cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the relationship between dynamics and complexity in multi-agent collision avoidance

This work examines how dynamics and complexity are related in multi-agent collision avoidance. Motivated particularly by work in the field of automated driving, this work considers a variant of the reciprocal n-body collision avoidance problem. In this problem, agents must avoid collision while moving according to individual reward functions in a crowded environment. The main contribution of this work is the result that there is a quantifiable relationship between system dynamics and the requirement for agent coordination, and that this requirement can change the complexity class of the problem dramatically: from P to NEXP or even $$\hbox {NEXP}^{\text {NP}}$$ . A constructive proof is provided that demonstrates the relationship, and potential practical applications are discussed.
Autonomic Secure HPC Fabric Architecture

Cloud computing is the major paradigm in today's IT world with the capabilities of security management, high performance, flexibility, scalability. Customers valuing these features can better benefit if they use a cloud environment built using HPC fabric architecture. However, security is still a major concern, not only on the software side but also on the hardware side. There are multiple studies showing that the malicious users can affect the regular customers through the hardware if they are co-located on the same physical system. Therefore, solving possible security concerns on the HPC fabric architecture will clearly make the fabric industries leader in this area. In this paper, we propose an autonomic HPC fabric architecture that leverages both resilient computing capabilities and adaptive anomaly analysis for further security.
Mechanisms of Geologically Stored CO2 for Energy Storage

Carbon dioxide-Bulk Energy Storage (CO2-BES) is a bulk energy storage technology that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) in sedimentary basin geothermal resources to time-shift electricity production. Here, we investigated how the charging and discharging cycles affect the power storage capacity and power output capacity of a CO2-BES facility. We simulated the operation of CO2-BES with seven different operating cycles for fourteen years. Our results suggest that continuous charging and discharging cycles do not change the rate of heat depletion of the geothermal resource. But the power storage capacity and the power output capacity are affected because they rely on the magnitude of the overpressure. If, in a cycle, the duration of electricity dispatch is greater than the duration of electricity storage, overpressure may eventually deplete and a CO2-BES facility may cease to be operational. If idle periods where electricity is neither charged nor discharged are included in the cycle, there is a small increase in power output capacity and a small decrease in power storage capacity. In general, if electricity is dispatched and stored for equal amounts of time, the duration of dispatch/storage and of the idle period does not affect the power output capacity or the power storage capacity. As a result, as long as the cycles consist of equivalent charging and discharging durations throughout the lifetime of the facility, the length of those durations and frequency of idle periods could be based on financial incentives (e.g., diurnal variations in electricity prices), rather than process-level factors like the potential for heat or pressure depletion.
Productive Hardware Designs using Hybrid HLS-RTL Development

Current High-Level Synthesis frameworks provide a productive hardware development methodology where hardware accelerators are generated directly from high-level languages like C/C++ or OpenCL, allowing software developers to quickly accelerate their applications. However, the hardware generated by these frameworks is sub-optimal compared to often hand-optimized RTL modules. A hybrid development approach would leverage the productive software stack and hardware board support package that HLS provides but allow for fine-grained optimization using RTL components. In this work, we introduce a new software-hardware co-design framework that integrates OpenCL/OpenACC with RTL code enabling direct execution on FPGAs as well as full emulation with a high-speed simulator to reduce the development time.
Which Lactate is Most Important for Prediction of Survival on VA ECMO

Purpose Poor prognostic significance of elevated serum lactate in patients who are started on ECMO support is widely known. Typically, serial lactate measurements are obtained. our primary objective was to study the predictive utility of lactate measured at different points of time. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review with collection of clinical and laboratory data. Lactic acid was collected before initiating ECMO support and then on day 1, 3, 5, and 10 while on ECMO. Outcomes were defined as survival to weaning and survival to discharge.Comparison of these lactate levels to identify which one is superior in predicting outcomes was performed using the Hanley and McNeil method as implemented in the MedCalc software. Results Out of total of 238 patients who received VA ECMO, 129 (54.2%) survived ECMO and 98 (41.2%) were discharged alive. Patient successfully weaned from ECMO had a significantly lower lactic acid level pre-ECMO (P=0.001), at day 1 (P Day 3 lactic acid was superior to pre-ECMO lactic acid (P=0.007), lactic acid reduction from pre-ECMO to day 1 (P=0.0125), and from pre-ECMO to day 3 (P=0.0313). The reduction of lactic acid from pre-ECMO to day 1, and pre-ECMO to day 3 was not superior to any absolute value at either pre-ECMO, days 1 or 3. With regards to discharge alive, lactic acid at ECMO day 3 is superior to pre-ECMO lactic acid (P=0.0385), lactic acid reduction from pre-ECMO to day 1 (P=0.0177) and from pre-ECMO to day 3 (P=0.0361). Conclusion The absolute level of lactic acid while on ECMO support is more important for prognosis that a pre-ECMO level or the magnitude of decline from pre-ECMO to on-ECMO level.
Ureteroscopy without Routine Balloon Dilation: An Outcome Assessment

AbstractA retrospective analysis of 156 rigid ureteroscopic stone procedures in 145 patients revealed successful manipulation in 90%. The stone-free rate after adjunctive procedures was 95%. Access was achieved without balloon dilation in all but 18 patients. There were 24 perforations, occurring in 31% of proximal, 8% of mid ureteral and 8% of distal stone manipulations. Of the evaluable patients 63% underwent radiographic assessment for stricture disease, 75% at 6 months or more after the procedure. The stricture rate was 3.5% in all patients and 5.9% in patients with perforations. Of 37 patients evaluated for vesicoureteral reflux only 1 had reflux. Questionnaire followup was obtained for 74% of the patients (mean followup 2.6 years) and 32% felt normal within 3 days. Postoperative symptoms included flank pain (13%), renal colic (12%), pelvic discomfort (30%) and Double-J††Medical Engineering Corp., New York, New York. stent related complaints (49%). Of the patients 15% have reported recurrent stones. ...
Building resilience to natural hazards through coastal governance: a case study of Hurricane Harvey recovery in Gulf of Mexico communities

Abstract This paper provides an evidence-based contribution to understanding coastal governance in response to hurricane hazards. It uses the five-part conceptual framework for coastal governance, which includes 1) complexity, 2) vulnerability, 3) adaptive management, 4) stakeholder participation, and 5) the integration of technical knowledge in decision-making. A case study of the Harvey-impacted Texas communities in the Gulf of Mexico is presented within this framework. This particular case is important because of current high level discussions that suggest subnational, state-centric policy response to hazards may be the new model for disaster response moving forward. This study presents insights on the current trends toward devolved, subnational policy response to disasters, as well as a revised framework for coastal governance, where resilience is linked to all concepts in the governance framework as an outcome. Several major findings are discussed. First, higher scales of government take much longer than is necessary to respond to hazards because of their complex administrative policies and procedures. This is worsened in places that have not experienced hazards in recent decades. Innovative adaptation by subnational policy-makers may be one pathway to quicken policy response, as are the commendable but fragmented efforts of charities and voluntary groups. However, devolved policy responses may face their own challenges in implementation, increasing adaptive capacity but decreasing resilience. This study found that participatory, multi-stakeholder processes enhance resilience through disaster simulation exercises and participatory planning processes. These participatory processes enhance learning and the capacity to implement recovery-focused public policy within the constraints of the disaster.
CFD-DEM simulation of Small-Scale Challenge Problem 1 with EMMS bubble-based structure-dependent drag coefficient

Abstract In this study, the energy minimization multi-scale (EMMS)/Bubbling model is coupled with the computational fluid dynamics/discrete element method (CFD-DEM) model via a structure-dependent drag coefficient to simulate the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) small-scale challenge problem using the open-source multiphase flow code MFIX. The numerical predictions are compared against particle velocity measurements obtained from high-speed particle image velocimetry (HSPIV) and differential pressure measurements. The drag-reduction effect of the EMMS bubble-based drag coefficient is observed to significantly improve predictions of the horizontal particle velocity and granular temperature when compared to several other drag coefficients tested; however, the vertical particle velocity and pressure fluctuation characteristic predictions are degraded. The drag-reduction effect is characterized by a reduction in the sizes of slugs or voids, as identified through spectral decomposition of the pressure fluctuations. Overall, this study shows great promise in employing drag coefficients, developed via multi-scale approaches (such as the EMMS paradigm), in CFD-DEM models.
The Impact of the County Fair—Building an Economic Toolbox

The goal of this chapter is to provide county fair managers and administrators with the ability to conduct their own economic impact studies for their county fairs. The authors provide the methodology, instruments, as well as some specific results from five county fairs where this process was successfully applied. In order to implement this “toolbox,” or the methods and steps to collecting consumer spending and demographic data, a county fair director must first develop a survey and obtain a volunteer force to administer the survey. It is critical to train the volunteer force on how to give out the survey and attract fairgoers. Once these data are collected, an input–output analysis can be used to calculate the direct, indirect, and induced effects of conducting a county fair. While this paper presents results of studies conducted in counties located in the state of Wisconsin, USA, the methodology and toolbox employed in these studies are transferable nationally and globally.
Thermal methods in flow assurance: A review

Abstract Solid deposition in flow-lines is a significant challenge for offshore operations. Flow blockage can lead to reduced production and increased costs. A variety of technologies have been developed and implemented to assure that flow during production. Of these, thermal management methods have become common. Thermal management methods can be both passive and active. Passive methods include the use of insulation and pipeline burial to maintain the temperature of the fluid. The majority of flowlines that have flow assurance issues caused by temperature makes use of some form of insulation, due to its ease of installation and relatively low cost. In contrast, active methods require the application of heating techniques to maintain/raise the temperature of the fluid. Active heating methods are widely used and can be done either electrically or via circulation of hot fluid. A thermal management system describes the use of either one or more of these technologies to mitigate or remediate deposition of solids and ensure flow. This paper reviews the thermal methods implemented in offshore operations and discusses the features.
Committee Hearings, Witness Affiliations, and the Passage of the Violence Against Women Act

The author tracks attention to domestic violence at the congressional level and seeks to answer the question of why Congress recognized violence against women as a new category suitable for protection. I adopt a longitudinal approach to examine how hearings, witness affiliations, and policy entrepreneurs played a role in the passage of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The study develops and uses indicators of legislative attention and presidential attention to track the evolution of domestic violence policy between 1965 and 2020. This study shows that domestic violence, crime, and health accounted for most of the frames used by witnesses and/or committees when discussing violence against women. The gender politics coalition made up the largest group of witnesses at the committee hearings. I also demonstrate that there is not much variation between the witnesses at the judiciary and labor committee hearings. By tracking the evolution of VAWA through the committee hearings as well as identifying the coalitions, I am able to show the new policy dimensions that emerged to regulate gender violence. The way that political actors constructed domestic violence victims dictated the type of policies that were used in resolving violence against women. This interaction helped to explain the slow response to helping battered women. However, as women began to gain a voice and exercise political power, public officials took notice of this problem.
Effect of (100) and (001) Hexagonal WO3 Faceting on Isoprene and Acetone Gas Selectivity

The hexagonal WO3 polymorph, h-WO3, has attracted attention due to its interatomic channels, allowing for a greater degree of intercalation compared to other WO3 polymorphs. Our research group has previously demonstrated h-WO3 to be a highly sensitive gas sensing material for a flu biomarker, isoprene. In this work, the gas sensing performance of this polymorph has been further investigated in two distinct configurations of the material produced by different processing routes. The first sample was synthesized using Na2WO4·2H2O and showed (100) faceting. The second sample was synthesized using WCl6 and showed (001) faceting. The gas sensing response of the nanostructured films deposited using the (100) textured h-WO3 sample 1 had a higher response to acetone at 350 °C. The (001) textured h-WO3 sample 2 favored isoprene at 350 °C. The selectivity of the latter to isoprene is explained in terms of the dangling bonds present on the (001) facets. The tungsten and oxygen dangling bonds present on the (001) plane favor the adsorption of the isoprene molecule over that of the acetone molecule due to the oxygen containing dipole present in the acetone molecule.
Incident to Service: The Feres Doctrine and the Uniform Code of Military Justice

The Feres doctrine is an interpretation of the Federal Tort Claims Act that bars military servicemembers from bringing claims against the federal government that arose “incident to service.” Despite widespread criticism among academics and less-than-supreme courts, Feres’s “incident to service” test is still the law of the land. The principal policy justification of the Feres doctrine is a concern about exposing too much of the military’s unique discipline and command decisions to judicial second-guessing. Previously proposed alternatives to the Feres doctrine do not adequately handle this concern. This Article proposes to refine the Feres “incident to service” test by looking to where Congress has already designated certain types of military activity as so critical that civilians may be subject to court-martial: the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 2(a)(10). While the notion that Article 2(a)(10) functions as an activity test is not apparent in its recent caselaw, earlier cases and practices support just such an understanding. Courts should import this activity test from military law into the Feres “incident to service” context. By looking to the body of military justice law approved by the political branches, courts will be able to employ an “incident to service” test that only invites judicial second-guessing into activities the political branches have designated as not critical to the military’s disciplinary structure.
Expanding Teacher Reflection on Emotions in Online Teaching: Grappling with Teacher Identity and Student (non)Participation

Amid the recent overwhelming demand for online education as emergency remote teaching, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding of online teaching and learning experiences. Through a self-study of online teaching, it explores a teacher educator’s emotional experiences and struggles during online teaching concerning teacher identity, pedagogy, and student participation. The study includes both the teacher educator’s reflection on her own emotional experiences and her students’ end-of-the-semester reflections on their online participation, providing multiple perspectives on a variety of online pedagogical tools. Her self-reflection on online teaching deepened her understanding of the role of emotions in her teaching. Additionally, her discovery of students’ perspectives on their (non)participation and subsequent reflection brought new insight and understanding of student experiences, reducing her own teaching anxiety and self-doubt in the negotiation of teacher identity online. Results of the study suggest that both the teacher’s and students’ emotional experiences are significant resources for pedagogical development via critical reflection, suggesting that the scope of teacher reflection should be expanded to include self-reflective work on emotions for teachers’ own personal growth and professional development.
Large-Scale Vector/Array Processors

The general subject of array processing [ 1 to 7] has been a topic of considerable study since the 1950s as both system designers and users have sought to improve performance and price/performance. The results of these studies have led researchers and designers to explore numerous design alternatives and means of achieving greater concurrency and hence performance. The multiplicity of these approaches has grown so diverse as to completely obfuscate the meaning of the term “array processor.” The term is now commonly used in reference to machine designs including arrays of processing elements (both SIMD, single-instruction multiple-data stream; and MIMD, multiple-instruction multiple-data stream designs), as well as pipelined vector instruction processors, associative processors, algorithmic processors and other designs optimized to processing arrays of data efficiently. Table I below presents a brief taxonomy with examples of the various types of “array processors” available commercially today. A list of supplemental references is appended to papers on machines not described herein.
Evidence that the normal route of replication-allowed Red-mediated recombination involves double-chain ends.

Abstract Recombination mediated by the Red pathway of bacteriophage lambda is focused towards sites of double-chain cuts. Double-chain ends created either by type II restriction enzymes acting at unmodified recognition sites or by lambda's packaging enzyme, terminase, acting at cos are utilized in a manner similar to the double-chain break repair pathway of recombination in yeast. When lambda is allowed to recombine during replicative growth, spontaneous recombination is approximately evenly distributed along the chromosome. It has been proposed that replication-allowed recombination also is initiated by double-chain ends. In order to test this hypothesis we ask if the in vivo expression of the Mu gam protein is inhibitory to Red recombination. Mu gam has been shown in vitro to bind to linearized duplex DNA and to shield bound DNA from exonucleases. The expression of Mu gam is found to be inhibitory to Red recombination whether replication is blocked or allowed. As a control we ask if Mu gam inhibits Int-mediated recombination. It has been well documented that the Int pathway of recombination does not involve any double-chain breaks and, consistent with this, the Int pathway is not inhibited by Mu gam. We suggest that the in vivo expression of Mu gam or other similar activities may be a generally useful way to determine if those processes that respond to an artificially introduced double-chain cut normally involve double-chain ends.
Marx, the Young Hegelians, and the Origins of Radical Social Theory: Dethroning the Self

Introduction 1. At the end of idealism: from 'nihilism' to 'positive philosophy' 2. The transcendent sovereign and the political theology of restoration 3. Ludwig Feuerbach and Christian civil society 4. The social and political discourse of personality, 1835-1840 5. Pantheism, social question and the third age 6. Arnold Ruge: radical democracy and the politics of personhood, 1838-1843 7. Karl Marx: from social republicanism to communism Conclusion Notes Bibliography.
Discrete and cyclical units of action in a mixed target pair aiming task

Two experiments addressed the issue of discrete and cyclical units as possible basic units of action that might be used to construct complex actions based on task constraints. The experiments examined the influence of low and high accuracy constraints on the end-effector's motion in rhythmical aiming movements. Both experiments utilized a Fitts-type task under three accuracy constraints: (1) big target pairing-low index of movement difficulty (ID), (2) small target pairing-high ID, and (3) mixed target pairing-one target high ID and the other target low ID. Experiment I was a 1-degree-of-freedom ( df) task that required subjects to crossover the inside edge of targets in a target pair using elbow flexion-extension motions. Experiment II used a 2- df task that required subjects to tap back and forth between targets in a target pair using a hand-held stylus. In both experiments, end-effector motion in the low ID condition was cyclical with the end-effector's motion consistent with a limit-cycle attractor description, while in the high ID condition end-effector motion was discrete and consistent with a fixed-point attractor description. The mixed target pairing produced both discrete and cyclical features in the end-effector's dynamics that suggested a functional linking of discrete and cyclical units of action as the optimal movement solution. Evidence supporting the above statements was found in the kinematic measures of movement time (MT), dwell time, proportion of MT accelerating and decelerating, and in a measure of harmonicity (Guiard 1993, Acta Psychol 82:139-159; Guiard 1997, Hum Mov Sci 16:97-131). Extended practice in the mixed target condition revealed a bias towards cyclical motion with practice. The results demonstrate that discrete and cyclical motion, represented as limit-cycle and fixed-point attractors, are basic units of action that the motor system uses in constructing more complex action sequences. The results are discussed with reference to coordinative structures and the generalized motor program as basic units of action. Issues pertaining to visual feedback processing and movement braking in rapid aiming tasks are also discussed.
Path-Dependent Volatility

So far, path-dependent volatility models have drawn little attention from both practitioners and academics compared to local volatility and stochastic volatility models. This is unfair: in this article we show that they combine benefits from both. Like the local volatility model, they are complete and can fit exactly the market smile; like stochastic volatility models, they can produce rich implied volatility dynamics. Not only that: given their huge flexibility, they can actually generate a much broader range of spot-vol dynamics, thus possibly preventing large mispricings, and they can also capture prominent historical patterns of volatility. We give many examples to showcase their capabilities.
A review of 3D first-pass, whole-heart, myocardial perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance

A comprehensive review is undertaken of the methods available for 3D whole-heart first-pass perfusion (FPP) and their application to date, with particular focus on possible acceleration techniques. Following a summary of the parameters typically desired of 3D FPP methods, the review explains the mechanisms of key acceleration techniques and their potential use in FPP for attaining 3D acquisitions. The mechanisms include rapid sequences, non-Cartesian k-space trajectories, reduced k-space acquisitions, parallel imaging reconstructions and compressed sensing. An attempt is made to explain, rather than simply state, the varying methods with the hope that it will give an appreciation of the different components making up a 3D FPP protocol. Basic estimates demonstrating the required total acceleration factors in typical 3D FPP cases are included, providing context for the extent that each acceleration method can contribute to the required imaging speed, as well as potential limitations in present 3D FPP literature. Although many 3D FPP methods are too early in development for the type of clinical trials required to show any clear benefit over current 2D FPP methods, the review includes the small but growing quantity of clinical research work already using 3D FPP, alongside the more technical work. Broader challenges concerning FPP such as quantitative analysis are not covered, but challenges with particular impact on 3D FPP methods, particularly with regards to motion effects, are discussed along with anticipated future work in the field.
Enhancement of Phosphorus Dopant Activation and Diffusion Suppression by Fluorine Co-Implant in Epitaxially Grown Germanium

To date, it is a major challenge to achieve in Ge n-MOSFETs low parasitic resistance and ultra shallow n+-p junction. Many studies indicate that vacancies that are present in n-doped Ge i) form electrically neutral donor-vacancy (DnV) pairs that reduce the amount of activated dopants, and ii) vacancy itself facilitates the enhanced dopant diffusion. In this work, we aim to achieve both higher activation level and less diffusion by passivating the vacancies with fluorine (F) implant.
Synthetic studies on alkaloids. Part 2. Stereospecific synthesis of 1β-methyl-13α-acetoxy-8,11-dioxotetracyclo[7:2:2:05,11:05,12]tridec-Δ6,7-ene; model reactions on the construction of aconitine skeleton

Abstract The title compound (2), an advanced relay towards the well-appreciated aconitine skeleton (1) of the C19-norditerpene alkaloids, has been synthesised via regiospecific intramolecular oxocarbenedo CH σ-bond insertion as the key step and this intermediate has the full potential for further elaboration to the intact skeleton.
Simulation of ion‐cyclotron‐like modes in a magnetoplasma with transverse inhomogeneous electric field

The new kinetic ion-cyclotronlike (IC-like) instability driven by a localized electric field perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field is investigated using particle simulation. The existence of the new mode is demonstrated and the mode is distinguished from the well-known Kelvin-Helmholtz branch and the kinetic modification of this branch. The issue of the initial loading of particles in phase space in the simulation is clarified. The simulation results show that the growing ion waves are associated with the small vortices in the linear state, which evolve into a nonlinear stage dominated by large vortices with lower frequencies.
Development of pig blastocysts in vitro is altered by serum, bovine serum albumin and amino acids and vitamins

We tested the effects of the amino acids and vitamins in minimum essential medium (MEM) and Eagle's medium (BME) on pig blastocyst development and nuclei number. Embryos were recovered either 5 or 6 d after first detected estrus and were cultured for 96 h in U-bottomed wells (0.2 ml). In Experiment 1, addition of MEM amino acids and vitamins to modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (MKRB) medium containing either bovine serum albumin (BSA, 4 mg/ml) or lamb serum (10%, v/v) resulted in fewer (P 12,000 retained) of fetal bovine serum (Experiment III) did not affect blastocyst expansion but reduced (P<0.05) the number of nuclei/blastocyst at the end of the culture. Embryos cultured in MKRB with dialyzed serum and the amino acids and vitamins in BME were smaller (P<0.05) and had fewer (P<0.05) nuclei than embryos cultured in MKRB with dialyzed serum but without the BME-supplements. We conclude that, under our culture conditions, MEM and BME amino acids and vitamins are detrimental to the development of early pig blastocysts and that this effect is not due to glutamine. Also, dialysis of fetal bovine serum removes some component(s) that are important for cell division by pig embryos, but it does not affect blastocyst expansion.
A comprehensive model for predicting CO2 corrosion rate in oil and gas production and transportation systems

Abstract A comprehensive carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) corrosion model was developed to predict steel corrosion rate in oil and gas production and transportation systems. Validated with significant amount of experimental data, this model covers the following three scenarios: (1) deaerated CO 2 corrosion, (2) aerated CO 2 corrosion, and (3) CO 2 corrosion with cathodic protection. This paper is focused on summarizing the uniqueness of this model and the links of the above three scenarios. A flow chart is provided to show a straightforward procedure for solving the model equations. Model results are presented and discussed.
Nanoindentation of model diamond nanocomposites: Hierarchical molecular dynamics and finite-element simulations

Complementary molecular dynamics (MD) and finite-element (FE) simulations of model diamond nanocomposites (MDN) subjected to nanoindentation were undertaken to understand how contact behavior pertaining to the surface morphology of MDN surfaces can be spanned from the molecular to the continuum scale. The MD simulations determined that the behavior inside the contact region is influenced by atomic-scale features on the tip and surface, indent location, grain tilt and roughness of the MDN surfaces. In addition, if the atomic-scale surface morphology is treated as a surface roughness within the FE simulations, the same grain orientations, and similar elastic properties are used for both MD and FE simulations, there is reasonable agreement between the contact pressures for relatively low indentation loads and shallow substrates. For larger loads, the contact pressures from the FE simulations deviate somewhat from the MD results near the center of the contact. The contact behavior for length scales that are prohibitive for MD models (e.g., deep substrates) was also examined using FE simulations. This allowed for a detailed investigation of how contact conditions and stick-slip events within the contact evolve as a function of contact pressure and continuum surface stresses.
Estimation of mean and median pO2 values for a composite EPR spectrum.

Abstract Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-based oximetry is capable of quantifying oxygen content in samples. However, for a heterogeneous environment with multiple pO 2 values, peak-to-peak linewidth of the composite EPR lineshape does not provide a reliable estimate of the overall pO 2 in the sample. The estimate, depending on the heterogeneity, can be severely biased towards narrow components. To address this issue, we suggest a postprocessing method to recover the linewidth histogram which can be used in estimating meaningful parameters, such as the mean and median pO 2 values. This information, although not as comprehensive as obtained by EPR spectral–spatial imaging, goes beyond what can be generally achieved with conventional EPR spectroscopy. Substantially shorter acquisition times, in comparison to EPR imaging, may prompt its use in clinically relevant models. For validation, simulation and EPR experiment data are presented.
Complications of Pregnancy in Women after Childhood Reimplantation for Vesicoureteral Reflux: An Update with 25 Years of Followup

Surgery for the correction of vesicoureteral reflux has been performed routinely since the early 1960s. In 1986 a large group of women who underwent childhood ureteral reimplantation surgery was contacted and surveyed concerning infections, pregnancies and other complications. A notably high rate of cystitis and pyelonephritis was found during pregnancy. Because 9 years have passed and many more pregnancies have occurred, we contacted this cohort again as well as a new cohort of historical controls to reassess long-term complications of childhood ureteral reimplantation in children. Of 67 women who underwent reimplantation with an average followup of 25 years 62 were contacted of whom 75% had urinary tract infections after becoming sexually active and 65% had urinary tract infections with pregnancies. Of 141 pregnancies 57 (40%) were complicated by urinary tract infections and 21 (15%) terminated in spontaneous abortion. Of 37 women with primary vesicoureteral reflux and no surgery with an average followup of 25.5 years there was a 15% prevalence of urinary tract infections with pregnancy in 21. Of 75 pregnancies in this group 14 (18%) terminated in spontaneous abortion. Women with urinary tract infections and reflux as children have high rates of cystitis with the onset of sexual activity whether or not they underwent reimplantation as children. Those who underwent reimplantation as children are at significant risk of urinary tract infection in pregnancy but not at a higher risk of miscarriage than the general population. Education, screening and antibiotic prophylaxis during pregnancy should be considered.
Prevention of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by vitamin C deprivation

Scorbutic guinea pigs injected with CNS and mycobacterium to induce experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) showed no clear-cut neurological signs and failed to show histological evidence of central nervous system damage. The degree of protection afforded by vitamin C deprivation was related directly to the duration of the scorbutogenic diet and inversely to the strength of the CNS challenge. Vitamin C deprivation also abolished tuberculin sensitivity as measured by the PPD skin reaction. Upon restoration of vitamin C, the animals recovered their sensitivity to PPD but did not develop EAE. It was further demonstrated that these effects of vitamin C deprivation were not related to inanition or to the endogenous levels of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids.
Intracardiac echocardiography with a steerable low-frequency linear-array probe for left-sided heart imaging from the right side: Experimental studies

Despite a need for intracardiac echocardiographic guidance during interventional procedures, an optimal catheter device is not available. The depth of field of catheters bearing 10 to 20 MHz transducers does not allow easy or complete visualization of the left side of the heart from the right side of the heart. Lower frequency transducers would be required to increase the depth of view of such rotational devices. These low-frequency transducers would require an expanded aperture and thus a larger catheter size. Other transducer modalities that could exploit the length of the imaging device rather than the circumference could potentially solve the problem of aperture size. To examine whether a linear-array transducer could provide adequate images of the left side of the heart from the venous side, we employed a prototype 7 MHz linear-array probe with a steerable tip inside eight animal hearts. Atrial and ventricular septal defects were created experimentally. The device was introduced into the right side of the heart through the inferior and superior vena cavae. Intracardiac imaging with this probe allowed visualization of the left side of the heart and major arteries from the right side with excellent image quality. By advancing the probe in various locations in the right side of the heart and using the steerability of this device, we were able to identify useful imaging planes for different cardiac structures. Atrial and ventricular septal defects were also detected easily and delineated clearly. The concept of a low-frequency (
A Workforce or Workplace Crisis?-Applying an Organizational Perspective to the Study of Human Services Employment

This paper applies an organizational perspective to the study of employment in human services workplaces, specifically domestic violence services agencies. The author used the theory of firmlevel labor markets to investigate how organizations occupying the same field of service may nonetheless differ in their approaches to granting instrumental benefits to their jobs. Data come from the population of 25 nonprofit domestic violence programs and their employees in a Midwestern metropolitan area. Examining a range of employment benefits, the author found that agencies as a whole and specific, comparable jobs differed in the access they provided to these “workplace opportunities,” and concludes by discussing the theoretical and organizational implications of this variation for the workforce outcomes of recruitment, retention and diversity.
Effect of acyclovir on the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pool levels in Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1.

Abstract The effect of acyclovir on the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools of Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 was examined. Deoxyguanosine triphosphate and deoxyadenosine triphosphate pool levels in infected cells treated with acyclovir increased dramatically compared with pool levels in untreated infected cells. The increases were due, a least in part, to inhibition of viral DMA polymerase activity which resulted in reduced utilization of the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. Differences of as much as 26 times were detected in the sensitivity of herpes simplex virus type 1 to inhibition by acyclovir with different Vero cell cultures. These results were due to differences in acyclovir triphosphate levels, not to differences in deoxyguanosine triphosphate levels.
Effect of lesions in the amygdala on behavioral contrast

Abstract Amygdalectomy in rats prevented the occurrence of behavioral contrast. After the animals were trained to lever press on a multiple schedule where responses were reinforced on the average of once per min in two alternating components, one component of the multiple schedule was switched to extinction while reinforcement in the other component remained unaltered. Response rates during the unaltered component increased significantly over pre-change rates in that component (i.e., behavioral contrast) for the controls, but remained substantially unchanged for animals with amygdala lesions. Response rates were clearly differentiated in the reinforced and nonreinforced components for both groups, signifying that discrimination between the two reinforcement contingencies was not impaired in the amygdala group. The lack of contrast in the latter group was attributed to a reduction in extinction-induced emotionality resulting from the lesion.
Glucocorticoid effects on serotonergic and noradrenergic facilitation of spinal monosynaptic transmission.

Abstract The ability of an intensive glucocorticoid regimen (i.e., triamcinolone diacetate, 8 mg/kg i.m./7 days) to modify the lumbar spinal monosynaptic reflex response to serotonergic and noradrenergic agents has been examined in unanesthetized acute spinal (C-1 sectioned) cats. Triamcinolone pretreatment enhances the 2N facilitatory actions of amitriptyline (AMIT), 5 mg/kg i.v., when given after D, L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 50 mg/kg i.v., as compared to untreated control preparations. Subsequent administration of methysergide, a serotonin receptor blocking drug, in a dose of 1 mg/kg i.v. promptly and completely reverses the monosynaptic response increase by AMIT in untreated animals, but not in the glucocorticoid treated ones. In contrast, the monosynaptic facilitation normally produced in untreated preparations by methoxamine (MX), 1 mg/kg i.v., a centrally active noradrenergic agonist, is prevented as a result of triamcinolone dosing. These results demonstrate a glucocorticoid effect on spinal biogenic amine function such that serotonergic monosynaptic reflex activation is enhanced while noradrenergic reflex stimulation is depressed. Furthermore, they suggest that the elevations in plasma cortisol in certain cases of psychiatric depression may contribute to alterations in central biogenic amine synaptic activity.
Sex-Specific Natural Mortality of Arrowtooth Flounder in Alaska: Implications of a Skewed Sex Ratio on Exploitation and Management

Abstract Conservative fisheries management in Alaskan waters typically limits harvest to maintain a target biomass of female spawners (40% of the female biomass observed in the absence of fishing). This harvest calculation does not consider the male population level for a species. If natural mortality rates (M) differ between sexes and if females outlive males, then a reduction in males relative to females could diminish the reproductive potential of the stock. This problem was examined in the present study by estimating separate sex-specific M-values for the arrowtooth flounder Atheresthes stomias in Alaska, where females are almost always found at higher proportions than males during trawl surveys. Age data indicated that females outlive males, and estimates of M ranged from 0.10 to 0.33 for females and from 0.16 to 0.51 for males. Based on four estimation methods, male M was consistently higher than female M. Simulated harvest scenarios in which male M and selectivity were varied indicated that increas...
Periodic data reporting strategies for IEEE 802.11s-based Smart Grid AMI networks

IEEE 802.11s-based wireless mesh networks are one of the options to implement Neighborhood Area Networks (NANs) in Smart Grid (SG). Typically, TCP is used along with 802.11s to provide reliability when collecting fine-grained smart meter (SM) data. Due to the need for real-time monitoring of the grid, SM data needs to be collected at the same time which creates a lot of traffic and interference among the SMs. In this paper, we propose novel mechanisms to set the periodic reporting time of each SM to improve the performance of TCP in IEEE 802.11s-based NANs in terms of packet delay. The first idea is based on using the location of the SMs in the network topology and assigns a periodic reporting time based on its distance from the gateway. The second idea imitates the time division multiple access methods and assigns a separate slot for each SM. We extensively evaluated the proposed strategies of setting the schedule of SMs through simulation in ns-3 network simulator which has a built-in 802.11 implementation. Compared to the existing mechanism, the results indicate that the delay performance can be improved significantly without any negative impact on the other performance metrics.
Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Concentration After Subtenon Injection

Purpose To determine concentration of intravitreal triamcinolone after subtenon injection. Design Prospective series of vitrectomy candidates and laboratory investigation. Methods Twenty eyes of 20 patients received subtenon injections of triamcinolone acetonide, 40 mg, before vitrectomy surgery. Exclusion criteria included previous history of vitrectomy, triamcinolone injection, and retinal detachment. Posterior subtenon injections were performed using the standard technique. Undiluted vitreous specimens were obtained at the time of vitrectomy, which was performed from one to 29 days after subtenon injection. Intravitreal triamcinolone concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results No complications were associated with subtenon injections. Intravitreal triamcinolone concentrations varied considerably, from zero in five eyes to a high of 4.94 μg/ml. Conclusions Intravitreal triamcinolone concentrations vary considerably after subtenon injection. The findings indicate that subtenon injection can be a method for administering intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide that is comparable, in some cases, to the levels achieved after intravitreal injection.
Embryotoxic effect of L-asparaginase.

L-Asparaginase catalyses the hydrolysis of L-asparagine to L-aspartic acid and ammonia. Interest in this enzyme has been stimulated by the discovery that it inhibits the growth of several experimental tumours1–3. L-Asparaginase is being used clinically to treat various leukaemias, lymphomas arid melanomas4, and it was recently shown to inhibit the early mitosis of regenerating livers in rats5. This communication concerns the effects of L-asparaginase on another rapidly growing tissue, the rabbit embryo.
Methamphetamine use among incarcerated women

Problem Women face greater vulnerability to using stimulant drugs, their rate of incarceration for methamphetamine use is increasing, and women's issues have been historically neglected in substance abuse research. This study examined demographic, social and psychological characteristics of incarcerated methamphetamine‐using women that could influence service needs and utilization during incarceration.Method Incarcerated women completed individual interviews and questionnaires regarding drug use and other psychosocial variables. Psychosocial factors were examined according to lifetime drug use history. Comparison groups were: (1) nonstimulant drug users (n=16); (2) noninjection methamphetamine users (n=24); and (3) injection methamphetamine users (n=31). Psychosocial factors were also examined according to recent methamphetamine use. Recent use comparison groups were: (1) no recent drug use (n=18); (2) nonstimulant drug use (n=17); (3) noninjected methamphetamine (n=22); and (4) injected methamphetamine (...
Transient and statistical measurement techniques for two-phase flows: A critical review

Much work has been expended in the study of two-phase, gas-liquid flows. While it has been recognized superficially that such flows are not homogeneous in general, little attention has been paid to the inherent discreteness of the two-phase systems. It has been a relatively recent development that fluctuating characteristics of two-phase flows have been studied in detail. As a result, new experimental devices and techniques have been developed for use in obtaining measurements of quantities previously ignored. This paper reviews and summarizes these methods in an effort to emphasize the importance of the fluctuating nature of these flows and as a guide to further research in this field.
Humility and Greatness of Soul

The author argues that contemporary politics and political theory stand to benefit from an appreciation of humility and magnanimity as mutually beneficial and reinforcing virtues rather than opposing moral forces. Thomas Aquinas's arguments are central to the argument, while attention is also given to claims about humility and magnanimity advanced by Benedict of Nursia, David Hume, Vaclav Havel, and Peter Augustine Lawler, as well as in works of contemporary Anglo-American literature.
A simple method for electrophoretic analysis of cell surface glycoproteins based on concanavalin a binding

A simple and sensitive method is described for the detection of cell surface proteins. This method consists of reacting concanavalin A (Con A) with 35S-labeled methionine, detergent solubilized whole cell extracts and immunoprecipitating the Con A-protein complexes with anti-Con A antibody bound to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SACI). These reagents are commercially available, stable and easy to standardize. Mouse lymphocytes cell surface proteins purified by this procedure show great similarities to those purified with goat anti-cell surface antibodies.