cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A more fundamental wall lubrication force from turbulent dispersion regularization for multiphase CFD applications

Abstract Accurate prediction of the gas volume fraction distribution in the near-wall region is critical for the simulation of bubbly flows. Resolving the near-wall gas profile remains a considerable challenge for multiphase computational fluid dynamics (M-CFD) simulations based on the Eulerian–Eulerian framework, where the coupling of interfacial momentum exchange through closure relations for lift and turbulent dispersion leads to a non-physical gas accumulation in the wall-layer cells. Wall lubrication models have been developed in an attempt to remedy this behavior by providing an artificial force to move the void fraction profile away from the wall. Currently, such models suffer from a severe lack of generality, being characterized by overspecified formulations that are highly dependent on tunable coefficients; moreover, their application often leads to dramatic overcorrections of the void fraction profile, resulting in the first few wall-layer cells being unphysically devoid of the gas phase. Here, we propose a new wall lubrication model that is derived through regularization of turbulent dispersion in the near-wall region to account for the decreasing cross-sectional area of the bubbles. This novel approach is assessed via simulation of experiments from the Liu and Bankoff database using a custom modified version of the twoPhaseEulerFoam solver in OpenFOAM v3.0.1. Comparison with the original model of Antal et al. (1991) and a mesh sensitivity study demonstrate the model's strong performance in volume fraction prediction in addition to its ability to scale well with varying thicknesses of the first wall-layer. This methodology is entirely general and can be used to derive a wall lubrication model from any turbulence dispersion model and assumed void fraction profile. The approach could further be extended for application to multi-group bubble size models.
A 95 GHz antenna/scanner for airborne operation

This paper describes a compact, high speed 95 GHz scanned antenna designed for collecting radar data from an airborne platform. This antenna consists of a corrugated horn feeding an fr1 parabolic reflector through a hole in the scanning mirror, as shown in Figure 1. Radiation exiting the horn is thus collimated by the parabola and is incident on the flat scanning mirror, from whence it is steered to the desired angle. The collimated output is incident on the scanner in such a way that the angle is doubled, so that greater angular coverage can be obtained for a given mirror angular velocity. The scanner operates in only one axis; coverage of the other dimension is given by the forward motion of the aircraft.
Polynomial eigenvalue bounds from companion matrix polynomials

We show how l -ifications, namely, lower order matrix polynomials with the same eigenvalues as a given complex square matrix polynomial, can be used in combination with other recent results, namely...
Comprehensive machine learning analysis of Hydra behavior reveals a stable basal behavioral repertoire

How do animals control their behavior? Scientists have been trying to answer this question for over 2,000 years, and many studies have analysed specific behaviors in different animals. However, most of these studies have traditionally relied on human observers to recognise and classify different behaviors such as movement, rest, grooming or feeding. This approach is subject to human error and bias, and is also very time consuming. Because of this, reseachers normally only study one particular behavior, in a piecemeal fashion. But to capture all the different actions an animal generates, faster, more objective methods of systematically classifying and quantifying behavior would be ideal. One promising opportunity comes from studying a small freshwater organism called Hydra, one of the most primitive animals with a nervous system. Thanks to Hydra’s transparent body, modern imaging techniques can be used to observe the activity of their whole nervous system all at once, while the animal is engaged in different actions. However, to realise this potential, scientists need a quick way of automatically recognising different Hydra behaviors, such as contracting, bending, tentacle swaying, feeding or somersaulting. This is particularly difficult because Hydra’s bodies can change shape in different situations. To address this, Han et al. borrowed cutting-edge techniques from the field of computer vision to create a computer program that could automatically analyse hours of videos of freely-moving Hydra and classify their behavior automatically. The computer algorithms can learn how to recognise different behaviors in two ways: by learning from examples already classified by humans (known as ‘supervised learning’) or by letting it pick out different patterns by itself (known as ‘unsupervised learning’). The program was able to identify all the behaviors previously classified by humans, as well as new types that had been missed by human observation. Using this new computer program, Han et al. discovered that Hydra’s collection of six basic behaviors stays essentially the same under different environmental conditions, such as light or darkness. One possible explanation for this is that its nervous system adapts to the environment to maintain a basic set of actions it needs for survival, although another possibility is that Hydra just does not care and goes along with its basic behaviors, regardless of the environment. Han et al.’s new method is useful not only for classifying all behavioral responses in Hydra, but could potentially be adapted to study all the behaviors in other animal species. This would allow scientists to systematically perform experiments to understand how the nervous system controls all animal behavior, a goal that it is the holy grail of neuroscience.
Incidence of tympanic membrane perforation after intratympanic steroid treatment through myringotomy tubes.

Intratympanic (IT) steroids are often used to treat inner ear disorders such as sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss, autoimmune inner ear disease, and Meniere disease. Administration of corticosteroids via IT injection, via application with a pledget to the round window, or via catheter has been used for this purpose. The frequency of adverse events related to the IT injection of steroids is low, with pain, short-lasting vertigo, otitis media, and tympanic perforations being the most common complications. However, the safety of IT steroid therapy has not yet been established in a randomized clinical trial. In this article, we discuss a group of 11 patients with sensorineural hearing loss who underwent myringotomy and tube placement for home-based dexamethasone instillation and subsequently developed the complication of tympanic membrane perforation. It appears that there is a significantly increased incidence of tympanic membrane perforations in this population.
Mendelssohn’s Theory of Mixed Sentiments

In aesthetics, Moses Mendelssohn is famous for his theory of “mixed sentiments,” his solution to the “paradox of tragedy” discussed for decades after Jean-Baptiste Du Bos pithily stated that “the arts of poetry and painting are never more applauded, than when they are most successful in moving us to pity.
From Process Corners to Statistical Circuit Design Methodology: Opportunities and Challenges

In this paper, we will focus on the problem of modeling global or die-to-die variation in semiconductor devices. We will demonstrate that the process corner-based approach for modeling global variation, which has been the dominant approach for design validation, has fundamental limitations in predicting the circuit performance variation. We will then show how a full statistical model of variation can accurately predict circuit behavior and discuss some of the challenges in moving from a corner-based design to statistical simulations.
Assertion Coverage Aware Trace Signal Selection in Post-Silicon Validation

Limited observability and controllability are the major challenges in post-silicon validation and debugging. Therefore trace buffer based run-time techniques have been proposed and applied to post-silicon validation for bug detection and localization. Assertions are widely used in pre-silicon verification to monitor if certain functional scenarios are working properly. In post-silicon validation, assertion checkers can be synthesized into the original design for enhanced visibility and debugging. However, hardware assertion checkers introduce additional area overhead. In this paper, we propose a method for trace signal selection for maximizing assertion coverage using SAT-based signal restoration algorithm without introducing any additional hardware. Experimental results show that the proposed methods can significantly improve the assertion coverage (up to 187.5%) compared to the use of forward propagation and backward justification (FB) based signal restoration algorithm for trace signal selection.
A Utopian Mirror: Reflections from the Future of Childhood and Education in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Island

Science Fiction (SF) literature offers a ripe space to analyze and critique modern conceptions of the child and childhood. The landscapes of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Island provide specific insights into the dystopian and utopian dimensions of adult–child relationships. Mapping these models onto contemporary schooling practices informs the work we do as educators and parents with an effort to reconceptualize our communities by arguing for new forms of subjectivity afforded to the child and alternative agencies that have been excluded from childhood in most educational environments. This chapter helps to identify how our adult–child interactions and educational settings approach the dystopian or utopian, and how we can reimagine these spaces with models informed by SF, thus bringing our dreams and nightmares to bear on our educational realities.
Broad Learning Introduction

We would like to start this book with an ancient story about “The Blind Men and the Elephant” from John Godfrey Saxe. This story is a famous Indian fable about six blind sojourners who come across different parts of an elephant in their life journeys. In turn, each blind man creates his own version of reality from that limited experiences and perspectives. Instead of explaining its philosophical meanings, we indent to use this story to illustrate the current situations that both the academia and industry are facing about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining.
Energy Bands in Topological Insulators

The chapter describes a real-life example of the topological insulator by calculating the surface energy spectrum in bismuth chalcogenides. The spin-momentum locking of the massless and massive Dirac fermions and the inverse spin-galvanic effect are discussed.
Type I interferon responses to ischemic injury begin in the bone marrow of mice and humans and depend on Tet2, Nrf2, and Irf3

Abstract Sterile tissue injury locally activates innate immune responses via interactions with damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Here, by analyzing ∼120K single cell transcriptomes after myocardial infarction (MI) in mice and humans, we show neutrophil and monocyte subsets induce type I interferon (IFN) stimulated genes (ISGs) in myeloid progenitors of the bone marrow, far from the site of injury. In patients with acute MI, peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes express ISGs at levels far beyond healthy individuals and comparable to patients with lupus. In the bone marrow of Tet2-/- mice, ISGs are spontaneously induced in myeloid progenitors and their progeny. In the heart, IFN responses are negatively regulated by Ccr2- resident macrophages in a Nrf2-dependent fashion. Our results show post-MI IFN signaling begins in the bone marrow, implicate multiple transcription factors in its regulation (Tet2, Irf3, Nrf2), and provide a clinical biomarker (ISG score) for studying post-MI IFN signaling in patients.
Seismic noise influences brood size dynamics in a subterranean insect with biparental care

Anthropogenic noise pollution is known to alter the behaviour of acoustically sensitive animals. Many animals also sense vibrations through solid substrates and use substrate-borne vibrations in conspecific communication. The effects of substrate-borne noise pollution, however, remain largely unknown. Here, we investigate the potential for seismic (soil-borne) noise to alter the reproductive behaviour of the burying beetle Nicrophorus marginatus, a species that breeds below the soil surface on vertebrate carcasses and provides biparental care to offspring. Nicrophorus marginatus beetles produce sound using stridulatory structures on the elytra and abdomen, but no ears have been identified in these beetles, suggesting that stridulation might function to produce substrate-borne signals. We examined the timing of stridulation during reproduction, measured neural responses of beetles to substrate-borne vibrations, and measured beetle reproduction in the presence and absence of seismic noise. We found that parental beetles stridulate throughout carcass preparation and the burial process and confirmed that adult beetles are sensitive to low-frequency seismic vibrations. Variables related to brood size were affected in treatments with seismic noise, with burying beetles producing smaller broods with lower total mass than those in control treatments, providing support for the hypothesis that substrate-borne noise may impose fitness costs for soil-dwelling animals. The precise mechanisms leading to reduced brood size remain unknown but may relate to disruption of seismic communication or inaccurate assessment of resource size. Additional investigations are required to understand the degree to which human-generated seismic noise in natural settings influences other edaphic species, and whether these behavioural impacts lead to shifts in edaphic community structure or function.
Safe Wasserstein Constrained Deep Q-Learning

This paper presents a distributionally robust Q-Learning algorithm (DrQ) which leverages Wasserstein ambiguity sets to provide probabilistic out-of-sample safety guarantees during online learning. First, we follow past work by separating the constraint functions from the principal objective to create a hierarchy of machines which estimate the feasible state-action space within the constrained Markov decision process (CMDP). DrQ works within this framework by augmenting constraint costs with tightening offset variables obtained through Wasserstein distributionally robust optimization (DRO). These offset variables correspond to worst-case distributions of modeling error characterized by the TD-errors of the constraint Q-functions. This procedure allows us to safely approach the nominal constraint boundaries with strong probabilistic safety guarantees. Using a case study of safe lithium-ion battery fast charging, we demonstrate dramatic improvements in safety and performance relative to conventional methods.
Powering the Gracilis for Facial Reanimation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Outcomes Based on Donor Nerve.

Importance Free gracilis transfer for dynamic reanimation in chronic facial paralysis is the gold standard, but there remains a need to better understand outcomes with respect to the donor nerve. Objective To characterize outcomes in adults undergoing primary gracilis transfer for facial paralysis stratified by donor nerve used for neurotization. Data Sources Search strategies were used in Ovid MEDLINE (1946-2019), Embase (1947-2019), Scopus (1823-2019), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov (1997-2019). Study Selection Inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to capture studies in adults with unilateral chronic facial paralysis undergoing single-paddle free gracilis transfer. All study types were included except case reports. Abstracts and full texts were reviewed in duplicate. Of 130 unique citations, 10 studies including 295 patients were included after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed between November 2018 and December 2019. Data Extraction and Synthesis PRISMA guidelines were followed. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess study quality, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess risk of bias. Independent extraction by 2 authors (P.M.V. and J.J.C.) was performed. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Main Outcomes and Measures Owing to heterogeneity in reporting of facial reanimation outcomes, we first performed a systematic review, and then compiled available outcomes for meta-analysis. Outcomes studied for meta-analysis were oral commissure excursion and facial symmetry. Results Meta-analysis of masseteric nerve (MN) (n = 56) vs cross-facial nerve graft (CFNG) (n = 52) in 3 retrospective studies showed no statistical heterogeneity between these studies (I2 = 0%), and the standardized mean difference (SMD) was greater for MN (0.55; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.94). Meta-analysis of angles of symmetry in 2 retrospective studies comparing MN (n = 51) to CFNG (n = 47) both at rest (−0.22; 95% CI, −0.63 to 0.18) and with smiling (−0.14; 95% CI, −0.73 to 0.46) were better with MN, though the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions and Relevance Owing to heterogeneity in reported outcomes from facial reanimation, we were unable to make definitive conclusions regarding the optimal donor nerve. Establishing a reporting standard at peer-reviewed journals to improve results reporting is one method to allow for improved collaboration in the future. Standardizing follow-up times, assessing spontaneity in an objective and reproducible fashion, and use of consistent outcome measures would allow for future meta-analyses and better understanding of options for facial reanimation.
Optimal Feature Selection for Intrusion Detection in Medical Cyber-Physical Systems

Medical cyber physical systems (MCPS) integrate the physical, communication and computation components of medical devices to enhance the quality and reliability of healthcare systems. With the remarkable progress of MCPS technologies in recent years, there is a need to advance the security measures to efficiently detect attacks in this domain. Research on intrusion detection for medical cyber physical systems is still in its infancy. For an efficient intrusion detection system (IDS), it is important to address the problem of feature selection to remove redundant, irrelevant and noisy features. Feature selection is even more relevant to address in MCPS as the use of entire feature space places unnecessary burden on resource constrained systems in this domain. Also since real-time detection of attacks is critical in healthcare systems, the amount of data processed by IDS must be reduced to achieve low detection latency. In this paper, we investigate the problem of feature selection in medical cyber physical systems. Our initial results demonstrate the laplacian scoring techniques are successful in optimal feature selection with reduced memory consumption.
Letting the sun shine on patient voices: Perspectives about medications for opioid use disorder in Florida.

Abstract The 2017 declaration of the opioid overdose epidemic as a public health emergency in the United States enhanced a national focus on effective and sustainable treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), including multiple options utilizing medication. Despite clinical studies demonstrating efficacy, numerous reports suggest that medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) has been underutilized, leaving many questions about specific barriers and facilitators. This study examines factors impacting attitudes and perspectives related to MOUD that influence its utilization and acceptance in a state where support for harm reduction and treatment policy has been limited. With consideration for the contextual cultural factors of this region, we conducted twelve individual interviews with people seeking treatment for OUD at a detoxification facility in Tampa, Florida. This study called attention to the perspectives of patients regarding their unique self-identified needs and beliefs around MOUD as it relates to their addiction treatment. We evaluated the perspectives collected in the interviews (N = 12) based on three main themes: 1) positive perceptions of MOUD; 2) negative perceptions of MOUD; and 3) overall perceptions of treatment and recovery. Findings suggest that participants' varying levels of positive and negative perspectives about MOUD are informed by nuances in their social networks and varying levels of exposure or education. For example, participants held more negative opinions of MOUD than positive, accounting mostly for a view that it serves as a direct substitute for illicit opioids rather than a sustainable or supportive solution addressing the underlying causes of addiction. These opinions may be largely dependent on geographic location that dictates policy, practice, funding, and, in turn, cultural acceptance of MOUD. The findings in this qualitative study may help to inform future education efforts, initiatives addressing patient-level concerns, and provide decision-makers with meaningful information to tailor programmatic policy and procedures specific to local area social inputs and resource exposure.
Review: Treaties and Their Practice -- Symptoms of Their Rise and Decline

This essay reviews George Nolte’s 2018 book, Treaties and their Practice – Symptoms of Their Rise and Decline. In particular, it engages with Nolte’s analogy of treaty-making to the crew tying Ulysses to the mast in their encounter with the Sirens. It surveys a range of the most important treaty regimes today, including treaties on (i) international peace and security; (ii) human rights; (iii) trade; (iv) investment; and (v) the environment (chiefly, climate change). In doing so, the essay explores whether (and how well) Nolte employs treaty “practice” as a less myopic vehicle for evaluating modern treaty-making than the conventional emphasis on treaty texts alone. In particular, the review highlights a series of reinforcing dichotomies that Nolte (and others) may use to evaluate treaty-making – contrasting the treaty’s rise with its decline; narrow meanings of practice with broad ones; legal applications with political tensions; treaty compliance with treaty effectiveness; and a bird’s eye view with the perspective of a worm. Each dichotomy helps international lawyers look beyond treaty texts and reorient their focal points for a broader – and more pluralist – vision of the role of treaties in the current age.
Does your past define you? How weight histories are associated with child eating-disorder psychopathology

To examine how parents’ and adolescents’ weight histories were associated with parents’ approach to eating/weight-related parenting and children’s eating-disorder behaviors. Participants were 502 parents (69.3% mothers, 30.7% fathers) of children 12–16 years old who completed an online survey. Parents reported their own and their child’s weight status during childhood and adolescence. Parents’ and children’s weight histories were categorized as “weight loss,” “weight stability,” or “weight gain” and were examined in relation to feeding practices and eating-disorder psychopathology. Parents with a history of weight gain had greater personal eating-disorder psychopathology and more concerns about their child’s weight than parents with weight stability or loss. They also reported greater parental overvaluation (judgment of themselves as parents according to their child’s weight/shape). Children with a history of weight loss or gain were more likely to have eating-disorder behaviors than those with stable weight. Analyses revealed that results largely persisted after adjusting for child BMI-z. Both parent and child weight gain between childhood and adolescence were associated with eating-disorder psychopathology, eating/weight-related parenting, and feeding practices. Pediatricians and clinicians should assess weight history when considering risk for eating disorders and obesity. Level III, Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–controlled analytic studies
The Effect of Supportive Work Environment on Employee Commitment-Mediating Role of Employee Engagement in Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka

A supportive work environment develops an atmosphere to attract and retain a talented and motivated workforce to an organization. It further improves the commitment and dedication of employees towards more work. As a key player of the Sri Lankan economy and the second-largest foreign exchange earner to the country, the apparel industry requires to consider keeping such a workforce by creating a supportive work environment. In the Sri Lankan context, few empirical studies are available which were addressed the work environment in the apparel sector. The existing empirical knowledge gap concentrates on giving attention to this aspect. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze the relationships among the supportive work environment, employee engagement, employee commitment and explore the mediating role of employee engagement in the effects of supportive work environment on employee commitment of selected apparel firms in Sri Lanka. To achieve these objectives, data were collected from 203 machine operators of the selected two apparel companies using a structured questionnaire. The sample was chosen through Stratified Random sampling technique. Stratified sampling is where the population is divided into subgroups (strata) and a random sample is taken from each subgroup. The researcher was chosen machine operators based on the company size from the whole population. In this case, subgroup was grounded on company size. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis. In this study, the supportive work environment is the independent variable, employee commitment is the dependent variable and employee engagement is the mediating variable. The results indicated that significant positive relationships exist between independent, dependent and mediating variables and complementary partial mediation effect of employee engagement in the effects of supportive work environment on employee commitment. As a result of this study, Managers of Apparel companies must give their attention to a combination of a supportive work environment and employee engagement to increase the level of employee commitment. This study only covered two firms in Nuwaraeliya Apparel Industry. So in the future scope will be expanding beyond the research area, it will be effective and useful.
Mass Murder in America: Trends, Characteristics, Explanations, and Policy Response

Mass murder, especially involving a firearm, has been a subject of increasing interest among criminologists over the past decade. Lacking an existing and reliable data resource for studying these c...
Philosophy as a Tool for Sustainable Development: A Contemporary Issue in Nigerian Educational System

This paper is aimed at assessing philosophy as a tool for sustainable development in Nigeria educational system. In the past, there was seemly intractable argument on the relationship between philosophy and education, and as it helps in developing education and educational system in the country. While to another, philosophy transcends the entire facets of education and societal life. It was the view of many scholars over the years in Nigeria, that the best tool for effective sustainable development in Nigeria educational system, and for effective teaching and learning is experience arising from philosophical inquiry. It becomes glaring that no educational system in the country can stand the test of time without a philosophical foundation. By so doing, the paper highlights the concepts of philosophy and development, developmental problems in Nigeria, the external influences in Nigeria’s underdevelopment and how philosophy can assist in sustainable development of Nigeria.
The development of temperament from a behavioral genetics perspective.

Publisher Summary Researches employing multivariate behavioral genetic methods reveal that genetic influences largely explain the behavioral consistency of temperament across methods of assessment, situations, and age. This probably comes as no surprise and fits with the commonly held static view of genetic effects. Genetic contributions to behavioral consistency are only a part of the story. In accordance with a more dynamic view of genetic effects, genes also contribute to behavioral differences or change in temperament across methods, situations, and age. The finding that there are unique genetic influences on temperament across measures, situations, and age has important implications for developmental researchers interested in temperament. Specifically, findings based on a single assessment of temperament may not generalize to other assessments.
Changes in visual acuity associated with shunt failure

The object of this article was to report on a retrospective analysis of the clinical findings in a series of patients with changes in visual acuity associated with shunt failure. Over a 10-year period, 350 patients underwent revisions for shunt failure. The clinical course of patients who demonstrated changes in visual acuity (VA) before or during hospitalization were reviewed; follow-up was achieved using outpatient records and telephone calls with physicians, family, or caregivers. Six patients (4 male) ranging in age from 2.5 years to 40 years demonstrated changes in vision associated with shunt failure. The youngest patient lapsed into coma before transfer and showed bilateral occipital lobe infarctions on the CT scan. Three patients had no complaints referable to the visual system prior to revision. Two patients with symptoms lasting more than 21 days showed unequivocal signs of increased intracranial pressure. Serial CT scans remained unchanged in 2 patients. A 3rd patient showed questionable progression in ventricular volume, while another patient's ventricles dilated after a period of 48–72 h. Four patients demonstrated a pattern of aqueductal stenosis, long-term shunting without revision, small ventricles, and poor outpatient follow-up. Four patients showed partial or complete recovery following revision. Changes in vision are uncommon and can be an isolated finding associated with shunt failure. Patients with aqueductal stenosis, long-term shunting without revision, and small, potentially non-compliant ventricles may be at risk of this complication. Misdiagnosis or inadequate follow-up places these patients at additional risk, but rapid revision can result in partial or complete recovery.
Chapter 47 Preferences and Property Rights in Ultimatum and Dictator Games

Publisher Summary The results demonstrated in this chapter quite clearly the impact of property rights on the shared expectations about appropriate proposer behavior in both ultimatum and dictator games. If the game is presented as division (which by one definition means literally to separate into equal parts by a divisor) and players are randomly assigned to positions, there is no legitimate reason why the proposer should be allowed to exploit his or her strategic advantage. The norm of equality applies and both players assume that is the operating norm.
Nephrotoxicity of Dietary Ochratoxin A in Broiler Chikens

Abstract Graded doses of pure ochratoxin A (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 μg of toxin per g of feed) were incorporated into a commercial diet which was fed to chicks from 1 day to 3 weeks of age, at which time the experiments were terminated. Growth was inhibited at 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 μg/g, whereas the kidneys were enlarged at doses of 1.0 μg/g and above. Renal function as measured by clearance of phenol red was decreased 15 and 31% by doses of 4.0 and 8.0 μg/g, respectively. Uric acid was increased 38 and 48% over the control values by doses of 4.0 and 8.0 μg/g, respectively. The plasma electrolytes Na, Cl, Ca, and K were measured; however, only K was significantly (P < 0.05) altered, showing a decrease at doses of 4.0 and 8.0 μg/g. The percentage dry weight of the kidneys decreased significantly at dose levels of 4.0 and 8.0 μg/g, indicative of edema. Histological examination of kidney sections gave the impression of edema and some tubular necrosis. Pathological changes were observed at all dose levels. These data demonstrate that ochratoxin A is a severe nephrotoxin in young broiler chickens.
Robust Stability and Performance for Fixed-Order Dynamic Compensation via the Optimal Projection Equations with Guaranteed Cost Bounds

The optimal projection approach to fixed-order dynamic compensation is merged with the guaranteed cost approach to robust stability and performance to obtain a theory of reduced-order, robust control design. The principal result is a system of modified Riccati and Lyapunov equations which explicitly characterize robust dynamic controllers of fixed dimension.
Environmental Conservation Strategies: What Works and What Might Work Better

While environmental conservation as a component of agricultural policy dates back to the 1930s, it remained a neglected stepchild until the more recent Farm Bills of 1985, 1990 and 1996. The last three farm bills have spawned massive programs to induce, cajole and force farmers and ranchers to adopt and implement better conservation technologies. These recent strategies have included regulation and targeting in addition to, or combined with, the old standard of buying the cooperation of farmers and ranchers. While some of these programs have been very popular, the actual conservation impacts have often been less spectacular than anticipated. Many of the programs have not been implemented in a way that maximizes society’s environmental objectives. Research, which suggests why these programs were effective or ineffective at altering the behavior of farmers and ranchers, will be reviewed in this chapter. The programs’ impact as conservation tools will be explored. In addition, the potential impacts of the new Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are examined, and some suggestions for alternative conservation strategies that may be more effective and efficient are delineated.
X-band multi-beam klystron design and progress report

Progress on the development of a 5MW 16 beam x-band multi-beam klystron is presented. The power from each of the 16 klystrons is combined using a matched waveguide network. Mechanical and electric models and simulations are discussed. The status of procuring and assembling parts is presented.
Postcolonial Interjections: Jean-Philippe Stassen Illustrates Heart of Darkness and We Killed Mangy-Dog

En 2006, le bedeiste belge Jean-Philippe Stassen publia de nouvelles editions de deux livres de l’ere du colonialisme europeen—Cœur des tenebres de Joseph Conrad et Nous avons tue le Chien Tiegneux de Luis Bernardo Honwana—pour lesquels il fournit des illustrations et, dans le cas de Cœur des tenebres, d’autres materiaux qui contextualisent le roman. Faisant partie d’une tendance plus large dans laquelle les artistes illustrent la litterature classique, ces deux nouvelles publications invitent les lecteurs a retourner aux originaux pour explorer la notion de silence et la facon dont elle fonctionne differemment chez les deux auteurs differents. Cet article considere les pratiques variees du paratexte de Stassen afin d’examiner comment, grâce aux interjections a travers le temps et l’espace, Stassen interrompt, augmente, conteste et accompagne les textes originaux. Pour Cœur des tenebres, le cadrage devient une strategie polyvalente qui montre les ecarts et les defauts dans l’ecriture de Conrad. Par contre, Stassen adapte les strategies litteraires de Honwana et les transpose au domaine visuel, ainsi il souligne les silences et le pouvoir subtile de l’œil percant dans l’allegorie politique Nous avons tue le Chien Teigneux. Le choix de ces deux textes suggere tout un remaniement du discours colonial. En fin de compte, la gamme des pratiques du paratexte de Stassen et les caracteristiques formelles de ses illustrations, destinees a faire repenser comment les lecteurs abordent les originaux, cherche a faire aussi repenser le colonialisme europeen, l’imperialisme et leurs modes de representation. In 2006, Belgian cartoonist Jean-Philippe Stassen produced new editions of two books from the European colonial era—Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Luis Bernardo Honwana’s We Killed Mangy Dog—which he provided illustrations and, in the case of Heart of Darkness, other contextualizing materials. Part of a broader trend in which artists illustrate classic literature, these two publications invite readers to return to the original texts to explore the notion of silence and how it functions differently in each of the texts. This article considers Stassen’s various paratextual practices to examine how, through interjections across time and space, he disrupts, enhances, challenges, and complements the originals. In the case Heart of Darkness, framing becomes a multivalent strategy that exposes gaps and shortcomings in Conrad’s writing. Conversely, Stassen adapts Honwana’s literary strategies and transposes them to the visual field, thus emphasizing silences and the subtle power of the piercing eye in the political allegory We Killed Mangy Dog. The choice of these two particular texts suggests an overhauling of colonial discourse. Ultimately, the range of Stassen’s paratextual practices and the formal characteristics of his illustrations, meant to reconfigure readers’ approach to the original texts, seek to rethink European colonialism, imperialism, and their modes of representation.
Re-Embedding of Dis-Embedding the Corporation? The Transnational Social Networks of Corporate Responsibility Across Europe

This paper addresses the national and trans-national networks of Corporate Responsibility across Europe from 1990 until 2007. In different ways, these networks both dis- and re-embed the corporation in European society. This argument and discussion must be situated against the backdrop of my larger argument, explicated elsewhere, about the Political Economy of Corporate Responsibility across Europe and beyond. For those who are not familiar with it I will summarize it here.
Wintertime weather‐climate variability and its links to early spring ice‐out in Maine lakes

In recent decades, Maine lakes have recorded their earliest ice-out dates in over a century. In temperate regions, seasonal lake ice-cover is a critical phenomenon linking climate, aquatic ecosystem and society. And the lengthening of the ice-free period due to warmer climate has been linked to increased algal growth and declining lake water quality, warming of water temperatures leading to alterations in aquatic biodiversity, and the shortening of ice-fishing period and other traditional winter activities over lakes. In this study, historical record of eight lakes and six benchmarked meteorological stations in Maine for the period 1950–2010 were analyzed to (1) investigate the relationship between antecedent winter (January–February) temperatures, degree-day variables, and spring-time ice breakup dates, including the identification of thresholds and (2) determine the influence of the extreme phases of select atmospheric teleconnection patterns (Tropical Northern hemisphere- TNH and North Atlantic Oscillation- NAO) on the winter degree-day quantities and spring ice-out dates. The influence of antecedent winter degree-days on spring ice-out dates was characterized by determining the threshold winter accumulated freezing and melting degree-day (AFDD and AMDD), the exceedance (non-exceedance) of which engenders early (late) spring ice-out dates. Statistical analysis between teleconnection indices and winter AFDD and/or AMDD quantities for Maine revealed an asymmetric relationship. Strongly negative phases of TNH and, to a lesser extent, positive phases of NAO are linked with spatial and temporal pattern of early spring ice breakup events in Maine lakes. These relationships taken together with observed warming trends have the potential to accelerate the decline in water quality in Maine lakes.
Antarctic bedrock topography uncertainty and ice sheet stability

Antarctic bedrock elevation estimates have uncertainties exceeding 1 km in certain regions. Bedrock elevation, particularly where the bedrock is below sea level and bordering the ocean, can have a large impact on ice sheet stability. We investigate how present-day bedrock elevation uncertainty affects ice sheet model simulations for a generic past warm period based on the mid-Pliocene, although these uncertainties are also relevant to present-day and future ice sheet stability. We perform an ensemble of simulations with random topographic noise added with various length scales and with amplitudes tuned to the uncertainty of the Bedmap2 data set. Total Antarctic ice sheet retreat in these simulations varies between 12.6 and 17.9 m equivalent sea level rise after 3 kyrs of warm climate forcing. This study highlights the sensitivity of ice sheet models to existing uncertainties in bedrock elevation and the ongoing need for new data acquisition.
Optimum upstream power back-off and multiuser detection for VDSL

The problem of multiuser detection for upstream very-high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) transmission, where far-end crosstalk (FEXT) signals at the input of a VDSL receiver are viewed as interferers that share the same channel as the remote user signal, is addressed. Knowledge of the FEXT impulse responses at the central office, as well as upstream transmission based on multicarrier modulation by all remote users, are assumed. The joint application of upstream power back-off with a reduced-complexity decision-feedback (DFE) multiuser detector, where only the most significant crosstalk interferers are suppressed, is considered, and the coefficients of the minimum mean-square error structure are determined. Then a novel optimum power back-off algorithm is introduced, and its performance in terms of achievable rates evaluated. Finally, numerical results that illustrate the impact of power back-off on achievable performance of a VDSL system with multiuser detection are presented.
Costs of attendance and the educational programs of first-time community college students

Abstract I use data from the State University of New York to examine whether changes in community college attendance costs yield different impacts on first-time enrollment in different community college programs. Evidence is strong that academic-program enrollment significantly and substantially decreases when 2-year tuition increases, but weaker that it increases when 4-year tuition increases. Occupational-program enrollment is less responsive to 2- and 4-year tuition changes, but more responsive to labor market conditions. These different responses translate into significant changes in the program composition of entering community college cohorts when the costs of attendance change.
A reversal of misfortune for myotonic dystrophy

Induction of the expression of a splicing protein reverses myotonia in a mouse model of myotonic dystrophy.
In vitro retentive strength of fixed bridges constructed with acrylic pontics and an ultraviolet-light-polymerized resin

The forces necessary to dislodge an acrylic pontic retained by an ultraviolet-light-polymerized resin in a three-unit bridge were determined in this in vitro evaluation. The application of a technique of bonding an acrylic pontic with an ultraviolet-light-polymerized resin system is clinically warranted since the bonds should withstand normal masticatory stresses.
Coincidental associations do not provide proof for the etiology of autism

In this editorial, we are challenging the opinions of the review “Theoretical aspects of autism: Causes—A review” by H. Ratajczak (J. Immunotoxicol. 8:68–79, 2011). There are a number of different ...
Exposure of laboratory animals to atmospheric maganese from automotive emissions

Abstract Rats and hamsters were exposed eight hours/day for 56 consecutive days to automotive emissions containing increased concentrations of Mn particulate which resulted from the use of a fuel additive, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl. The exhaust gases were generated by using a 1972 Chevrolet 350 CID engine dynamometer system. The exhaust was diluted and the average concentration of Mn particulate in the irradiated animal exposure chambers was approximately 117 μg/m 3 . No gross changes in general condition or appearance were observed in any of the animals. Microscopic examination of tissues from the animals showed changes related to the exhaust emissions and no changes were found which could be solely attributed to the presence of Mn or MMT. Mn concentrations in the tissues from exposed animals were generally elevated.
Unusual intramolecular hydrogen bonding in Cy2GaBrNH2Ph. The first structurally characterized dialkyl gallium halide primary amine adduct

Abstract The aniline adduct of dicyclohexyl gallium bromide Cy 2 GaBrNH 2 Ph ( 1 ) provides the first example of a structurally characterized dialkyi gallium halide primary amine adduct. X-ray crystallographic data indicate the possibility of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the bromide and a hydrogen of the amine group (H⋯Br = 2.48 A).
The capability of several toxic plants to condition taste aversions in sheep

Grazing livestock frequently ingest toxic plants, occasionally with fatal results. Behavioral adjustments by livestock may reduce toxin intake; for example they can develop food aversions which may protect animals from over-ingestion of toxic plants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three plants with different mechanisms of toxicity for their efficacy in conditioning a taste aversion: (1) a seleniferous plant, Xylorhiza glabriuscula, (2) an indolizidine alkaloid-containing plant, Astragalus lentiginosus, and (3) a diterpene acidcontaining plant, Gutierrezia sarothrae. For each plant species, 15 sheep were divided into 3 treatment groups and periodically tested for consumption of a novel food, whole corn: (1) controls – given 200 g of ground alfalfa hay by oral gavage, (2) averted – given lithium chloride (LiCl) at 175 mg/kg BW via oral gavage, and (3) given the specific target plant by oral gavage. X. glabriuscula was given at a dose equivalent to 3 mg Se/kg BW; A. lentiginosus was given at a dose equivalent to 3 mg/kg of the toxic alkaloid, swainsonine; freshly thawed G. sarothrae was dosed at 5 g/kg body weight (BW). Both LiCl and Xylorhiza conditioned an aversion to corn, with sheep eating 1.6 and 0.6% of offered corn during the final test; controls were not averted, eating 93% of the corn (P < 0.01). Sheep were partially averted by Xylorhiza after a single dose, and the aversion was complete after the second dose. Sheep were not averted by A. lentiginosus or G. sarothrae. Of the three toxic plants used in this study, only Xylorhiza conditioned a taste aversion. These results likely reflect differing mechanisms of action of the plant toxin(s) on brain and gut structures important for forming conditioned taste aversions. These results suggest that conditioned aversions to Se-containing plants may help to deter consumption of such plants by grazing ruminants on rangelands.
Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going? The Evolution of American Higher Education

Abstract American Higher Education has been engaged in a journey from a knowledge-centered focus towards a performance-based emphasis. What does it mean to prepare students to learn as opposed to disseminating the knowledge base? The federal government, accrediting bodies and educational organizations are demanding that higher education critically examine the purpose of a higher education. What does it mean to prepare students to enter into the work force and the citizenry? Comprehending this journey into this realm of measurable outcomes and accountability is critical for understanding the implications for program development and the advancement of higher education.