cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COOLING TOWER WINDAGE: A NEW ASPECT TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Abstract During the past decade the environmental impact of cooling tower drift on terrestrial environments has been a major consideration. Recent studies at the Paducah, Kentucky, Gaseous Diffusion Plant suggest that there is also a significant potential for aquatic impacts. Blowdown at the Kentucky and Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plants (ORGDP) is engineered for zero chromate discharges to receiving streams by either chromate reduction or chromate recovery procedures. Past operating experiences at the Paducah facility without chromated discharges resulted in violations (for which remedial action has since been taken) of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit standards for hexavalent chromium and provided the impetus for this study. These episodes of noncompliance have been associated with high winds, cold weather, and tower operation without fan-induced draft. Under these circumstances, cooling water is lost from the sides of the tower instead offrom the top as with drift, and transported to streams as runoff. This loss of cooling water, termed “windage”, may impact the water quality of the regulated streams. Data are presented for several ORGDP cooling towers under varying meteorological conditions, and the potential for NPDES noncompliance is discussed. In addition to demonstrating the need for uprating emissions control in a specific situation, results of the research also have generic implications for power utilities.
Stochastic population models on a bounded domain: exit probabilities and persistence

For stochastic differential equation models of multispecies interactions, specific estimates are given for the probabilities that populations remain above prescribed fixed positive values until first exit from an arbitrary bounded region in state space. An example of mutualist interaction shows that the estimate may indicate persistence regardless of the ergodic behavior ofthe model.
Sister-chromatid exchanges in human bronchial epithelial cells

Abstract One method of assessing the genotoxic effects of exposure to environmental agents is by determining the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in exposed cells. In the present study, a procedure for observing sister chromatid exchanges in adult human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to a carcinogen has been developed. Using this procedure, the frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges in untreated cells from two individuals were found to be 5.1 ± 1.8 and 6.5 ± 1.4 per metaphase (mean ± SD). Cells from the first individual exposed to 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene at 0.5, 1 and 2 μg/ml had 7.8 ± 2.2, 13 ± 3.1, 18.7 ± 3.7 sister chromatid exchanges per metaphase, respectively. This method is likely to be particularly useful for observing sister chromatid exchanges in cells that have a relatively slow growth rate in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine and for which preparation of a large number of metaphase chromosomes is difficult. In addition, the procedure provides a means of assessing genotoxic effects in the lung by examining the direct effects of pollutants on the chromosomes of the target cells for human lung cancer.
Interfacial resistances of Ni–BCY mixed-conducting membranes for hydrogen separation

Abstract Accurate determination of interfacial polarization resistance is essential to characterization of solid-state electrochemical systems based on thin-film electrolytes or membranes. In this study, three methods have been used to determine the interfacial resistance of a composite membrane consisting of 40 vol.% Ni and 60 vol.% BaYxCe1−xO3. The interfacial resistances determined from the dependence of hydrogen permeation rate on membrane thickness were similar to those obtained from a combination of gas permeation with impedance spectroscopy (IS), implying that both approaches are applicable to the composite membrane. Results also indicate that the interfacial resistances are much greater than the bulk resistances under the conditions studied. Further improvement of the hydrogen permeation rate thus depends on reducing the interfacial polarization resistance.
Theoretical and experimental analysis of circular saw tensioning

Tensioning is the saw prestressing procedure most commonly used in the forest products industry to increase the stability of thin circular saws. This procedure stiffens the saw blade by introducing favorable in-plane residual stresses either by local plastic deformation or by local heating. In industry today, rolling is the standard procedure for introducing such stresses.
Discrepancies in vehicular crash injury reporting: Northeastern Ohio trauma study IV

People injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes were identified from a population-representative incidence sample of hospital emergency department visits. Matched police reports of crashes were sought in official state records of motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of the emergency department cases, 55% had matched police reports. The frequency of matched reports was highest for drivers (74%), people transported to the hospital by emergency vehicle (69%), and those requiring hospital admission (74%). The frequency was lowest for people younger than 16 years (28%), people injured as occupants of vehicles other than passenger cars (24%), medicaid recipients (33%), and nonresidents of the study region (40%). Motor vehicle traffic injuries are undercounted in police-reported statistics. For many groups, police reporting is less than 50% of the cases identified through emergency departments. The likelihood that a case of motor vehicle traffic injury will have a matched police report depends on demographic, social and crash factors as well as on injury severity.
Mars: Clearing of the 1971 dust storm

A semiquantitative analysis of clearing in the 1971 great dust storm on Mars is presented as a function of time and altitude, using Mariner 9 orange- and visual-light photos. Steady settling of dust approximately accounts for the decline of the storm after Dec. 22, 1971. Continuous settling cannot be invoked prior to that date; injection of dust into the atmosphere, i.e., a storm resurgence, occurred in mid-December 1971. Theoretical models of optical depth vs time are developed for various distributions of particles in the atmosphere. By interpreting settling in terms of Stokes' law, estimates of the maximum radii of dust particles throughout the atmosphere have been obtained. Models which best account for the dust-storm decline indicate particles less than 5 microns in diameter high in the atmosphere, with a concentration of larger particles near the ground in the lowest parts of Mars.
Refinements in Determining the Energy Value of Body Tissue Reserves and Tissue Gains from Growth

Energy density of weight gain increases with age and weight for age. Gains by more mature cattle contain more fat, less protein, and less water than gains by less mature cattle. The energy density of body tissue reserves mobilized during negative energy balance in early lactation is greater than that in the apparently contributing weight gains. The data reviewed had 140% as much fat and 60% as much protein in mobilized reserves as in gains. These observed differences justified the requantification of the energy density of tissue reserves mobilized for milk synthesis. The energy of gains was estimated by using equations published by the Agricultural Research Council to predict the fat and protein contents of the gains and multiplying them by their respective energy densities. The energy of mobilized reserves (weight losses) were estimated by predicting the fat and protein per kilogram of the contributing gains with the Agricultural Research Council equations, multiplying those fractions by 1.4 and .6, respectively, and multiplying the adjusted fractions by the respective energy densities of fat and protein. There was a close agreement between the predicted and observed energy values of both weight gains and weight losses.
Study of Quantum Dynamics in the Transition from Classical Stability to Chaos.

We report an experimental and theoretical study of momentum transfer from a modulated standing wave of light to a sample of ultracold atoms. This system is a quantum realization of the periodically driven rotor where the underlying classical phase space goes from stable to chaotic as a control parameter is varied. Our experimental results are in good absolute agreement with a quantum Floquet analysis and with a quantum simulation. We relate the quantum evolution to the underlying classical dynamics in this mixed phase space regime.
Experimental repair of tracheal defects with gallbladder mucosa.

1. New cartilage and bone formation may be consistently induced in the paratracheal area by implantation of gallbladder mucosa. 2. With the use of non-rigid tissue autografts, temporary support of the tracheal lumen with inert plastic tube stents is necessary. 3. Window defects are satisfactorily repaired with autografts of osteogenic potential. The assumption of a cartilagenous type of rigidity by the autograft permits removal of the endoluminal stent. 4. Tissue autografts with osteo or chondrogenic induction capacity offer the possibility of permanent rigid tube replacement of cylindrical tracheal defects. Such replacement has not yet been satisfactory in the absence of the stent support.
Electrochemical polymerization, optical and electrical characterizations of polycarbazole on single wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract Electrochemical polymerization of polycarbazole (PCz) on CVD grown, single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), by using two-electrode cell is reported. This process was compared to cyclic voltammetry and three-electrode cell polymerization of PCz on bare conducting glass. The SWCNT were characterized by using Raman spectroscopy. Visible range transmission spectra of the PCz/SWCNT electrode exhibited spectroscopic characteristics similar to those of PCz on conducting glass electrode. On the other hand, differences were detected at the near IR spectral range. I – V measurements of the coated SWCNT films exhibited a general ohmic behavior and a substantial increase in the sample conductivity.
GSCA: Reconstructing biological pathway topologies using a cultural algorithms approach

With the increasing availability of gene sets and pathway resources, novel approaches that combine both resources to reconstruct networks from gene sets are of interest. Currently, few computational approaches explore the search space of candidate networks using a parallel search. In particular, search agents employed by evolutionary computational approaches may better escape false peaks compared to previous approaches. It may also be hypothesized that gene sets may model signal transduction events, which refer to linear chains or cascades of reactions starting at the cell membrane and ending at the cell nucleus. These events may be indirectly observed as a set of unordered and overlapping gene sets. Thus, the goal is to reverse engineer the order information within each gene set to reconstruct the underlying source network using prior knowledge to limit the search space. We propose the Gene Set Cultural Algorithm (GSCA) to reconstruct networks from unordered gene sets. We introduce a robust heuristic based on the arborescence of a directed graph that performs well for random topological sort orderings across gene sets simulated for four E. coli networks and five Insilico networks from the DREAM3 and DREAM4 initiatives, respectively. Furthermore, GSCA performs favorably when reconstructing networks from randomly ordered gene sets for the aforementioned networks. Finally, we note that from a set of 23 gene sets discretized from a set of 300 S. cerevisiae expression profiles, GSCA reconstructs a network preserving most of the weak order information found in the KEGG Cell Cycle pathway, which was used as prior knowledge.
Note on an EOQ model with a temporary sale price

A flaw is revealed in the formulation of a fundamental temporary sale price model. However, its impact is only relatively significant when the amount of the discount is small.
Latent heat of vaporization of a fluid

Renormalization-group theory is applied to obtain the functional form of the latent heat of vaporizaton of a pure fluid that is applicable throughout the entire domain of existence of latent heat. To illustrate the use of the latent-heat expression, we least-squares fit it to latent-heat data of water.
New approach to analyzing soil-building systems

Abstract A new method of analyzing seismic response of soil-building systems is introduced. The method is based on the discrete-time formulation of wave propagation in layered media for vertically propagating plane shear waves. Buildings are modeled as an extension of the layered soil media by assuming that each story in the building is another layer. The seismic response is expressed in terms of wave travel times between the layers, and the wave reflection and transmission coefficients at layer interfaces. The calculation of the response is reduced to a pair of simple finite-difference equations for each layer, which are solved recursively starting from the bedrock. Compared with commonly used vibration formulation, the wave propagation formulation provides several advantages, including the ability to incorporate soil layers, simplicity of the calculations, improved accuracy in modeling the mass and damping, and better tools for system identification and damage detection.
Supercritical fluid extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from house dust with supercritical 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a).

Abstract The extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from SRM 2585 (Organic Contaminants in House Dust) was investigated using supercritical fluid R134a as an extraction solvent. Three methods of dust extraction were studied: (1) extraction of dry dust, (2) extraction of dry dust dispersed on Ottawa sand and (3) extraction of dust wet with dichloromethane. For each of the three sample preparation methods, extracts at three temperatures (110, 150, and 200 °C) above the critical temperature of R134a were performed. Eight PBDE congeners (BDE-28, -47, -99, 100, -153, -154, -183, and -209) in the SFE extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography negative-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/NI-APPI/MS/MS). The optimum extraction of PBDEs from house dust using supercritical R134a is obtained when the dust is pre-wet with dichloromethane prior to extraction to swell the dust. For all sample preparation methods, higher temperatures afforded higher percent recoveries of the eight PBDE congeners. Only a combination of high-temperature (200 °C) and pre-wetting the dust with dichloromethane produced high recovery of the environmentally important, fully brominated PBDE congener, BDE-209.
Antimicrobial therapy in newborn infants.

Newborn infants possess an underdeveloped immune system and lack ability to localize infection. Neonatal sepsis and meningitis is most commonly caused by bacteria acquired from the maternal genitourinary and gastro-intestinal tract. Infection in a neonate carries a very high mortality and morbidity. Therefore, antimicrobial therapy should be prompt and based on expected bacterial etiologies, laboratory studies and a knowledge of the pharmacokinetic data of commonly used antibiotics.
The effect of various anodic coatings on the creep behavior of a strong aluminum alloy

Abstract Comparative creep tests were conducted on a strong creep-resistant aluminum alloy, uncoated and coated with thin, medium and thick anodic layers. None of the various anodic coatings exhibited any strengthening effect similar to that which strong adherent coatings or inherent surface layers have been observed to have on room or elevated temperature plastic deformation of annealed monocrystalline or polycrystalline metals and alloys. This lack of strengthening effect can be explained by the fact that coherent precipitates effectively impeded the motion of dislocations throughout the bulk of the creep-resistant alloy; thus the anodic coatings did not have the impact which strong surface layers and coatings have on annealed materials where theee layers or coatings are the main direct or indirect obstacle to the motion of dislocations and their egress to the surface. Cracks in the medium and heavy coatings served as surface stress raisers, thus resulting in faster secondary creep rates compared with those of the uncoated and thinly coated specimens.
Depression of the transition temperature of thin superconducting films by noble gas overlayers

Abstract When care is taken to prevent contamination, the superconducting transition temperatures in Al and Sn films are depressed by overlayers of Ne or Ar. The experimental results can be explained by the modification of the surface phonon spectrum.
Tubulin:tyrosine ligase in oocytes and embryos of Xenopus laevis

Abstract Tubulin:tyrosine ligase (TTL), which catalyzes the post-translational addition of tyrosine to the α chain of tubulin, exists in a wide variety of embryonic and adult vertebrate tissues. In the present study, we report that TTL exists in amphibian oocytes at a time when tubulin is a poor substrate for tyrosination, and when, in immature oocytes, tubulin is not polymerizable. Ligase activity detected at several stages of oogenesis and embryogenesis in Xenopus is compatible with mammalian brain tubulin in the tyrosination reaction. Within 3–5 hr after fertilization, [3H] tyrosine incorporated/μg endogenous tubulin increases approximately 3.5-fold over that in extracts prepared from the largest oocytes obtained. This increase cannot be accounted for by increasing levels of TTL. Ligase activity remains fairly constant throughout oogenesis and early embryogensis and rises significantly (2-fold) only 35–50 hr after fertilization. The late rise in embryonic ligase activity is not accompanied by a change in apparent km for tubulin.
Synthesis of perfluorobicyclic ethers [2]. The electrochemical fluorination of α-cyclohexenyl-substituted carboxylic acid derivatives

Abstract The electrochemical fluorination of α-cyclohexenyl-substituted carboxylic esters [ ; R′CH3, C2H5, C3H7)] afforded both perfluoro(9-alkyl-7-oxa-bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane)s and perfluoro(8-alkoxy-9-alkyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane)s in fairly good yields. As the driving force for the ring-closure in this fluorination, a mechanism which involves a resonance stabilized intermediate radical is proposed. Perfluoro(8-chloro-8-methoxy-9-ethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane) and perfluoro(8,8-dichloro-9-ethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane) were obtained by the controlled chlorination of perfluoro(8-methoxy-9-ethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane) with anhydrous aluminum chloride in low yields. Some new fused perfluorobicyclic ethers and a perfluoroacid fluoride obtained in this experiment have been characterized by infrared, mass and 19F nmr spectra and elemental analysis.
Continuous orthonormalization for boundary value problems

Abstract Continuous orthonormalization describes an initial value method for linear 2-point boundary value problems which provides an orthogonal basis for the solution space at all points of the interval. In this paper the equations of continuous orthonormalization are derived with elementary projection arguments to provide geometric insight and motivate some modifications of an earlier algorithm. The method is then applied to some oscillatory and stiff boundary value problems to demonstrate that it is simple to use, problem independent, and as adaptive as the initial value code which is used to integrate the equations of continuous orthonormalization.
The Ethics of Managerial Compensation: The Case of Executive Stock Options

This paper examines the ethics of contemporary managerial compensation in the context of executive stock options. Economic considerations would dictate that executive stock options should be adjusted to eliminate the effect of overall stock market movements which are beyond the control of the executive. However, in practice, most executive stock options are not adjusted to control for these outside factors. Agency considerations are the most likely culprit. Adjusting for the influence of outside factors, such as a generally rising stock market, from executive stock options sets a higher bar for managers to reach. Furthermore, traditional accounting standards permitted firms that did not adjust options to avoid reporting options as expenses. This presents CEOs and boards of directors with a major ethical dilemma. On the one hand, their duty to their shareholders and stakeholders dictates that executive stock options should be adjusted to eliminate outside noise from unrelated movements in the overall stock market. However, financial statements are presented in the language of accounting. If the overwhelming majority of the users of a language define a particular item in one way, then to deviate from the norm implies that the recipient of such a deviant statement may not properly interpret the statement. Likewise, if the standard practice is for firms to use unadjusted options and thus under-report expenses, to deviate from this industry norm risks that users of financial statements would not properly interpret the financial statements, with perhaps negative consequences for the shareholders. In short, if “everyone else does it,” then it could be wrong for an individual firm to deviate from the norm as that would harm the shareholders.
Norm of the inverse of a random matrix

Let A be an n ? n matrix, whose entries are independent copies of a centered random variable satisfying the subgaussian tail estimate. We prove that the operator norm of A^{-1} does not exceed Cn^{3/2} with probability close to 1. In a geometric language, this bounds the probability that the affine span of n random vectors in \mathbb{R}^n with i.i.d. subgaussian coordinates comes close to the origin.
An image of the Columbia Plateau from inversion of high‐resolution seismic data

The authors use a method of traveltime inversion of high-resolution seismic data to provide the first reliable images of internal details of the Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG), the subsurface basalt/sediment interface, and the deeper sediment/basement interface. Velocity structure within the basalts, delineated on the order of 1 km horizontally and 0.2 km vertically, is constrained to within [plus minus]0.1 km/s for most of the seismic profile. Over 5,000 observed traveltimes fit their model with an rms error of 0.018 s. The maximum depth of penetration of the basalt diving waves (truncated by underlying low-velocity sediments) provides a reliable estimate of the depth to the base of the basalt, which agrees with well-log measurements to within 0.05 km (165 ft). The authors use image blurring, calculated from the resolution matrix, to estimate the aspect ratio of images velocity anomaly widths to true widths for velocity features within the basalt. From their calculations of image blurring, they interpret low velocity zones (LVZ) within the basalts at Boylston Mountain and the Whiskey Dick anticline to have widths of 4.5 and 3 km, respectively, within the upper 1.5 km of the model. At greater depth, the widths of these imaged LVZs thin tomore » approximately 2 km or less. They interpret these linear, subparallel, low-velocity zones imaged adjacent to anticlines of the Yakima Fold Belt to be brecciated fault zones. These fault zones dip to the south at angles between 15 to 45 degrees.« less
Analysis of the Segmented Displaced Trapezoidal Winding for Self Sensing Using Back EMF Waveforms

In our companion paper, the trapezoidal winding is proposed for use as a self bearing motor that is capable of actively controlling motoring torque, radial force and axial thrust. Of course, this assumes that sensor signals are available for control of these axes. Conventionally, this is done using encoders and proximity sensors. In this paper the authors propose a self sensing approach that uses the back-EMF waveforms of the trapezoidal winding to estimate the angular, radial and thrust positions of the rotor, as well as rotor speed. Both simulated and experimental results are presented that demonstrate the potential of the approach and identify its limitations when applied to a closed loop feedback system. The experimental results indicate that the x, y, z and θ positions can be completely decoupled and estimated using the phase difference information in the back-EMF waveforms. A test actuator demonstrates that large axial displacements in excess of 5–10mm are achievable with the new actuator layout.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Characteristics of LPCVD WSi/sub 2//n-Si Schottky contacts

Detailed current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics of low-pressure chemical vapor deposited (LPCVD) WSi/sub 2//n-Si Schottky contacts are reported in the temperature range of 21 to 170 degrees C. The diode ideality factor n was found to decrease from a value of 1.46 to 1.15 as temperature was increased. Schottky barrier height phi /sub B/, on the other hand, was found to increase from 0.72 to 0.86 V with temperature. These results suggest that diode characteristics are affected by surface and bulk effects, especially at lower temperatures. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed isolated regions of oxynitride at the silicide/silicon interface that are predominantly located where silicide grain boundaries intersect the silicon surface. >
Recent advances in sow nutrition

Sows produce a larger number of fetuses than before and these fetuses possess genetic potentials to grow faster than before. Recent comparison shows that a porcine fetus is 40% heavier than 40 years ago. Thus the nutritional management of sows has been updated to reflect these genetic changes. Our recent study quantified nutritional needs for sows to support the growth of fetuses and mammary glands during gestation. Amino acid needs for fetal growth and mammary growth during late gestation (d 70 to farrowing) significantly greater than those needs during early gestation (until d 70). Considering these increases, daily requirement of true ileal digestible Lys for a primiparous sows increases from 7 g (until d 70) to 15 g (d 70 to farrowing). Required qualities of proteins (i.e., amino acid ratios) also change with an advance of pregnancy as maternal, fetal, and mammary tissues have their unique amino acid compositions. Thus, if the feed does not provide sufficient amounts and qualities of proteins, sows can be under a severe catabolic status during late gestation, especially during late gestation. Sows under a conventional feeding program had increased litter weight variations at farrowing (19%) compared with early gestation (3.0%). Our recent study also shows that sows under a conventional feeding program have a dramatic increase in a systemic oxidative stress during late gestation compared with early gestation when measured by plasma α-tocopherol (56% decrease), plasma retinol (57% decrease), and DNA damage in white blood cells (125% increase) which were sustained until the early lactation period. Increased oxidative damages in sows negatively affect the growth and health of fetuses as well as postpartum growth. Sow feeding during late gestation should reflect the changed needs for amino acids and antioxidants. Phase feeding or top dressing could be a practical solution to provide sufficient nutrients during late gestation.
Validity of self- and parent-report scales in screening students for behavioral and emotional problems in elementary school

The comparative validity of the child-report Classroom Screening Scale (CLASS) from the Personality Inventory for Youth (PIY), and the parent-report Adjustment Scale (ADJ) from the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC) was examined. The subjects were 111 children from fourth- through sixth-grade regular education classrooms. Children were classified as positive or negative for risk status on each screening scale using a cutoff of 60T. Parent description identified a higher proportion of children as at risk. Those identified as “at risk” by either parent or child report were more likely than others to have clinically elevated scores on both the PIC and PIY clinical scales. High scores on CLASS were more likely to have clinically significant elevations than were high scorers on ADJ. Parent report appeared to be sensitive to overt behavioral problems, while self-report was sensitive to mood disturbances and withdrawal. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
EFFECTS OF PHENOLIC INHIBITORS ON GROWTH AND METABOLISM OF GLUCOSE-UL-14C IN PAUL'S SCARLET ROSE CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES'

and scopoletin. All test compounds except chlorogenic acid were completely inhibitory at a 10-M concentration, resulting in death of the cells prior to completion of the growth cycle. To assess the cellular effects of two commonly named plant inhibitors, ferulic and cinnamic acids, these compounds were provided to cultures during incubation of cells with glucose-UL"4C. Incubation of cells with glucose-UL-'4C in the presence of 10-4M ferulic acid resulted in increased incorporation of 14C into the soluble lipid fraction along with decreased incorporation of "4C into protein, organic acids, and soluble amino acids. Treatment of the cells with 10-5M cinnamic acid during the incubation period resulted in a significant decrease in incorporation of I4C into protein. These alterations in the flow of carbon into cellular constituents when cells are treated with cinnamic and ferulic acids explain, at least in part, why these compounds in
Vaginal maturation index self-sample collection in mid-life women: acceptability and correlation with physician-collected samples.

OBJECTIVE During menopause, the ratio of the three vaginal epithelial cell types (parabasal, intermediate, and superficial) changes. The proportion of these vaginal cell types is categorized by the vaginal maturation index (VMI). The VMI provides an objective assessment of vaginal hormone response as well as overall hormonal environment. The aim of this study was to determine the concordance of self- and physician-collected samples for VMI and evaluate participant preference for self-collection. DESIGN Twenty women aged 42 to 67 years were enrolled. Each woman received instructions and self-collected a sample for VMI analysis from her posterior lateral vaginal walls. Next, she underwent a vaginal speculum examination for physician VMI sampling. Finally, she completed a survey regarding sampling preference, ease of self-sampling, and previous vaginal experience. Correlation between physician- and self-collected samples were calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha. Participant characteristics, vaginal experiences, and sampling preferences were summarized using frequencies and measures of central tendencies. The relationships between preference for sampling method and previous vaginal experiences were examined using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Average age of the 20 participants was 52.2 years (range, 42-67 y). Women had a variety of previous vaginal experiences ranging from tampon use (100%) to previous vaginal self-swabbing (15%). Average self-collected VMI was 48.4 (range, 13.8-83.5) and physician-collected VMI was 49.9 (range, 20.5-83.5) with a correlation of 0.97 (P < 0. 001), alpha = 0.94. The majority of women preferred self-collection (80%) to physician collection, and there was no difference in preference based on previous vaginal experiences. Nineteen women (95%) found the self-collection to be very easy, and one found it to be somewhat easy. CONCLUSIONS Women can reliably self-collect samples for VMI, and the majority of women in our study preferred self-collection to physician collection. Vaginal self-sampling allows this technique for measuring overall hormonal environment to be used in clinical and epidemiological research.
Use of a Batch Hindered-Settling Model to Investigate Variable Interactions in Dense-Medium Cyclone Separations

This paper details the use of a batch hindered-settling model to investigate dense-medium cyclone separations, particularly with respect to variable interactions. The model parameters are based on those obtained for various dense-medium cyclones processing fine coal. Simulations were run over a wide range of test conditions to investigate changes in volumetric flow rate, cyclone diameter, pulp split, medium density, and magnetite size distribution. The performance is analyzed in terms of the fractional recovery (partition) curves and corresponding parameters. Comparisons are made to the results obtained from the actual dense-medium cyclone separations.
Gridline indifference graphs

Abstract Indifference graphs can be realized on a line with vertices adjacent whenever they are within a given distance. These well-studied graphs have applications to many fields including ecology, cluster theory, and psychology, in the placement of objects in a single dimension. The extension to the grid and higher dimensions has been considered in e.g. Goodman's study of perception (1977); we introduce gridline indifference graphs , which can be realized in the plane with vertices adjacent whenever they are within a given distance and on a common vertical or horizontal line. We obtain full and partial characterizations when these graphs are triangulated in terms of forbidden subgraphs, extreme points, and tree-clique graphs. These results are extended to higher dimensions.
Competitive Corruption: Factional Conflict and Political Malfeasance in Postwar Italian Christian Democracy

This article studies the relationship between cartels of politicians and systemic political corruption in a democratic setting. Some electoral systems, including open-list systems of proportional representation, encourage intraparty competition for office. The authors analyze the relationship between intraparty conflict in postwar Italy's dominant political party, the Christian Democrats, and charges of malfeasance against Christian Democratic members of the Chamber ofDeputies in the years between thefirstpostwar parliamentary elections of 1948 and the end of the XI legislature in 1994, when the electoral system was substantially modified. Suspected malfeasance is operationalized as requests by the judiciary to lift parliamentary immunity in order to proceed with an investigation of a member of the Chamber of Deputies.Results show a significant statistical relationship between intraparty conflict and alleged corruption on the part of DC deputies starting in the early 1970s. These results are interpreted to mean that the dramatic levels of political corruption observed in Italy in recent decades were in part an outgrowth of the search for campaign funds by incumbent DC members of parliament in competition with other candidates from the same party. Electoral competition with other parties did not significantly affect the extent of charges of malfeasance against DC deputies. Using maps, the authors also provide preliminary evidence that Italian corruption did not spread from south to north in a process of cultural contagion, as is commonly believed. Instead, theyfind,the determinants of corruption appear to be endogenous to institutions of the postwar political system.
A Conceptual Model of Optimal International Service-Learning and Its Application to Global Health Initiatives in Rehabilitation

Background There is growing involvement by US clinicians, faculty members, and students in global health initiatives, including international service-learning (ISL). Limited research has been done to examine the profession's increasing global engagement, or the ISL phenomenon in particular, and no research has been done to determine best practices. This study was intended as an early step in the examination of the physical therapy profession's role and activities in the global health arena within and beyond academics. Objectives The purposes of this study were: (1) to identify and analyze the common structures and processes among established ISL programs within physical therapist education programs and (2) to develop a conceptual model of optimal ISL within physical therapist education programs. Design A descriptive, exploratory study was completed using grounded theory. Methods Telephone interviews were completed with 14 faculty members who had been involved in international service, international learning, or ISL in physical therapist education programs. Interviews were transcribed, and transcriptions were analyzed using the grounded theory method. Results Four major themes emerged from the data: structure, reciprocity, relationship, and sustainability. A conceptual model of and a proposed definition for optimal ISL in physical therapist education were developed. Seven essential components of the conceptual model are: a partner that understands the role of physical therapy, community-identified needs, explicit service and learning objectives, reflection, preparation, risk management, and service and learning outcome measures. Essential consequences are positive effects on students and community. Conclusions The conceptual model and definition of optimal ISL can be used to direct development of new ISL programs and to improve existing programs. In addition, they can offer substantive guidance to any physical therapist involved in global health initiatives.
Time trends and characteristics of men choosing watchful waiting for initial treatment of localized prostate cancer: results from CaPSURE.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Watchful waiting (WW) is one option for men with clinically localized prostate cancer. We examined temporal trends in the use of WW, as well as sociodemographic and clinical profiles of men who choose this form of management.Materials and Methods: The Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor is a national registry of patients with various stages of prostate cancer. Between 1989 and 2000, 5,365 men in the database were diagnosed with localized disease and elected either WW or active treatment within 9 months of diagnosis. Of these men 402 elected WW as initial disease management. We analyzed time trends in WW use, and sociodemographic and clinical predictors of WW using chi-square tests and multivariate logistical regression.Results: In examining 3-year intervals, use of WW increased from 7.5% in 1989 to 1991 to 9.5% in 1992 to 1994, and then decreased during the next 6 years to 5.5% in 1998 to 2000 (p = 0.001). With time there was a significant increase in the proportio...
New correlator receiver architecture for optical CDMA networks with an increased system capacity

A new correlator receiver architecture based on a modified version of unipolar-bipolar correlation is proposed for noncoherent optical fiber CDMA networks. The receiver BER performance is evaluated as a function of the received optical power for noncoherent transmission and direct detection with the number of simultaneous users as a parameter. Results show that, this technique while avoiding coherent detection can achieve the same BER performance as a coherent CDMA system.
Adaptive delay compensation in multi-dithering adaptive control

Recently, a delay-insensitive architecture for gradient descent adaptive control, based on parallel synchronous detection for model-free gradient estimation was presented. The key to delay insensitivity in the gradient estimation is careful selection of the phase of the local oscillator in the mixer of synchronous detection, amounting to a single parameter to be estimated per control channel. In this contribution we present a practical adaptive phase selection algorithm for delay compensation in the adaptive control architecture, and present experimental results from a SiGe BiCMOS implementation of the architecture demonstrating sub-microsecond response time in closed-loop adaptive control.
Wintertime Boundary Layer Structure in the Grand Canyon

Wintertime temperature profiles in the Grand Canyon exhibit a neutral to isothermal stratification during both daytime and nighttime, with only rare instances of actual temperature inversions. The canyon warms during daytime and cools during nighttime more or less uniformly through the canyon’s entire depth. This weak stability and temperature structure evolution differ from other Rocky Mountain valleys, which develop strong nocturnal inversions and exhibit convective and stable boundary layers that grow upward from the valley floor. Mechanisms that may be responsible for the different behavior of the Grand Canyon are discussed, including the possibility that the canyon atmosphere is frequently mixed to near-neutral stratification when cold air drains into the top of the canyon from the nearby snow-covered Kaibab Plateau. Another feature of canyon temperature profiles is the sharp inversions that often form near the canyon rims. These are generally produced when warm air is advected over the canyon in advance of passing synoptic-scale ridges. Wintertime winds in the main canyon are not classical diurnal along-valley wind systems. Rather, they are driven along the canyon axis by the horizontal synoptic-scale pressure gradient that is superimposed along the canyon’s axis by passing synoptic-scale weather disturbances. They may thus bring winds into the canyon from either end at any time of day. The implications of the observed canyon boundary layer structure for air pollution dispersion are discussed.
Adding More Languages Improves Unsupervised Multilingual Part-of-Speech Tagging: a Bayesian Non-Parametric Approach

We investigate the problem of unsupervised part-of-speech tagging when raw parallel data is available in a large number of languages. Patterns of ambiguity vary greatly across languages and therefore even unannotated multilingual data can serve as a learning signal. We propose a non-parametric Bayesian model that connects related tagging decisions across languages through the use of multilingual latent variables. Our experiments show that performance improves steadily as the number of languages increases.
The role of heterologous receptors in McpB‐mediated signalling in Bacillus subtilis chemotaxis

Summary Asparagine chemotaxis in Bacillus subtilis appears to involve two partially redundant adaptation mechanisms: a receptor methylation-independent process that operates at low attractant concentrations and a receptor methylation-dependent process that is required for optimal responses to high concentrations. In order to elucidate these processes, chemotactic responses were assessed for strains expressing methylation-defective mutations in the asparagine receptor, McpB, in which all 10 putative receptors (10del), five receptors (5del) or only the native copy of mcpB were deleted. This was done in both the presence and the absence of the methylesterase CheB. We found that: (i) only responses to high concentrations of asparagine were impaired; (ii) the presence of all heterologous receptors fully compensated for this defect, whereas responses progressively worsened as more receptors were taken away; (iii) methyl-group turnover occurred on heterologous receptors after the addition of asparagine, and these methylation changes were required for the restoration of normal swimming behaviour; (iv) in the absence of the methylesterase, the presence of heterologous receptors in some cases caused impaired chemotaxis; and (v) either a certain threshold number of receptors must be present to promote basal CheA activity, or one or more of the receptors missing in the 10del background (but present in the 5del background) is required for establishing basal CheA activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that many or all chemoreceptors work as an ensemble that constitutes a robust chemotaxis system. We propose that
Phase Stability, Point Defects and Site Preference of Feal and Nial with Ternary Additions

First-principles calculations have been used to investigate the defect properties and the site preference of FeAl and NiAl with ternary additions. It is found that a “triple-defect” structure model becomes invalid in describing the defect structure of FeAl (which is weakly ordered). The calculated mono-vacancy concentration on the Fe sites is lower than available experimental values by an order of magnitude, which may suggest the formation of defect complexes or the need of sufficiently long annealing time to anneal out quenched-in vacancies. For the site preference of ternary additions in FeAl, Cr and Ti are found to occupy Al sublattices, whereas Ni has a distinct preference for the Fe sites. The substitutional behavior of ternary elements in FeAl is consistent with the trend in the calculated heat-of-formation. For Fe addition in Al-rich NiAl, Fe atoms occupy Ni sublattices exclusively. The site preference of Fe addition in Ni-rich NiAl is dependent on alloy composition and temperature. At low temperatures, Fe atoms are found to preferentially occupy Al sublattices in Ni-rich alloys.
Social Norms for Intimate Partner Violence in Situations Involving Victim Infidelity

The present study investigated perceived descriptive norms (i.e., perceived prevalence) for male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) following victim infidelity (i.e., girlfriend had sex with another man). While watching a video-taped vignette of a young, dating couple in an argument that escalated to male-to-female violence, male participants were asked various questions to assess perceived descriptive norms at several time points during the escalating argument. Half of the participants were told that the victim in the video was unfaithful. Results suggested that while participants did believe that it was much more common for their male friends and for typical male students to aggress against unfaithful girlfriends compared to faithful girlfriends, these differences were less pronounced as the aggression intensified. When testing whether perceived norms for IPV were related to participants’ purported risk of engaging in IPV, a clear pattern appeared: For the no-infidelity condition, IPV perceived n...
Sequence dependent migration behavior of double-stranded DNA in capillary electrophoresis.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a replaceable linear polyacrylamide (LPA) sieving matrix was used to examine sequence-dependent migration of double-stranded DNA fragments. It has been found that DNA conformational effects were significant under high electric field separations, especially using high resolution matrices. Compared to linear DNA-ladder standards, both anomalously slow and rapid DNA fragments were observed, with the degree of anomalous migration depending on the electric field strength, polymer concentration, column temperature, and background electrolyte (denaturants, sodium and magnesium ions, DNA-intercalating dyes). By selecting a combination of electrophoretic conditions (e.g. 3% T LPA, elevated capillary temperature, lower electric field strength and addition of DNA intercalating dyes), molecular weight dependent separations were closely restored1 .
Self-Managed Learning Model for Civil Engineering Continuing Training

Engineering is largely a knowledge-based profession; value comes increasingly from what an organization or individual knows rather than possesses. Continuing training is the principal means by which engineers maintain and expand knowledge once in the profession. Within civil engineering, the rapid pace of technological change and the increased retirement of experienced personnel have placed increased pressure on training to provide more content, timelier delivery, and more flexibility for the same or less money. These pressures necessitate a training market shift from an employer-centered model, which is inherently inefficient and slow, to an employee-centered model, which is more efficient, individualized, and timely. Typical abilities and strengths of engineers indicate an approach to employee-centered training called self-managed learning could be successful. In order to increase the chances of success for such an approach, the array of training options available to civil engineers must be broadened to include more quality online self-directed learning options. This addition would better enable civil engineers to select training options that closely match their needs, schedule, and learning style preferences.