cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microstructural evolution during thermomechanical fatigue of 62 Sn-36 Pb-2 Ag and 60 Sn-40 Pb solder joints

Thermomechanical fatigue tests were performed on two near-eutectic Sn-Pb solder alloys, 60 Sn-40 Pb and 62 Sn-36 Pb-2 Ag, to examine the effect silver additions have on solder joints. The cyclic load was found to have consistent trends between the two silver alloys (for given amounts of total strain and strain rates). It was found that a decreasing strain rate increased the life of both alloys equally in thermomechanical fatigue. At slower strain rates, the dislocation substructure recovers faster than it work-hardens, which tends to minimize subsequent recrystallization and heterogeneous coarsening of the solder joint. The microstructure of 62 Sn-36 Pb-2 Ag contained large whisker-like Ag/sub 3/Sn precipitates that nucleate and grow out from the Cu/sub 6/Sn/sub 5/ interfacial intermetallics. At this size, the Ag/sub 3/Sn precipitates have little effect on the deformation behavior of the solder. The intermetallics are not detrimental in that they do not prematurely crack, nor are they beneficial because they are too large to stabilize the microstructure. It does not appear, from a microstructural viewpoint, that adding silver to near-eutectic Sn-Pb has any significant effect on improving the thermomechanical fatigue behavior. >
An experimental determination of the drag coefficient of a Mens 8+ racing shell

This study centered around an experimental analysis of a Mens Lightweight Eight racing shell and, specifically, determining an approximation for the drag coefficient. A testing procedure was employed that used a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit in order to determine the acceleration and drag force on the shell, and through calculations yield a drag coefficient. The testing was run over several days in numerous conditions, and a 95% confidence interval was established to capture the results. The results obtained, over these varying trials, maintained a successful level of consistency. The significance of this study transcends the determination an approximation for the drag coefficient of the racing shell; it defined a successful means of quantifying performance of the shell itself. The testing procedures outlined in the study represent a uniform means of evaluating the factors that influence drag on the shell, and thus influence speed.
Oxidative exposure impairs TGF-β pathway via reduction of type II receptor and SMAD3 in human skin fibroblasts

Exposure to oxidants results in cellular alterations that are implicated in aging and age-associated diseases. Here, we report that brief, low-level oxidative exposure leads to long-term elevation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and oxidative damage in human skin fibroblasts. Elevated ROS impairs the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway, through reduction of type II TGF-β receptor (TβRII) and SMAD3 protein levels. This impairment results in reduced expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) and type I collagen, which are regulated by TGF-β. Restoration of TβRII and SMAD3 together, but not separately, reinstates TGF-β signaling and increases CTGF/CCN2 and type I collagen levels. Treatment with the anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine reduces ROS elevation and normalizes TGF-β signaling and target gene expression. These data reveal a novel linkage between limited oxidant exposure and altered cellular redox homeostasis that results in impairment of TGF-β signaling. This linkage provides new insights regarding the mechanism by which aberrant redox homeostasis is coupled to decline of collagen production, a hallmark of human skin aging.
Activation of nuclear factor-κB is necessary for myotrophin-induced cardiac hypertrophy

The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) regulates expression of a variety of genes involved in immune responses, inflammation, proliferation, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Here, we show that in rat neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes, activation of NF-κB is involved in the hypertrophic response induced by myotrophin, a hypertrophic activator identified from spontaneously hypertensive rat heart and cardiomyopathic human hearts. Myotrophin treatment stimulated NF-κB nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity, accompanied by IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation. Consistently, myotrophin-induced NF-κB activation was enhanced by wild-type IκB kinase (IKK) β and abolished by the dominant-negative IKKβ or a general PKC inhibitor, calphostin C. Importantly, myotrophin-induced expression of two hypertrophic genes (atrial natriuretic factor [ANF] and c-myc) and also enhanced protein synthesis were partially inhibited by a potent NF-κB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithio-carbamate (PDTC), and calphostin C. Expression of the dominant-negative form of IκB-α or IKKβ also partially inhibited the transcriptional activity of ANF induced by myotrophin. These findings suggest that the PKC–IKK–NF-κB pathway may play a critical role in mediating the myotrophin-induced hypertrophic response in cardiomyocytes.
Temporal reasoning: A relativistic model

In 1983, Allen presented an ingenious method for the representation and maintenance of temporal information in the presence of imprecise, uncertain, and relative knowledge about time of occurrence. He introduced 13 relations between his primitive “temporal intervals,” providing for the expression of “any relationship which can hold between two intervals.” the model, however, did not address the problem of temporally incomparable events, such as events occurring in a distributed system without a common clock. Lamport's interprocessor communication model furnishes an axiomatic system for describing such events and their possible relationships. This article demonstrates that Allen's temporal model can be subsumed in a more general model based on Lamport's axiomatics. It is further suggested that this extended model can provide the underpinnings of a temporal knowledge base containing time-dependent information measured by unsynchronized clocks or in relativistic space-time. In this model, the number of relations between intervals increases dramatically from Allen's 13 or Lamport's 2 or 3 to over 80. Within this context, a modification of Allen's algorithm for the maintenance of a temporal reasoning system is presented, thus permitting the advantages of such a system to extend to reasoning about a wider range of phenomena.
Thrombolytics for PE and right ventricular dysfunction.

www.thelancet.com Vol 372 August 9, 2008 447 Departments of Psychiatry, Epidemiology and Public Health and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Yale School of Medicine, 142 Temple Street, Suite 301, New Haven, CT 06510, USA (KY); Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg University, Sweden (EE); and Keele University Medical School, University Hospital of North Staff ordshire, Stoke on Trent, UK (SO’B)
Nurses Managing Patients’ Pain May Experience Moral Distress

Bedside nurses care for patients with pain every day but the task is often challenging. A previous qualitative study that investigated nurses' experiences as they treated patients with pain suggested that nurses may suffer from moral distress if they are unsuccessful in providing adequate pain relief. As 20 of the original 48 nurses interviewed described frustration and distress when constrained from doing the right thing to provide pain relief for their patients, the purpose of this secondary qualitative analysis was to answer new research questions on nurse moral distress related to managing pain. Findings indicated that difficulties in nurse/physician communication and lack of pain education were contributors to nurses' frustrations and provided barriers to optimal pain management. Many participants indicated a need for interprofessional pain management education. Further investigation is needed to clarify the impact of moral distress on nurses managing hospitalized patients' pain.
Auenbrugger, Corvisart, and the perception of disease

L'A. etudie le jeu des influences medicales, philosophiques, religieuses et personnelles qui, dans la culture europeenne et francaise du XVIII e siecle, ont contribue a l'oubli de la methode medicale de L. Auenbrugger jusqu'a la traduction francaise de son oeuvre par J.-N. Corvisart en 1808. Examinant le contexte historique et les prejuges epistemologiques lies au probleme esprit-corps au XVIII e siecle, l'A. montre que la reception du diagnostic acoustique des maladies thoraciques d'Auenbrugger releve chez Corvisart d'une assimilation de la rhetorique des Lumieres francaises, fondees sur le sensationnisme et la conception d'une origine sensible des idees, d'une part, et s'inscrit dans la problematique medicale du debut du XIX e siecle concernant le tabou lie au fait de toucher le patient, d'autre part
Determining absolute orientation-dependent step energies: a general theory for the Wulff-construction and for anisotropic two-dimensional island shape fluctuations

We describe an analytical form of the Wulff plot construction procedure and derive a general expression for the surface energy from the three-dimensional equilibrium crystal shape in generalized orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. Particular expressions in Cartesian, spherical polar, and circular cylindrical coordinates are also presented. Corresponding results for a two-dimensional (2D) island on a flat terrace provide relative orientation-dependent step energies within a scale factor λ, the equilibrium chemical potential of the island per unit area. In order to determine λ and, hence obtain absolute step energies, we have developed an exact theoretical approach, applicable to both isotropic and anisotropic 2D island shapes, relating the temporal change in island free energy to thermal fluctuations about the equilibrium shape.
An artificial immune system approach to associative classification

Associative Classification (AC) mining is a promising approach that uses association rules discovery techniques to construct association classifiers. However, traditional AC algorithms typically search for all possible association rules to find a representative subset of those rules. Since the search space of such rules may grow exponentially as the support threshold decreases, the rules discovery process can be computationally expensive. One effective way to tackle this problem is to directly find a set of high-stakes association rules that potentially builds a highly accurate classifier. This paper introduces AC-CS , a novel AC algorithm, inspired by the clonal selection of the immune system. The algorithm proceeds in an evolutionary fashion to populate only rules that are likely to yield good classification accuracy. Empirical results on real datasets of different sizes show that the approach generates dramatically less rules than traditional AC algorithms. Hence, the proposed approach is indeed significantly more efficient than traditional AC algorithms while achieving good competitive accuracy.
Mapping the active site of CD59.

CD59 is a widely distributed membrane-bound inhibitor of the cytolytic membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement. This small (77 amino acid) glycoprotein is a member of the Ly6 superfamily of proteins and is important in protecting host cells from the lytic and proinflammatory activity of the MAC. CD59 functions by binding to C8 and/or C9 in the nascent MAC and interfering with C9 membrane insertion and polymerization. We present data obtained from a combination of molecular modeling and mutagenesis techniques, which together indicate that the active site of CD59 is located in the vicinity of a hydrophobic groove on the face of the molecule opposite to a “hydrophobic strip” suggested earlier. In addition, removal of the single N-linked glycosylation site at Asn18 of CD59 resulted in an enhancement of complement inhibitory activity.
Evaluation of inundative releases of Trichogramma exiguum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) for suppression of Nantucket pine tip moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in pine (Pinaceae) plantations.

La liberation massive de Trichogramma exiguum Pinto et Platner comme methode de lutte contre le Perce-rameau du pin, Rhyacioma frustrana (Comstock), a ete evaluee dans des plantations de pins taeda, Pinus taeda L., d'un an. Trois traitements ont ete administres a 7 jours d'intervalle dans trois parcelles de terrain de 0,4 ha au cours de la ponte de la deuxieme generation de R. frustrana. A chaque traitement, des individus de trois cohortes de T exiguum separees par 25 degres-jours etaient liberes. Le taux de liberation pour chaque cohorte, moyenne ± ecart type, etait de 328 238 ± 88 379 femelles/ha. L'emergence moyenne de T exiguum dans des conditions de laboratoire chez les cohortes relâchees a ete de 96 ± 2%, dont 74 ± 3% de femelles, parmi lesquelles 1 ± 1% etaient brachypteres; la longevite des femelles etait de 18 ± 3 jours. En nature, l'emergence moyenne a ete de 96 ± 4%. Les parasitisme des oeufs de R. frustrana a augmente de facon significative, allant de 40 ± 19 a 73 ± 22% dans les parcelles traitees et de 17 ± 17 a 67 ± 21% dans les parcelles temoins. Les donnees de toutes les parcelles traitees combinees indiquent que la survie des oeufs de R. frusrana (a l'eclosion) est reduite significativement, de 46%, et que les populations de larves sont reduites significativement aussi, de 60%. Il n'y avait pas de difference significative dans le pourcentage de fleches attaquees par la tordeuse entre les parcelles traitees au moyen de T exiguum (31 ± 16%) et les parcelles temoins (45 ± 10%), mais la longueur des tunnels creuses dans les fleches etait significativement plus courte dans les parcelles traitees. Le pourcentage de pousses attaquees du premier verticille etait significativement plus faible dans les parcelles traitees que dans les parcelles temoins, mais il n'y avait pas de difference significative dans la longueur des tunnels. Les dommages aux autres pousses ne differaient pas significativement dans les parcelles traitees et les parcelles temoins. Le microhabitat influencait fortement le maximum et le minimum moyens de temperature et le nombre d'heures consecutives dans la journee ou la temperature etait egale ou superieure a 35°C (temperature seuil de la survie de T. exiguum). Les surfaces de sol sans couverture restaient exposees au plus grand nombre d'heures a 35°C ou plus, suivies des sols avec couverture d'herbacees, puis des couvertures de petits arbres (0,4 m de hauteur). Le feuillage des grands arbres (0,9 a 1,8 m de hauteur) offrait les conditions de temperature les plus moderees. L'emergence du parasitoide etait fortement reduite en reaction au nombre progressivement plus grand d'heures a 35°C ou plus. La predation des parasitoides avant l'emergence etait significativement affectee par le microhabitat et par la duree de sejour des capsules en nature avant l'emergence de T exiguum (i.e., le rang de la cohorte).
The effect of channel implants on MOS transistor characterization

MOS device characterization involves the extraction of parameters from electrical measurements. A nonuniform channel doping profile can make such characterization ambiguous since device parameters are usually based upon a uniform doping profile model. In this paper, we solve the one-dimensional Poisson's equation for several doping profiles and show the impact of a nonuniform doping profile on the threshold surface potential, threshold voltage, normal field mobility degradation, and transconductance.
Disturbances of apoptotic cell clearance in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multifactorial autoimmune disease with an as yet unknown etiopathogenesis. It is widely thought that self-immunization in systemic lupus is driven by defective clearance of dead and dying cells. In lupus patients, large numbers of apoptotic cells accumulate in various tissues including germinal centers. In the present review, we discuss the danger signals released by apoptotic cells, their triggering of inflammatory responses, and the breakdown of B-cell tolerance. We also review the pathogenic role of apoptotic cell clearance in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Drug Abuse and Hepatitis C Infection as Comorbid Features of HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: Neurocognitive and Neuroimaging Features

Substance abuse and co-infection with hepatitis C (HCV) are two highly relevant determinants of neurocognitive and neuroimaging abnormalities associated with HIV. Substance abuse and HCV are common in the HIV population and there is increasing evidence that the CNS is directly compromised by these comorbid conditions via additive or synergistic processes. In this article we review the current literature regarding mechanisms of neuronal injury as well as the neuropsychological and neuroimaging signatures associated with substance abuse and HCV status among HIV patients. We discuss specific methodological challenges and threats to validity associated with studies of HIV and comorbid substance use disorders or HCV and review potential strategies for minimizing their confounding effects. Efforts to understand the interactions between HIV, substance abuse and HCV co-infection will lead to more complete models of neuropathogenesis of HIV and a greater understanding of the variability in neuropsychological expression of HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder.
A 1.2 GSample/s Double-Switching CMOS THA With ${- }$ 62 dB THD

Hold-mode feed-through is an important design problem, which plagues the classical switched-buffer track-and-hold amplifier (THA) topologies. The cross-coupled capacitor technique is a simple way of reducing hold-mode feed-through. However, the reduction in hold-mode feed-through is dependent on the matching between the cross-coupled capacitors and the inherent feed-forward capacitors. A double-switching switched-buffer THA is proposed, which has a switching input buffer. The proposed technique results in exceptional hold-mode isolation without the usage of the cross-coupled capacitor technique. Under Nyquist-rate sampling, 62 dB spurious-free-dynamic-range (SFDR), and 10 bit accuracy are achieved with input frequencies up to 800 MHz and 600 MHz respectively. Two prototype chips are designed in a 0.18 mum CMOS process. To maximize speed and dynamic range, the THA makes use of both 3.3 and 1.8 V devices, and uses 3.3 V analog supply voltage. Where necessary, 3.3 V devices cascode the 1.8 V devices for safe operation. The performance of the THA is comparable to most bipolar designs, both in speed and accuracy.
Functional limitations in Mexican American elderly

Abstract This paper reports results of a study conducted to investigate the effects of age and gender of Mexican American elderly on the level of difficulty in performing household tasks (meal preparation, grocery shopping, house cleaning, laundry), personal tasks (dressing, bathing, grooming), transfer tasks (getting in and out of bed, getting in and out of chairs, getting in and out of bathtub, using stairs), and management tasks (using telephone, accessing mail, operating door locks). A questionnaire based on the Activities of Daily Living scale was constructed and administered to 62 Mexican American elderly subjects (31 males and 31 females) in Senior Centers in the City of El Paso. Their ages ranged from 65 to 84 (mean age: 74 years, SD: 6.2 years). Subjects quantified their responses to individual tasks as being 1 (task almost impossible to perform), 2 (possible with help), and 3 (easy and possible without help). In addition to summary statistics on responses for various tasks, a logistic regression was performed with age (continuous variable) and gender, as predictor variables, and responses to individual questions as the categorical ordinal response variables. Results show that age and gender both have significant effects on daily living tasks involving significant reaching, twisting and bending of trunk. To determine appropriate age separation at which difficulty levels in performing activities of daily living change, a discriminant analysis (with age groups in 10 year ranges, 65–74 and 75–84, and age groups in 5 year ranges, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84) was performed on the responses. All predictor variables were used in the analysis. Results show that a 10-year age marker is a better discriminator of difficulty levels than a 5-year age range. Accommodating age related changes in functional abilities, and increasing functional independence of older adults will entail significant design modifications to products, systems and environments for daily use and living. Relevance to industry It is important for engineering designers, particularly, product designers, and engineers in the housing industry, to consider functional capabilities and limitations of elderly users when designing products of daily use, and daily living environments.
Signal probability based statistical timing analysis

VLSI timing analysis and power estimation target the same circuit switching activity. Power estimation techniques are categorized as (1) static, (2) statistical, and (3) simulation and testing based methods. Similarly, statistical timing analysis methods are in three counterpart categories: (1) statistical static timing analysis, (2) probabilistic technique based statistical timing analysis, and (3) Monte Carlo (SPICE) simulation and testing. Leveraging with existing power estimation techniques, I propose signal probability (i.e., the logic one occurrence probability on a net) based statistical timing analysis, for improved accuracy and reduced pessimism over the existing statistical static timing analysis methods, and improved efficiency over Monte Carlo (SPICE) simulation. Experimental results on ISCAS benchmark circuits show that SPSTA computes the means (standard deviations) of the maximum signal arrival times within 5.6% (7.7%), SSTA within 16.5% (46.9%), and STA within 83.0% (132.4%) in average of Monte Carlo simulation results, respectively. More significant accuracy improvements are expected in the presence of increased process and environmental variations.
Phylogenetic Relationships within Phacelia subgenus Phacelia (Hydrophyllaceae) Inferred From Nuclear rDNA ITS Sequence Data

Abstract We examined infrageneric relationships within Phacelia subgenus Phacelia based on phylogenetic hypotheses derived from internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the 5.8S gene of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenies support the monophyly of sects. Euglypta and Miltitzia, previously hypothesized based on seed characters and ecological distribution. Tree branching patterns within the Euglypta/Miltitzia clade indicate three principle lineages: 1) the P. pachyphylla complex, 2) a clade of P. brachyloba and 3) a clade consisting of two sister groups, the P. affinis complex and the P. fremontii complex. An aneuploid increase in chromosome number occurs from the P. pachyphylla complex (n = 11) to P. brachyloba (n = 12) while the pattern within the P. fremontii complex includes both aneuploid increases and decreases. There is high bootstrap support for monophyly of taxa representing both the P. magellanica polyploid complex and the P. humiles species group; th...
Transfer of children with isolated linear skull fractures: is it worth the cost?

OBJECTIVE Children with skull fractures are often transferred to hospitals with pediatric neurosurgical capabilities. Historical data suggest that a small percentage of patients with an isolated skull fracture will clinically decline. However, recent papers have suggested that the risk of decline in certain patients is low. There are few data regarding the financial costs associated with transporting patients at low risk for requiring specialty care. In this study, the clinical outcomes and financial costs of transferring of a population of children with isolated skull fractures to a Level 1 pediatric trauma center over a 9-year period were analyzed. METHODS A retrospective review of all children treated for head injury at Riley Hospital for Children (Indianapolis, Indiana) between 2005 and 2013 was performed. Patients with a skull fracture were identified based on ICD-9 codes. Patients with intracranial hematoma, brain parenchymal injury, or multisystem trauma were excluded. Children transferred to Riley...
Treatment of three- and four-part fractures of the proximal humerus with a modified cloverleaf plate

Twenty-six patients, ranging in age from 19 to 62 years (average 55), were evaluated an average of 6 years and 2 months (range 1-12 years) after open reduction and internal fixation of a three- or four-part fracture of the proximal humerus using a modified cloverleaf plate. Six patients had an associated dislocation of the humeral head. All fractures healed. No avascular necrosis of the humeral head was observed at follow-up. Twenty-two patients had an excellent result, two a good result, and two a fair result. The modified cloverleaf plate proved to be an excellent method for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation of three- and four-part fractures of the proximal humerus should be considered as initial treatment by an experienced surgeon, oven before use of a prosthetic replacement, which is recommended only for elderly patients with osteopenia.
REVERSIBILITY OF INTESTINAL ABSORPTION OF 3-0-METHYLGLUCOSE.

SummaryAlthough 3-0-methylglucose, because of its rapid excretion, is less satisfactory than the amino acids used as models for the study of the nature of the steady state of absorption across the intestinal wall, the present results indicate that in this case also, transfer occurs both into and out of the lumen, apparently by specific processes, and that the resultant steady state, although not precisely evaluated, yields a distribution ratio [methylglucose] serum/[methylglucose] ileal lumen of somewhat above 4 to 6.
Towards Next-Generation Proteomic Assays: Functional Materials as Sieving Matrices and Binding Scaffolds

Next-generation bioanalytical approaches for protein-level measurements are advanced by the integration capacity of microfluidic design strategies, as well as the fine fluid and material control possible. Photopatterning of polymers within fluidic volumes is a key tool in the suite of technologies available for seamless integration of assay measurement modalities, as well as rapid target detection. Here, we overview recent advances in heterogeneous and homogeneous immunoassays using functional polymers, electrophoretic transport, and microdevices.
A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR THE DISPERSION OF INSOLUBLE MATERIALS IN AGAR MEDIA

(1976). A New Technique for the Dispersion of Insoluble Materials in Agar Media. Mycologia: Vol. 68, No. 1, pp. 178-180.
Talk as work: Economic sociability in Northern Italian heritage food production

Abstract This article analyzes talk occurring within direct marketing contexts (farmers markets) as a form of economic sociability: interaction among people and goods within production, circulation, and exchange processes that constructs relationships and creates meaning and value simultaneously. It builds on and contributes to scholarly conversations about the role and value of language within political economies, such as language commodification, branding and marketing, and language and materiality. It focuses on transcripts drawn from recordings made during ethnographic and linguistic anthropological fieldwork with heritage food producers carried out in the northern Italian town and province of Bergamo to show how talk among producers and their customers is both a social act and an economic practice.
Surface Modification of Polytetrafluoroethylene and the Deposition of Copper Films

Enhancement of the adhesion of thin copper films on polytetrafluoroethylene substrates was found when the substrate surface was irradiated with a pulsed UV excimer laser prior to metal deposition. The interaction between the laser and the polymer was examined by characterizing the neutral and charged species emitted from the surface during irradiation. The nature of the species emitted indicates that significant chemical modification of the polymer surface occurs. In addition to chemical modification, the interaction with the laser also alters the surface morphology of the polymer. Irradiation at fluences of ∼ 0.6 J/cm 2 results in an overall planarization of the surface, whilst irradiation at higher fluences results in the formation and enlargement of voids and localized melting.
Regulation of guinea pig very low density lipoprotein secretion rates by dietary fat saturation.

We investigated the effects of dietary fat saturation on very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) production in guinea pigs fed semipurified diets containing 15% (w/w) fat, either corn oil (CO, 58% linoleic acid), lard (LA, 42% and 24% palmitic acids) or palm kernel oil (PK, 52% lauric and 18% myristic acids) for 4 weeks. Animals were given an intravenous injection of Triton WR 1339 to block VLDL catabolism and rates of VLDL triacylglycerol (TAG) and apolipoprotein (apo) B secretion were measured over time. Plasma TAG concentrations increased linearly for 8 h (r = 0.99) and VLDL-TAG secretion rates were significantly higher (P
Water Treatment Capacity of Forward-Osmosis Systems Utilizing Power-Plant Waste Heat

Forward osmosis (FO) has the potential to improve the energy efficiency of membrane-based water treatment by leveraging waste heat from steam electric power generation as the primary driving force for separation. In this study, we develop a comprehensive FO process model, consisting of membrane separation, heat recovery, and draw-solute regeneration (DSR) models. We quantitatively characterize three alternative processes for DSR: distillation, steam stripping, and air stripping. We then construct a mathematical model of the distillation process for DSR that incorporates hydrodynamics, mass- and heat-transport resistances, and reaction kinetics, and we integrate this into a model for the full FO process. Finally, we utilize this FO process model to derive a first-order approximation of the water production capacity given the rejected-heat quantity and quality available at U.S. electric power facilities. We find that the upper bound of FO water treatment capacity using low-grade heat sources at electric pow...
Analysis of monetary policy effect under fixed exchange rate system

This paper uses Mundell-Flemming Model to analyze monetary policy effect under fixed exchange rate system, holds that China's monetary policy is presently effective because China does not satisfy the assumed condition of Mundell-Flemming Model though China uses fixed exchange rate system and makes suggestions for reform of China's fixed exchange rate system.
Ototoxicity-induced loss of hearing and inner hair cells is attenuated by HSP70 gene transfer

The most common reason for sensorineural deafness is death of hair cells (HCs). Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that participate in folding, targeting, and degrading proteins. HSP expression is increased in response to various environmental stresses to protect cells from damage. Here, we tested whether viral-mediated overexpression of HSP70 can protect HCs and hearing from severe ototoxicity (kanamycin and furosemide) in guinea pigs. Adenovirus-HSP70 mCherry (Ad.HSP70-mCherry) was injected to experimental animals and adenovirus-mCherry to controls, 4 days before the ototoxic insult. Hearing thresholds were measured by auditory brainstem response before the insult and again before sacrificing the animals, 14 days after the insult. Epi-fluorescence immunocytochemistry showed that injection of Ad.HSP70-mCherry resulted in mCherry fluorescence in nonsensory cells of the organ of Corti. The ototoxic insult eliminated both outer HCs and inner HCs throughout most of the cochlea of control (adenovirus-mCherry-injected) ears and contralateral (uninjected) ears. Ad.HSP70-mCherry-injected ears exhibited a significant preservation of inner HCs compared to control and contralateral ears, but outer HCs were not protected. Auditory brainstem response thresholds were significantly better in Ad.HSP70-mCherry-injected ears than in control and contralateral ears. Our data show that HSP70 augmentation may represent a potential therapy attenuating ototoxic inner HC loss.
Electromicrobiology: realities, grand challenges, goals and predictions

Electromicrobiology is a subdiscipline of microbiology that involves extracellular electron transfer (EET) to (or from) insoluble electron active redox compounds located outside the outer membrane of the cell. These interactions can often be studied using electrochemical techniques which have provided novel insights into microbial physiology in recent years. The mechanisms (and variations) of outward EET are well understood for two model systems, Shewanella and Geobacter, both of which employ multihaem cytochromes to provide an electron conduit to the cell exterior. In contrast, little is known of the intricacies of inward EET, even in these model systems. Given the number of labs now working on EET, it seems likely that most of the mechanistic details will be understood in a few years for the model systems, and the many applications of electromicrobiology will continue to move forward. But emerging work, using electrodes as electron acceptors and donors is providing an abundance of new types of microbes capable of EET inward and/or outward: microbes that are clearly different from our known systems. The extent of this very diverse, and perhaps widely distributed and biogeochemically important ability needs to be determined to understand the mechanisms, importance, and raison d'etre of EET for microbial biology.
Failed Weight Loss after Lap Band Surgery

Failed weight loss, or weight regain, can occur after all bariatric procedures. After a patient has a lap band, failure is due to either inadequate adjustment, or mechanical issues, such as slip, erosion, or port leakage. The most common cause of intolerance to adjustments, leading to band loosening, is the patient eating too fast, or severe reflux. If a patient has a slipped band, and they have done well, the band should be repositioned. Following band failure, all other bariatric procedures have been tried, with variable success.
Modular access to vicinally functionalized allylic (thio)morpholinonates and piperidinonates by substrate-controlled annulation of 1,3-azadienes with hexacyclic anhydrides

A modular substrate-controlled hexannulation of inherently promiscuous 1,3-azadienes with hexacyclic anhydrides, which affords versatile vicinally functionalized allylic lactams, in high yields, regio- and stereoselectivities is described.
Changing perspectives on marijuana use during early adolescence and young adulthood: Evidence from a panel of cross-sectional surveys.

Abstract Introduction Prior research has often overlooked potential cohort differences in marijuana views and use across adolescence and young adulthood. To begin to address this gap, we conduct an exploratory examination of marijuana views and use among American youth using a panel of cross-sectional surveys. Method Findings are based on repeated, cross-sectional data collected annually from adolescents (ages 12–17; n = 230,452) and young adults (ages 18–21; n = 120,588) surveyed as part of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2002 and 2014. For each of the birth years between 1986 and 1996, we combined a series of nationally representative cross-sections to provide multi-year data strings designed to approximate nationally representative cohorts. Results Compared to youth born in the mid-to-late 1980s, youth born in the mid-1990s reported significantly higher levels of marijuana disapproval during the early adolescent years (Age 14: 1988 = 64.7%, 1994 = 70.4%) but lower levels of disapproval during the young adult years (Age 19: 1988 = 32.0%, 1994 = 25.0%; Age 20: 1988 = 27.9%, 1994 = 19.7%). Moreover, the prevalence of marijuana use among youth born in 1994 was significantly lower—compared to youth born in 1988—at age 14 (1988: 11.39%, 1994: 8.19%) and significantly higher at age 18 (1988: 29.67%, 1994: 34.83%). This pattern held even when adjusting for potential confounding by demographic changes in the population across the study period. Conclusions We see evidence of changes in the perceptions of marijuana use among youth born during the late twentieth century.
New Materials-Theory-Based Model for Output Characteristics of AlGaN/GaN Heterostructure Field Effect Transistors

A new model is used to examine the DC output characteristics of AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field effect transistors. The model is based on the charge-control/gradual-channel approximation and takes into account the non-linear current vs. voltage characteristics of the ungated AlGaN/GaN heterostructure channel regions. The model also includes thermal effects associated with device self-heating. For the power dissipation levels considered for many applications, the thermal degradation of the carrier drift velocity is shown to cause a negative output conductance in saturation. The temperature is incorporated self-consistently into the model through the field and temperature dependent mobility obtained from Monte Carlo transport simulations for electron transport in GaN. Calculated results presented for the DC output characteristics of several AlGaN/GaN field effect transistors show a strong dependence on the thermal properties of the substrate material. The substrate materials considered in this work are sapphire, SiC, AlN, and GaN.
THE ECONOMIC PAMPHLETEER: The Urban Agriculture Revival

First paragraph:Some critics of urban agriculture see its growing popularity as a superficial response to public concerns about urban food deserts. However, urban agriculture could evolve instead to become an important part of the U.S. food system, as it already is in much of the rest of the world. The United Nations estimates that more than 800 mil­lion people worldwide cultivate fruits and vege­tables or grow livestock in cities (Food and Agri­culture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], n.d.). The World Watch Institute estimates that urban agriculture produces 15 to 20 percent of the world’s food (n.d.). The U.S. Department of Agriculture doesn’t yet collect data on urban agri­culture, but urban gardens are becoming an increas­ingly important source of fresh vegetables and fruits in some cities. This is particularly true in the inner-city communities of old post-industrial cities such as Detroit, Philadelphia, and Camden, New Jersey (Royte, 2015).
Energy-Aware Aircraft Trajectory Generation Using Pseudospectral Methods with Differential Flatness

A path optimization strategy for generating energy-aware soaring trajectories for small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) is presented. Soaring paths are generated using a point-mass dynamics model and deterministic local wind field. The dynamics model, periodic constraints, and an energy-aware cost function are combined into a nonlinear program (NLP) framework to generate energy optimal paths. A dynamics model is derived which is differentially flat. This property, combined with a Legendre pseudospectral approximation facilitates the formulation of a novel and efficient energy-aware path planning optimization algorithm. The algorithm's ability to generate energy optimal trajectories is demonstrated for loiter and travel patterns in a linear wind gradient.
Prone positioning in acute respiratory distress syndrome: why aren't we using it more?

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined by acute onset of bilateral lung infiltrates with impaired gas exchange that is not entirely due to congestive heart failure (1). Strategies to manage ARDS are primarily supportive, with the bulk of the evidence suggesting that improvement in mortality is achieved with optimal setting of mechanical ventilation (2). The mortality rate due to ARDS remains unacceptably high at 30–40%, and a number of recent studies have examined the impact of prone positioning (PP) in ARDS as a life-saving intervention (3,4). The concept of proning patients on mechanical ventilation was proposed in the 1970s and has been used for several decades, although definitive mortality outcome data were only available more recently with the publication of the PROSEVA trial in 2013 and subsequent meta-analyses (3,4). In the APRONET study by Guerin et al., the authors conducted the first prospective multicenter International prevalence study investigating the use of PP in ARDS patients (5). The authors predicted that PP use would be increasing in patients with ARDS given recent publications demonstrating safety and efficacy (3,4). Overall, 6,723 patients from 141 intensive care units (ICUs) in 20 different countries were screened by the APRONET investigators. The authors observed that PP was generally under-utilized, as only 101 of the 735 patients found to have ARDS received at least one proning session [5.9% of mild ARDS patients, 10.3% of moderate ARDS patients and 32.9% of severe ARDS patients, (P=0.0001)]. These rates are gradually increasing over time compared to prior epidemiological studies, but the numbers remain surprisingly low, especially in severe ARDS where PP has been shown to improve survival. The authors also performed a secondary analysis investigating the reasons for not utilizing PP, and found that the perception that hypoxemia was not severe enough to justify proning and concerns regarding hemodynamic instability were the 2 most common reasons. We applaud the efforts of Guerin et al. to identify barriers to implementation of prone ventilation given that it is a safe and inexpensive approach. Their findings suggest that clinicians may have some misconceptions regarding proning, or are unaware of the potential mortality benefits of PP in patients with severe ARDS. In this review, we discuss a few of these issues in more detail with a focus on the mechanical ventilation benefits of PP beyond gas exchange, hemodynamic effects of PP, and alternatives to PP.
Advanced Sensorless Distributed Seat Concept

Electrical complexity in products yielded from Automotive Industry goes on the increase. During the last years, new functionality and cost-effective strategies have been introduced, for reducing for instance: weight, packaging and assembly labours of components and devices. Several concepts and approaches have been put forward and developed in literature. Among these concepts and solutions, those regarding the chance of improvement as technology integrators are most accepted. As mentioned supplier, Lear is working on advanced designs for reaching this market’s common aiming. Involved in a wider dual voltage concept design, that ensure scalable integration and platform’s differentiation, a ripple counting strategy, by means of application and developing of an intelligent switch module that plays the role of a CAN-gateway in a automotive seat has been carried out. This new module connects the seat to the rest of the car driving and storing the position of the different loads reducing the number of wires involved in integration. As major that allows cost-effective integration, an embedded hybrid HW/SW implementation has been selected under 8-bit microcontroller programming.
Political Refugee, Diva or International Kingpin? Evolving Confidentiality Requirements of Asylum Proceedings in South Africa and Beyond.

The purpose of this Article is to provide a synopsis of the internationally publicized Radovan Krejciř asylum proceedings and, in doing so, it also endeavors to investigate the onus on states to design asylum systems that adequately protect applicants and encourage candid and complete disclosures through assurances of confidentiality without creating safe havens for individuals suspected or convicted of committing serious human rights offenses. South Africa’s asylum model, and Krejciř’s application in particular, presents an ideal test case to investigate these competing interests because the country’s refugee system is premised largely on international norms and standards, as well as best practices of foreign jurisdictions, and impacts more asylum applicants than any other system in the world.
Exploring Genetic Epidemiology Data with Bayesian Networks

Abstract Recent advances in DNA sequencing and genotyping technologies led to the initiation of large-scale genetic association studies aimed at unraveling complex genotype–(environment)–phenotype relationships underlying common human diseases. Unfortunately, traditional statistical tools are ill-suited for analyzing high dimensional datasets with many small effects. In addition, a primary emphasis of traditional statistical methods is formal hypothesis testing rather than hypothesis generation. When faced with hundreds of thousands (and soon—millions) of potentially predictive variables (e.g., SNPs), we need methods for automated knowledge discovery. Providentially, such methods have long been in development and are well-established in the data mining research community. One of such methods is Bayesian or Belief Network (BN) modeling, which has its roots in both computer science and statistics. A BN is a graphical model that represents a joint multivariate probability distribution and reflects the conditional independences among variables. Given data, the optimal network topology can be estimated with the assistance of local search (optimization) algorithms and model scoring criteria. Statistical significance of edge strengths can be evaluated using model scoring criteria tests, cross-validation and bootstrapping. BNs are an excellent tool for reverse-engineering biological (e.g., physiologic and genetic) networks from “flat” datasets (e.g., generated by the large-scale, or candidate gene, association studies, or microarray gene expression experiments). In this chapter we review various applications of BN methodology to modern human genomics. An example application is detailed. We also discuss various technical aspects of BN reconstruction, with a special emphasis on scalability in the context of modern “omic” data.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURES COMPETING WITH GLASS FORMATION IN CU-TI AND CU-TI-ZR ALLOYS

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the crystal structures competing with glass formation in Cu–Ti and Cu–Ti–Zr alloys. The rapid cooling from the melt of alloys in the Cu–Ti and Cu–Ti–Zr systems shows that the magnitude of the cooling rate is not the only factor that influences the amount of glass that can form during rapid solidification. The chapter presents a report on the types of crystal structures that compete with glass formation when alloys of the same composition were subjected to melt-spinning and the pulsed laser quenching. X-ray diffraction is used to determine the structures and the lattice parameters of the crystalline phases on both sides of each ribbon sample. The chapter highlights the compositions of the Cu–Ti alloys quenched to produce ribbons, along with the corresponding phases and metallic glass detected in each ribbon and the glass transition and the crystallization temperature trends measured in alloys, which were partially or fully amorphous in an experiment described in the chapter. By determining the crystal structure and the composition of the crystalline phases present in partially amorphous ribbons and also in partially amorphous zones following laser irradiation, the role of the equilibrium phase diagram was provided in providing a preliminary guide to the type of crystalline phase that can compete with glass formation. Only the FCC phase is involved in all alloys because the FCC structure has a higher packing fraction than the BCC structure.