cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 2D CFD Model Investigation of the Impact of Obstacles and Turbulence Model on Methane Flame Propagation

Abstract The formation of explosive gas zones (EGZs) from flammable vapors, gases, or dust pose safety hazards to many industries. In many cases, explosions may occur in confined areas with obstacles in the path of flame expansion. By studying the effects of obstacle shape, turbulence model, and spark location on flame propagation and turbulence, a more complete understanding of the flame and fluid dynamics interaction has been achieved. Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models were tested to determine if these simplified turbulence models could capture the flame dynamics and propagation velocities using fewer computational resources compared to the higher fidelity Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence model. Results showed that square obstacles caused faster flame propagation compared to hexagons and circles. The square had an average flame propagation velocity 26 % faster than the circle, and the hexagon was 16 % faster than the circle using a k-ω model. Modeling results indicate variation of spark location by as small as 10 % of the obstacle diameter can result in a difference of the flame propagation. Findings on turbulence model accuracy and computational time along with shape comparison can be applied in future modeling of large systems, providing crucial information for safety planning and explosion prevention.
Toward an applied social psychology of leisure

Social experience has not figured prominently in the social psychology of leisure in the past, though the qualities of leisure experience itself—feelings of freedom, intrinsic interest, self-determ...
Persistent Impostor Phenomenon Is Associated With Distress in Medical Students.

Background and objectives Medical student distress and mental health needs are critical issues in undergraduate medical education. The imposter phenomenon (IP), defined as inappropriate feelings of inadequacy among high achievers is linked to psychological distress. We investigated the prevalence of IP among first-year medical school students and its association with personality measures that affect interpersonal relationships and well-being. Methods Two hundred fifty-seven students at a large, urban, northeastern medical school completed the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), Jefferson Scale of Empathy, Self-Compassion Scale, and Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire immediately before beginning their first year of medical school. At the end of their first year, 182 of these students again completed the CIPS. Results Eighty-seven percent of the entering students reported high or very high degrees of IP. Students with higher IP scores had significantly lower mean scores on self-compassion, sociability self-esteem (Pl.0001 for all), and getting along with peers (P=.03). Lower IP scores were related to lower mean scores on neuroticism/anxiety and loneliness (Pl.001 for both). Women obtained a higher mean IP score than men. IP scores at the end of the school year increased significantly compared with the beginning of the year (Pl.001), both in frequency and intensity of IP. Conclusions IP was common in matriculating first-year medical students and significantly increased at year's end. Higher IP scores were significantly associated with lower scores for self-compassion, sociability, self-esteem, and higher scores on neuroticism/anxiety.
Abstract 16649: Natural History of Ascending Aortic Aneurysms With Bicuspid and Tricuspid Aortic Valves

Introduction: Patients with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) with ascending aortic aneurysms (AAA) are at risk for aortic complications. Meticulous follow-up and asses...
Degradation of Optical Fibers at Carbon-Carbon Pyrolysis Temperatures

The value of having a sensor capable of monitoring the progress of carbon-carbon fabrication has been previously discussed and continues to be an attractive objective [1, 2]. Acoustic emission, when correlated with gas evolution and temperature profile, has been shown to give a strong indication of the internal stresses produced during pyrolysis and the path taken to achieve stress relief under varying process conditions. A challenging aspect of the process is the high temperature at which in situ sensors must function. Distributed physical proximity to the part under fabrication is critical to insure that the data reflects the material condition in real-time.
Abstract 15: Limiting GRK2 in the Ischemic Heart can Promote Cardiac Regeneration

The detrimental role of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase (GRK2) following cardiac injury/stress has been documented over the last two decades. Importantly, our lab has shown that inhibition or deletion of GRK2 in cardiomyocytes can prevent and also rescue heart failure (HF) phenotypes. Its role in GPCR desensitization including regulation of β-adrenergic receptors (βARs) during HF development has been well characterized. However, recently our lab and others have found that GRK2 can have novel GPCR-independent effects in the heart that appear to contribute to its pathological effects and thus, inhibition of these actions of GRK2 may contribute to therapeutic effects seen. In this study we explored whether the cardiac repair observed with lower myocardial GRK2 might involve regenerative processes. In cardiac-specific GRK2 knockout (KO) mice and also transgenic mice with cardiac-targeted expression of the βARKct, a peptide inhibitor of GRK2 activation via Gβγ sequestration, we induced HF via coronary artery ligation and subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) and measured aspects of cardiac repair including potential regeneration indices. Post-MI mice (GRK2 KO, βARKct mice and wild-type and non-transgenic control mice) were treated with 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) or Bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) to examine indices of DNA proliferation in myocytes as well as Ki67 staining. We also quantitated c-kit+ cells and myocytes in the post-MI hearts to compare how either loss of GRK2 expression or inhibition via its C-terminus altered potential regeneration mechanisms compared to control mice with endogenous GRK2 levels and activity. We found significantly more BrDU positive myocytes in post-MI hearts with lower GRK2 and this correlated with increased myocytes that were also cKit+. Thus, it appears that the myocardial functional improvement seen in the post-MI heart with targeted lowering of GRK2 involves, to at least a certain extent, regenerative mechanisms. This adds novel insight into the therapeutic potential of GRK2 inhibition for HF.
United Nations Counterterrorist Strategies and Human Rights

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, elicited a variety of responses from states, international organizations, and regional actors. Very early on, and with the certainty of a U.S. response in mind, there was a lot of discussion concerning the role of the United Nations (UN) in the emerging global antiterrorist campaign. Some analysts felt that irrespective of the nature of the appropriate response (i.e., whether the emphasis would be on law enforcement initiatives or military action), this was a campaign for which the UN was, by its very nature, mandate, and modus operandi, not “well equipped to be involved in.”
Gastroesophageal (GE) scintiscanning to detect and quantitate GE reflux.

To evaluate the gastroesophageal (GE) scintiscan, a technique which detects andquantitates GE reflux, 30 patients with heartburn and a positive acid-reflux test and 20 normal control subjects were studied. Conventional diagnostic tests including barium esophagography, fluoroscopy, esophagogastroscopy, esophageal biopsy, acid perfusion testing, and esophageal manometry were performed on each patient with GE reflux. None of these techniques was sufficiently sensitive in detecting GE reflux. In contrast, GE reflux was visualized by scintiscanning in 27 out of 30 (90%) of patients. The GE reflux index was significantly greater in reflux patients, 11.7 ± 1.8%, compared to controls 2.7 ± 0.3%. These studies suggest that GE scintiscanning can detect GE reflux accurately, rapidly, noninvasively, and with greater sensitivity than other diagnostic techniques. In addition, it can be employed to quantitate GE reflux.
Assessment and Accountability in Kentucky: How High Stakes Affects Teaching and Learning

In their analysis of ‘assessment and accountability in Kentucky’ Betty Lou Whitford and Ken Jones describe one of the better known and contentious large scale approaches to educational reform. The 1990 Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) is one of the most pervasive and radical policies for systemic educational change ever enacted. At the basis of KERA is a performance-based approach to assessment that forms the basis of an accountability system intended to compel teachers to elicit higher levels of student learning. As Whitford and Jones point out, what is really being tested in Kentucky is the effectiveness of a change strategy predicated on student performance assessment and high stakes accountability. Using a blend of description and analysis, Whitford and Jones, outline the main components of KERA and assess its impact on curriculum, teaching and learning. They paint a picture full of ambivalence and compromise, where there is ambivalence over whether it is the school or the student that is being assessed, and where learning and achievement are fundamentally confused. Although ‘high stakes’ has focused attention on important questions related to teaching and learning, Whitford and Jones conclude that “accountability that reduces school quality to a numeric formula is over-simplified and ill-suited to evaluating many important aspects of schooling”
A Note on Second Order Probabilities in the Traditional Deterrence Game

This note focuses on a methodological issue that arises naturally in applications of the traditional deterrence game played under two-sided incomplete information. The problem has potentially interesting implications for the status of the conclusions we draw from various applications of the traditional deterrence game.
Just How Many Newt Gingrich's Are There on K Street? Estimating the True Size and Shape of Washington's Revolving Door

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s choice not to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) for his “historical advice” to Freddie Mac was a controversy in the 2012 Republican primary. The practice of carefully crafting policy advocacy activities to avoid triggering disclosure requirements is commonly referred to as the "Daschle exception" after the former Senate Majority Leader became a leading “strategic adviser” to one of Washington’s biggest lobbying firms. In this paper we ask: how many professionals are engaged in policy advocacy, and how common is it for them to have worked in the federal government? We assume that high-profile cases of Daschle and Gingrich are not isolated, so we seek to account for lobbying and policy advocacy in as large an empirical scope as possible. Using a new data set of professional biographies of both registered lobbyists and unregistered policy advocates, we estimate that there are more professionals engaged in influencing public policy "under the radar" than there are who are transparent about their clients and activities, implying that lobbying disclosure reports provide only a partial view of policy influence in Washington. We also find that, unlike Gingrich and Daschle, unregistered policy advocates are less likely to have gone through the revolving door and are more likely to be general political process experts rather than institutional specialists.
Nonlinear Multiobjective Programming

This introductory treatment of the theory and methodology of nonlinear multiobjective programming offers an annotated bibliographic overview of various concepts and approaches to solve continuous deterministic multicriteria optimization problems. First, the notions of Pareto optimality, efficiency, and nondominance are discussed and then related to approximate, epsilon, and proper efficiency. Second, after highlighting similarities and pointing out differences to first- and second-order optimality conditions in classical nonlinear programming, several other topics including duality and sensitivity are also mentioned. Third, a number of solution approaches and generating methods are described with a particular focus on scalarizations using objective aggregation, prioritization, and norm or distance minimization to some utopian reference point. Keywords: annotated survey; nonlinear multiobjective programming; multicriteria optimization; vector optimization; partial orders; ordering cones; Pareto optimality; efficiency; approximate efficiency; epsilon efficiency; proper efficiency; trade-offs; efficient solutions; nondominance; nondominated points; optimality conditions; duality; sensitivity; scalarization; generating methods; weighted sum; epsilon-constraint; Chebyshev norm
Why Infrastructure Financing Facilities Often Fall Short of Their Objectives

To encourage the private funding and provision of infrastructure services, governments have used specialized financing facilities to offer financial support to investors. A study of five cases shows that these facilities have often fallen short of their objectives, for two main sets of reasons. First, the environment was not conducive to private participation in infrastructure. And second, the facility was faulty in design. To encourage the private funding and provision of infrastructure services, governments have used specialized financing facilities to offer financial support to investors, often in the form of grants, soft loans, or guarantees. Klingebiel and Ruster present case studies of infrastructure financing facilities in various stages of development in Colombia, India, and Pakistan. They also present case studies of government-sponsored financing facilities (not of infrastructure) in Argentina and Moldova. They find that these facilities have often fallen short of their objectives for two main sets of reasons. First, the environment was not conducive to private participation in infrastructure because of poor sector policies, an unstable macroeconomic environment, and inadequate financial sector policies, among other reasons. Second, the facility was faulty in design - in terms of sectors targeted, pricing of instruments, and consistency of objectives and instruments. This paper - a product of Private Participation in Infrastructure, Private Sector Development Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to examine government policies in infrastructure. Daniela Klingebiel may be contacted at dklingebiel@worldbank.org.
On the Shape and Orientation Control of Orbiting Shallow Spherical Shell Structure

Abstract The dynamics of orbiting shallow flexible spherical shell structures under the influence of control actuators is studied. Control laws are developed to provide both attitude and shape control of the structure. It is seen that the elastic modal frequencies for the fundamental and lower modes are closely grouped due to the effect of the shell curvature. The shell is also assumed to be gravity stabilized by a spring-loaded dumbbell type damper attached at its apex. Control laws are developed based on the pole clustering technique and it is assumed that the dumbbell state information may not be directly observable. Numerical results verify that a significant savings in fuel consumption can be realized by using the hybrid shell-dumbbell system together with point actuators. Other results indicate that for the less robust systems instability may result by not including the orbital and first order gravity-gradient effects in the plant prior to control law design.
Intergenerational Relationship in Iu Mien American Families

(1996). Intergenerational Relationship in Iu Mien American Families. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 47-64.
Sugarcane response to saline irrigation water

Abstract Salinity of irrigation water reduces yield and juice quality in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids), but cultivars vary in the degree of reduction. Genotypes which accumulate more potassium (K+) may be more resistant to salinity than genotypes that accumulate less K+. We examined the effect of irrigation water salinity on yield and juice quality in a cultivar with high conductivity, high K+ juice, ‘NCo 310’, and a cultivar with low conductivity, low‐K+ juice, ‘TCP 87–3388 ‘. Plants were grown in lysimeters containing 793 L of soil and irrigated with water of 0.01, 1.25, 2.93, or 4.70 dS m‐1. Quality and component analyses were conducted on the juice of single stalks subdivided by length, and the juice from whole stalks. The two cultivars responded similarly to increased salinity, although juice of NCo310 had a higher mineral concentration, especially K+ and Cl‐. Yield and most quality components were not significantly reduced by 1.25 dS m‐1 water. The 2.93 and 4.70 dS m‐1 treatments reduced stalk ...
A New Instrument for Surgical Exposure of Subaortic and Subpulmonic Stenosis

An instrument for providing adequate visualization of the subvalvular area during repair of intracardiac defects is described. Essentially a type of modified nasal speculum, the instrument has proved helpful in performing resections in both subaortic and subpulmonic stenoses by exposing a wider surgical field.
Abortive Initiation and First Bond Formation at an Activated Adenovirus E4 Promoter

Abortive initiation at the adenovirus E4 promoter was studied by following the production of RNA formed from the initiating nucleotides UpA and CTP. Formation of a specific short RNA via a reaction with appropriate α-amanitin sensitivity required promoter, activator, and ATP. In the absence of any of these, an α-amanitin-resistant reaction led to lower levels of a product of unknown origin. The α-amanitin-sensitive reaction required open promoter complexes, as assayed directly by permanganate probing. This reaction was not blocked by the inhibition of polymerase C-terminal domain kinase activity or by the lack of DNA supercoiling. Thus, formation of the initial bond of the mRNA appears to require activator and ATP to open the DNA but not phosphorylation of the polymerase C-terminal domain. In addition, the abortive initiation reaction was strongly suppressed when all elongation substrates were present, suggesting that cycling to produce high amounts of abortive product is strongly disfavored during productive initiation at this promoter.
Prediction and Measurement Results of Radiation Damage to CMOS Devices on Board Spacecraft

The CMOS Radiation Effects Measurement (CREM) experiment is presently being flown on the Explorer-55. The purpose of the experiment is to evaluate device performance in the actual space radiation environment and to correlate the respective measurements to on-the-ground laboratory irradiation results. The experiment contains an assembly of CMOS and P-MOS devices shielded in front over 2? steradian by flat slabs of aluminum of 40, 80, 150, and 300 mils (1.02, 2.04, 3.81, and 7.62mm) thicknesses, and by a practically infinite shield in the back. This paper presents initial results obtained from the CREM experiment. Predictions of radiation damage to C-MOS devices are based on standard environment models and computational techniques. A comparison of the shifts in CMOS threshold potentials, that is, those measured in space to those obtained from the on-the-ground simulation experiment with Co-60, indicates that the measured space damage is smaller than predicted by about a factor of 2-3 for thin shields (t < 100 mils), but agrees well with predictions for thicker shields. It is not clear at this time how the trapped particle environment models or the computational methods should be modified in order to achieve better agreement between experimental results and predicted damage curves. A subsequent paper will present some considerations along these lines as well as an evaluation of performance of C-MOS devices located in a typical electronic subsystem box within the spacecraft.
Structure-activity of novel rhodacyanine dyes as antitumor agents.

We have previously reported that rhodacyanine dyes, such as 1 and 2, exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the growth of several tumor cells and that 4-oxothiazolidine (rhodanine) was an essential moiety for antitumor activity. On the basis of our foregoing work, two types of rhodacyanine dyes, which categorized into class I and II depending on the methine length, were synthesized and evaluated as a novel antitumor agent. Attention was particularly focused on the structure−activity study of two heteroaromatic rings. In class I, where the A rings were conjugated to rhodanine via two methine groups, compounds 1, 20, 23, and 24 were found to be efficacious in tumor-bearing nude mice model study, but they did not have the chemical properties (stability, solubility) suitable for clinical use. In contrast, in class II, where the A rings were directly conjugated to rhodanine, compounds 13 and 25, which possessed a benzothiazole moiety for the A ring, exhibited the favarable biological and chemical properties. ...
Integral equations with reduced unknowns for the simulation of two-dimensional composite structures

A set of integral equations with reduced unknowns is derived for modeling two-dimensional inhomogeneous composite scatterers. The scatterer is first simulated in terms of thin curvilinear material layers of constant thickness. The traditional integral equations corresponding to each inhomogeneous layer are then manipulated in a manner allowing the identification of a new equivalent current component to replace two of the traditional ones across the layer. The given integral equations require approximately 2N current-component unknowns for their numerical implementation instead of the 3N unknowns generally required with traditional formulations. The implied computational efficiency though, was obtained at the expense of some complexity in the resulting pair of integral equations. To test the validity of the derived integral equations, special attention is given to a moment-method implementation of the authors' compact set of integral equations, with emphasis on the analytical evaluation of the diagonal and near-diagonal elements of the impedance matrix. Scattering patterns are presented as computed with the compact set of integral equations. These are further compared with measured data and computations using alternate analytical techniques. In all cases, these were in excellent agreement with corresponding results achieved by alternate methods. >
PLASMA HEATING BY A CHARGED-PARTICLE PULSE.

The energy transferred to a plasma, due to induced currents in the plasma caused by the passage of a charged particle pulse through a uniform and homogeneous plasma of finite lateral extent, is evaluated. Two different models of pulse current distributions are treated. Numerical results pertinent to a typical example are presented. Also, comments are made regarding the self-magnetic field of the pulse.
Gender Differences in Work Values: Perpetuating the Myth

Using data obtained from 12 national samples contained in the General Social Survey over the period 1973 through 1990, this article analyzes the work value preferences of 7,436 full-time male and female workers, representing all major occupational classifications and all major industries. The data presented in the study provide no consistent support for general differences between men's and women's work values. Instead, the data suggest that regardless of gender, one's preference for a given work value depends, in large part, on one's age, education, and occupational prestige. The authors argue that alleged gender differences are minimal, at best, and continued emphasis on differences merely serves to reinforce traditional gender-role stereotypes and to perpetuate gender inequality in the workplace.
HORMONAL MODIFICATION OF THE SEX DIFFERENCES FOLLOWING MONOCROTALINE ADMINISTRATION.

Summary The oral and intravenous LD50's were determined for monocrotaline. The LD50 was essentially the same for males and females and for oral and intravenous administration for a 90-day observation period. There was a marked sex difference with respect to the median survival time, females living significantly longer than males. Castration of either male or female rats had no significant effect on the median survival time. Pretreatment of males with estradiol cyclopentylpropionate caused the median survival time to correspond to that of females. Pretreatment of females with testosterone propionate caused the median survival time to approximate that of male animals. Pretreatment of female rats with methandrostenolone (Dianabol), an anabolic agent, caused the median survival time to correspond to that of males. No sex difference was observed when monocrotaline was administered to immature rats at 4 weeks of age, implicating the female sex hormones as the dominant factor in the sex variation in adult animals. The observed sex difference in Osborne-Mendel rats carries over to other strains of rats but was not observed when monocrotaline was administered to mice or guinea pigs.
Energy of slip transmission and nucleation at grain boundaries

Abstract Grain boundaries (GBs) provide a strengthening mechanism in engineering materials by impeding dislocation motion. In a polycrystalline material, there is a wide distribution of GB types with characteristic slip transmission and nucleation behaviors. Slip–GB reactions are not easy to establish analytically or from experiments; furthermore, there is a strong need to quantify the energy barriers of the individual GBs. We introduce a methodology to calculate the energy barriers during slip–GB interaction, in concurrence with the generalized stacking fault energy curve for slip in a perfect face-centered cubic material. By doing so, the energy barriers are obtained at various classifications of GBs for dislocation transmission through the GB and dislocation nucleation from the GB. The character and structure of the GB plays an important role in impeding slip within the material. The coherent twin (Σ3) boundary provides the highest barrier to slip transmission. From this analysis, we show that there is a strong correlation between the energy barrier and interfacial boundary energy. GBs with lower static interfacial energy offer a stronger barrier against slip transmission and nucleation at the GB. The results of our simulations are in agreement with experimental observations as demonstrated for Σ3, Σ13 and Σ19 boundaries. The Σ3 GB represents a higher-energy barrier compared to the Σ13 and Σ19 GBs, where, for the latter case, complex stacking fault structures are present in experiments and simulations.
Prospects for using marker‐assisted breeding to improve maize production in Africa

Maize (Zea mays L.) production in sub-Saharan Africa has historically been constrained by a number of biotic and abiotic factors, including drought, insects, disease, and weeds. New agricultural research involving genomics and molecular markers may assist plant breeders in developing new varieties that will benefit producers and consumers in this region. Over the past few decades, plant breeders have used molecular markers to identify numerous genomic regions affecting maize production and nutritional value. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) presents the potential to improve the efficiency of plant breeding by allowing for the transfer of these specific genomic regions of interest and accelerating the recovery of the elite parent background. However, to this point, few examples of successful MAS in breeding programs, particularly those with benefits in Africa, have been noted. This review discusses the use of molecular markers in the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the production and nutritional quality of maize, as well as the potential to use the results from the vast number of QTL studies that have been performed in MAS breeding programs. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Fermentation of levoglucosan with oleaginous yeasts for lipid production

This paper reports the production of lipids from non-hydrolyzed levoglucosan (LG) by oleaginous yeasts Rhodosporidium toruloides and Rhodotorula glutinis. Enzyme activity tests of LG kinases from both yeasts indicated that the phosphorylation pathway of LG to glucose-6-phosphate existed. The highest enzyme activity obtained for R. glutinis was 0.22 U/mg of protein. The highest cell mass and lipid production by R. glutinis were 6.8 and 2.7 g/L, respectively from pure LG, and 3.3 and 0.78 g/L from a pyrolytic LG aqueous phase detoxified by ethyl acetate extraction, rotary evaporation and activated carbon. This corresponded to a lipid yield of 13.5 wt.% for pure LG and only 3.9 wt.% for LG in pyrolysis oil.
On the usefulness of a duplicating mirror to evaluate self-absorption effects in laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract This paper illustrates the application of the well-known approach of duplicating the emission from a plasma by placing a spherical mirror behind it in order to characterize the degree of self-absorption of atomic transitions. It is shown that this simple expedient provides a quick check for the existence of optically thick plasma conditions, and allows one to follow the temporal evolution of the plasma optical depth from the early decay of the continuum emission to the end of the plasma lifetime. The method is applied to a plasma induced at atmospheric pressure by focusing an Nd:YAG laser on different Al-alloy targets. Moreover, if the resolution of the monochromator allows one to obtain the true physical profiles of the lines investigated, a self-absorption correction factor can be calculated, following a methodology described in the plasma diagnostic literature. It is shown that this correction can be used to improve the linearity of calibration curves and to identify outliers in the Saha–Boltzmann plot for temperature evaluation. The data obtained are still the result of line-of-sight measurements, and therefore can only be interpreted in terms of some space-averaged values of the parameters evaluated. Despite this limitation, it is argued that the simple addition of a mirror to a laser induced plasma emission experiment has many advantageous features and should find a more widespread use when performing laser induced breakdown spectroscopy experiments.
Distributed and multiplexed fibre-optic sensor systems

The unique advantages afforded in a number of application areas by the use of distributed fibre-optic sensor (DFOS) systems have been recognized by many researchers. Approaches described to date can be categorized as being either ‘intrinsic-distributed’ or ‘quasi-distributed’. In the case of intrinsic-distributed sensing, a single length of fibre forms an extended sensor element which senses the measurand field continuously over its entire length, whereas quasi-distributed sensing approaches utilize discrete fibre or non-fibre sensor elements typically arranged in a linear array. More geometrically versatile sensor network topologies can also be formed by multiplexing several discrete ‘point’ sensors with common input/output fibres. This paper reviews this broad and rapidly expanding area of distributed and multiplexed optical fibre sensor technology.
Electron microscopy of the epithelial lining of the human oral mucosa.

Abstract Electron microscopic observations have been made on the squamous epithelium lining of human oral mucosa with a view to exploring the ultrastructural changes associated with the partial keratinization and the total desquamation processes characteristic of this tissue. The keratohyaline granules appear to possess an inherent electron density demonstrable not only in osmium-fixed material but also in formalin-fixed material. These granules are widely scattered through the cytoplasm of normal epithelial cells from the intermediary and superficial layers of human oral epithelium. This is true even though the epithelium may not be classified as keratinized from a convenitonal optical microscopic point of view, under which the dimensions of these granules tend to be too small to be readily detectable. The keratohyaline granules appear to arise in association with (1) certain foldings of the nuclear membrane, (2) nucleolar fragmentations and formation of nucleolar satellites migrating to the nucleolar surface, and (3) the formation of cytoplasmic complexes in near proximity to the nuclei containing granules of various dimensions and mitochondrial fragments besides the high-density keratohyaline granules. The possible nucleolar contribution to the origin and to the organic nature of the keratohyaline granules has been discussed. The possible additional existence of some electron-dense mineral components in these granules has also been considered. In addition to these changes in the internal machinery of the keratinizing epithelium, certain ultrastructural changes in the peripheral cell membranes have been described. These were characterized by a great increase in total cell surface and by the development of deep foldings of the cell membrane interdigitating with grooves in adjacent cells. Finally, it was noted that, while the deeper cells appeared to be held together by a relatively dense cementing substance, the superficial cells separated more readily and had little or no intercellular cementing substance between them.
Health correlates of co-occurring substance use for women with HIV in cocaine use recovery

Abstract Background The goal of this study was to examine clinical correlates of alcohol, opioid, cannabis, sedative, or other co-occurring substance use disorders in a sample of 124 HIV + women in recovery from cocaine use disorders. Methods Data was collected from a baseline assessment for a randomized trial comparing a family therapy intervention to a health promotion group intervention. Substance use disorders were assessed with a computer-administered structured diagnostic interview. Psychological distress was measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory. Sleep problems were measured with the Short Sleep Index from the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Rating Scales. Pain was assessed with items from the Medical Outcomes Study—HIV scale. HIV health was assessed with blood tests for T-cell count and HIV Viral Load Suppression, as well as a nurse-administered symptom assessment. Results Women with a co-occurring opioid use disorder were significantly more likely to have psychological distress and sleep problems, but less likely to have severe pain. Even though there was no difference in T-cell count or Viral Load, women with opioid use disorder were significantly more likely to have high HIV symptoms. Conclusions Women in recovery with HIV who have co-occurring cocaine use and opioid use disorders were more likely to have several indicators of worse mental and physical health. Interventions may need to be tailored to meet the needs of this subgroup of women. Future research should examine whether these co-occurring conditions are associated with greater likelihood of relapse or poor treatment response, and whether this higher-risk profile exists in other groups.
Pseudolinear phase retrieval

Abstract A new algorithm is given for inverting an autocorrelation function for its input. In the autocorrelation operation, the first member of each product pair is replaced by a previous approximation to the solution. The resulting set of autocorrelation equations is linear, and in echelon form, for convenient solution. The output is made the next input to the algorithm. The algorithm is cycled, until a bistable solution state is attained. The geometric mean of the bistable solutions is then very close to the required solution; further cycling attains the solution. The approach works for general one-dimensional problems, but only for special types of two-dimensional inputs.
Modeling radiative association kinetics

Abstract New generic modeling results are shown for the radiative association of ions with neutrals. The approach used was based on the standard-hydrocarbon model of typical properties of ions and neutrals. A canonical phase space theory method was applied to calculate the kinetics with more confidence than previous RRKM-based results, and a hopefully more realistic set of vibrational properties of the association complex was used. Modeling is reported for ion-neutral systems having between 30 and 150 degrees of freedom, binding energies between about 0.4 and 5 eV, and temperatures from 100 to 500 K. The range of validity of the low-efficiency approximation is explored, and it is found that it is sometimes valid at efficiencies as high as 1%, but is often only valid for efficiencies of 10 −4 or even lower. The atomic-ion effect is confirmed, whereby an association reaction involving an atomic-ion reactant is about two orders of magnitude faster than an otherwise similar reaction involving molecular reactants. An accurate prescription is given for predicting the shift in binding energy corresponding to the atomic-ion effect, specifying that a given atomic-ion association is equivalent to a corresponding molecular-ion association whose binding energy is 1.4 times larger. Graphical modeling results are given which should be useful for predicting radiative association rates, for predicting size, temperature and binding energy dependences, and for estimating binding energy values from observed association kinetics.
The spatial extent and coverage of tornado sirens in San Marcos, Texas

Abstract The tornado siren has become the standard method of notifying resident populations of dangerous weather conditions. In March, 2012, the city of San Marcos, Texas purchased 14 Tempest-121 rotating sirens creating a coverage network. Because San Marcos has experienced two tornadoes during the previous twelve years, two research questions were constructed, 1) what is the spatial coverage of the tornado siren network in San Marcos, and 2) what is the approximate number of residents located outside the siren's network coverage area? The hypothesis stated that the siren network left more than 10 percent of the population outside the coverage area. Each tornado siren was individually located and associated GPS data allowed for construction of the siren network in a GIS. The analysis identified approximately 26 percent (22 km2) of San Marcos located outside the network's coverage area. Furthermore, analysis of census block data and the extent of siren coverage resulted in 5.14 percent of residents not included in siren coverage, approximately half compared to what was hypothesized. As San Marcos continues to expand, both in size and in population, the question of whether there is enough coverage for the entire city for the foreseeable future remains unclear.
Selective electrochemical detection of ionic and neutral species using films of Suwannee River humic acid

An electroanalytical method has been developed to investigate the uptake of redox-active species by the humic acid substances. The Suwannee River humic acid (SHA) films were first cast on a glassy carbon electrode using an electrophoretic approach. The binding of a series of redox-active species to these SHA films was then probed using cyclic voltammetry at a rotating disk electrode. Neutral molecules such as hydroquinone and cationic species such as methyl viologen are able to bind with the humic membrane and exhibit high redox activity within the film. On the other hand, anionic species such as ferrocyanide are unable to attach themselves to the SHA films and thus exhibit negligible electrochemical activity. Cyclic voltammetric study of SHA films has also facilitated the determination of the partitioning constants and identification of the effect of coadsorbed ions (Ca2+) on the binding of redox species. The electroanalytical method described in this study opens up new avenues to examine the interaction...
Structural optimization of a chiral selector for use in preparative enantioselective chromatography

Abstract Utilizing the immobilized-target strategy, the structure of a proline-derived chiral stationary phase was optimized for use in the preparative chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of two chiral selectors used in commercial chiral stationary phases. In this study, various N-acylated proline anilides were prepared and chromatographed on the commercial Pirkle-1J and α-Burke 2 chiral stationary phases. The analyte which displayed the greatest retention without sacrifice of enantioselectivity (the 3,5-dimethoxyanilide of N-undecenoyl proline) was chosen for incorporation into the preparative chiral stationary phase. Once prepared, this phase shows increased analyte retention and enantioselectivity comparable to that of earlier phases derived from 3,5-dimethyl anilides of proline. The increased retention allows one to use mobile phases in which the target analytes are more soluble, hence greatly facilitating an increase in the through-put of a column of a given size.
Modelling and simulation of resin transfer moulding (RTM)—gate control, venting and dry spot prediction

This work presents three simulation features developed in an existing mould filling simulation code for resin transfer moulding to address the processing issues encountered during manufacturing. They are gate control, venting, and dry spot formation. The first feature is achieved using numerical sensors, which simulate the sensors used in practice to control the process. This feature makes it possible to use the developed simulation code to design a control strategy to optimize mould filling time, or to reduce the injection pressure required. The second feature is developed to account for the presence of vents. With vent locations specified, simulation can be used to predict changes in the pressure distribution and mould filling pattern if the resin front is not directly connected to the vent. The third feature provides for the prediction of dry spot formation. The simulation code checks if air is trapped in the mould and keeps track of these trapped air pockets. It computes the location, size and the pressure of all dry spots formed in the filling process. The combination of these features enhances the ability of the code as a design tool. The gate control and dry spot prediction features can be used in conjunction to guide the design of optimal processing conditions. Controlled resin injection as a strategy is an indispensable way to prevent dry spot formation, and reduce operation costs. Similarly, venting and dry spot prediction can be used to detect possible flaws and to correct them before a prototype mould is constructed.
Hyperspectral imaging: a useful technology for transportation analysis

We address hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology and its attendant key issue of spectral libraries to enable the exploitation of hyperspectral images for transportation applications. Five key applications are reviewed here: detection/identification of submerged aquatic vegetae tion in navigable waterways, detection/tracking of oil spills, extracting/ assessing road characteristics, mapping impervious surfaces, and the detection/identification of vehicles. Central to all these applications is the need for a comprehensive spectral library in which various reflective spectra are correlated with physical surfaces and environments encountered in transportation. Much of this critical work is being funded by the Department of Transportation through four university consortia, each specializing in one of the key transportation areas of: transportation flows; infrastructure; environmental assessment; and safety, hazards, and disaster assessment for transportation lifelines.
Persuading People with Depression to Seek Help: Respect the Boomerang

People with depression are likely to process information with a negative bias when confronted with self-relevant information. Accordingly, we feared exposing depressed people to a public service announcement (PSA) addressing the stigma of depression would possibly boomerang and result in less intention to seek help and in increased self-stigma. College students (N = 271; Mage = 22.51, SD = 4.71; 63.1% female; 37.3% White, 31.9% Hispanic, 12.9% Asian, 6.8% multiethnic, 3.4% Black, 7.6% other) were randomly assigned to receive a print ad focused on depression or a nonrelevant comparison ad. A paper-and-pencil survey consisting of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scale, help-seeking intentions, and demographics followed. Regression analysis indicated that viewing a depression ad caused people with greater depressive symptoms to experience greater levels of self-stigma than depressed people exposed to a nonrelevant comparison ad. Bootstrap mediation analysis showed that for individuals who viewed a depression PSA, self-stigma mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and professional help-seeking intentions. While this current study offers no direct evidence in regard to the utility of current and past depression campaigns, results indicate a definite need for caution when developing materials targeting people with depression to seek help.
Pumping for gestural origins: The well may be rather dry

Corballis's explanation for right-handedness in humans relies heavily on the gestural protolanguage hypothesis, which he argues for by a series of “intuition pumps.” Scrutinizing the mirror system hypothesis and modern gesture as components of the argument, we find that they do not provide the desired evidence of a gestural precursor to speech.
Aerial accumulation and partitioning of nutrients by hard red spring wheat

Abstract Periods of maximum hard red spring (HRS) wheat (Jriticum aestivum L.) nutrient demand need to be determined in order to develop best nutrient management practices, and to provide data for nutrient uptake modeling. Aerial (aboveground biomass) whole plant samples of irrigated HRS wheat were collected from the field at 16 growth stages and separated into leaves, stems, heads, and grain for dry matter determinations and analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cl, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu concentrations. Accumulation curves were computed for each plant part for the growing season from compound cubic polynomial models based on accumulated growing degree units (GDUs). Total aerial accumulations of dry matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cl, Zn, Mn, Fe, and Cu were 14400, 116, 30.8, 103, 9.2, 9.3, 15.2, 32.3, 0.18, 0.58, 2.05, and 0.045 kg/ha, respectively. Grain at maturity accumulated greater than 78% of the total aerial N, P, and Zn, while it contained less than 20% of the aerial accumulated K, Ca, Cl, and Fe. Nitrogen a...