cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the Bohr-Independence Hypothesis for Nuclear Reactions in the Continuum: α+Co 59 , p+Ni 62 and α+Fe 56 , p+Cl 59

Measurements were made of the energy spectra at various angles of protons and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles emitted from the reactions of protons with ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{62}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles with ${\mathrm{Co}}^{59}$ to determine the extent to which the deexcitation of the reaction intermediate, ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{63}$ at 20.2-MeV excitation energy, is independent of its mode of formation. Similarly, the reaction intermediate ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{60}$ at 23.6 MeV was formed by protons on ${\mathrm{Co}}^{59}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles on ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{56}$, again to determine to what degree its deexcitation by proton and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle emission is independent of its mode of formation. Small differences in the shapes of corresponding energy spectra [($p, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) versus ($\ensuremath{\alpha}, p$), and ($\ensuremath{\alpha}, {\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) versus ($p, \ensuremath{\alpha}$)] that were observed in apparent violation of the Bohr-independence hypothesis are removed after account has been taken of the effects of angular-momentum conservation. The observed enhancement of the ratio of cross sections $\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}(x, p)}{\ensuremath{\sigma}(x, \ensuremath{\alpha})}$ for the proton entrance channel over that for the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ entrance channel cannot be interpreted in terms of angular-momentum conservation. The consequences of the possibility of isotopic-spin conservation, when considered, lead to enhanced proton reemission similar to that observed experimentally.
Analysis on the malaria epidemic characteristics during 2005-2013 in Bozhou City

Objective To analyze malaria outbreak and epidemiological characteristics from 2005 to 2013 in Bozhou City,and to provide the reference for the prevention and treatment of malaria.Methods Based on the collected data of malaria incidence in the city,the distribution characteristics of time,regions,and population of malaris cases was analyzed using descriptive epidemiology.Results Malaria cases were 6 510,17 706,13 799,5 856,2 605,678,214,8 and 0 each year from 2005 to 2013 respectively,and the total number of reported cases was 47 376,with an average annual incidence of 113.24/100 000.The number of reported cases was 21 451 in Guoyang County,11 540 cases in Mengcheng County,12 061 cases in Lixin County and 2 321 cases in Qiaocheng District.The gender ratio of reported cases was 1.34:1 (male:female).The most cases were young adults,11 to 20 year old accounded for 19.27％ of the total number were the most cases,the rest of the age group's incidence and composition ratios were close.Farmers and students were the main case groups,accounting for 68.44％(32 424/47 376) and 20.66％(9 787/47 376).The peak season for the infection was summer,the cases were concentrated in June to November,totally 45 163 cases,accounting for 95.33％ of the total cases.Malaria cases reported increased by 2.69 times in 2006 compared to 2005,however from 2007 to 2012,the malaria cases decreased by 22.18％,57.74％,55.77％,74.04％,64.86％,96.37％ and 100％,compared to the previous year.Conclusions Malaria situation in Bozhou city has shown a sharp downward trend,and the current situation was basically stable while 2013 was the first year without local infection. Key words: Malaria; Epidemic characteristics; Bozhou City
History of Microstrip and Dielectric Resonator Antennas

The history of microstrip antennas (MSAs) and dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) is reviewed. The early work is reviewed, including some interesting controversies. Some of the important developments in these areas are discussed, including methods for improving performance in terms of bandwidth, radiation efficiency, mutual coupling, and physical size.
Special Section Guest Editorial: Instrument Calibration and Product Validation of GOES-R

This guest editorial introduces the Special Section on Instrument Calibration and Product Validation of GOES-R.
Tilt (in)variant lateral scan in oblique plane microscopy: a geometrical optics approach

Oblique plane microscopy (OPM) is a single objective light-sheet microscopy that performs three dimensional (3D) imaging by axial scan of the generated light-sheet. Recently, multiple techniques for lateral scanning of the generated light-sheet in OPM have emerged. However, their suitability for geometrically distortion free 3D imaging, which essentially requires a constant tilt light-sheet scan, has not been evaluated. In this work, we use a geometrical optics approach and derive analytical relationship for the amount of tilt variance in planar mirror based scanned oblique plane illumination (SOPi) arrangement. We experimentally validate the derived relationship and use it to arrive at an optimized scanner geometry and to understand its associated limitations. We discuss the effects of scanning on optical aberrations and 3D field of view in optimized, tilt invariant, lateral scanning OPM systems. We also provide experimental strategies enabling precise scanner alignment for tilt invariance, as well as an open source platform for rapid design of new oblique light-sheet microscopes.
Winds from Luminous Late-Type Stars: II. Broadband Frequency Distribution of Alfv\'en Waves

We present the numerical simulations of winds from evolved giant stars using a fully non-linear, time dependent 2.5-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code. This study extends our previous fully non-linear MHD wind simulations to include a broadband frequency spectrum of Alfv\'en waves that drive winds from red giant stars. We calculated four Alfv\'en wind models that cover the whole range of Alfv\'en wave frequency spectrum to characterize the role of freely propagated and reflected Alfv\'en waves in the gravitationally stratified atmosphere of a late-type giant star. Our simulations demonstrate that, unlike linear Alfv\'en wave-driven wind models, a stellar wind model based on plasma acceleration due to broadband non-linear Alfv\'en waves, can consistently reproduce the wide range of observed radial velocity profiles of the winds, their terminal velocities and the observed mass loss rates. Comparison of the calculated mass loss rates with the empirically determined mass loss rate for alpha Tau suggests an anisotropic and time-dependent nature of stellar winds from evolved giants.
Case Study Instruction Experiences in Educational Psychology and Pre-Service Teachers’ Achievement Goals for Learning:

Case studies have become a popular vehicle for pre-service teachers to be introduced to the challenges of classroom teaching and participate in hypothetical classroom decision-making. Because of th...
A Real-Time, GPU-Based Implementation of Aperture Domain Model Image REconstruction

Multipath and off-axis scattering are two of the primary mechanisms for ultrasound image degradation. To address their impact, we have proposed Aperture Domain Model Image REconstruction (ADMIRE). This algorithm utilizes a model-based approach in order to identify and suppress sources of acoustic clutter. The ability of ADMIRE to suppress clutter and improve image quality has been demonstrated in previous works, but its use for real-time imaging has been infeasible due to its significant computational requirements. However, in recent years, the use of graphics processing units (GPUs) for general-purpose computing has enabled the significant acceleration of compute-intensive algorithms. This is because many modern GPUs have thousands of computational cores that can be utilized to perform massively parallel processing. Therefore, in this work, we have developed a GPU-based implementation of ADMIRE. The implementation on a single GPU provides a speedup of two orders of magnitude when compared to a serial CPU implementation, and additional speedup is achieved when the computations are distributed across two GPUs. In addition, we demonstrate the feasibility of the GPU implementation to be used for real-time imaging by interfacing it with a Verasonics Vantage 128 ultrasound research system. Moreover, we show that other beamforming techniques, such as delay-and-sum (DAS) and short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC), can be computed and simultaneously displayed with ADMIRE. The frame rate depends upon various parameters, and this is exhibited in the multiple imaging cases that are presented. An open-source code repository containing CPU and GPU implementations of ADMIRE is also provided.
Public and private tapwater: Comparative analysis of contaminant exposure and potential risk, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.

Abstract Background Humans are primary drivers of environmental contamination worldwide, including in drinking-water resources. In the United States (US), federal and state agencies regulate and monitor public-supply drinking water while private-supply monitoring is rare; the current lack of directly comparable information on contaminant-mixture exposures and risks between private- and public-supplies undermines tapwater (TW) consumer decision-making. Methods We compared private- and public-supply residential point-of-use TW at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where both supplies share the same groundwater source. TW from 10 private- and 10 public-supply homes was analyzed for 487 organic, 38 inorganic, 8 microbial indicators, and 3 in vitro bioactivities. Concentrations were compared to existing protective health-based benchmarks, and aggregated Hazard Indices (HI) of regulated and unregulated TW contaminants were calculated along with ratios of in vitro exposure-activity cutoffs. Results Seventy organic and 28 inorganic constituents were detected in TW. Median detections were comparable, but median cumulative concentrations were substantially higher in public supply due to 6 chlorine–disinfected samples characterized by disinfection byproducts and corresponding lower heterotrophic plate counts. Public-supply applicable maximum contaminant (nitrate) and treatment action (lead and copper) levels were exceeded in private-supply TW samples only. Exceedances of health-based HI screening levels of concern were common to both TW supplies. Discussion These Cape Cod results indicate comparable cumulative human-health concerns from contaminant exposures in private- and public-supply TW in a shared source-water setting. Importantly, although this study’s analytical coverage exceeds that currently feasible for water purveyors or homeowners, it nevertheless is a substantial underestimation of the full breadth of contaminant mixtures documented in the environment and potentially present in drinking water. Conclusion Regardless of the supply, increased public engagement in source-water protection and drinking-water treatment, including consumer point-of-use treatment, is warranted to reduce risks associated with long-term TW contaminant exposures, especially in vulnerable populations.
Siderophores and their Applications in Wood, Textile, and Paper Conservation

Since the 1950s, siderophores have been acknowledged as nature’s chelating powerhouse and have been given considerable attention concerning their crucial roles in microorganisms and plants for capturing non-bioavailable iron from aquatic and terrestrial environments, as well as for their applications in agriculture, health, and materials science and environmental research. In recent years, the exceptional affinity and complexing efficacy, as well as the high selectivity of these potent chelators towards iron(III), have led to investigations by researchers aiming at understanding their capacity for removing potentially harmful and aesthetically unacceptable iron stains from organic substrates in cultural heritage objects. In the context of the conservation of cultural heritage objects, potent chelators have been proposed to remove iron from surfaces by transferring it to the more soluble complexed phase. In this review, the origins and the types of bio-environments of siderophores as well as their structure and chemistry are investigated and related to the requirements of conservation. It is evident that, given the enormous potential that these chelators have, the research for their application in cultural heritage is at a preliminary level, and has to date been within the rather narrow context of cellulosic materials such as paper and wood. The results of research conducted to date are presented in this review and questions regarding the optimal use of siderophores as iron-removing agents are posed.
Management of Periocular Granuloma Annulare Using Topical Dapsone.

Granuloma annulare is a disease characterized by granulomatous inflammation of the dermis. Localized granuloma annulare may resolve spontaneously, while generalized granuloma annulare may persist for decades. The authors present the case of a 41-year-old Hispanic man with a two-week history of periocular granuloma annulare. Due to previously reported success in the use of systemic dapsone for the treatment of granuloma annulare, and the periocular proximity of the patient’s lesion, topical dapsone was used for treatment. Various additional therapies for the management of granuloma annulare have been reported, such as topical and systemic steroids, isotretinoin, pentoxifylline, cyclosporine, Interferon gamma, potassium iodide, nicotinamide, niacinamide, salicylic acid, fumaric acid ester, etanercept, infliximab, and hydroxychloroquine. Additional clinical trials are necessary to further evaluate the effectiveness of topical dapsone in the management of granuloma annulare.
Human retinol dehydrogenase 13 (RDH13) is a mitochondrial short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase with a retinaldehyde reductase activity

Retinol dehydrogenase 13 (RDH13) is a recently identified short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase related to microsomal retinoid oxidoreductase RDH11. In this study, we examined the distribution of RDH13 in human tissues, determined its subcellular localization and characterized the substrate and cofactor specificity of purified RDH13 in order to better understand its properties. The results of this study demonstrate that RDH13 exhibits a wide tissue distribution and, by contrast with other members of the RDH11-like group of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases, is a mitochondrial rather than a microsomal protein. Protease protection assays suggest that RDH13 is localized on the outer side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Kinetic analysis of the purified protein shows that RDH13 is catalytically active and recognizes retinoids as substrates. Similar to the microsomal RDHs, RDH11, RDH12 and RDH14, RDH13 exhibits a much lower Km value for NADPH than for NADH and has a greater catalytic efficiency in the reductive than in the oxidative direction. The localization of RDH13 at the entrance to the mitochondrial matrix suggests that it may function to protect mitochondria against oxidative stress associated with the highly reactive retinaldehyde produced from dietary β-carotene.
Fundamental Principles of Deception in Genetic Search

Abstract This paper presents several theorems concerning the nature of deception and the central role that deception plays in function optimization using genetic algorithms. A simple proof is offered which shows that the only problems which pose challenging optimization tasks are problems that involve some degree of deception and which result in conflicting k-arm bandit competitions between hyperplanes. The concept of a deceptive attractor is introduced and shown to be more general than the deceptive optimum found in the deceptive functions that have been constructed to date. Also introduced are the concepts of fully deceptive problems as well as less strict consistently deceptive problems. A proof is given showing that deceptive attractors must have a complementary bit pattern to that found in the binary representation of the global optimum if a function is to be either fully deceptive or consistently deceptive. Some empirical results are presented which demonstrate different methods of dealing with deception and poor linkage during genetic search.
Finite element analysis of viscous, incompressible fluid flow

Abstract A numerical procedure is developed for the analysis of general two-dimensional flows of viscous, incompressible fluids using the finite element method. The partial differential equations describing the continuum motion of the fluid are discretized by using an integral energy balance approach in conjunction with the finite element approximation. The nonlinear algebraic equations resulting from the discretization process are solved using a Picard iteration technique. A number of computational procedures are developed that allow significant reductions to be made in the computational effort required for the analysis of many flow problems. These techniques include a coarse-to-fine-mesh rezone procedure for the detailed study of regions of particular interest in a flow field and a special finite element to model far-field regions in external flow problems.
Iron and folate utilization in reproducing swine and their progeny

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the usefulness of maternal and neonatal swine as animal models for studying iron (Fe) and folate nutrition during reproduction and growth. Sows (n = 18) were fed a purified diet containing 0.6 mg folate/kg diet and either 25 (Fe-) or 125 (Fe+) mg iron/kg diet throughout gestation and lactation. Litters were culled to eight on d 2 of lactation and four piglets/litter were given an intramuscular injection of iron dextran (100 mg/kg body wt). Plasma and red blood cell folate concentrations among all sows decreased (greater than 50%) after conception (P less than 0.001). Plasma folate concentration of Fe- sows was 47% and 69% of Fe+ sows on d 7 and 21 of lactation, respectively (P less than 0.05). All sows secreted milk that contained low levels of folate (12-36 nmol/l) and was devoid of long-chain folylpolyglutamates. While mean milk folate concentration significantly decreased after d 1 of lactation among Fe- sows, no such decrease was observed in milk from Fe+ sows (P less than 0.05). Liver folate concentration was significantly reduced in piglets nursed by Fe- sows and given intramuscular iron dextran. It is concluded that there is an increased dietary requirement for folate and iron during reproduction in swine, and that current recommended amounts of folate (0.6 mg/kg diet) and iron (80 mg/kg diet) may be underestimates of requirements for reproduction. Further, results show that iron nutrition may alter folate utilization in maternal and neonatal swine.
Characterization of lactose-fermenting revertants from lactose-negative Streptococcus lactis C2 mutants.

Partial lactose-fermenting revertants from lactose-negative (lac−) mutants of Streptococcus lactis C2 appeared on a lawn of lac− cells after 3 to 5 days of incubation at 25 C. The revertants grew slowly on lactose with a growth response similar to that for cryptic cells. In contrast to lac+S. lactis C2, the revertants were defective in the accumulation of [14C]thiomethyl-β-d-galactoside, indicating that they were devoid of a transport system. Hydrolysis of o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside-6-phosphate by toluene-treated cells confirmed the presence of phospho-β-d-galactosidase (P-β-gal) in the revertant. However, this enzyme was induced only when the cells were grown in the presence of lactose; galactose was not an inducer. In lac+S. lactis C2, enzyme induction occurred in lactose- or galactose-grown cells. The revertants were defective in EII-lactose and FIII-lactose of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Galactokinase activity was detected in cell extracts of lac+S. lactis C2, but the activity was 9 to 13 times higher in extracts from the revertant and lac−, respectively. This suggested that the lac− and the revertants use the Leloir pathway for galactose metabolism and that galactose-1-phosphate rather than galactose-6-phosphate was being formed. This may explain why lactose, but not galactose, induced P-β-gal in the revertants. Because the revertant was unable to form galactose-6-phosphate, induction could not occur. This compound would be formed on hydrolysis of lactose phosphate. The data also indicate that galactose-6-phosphate may serve not only as an inducer of the lactose genes in S. lactis C2, but also as a repressor of the Leloir pathway for galactose metabolism.
Academic Tenure and “White Male” Standards: Some Lessons from the Patent Law

At a conference not long ago, I met a professor from another law school who writes, as I sometimes do, about the efforts of the legal system to mediate the conflicts that arise between religion and society. Like me, she is a critic of the way the law currently deals with these conflicts, fearing, as I do, that the legal culture tends to trivialize and denigrate religious devotion. So one might have thought we would have a lot in common. So did I, and I anticipated a fruitful discussion of our shared scholarly interest-until the conversation took a disturbing turn. My new acquaintance told me that she was familiar with two of my articles touching on religion and society. But only one of them, she told me, was clearly written by someone who is black. Had she known that I was black, she said, she would have gotten so much more out of the other one.' Puzzled, I asked why this should be so. She seemed surprised at the question. It would, she said, have placed the argument in its proper perspective. This answer, however, only increased my bewilderment. Why, I asked, could she not simply take the argument as it was, evaluating it without regard to the color of my skin? Because, she explained patiently, she needed a context in which to evaluate the argument. Only then, she added gently, might we have a real conversation.2 I found this saddening, and I told her so. In the guise of bringing us together, I suggested, her philosophy (and not only hers!) was actually pushing us apart. The reason, I said, is that she was saying, in effect, "Tell me about yourself, and then we can have a real conversation." My vision of scholarship, and indeed of life, works the other way around, shedding preconceptions in favor of something like: "Let's have a conversation, and that is how I will learn about you." Certainly the professor was right that knowledge of my skin color
Comparing Distributed Exploration Strategies with Simulated and Real Autonomous Robots

This paper presents an experiment in collective robotics in which a group of autonomous robots searches for an infrared target beacon placed in a corner of the exploration area. This task is a more experimentally tractable version of the plume tracing problem, in which robots search for the source of an odor plume. Two different exploration strategies (collaborative and non-collaborative) are implemented and compared on the basis of several team performance metrics. The collaborative strategy uses a simple, binary signaling schema among robots. The experiment is implemented at three different levels: in a physical setup composed of groups of 1 to 8 Moorebot robots, in Webots, a 3D sensor-based, kinematic simulator, and with probabilistic simulations. Results show that the collaborative approach drastically improves the search across several metrics. Furthermore, the probabilistic model qualitatively and quantitatively reproduces the enhanced team performance via collaboration. Additional investigations using the probabilistic model indicate that the optimal number of robots is a function of the ratio between target and exploration areas.
Auctioning the NFL overtime possession

In an National Football League overtime, a coin is tossed to determine which team will receive the kick off. In the sudden death format starting on offense has a significantly higher chance of winning. This makes coin tossing one of the most climatic moments and immediately confers an advantage to one team. Proposals to improve the ex post fairness by guaranteeing each team one possession reduce the efficiency and excitement of the sudden-death format. We propose a simple approach motivated by economics: the coaches of opposing teams bid on the yardage from its end zone at which his team would begin offense, with the low bidder winning the offense right. For instance, if coaches of teams A and B bid 18 and 21 yards, respectively, team A would win and begin its offense at 18 from its end zone. This note analyzes the equilibrium outcome of such an auction and discusses its properties. ∗Department of Economics, Columbia University; email: yc2271@columbia.edu. †Haas School of Business, UC-Berkeley; email: hender@haas.berkeley.edu.
The Effect of Using Time‐Averaged Winds on Regional Air‐Sea CO2 Fluxes

Gas transfer velocities are often related to wind speeds in order to estimate air-sea gas fluxes on regional and global scales. Since climatological averaged winds are frequently used with non-linear gas exchange wind speed relationships, the treatment of wind speed distribution will affect the magnitude of the fluxes if time-averaged winds are used. Commonly, a Rayleigh distribution is assumed for monthly or yearly averaged wind speeds. Although this is a reasonable assumption for global winds, significant regional deviations from this distribution exist. For areas with steady winds such as the trade wind regions and Westerlies in the Southern Ocean, the Rayleigh assumption will overestimate the long-term gas transfer velocities. Using 6-hour National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis winds to determine the actual local distribution of the winds instead of averaged winds with an assumed Rayleigh distribution, the global oceanic CO 2 uptake estimate decreases by 5% if a quadratic dependence with wind speed is assumed and by 26% if a cubic dependence of gas exchange with wind speed is used.
The isostatic stagnant lid approximation and global variations in the Venusian lithospheric thickness

We use the long-wavelength Venusian topography and geoid to constrain the global lithospheric thickness by assuming that the stagnant lid overlying the convective mantle is in isostatic equilibrium, the isostatic stagnant lid (ISL) approximation. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulations of convection show that the ISL approximation is reasonably accurate in the tested parameter range of temperature-dependant viscosity convection with bottom heating and internal heating. The errors in predicting the thickness of the stagnant lid (i.e., the lithosphere) are somewhat larger for internally heated convection. We attribute this to a flatter lid and, as a result, to a larger relative contribution to topography and geoid anomalies from the deeper parts of the layer. Application of the ISL approximation to Venus suggests that the average lithospheric thickness might be as large as 600 km, which is on the high end of previously proposed estimates.
Knowledge management audits

Summary form only, as given. The purpose of knowledge management audits (KMA) is to identify and measure the worth of critical knowledge to the corporation/institution. A number of embryonic KMA tools are described and illustrated for number of case-based applications.
EFFECT OF DAMPING CONSTANTS AND STRESS DISTRIBUTION ON THE RESONANCE RESPONSE OF MEMBERS

Abstract : The amplitade of vibration of a member at resonance, as defined by its resonance amplification factor, is analyzed in relationship to the damping properties of materials. Data are presented on damping energy to indicate the effect of stress magnitude, stress history and temperature. Based on the mathematical relationship found to exist between damping and stress magnitude the resonance amplification factors ars determined for a variety of direct stress members and beams. It is shown that the amplification in vibration caused by resonance may be considered to be the product of three basic factors: (a) the mathematical factor, (b) the cross-sectional shape factor, and (c) the longitudinal stress distribution factor. The first of these factors may be calculated from the damping and dynamic modulus properties of the material and the last two from the shape and loading characteristics of the member. Diagrams are presented to show these basic factors as functions of the damping exponent and other variables for members commonly encountered in engineering practice. Experimental data are presented to confirm the equations derived for resonance amplification factors of members having various shapes and stress distribution.
Is “Simple Reliabilism” Adequately Motivated?

John Greco's aim in Putting Skeptics in Their Place is to scout the value of skeptical arguments for constructive epistemology.1 He affirms their value, even when he repudiates the specific conclusion of such arguments, and even though, as he thinks, there are no genuine skeptics with whom to quarrel. For Greco, skeptical arguments are not at all compelling as arguments that we do not have empirical knowledge. Nevertheless, relative to their bearing on the nature of knowledge and evidence, they wield enormous influence. Their value is therefore fundamentally heuristic. But this in no way trivializes their importance. What is so momentous about skeptical arguments is that they lead to counterintuitive judgments about the nature of knowledge. That is, they lead in the direction of some reliabilist form of externalism. There is an irony about this that can only be appreciated by considering carefully Greco's epistemological method. With alacrity and equanimity, Greco denies the efficacy of skeptical arguments as arguments that the condi tions required for empirical knowledge are not fulfilled. His confidence in this matter is not the result of an elaborate anti-skeptical argument. Rather, it is born of an awareness that there are clear cases of empirical knowledge (see Greco, 67). This I find refreshing. The shortest route to denying the generali zation embodied in knowledge-skepticism is producing counterexamples to the generalization by identifying bona fide cases of empirical knowledge. This is embarrassingly easy to do. G. E. Moore exhibited a special talent for this when he held up his two hands and laconically remarked, "Here is one hand, and here is another."2 From this point of view, messing about with arguments against skepti cism is simply impertinent. Epistemology really should not concern itself so much with refuting the skeptical arguments of "real" or "pretend" skeptics.
Decision guidance methodology for sustainable manufacturing using process analytics formalism

Sustainable manufacturing has significant impact on a company's business performance and competitiveness in today's world. A growing number of manufacturing industries are initiating efforts to address sustainability issues; however, to achieve a higher level of sustainability, manufacturers need methodologies for formally describing, analyzing, evaluating, and optimizing sustainability performance metrics for manufacturing processes and systems. Currently, such methodologies are missing. This paper introduces a systematic decision-guidance methodology that uses the sustainable process analytics formalism (SPAF) developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The methodology provides step-by-step guidance for users to perform sustainability performance analysis using SPAF, which supports data querying, what-if analysis, and decision optimization for sustainability metrics. Users use data from production, energy management, and a life cycle assessment reference database for modeling and analysis. As an example, a case study of investment planning for energy management systems has been performed to demonstrate the use of the methodology.
Shared mechanisms for representing the sides of the visual world and the sides of objects: evidence from a localization deficit following parietal brain damage

That JKI’s w/in object deficit arises in the RVF, while his general object deficit does not, suggests specialized representations of relative position. The similarity between the deficits suggests shared mechanisms for localization of objects and features w/in them. A systematic localization deficit for whole objects JKI perceives LVF objects to the right of and above their true positions. But he evidences no deficit in the RVF.
Discrimination dependence of a phoswich system on the integrating time constant

Abstract The theoretical maximum ratio of pulse heights from fast and slow scintillation phosphors in a phoswich system is degraded by the transit time spread of the photomultiplier and the integrating time constant of the output circuit. This paper presents a mathematical treatment to obtain the ratio of the pulse heights from general equations that are developed. The results of this analysis for a typical phoswich consisting of a plastic scintillator and a CsI(Tl)-crystal show that for each photomultiplier transit time spread there is an optimum integrating time constant. Graphs are included to show the relative pulse heights and the time spread between the fast and slow voltage pulses as a function of the integrating time constant.
Chemical and Electrochemical Synthesis of Polyaniline/Gold Composites

The in situ synthesis of micrometer and nanometer gold particles in polyaniline (PANI/Au composite) using chemical or electrochemical methods, has been compared. The direct chemical synthesis of PANI/Au is initiated via the spontaneous oxidation of aniline by AuCl - 4 . Gold colloid formation and subsequent reaction with PANI is monitored by in situ UV/vis spectroscopy. The emergent polymer nucleates on the gold as the PANI chain length increases, encapsulates the metal, and precipitates as its solubility limit is exceeded. Scanning electron microscopy images of these samples show relatively constant 1 μm diam gold particles. Electrochemical PANI/Au synthesis is initiated by AuCl - 4 reduction into an a priori electrochemically deposited PANI film. This method also produces a nearly uniform dispersion of Au particles but with significantly smaller 150-300 nm particles. The results indicate that electrochemical methods are more suitable for controlling particle dimensions. A minimal decrease in conductance is observed for the chemically formed PANI/Au when compared to PANI samples without the gold. A significant decrease in conductance is observed for the electrochemically formed composite. The large decrease in conductance is related to the decrease in proton doping and a greater number of oxidized units in the polymer upon electrochemical uptake and reduction of AuCl - 4 .
NPR's Image Repair Discourse on Firing Juan Williams

NPR analyst Juan Williams appeared on The O'Reilly Factor and said that he gets “worried” and “nervous” when he sees people in Muslim dress on airplanes. Two days later NPR fired Williams and the day after that Williams issued a serious accusation against NPR: “I was fired for telling the truth.” Criticism of NPR mounted—arising particularly from conservative commentators—and CEO Vivian Schiller disseminated a statement defending her organization. This essay applies the theory of image repair discourse to NPR's CEO Vivian Schiller's apology for firing Williams. Two accusations were in play and they prompted two distinct defenses: Her reaction to accusations that NPR had not followed appropriate procedures for termination Williams employed the strategies of mortification and corrective action and her defense of the firing itself used transcendence, bolstering, and attack accuser. This essay evaluates this defense as a poor example of image repair.
Late Paleozoic Tectonics and Mountain Ranges, Western Texas to Southern Colorado: ABSTRACT

Underlying the Permian rocks of the West Texas basin are the roots of a Paleozoic mountain range. In direction of strike and structure, the folds of these mountains bear a general resemblance to the mountains of central Colorado. However, the Permian and younger rocks of the West Texas basin were not refolded during the early Tertiary as were the ranges of central Colorado. In this paper, the author attempts to show the reason for this difference in tectonic history which has resulted in the absence of a folded front range province from northern New Mexico as far south as the Sierra Madre Oriental in the Republic of Mexico. In the course of the investigation, paleogeologic maps were constructed of the area from Big Bend of Texas to central Colorado for the beginning of Pe nsylvanian and the beginning of Permian time. From them a tectonic map showing elements existing at the beginning of Permian time was built and compared with a similar map showing present elements. Cross sections were made comparing homologous tectonic units of the West Texas basin with the Cordillera of central Colorado. In this manner the author has come to the conclusion that the pre-Permian folds of the West Texas basin are not tectonically related to the younger folds of central Colorado although they do have certain characters in common. The Paleozoic rocks of the two areas were laid down in different basins separated by the Precambrian massifs of the continental backbone throughout most of Paleozoic time. These massifs, together with the tightly folded Paleozoic rocks of the Marathon-Ouachita belt, absorbed and distributed Laramide stresses and preserved the West Texas Permian basin from early Tertiary mountain building in spite of the presence of structural and sedimentational features favorable to mountain building. End_of_Article - Last_Page 360------------
Latissimus-sparing thoracotomy in the pediatric patient : a valuable asset for thoracic reconstruction

The traditional posterolateral thoracotomy involves division of the latissimus dorsi muscle (LD). While the division results in no functional disability, it does negate the potential for possible future thoracic reconstruction if required in individual cases (eg, bronchopleural fistula, empyema, etc). A latissimus-sparing thoracotomy (LST) mobilizes the muscle dorsad and does not compromise the operation. Thus, the ipsilateral LD can be used when chest wall reconstruction is required. This option has been used frequently for adults; however, its use in children has not been extensively documented. Microvascular anastomoses for a contralateral LD free-flap may be tenuous in the small vessels of the child; thus, reconstruction using the ipsilateral LD could be beneficial and safer. The feasibility of LST has not been established with regard to the chest of the child. The authors present three pediatric thoracic cases that illustrate the value of this procedure, and discuss different situations in which latissimus-sparing thoracotomy is advantageous.
THE CENTRAL ROLE OF DIETARY FAT, NOT CARBOHYDRATE, IN THE INSULIN RESISTANCE SYNDROME

Compared with a diet high in total and saturated fat, a high carbohydrate diet improves insulin sensitivity and lipid levels. Recent studies have shown that subjects on an ad-lib low fat, high carbohydrate diet lose weight and, therefore, may have even greater improvement in the metabolic disturbances of the insulin resistance syndrome.
Dual-career planning, marital satisfaction and job stress among women in dual-career marriages

This study examined the structural relationship between dual-career planning, spouse support, problem-solving effectiveness, interrole conflict, marital satisfaction, and job stress among married female professionals. Dual-career planning and spouse support were found to be negatively associated with interrole conflict and positively associated with problem-solving effectiveness in the marriage. Interrole conflict was found to be positively associated with job stress and negatively asociated with marital satisfaction.
On the optimal block length for joint channel and network coding

Channel coding alone is not sufficient to reliably transmit a message of finite length from a source to one or more destinations. To ensure that no data is lost, channel coding on the physical layer needs to be combined with rateless erasure correcting schemes such as automatic repeat request (ARQ) or random linear network coding (RLNC) on a higher layer. In this paper we consider channel coding on a binary symmetric channel and random linear network coding for erasure correction. Given a message of length K and network coding over a finite Galois field of size q, we obtain the optimal number of blocks for network coding that minimizes the expected number of transmissions. We consider both a single link and broadcast to n destinations. As the field size of network coding gets large and the expected coding overhead in blocks becomes small, we show that, given our assumptions, the benefit of using a larger channel coded block outweighs the advantage of employing network coding over many blocks and the optimal number of number of blocks tends to one, making RLNC equivalent to simple ARQ.
Immune responses to human factor IX in haemophilia B mice of different genetic backgrounds are distinct and modified by TLR4

Our laboratory develops protocols to prevent or reverse ongoing anti-hFIX IgG inhibitors in haemophilia B mice with a F9 gene deletion on BALB/c and C3H/HeJ backgrounds. C3H/HeJ F9(-/Y) mice develop high titre anti-hFIX IgG1 inhibitors and anaphylaxis, whereas most BALB/c F9(-/Y) mice have mild anti-hFIX IgG1 inhibitors and no anaphylaxis. Our aim was to determine if hFIX-specific B- and T-cell responses in BALB/c and C3H/HeJ F9(-/Y) mice trigger the difference in anti-hFIX immune responses. BALB/c and C3H/HeJ F9(-/Y) mice were challenged weekly with recombinant hFIX protein. Humoral immune responses were determined by IgG1 and IgG2a anti-hFIX ELISA, Bethesda assay for inhibitors and B-cell ELISpot on bone marrow and spleen cells. T-cell studies measured the TH 1 (IFN-γ) and TH 2 (IL-4) cytokine responses in splenocytes at the mRNA and protein level in response to hFIX protein. Antibody responses were also measured in C3H/HeJ/OuJ F9(-/Y) mice with restored toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) function. BALB/c F9(-/Y) mice have a TH 2 skewed response and a reduction in anti-hFIX secreting plasma cells in the bone marrow. Independent antigen challenge revealed both strains generated equivalent IgG1 antibody titres to an intravenously delivered antigen. C3H/HeJ F9(-/Y) mice have a mixed TH 1 and TH 2 response (mainly TH 2). Importantly, TLR4 signalling has a modulatory role in the C3H background on the levels of anti-hFIX IgG1 and incidence of anaphylaxis. The background strain strongly impacts the immune response to hFIX, which can be significantly impacted by mutations in innate immune sensors.
Efficacy of intraoperative red blood cell salvage and autotransfusion in the treatment of acetabular fractures.

Objectives: To determine if cell saver (CS) use in patients with acetabular fractures reduces the volume or rate of allogeneic blood transfused intraoperatively and postoperatively and if this translated to a decrease in blood-related charges to the patient. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Level 1 trauma center. Patients: One hundred eighty-six patients with operatively treated acetabular fractures. Intervention: All patients underwent open reduction internal fixation of their acetabular fracture. The decision to use CS was at the surgeon's discretion. Main Outcome Measurements: The volume and rate of intraoperative and postoperative allogeneic blood transfused and blood-related charges were evaluated. Results: CS was used in 60 cases (32%), and the average volume of blood autotransfused was 345 mL. No differences were observed in the rates (58.3% vs 48%, P = 0.1883) or the mean volumes (770 vs 518 mL, P = 0.0537) of intraoperative and postoperative allogeneic blood transfusions between the CS and the non-CS groups. Total blood-related charges in the CS group were significantly higher than that in the nonCS group ($1958 vs $694, P < 0.0001). Subanalyses based on fracture pattern, injury severity score, body mass index, days to surgery, and estimated blood loss were performed. In each subanalyses, no differences were observed in intraoperative and postoperative transfusion rates and volumes, and total blood-related charges were higher in the CS groups. Conclusions: In the routine use of CS in acetabular surgery, there was no reduction in the volume or rate of allogeneic blood transfused intraoperatively or postoperatively. However, blood-related charges were significantly increased.
Pulmonary function tests in emergency department pediatric patients with acute wheezing/asthma exacerbation.

Background. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) have been developed to analyze tidal breathing in patients who are minimally cooperative due to age and respiratory status. This study used tidal breathing tests in the ED to measure asthma severity. Design/Method. A prospective pilot study in pediatric patients (3 to 18 yrs) with asthma/wheezing was conducted in an ED setting using respiratory inductance plethysmography and pneumotachography. The main outcome measures were testing feasibility, compliance, and predictive value for admission versus discharge. Results. Forty patients were studied, of which, 14 (35%) were admitted. Fifty-five percent of the patients were classified as a mild-intermittent asthmatic, 30% were mild-persistent asthmatics, 12.5% were moderate-persistent asthmatics, and 2.5% were severe-persistent. Heart rate was higher in admitted patients as was labored breathing index, phase angle, and asthma score. Conclusions. Tidal breathing tests provide feasible, objective assessment of patient status in the enrolled age group and may assist in the evaluation of acute asthma exacerbation in the ED. Our results demonstrate that PFT measurements, in addition to asthma scores, may be useful in indicating the severity of wheezing/asthma and the need for admission.
Fostering a Culture of Creative Interdisciplinary Innovation at Texas A&M University

As a relatively young department in an aesthetically conservative, remote college town, the Department of Performance Studies at Texas A&M University is building a culture of innovation through strategic facility development, a focus on students sharing work through public performance, and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. The authors have embraced the celebrated strengths of their university in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by developing interdisciplinary experiences and inspiring facilities (through technology and curriculum grants). These experiences contribute to the university at large by demonstrating how technology can connect with the human element and how technology impacts human expression. The authorsâ€™ Music, Performance Studies, and Theatre Arts students benefit by joining the faculty in exploring the new and also rediscovering the traditional.