of each subsystem is provided herein. Software architecture, system integration, and field test results are also reviewed. Team organization, faculty and industry involvement, and assessment of student outcomes are provided. This paper details the approach of building a bridge between academia and engineering practices. This paper also documents a process where undergraduate students research and master multiple technology areas and then apply them to the project’s focus. ABET student outcomes 1–7 were used to design and assess the course. Peer-to-peer rating and ranking are presented as an assessment tool for the multidisciplinary nature of the project.
Wanderlust into (y)our past: Mediating Intimacy for Prosocial Co-existing with Your Loved One in Home Quarantine

In this paper, I present a web-based experience named Wanderlust into (y)our past, which aims to mediate a bond with a partner, family member, and loved ones. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, couples and families are learning how to co-exist healthily in quarantined life where they live together all the time in a confined space. Wanderlust into (y)our past takes them together to a virtual time travel to the places where they have been in the past and nudges them to share personal memories. Through these interpersonal dialogues of the past, this system encourages them to consider each other and take collaborative and prosocial actions towards the new normal in the post-pandemic. This paper describes backgrounds, approaches, ongoing functional prototype, and a future direction.
Community Conflicts over Intensive Livestock Operations: How and Why Do Such Conflicts Escalate?

Why do community groups and individuals oppose establishment of intensive scale livestock operations in communities? Why have established forms of economic activity become the pariah of rural communities across the nation? In December 1997, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Resolution 91. This article addresses the results of a research project funded by the state Department of Agriculture in response to Senate Resolution 91, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a model of community dispute resolution to address community conflicts involving intensive livestock operations ("ILOs"). Specifically this article addresses project findings detailing why conflicts over ILOs arise and how they escalate.
Predicting arterial age using carotid ultrasound images, pulse wave analysis records, cardiovascular biomarkers and deep learning

Cardiovascular disease --an age-related disease-- is the leading cause of death worldwide. We built an arterial age predictor by training deep learning models to predict age from 233,388 pulse wave analysis records, 8,279 carotid ultrasound images and arterial health biomarkers (e.g blood pressure) collected from 502,000 UKB participants. We predicted age with a R-Squared of 67.1+/-0.6% and a root mean squared error of 4.29+/-0.04 years. Attention maps for carotid ultrasound images suggest that the predictions are driven by vascular features, for the largest part. Accelerated arterial aging is 32.6+/-7.3% GWAS-heritable, and we identified 192 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 109 genes (e.g NPR3, involved in blood volume and pressure) significantly associated with this phenotype. Similarly, we identified biomarkers (e.g electrocardiogram features), clinical phenotypes (e.g chest pain), diseases (e.g hypertension), environmental (e.g smoking) and socioeconomic (e.g income and education) variables associated with accelerated arterial aging. Finally, carotid ultrasound images, pulse wave analysis records and blood pressure biomarkers capture different facets of arterial aging. For example, carotid ultrasound-measured and pulse wave analysis-measured accelerated arterial aging phenotypes are only .164+/-.009 correlated. In conclusion, our predictor suggests potential lifestyle and therapeutic interventions to slow arterial aging, and could be used to assess the efficiency of emerging rejuvenating therapies on the arterial system.
Demystifying the Heart

The heart is a dynamic electrical cum mechanical organ, a true engineering masterpiece. In this chapter, the modern understanding of the anatomy, cellular physiology, and mechanics of the human heart is presented.
A well balanced and entropy conservative discontinuous Galerkin spectral element method for the shallow water equations

In this work, we design an arbitrary high order accurate nodal discontinuous Galerkin spectral element type method for the one dimensional shallow water equations. The novel method uses a skew-symmetric formulation of the continuous problem. We prove that this discretisation exactly preserves the local mass and momentum. Furthermore, we show that combined with a special numerical interface flux function, the method exactly preserves the entropy, which is also the total energy for the shallow water equations. Finally, we prove that the surface fluxes, the skew-symmetric volume integrals, and the source term are well balanced. Numerical tests are performed to demonstrate the theoretical findings.
PGE2 promotes apoptosis induced by cytokine deprivation through EP3 receptor on mast cells (177.1)

Increased mast cells numbers are observed at sites of allergic inflammation. Although a critical factor in the resolution of these inflammatory responses is the restoration of normal mast cell numbers. Early studies showed that cytokines protect mast cells from programmed cells death, suggesting a simple model in which diminished cytokines levels during resolution leads to cell death. The report that prostaglandins (PGs) can contribute to the resolution of inflammation together with the demonstration that mast cells express all four PGE2 receptors raises the possibility that PGE2 act in part by augmenting mast cell apoptosis. We report here that, while exposure of mast cells to PGE2 alone does not lead to apoptosis, PGE2 through the EP3 receptor promotes cell death initiated by cytokine withdrawal. Apoptosis is accompanied by higher dissipation of mitochondrial potential (ΔΨm), increased caspase-3 activation, and chromatin condensation with low molecular weight cleavage. PGE2 augmented cell death is dependent on increase in intracellular calcium release, calmodulin dependent kinase II and MAPK activation. Synergy between the EP3 pathway and the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway results in increased Bim expression and higher sensitivity of mast cells to cytokine deprivation. This supports a model in which PGE2 contributes to the resolution of inflammatory response in part by augmenting the removal of inflammatory cells particularly mast cells.
Meson Theoretical Models of Three-Nucleon Forces

The analogy between photon-exchange and meson-exchange many-body forces is examined with the aid of dispersion theory and used to draw conclusions about the role of baryon resonances in meson-exchange three-nucleon potentials. The importance of low-energy theorems and soft pion theorems in the three-nucleon potential is stressed.
Dictionary of International Human Rights Law

Contents: Acknowledgements Guide to the Dictionary List of Abbreviations Definitions Appendix
Spin-up of Solitary Pulsars : Signal of Deconfinement

A phase transition in the nature of matter in the core of a neutron star, such as quark deconfinement or Bose condensation, can cause the spontaneous spin-up of a solitary millisecond pulsar. The spin-up epoch for our model lasts for $2\times 10^7$ years or 1/50 of the spin-down time.
Identification of a second cellulose synthase gene (acsAII) in Acetobacter xylinum.

A second cellulose synthase gene (acsAII) coding for a 175-kDa polypeptide that is similar in size and sequence to the acsAB gene product has been identified in Acetobacter xylinum AY201. Evidence for the presence of this gene was obtained during analysis of A. xylinum mutants in which the acsAB gene was disrupted (I.M. Saxena, K. Kudlicka, K. Okuda, and R.M. Brown, Jr., J. Bacteriol. 176:5735-5752, 1994). Although these mutants produced no detectable cellulose, they exhibited significant cellulose synthase activity in vitro. The acsAII gene was isolated by using an acsAB gene fragment as a probe. The acsAII gene coded for cellulose synthase activity as determined from sequence analysis and study of mutants in which this gene was disrupted. A mutant in which only the acsAII gene was disrupted showed no significant differences in either the in vivo cellulose production or the in vitro cellulose synthase activity compared with wild-type cells. Mutants in which both the acsAII and acsAB genes were disrupted produced no cellulose in vivo and exhibited negligible cellulose synthase activity in vitro, thus confirming that the cellulose synthase activity observed in the acsAB mutants was coded by the acsAII gene. These results establish the presence of an additional gene for cellulose synthase expressed in cells of A. xylinum, yet this gene is not required for cellulose production when cells are grown under laboratory conditions.
The Royal Prerogative and the Learning of the Inns of Court

Introduction 1. The early readings 2. Expansion and debate: Thomas Frowyk and Robert Constable 3. Frowyk and Constable on Primer Seisin 4. Spelman, Yorke and the campaign against uses 5. The Edwardian readers and beyond Conclusion Appendices: Thomas Frowyk's Reading on Prerogativa Regis, cc. 1-3 John Spelman's Reading on Prerogativa Regis, cc. 1-3.
Spatial patterns in forest composition and standing dead red spruce in montane forests of the Adirondacks and northern Appalachians.

The decline of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) in montane forests of the northeastern United States has been previously reported. The objective of this study was to assess spatial patterns, if any, in standing dead red spruce stems in the Adirondacks of New York and northern Appalachians of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. A stratified random sample of 19 mountains along a west to east transect in the Adirondacks and the northern Appalachians showed that the live basal area of all species was highest in the White Mountains (34.6 m2 ha−1) and lowest in the Adirondack Mountains (23.7 m2 ha−1) in the Green Mountains was significantly lower than in any other region. Intact standing dead red spruce in the Adirondack and Green Mountains (30%) was significantly higher than that in the three eastern clusters (14%). The amount of intact standing dead red spruce trees increased with elevation in only the western part of the region. With the exception of the Adirondacks, there was a greater average percent dead red spruce on the west side than on the east side of each mountain. The sum of standing dead for other tree species (average 13%) showed no statistically significant patterns with region, elevation or aspect, and was significantly lower than the amount of total dead red spruce (average 42%). The standing dead red spruce patterns we observed cannot be associated with any specific causal factors at this time.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN PIPELINE RUPTURE, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

ABSTRACT An 8-inch oil pipeline ruptured on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in February 1996. The resulting response was complicated by the unusual geology at the spill site as well as by the proximity of surface waters and sensitive natural resources. Lookout Mountain contains extensive karst cave systems featuring nationally renowned tourist and spelunking destinations. The caves are also a natural resource managed by the National Park Service. A discharge of approximately 65,000 gallons of kerosene-fuel oil mix sprayed into a small ravine that drains toward the nearby Tennessee River. Responders arrived on scene promptly but found little product at the rupture site and so focused their preliminary efforts on containment and cleanup of free product in the ravine. As surface cleanup progressed, it became apparent that most of the discharge was unaccounted for. Responders quickly associated site geology with the “missing” product and feared that oil had entered the cave systems beneath the dis...
The surface science of titanium dioxide

Abstract Titanium dioxide is the most investigated single-crystalline system in the surface science of metal oxides, and the literature on rutile (1 1 0), (1 0 0), (0 0 1), and anatase surfaces is reviewed. This paper starts with a summary of the wide variety of technical fields where TiO 2 is of importance. The bulk structure and bulk defects (as far as relevant to the surface properties) are briefly reviewed. Rules to predict stable oxide surfaces are exemplified on rutile (1 1 0). The surface structure of rutile (1 1 0) is discussed in some detail. Theoretically predicted and experimentally determined relaxations of surface geometries are compared, and defects (step edge orientations, point and line defects, impurities, surface manifestations of crystallographic shear planes—CSPs) are discussed, as well as the image contrast in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The controversy about the correct model for the (1×2) reconstruction appears to be settled. Different surface preparation methods, such as reoxidation of reduced crystals, can cause a drastic effect on surface geometries and morphology, and recommendations for preparing different TiO 2 (1 1 0) surfaces are given. The structure of the TiO 2 (1 0 0)-(1×1) surface is discussed and the proposed models for the (1×3) reconstruction are critically reviewed. Very recent results on anatase (1 0 0) and (1 0 1) surfaces are included. The electronic structure of stoichiometric TiO 2 surfaces is now well understood. Surface defects can be detected with a variety of surface spectroscopies. The vibrational structure is dominated by strong Fuchs–Kliewer phonons, and high-resolution electron energy loss spectra often need to be deconvoluted in order to render useful information about adsorbed molecules. The growth of metals (Li, Na, K, Cs, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au) as well as some metal oxides on TiO 2 is reviewed. The tendency to ‘wet’ the overlayer, the growth morphology, the epitaxial relationship, and the strength of the interfacial oxidation/reduction reaction all follow clear trends across the periodic table, with the reactivity of the overlayer metal towards oxygen being the most decisive factor. Alkali atoms form ordered superstructures at low coverages. Recent progress in understanding the surface structure of metals in the ‘strong-metal support interaction’ (SMSI) state is summarized. Literature is reviewed on the adsorption and reaction of a wide variety of inorganic molecules (H 2 , O 2 , H 2 O, CO, CO 2 , N 2 , NH 3 , NO x , sulfur- and halogen-containing molecules, rare gases) as well as organic molecules (carboxylic acids, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, alkynes, pyridine and its derivates, silanes, methyl halides). The application of TiO 2 -based systems in photo-active devices is discussed, and the results on UHV-based photocatalytic studies are summarized. The review ends with a brief conclusion and outlook of TiO 2 -based surface science for the future.
Remapping of Border Ownership in the Visual Cortex

We see objects as having continuity although the retinal image changes frequently. How such continuity is achieved is hard to understand, because neurons in the visual cortex have small receptive fields that are fixed on the retina, which means that a different set of neurons is activated every time the eyes move. Neurons in areas V1 and V2 of the visual cortex signal the local features that are currently in their receptive fields and do not show “remapping” when the image moves. However, subsets of neurons in these areas also carry information about global aspects, such as figure–ground organization. Here we performed experiments to find out whether figure–ground organization is remapped. We recorded single neurons in macaque V1 and V2 in which figure–ground organization is represented by assignment of contours to regions (border ownership). We found previously that border-ownership signals persist when a figure edge is switched to an ambiguous edge by removing the context. We now used this paradigm to see whether border ownership transfers when the ambiguous edge is moved across the retina. In the new position, the edge activated a different set of neurons at a different location in cortex. We found that border ownership was transferred to the newly activated neurons. The transfer occurred whether the edge was moved by a saccade or by moving the visual display. Thus, although the contours are coded in retinal coordinates, their assignment to objects is maintained across movements of the retinal image.
WALK THIS WAY

![Figure][1] Why is the preferred walking speed (PWS) of healthy adult humans so predictable and consistent? A commonly given explanation is that we unconsciously select a speed that minimizes the energy expended per unit distance (the energy cost of transport). However, a recent study by
A theoretical and experimental study of the electronic transport properties of the compounds Cu2MTe3 (M =Ti, Zr, Hf)

Abstract A theoretical model that involves metal nonstoichiometry is proposed to explain the unexpected electronic conductivities in the close-packed ternary tellurides Cu2MTe3 (M =Ti, Zr, Hf). Conductivity, thermoelectric power, and Hall effect measurements indicate that these compounds are hole carriers with a concentration of the order of 5 × 1019 cm−3 for M =Zr at 300 K. Such a concentration corresponds to roughly 0.4% Cu vacancies or 0.2% Zr vacancies, levels below the detection limit by X-ray diffraction methods of the corresponding elements in theM =Hf compound.
Transformations and reduction strategies for typed lambda expressions

Description d'un schema permettant aux langages de supporter des fonctions d'ordre superieure pour etre efficacement mis en œuvre en utilisant une pile de temps de fonctionnement normal. Construction d'une machine pour evaluer les expressions de type lambda
Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) and Citizen Injuries: The Shocking Empirical Reality

As one of the contemporary additions to the use of force spectrum, conducted energy devices (CEDs) have been surrounded by controversy. Such concerns have fueled a number of studies, many of which have attempted to examine the relationship between CEDs and citizen injuries. This limited body of research, however, has produced inconsistent results and suffers from a number of documented drawbacks. Drawing on data collected as part of a national multi‐agency use of force project, the current study analyzes nearly 14,000 use‐of‐force incidents across seven agencies, over 2,600 of which involve a CED, to assess the potential impact of CEDs on citizen injuries. In doing so, a series of multivariate statistical models are employed that isolate CED cases and compare them to a number of both hands‐on and weapon‐based tactics. Unlike previous research, which often highlights the beneficial aspects of CEDs in relation to injuries, our findings generally show an increased risk between the use of CEDs and citizen inj...
Fluoxetine for childhood anxiety disorders.

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this open study was to determine the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine for the treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Method Twenty-one patients with overanxious disorder, social phobia, or separation anxiety disorder, who were unresponsive to previous psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions, were treated openly with fluoxetine for up to 10 months. Patients with lifetime histories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or panic disorder, or with current major depression, were excluded. Beneficial and adverse effects of fluoxetine were ascertained using the improvement and severity subscales of the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGIS) in two ways: (1) independent chart reviews by two child psychiatrists and (2) prospective assessments by the treating nurses and the patients' mothers. Results Eighty-one percent (n = 17) of patients showed moderate to marked improvement in anxiety symptoms. The severity of anxiety as measured by the CGIS was also significantly reduced from marked to mild (effect size: 2.3). There were no significant side effects. Conclusions These results suggest that fluoxetine may be an effective and safe treatment for nondepressed children and adolescents with anxiety disorders other than OCD and panic disorder. Future investigations using double-blind, placebo-controlled methodologies are warranted.
Topical vitamin e inhibition of immunosuppression and tumorigenesis induced by ultraviolet irradiation

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of C3H/HeN mice induces skin cancer and an immunosuppression that prevents the host from rejecting antigenic UV-induced tumors. The capacity of topical vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol) to prevent photocarcinogenesis or the immunosuppression induced by UV irradiation were assessed. Skin cancer incidence in UV-irradiated mice was 81% at 33 weeks after the first UV exposure; application to mice of 25 mg vitamin E three times per week for three weeks before UV irradiation, and throughout the experiment, reduced this incidence to 42% (p = 0.0065, log rank test). Immunoenhancement by vitamin E was assessed by comparing levels of immunosuppression by splenocytes from normal or UV-irradiated mice, with and without topical vitamin E treatment. Transfer of splenocytes from UV-irradiated mice to naive mice prevented the recipients from rejecting a UV-induced tumor challenge, whereas splenocytes from UV-irradiated mice treated with vitamin E did not prevent recipients from rejecting a similar tumor challenge. Phenotypic analysis of splenocytes used in the passive transfer assay, conducted with a biotin-avidin-immunoperoxidase technique, revealed that vitamin E treatment of mice undergoing UV irradiation prevented the UV-induced down regulation of Ia expression in splenocytes and increased the proportion of Lyt-2+ and L3T4+ splenocytes. Therefore, chronically applied vitamin E can effectively reduce cancer formation and immunosuppression induced by UV irradiation. Prevention of UV-induced down regulation of Ia expression may have contributed to this immunomodulation.
Further considerations on the statistical mechanics of biological associations

In this continuation of a previous report it is shown how the Volterra population dynamics, which underlies the statistical theory, can be based on a variational principle; how the dynamics can be generalized as regards both the behavior of total populations and migration phenomena; and how many directly observable data, such as amplitudes and frequencies of oscillation of a population, fit into the statistical theory and can test it. Such a test is carried out in some detail using the fox-catch data of Elton, with a clear indication that the theory is capable of comprehending the major statistical properties of population-time curves. A final section sketches an extension of the theory to cover secular variations of external conditions such as temperature of the environment.
Living in a physical world. V. Maintaining temperature.

Little else in our immediate world varies as much as the thermal loads that we terrestrial organisms face. Too o ften we find ourselves too hot, too cold, too well illum inated by sunlight, too exposed to an open sky, or in too great contact with hot or cold solid or liquid substrata. Thermal loads vary in time scale as well as in magnitude. Air tem peratures and radiative regimes change over every time scale relevant to their oper ation, from seconds to years, at the least; in addition both soil and water te mperatures may be far from constant. Variation may be as regular as night following day or it may be predictable only in a general statistical sense. Terrestrial life – and sometimes even aquatic life – is rife with thermal challenges.
Polarimetric contrast enhancement coefficients for perfecting high-resolution POL-SAR/SAL image feature extraction

In microwave remote sensing, it is desirable to select radar antenna polarizations that maximize the contrast between two classes of scatterers or scatterer ensembles. A polarimetric radar measures complete polarization properties of a target and then provides a vector description of the resulting scattered wave through various target matrices. Several optimization procedures for the completely and partially polarized cases have been proposed based on the theory of radar polarimetry. It is the purpose of this paper to present optimization procedures for the enhancement of polarimetric contrast between two time-varying targets and to extend the procedure to two spatially incoherent image pixel targets. The targets are now characterized by the time-averaged or spatially-averaged Kronecker matrices, from which one can obtain the associated Graves and Kennaugh matrices. The Graves matrices of the targets are used to find a transmitter polarization to maximize the ratio of scattered power densities at the receiver. Using the Lagrange multiplier method, the maximization problem is cast into the form of a generalized Balois eigenvalue equation. The largest eigenvalue of the equation equals the maximal power ratio, and the optimal effective length of the transmitting antenna is proportional to the corresponding eigenvector. The Kennaugh matrices of the targets are employed to obtain the Kennaugh vectors of partially polarized scattered waves from the two targets. Each of the scattered Kennaugh vectors is decomposed into a completely polarized and an unpolarized part. It is well known that the power received from the unpolarized part is independent of the polarization characteristics of the receiving antenna. Then a receiver polarization is selected to maximize or minimize the completely polarized part scattered from the desired or the undesired target. As a numerical example, the optimal Stokes vectors of transmitting and receiving antennas are given to show the validity of the optimization procedures and how it can be applied to perfecting high resolution POL-SAR/SAL Image Feature Extraction.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Phencyclidine-induced activation of ventral tegmental A10 dopamine neurons is differentially affected by lesions of the nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex.

The nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex contain high concentrations of phencyclidine (PCP) binding sites as well as supply inhibitory and excitatory inputs to the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Thus these two regions could be instrumental in mediating the unique bimodal response of A10 neurons to systemically administered PCP. Therefore we evaluated electrophysiologically the effects of lesions of these two areas on this pattern of response. In sham-lesioned controls, i.v. injections of PCP elicited a typical dose-dependent bimodal effect which was characterized by an activation of A10 firing at low dose (reaching a maximum of +44% at 1 mg/kg) followed by a slowing of this response with larger doses. However, in animals with kainic acid or radiofrequency lesions of the nucleus accumbens, PCP produced only a unimodal response resulting in sustained and elevated (+88% in kainate and +55% in radiofrequency lesioned groups) firing rates. Notably, neither basal activity nor the degree of activation of the A10's at doses of PCP less than 1 mg/kg were affected by the lesions. In contrast, excitotoxic destruction of the medial prefrontal cortex had no effect on the response of A10 neurons to PCP even though basal activity was slightly elevated in this group. These results suggest that the inhibitory component of the bimodal response of VTA neurons to systemic PCP is mediated via feedback pathways from the nucleus accumbens, but that the mesocortical prefrontal cortex does not appear to modulate any portion of this bimodal response.
X-ray and white radiation neutron diffraction studies of optically active potassium antimony tartrate, K2Sb2(d-C4H2O6)2·3H2O (tarter emetic)

Abstract The crystal structure of dipotassium di-μ-d-tartrato (4)-bis(antimonate(III)) trihydrate has been redetermined by three-dimensional X-ray and white radiation neutron diffraction techniques. K2Sb2(d-C4H2O6)2·3H2O crystallizes in space group C2221 with a = 11.192 (2), b = 11.696(3), and c = 25.932(5) A. Full-matrix least-squares refinement of the structure using 2779 X-ray intensities resulted in a conventional discrepancy factor of 0.078. A linear programming technique was used to obtain approximate neutron structure factors from the Laue intensities. The hydrogen atom positions were located by a Fourier map calculated using the derived structure factors phased by the X-ray model. In the unit cell are eight tartrato-(4)-bridged binuclear anions. The coordination of the quadridentate ligands to antimony is such that the more electronegative carboxyl oxygen atoms occupy axial positions and the hydroxyl oxygen atoms equatorial positions, with average bond lengths 2.16 and 1.99 A, respectively. The lengthening of the axial antimony—oxygen bond correlates well with similar differences in antimony-halide compounds. The water molecules are hydrogen—bonded to each other and to carboxyl oxygen atoms and connect the antimony—tartrate anions in infinite sheets parallel to the a-b plane.
A multi-theoretical approach to linking medication adherence levels and the comparison of outcomes

Abstract Background There has been relatively little theoretical research exploring the cognitive complexity of how patients decide the level to which they adhere to prescribed regimens. Objectives To integrate various psychosocial theories into a conceptual framework to review how patients relate their medication use behavior to therapeutic outcomes and how such relationships affect subsequent medication use. Methods Key psychosocial theories were reviewed involving health beliefs and medication adherence, individual control, and how individuals might compare outcomes with expectations and alternatives. These concepts were integrated into one larger multilevel explanatory model, the Dynamic Exchange Model for Medication Adherence Levels and Comparison of Outcomes (DEMMALCO), explaining how patients might attribute outcomes related to their medication use and choose future actions based on expectations and alternatives available. Key assumptions of the model were also identified. Results DEMMALCO indicates that patients make initial attributions of their control over their illness, which affects their subsequent adherence to their regimens. The model suggests that patients actively compare their treatment outcomes with their expectations about outcomes and the outcomes that are related to their best alternative. They are thought to reassess how their control in treatment was related to those outcomes and subsequently modify their adherence behavior based on the presence or absence of resources. Conclusions Strengths and limitations of the model are noted. DEMMALCO may help inform researchers and clinicians on new ways to conceptualize, monitor, and change medication adherence behavior.
The influence of sulfur dioxide on propane oxidation activity over supported platinum and palladium

Earlier studies have shown that sulfur dioxide and metal-support interaction can strongly influence propane oxidation over platinum. In particular, oxidation activity is enhanced when platinum is supported on sulfated γ-alumina or zirconia compared to γ-alumina. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the performance of palladium under the same experimental conditions. Four model catalysts were examined: Pt/γ-alumina, Pt/zirconia, Pd/γ-alumina and Pd/zirconia. The metal loading was kept at or below 0.05 wt% to emphasize changes in activity attributable to metal-support interaction. Reaction rates were measured with and without sulfur dioxide. Surface sulfation was analyzed by measuring acid strength and evaluating spectra obtained by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. In contrast to platinum, sulfation does not promote propane oxidation on Pd/γ-alumina, and Pd/zirconia is less active than Pd/γ-alumina.
Le ragioni di un decennio. 1969–1979. Militanza, violenza, sconfitta, memoria

Giovanni De Luna (2009) Le ragioni di un decennio. 1969–1979. Militanza, violenza, sconfitta, memoria(Milan: Feltrinelli), 7–253 pp., ISBN 9788807111020, [euro]17.00, paperback Over the years, Giov...
The perioperative nutritional care of neonates and infants

The perioperative care of neonates and infants presents problems that differ greatly from those seen in older children and adults and has resulted, during the last few decades, in dramatically decreased morbidity and mortality rates in neonates and infants affected by congenital gastrointestinal malformations. Surgery-associated mortality in the neonate has declined from greater than 50% to less than 10%. Refined respiratory care, antibiotics and improved nutrition with a greater knowledge of the needs of the surgical patient have together improved the survival chances for surgical neonates and infants. This article reviews some important aspects of the perioperative care of the neonate and infant. Keywords: neonates, nutrition, postoperative care, surgery
151 NORMAL VALUES OF AORTIC ROOT DIAMETER IN NEONATES

The combination of pulsed Doppler and M-mode echocardiography can provide estimates of blood flow velocity and diameter of the ascending aorta, from which cardiac output can be calculated. Since the square of the aortic root diameter (ARD) is used in the calculation of cardiac output, precise measurements are vital. This study assessed normal values for ARD, obtained by M-mode echocardiography with leading edge methodology in early diastole. 172 preterm and 228 term newborn infants (BW 750-4,740 g, GA 25-43 w) were studied during the first week of life. ARD increased linearly with advancing birthweight (r=0.93, p<0.001) and gestational age (r=0.90, p<0.001).
Accurate wavelength determination through attenuation dips of strongly reflective crystals

Abstract Accurate wavelength determination has been made possible by using the attenuation dips of a strongly reflecting crystal when it is rocked near a Bragg position. This transmission method has the advantage that it does not need any collimation between the sample and the detector and that it is constantly set in the line of sight; this eliminates errors due to detector misalignment. Consequently, it is more accurate than any standard Bragg measurement, because only one rotation is required; that of the crystal. Measurements between 0.36618 and 1.6782 A show that attenuation significantly shift the dip positions in pyrolitic graphite (ZYA). We conclude that when these effects are accounted for, any wavelength in the range mentioned above can be determined with an error of ∼ 0.1 % or smaller.
An exploratory mixed methods analysis of adherence predictors following acute coronary syndrome

Adherence to cardiac health behaviors is a critical predictor of prognosis in the months following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, there has been minimal concomitant study of multiple nonadherence risk factors, as assessed via record review, structured assessments, and qualitative interviews, among hospitalized ACS patients. Accordingly, we completed an exploratory mixed methods study with 22 individuals who were admitted for ACS and had suboptimal pre-ACS adherence to physical activity, heart-healthy diet, and/or medications, defined by a Medical Outcomes Study Specific Adherence Scale (MOS SAS) score <15/18. During hospitalization, participants underwent quantitative assessments of sociodemographic, medical, and psychological variables, followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore intentions, plans, and perceived barriers related to post-discharge health behavior changes. The MOS SAS was readministered at 3 months and participants were designated as persistently nonadherent (MOS SAS <15; n = 9) or newly adherent (n = 13). Interviews were transcribed and coded by trained raters via content analysis, and quantitative variables were compared between groups using chi-square analysis and independent-samples t-tests. On our primary qualitative analysis, we found that participants with vaguely described intentions/plans regarding health behavior change, and those who focused on barriers to change that were perceived as static, were more likely to be persistently nonadherent. On exploratory quantitative analyses, greater medical burden, diabetes, depressive symptoms, and low optimism/positive affect at baseline were associated with subsequent post-ACS nonadherence (all p < .05). In conclusion, this appears to be the first study to prospectively examine all of these constructs in hospitalized ACS patients, and we found that specific factors were associated with nonadherence to key health behaviors 3 months later. Therefore it may be possible to predict future nonadherence in ACS patients, even during hospitalization, and specific interventions during admission may be indicated to prevent adverse outcomes among patients at highest risk for post-ACS nonadherence.
The ABCR Gene in Recessive and Dominant Stargardt Diseases: A Genetic Pathway in Macular Degeneration

Stargardt disease (STGD) is a juvenile-onset macular dystrophy and can be inherited in an autosomal recessive or in an autosomal dominant manner. Genes involved in dominant STDG have been mapped to human chromosomes 13q (STGD2) and 6q (STGD3). Here, we identify a new kindred with dominant STGD and demonstrate genetic linkage to the STGD3 locus. Because of a more severe macular degeneration phenotype of one of the patients in this family, the gene responsible for the recessive STGD1, ABCR, was analyzed for sequence variants in all family members. One allele of the ABCR gene was shown to carry a stop codon-generating mutation (R152X) in three family members, including the one patient who had inherited also the dominant gene. A grandparent of that patient with the same ABCR mutation developed age-related macular degeneration (AMD), consistent with our earlier observation that some variants in the ABCR gene may increase susceptibility to AMD in the heterozygous state. Based on these results, we propose that there is a common genetic pathway in macular degeneration that includes genes for both recessive and dominant STGD.
USING NEURAL NETWORKS AND NIR SPECTROPHOTOMETRY TO IDENTIFY FIBERS

A qualitative nondestructive technique for fiber identification was developed using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. A neural network was trained to identify 17 different fiber types using the NIR absorbance spectra from a library of 390 samples. The neural network model was verified by testing untrained samples. It was not only able to identify single fibers, but was also able to correctly identify blends of fibers from fabrics for which it had not been trained.
Coronary vascular responses to short-term cocaine administration in conscious baboons compared with dogs

Abstract OBJECTIVES Cardiovascular complications of cocaine use represent an important clinical problem, yet the mechanisms by which cocaine predisposes to myocardial ischemia are poorly understood. BACKGROUND The effects of cocaine on the coronary circulation have been studied extensively in experimental animal models, but have failed to recapitulate the clinical findings reported in humans who use cocaine. METHODS We studied 12 conscious, chronically instrumented dogs and 5 conscious, chronically instrumented baboons to determine whether there were important species differences in the response to cocaine. RESULTS Comparable doses of intravenous cocaine caused similar increases in left ventricular systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure in the two species. However, the peak coronary blood flow response in baboons (+8 ± 3 from 47 ± 6 ml/min) was less compared with dogs (+15 ± 4 from 41 ± 4 ml/min), while the coronary vascular resistance response was greater in baboons (+0.60 ± 0.09 from 1.94 ± 0.09 mm Hg/ml/mm) compared with dogs (+0.35 ± 0.09 from 2.24 ± 0.10 mm Hg/ml/min). Although myocardial oxygen consumption responses were similar between species, there was a significant difference (p CONCLUSIONS Cocaine caused greater coronary vasoconstriction and greater requirements for oxygen extraction in baboons compared with dogs.
Inhibitory effects of canthaxanthin on in vitro growth of murine tumor cells

The antitumorigenic effects of carotenoids, in addition to their immuno-enhancing effects, may occur by their direct action on growing tumor cells. To test this hypothesis the direct inhibitory effect of various concentrations of canthaxanthin (CX; 4,4'-diketo-beta-carotene), a non-provitamin A carotenoid, was tested on the in vitro growth of JB/MS, B16F10 melanomas and PYB6 fibrosarcoma and murine non-transformed NIH-3T3 (ATCC CRL 1658) cells. At concentrations of 1 x 10(-8) M up to 1 x 10(-4) M, CX significantly reduced the overall number of tumor cells. The greatest inhibition was observed at a CX concentration of 1 x 10(-4) M after 72 h and 96 h of incubation. However, CX had no inhibitory effect on the growth of the non-transformed NIH-3T3 cell line; rather it significantly enhanced growth of this cell line (P less than 0.05) after 96 h of incubation. Thus, the inhibitory action of CX on growing tumor cells appears to be due to its direct actions on tumor cells and not via its conversion to vitamin A or its immuno-enhancing effects.
Behavioral recovery following kainic acid lesions and fetal implants of the striatum occurs independent of dopaminergic mechanisms.

Abstract Transplantation of fetal striatal tissue into rats witkainic acid lesions of the striatum reversed the spontaneous locomotor abnormalities caused by the lesions, but had no effect on the lesion-induced hyperactivity that followed amphetamine or apomorphine injection. Conversely, transplants into intact (non-lesioned) striatum led to abnormalities in spontaneous locomotion, but did not effect locomotion under amphetamine or apomorphine conditions. Dopamine autoradiography found a relative absence of dopamine receptors within the transplants. These results suggest that the mechanism whicaccounts for transplant-induced recovery of spontaneous locomotion is independent of striatal dopamine mechanisms.