cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polychlorinated biphenyls in tree bark near a former manufacturing plant in Anniston, Alabama

Tree bark samples were collected to identify the relative amounts and congener profiles of atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls dissolved into bark lipids from the gas phase in Anniston, Alabama, USA, where PCBs were manufactured from the 1920s until 1971. The area is heavily contaminated with PCBs: At least 4550 metric tons (mt) of PCB and 14 000 mt of PCB distillation residue, known as Montar, remain buried in two landfills near the plant site. A minimum of 20.5 mt of PCBs were emitted to the atmosphere by the plant between 1953 and 1971 based on emissions figures for 1970. Bark results show that total PCB concentrations range over more than three orders of magnitude from 171 927 ng/g lipid near the plant/landfill area, dropping exponentially to 35 ng/g lipid at a distance of about 7 km. The exponential trend is highly correlated (r = −0.77) and significant (ρ < 0.05). The most concentrated tree started growing after 1971 showing that atmospheric PCB concentrations remained high after PCB production ended. All PCB congener profiles show persistent congeners 31 + 28, 52, 66, 153, 138, and 180. Congener profiles from trees growing near the plant/landfill all have somewhat similar profiles but those growing during PCB production show high molecular mass compounds not usually found in the atmosphere and not found in younger trees, even in the most concentrated sample. We believe that high-temperature Montar disposal released high molecular mass PCBs into the gas phase which were dissolved into older tree bark lipids.
Dual systems Competence ←-→ Procedural processing: A relational developmental systems approach to reasoning

Abstract Many current psychological models of reasoning minimize the role of deductive processes in human thought. In the present paper, we argue that deduction is an important part of ordinary cognition and we propose that a dual systems Competence ←-→ Procedural processing model conceptualized within relational developmental systems theory offers the most coherent and productive framework for integrating and explaining the sometimes conflicting findings on the development of deductive reasoning across the lifespan. This model invokes a distinction that is quite similar to, though not identical with, the system 2–system 1 dichotomy employed in other dual systems models. In addition, the Competence ←-→ Procedural processing model maintains the more specific distinction between algorithmic and reflective subsystems of system 2. In this account, the algorithmic system is represented as a kind of mental logic while the reflective system is the seat of practical and epistemic self-regulation, including emergent epistemic and metalogical norms. While the proposed systems of mind often appear as split-off component features in other dual systems models, relational developmental systems theory conceives of them as the highly complex and relationally integrated outcome of a self-organizing and self-regulating adaptive developmental process.
Efficient visible and UV generation by frequency conversion of a mode-filtered fiber amplifier

We have generated the second, third, fourth, and fifth harmonics of the output of a Yb-doped fiber amplifier seeded by a passively Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip laser. The fiber amplifier employed multimode fiber (25 μm core diameter, V ~ 7.4) to provide high-peak-power pulses, but diffraction-limited beam quality was obtained by use of bend-loss-induced mode filtering. The amplifier output had a pulse duration of 0.97 ns and smooth, transform-limited temporal and spectral profiles (~500 MHz linewidth). We obtained high nonlinear conversion efficiencies using a simple optical arrangement and critically phase-matched crystals. Starting with 320 mW of average power at 1064 nm (86 µJ per pulse at a 3.7 kHz repetition rate), we generated 160 mW at 532 nm, 38 mW at 355 nm, 69 mW at 266 nm, and 18 mW at 213 nm. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with calculations. Significantly higher visible and UV powers will be possible by operating the fiber amplifier at higher repetition rates and pulse energies and by further optimizing the nonlinear conversion scheme.
Automation and the library of congress

Automation and the Library of Congress — Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 1964; 88 pages, illus. $2.00. This work represents the survey findings conducted by a team of experts in the areas of documentation and electronic information-processing systems. The basic recommendations of the group are contained in a succinct 24-page presentation that constitutes the body of the book. An appendix presents in detail a particular system configuration, with a cost analysis indicating that minimal automation could be accomplished for about $30 million, and that the entire scope of the recommendations just mentioned could be achieved at a cost of $50 million to $70 million — an amount approximately equal to the budget of the Library of Congress for three years.
Endocannabinoid-Dependent LTD in a Nociceptive Synapse Requires Activation of a Presynaptic TRPV-Like Receptor

Recent studies have found that some forms of endocannabinoid-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus are mediated through activation of transient potential receptor vanilloid (TRPV) receptors instead of cannabinoid receptors CB1 or CB2. The potential role for synaptic localization of TRPV receptors during endocannabinoid modulation of nociceptive synapses was examined in the leech CNS where it is possible to record from the same pair of neurons from one preparation to the next. Long-term depression (LTD) in the monosynaptic connection between the nociceptive (N) sensory neuron and the longitudinal (L) motor neuron was found to be endocannabinoid-dependent given that this depression was blocked by RHC-80267, an inhibitor of DAG lipase that is required for 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2AG) synthesis. Intracellular injection of a second DAG lipase inhibitor, tetrahyrdolipstatin (THL) was also able to block this endocannabinoid-dependent LTD (ecLTD) when injected postsynaptically but not presynaptically. N-to-L ecLTD was also inhibited by the TRPV1 antagonists capsazepine and SB 366791. Bath application of 2AG or the TRPV1 agonists capsaicin and resiniferatoxin mimicked LTD and both capsaicin- and 2AG-induced depression were blocked by capsazepine. In addition, pretreatment with 2AG or capsaicin occluded subsequent expression of LTD induced by repetitive activity. Presynaptic, but not postsynaptic, intracellular injection of capsazepine blocked both activity- and 2AG-induced ecLTD, suggesting that a presynaptic TRPV-like receptor in the leech mediated this form of synaptic plasticity. These findings potentially extend the role ecLTD to nociceptive synapses and suggest that invertebrate synapses, which are thought to lack CB1/CB2 receptor orthologues, utilize a TRPV-like protein as an endocannabinoid receptor.
Design of a high sensitive non-faradaic impedimetric sensor

an electrochemical approach towards identifying antigen - antibody binding interactions is studied by using a non-faradaic impedimetric sensor fabricated on a printed circuit board (PCB) chip. An electrical methodology for detecting protein interactions at ultra-low concentrations (in the femtogram/mL) regime has been demonstrated. Nanoporous alumina with pore diameter of 200nm and pore depth of 250 nm was used as the signal amplifying medium. Cardiac biomarker, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was used as the study marker in characterizing the sensor's sensitivity. A sensitivity of 10 femtogram/mL was determined based on the impedimetric signal response. Sensitivity was determined through Nyquist plot analysis for the non-faradaic interactions of the protein biomolecules. This paper is the first demonstration of clinically relevant limit of detection with the BNP biomarker.
PASSIVE TRANSFER OF TRANSPLANTATION IMMUNITY : I. TRITIATED LYMPHOID CELLS II. LYMPHOID CELLS IN MILLIPORE CHAMBERS

Passive transfer of tritiated thymidine labeled lymphoid cells sensitized to homologous tissues into non-sensitized isologous hosts resulted in accelerated rejection of homologous skin grafts in the recipients. Despite 33 per cent label of the suspension, only rare labeled sensitized lymphoid cells could be found at the site of rejection. Passive transfer of sensitized lymphoid cells in millipore chambers implanted subcutaneously or intraperitoneally in non-sensitized isologous hosts resulted in accelerated homograft rejection in the recipients. Transfer of transplantation immunity could not be accomplished with serum from sensitized hosts. The rejection of homologous tissues without the physical presence of the sensitized cell at the graft site suggested that a humoral agent produced by the cell was capable of rejecting the homograft.
Spatially resolved adsorption kinetics of immunoglobulin G onto the wettability gradient surface

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) was combined with charge-coupled-device (CCD) photon detection in measuring spatially resolved protein adsorption kinetics along one of the linear dimensions of a flat surface. The experimental method was designed to study the kinetics of binding of fluorescein-labeled immunoglobulin G (FITC-IgG) onto the surfaces with the wettability gradient. Protein was adsorbed from a flowing buffer solution. The buffer solution contained either only fluorescein-labeled immunoglobulin G or FITC-IgG and two other unlabeled proteins: albumin and fibrinogen. The concentrations of proteins were 1/1000 of the respective protein concentrations in plasma. Adsorption of FITC-IgG was dependent on the wettability of the surface as well as on the presence of other proteins in the adsorbing solution. The exchange of surface-bound FITC-IgG with other proteins was observed along the wettability transition region of the gradient surface but not at either the hydrophobic or the hydrophilic sides. The amphiphilic interface between the microscopic hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains in the wettability transition region of the gradient surface was proposed to explain the adsorption behavior of FITC-IgG. The spatially resolved TIRF-CCD method has the potential of detecting the fast protein adsorption, desorption, and exchange processes from complex protein mixtures, such as serum and plasma.
Wettability alteration and oil recovery by water imbibition at elevated temperatures

Abstract This investigation adopts a new perspective on wettability alteration as a function of temperature. Colloidal (i.e., DLVO) theory and calculations are used to interpret results from laboratory-scale displacements. Water imbibition tests were conducted with 9 reservoir cores from a diatomaceous reservoir. Permeability and porosity of cores varied from 0.2 to 0.7 md and 46% to 65%, respectively. The experiments included spontaneous counter-current water imbibition followed by forced co-current water imbibition to residual oil saturation. The fluids were 34° API crude oil and synthetic formation brine. All tests were isothermal and temperatures ranged from 45 to 230 °C at pressures sufficient to maintain liquid water. The experimental results show that an increase in temperature results in: (1) a substantial increase in imbibition rate and extent of oil recovery, (2) a slight reduction in residual oil saturation, and (3) a significant shift in the Amott wettability index from intermediate and weakly water wet to strongly water wet. DLVO calculations illustrate detachment of fines from pore surfaces at high temperature. Fines detachment is a mechanism for altering wettability. Release of fines coated with oil exposes clean water-wet pore surfaces. Further calculations indicate the water–oil contact angle decreases as temperature increases indicating a systematic increase in water wettability consistent with experimental measurements of the Amott index.
Spirittagger: a geo-aware tag suggestion tool mined from flickr

Geographically referenced, or "geo-tagged," photo data sets offer tantalizing potential for automated knowledge discovery in the world. By combining tag reranking based on geographic context with content-based image analysis we are able to suggest geographically relevant tags for photos newly tagged with GPS coordinates. These tag suggestions could be used to help users organize their photo collections or improve retrieval systems. Our algorithm weights labels that correspond to pertinent objects, events, neighborhoods, and activities in a region. While previous work with geo-tagged images has focused on representative views of landmarks or estimating location, our tag suggestion tool, SpiritTagger, suggests tags that reveal an insight into the spirit, or genius loci, of a city or region. Experiments on a data set consisting of over 100,000 Flickr photos in Los Angeles and Southern California show that our geographically relevant tag suggestion tool provides a significant improvement in precision-recall performance over baseline image-based similarity suggestion.
fNIRS Study of Walking and Walking While Talking in Young and Old Individuals

Background. Evidence suggests that gait is influenced by higher order cognitive and cortical control mechanisms. However, less is known about the functional correlates of cortical control of gait. Methods. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, the current study was designed to evaluate whether increased activations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were detected in walking while talking (WWT) compared with normal pace walking (NW) in 11 young and 11 old participants. Specifically, the following two hypotheses were evaluated: (a ) Activation in the PFC would be increased in WWT compared with NW. (b) The increase in activation in the PFC during WWT as compared with NW would be greater in young than in old participants. Results. Separate linear mixed effects models with age as the two-level between-subject factor, walking condition (NW vs WWT) as the two-level repeated within-subject factor, and HbO2 levels in each of the 16 functional near-infrared spectroscopy channels as the dependent measure revealed significant task effects in 14 channels, indicating a robust bi lateral increased activation in the PFC in WWT compared with NW. Furthermore, the group-by-task interaction was significant in 11 channels with young participants showing greater WWT-related increase in HbO2 levels compared with the old participants.
Estimating homeomorphic deformations of multi-dimensional signals - An accuracy analysis

Consider the problem of estimating a multi-dimensional signal in the presence of an unknown deformation of its coordinates and additive Gaussian noise. This problem arises in a wide range of engineering applications including image registration, image classification, and speech processing. A fundamental solution to this problem involves estimating the unknown parameters of a model for the distorting function. The achievable parameter estimation accuracy for this problem is evaluated using the Cramer Rao lower bound. The performance of a recently developed low complexity linear estimator is analyzed.
Joint space-time auxiliary-vector filtering for DS/CDMA systems with antenna arrays

Direct-sequence/code-division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) communication systems equipped with adaptive antenna arrays offer the opportunity for jointly effective spatial and temporal (code) multiple-access interference (MAI) and channel noise suppression. This work focuses on the development of fast joint space-time (S-T) adaptive optimization procedures that may keep up with the fluctuation rates of multipath fading channels. Along these lines, the familiar S-T RAKE processor is equipped with a single orthogonal S-T auxiliary vector (AV) selected under a maximum magnitude cross-correlation criterion. Then, blind joint spatial/temporal MAI and noise suppression with one complex S-T degree of freedom can be performed. This approach is readily extended to cover blind processing with multiple AVs and any desired number of complex degrees of freedom below the S-T product. A sequential procedure for conditional AV weight optimization is shown to lead to superior bit-error-rate (BER) performance when rapid system adaptation with limited input data is sought. Numerical studies for adaptive antenna array reception of multiuser multipath Rayleigh-faded DS/CDMA signals illustrate these theoretical developments. The studies show that the induced BER can be improved by orders of magnitude, while at the same time significantly lower computational optimization complexity is required in comparison with joint S-T minimum-variance distortionless response or equivalent minimum mean-square-error conventional filtering means.
Crack Determination from Boundary Measurements-- Reconstruction Using Experimental Data

In this work we assess the effectiveness of Electrical Impedance Tomography for determining the presence and the location of an interior crack from boundary measurements. Electrical Impedance Tomography uses boundary voltages and currents to image the interior of a region. We collect the data needed for this nondestructive evaluation technique by laboratory experiments and apply two numerical inversion algorithms to the data. Our experiments show that the data collected are sufficient to give good estimates of crack locations and crack sizes.
Induction of common mucosal immunity by hormonally immunomodulated peripheral immunization.

The study described in this report demonstrates that peripheral lymph nodes draining nonmucosal tissues can effectively serve as induction sites for the establishment of common mucosal immunity if the microenvironmental conditions are altered to mimic those normally present within mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (e.g., Peyer's patches). Lymph node lymphocytes exposed in situ to the immunomodulatory influences of the hormone 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D 3 were found to produce less gamma interferon and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and far more IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 than lymphocytes from control animals. When couples with vaccination with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the hormone, immunomodulated switch from a peripheral lymph node phenotype to a Peyer's patch-like pattern promoted the induction of both a systemic and a common mucosal immune response. This was determined by the observed increased concentrations of serum anti-HBsAg antibody and by finding that anti-HBsAg secretory antibodies were detectable in urogenital, lachrymal, fecal and oral secretions only in the hormone-treated animals. In addition, specific antibody-secreting cells were detectable in the lamina propria of the lungs and small intestines of the hormone-treated animals subsequent to vaccination, indicating that the homing properties of antigen-specific B cells were being affected by the treatment procedure. The humoral and mucosal immune responses were further augmented if both 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D 3 and dehydroepiandrosterone were used together as hormonal immunomodulators. This novel immunization technique may afford new opportunities to effectively intervene in sexually transmitted diseases and other diseases caused by mucosal pathogens.
DIAPAUSE OF THE SOUTHWESTERN CORN BORER, DIATRAEA GRANDIOSELLA: UTILIZATION OF FAT BODY AND HAEMOLYMPH RESERVES1

The utilization of metabolic reserves of mature southwestern corn borers held in two regimes (23° 12L:12D and 30° 24L:0D) which permitted different rates of diapause development was studied. Diapause larvae which had been reared on a meridic diet or host-plant tissue were compared. Data were obtained on the fate of lipid, glycogen, protein and amino acid reserves of the fat body and haemolymph during diapause. The major results showed that lipids comprised ca. 80% of the fat body dry weight and formed the principal reserve of diapause larvae. Thin layer chromatographic analyses showed that triglycerides made up > 90% of the fat body lipids. Protein, amino acids and glycogen were found to be of secondary importance during diapause since they made up < 15% of the fat body dry weight. In contrast, the haemolymph had a high protein and low amino acid, lipid, and glycogen content. Haemolymph proteins supplemented the fat body lipid reserves and were drawn upon during the later stages of diapause. Zusammenfassung DIAPAUSE BEIM SUDWEST-MAISZUNSLER, DIATRAEA GRANDIOSELLA: VERBRAUCH DER FETTKORPER- UND HAEMOLYMPHE-RUSERVEN. Die Art und das Schicksal der Stoffwechselreserven des Fettkorpers und der Haemolymphe diapausierender Sudwest-Maiszunsler, Diatraea grandiosella, wurden untersucht. Im Labor herangezogene und im Freien gesammelte junge Diapause-Raupen wurden zwei verschiedenen Regimen unterworfen, welche signifikant verschiedene Diapause-Entwicklungsraten gewahrleisteten: 23° 12L: 12D und 30° 24L: 0D. Als Daten wurden festgestellt: Verpuppungsraten, Gesamtkorpergewicht und der Verbrauch der Fett-, Glykogen-, Protein- und Aminosaure-Reserven des Fettkorpers und der Haemolymphe wahrend der Diapause unter beiden Bedingungen. Obwohl die Freilandraupen im allgemeinen groser als die Labortiere waren, wurden doch wenig qualitative Unterschiede zwischen beiden Gruppen gefunden. Als Hauptergebnis zeigte sich, das die Fette, die 80% des Fettkorper-Trockengewichts ausmachen, die hauptsachliche Stoffwechsel-Reserve darstellen. Sie bestehen uberwiegend (> 90%) aus Triglyceriden und wurden wahrend der Diapause allmahlich verbraucht. Eiweis, Aminosauren und Glykogen machen nur weniger als 15% des Fettkorper-Trockengewichts aus. Im Gegensatz dazu wies die Haemolymphe der diapausierenden Raupen einen relativ hohen Eiweis- und geringen Aminosaure-, Fett- und Glykogen-Gehalt auf. Haemolymphe-Proteine erganzten die Fettreserven des Fettkorpers und wurden wahrend der spateren Stadien der Diapause abgebaut.
Acoustic and Mean Flow Measurements of High-Speed, Helium-Air Mixture Jets

The effectiveness of using helium-air mixture jets to simulate heated jets at both subsonic and supersonic velocities is investigated. Particular emphasis is placed on replicating the aeroacoustic properties of heated jets. Acoustic directivity and spectral measurements of helium-air mixture jets are compared to existing heated jet data. Results typically indicate agreement within 2 dB with some discrepancy attributable to facility and run condition differences. In addition, mean flowfield measurements indicate a shortening of the potential core and a slight decrease in jet spreading with the addition of helium - the same trends observed for heated jets. The similarities in acoustic and mean flow behavior indicate that helium-air mixture jet experiments provide a viable low-cost alternative to heated jet experiments.
Challenges of Diverting Veterans to Trauma Informed Care The Heterogeneity of Intercept 2

The challenges of diverting veterans from the criminal justice system and into appropriate trauma informed mental health and substance abuse services at Intercept 2 of the Sequential Intercept Mode...
Algorithm and Filter Selection in Geophysical Tomography

In geophysical tomography, linear system methods are used to develop a system of equations with the tomogram elements as unknowns. Usually this system of equations is inconsistent due to inaccurate measurements and the assumption that RF waves travel along straight paths in the medium to be reconstructed. In this paper two new algorithms, the distance transposed modified ART (DTM-ART) and the modified distance transposed ART (MDT-ART), are created, examined, and compared with others (such as the ART, modified ART (M-ART), and distance transposed ART (DT-ART)) for improvement and stabilization of the iterative reconstruction of geophysical tomograms. It was found that the MDT-ART algorithm exhibited the most favorable reconstruction characteristics. Six spatial smoothing filters were investigated, some of these for the first time, for their merits in accentuating geophysical image anomalies. Of these, the minimum variance partition average (MVP-AVG) filter seemed to best accentuate anomaly regions in a reconstructed tomogram.
Seasonal Cycle of the Mixed Layer Heat Budget in the Northeastern Tropical Atlantic Ocean

AbstractThe seasonal cycle of the mixed layer heat budget in the northeastern tropical Atlantic (0°–25°N, 18°–28°W) is quantified using in situ and satellite measurements together with atmospheric reanalysis products. This region is characterized by pronounced latitudinal movements of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and strong meridional variations of the terms in the heat budget. Three distinct regimes within the northeastern tropical Atlantic are identified. The trade wind region (15°–25°N) experiences a strong annual cycle of mixed layer heat content that is driven by approximately out-of-phase annual cycles of surface shortwave radiation (SWR), which peaks in boreal summer, and evaporative cooling, which reaches a minimum in boreal summer. The surface heat-flux-induced changes in the mixed layer heat content are damped by a strong annual cycle of cooling from vertical turbulent mixing, estimated from the residual in the heat balance. In the ITCZ core region (3°–8°N) a weak seasonal cycle of ...
Extensions in efficiency measurement of alternate machine component grouping solutions via data envelopment analysis

This paper focuses on extending the analysis of an efficiency and productivity study on a cellular manufacturing system (CMS) as first introduced by Shafer and Bradford. Shafer and Bradford's initial study introduced a methodology that utilized simulation and data envelopment analysis (DEA) for a multiple performance measure analysis of a CMS. This paper presents an extension to their methodology by incorporating cross-efficiency measures and cluster analysis. One important contribution of this research is in identifying "overall" efficient and "false positive" layouts that are of high managerial significance, Another contribution is in selecting more appropriate targets for poorly performing layouts to use as a benchmark. An interesting managerial insight that emerged from this study is that, in general, cellular layouts with six cells have outperformed hybrid layouts and other cellular layouts. Also, this study concludes that "overall" efficient layouts must be considered by manufacturing engineers and managers in the design of a CMS. Last, the practical problems associated with the improvement of the "false positive" layouts are addressed.
Phylobiochemical Characterization of Class-Ib Aspartate/Prephenate Aminotransferases Reveals Evolution of the Plant Arogenate Phenylalanine Pathway

The aromatic amino acid Phe is required for protein synthesis and serves as the precursor of abundant phenylpropanoid plant natural products. While Phe is synthesized from prephenate exclusively via a phenylpyruvate intermediate in model microbes, the alternative pathway via arogenate is predominant in plant Phe biosynthesis. However, the molecular and biochemical evolution of the plant arogenate pathway is currently unknown. Here, we conducted phylogenetically informed biochemical characterization of prephenate aminotransferases (PPA-ATs) that belong to class-Ib aspartate aminotransferases (AspAT Ibs) and catalyze the first committed step of the arogenate pathway in plants. Plant PPA-ATs and succeeding arogenate dehydratases (ADTs) were found to be most closely related to homologs from Chlorobi/Bacteroidetes bacteria. The Chlorobium tepidum PPA-AT and ADT homologs indeed efficiently converted prephenate and arogenate into arogenate and Phe, respectively. A subset of AspAT Ib enzymes exhibiting PPA-AT activity was further identified from both Plantae and prokaryotes and, together with site-directed mutagenesis, showed that Thr-84 and Lys-169 play key roles in specific recognition of dicarboxylic keto (prephenate) and amino (aspartate) acid substrates. The results suggest that, along with ADT , a gene encoding prephenate-specific PPA-AT was transferred from a Chlorobi/Bacteroidetes ancestor to a eukaryotic ancestor of Plantae, allowing efficient Phe and phenylpropanoid production via arogenate in plants today.
Media ionic strength impacts embryonic responses to engineered nanoparticle exposure

Embryonic zebrafish were used to assess the impact of solution ion concentrations on agglomeration and resulting in vivo biological responses of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The minimum ion concentration necessary to support embryonic development was determined. Surprisingly, zebrafish exhibit no adverse outcomes when raised in nearly ion-free media. During a rapid throughput screening of AuNPs, 1.2-nm 3-mercaptopropionic acid-functionalized AuNPs (1.2-nm 3-MPAAuNPs) rapidly agglomerate in exposure solutions. When embryos were exposed to 1.2-nm 3-MPA-AuNPs dispersed in low ionic media, both morbidity and mortality were induced, but when suspended in high ionic media, there was little to no biological response. We demonstrated that the media ionic strength greatly affects agglomeration rates and biological responses. Most importantly, the insensitivity of the zebrafish embryo to external ions indicates that it is possible, and necessary, to adjust the exposure media conditions to optimize NP dispersion prior to assessment.
MODERN CITIZENSHIP AND MASS HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES

The following essay is an answer to the question of how the problem of defining American ‘nationality’ or citizenship has affected schooling and education since colonial times. Three traditions of American citizenship are identified: the ‘Atlantic’ inheritance of civic humanism which emphasizes public duties and responsibilities; the history of pluralism in the United States, which emphasizes the opposite, that is to say, group differences; and liberalism, which stresses individual rights, privileges, freedoms and merits. These three traditions of citizenship have produced innumerable dilemmas and conflicts in the provision for public education and are currently unreconciled, especially because of the politics of ethnicity and gender which characterize ‘fin de siecle’ America. One lesson is the difficulty educational systems have in maintaining ideals and goals separate from the wider political culture of which they are part.
Digital baseband compensation of joint TX/RX frequency-dependent I/Q imbalance in mobile MIMO-OFDM transceivers

Direct-conversion Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems suffer from transmit and receive analog processing impairments such as In-phase/ Quadrature (I/Q) imbalance causing Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) between the sub-carriers. Another source of performance-limiting ICI, but with a different nature, in OFDM systems is Doppler spread due to mobility. Unlike previous work which considered these two problems separately, we develop a generalized analytical framework to characterize, estimate and jointly mitigate ICI due to both I/Q imbalance and high mobility. Based on our general model, we exploit the special ICI structure to design efficient channel and I/Q imbalance parameter estimation and digital baseband compensation schemes for joint transmit/receive frequency-independent and frequency-dependent I/Q imbalance under high-mobility conditions. Moreover, we extend the model, compensation and channel estimation methods to the Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) case, Spatial Multiplexing (SM) in particular.
Concurrency preserving partitioning (CPP) for parallel logic simulation

Based on a linear ordering of vertices in a directed graph, a linear-time partitioning algorithm for parallel logic simulation is presented. Unlike most other partitioning algorithms, the proposed algorithm preserves circuit concurrency by assigning to processors circuit gates that can be evaluated at about the same time. As a result, the concurrency preserving partitioning (CPP) algorithm can provide better load balancing throughout the period of a parallel simulation. This is especially important when the algorithm is used together with a Time Warp simulation where a high degree of concurrency can lead to fewer rollbacks and better performance. The algorithm consists of three phases, and three conflicting goals can be separately considered in each phase so to reduce computational complexity. A parallel gate-level circuit simulator is implemented on an Intel Paragon machine to evaluate the performance of the CPP algorithm. The results are compared with two other partitioning algorithms to show that reasonable speedup may be achieved with the algorithm.
Refutative techniques of John C. Calhoun

This study analyzes the refutative techniques used by John C. Calhoun in twenty‐nine speeches given in senatorial debate.
Site occupancy of chromium in the γ′-Ni3Al phase of nickel-based superalloys: a combined 3D atom probe and first-principles study

Transition-metal dopants play a critical role in the high-temperature mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of nickel-based superalloys. In this article, the site occupancy behavior of chromium in γ′-Ni3Al has been investigated by combining three-dimensional (3D) atom probe and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy characterizations with ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The 3D atom probe data show a clear preference of chromium on the aluminum sublattice over the nickel sublattice in Rene88 super alloys. First-principles DFT total-energy calculations were performed to understand the site occupancy of chromium in the L12 structured γ-Ni3Al. The obtained chromium site preference energies have been compared using the anti-site and vacancy-based substitution formation mechanism, as well as using the standard defect formation formalism. It was found that chromium prefers aluminum site, consistent with the 3D atom probe result. In addition, interaction energies between t...
Extreme Value Statistics in Silicon Photonics

L-shape probability distributions are extremely non-Gaussian functions that have been surprisingly successful in describing the occurrence of extreme events ranging from stock market crashes, natural disasters, structure of biological systems, fractals, and optical rogue waves. We show that fluctuations in stimulated Raman scattering, as well as in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, in silicon can follow extreme value statistics and provide mathematical insight into the origin of this behavior.
Structure, function and regulation of mammalian DNA methyltransferase.

The haploid mammalian genome contains ~5 × 107 CpG dinucleotides (Schwartz et al., 1962), about 60% of which are methylated at the 5 position of the cytosine residue (Bestor et al., 1984). The unmethylated fraction of the genome is exposed to diffusible factors in nuclei (Antequera et al., 1989), perhaps due to the action of proteins which bind to methylated sequences and induce their condensation (Meehan et al., 1989). Methylation may therefore control the availability of regulatory sequences for interaction with the transcriptional apparatus. Activation of tissue-specific genes is often accompanied by the disappearance of methyl groups from promoter regions, and differentiated cell types display characteristic unique methylation patterns. It has been argued that the selective advantage of such a regulatory mechanism would be expected to be most pronounced for those organisms with large genomes, and in fact 5-mC is absent from the DNA of most organisms with genomes smaller than 5 × 108 base pairs but essentially universal among organisms having genomes above this size (Bestor, 1990).
Gait design and gain-scheduled balance controller of an under-actuated robotic platform

This work presents a method for deriving a gain scheduled balance controller to stabilize the gate of a three legged under-actuated robotic platform called THALeR (Tri-Pedal Hyper Altitudinal Legged Robot). The scheduler adapts the controller gains in real time based upon the system's instantaneous potential energy in order to create a smooth, stable gait. The final controller is simulated with white noise and impulse perturbations to show robustness.
Shake Table Testing of a Full-Scale Five-Story Building: Post-Earthquake Fire Performance

Following the series of shake tests on the full-scale, five-story BNCS building, a set of six live burn tests was conducted on the third floor. The fires ranged in size from about 500kw to 2000kW, depending on compartment configuration, fuel and ventilation controls. Fire duration was limited to less than 15 minutes to avoid structural damage. The focus of the fire tests was to assess the potential for smoke and fire spread given seismic damage to such systems as wall and ceiling systems, doors, window openings, vertical shafts, firestop material and fire sprinkler systems. Tests were conducted with the sprinkler system off. Testing revealed the propensity for horizontal and vertical fire and smoke spread given damage to interior compartment barriers, the elevator system and the external balloon framing system. Data on the fires, temperature profiles, smoke and fire spread will be presented.
Energy Absorption Behavior of Polyurea Under Laser-Induced Dynamic Mixed-Mode Loading

The energy absorption response of polyurea thin films is investigated under laser-induced dynamic mixed-mode loading. By exploiting the substrate geometry, the arrival times and the convenience of two simultaneously detected waves (longitudinal and shear), the transient shear loading of thin films is achieved under mixed-mode conditions. Polyurea films are fabricated on fused silica prismatic (90°–45°–45°) substrates by spin coating a polyurea mixture diluted with tetrahydrofuran solvent. A high amplitude shear wave loading of the polyurea films is attained by the mode-conversion of a laser generated compressive stress wave at an oblique face of the prism substrate. Mixed-mode dynamic shear experiments are conducted on 100 nm thick aluminum and 2 μm thick polyurea films over a range of laser loading fluences (energy/unit area). The free surface displacement, surface velocity and energy fluence histories are inferred from the shear portion of high-speed interferometric measurements. On comparing input–output velocities and fluence parameters, test results show velocity retardation and significant energy absorption (50–65 %) by the polyurea films. Postmortem spallation profiles reveal film wrinkling, tearing and a directional failure pattern, indicating shear as the dominant failure mode under the mixed-mode conditions.
Transformation During Diffusion: Third World Urbanisation

A transformation of the urbanisation process as profound as that in North America has been experienced in the countries of the Third World in recent decades, producing different urban forms and social consequences. Adna Weber’s statistics showed urbanisation beyond Western Europe and North America to be limited in 1899 in both scale and extent to the tentacles of colonial expansion. During the twentieth century this situation has changed dramatically. As part of the quadrupling of the world’s urban population during the last 50 years, the developed regions increased their urban population by a factor of 2.75 (that is, from 198 to 546 million), while the Third World countries increased their urban population by a factor of 6.75 (from 69 to 464 million). In both Latin America and Africa the urban population increased eight-fold. The big-city population of the Third World increased even faster—nine-fold—during the period 1920–60, as compared to 0.6 times for Europe and 2.4 times in other more developed regions (Table 4). Clearly it is the Third World that is experiencing the major thrust of urban growth today. With 25 per cent of the world’s urban population in 1920, the Third World will encompass 51 per cent by 1980 (Davis, 1969).
Does FDG-PET/CT Obviate the Need for Standard Diagnostic Contrast-Enhanced CT in Patients with Lymphoma?.

Abstract Background and Significance: Positron emission tomography using 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG-PET) is useful in the staging and follow up of patients with lymphoma, and has been shown in several studies to be more accurate than computed tomography (CT). These studies have, however, demonstrated a continued role for CT in staging and restaging of lymphoma, and the two modalities are complementary. Increasingly, FDG-PET is performed in conjunction with a low radiation dose, non-contrast CT scan for attenuation correction and localization of lesions. Currently, many patients undergo both FDG-PET/CT and standard diagnostic, contrast enhanced CT, at a significant cost both financially and in terms of radiation exposure. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of performing both studies in patients with lymphoma. Study Design and Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with lymphoma who had undergone both FDG-PET/CT and diagnostic, contrast-enhanced CT (a scan pair) for either staging or restaging following treatment. Patients were included if the two imaging studies were performed within 6 weeks of each other with no intervening anti-lymphoma therapy. We compared the results of the two studies, identifying findings that were detected in either FDG-PET/CT or diagnostic CT scan but not both. Discrepancies were considered clinically significant if they were determined to be related either to lymphoma or another disease process which potentially required intervention. Results: Eighty-nine scan pairs which met the criteria were identified in 75 patients. Sixty-one scan pairs were performed for staging, and 28 were performed for treatment follow up. FDG-PET/CT detected additional potentially clinically relevant lesions over CT in 30 patients, of which 11 demonstrated increased clinical stage. Lymphoma therapy was changed based on FDG-PET/CT findings in 2 patients, and in one patient an occult rectal cancer was detected. In contrast, diagnostic CT detected 5 potentially clinically relevant findings, including 2 incidental findings (one definite and one possible venous thrombosis), and 3 patients with splenic lesions. Of the patients with splenic lesions, one was found on follow up to be definitely not related to lymphoma, and the nature of the splenic lesions in the other two patients remained indeterminate. No patient had a change of stage or lymphoma therapy based on diagnostic CT scan, and one patient was treated with anticoagulation based on CT findings. In the subgroup of scan pairs performed for follow up, diagnostic CT added clinically relevant information in none of the patients. Conclusion: In our series of patients, diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT scan did not contribute to staging or restaging of lymphoma when performed concurrently with FDG-PET/CT. Two clinically important incidental findings were detected by CT alone, of which one led to intervention.
Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Total Phalloplasty

A series is presented of 8 patients who had undergone either total phalloplasty or free flap penile reconstruction. Our experience with prosthetic implantation is reviewed as is a brief history of phallic construction, including previously reported efforts at achieving rigidity with prosthetic implantation, autologous material implantation and so forth. We present in detail our current technique of implantation in these 8 patients, who underwent 10 attempts at implantation. In 4 patients infection necessitated removal of the prosthesis (2 have since undergone successful reimplantation). Of the 8 patients in whom implantation was attempted 6 (60%) currently have prostheses in place.
The Relationship Between Iron Oxides/Oxyhydroxides and Toxic Metal Ions in Drinking Water Distribution Systems—A Review

Iron (Fe) oxides/oxyhydroxides in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS), produced by electrochemical, chemical, and biological reactions, can adsorb toxic metal ions, including strontium, lead, arsenic, and vanadium that, if desorbed, generate pulses of drinking water with elevated toxic metal ion concentrations. To illustrate that potential, sorption data for strontium (cation) and vanadium (oxyanion) in functioning DWDS are reviewed. In addition, the influence of flow/no flow on adsorption and desorption of strontium in a model DWDS is included. The reactions that influence adsorption and desorption within a DWDS are extremely complicated and poorly understood. The sorption capacity of Fe oxhydroxides varies with surface area, which in turn varies with source water and disinfectant. Desorption and release can be triggered by changes in source water, disinfection chemicals, or flow. Because of the interrelatedness of adsorption/desorption and Fe corrosion products, subtle changes in DWDS operating p...
Context-Aware Proactive Process Reconfiguration in Service-Oriented Architecture

With the growth of mobile applications, user context becomes a dynamic but important factor for quality of service (QoS) in the cyber world. Many digital services have distinctly different performance under different service contexts. At runtime, an unexpected transition of user context may cause an application to fail to deliver the required QoS. In this paper, we propose a proactive service selection and reconfiguration approach to prevent service process failure. In our middleware support, a user's most probable context changes are actively predicted according to the current context state and historical data. Some backup service solutions for these anticipated state changes are then prepared. When the user context actually changes, the service process will be immediately routed to the preferred backup plan to prevent service disruption. We use a probabilistic graph model to describe the transition relationships between context attributes. The experimental results show that our context-aware proactive reconfiguration approach significantly improves the overall QoS under dynamically changing user context.
Precision Physics and Searches with Top and Bottom Quarks

This report goes into detail about all of the topics that were worked on by the research group from July 2015 to July 2016. The topics are: Search for supersymmetry in the all-jets final state using αT, measurement of the $$t\bar{t}$$ differential cross section in CMS Run 2, B-physics leadership, CMS HCAL operations, CMS HCAL detector upgrade. In addition to detailing these topics, publications are listed which came from this research group.
Motivation and feedback: How implicit theories of intelligence predict L2 writers’ motivation and feedback orientation

Abstract Drawing on Dweck's (2000) theory of motivation, the current study investigated the relationships between language learners’ implicit theories of writing intelligence, their writing motivation, and their orientation toward written corrective feedback (WCF). A questionnaire was developed based on previous studies and administered to 142 English as a Second Language (ESL) writers at a large university in the United States. The questionnaire included items measuring learners’ implicit theories of general and writing intelligence, their orientation toward WCF, their writing motivation, and their background information. Multiple regression results showed that the incremental theory of writing intelligence (the belief that writing intelligence is dynamic and can grow through effort and experience) significantly and positively predicted the students’ feedback seeking orientation, whereas the entity theory of writing intelligence (the belief that writing intelligence is fixed and unchangeable) was a significant predictor of their feedback avoiding orientation. Moreover, the incremental theory of writing intelligence, but not the entity theory of writing intelligence, was a statistically significant predictor of second language (L2) writing motivation. Writing motivation, in turn, was most strongly correlated with the participants’ feedback seeking orientation, accounting for 41% of its variance. Pedagogical implications and future research directions are discussed.