cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Heat Transfer from Peltier Devices Used in an Atmospheric Water Generation

Present Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) systems are useful for providing water in areas with limited water supplies. Many industrial AWG systems use VCR (vapor-compression refrigeration) to achieve a large amount of cooling to extract liquid water out of the air.Â These systems require large amounts of energy to operate, usually in the form of diesel or AC-powered generators.Â The systems also have many moving parts that require maintenance and use refrigerants that can leak and cause problems with the environment. An alternative AWG solution is to use DC-powered Peltier devices (thermoelectric coolers) to reduce the temperature of condensation plates to extract water from the air. Â This solution eliminates the issues with traditional industrial AWG systems since the Peltier devices are solid-state, have very long mean-time between failure (MTBF) performance, and can be powered by solar panels that eliminate the need to burn hydrocarbon-based fuels or have access to a reliable power grid.Â Also eliminated is the need to use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) refrigerants that have been shown to deplete the ozone layer. This paper will present methods to improve the efficiency of the thermoelectric coolers by more efficiently extracting heat from the hot side of the device.Â This efficiency will be quantified by evaluating the coefficient of performance (COP) of the thermoelectric cooler under the various operating conditions.Â Different combinations of conductive heat transfer using aluminium heatsinks, convection heat transfer using forced airflow, and phase change heat transfer using copper heat pipes filled with distilled water will be investigated and evaluated.
Novel and familiar object recognition rely on the same ability.

There is recent evidence for a domain-general object recognition ability, called O, which is distinct from general intelligence and other cognitive and personality constructs. We extend the study of O by characterizing how it generalizes to the ability to recognize familiar objects and to the ability to make judgments of the average identity of ensembles of objects. We applied latent variable modeling to data collected from a sample of adults (N = 284) in three different tasks and for six different object domains (three novel and three familiar). The results replicated prior work in finding that on average 88% of the variance of lower-order factors could be accounted by O for novel objects. The latent constructs recruited by the higher-order factor for novel objects and for familiar objects were almost perfectly correlated and therefore functionally identical. A latent factor for ensemble perception shared about 42% of the variance with O, suggesting at least strong overlap between abilities supporting judgments about individual objects and ensemble of objects. This work extends the theoretical reach of O by showing generalization across two dimensions (familiar vs. novel objects; individual vs. ensemble object perception). With respect to the structure of individual differences in high-level vision, researchers would benefit from accounting for the contribution of O when seeking to understand various domain-specific abilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Crowdsourcing solutions in the online mathematics classroom

This article discusses a pedagogical technique for utilizing breakout rooms for small group discussions and synchronous drawing features in Zoom to create crowdsourced solutions to mathematical pro...
Performance of Sand-Treated Clay Subgrade Supporting a Low-Volume Flexible Pavement

Low-volume roads constitute a major portion of the world’s transportation infrastructure and hence require an economical and effective pavement design. When constructed on unstable and soft subgrades, these roads are susceptible to premature pavement failures and require subgrade stabilization. The presented research focuses on mechanical stabilization of soft clay with graded sand that has been adopted as a base course for pavements. For this study, a local soft clayey soil from Dallas was mixed with various fractions of a graded sandy soil, and the stiffness behavior of the compounded material was studied. The soil mixtures were then studied for their basic soil characterization, including standard Proctor compaction studies. Statically compressed soil specimens were prepared and then evaluated for their unconfined compressive strength and resilient moduli. Resilient moduli results were used in the design of low-volume roads, both with aggregate base and with no aggregate base. Results show that the var...
Oxygen diffusion in alpha and beta titanium in the temperature range of 932° to 1142°C

An attempt is made to determine the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in α-Ti from oxidation studies of oxygen-unsaturated and oxygen-saturated β-Ti. Knowledge about the rates of movements of the α/β interface permits evaluation of oxygen diffusivity in α-Ti. The results conform to the relationship:D α=0.778 exp (−48,600/RT), sq cm per sec, for the temperature range of 932° to 1142°C. From microhardness measurements, the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in β-Ti can be expressed as:D β=3.30×102 exp (−58,800/RT), sq cm per soc, for the same temperature range.
Hardware, Software and Psyche: Men and Machines in Advertising

EVEN the most retarded observer is aware that computers “have arrived” in advertising. It is a rare conversation currently that is not peppered with acronyms representing one or another computerized scheme for getting the advertising job done. Such a state of the art is encouraging, but perplexing to many people. Unless one's training happens to include notions of “32K storage”, “random access devices”, “matrix eigenvector programs”, and the like, it is relatively easy to become intimidated (or nauseated) by the pace of technology. In perhaps a shy, but nevertheless quite sincere spirit, one feels compelled to wonder just what computers have to do with making advertising decisions. Put another way, one wishes to know the nature and extent of the man‐machine relationship as regards advertising decision making. Does the machine supplant or complement man? To what extent and in what ways? What does the computer leave to the human's judgment? Is the time‐honoured notion of creativity in advertising losing currency?
Sex, Drugs, Rock 'N' Roll: Are Solutions Possible?—A Commentary

Understanding the demographics of teenage pregnancy and teenage drug abuse is far easier than thinking of solutions to either. Nevertheless, solutions--at least partial solutions--do exist. Several successful programs and their essential components are discussed. Prevention of early teenage drug and sexual experimentation intersect in several key areas: the family, the media, the role of the physician, the appropriateness of prevention, and the need to understand what is normal adolescent behavior. Only when these dual problems are thoroughly understood and their etiologies in adult society are acknowledged will attempts at "solutions" be successful.
The effect of fasting on synthesis and 4'-phosphopantetheine exchange in rat liver fatty acid synthetase.

Abstract The level of rat liver fatty acid synthetase is greatly decreased upon fasting. This report presents several additional observations of the effect of fasting on that enzyme. (a) The rate of synthesis is reduced during 48 hours of fasting and is 20% of the steady state rate after 12 hours. (b) The apparent half-life of the enzyme is decreased from about 70 hours to about 20 hours. (c) The exchange of the prosthetic group, 4'-phosphopantetheine, is largely eliminated, perhaps by effects on the mechanism of attachment or hydrolysis. (d) Feeding a protein-free diet mimics the effect of starvation on the enzyme levels.
'The Appeals of the Orient’: Colonized Desire and the War of the Riff

An uprising in the 1920s against French and Spanish rule in Morocco, the "War of the Riff," gave rise to fierce international debates about the fundamental nature of colonialism. These debates about colonialism's political and legal legitimacy also implicated a broad range of libidinal postures in the relations between "Orient" and "Occident," bringing into play a diverse array of gendered and sexualized desires. This article explores the range of such political, legal, and libidinal postures on the French Left, including those of Socialists, Communists, Surrealists, and other cultural figures. In addition, it examines the range of stances taken by the leader of the revolt, known as "Abdel Krim." The article analyzes the absence of discussion of this major war by international lawyers, and argues that "interdisciplinarity" in international legal scholarship is, at least in part, an artifact of colonial history. Finally, the article advocates a reconfiguration of the critique of "Orientalism," based on the irreducibility and polymorphousness of desire and the instability of the relationship between libidinal and political postures.
Plasma Zinc Concentration in Liver Diseases: Comparison with normal controls and certain other chronic diseases

Summary Plasma zinc was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 54 patients with various types of liver disease and 20 patients with chronic debilitating disease but with normal liver function. The results were compared with those in 51 control subjects. In alcoholic and postnecrotic cirrhosis
The Proposed Capital Penalty Phase Rules of Evidence

No person or organization has ever proposed model rules of evidence for the unique penalty phase of a death penalty trial. Now a law professor skilled in the scholarship of both death penalty jurisprudence and evidence, and a federal judge with extensive federal death penalty experience, do just that. This work transcends the hodge-podge of evidentiary approaches taken by the various state jurisdictions and federal law. The result is the Proposed CAPITAL PENALTY PHASE RULES OF EVIDENCE — clear and uniform rules to govern the wide-ranging evidentiary issues that arise in the penalty phase of capital trials. Death penalty trials, long criticized for the arbitrariness of their results, will greatly benefit from these Rules.
Proteolipid Protein Regulates the Survival and Differentiation of Oligodendrocytes

Proteolipid protein (PLP) has been postulated to play a critical role in the early differentiation of oligodendrocytes (OLs) in addition to its known role as a structural component of myelin. To identify this early function, we blocked the synthesis of PLP in glial cultures with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides that targeted the PLP initiation codon. Primary glial cultures were incubated with phosphorothioate-protected oligodeoxynucleotides (S-ODNs) for up to 11 d. PLP in OLs was reduced >90%. OLs treated with antisense S-ODNs appeared strikingly healthy as judged by (1) immunocytochemical staining for myelin glycolipids and myelin basic protein, (2) their prolonged survival compared with untreated cultures, and (3) their ability to re-establish membrane sheets after removal of the S-ODNs. Our studies show that PLP is required for elaboration and stability of the myelin membrane sheets made by most OLs, but it is not necessary for the network of processes established by OLs. More importantly, the number of OLs in the antisense-treated cultures was nearly sevenfold greater after a 10–11 d incubation with S-ODNs than in control cultures. The number of proliferating OL progenitors was not increased in the antisense-treated cultures, indicating that the increase in the number of OLs was attributable to prolonged OL survival. The tissue culture studies reveal that the absence of PLP/DM20 has the positive effect of promoting OL survival but the negative effect of preventing their full differentiation. This finding clarifies many of the paradoxical findings seen in the PLP mutants, the PLP overexpressers, and the PLP− animals.
Defining Success in Adult Basic Education Settings: Multiple Stakeholders, Multiple Perspectives

This study employed quantitative and qualitative research approaches to investigate what constitutes "success" in Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs from the perspectives of multiple educational stakeholders: the state funding agency, the teachers, and the students. Success was defined in multiple ways. In the quantitative section of the study, we computed classroom value-added scores (used as a metric of the state's definition of success) to identify more and less effective ABE classrooms in two Florida counties. In the qualitative section of the study, we observed and conducted interviews with teachers and students in the selected classrooms to investigate how these stakeholders defined success in ABE. Iterative consideration of the qualitative data revealed three principal markers of success: (a) instructional strategies and teacher-student interactions; (b) views on standardized testing; and (c) student motivational factors. In general, classrooms with higher value-added scores were characterized by multiple instructional approaches, positive and collaborative teacher-student interactions, and students engaging in goal setting and citing motivational factors such as family and personal fulfillment. The implications for ABE programs are discussed.
Potential of near infrared spectroscopy to assess hot-water-soluble extractive content and decay resistance of a tropical hardwood

The ability to identify both low- and high-durability samples in a population of naturally durable samples would allow more rational use of these materials, for example, using samples in the lower ranges of durability in non-soil contact. One possible method for rapidly assessing differences in heartwood characteristics related to durability is near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) coupled with multivariate statistical methods. A number of recent studies suggest that NIR can be related to a variety of wood properties, including extractive content. There are, however, few data on the ability of this technique to assess decay resistance, especially in hardwoods or species with high natural durability. In this report, the ability of NIR to predict both extractive content and resistance to fungal attack in Goncalo alves (Astronium graveolens) was assessed. NIR spectra accurately predicted hot-water-soluble extractive content of A. graveolens and its susceptibility to the white rot fungus Trametes versicolor. A. graveolens was very resistant to attack by the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum and NIR spectra were not useful predictors of weight loss. NIR spectroscopy may be a useful tool for rapidly assessing the extractive content and decay resistance of naturally durable wood.
Electronic Funds Transfer

This chapter summarizes the basic concepts and developments in domestic and international EFT systems prior to the advent of the Internet, before examining new requirements dictated by E-commerce. It then summarizes security developments, with particular emphasis on the new trust schemes that are viewed as indispensable for the development of E-commerce. Developments in EBPP and e-EFT are then described for the retail (B2C, P2P) and wholesale (B2B) sectors, examining potential disintermediation threats to the banking system. The article concludes with the authors' views on opportunities for financial institutions, and future perspectives. Keywords: automated clearing house (ACH); business-to-business e-commerce; electronic data interchange (EDI); payment; payment system
Stochastic Upscaling for Snow Accumulation and Melt Processes with PDF Approach

Although the importance of subgrid variability in the snow model has been recognized, only a few modeling studies on the parameterization of subgrid effects have been performed. This study proposes a new upscaling approach from a single-layered point-scale snow model toward a finite-scale model, using the probability density functions (PDF). The Fokker-Planck equation (FPE) for the snowmelt process is formulated in a two-dimensional probability domain for snow temperature versus snow depth. This Fokker-Planck equation, governing the evolution of the probability density of the snow temperature–snow depth bivariate state variable, can describe the subgrid effects of the snow process. The numerical solutions of the FPE are validated with Monte Carlo simulations. It is demonstrated that the derived FPE can express the spatial variability of the snow process sufficiently well once the necessary information on the spatial variation in shortwave radiation and snowfall are given. The validation results are encour...
Loss modeling of amodal fiber-to-fiber interconnects

Deviations from ideal alignment and end finish can result in lossy fiber optic connections. Models of amodal fiber-to-fiber interconnects (where the optical energy has no modal structure) commonly used by connection system designers assume independence of the misalignment parameters. This paper describes a method of studying the interaction of these parameters using both computer modeling and laboratory data. The initial results show a coupled relationship existing between several pairs of misalignment parameters. In these instances the net loss due to combinational misalignments was significantly different than the linear addition of the individual loss values.
Human growth hormone antagonist (G120R) delivered by a murine yolk sac cell-derived mini-organ decreases the growth rate of mice

Long-term cultured murine embryonic yolk sac cells that are capable of forming capillary structures when cultured on base membrane proteins (Matrigel) were successfully transfected with a human growth hormone antagonist (G120R) gene. Cells that stably express relatively high levels of G120R were co-implanted s.c. with Matrigel into BALB/c mice. G120R can be detected in the sera of those implanted mice for more than 14 days at levels from 4 ng/ml to 28 ng/ml. The insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in the sera of those implanted mice were significantly affected by the delivered G120R. One of the physiological effects of G120R delivered by this murine embryonic yolk sac cell-derived mini-organ system is to decrease the growth rate of the implanted mice. This gene delivery system can also be used as an alternative to transgenic animals to study protein function in vivo.
The key determinants of Internet banking service quality: a content analysis

Focuses on the issues associated with Internet banking service quality. Customer anecdotes of critical incidents in Internet banking were content‐analyzed. Identified a total of 17 dimensions of Internet banking service quality, which can be classified into three broad categories – customer service quality, banking service product quality, and online systems quality. The derived dimensions include: for customer service quality, ten dimensions such as reliability, responsiveness, competence, courtesy, credibility, access, communication, understanding the customer, collaboration, and continuous improvement; for online systems quality, six dimensions such as content, accuracy, ease of use, timeliness, aesthetics, and security; and for banking service product quality, one dimension of product variety/diverse features. Also revealed that, in terms of frequency of references to the 17 dimensions, no substantial differences exist between Internet‐only banks and traditional banks offering Internet banking service. The most frequently mentioned dimensions, as the main sources of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, were reliability, responsiveness, access, and accuracy. Some suggestions and recommendations were provided to improve the Internet banking service quality and, in turn, customer satisfaction.
The Evaluation of Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy

An estimated 10% to 40% of children with epilepsy have treatment-resistant epilepsy. Persistent seizures have negative psychosocial, behavioral, cognitive, and financial consequences and are associated with an increased mortality rate. Accurate syndromic and etiologic diagnoses are of vital importance because they may guide medical and/or surgical decision making. Revisitation of the history to confirm the diagnosis of epilepsy and the appropriateness of medication trials to date is vital. Routine imaging should include structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with an established epilepsy protocol. In the setting of a normal previous MRI, repeat imaging may be indicated and may be supplemented with other imaging modalities. The admission for prolonged inpatient video-encephalographic monitoring may lead to a revision of a pre-existing diagnosis. Laboratory evaluations should include genetic, metabolic, and infectious/inflammatory studies when indicated. In this review, we discuss the implication of seizure semiology and syndrome classification when searching for an underlying diagnosis in treatment-resistant epilepsy, and will review both basic and more advanced procedures/studies that may aid diagnosis.
How Can I Tell You This? The Developing Discourse on HIV/AIDS in Young Adult Novels

This bibliographic essay describes how information about HIV/AIDS is presented in young adult novels, published in English or translated into English, between 1981 and 2008. The content under consideration includes the presentation of the risk of infection that young people face, how people with HIV/AIDS are depicted in these novels, the presentation of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in these narratives, and taking care of self and others when HIV/AIDS is a reality of life. The analysis demonstrates that a movement from the depiction of HIV/AIDS as a problem of adult males to one that young people themselves may face is underway. At the same time people with HIV/AIDS continue to be divided into those who can be considered “innocent victims” and those who are not. In general, presentation of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS appears to be lessening in these works. Stigma represented by instrumental unreasonable fears (casual contact) is less prevalent in recent works as is stigma related to symbolic views i...
Diffractive parametric imaging in uniaxial crystals

We derive the diffractive transfer functions in uniaxial crystals for the parametric processes of upconversion and downconversion with an undepleted plane-wave pump. This description is for Type I or Type II phase matching in either positive or negative uniaxial crystals. Our results agree closely with an experiment in KD*P in which the pump, signal, and idler wavelengths are 1.064, 1.064, and 0.532 μm and the polarizations are extraordinary, ordinary, and extraordinary, respectively. We show that the idler output intensity is a slightly elliptical ring displaced from the ordinary ray in the direction of the Poynting vector walk-off. The experimental and theoretical spatial frequencies describing the position of the idler intensity ellipse agree closely.
Time as an Adjunctive Agent to Thrombolytic Therapy.

Thrombolytic therapy has dramatically reduced mortality following acute myocardial infarction (MI) with the major effect coming fromearly achievement of infarct-related artery patency. A major factor in achieving rapid reperfusion is early treatment with thrombolytic therapy. Recent trials have shown that mortality can be reduced if time to treatment is shortened: In the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 2 trial, for each hour earlier that thrombolytic therapy was started, approximately 10 lives were saved per 1000 patients treated. Thus, one must considertime as an adjunctive agent to thrombolytic therapy. There are four components of the time delay between the onset of MI and achievement of reperfusion: (1) patient delays in seeking medical attention; (2) transport delays; (3) the so-called door to needle time, the interval between the patient's arrival at the medical facility and the initiation of thrombolytic therapy; and (4) thrombolytic reperfusion time, the time between the administration of thrombolytic therapy and the achievement of reperfusion. Efforts to reduce each of these components will lead to additive benefits in improving time to reperfusion and survival of patients with acute MI.
Mergers — What the “Grimm” data tell us

The aggregate level of U.S. merger activity may be influenced by expectations concerning future economic growth (as proxied by stock prices), current economic conditions, and/or interest rates. This paper applies regression analysis to the W. T. Grimm annual merger data from 1963–1986 to determine which of these determinants are significant. It also examines whether the government's antitrust stance influences merger activity. The results indicate that current economic conditions are a significant determinant, while interest rates and the government's antitrust stance appear to have no effect on mergers. The result concerning stock prices was inconclusive and will require more analysis.
Plasma-assisted co-evaporation of β-indium sulfide thin films

Abstract This paper describes the development of plasma-assisted co-evaporation (PACE) for the formation of β -In 2 S 3 thin films. Indium was supplied by conventional thermal evaporation, while the chalcogen gas precursor (H 2 S) was activated using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source. Using a combination of optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry it was shown that the ICP effectively dissociated H 2 S, producing atomic sulfur. Transport modeling was used to quantify the flux distributions of the co-evaporated metal and the plasma-generated species impinging the substrate. Model predictions were validated by measurements of deposition rate and film properties. Substantial improvements in both materials utilization and substrate temperature reduction were realized with respect to conventional co-evaporation. β -In 2 S 3 was formed as low as 100 °C and it was observed that quality was a strong function of S/In ratio. The grain size decreased and the optical band gap increased as the substrate temperature was reduced.
The addition of manipulation to an extension-oriented intervention for a patient with chronic LBP.

AbstractObjective and importance: There is a paucity of research investigating the combined interventions of direction-specific lumbar exercise and manipulation for individuals with low back pain (LBP) who exhibit centralization or a directional preference. The purpose of this report was to describe the management and outcomes of a patient with chronic LBP who met two categories of the revised treatment based classification (TBC) approach initially described by Delitto and colleagues.Clinical presentation: A 55-year-old female with a 15-year history of right LBP/leg pain demonstrated centralization of symptoms with repeated extension and met four out of five criteria on the clinical prediction rule for thrust manipulation.Interventions: The patient was treated for seven physical therapy sessions, once a week for seven weeks. Lumbar thrust manipulation and extension-oriented interventions were combined throughout the course of care. The patient experienced a decrease on the modified Oswestry disability ind...
Action Evaluation and Conflict Resolution Training: Theory, Method and Case Study

Current efforts to develop an “appropriate technology” for evaluating conflict resolution methods, including conflict resolution training, are described. There is a need in conflict resolution for research and evaluation methods which are contextually sensitive to the setting, participants, content, and process of specific initiatives. This need parallels the idea of appropriate technology in third world development efforts, in which sensitivity to context and a great deal of local participation is sought to ensure that outside aid is truly wanted and helpful. Appropriate means of evaluating conflict resolution are still lacking; new methodologies consistent with, and even constitutive of, normative conflict resolution goals and values are required. The article describes and illustrates a process designed to bridge conflict resolution and evaluation, which is labeled “action-evaluation.”
Leptin effects on immune function and energy balance are photoperiod dependent in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).

Many adaptations have evolved in small mammals to maximize survival during winter. One such coping tactic in many species is an alteration of immune function in advance of the stressful conditions of winter. Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue, and in addition to its central role in energy metabolism, leptin mediates the interactions among energy allocation, immune function, and reproduction. To examine this interaction further, exogenous leptin was administered for 2 weeks via osmotic minipumps to Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) housed in long or short days for a total of 12 weeks. Short-day hamsters displayed the expected reductions in humoral immune function, body mass, fat mass, and food intake. In Exp 1, exogenous leptin counteracted the reduction in food intake and the suppression of immune function in short days. In Exp 2, when the leptin-induced increase in food intake in short-day hamsters was prevented, leptin did not enhance immune function. In most of the measured fat pads and...
The impact of transactional activities on productivity growth in Canada, and a comparison with the United States

Abstract Improvement in total factor productivity (TFP) is calculated as the residual between output growth and factor growth. Earlier research has shown that transactional activities cause GNP to misstate output, and thus TFP growth, in the United States. To see whether this distortion extends beyond the United States, this study recalculates TFP growth for its largest trading partner, Canada. For the 1967–1991 period, we compute TFP growth using Canadian GDP and then we recompute it adjusting for transactional activities. Failure to account for transactions distorts the impression of Canada's total factor productivity. During periods of recession, like 1974–1982 and 1990–1991, productivity improved less than GDP-based estimates suggest. Further, the “recovery” between 1983 and 1989 must be reconsidered. These findings for Canada are similar to those for the United States.
Addressing Theory Ethics, Power, and Privilege in Inclusion Research and Practice

In this article, we elucidate the complexities involved in serving economically disadvantaged culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities in inclusive settings. Moreover, we illustrate how cultural-historical activity theory can be used to study inclusion more substantively and to identify modes of discourse that might lead to more efficacious outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse learners and their teachers. Throughout this discussion, we focus on ethics, power, privilege and how these concepts must be considered broadly and continually in order to promulgate more equitable and effective inclusive education practices. In addition, we provide implications for future practice, teacher education, and research,
Informal Work and Livelihoods in Mexico: Getting By or Getting Ahead?∗

The widespread adoption of neoliberal reforms during the past quarter century has had profound implications for the livelihoods of those who live and work in cities throughout Latin America. This case study of Merida, Mexico, builds directly on recent research about the changing nature of work and the role of informality as a livelihood strategy in Latin America and attempts to explain how place-specific patterns of informal work emerge from neoliberal reforms and concomitant urban economic restructuring. Drawing on field research and a large household survey, this article reveals that general patterns of informality coincide with previous findings from Latin America: high levels of informal work; increased heterogeneity of informality; and significant mobility, with a large share of workers “opting out” of the formal sector voluntarily. However, compared with previous research in Mexico, this study shows that informal work is significantly more pervasive, particularly among women; less likely to be volun...
A procedure for silicate rock analysis based on ion exchange and complex-ion formation

Abstract A procedure for the analysis of silicate rocks based on ion exchange and complex-ion formation is described. Moisture (H 2 O - ), SiO 2 , TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , P 2 O 5 , total iron, MgO, MnO, and CaO are determined in a 1-g sample. Other oxides, such as FeO, Na 2 O and K 2 O, and H 2 O + are determined in separate portions. The results for 6 silicates, including G-I and W-I, compare favorably with. those obtained by established procedures. Six complete analyses may be carried out in about 8 days.
Bidirectional and Unidirectional PCET in a Molecular Model of a Cobalt-Based Oxygen-Evolving Catalyst

The oxidation of water to molecular oxygen is a kinetically demanding reaction that requires efficient coupling of proton and electron transfer. The key proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) event in water oxidation mediated by a cobalt-phosphate-based heterogeneous catalyst is the one-electron, one-proton conversion of CoIII−OH to CoIV−O. We now isolate the kinetics of this PCET step in a molecular Co4O4 cubane model compound. Detailed electrochemical, stopped-flow, and NMR studies of the CoIII−OH to CoIV−O reaction reveal distinct mechanisms for the unidirectional PCET self-exchange reaction and the corresponding bidirectional PCET. A stepwise mechanism, with rate-limiting electron transfer is observed for the bidirectional PCET at an electrode surface and in solution, whereas a concerted proton−electron transfer displaying a moderate KIE (4.3 ± 0.2), is observed for the unidirectional self-exchange reaction.
Left knee pain and bilateral knee swelling in an adolescent.

A 14-year-old boy was referred by the rheumatology department to our orthopaedic service for evaluation of new-onset left knee pain and swelling during the past 2 months. The patient reported no history of injury or trauma and had no prior left knee problems. He had no mechanical symptoms, such as locking, catching, and giving way. He also had not experienced fevers, chills, weight loss, or night pain, but he did notice worsening of his symptoms when he was more active, whereas rest improved his symptoms. He did not have pain at rest. The patient had presented 2 years earlier to his pediatrician with painless right knee swelling. He then underwent an outside orthopaedic and rheumatology evaluation. A review of the medical record from these earlier visits revealed a mild right knee effusion, a stable knee examination, no pain on palpation of his right knee, and a level gait. He was able to jump on each foot and arise from a squat without pain, and he had no swelling or pain symptoms in other joints. Laboratory evaluation at that time revealed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 2 mL/ hour, C-reactive protein of 0.11 mg/dL, and negative antinuclear antibody, HLA-B27, and rheumatoid factor tests, and a white blood cell count of 6.4 9 10/mm. An arthrocentesis was performed, which was not suggestive of Lyme disease, crystalline arthropathy, or infection. Gram stain and cultures were negative. Six months later, he was evaluated by rheumatology and his examination was unchanged. His father had a positive history for enthesopathy (plantar fasciitis), but his family history otherwise was negative for reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, Raynaud disease, and sarcoidosis. The rheumatology service made a diagnosis of oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The patient was treated with cortisone injections; however, they did not provide relief of his swelling. At the time of our evaluation, he still was experiencing painless right knee swelling, although his primary complaint now was left knee pain and swelling. His medical history otherwise included several minor surgical procedures, including a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, mole removal, and tooth disimpaction. He had been taking NSAIDs for his left knee pain, but was taking no other medications and reported no drug allergies. On physical examination, he appeared as a well-developed, well-nourished male. He ambulated with a normal, nonantalgic gait. Examination of his left lower extremity showed full, painless hip ROM. His knee ROM was 0 to 140 with some discomfort at terminal flexion and extension. He had a small joint effusion and infrapatellar fat pad Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.
Mosquito feeding-induced enhancement of Cache Valley virus (Bunyaviridae) infection in mice

Cache-Valley (CV) virus, an arthropod-borne bunyavirus, recently has emerged as a significant veterinary pathogen causing infertility and congenital malformations in North American ruminants. To investigate the role of vector feeding on CV infection, adult mice were injected subcutaneously with CV, CV and vector thorax extract (a source of vector saliva), or CV into the site of intense, noninfected-mosquito feeding. Mice did not become infected after injection of CV or CV and vector saliva, nor did they produce antibodies to CV. However, injection of CV into sites of mosquito feeding resulted in viremia and production of anti-CV antibody by 2 wk after infection. This enhancement of CV infection resulted after feeding by Aedes triseriatus (Say), Ae. aegypti (L.), or Culex pipiens (L.). Enhancement occurred when injection was delayed up to 4 h after mosquito feeding, but it was not observed when virus injection was performed at a site distant from mosquito feeding. These results indicate that arbovirus infection may be enhanced by mosquito-vertebrate host interactions and that replication of arboviruses in arthropod vectors may not be responsible for increased virulence of infections mediated by infected arthropods. Enhanced CV infection in pregnant mice did not result in infertility or malformed pups, indicating that the mouse is not a suitable model to study CV-induced malformations.
Neurological complications of sarcoidosis.

Purpose of reviewThe neurological manifestations of sarcoidosis, which occur in 5% of patients with the condition, present in a variety of ways that can be assigned to several broad categories. A comprehensive approach to the diagnosis and management of neurosarcoidosis involves an appreciation of t
On the Entropy of Quantum Limits for 2-Dimensional Cat Maps

We study semiclassical measures, or quantum limits, for quantized hyperbolic automorphisms of \({\mathbb{T}^2}\) . We show that any quantum limit has the following property: if a weight α is carried on ergodic components of low entropy (say, entropy less than h0), then a weight ≥ α must be carried on ergodic components of high entropy (≥ hmax−h0, where hmax is the maximal entropy). This combines some existing partial results towards the classification of quantum limits.
A microcode-based environment for noninvasive performance analysis

We have developed an environment which allows us to collect data for performance analysis by modifying the microcode of a VAX 8600. This use of microprogramming permits data to be collected with minimal system perturbation (i.e. the data is almost as good as that obtained with a hardware monitor) but at the cost and with the ease of use of a software simulator. In this paper we describe the environment that we have developed and present two examples of its use. The first example, procedure call instrumentation, illustrates a technique for gathering data on how certain architectural features are used. The second example, instruction tracing, illustrates a technique for collecting data that can then be used in trace—driven simulation.
Growth of crack caused by temperature gradients with change in surface insulation

Abstract This work is concerned with thermoelastic stress and failure analysis of a centrally cracked panel subjected to temperature gradients while the insulation on the crack surface is varied. The corresponding temperature and thermoelastic stress fields are obtained by application of the finite element method. According to the strain energy density criterion, the crack grows incrementally when the maximum of the minimum strain energy density function reaches a critical value for a given material. Crack growth resistance curves involving plots of the strain energy density factor S versus the half crack length a are developed for crack surfaces with varying degree of heat resistance. The resulting curves are straight lines satisfying the condition d S/ d a = const. and useful for determining combined influence of thermal loading and structural geometry that lead to global instability.
Preoperative infliximab treatment in patients with ulcerative and indeterminate colitis does not increase rate of conversion to emergent and multistep abdominal surgery.

A recent study has raised concerns that infliximab treatment, by postpoing surgery for ulcerative and indeterminate colitis patients, may result in a greater need for high-risk emergent or multistep surgical procedures (subtotal colectomies). Our aim was to assess whether infliximab exposure affects rates of subotal colectomy in a large cohort of patients. We evaluated 171 consecutive patients with ulcerative or indeterminate colitis who had a total proctocolectomy or a subtotal colectomy between 1993 and 2006 for symptoms of unremitting disease. Forty-four patients (25.7%) received infliximab prior to surgery. We compared the surgical procedures employed on these 44 patients to the surgical procedures employed on the 127 non-infliximab patients, using Fisher’s exact or Student’s t test. Infliximab exposure did not appear to affect the rate of emergent surgery (4.5% vs 4.4%, p = 0.98), rate of subtotal colectomy (19.2% vs. 18.0%, p = 0.99), or rate of ileoanal J pouch reconstruction (53.8% vs. 62%, p = 0.98). Nor did it affect intraoperative findings of perforation, toxic megacolon, and active disease. The infliximab and non-infliximab cohorts were similar in age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, concomitant steroid use, and albumin levels, although infliximab patients had higher rates of concomitant exposure to 6-mercaptopurine (34.1% vs 16.6%, p = 0.02) and azathioprine (40.9% vs 22.6%, p = 0.02). Infliximab does not appear to increase rates of emergent surgery or multistep procedures in patients undergoing treatment for ulcerative or indeterminative colitis at our institution.
Attenuated habituation due to parachlorophenylalanine

Abstract The effect of parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA), and the presumed depletion of serotonin due to it, was studied for its effect on the habituation of a startle response in rats. Parachlorophenylalanine was found to increase overall levels of startle amplitude. Detailed examination of the data from individual animals indicated that this effect was entirely due to an attenuation of the rate of habituation.
Differential effects of LY235959, a competitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor on κ-opioid receptor agonist induced responses in mice and rats

The effects of the competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, LY235959, were determined on the analgesic and hypothermic effects as well as on the development of tolerance to these effects of U-50,488H, a kappa-opioid receptor agonist in mice and rats. In the mouse, a single injection of LY235959 given 10 min prior to U-50,488H did not modify the analgesic action of the latter. Similarly, chronic administration of LY235959 twice a day for 4 days did not modify U-50,488H-induced analgesia in mice. Repeated pretreatment of mice with LY235959 dose-dependently attenuated the development of tolerance to the analgesic actions of U-50,488H. In the rat, LY235959 by itself produced a significant analgesia and prior treatment of rats with LY235959 enhanced the analgesic action of U-50,488H. Similar effects were seen with the hypothermic action. Pretreatment of rats with LY235959 attenuated the development of tolerance to the analgesic but not to the hypothermic action of U-50,488H. These results provide evidence that LY235959 produces differential actions on nociception and thermic responses by itself and when given acutely with U-50,488H in mice and rats. However, when the animals are pretreated with LY235959, similar inhibitory effects are observed on the development of tolerance to the analgesic action of U-50,488H in both the species. These studies demonstrate an involvement of the NMDA receptor in the development of kappa-opioid tolerance and suggest that the biochemical consequences of an opioid's interaction with the opioid receptor are not the only factors that contribute to the acute and chronic actions of opioid analgesic drugs.
Biobehavioral Aspects of Precocious Puberty

Precocious puberty is an experiment in nature from which we can learn about the effects of early and continuous exposure to sex steroids on human behavior. We studied the relationships between behavior problems, brain lesions, height, and two measures of sex steroid exposure in 77 children with precocious puberty. Behavior problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist. We found that the diagnosis of precocious puberty regardless of the etiology was a risk factor for increased behavior problems. Although there may be important effects related to environmental and psychological variables, we found that older girls with idiopathic precocious puberty who looked closer to expected peer height and who had less pubic hair had more behavior problems.
Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Novel Drug Delivery Materials for Treating Bone Diseases

Magnetic nanoparticles have been used extensively as drug delivery materials in recent years [1,2]. The present research goal is to treat bone diseases (such as osteoporosis and infection) by using surface modified magnetic nanoparticles. Magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (Fe2O3) were synthesized and coated with calcium phosphate (CaP). The resulting nanoparticles were treated hydrothermally to change the crystalline properties of CaP. Nanoparticles were characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). TEM was also used to study the uptake of nanoparticles into osteoblasts (OB) and bacteria. OB proliferation experiments were conducted after 1, 3 and 5 days in the presence of the various iron oxide nanoparticles alone and CaP coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. OB proliferation experiments were also conducted after 1, 3 and 5 days in the presence of various concentrations of CaP coated nanoparticles to examine a possible concentration dependent trend on OB density. Staph epidermidis were incubated with different doses of Fe3O4 to determine the effect of these nanoparticles on bacteria activity. Results of this in vitro study demonstrated greater OB functions and inhibited bacteria functions in the presence of select magnetic nanoparticles. In summary, the results of this study showed that magnetic nanoparticles should be further studied for various orthopedic applications.
X‐band microstrip Yagi array with dual‐offset aperture‐coupled feed

In this paper, a three-element microstrip Yagi array is designed for operation at the X-band. The driven patch of each microstrip Yagi element is fed using a dual-offset aperture-coupled feed to obtain circular polarization. Performance of the array when scanned electronically is investigated experimentally via measured field patterns. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 341–344, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21344
Pressure drop for rib-roughened scalene triangular duct having two rounded corners

Abstract An experimental investigation of friction in a scalene triangular passage having two and three rib-roughened sides was made. The parametric study included variations of pitch-to-height and height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio over the ranges 4–20 and 0.065–0.149, respectively. The Reynolds number was varied between 2,000 and 30,000. Generalized correlations of the data are provided. With three roughened sides, the analysis indicates that good estimates of friction factor can be obtained using existing friction relations for cylindrical or plane geometry.