cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Models To Predict Kinetics of NOx Reduction by Chars as a Function of Coal Rank

During coal combustion, NOₓ reduction occurs by two possible routes: homogeneous reduction by hydrocarbons and heterogeneous reduction by char formed during coal devolatilization. This paper investigates the latter route, which also has potential as the basis for post-combustion NOₓ clean-up processes, including reburning. The purpose of this investigation is to develop a kinetic model for the reduction of NOₓ by char during coal combustion and to understand the role of coal rank and char surface area on the resulting char reactivity. This investigation reports original kinetic data for nine char samples including graphite, coconut char, and five coal chars ranging in rank from lignite to low-volatile bituminous (Beulah-Zap, Dietz, Utah Blind Canyon, Pittsburgh #8, and Pocahontas #3). An empirical kinetic model with six universal (not char-specific) parameters reproduces the experimental data for all chars. The investigation also presents an alternative and simpler model with only two parameters that differ for each char type. Correlations for the two model parameters were then developed as a function of two char surface areas: (1) active mineral matter surface area measured using CO₂ titration after high-temperature exposure and (2) total sample surface area measured using CO₂ at room temperature and Dubinin–Polanyi theory. Predictions of the rate constant values over a wide range of temperature using this universal approach with only the surface areas differing among the six chars generally fit the experimental data within ±50%.
Data-driven model reduction, Wiener projections, and the Koopman-Mori-Zwanzig formalism

Abstract Model reduction methods aim to describe complex dynamic phenomena using only relevant dynamical variables, decreasing computational cost, and potentially highlighting key dynamical mechanisms. In the absence of special dynamical features such as scale separation or symmetries, the time evolution of these variables typically exhibits memory effects. Recent work has found a variety of data-driven model reduction methods to be effective for representing such non-Markovian dynamics, but their scope and dynamical underpinning remain incompletely understood. Here, we study data-driven model reduction from a dynamical systems perspective. For both chaotic and randomly-forced systems, we show the problem can be naturally formulated within the framework of Koopman operators and the Mori-Zwanzig projection operator formalism. We give a heuristic derivation of a NARMAX (Nonlinear Auto-Regressive Moving Average with eXogenous input) model from an underlying dynamical model. The derivation is based on a simple construction we call Wiener projection, which links Mori-Zwanzig theory to both NARMAX and to classical Wiener filtering. We apply these ideas to the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky model of spatiotemporal chaos and a viscous Burgers equation with stochastic forcing.
Lack of in-home piped water and reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among adults in rural Alaska.

Objective To assess whether a community water service is associated with the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption, obesity, or perceived health status in rural Alaska. Design We examined the cross-sectional associations between community water access and frequency of SSB consumption, body mass index categories, and perceived health status using data from the 2013 and 2015 Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Participants were categorized by zip code to 'in-home piped water service' or 'no in-home piped water service' based on water utility data. We evaluated the univariable and multivariable (adjusting for age, household income and education) associations between water service and outcomes using log-linear survey-weighted generalized linear models. Setting Rural Alaska, USA. Subjects Eight hundred and eighty-seven adults, aged 25 years and older. Results In unadjusted models, participants without in-home water reported consuming SSB more often than participants with in-home water (1·46, 95 % CI: 1·06, 2·00). After adjustment for potential confounders, the effect decreased but remained borderline significant (1·29, 95 % CI: 1·00, 1·67). Obesity was not significantly associated with water service but self-reported poor health was higher in those communities without in-home water (1·63, 95 % CI: 1·05, 2·54). Conclusions Not having access to in-home piped water could affect behaviours surrounding SSB consumption and general perception of health in rural Alaska.
Interpreting the Rhetoric of Visual Advertisements

Visual media have important persuasive power, but prior computer vision approaches have predominantly ignored the persuasive aspects of images. In this work, we propose a suite of data and techniques that enable progress on understanding the messages that visual advertisements convey. We make available a dataset of 64,832 image ads and 3,477 video ads, annotated with ten types of information: the topic and sentiment of the ad; whether it is funny, exciting, or effective; what action it prompts the viewer to do, and what arguments it provides for why this action should be taken; symbolic associations that the ad relies on; the metaphorical object transformations on which especially creative ads rely; and the climax in video ads. We develop methods that use multimodal cues, i.e., both visuals and slogans, for both the image and video domains. Our methods rely on finding poignant content spatially and temporally. We also examine the creative story construction in ads: for videos, we learn to predict when the climax occurs (if any), and how effective the story is; for images, we analyze how object transformations in ads metaphorically depict product properties.
Is foreignness a liability for Chinese MNEs in the USA

The impact of foreignness on cross-border direct investment remains unclear and disputed. Therefore, this research investigates whether foreignness is a liability for emerging MNEs venturing into developed nations and how firm-specific resources may impact the process. The paper interviewed top management at Chinese firms investing in the USA through semi-structured questions to assess these factors. The results suggest that while Chinese firms in the US face deficiencies in human and relational resources and that liabilities of foreignness exist at some level, time and managerial tactics moderate the impact. This study moves beyond empirical and conceptual studies to provide a rare glimpse into the firm level perceptions on liability of foreignness (LOF) and firm-specific advantages for Chinese firms within the USA.
Polymer-Functionalized NIR-Emitting Nanoparticles: Applications in Cancer Theranostics and Treatment of Bacterial Infections

In recent years, there has been tremendous excitement over the development of new classes of applications for NIR-emitting nanoparticles. These materials have found application in fields diverse as early diagnosis of metastatic cancers, imaging-guided drug delivery and biodistribution studies, photothermal or photodynamic therapy of tumors, non-invasive detection and monitoring of deep-tissue pathogenic infections, and potentiating the antibiotic strength against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, to name a few. However, the cornerstone of these applications rests on the successful functionalization of these nanoparticles, in order to render them biocompatible, increase circulation and residence time, and to provide them the necessary targeting capability and enhance the functionality of the imaging agent. Here, we present an in-depth review of the methods used for polymer functionalization of the most common classes of NIR-emitting nanoparticles: organic dyes and small-molecule probes, inorganic quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene and their derivatives, and upconversion or downconversion nanoparticles. By exploring the preclinical studies and the clinical trials (wherever applicable), we investigate the strategies which have been successfully deployed till date, as well as comment on the potential concerns of toxicity arising from the biomedical applications of these nanoparticles.
Basinwide Hydroclimatic Drought in the Colorado River Basin

AbstractThe Colorado River Basin (CRB) supplies water to approximately 40 million people and is essential to hydro-power generation, agriculture, and industry. In this study, a monthly water balanc...
Why Queer Workers Make Good Organisers

LGBTQ retail workers act as leaders in workplace organising efforts, and union organisers identify their contributions as strengthening campaigns. What explains this propensity of queer and trans w...
Development of a Kalman filter estimator for simulation and controlof NOx and PM in a SCR catalyston a DPF

The goal of a control system for a SCR catalyst on a DPF (SCR-F) is to minimize the fuel consumption due to back pressure while maximizing the NOx conversion across the SCR-F. To meet these goals, ...
Exploring Sense of Belonging, Socioacademic Integrative Moments, and Learning Communities Related to ELs' Persistence Based on Reenrollment Decisions in Community Colleges.

Objective: The objective of this study was to create a model of English learners’ (ELs) persistence based on theory and empirical research. Findings from this research informs community college edu...
Developing Strategies for the Modern International Airport: East Asia and Beyond

Contents: Preface, Introduction The changing role of the international airport in the global economy. Structural changes in international business: implications for the airport industry Some impacts of deregulation on international airport development The influence of geopolitical factors on the major East Asian hubs Urbanization in East Asia: its impact on the major regional airports Forces shaping a multi-modal future for ASEAN airports Political and market issues confronting East Asian International airports The future of East Asian airports: a speculative view of emerging problems Reflections on the future of international airports in East Asia Bibliography Index.
Sensorimotor adaptation and cue reweighting compensate for distorted 3D information, accounting for paradoxical perception-action dissociations

Reach-to-grasp movements can show surprising accuracy even when the perceived 3D shape of the target is distorted. One explanation of this paradox is that a specialized "vision-for-action" system provides accurate shape estimates by relying selectively on stereo information and ignoring less reliable depth cues like texture and shading. However, the key support for this hypothesis has come from studies that analyze average behavior across many visuomotor interactions where available sensory feedback reinforces stereo information. The present study, which carefully accounts for the effects of feedback, shows that these interactions are actually planned using the same cue-combination function as perception, and that apparent dissociations can arise due to two distinct supervised learning processes: sensorimotor adaptation and cue reweighting. In four experiments, we show that (1) when a distorted depth cue biases perception (e.g., surfaces appear flattened by a fixed amount), sensorimotor adaptation rapidly adjusts motor outputs to compensate for this constant error. However, (2) when the distorted depth cue is unreliable, leading to variable errors across a set of objects (i.e., some depths are overestimated, others underestimated), then the relative weighting of depth cues is gradually adjusted to reduce the misleading effect of the unreliable cue, consistent with previous studies of cue reweighting. In our third experiment, we show that (3) cue reweighting involves correlated changes in perceptual judgments and motor behavior, indicating a close functional link between perception and action, and that (4) cue reweighting occurs only in response to an unreliable depth cue, and not in response to a biased cue, presumably because movement errors caused by biased cues are rapidly resolved by sensorimotor adaptation. Taken together, these findings emphasize the mutual dependency of perception and action, with perception directly guiding action, and actions producing error signals that drive motor and perceptual learning.
Ground motion prediction equations for significant duration using the KiK-net database

Significant duration of strong shaking quantifies the length of time during which strong earthquake-induced shaking occurs at a given site. Significant duration has multiple applications in Geotech...
Simultaneous Robotic Single-Position Surgery (SR-SPS) with Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Case Series

Background The oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) procedure is an important component of the surgeon's armamentarium for the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions. OLIF with posterior spinal fixation frequently is performed and requires additional time because the patient is flipped to a prone position and redraped. We report a series of cases in which robotic-assistance was used for a 2-surgeon workflow in which OLIF and single lateral position posterior spinal fixation were performed at the same time, termed simultaneous robotic single position surgery (SR-SPS). Methods Data were collected retrospectively from medical records of 13 consecutive patients who underwent SR-SPS by a single surgeon at an academic center between June and December 2020. Instrumentation accuracy, total operating room time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, and complications were assessed. Results A total of 13 patients whose mean age was 64.1 years (range 46–84 years) underwent SR-SPS over a 6-month period. Average follow-up was 10.3 months. All patients were treated for degenerative spine disease. The average operative duration was 111.2 ± 25.2 minutes. A total of 60 pedicle screws were placed bilaterally in the lateral position with an accuracy rate of 95.0%. Complications included 1 postoperative seroma, and 1 patient required reoperation 3 months postoperatively due to a fall. Conclusions We report the first case series describing SR-SPS. Our study shows that this method can reduce operative time while ensuring accurate and timely screw placement with minimal complications.
Extending the Measurement of Tangibles to Intangibles

Tangibles have measurements generally on ratio scales with arbitrary units that are always interpreted by using judgments as to what particular purpose the measurements serve. How two measurements on a ratio scale are related with respect to dominance leads to forming their ratio which is a dimensionless number. The judgment of an expert can be used to estimate this ratio when the objects are homogeneous. The process of using judgments to make comparisons is then extended by clustering and using pivots to measure inhomogeneous objects or criteria. The paper shows the generality of the analytic network process (AHP) as a method of measurement comparing it with direct measurement and with the utility approach through an example. It is also shown with an application from economics that the judgment process can be sufficiently accurate to produce numerical outcomes that are close to what one obtains by conventional methods, thus serving to validate its use in the measurement of intangibles when informed people are involved.
Testing Theories of Labor Rights and Development

Recent efforts by Western economic powers to bring labor standards under the authority of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been opposed by the global South. Prior research has produced conflicting evidence on whether curtailment of labor rights promotes or hinders rapid economic development. This article presents a summary of the relevant policy debates, especially those at the WTO. I also summarize opposing theories that posit restriction of labor rights as either promoting or hindering rapid development. After a review of prior quantitative studies, I present my own novel approach to testing theories of labor rights and development. My conclusion summarizes the implications of the test results for the policy debates and presents a model that could serve to advance the WTO social clause agenda.
Robot-Assisted Myomectomy: Broadening the Laparoscopist's Armamentarium

Solid scientific evidence indicates that minimally invasive myomectomy provides clinical advantages over its classic open counterpart, and should therefore represent the gold-standard for most patients. In spite of this, the adoption of laparoscopic myomectomy at over two decades from its introduction has been limited, due to the objective technical challenges that it can present. Every minimally invasive surgeon has a safety threshold when it comes to any operation. We argue that, for many surgeons, becoming facile with computer–assisted laparoscopic myomectomy can contribute to raise their personal threshold for resorting to the open approach. The main technical steps of robot-assisted myomectomy as well as several techniques of contained tissue extraction are illustrated.
Information Immune Systems

The concept of an information immune system (IIS) is introduced, in which undesirable information is eliminated before it can reach the user. The IIS is inspired by the natural immune systems that protect us from pathogens. IISs from multiple individuals can be combined to form a group IIS which filters out information undesirable to any of the members. The relationship between our proposed IIS architecture and the natural immune system is outlined, and potential applications, including information filtering, interactive design, and collaborative design, are discussed.
Ultrasonic Evaluation of Thermal Degradation in Adhesive Bonds

The critical role played by adhesive bonds in lap joints is well known. A good knowledge of the mechanical properties of adhesive bonds in lap joints is a prerequisite to the design and reliable prediction of the performance of these bonded structures. Furthermore, the lap joint may be subject to high-temperature environments in service. Early detection of the degree of thermal degradation in adhesive bonds is required under these circumstances. A variety of ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques can be used to determine the thickness and the elastic moduli of adhesively bonded joints. In this paper we apply a previously developed technique based on the leaky Lamb wave (LLW) experiment to investigate the possibility of characterizing the thermal degradation of adhesive bonds in lap joints. The degradation of the adhesive bonds is determined through comparison between experimental data and theoretical calculations.
Verdi and the French Aesthetic: Verse, Stanza, and Melody in Nineteenth-Century Opera

Part I. Versification and Melodic Aesthetics: 1. Rhythm and stanza in French and Italian librettos 2. French and Italian melodic aesthetics and practice c. 1830-70 Episode: design, middleground rhythm, and phrase Part II. French Melody in Verdi's Operas: 3. Jerusalem and its influence on the subsequent Italian operas 4. Les Vepres siciliennes and its influence on the subsequent Italian operas 5. Don Carlos and after Appendix: Significant theoretic and aesthetic texts.
Methods and applications of genetic analysis in the study of cardiovascular disease: a summary of contributions to GAW8.

The analyses of data provided for the cardiovascular disease section of Genetic Analysis Workshop 8 are briefly summarized. Methods using twin, segregation, and linkage analyses are used to determine, characterize, and localize genetic components involved in the etiology of cardiovascular disease and to explore the interaction of these components with known environmental risk factors
Theorizing Courage as Requisite for Moral Education

INTRODUCTION It is perplexing to read the standard curricula of various character education programs. These curricula tend to resemble our most outdated pedagogies, relying on negative reinforcement and indoctrination as opposed to honest presentation, critical discussion, and serious reflection. More often than not, the curriculum is intended to “teach” specific virtues; of course which virtues are included and how they are defined depends on the orientation of the program’s author(s). The method most frequently employed is to highlight one virtue at a time, in seemingly random order, (such as a different virtue each month) and tell students unwaveringly that these virtues are characteristic of the morally good person. Implied of course, is the expectation that if the student wants to be considered a good person, then she will behave according to the norms implied by the virtues taught. There is also the insinuation of the opposite, that if a student does not exercise the said virtues in a recognizable fashion, then she will be seen as a bad or morally deficient person. Regardless of their intent and even the desirability of these virtues including the good at which they aim, such programs engage in poor pedagogy by in effect, perpetuating the conformist and mindless behavior of students. Not only are students discouraged from reasoning deeply about ethics, they are prevented from simply thinking for themselves rendering them incompetent to live an ethical life.
Spin waves in disordered III-V diluted magnetic semiconductors by a modified RPA approach

We propose a scheme for numerically computing collective-mode spectra for large-size systems, using a reformulation of the random-phase approximation. In this study, we apply this method to investigate the spectrum and nature of the spin-waves of a (III,Mn)V diluted magnetic semiconductor. We use an impurity band picture to describe the interaction of the charge carriers with the local Mn spins. The spin-wave spectrum is shown to depend sensitively on the positional disorder of the Mn atoms inside the host semiconductor. Both localized and extended spin-wave modes are found. Unusual spin and charge transport is implied.
Evaluation of Market Thinness for Hogs and Pork

We investigate thinness of hog and pork markets in terms of quantity and representativeness of negotiated transactions. Transactional volume imparts marginally greater confidence in pricing precision for Iowa-Southern Minnesota negotiated hogs than for the national carcass cut-out, suggesting that contracts tying prices to the former rather than the latter may be more representative of industry conditions. Extending mandatory price reporting to pork may remedy this discrepancy. Despite declining volume, terminal hog markets may price accurately off of Iowa-Southern Minnesota prices. Hog quality differentials across procurement methods are documented, and quality of negotiated hogs is shown to decline with declining volume.
Specificity of CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Function in Alloimmunity

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (TRegs) are critical for the acquisition of peripheral allograft tolerance. However, it is unclear whether TRegs are capable of mediating alloantigen-specific suppressive effects and, hence, contributing to the specificity of the tolerant state. In the current report we have used the ABM TCR transgenic (Tg) system, a C57BL/6-derived strain in which CD4+ T cells directly recognize the allogeneic MHC-II molecule I-Abm12, to assess the capacity of TRegs to mediate allospecific effects. In these mice, 5–6% of Tg CD4+ T cells exhibit conventional markers of the TReg phenotype. ABM TRegs are more effective than wild-type polyclonal TRegs at suppressing effector immune responses directed against I-Abm12 alloantigen both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, they are incapable of suppressing responses directed against third-party alloantigens unless these are expressed in the same allograft as I-Abm12. Taken together, our results indicate that in transplantation, TReg function is dependent on TCR stimulation, providing definitive evidence for their specificity in the regulation of alloimmune responses.
Office spirometry : Equipment selection and training of staff in the private practice setting

SUMMARYSpirometry is a basic pulmonary function test that is widely used for the detection of airflow limitation. Its use will continue to grow in the medical office setting because it is useful for both diagnostic and monitoring purposes. Additionally, the assessment of airflow reversibility is a quick, safe, and useful adjunct to baseline spirometry.Many manufacturers offer various models and types of spirometers. Before purchasing, determine the needs and characteristics of the office and its staff, and then choose an appropriate device. There is no “holy grail” for selecting what instrument is best for a specific office. Rather, it requires time and effort to make a good choice. Carefully assess the instrument before purchase and, ideally, compare several instruments. Once an instrument is purchased and it arrives, carefully validate it before reporting results.Proper training of the technicians who perform the testing is perhaps the most important factor in obtaining good spirometric testing. After a...
Analysis of dislocation nucleation from a crystal surface based on the Peierls–Nabarro dislocation model

Abstract Dislocation nucleation from a stressed crystal surface is analyzed based on the Peierls–Nabarro dislocation model. The variational boundary integral approach is used to obtain the profiles of the embryonic dislocations in various three-dimensional nucleation configurations. The stress-dependent activation energies required to activate dislocations from their stable to unstable saddle point configurations are determined. Compared to previous analyses of this type of problem based on continuum elastic dislocation theory, the present analysis eliminates the uncertain core cutoff parameter by allowing for the existence of an extended dislocation core as the embryonic dislocation evolves. Moreover, atomic information can be incorporated to reveal the dependence of the nucleation process on the profile of the atomic interlayer potential as compared to continuum elastic dislocation theory in which only elastic constants and Burgers vector are relevant. Finally, the presented methodology can also be readily used to study dislocation nucleation from the surface heterogeneities such as cracks, steps, and quantum structures of electronic devices.
Factors affecting seasonality of lithogenic and biogenic particle flux in a large estuarine ecosystem

Abstract Seasonal patterns of vertical flux over two years (2001–2003) at two stations in the Bras d'Or Lakes, a large estuary in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, were determined using aluminum and organic carbon in settled particles collected in moored traps to calculate lithogenic (terrigenous) and marine biogenic fractions. On an annual basis, lithogenic material comprised 53% and 81% of dry weight and 48% and 66% of organic carbon in settled particles at the deep- (128 m) and shallow-water (41 m) locations, respectively. Peaks in runoff, inferred from rain and snowfall precipitation, ice cover and possible horizontal transport of resuspended sediment coincided with maximum sedimentation rates of lithogenic material during unstratified periods between October and March. Biological factors correlated with phytoplankton and ice algal primary production and seasonal changes in zooplankton grazing inferred from phaeopigments controlled biogenic particle fluxes under stratified conditions between June and September and during winter. Year-to-year variations in deposition of lithogenic and marine biogenic material depended on seasonal differences in stratification, precipitation, freeze/melt conditions and the extent of ice cover.
Targeting Influx Transporters in the Human Blood Brain Barrier

Through its neuroprotective function, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a major challenge for the delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system. Critical to this function, well-described BBB efflux pumps in the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily serve to limit drug penetration across the BBB. Conversely, the BBB also serves in the delivery of selected nutrients, such as vitamins and amino acids, to the central nervous system through influx transporters in the Solute Carrier (SLC) superfamily. In this overview presentation, I will describe the profiling of 359 SLC transporters in the human BBB, comparative expression analysis with kidney and liver, and immunoassays in brain microvessels. Several transporters previously not known to be expressed in the BBB will be highlighted along with results from in vivo studies in rodents. Several concepts will be emphasized in this presentation. In particular, a large number of SLC transporters show enriched and high levels of expression in the human BBB. Importantly, transporters with primary roles in drug disposition in the liver and kidney are also highly enriched in the BBB. Collectively, a dynamic view of the BBB will be presented with broad implications to the delivery of drugs to the human brain.
Precipitation and dissolution kinetics and equilibria of aqueous ferrous carbonate vs temperature

Abstract In this research, aqueous ferrous carbonate, FeCO 3 , was studied in a batch reactor designed to maintain rigorously anoxic conditions in the absence of reducing agents. The precipitation kinetics were measured from 27 to 80°C and were found to be approximately 100 times slower than any measured precipitation rate previously reported for a 2:2 sparingly soluble salt. Dissolution kinetics results are reported at 26 and 60°C. Solubility product constant measurements are reported from 25 to 94°C. Statistical analyses and application of the Nielsen theory of surface reaction rates suggest that the precipitation of ferrous carbonate is surface reaction rate limited with an Arrhenius activation energy of 108.3 kJ/mol. The dissolution of ferrous carbonate is probably also surface reaction rate limited.
The creative evolution of library instruction

Academic library instructional services and practices have continually evolved in response to trends within the library, on campus, and in higher education. The introduction of computers, and most notably the Internet, sparked changes in what, how, and where library skills were taught. In this article, Dupuis discusses the adaptation of our instructional programs as we gained experience with the maturing, new technology and as variables in our environment changed. She encourages librarians to refocus on the students, who themselves will be a defining force in the next phase of the evolution of teaching and learning.
Reaction−time procedure for measurement of hearing. I. Suprathreshold functions

Reaction time (RT), or response latency, to auditory stimuli has been suggested as a measure of loudness in nonverbal animals as well as in man. In this study RT functions were obtained for human and rhesus monkey subjects under normal conditions and under conditions of hearing impairment. In both humans and monkeys RT varied in a similar manner with changes in intensity and frequency of the stimulus, and in response to experimental manipulation of the receptor organ. The study demonstrated that latency functions are similar to functions derived by loudness−matching procedures in humans: in subjects with normal hearing, equal−latency contours corresponded closely with equal−loudness contours. In subjects with impaired hearing, matched−latency and matched−loudness contours also corresponded closely. Rate of decrease in RT with increasing intensity is discussed and related to rate of growth in loudness. The results suggest that RT is a valuable measure of suprathreshold hearing in human and nonhuman primate...
Moral creativity as artistic transformation.

ABSTRACT: Moral creativity in the arts is defined as the conscious transformation of moral values into artistic products. Artistic revolutions, occasioned when conventional art is inadequate to satisfy human needs, are associated with moral creativity. This exploratory study examined the following: the meaning of moral creativity in the arts; the conditions that lead artists to be morally creative; the developmental process of becoming morally creative (illustrated by references to Ernest Hemingway's development); and objectivity and subjectivity in moral creativity. Issues connected with cultivating moral creativity in the arts are discussed in the final section.
Hammer Seismic Reflection Imaging in an Urban Environment

Subsurface characterization within urban centers is critically important for city planners, municipalities, and engineers to estimate groundwater resources, track contaminants, assess earthquake or landslide hazards, and many other similar objectives. Improving geophysical imaging methods and results, while minimizing costs, provides greater opportunities for city/project planners and geophysicists alike to take advantage of the improved characterization afforded by the particular method. Seismic reflection results can provide hydrogeologic constraints for groundwater models, provide slip rate estimates for active faults, or simply map stratigraphy to provide target depth estimates. While many traditional urban seismic transects have included the use of vibroseis sources to improve reflection signals and attenuate cultural noise, low-cost and high-quality near-surface seismic reflection data can be obtained within an urban environment using impulsive sources at a variety of scales and at production rates ...
Single-electron charging effects in Si MOS devices

Abstract Single-electron charging of small quantum dot structures has been observed for many years. Only recently, however, have the effects been observed in Si device structures suitable for integration into other Si technologies. In this talk, the background of work in Si will be reviewed and its applications to unique device and circuit architectures will be discussed. Experimental results obtained using double-gated quantum dots embedded within a Si MOSFET will be discussed. While the present results are primarily at low temperature, they promise the application of single-electron technology to more integrated circuitry.
Influence of Nb Additions on Microstructural Evolution of a V-Microalloyed High-Carbon Wire Steel During Patenting

This study investigated the feasibility of microalloying strategies for improving the strength of high-carbon wire products subjected to industrial patenting heat treatments for two eutectoid steels: a 0.8C-0.5Mn-0.2Cr-0.08 V alloy (wt.%) and the same composition with an additional 100 ppm Nb. A Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator (Dynamic Systems Inc., Poestenkill, NY, USA) was used to perform heat treatments consisting of a 30 s austenitization at 1093 °C, 950 °C, or 880 °C followed by a 15 s isothermal transformation step at 650 °C, 625 °C, 600 °C, or 575 °C. Vickers hardness, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and pearlite interlamellar spacing measurements were conducted to assess the effects of the heat treatments. Niobium microalloying additions were found to provide no hardness increase, but they extended the pearlitic regime to lower isothermal transformation temperatures.
Contextual twilight/critical liminality: J.M. Barrie's courage at St. Andrews, 1922

J. M. Barrie's 1922 address Courageconstitutes a paradoxical rhetorical text. In his oratorical debut, Barrie offered seniors at St. Andrews poignant and explicit advice concerning life's liminal passages, even as he carefully obfuscated his own identity. This essay offers two readings of the text to illuminate an alternative relationship between text and context in rhetorical criticism. The first interpretation focuses on the obvious textual paradox related to liminality. The second reading moves from the “textual context” to the social and ideological context, and argues that working within the address is the rhetorical form of “the closet.” Recontextualizing Barrie's address from within “the closet,” renders visible a second “invisible context” related to homosexuality, opening a new interpretive doorway for the critic.
EDUCATION, MANAGEMENT STYLE, AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

This paper examines the relationship between education, management style, and organizational effectiveness. The increasing education level in the society is pointed to as a strong force toward a more participative management style. However, it is stressed that much of the education which is taking place in the United States may not equip people to participate effectively in a more democratically managed workplace. Finally, a model of a new more participative management style is presented and its relationship to education and skills is explicated.
A Very Large Array Search for Water Masers in Six H II Regions: Tracers of Triggered Low-Mass Star Formation

We present a search for water maser emission at 22 GHz associated with young low-mass protostars in six H II regions—M16, M20, NGC 2264, NGC 6357, S125, and S140. The survey was conducted with the NRAO Very Large Array from 2000 to 2002. For several of these H II regions, ours are the first high-resolution observations of water masers. We detected 16 water masers: eight in M16, four in M20, three in S140, and one in NGC 2264. All but one of these were previously undetected. No maser emission was detected from NGC 6357 or S125. There are two principle results to our study. (1) The distribution of water masers in M16 and M20 does not appear to be random but instead is concentrated in a layer of compressed gas within a few tenths of a parsec of the ionization front. (2) Significantly fewer masers are seen in the observed fields than expected based on other indications of ongoing star formation, indicating that the maser-exciting lifetime of protostars is much shorter in H II regions than in regions of isolated star formation. Both of these results confirm predictions of a scenario in which star formation is first triggered by shocks driven in advance of ionization fronts and then truncated ~105 yr later when the region is overrun by the ionization front.
Photon-tissue interaction model for quantitative assessment of biological tissues

In this study, we describe a direct fit photon-tissue interaction model to quantitatively analyze reflectance spectra of biological tissue samples. The model rapidly extracts biologically-relevant parameters associated with tissue optical scattering and absorption. This model was employed to analyze reflectance spectra acquired from freshly excised human pancreatic pre-cancerous tissues (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), a common precursor lesion to pancreatic cancer). Compared to previously reported models, the direct fit model improved fit accuracy and speed. Thus, these results suggest that such models could serve as real-time, quantitative tools to characterize biological tissues assessed with reflectance spectroscopy.
P2u Receptor–Mediated Release of Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor/Nitric Oxide and Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor From Cerebrovascular Endothelium in Rats

Background and Purpose —Stimulation of P2u purinoceptors by UTP on endothelium dilates the rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) through the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide (EDRF/NO) and an unknown relaxing factor. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this unknown relaxing factor is endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Methods —Rat MCAs were isolated, cannulated, pressurized, and luminally perfused. UTP was added to the luminal perfusate to elicit dilations. Results —Resting outside diameter of the MCAs in one study was 209±7 μm (n=10). The MCAs showed concentration-dependent dilations with UTP administration. Inhibition of NO synthase with N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (1 μmol/L to 1 mmol/L) did not diminish the maximum response to UTP but did shift the concentration-response curve to the right. Scavenging NO with hemoglobin (1 or 10 μmol/L) or inhibition of guanylate cyclase with ODQ (1 or 10 μmol/L) had effects on the UTP-mediated dilations similar to those of L-NAME. In the presence of L-NAME, dilations induced by 10 μmol/L UTP were accompanied by 13±2 mV ( P <0.009) hyperpolarization of the vascular smooth muscle membrane potential (−28±2 to −41±1 mV). Iberiotoxin (100 nmol/L), blocker of the large-conductance calcium-activated K channels, sometimes blocked the dilation, but its effects were variable. Charybdotoxin (100 nmol/L), also a blocker of the large-conductance calcium-activated K channels, abolished the L-NAME–insensitive component of the dilation to UTP. Conclusions —Stimulation of P2u purinoceptors on the endothelium of the rat MCA released EDHF, in addition to EDRF/NO, and dilated the rat MCA by opening an atypical calcium-activated K channel.
Summer Rainfall Forecast Spread in an Ensemble Initialized with Different Soil Moisture Analyses

The performance of an ensemble forecasting system initialized using varied soil moisture alone has been evaluated for rainfall forecasts of six warm season convective cases. Ten different soil moisture analyses were used as initial conditions in the ensemble, which used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Advanced Research WRF (ARW) model at 4-km horizontal grid spacing with explicit rainfall. Soil moisture analyses from the suite of National Weather Service operational models—the Rapid Update Cycle, the North American Model (formerly known as the Eta Model), and the Global Forecasting System—were used to design the 10-member ensemble. For added insight, two other runs with extremely low and high soil moistures were included in this study. Although the sensitivity of simulated 24-h rainfall to soil moisture was occasionally substantial in both weakly forced and strongly forced cases, a U-shaped rank histogram indicated insufficient spread in the 10-member ensemble. This result suggests that ensemble forecast systems using soil moisture perturbations alone might not add enough variability to rainfall forecasts. Perturbations to both atmospheric initial conditions and land surface initial conditions as well as perturbations to other aspects of model physics may increase forecast spread. Correspondence ratio values for the 0.01- and 0.5-in. rainfall thresholds imply some spread in the soil moisture ensemble, but mainly in the weakly forced cases. Relative operating characteristic curves for the 10-member ensemble and for various rainfall thresholds indicate modest skill for all thresholds with the most skill associated with the lowest rainfall threshold, a result typical of warm season events.
Some essentially self-adjoint Dirac operators with spherically symmetric potentials

It is shown that the one electron Dirac operator in a stationary electric field is essentially self-adjoint, on the domain of infinitely differentiable functions of compact support, for a class of spherically symmetric potentials including the Coulomb potential, for atomic numbers less than or equal to 118. In addition, the domain of the closure of the perturbed operator is the same as the domain of the closure of the unperturbed operator. We also give an abstract theorem on domain-preserving essential self-adjointness for perturbed operators, which is perhaps of independent interest.
Steady-state moisture profiles in an unsaturated porous medium with impermeable boundaries

On suppose que le milieu poreux est homogene et isotrope et que les proprietes thermophysiques du milieu restent constantes. Le transfert de chaleur dans le milieu est suppose du uniquement a la conduction moleculaire. On neglige l'effet de la gravite
Heritability of Body Composition Measured by DXA in the Diabetes Heart Study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the heritability of body composition measured by DXA in the Diabetes Heart Study (DHS). Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 292 women and 262 men (age, 38 to 86 years; BMI, 17 to 57 kg/m2) from 244 families. There were 492 white and 49 African-American sibling pairs. DXA measurements of percentage fat mass (FM), whole body FM, and lean mass (LM), as well as regional measurements of trunk fat mass (TFM) and appendicular lean mass (ALM), were obtained. Heritability of FM, LM, and BMI were estimated using Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and height, the heritability estimates of various compositional attributes were %FM = 0.64, whole body FM = 0.71, TFM = 0.63, whole body LM = 0.60, ALM = 0.66, and BMI = 0.64 (all p < 0.0001). Additional adjustment for diabetes status, smoking, dietary intake, and physical activity resulted in only minor changes in the heritability estimates (ĥ2 = 0.63 to 0.72, all p < 0.0001). Furthermore, heritability of TFM after additional adjustment for whole body FM was significant (ĥ2 = 0.55, p < 0.0001), and heritability of ALM after additional adjustment for whole body LM was also significant (ĥ2 = 0.51, p < 0.0001). Discussion: These data suggest that FM and LM measured by DXA are highly heritable and can be effectively used in designing linkage studies to locate genes governing body composition. In addition, regional distribution of FM and LM may be genetically determined.
Recent advances in organolanthanide chemistry

Abstract Historically, the lanthanide elements have received less attention from organometallic chemists than the transition elements. The apparent reasons for this situation and recent developments leading to increased interest in organolanthanide chemistry are discussed.
Substantive and procedural tolerance are diverse communities really more tolerant

Interest in relationships between the local dimensions of political ideology, behavior, and culture has increased in recent years. Tolerance can be understood to have two dimensions: (1) substantive, meaning the types of diversity in a community and resident relationships within that diversity; and (2) procedural, relating to how tolerance is operationalized by researchers. This research addresses both the substantive and procedural aspects of tolerance in three communities using a nested methodology, including case studies, interviews with local officials, and citizen surveys. It concludes that cities with greater diversity are not consistently more tolerant, and much depends on the definition of tolerance employed. There is no magic or necessary connection between a diverse and tolerant citizenry. Local history colors how diversity and tolerance interact; development patterns that separate residents by race, ethnicity, or income appear to leave legacies that are difficult to overcome. Language: en
Mapping NO movements in crystalline [Fe(Porph)(NO)(1-MeIm)].

Orientational disorder of the distal nitrosyl (NO) ligand in iron porphyrinates is a common phenomenon. We present an analysis of multi-temperature crystallographic data for the order/ disorder phenomenon. The observed temperature-dependent order/disorder and variable rotational orientations of nitrosyl ligands for six different six-coordinate iron porphyrinates have been examined in terms of the nonbonded contacts found in the solid state. Favorable orientations for NO can be identified either by the calculation of the close nonbonded contacts or by evaluation of the geometrydependent potential energy using semi-empirical nonbonded potential functions. The nonbonded contacts display temperature-dependent differences consistent with observed structural differences. The motion of NO appears to be controlled by intermolecular interactions that allow a limited set of orientations and under some conditions only a single NO orientation is allowed. In some cases, the equilibria involving the orientations of NO can be analyzed using the van’t Hoff relationship and the free energy and the enthalpy of the solid-state transitions evaluated. The intrinsic barriers to rotation of the NO were examined using a fine-meshed series of DFT calculations. The calculations also showed the detailed effects of the variation of the NO orientation on the equatorial bond distances.