cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HSGT CORRIDOR PLANNING: LAND-USE AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

This paper explores land-use and other considerations in planning for high-speed ground transportation (HSGT) systems in the United States. Beyond the critical issue of project financing, upon which all HSGT projects proposed to date in the United States have foundered, effective corridor planning (including route alignment and station siting decisions) will be key to the successful implementation of future HSGT project proposals in this country. The corridor planning process must consider many variable factors in deciding issues such as station locations, track/guideway routing and construction type, and overall route alignments. Additionally, there are many institutional factors, including community and environmental considerations as well as political and economic issues, which influence route selection and station location decisions. The general planning framework used throughout the United States (shaped, in large part, by federal regulations) is discussed, and comparisons are made with high-speed rail development in other countries, particularly the larger transportation policy issues that have enabled HSGT development elsewhere.
Computing Supergame Equilibria

We present a general method for computing the set of supergame equilibria in infinitely repeated games with perfect monitoring and public randomization. We present a three-stage algorithm that constructs a convex set containing the set of equilibrium values, constructs another convex set contained in the set of equilibrium values, and produces strategies that support them. We explore the properties of this algorithm by applying it to familiar games.
The stressors and stress of being HIV-positive

Questionnaires were administered to 105 HIV-positive men to assess their stressful life events, rated stress, unhealthy behaviours, and psychological adjustment. Two hypotheses about the effects of stressors and stress were tested. It was found that HIV-positive men experience high numbers of stressors and elevated levels of perceived stress and depression. Stressors in the areas of relationships, finances, and the illness of others were the most problematic and were associated with more depression. Rates of alcohol consumption, smoking, and unsafe sexual behaviours were fairly high. There were some modest, but significant positive correlations between stressors, stress, and risky behaviours. Number of stressors was associated with more alcohol consumption and perceived stress was positively related to more tobacco use and unsafe sexual behaviours. The high levels of stress and stressors and negative effects of stressors have both theoretical and practical implications.
Recognition by goby intestine of a somatostatin analog, SMS 201-995.

The caudal neurosecretory peptide urotensin II and its partial structural analog the hypothalamic and gastroenteropancreatic peptide somatostatin can be distinguished by the goby posterior intestine; urotensin II stimulates Na+ and Cl− absorption whereas somatostatin is without effect. SandostatinR (Sandoz compound SMS 201-995) is a partial structural analog of somatostatin, possessing the active core common to both urotensin II and somatostatin but lacking the C- and N-terminal tails which apparently confer recognition in species specificity. SMS 201-995 mimicked the effects of urotensin II, namely, increased net Cl− absorption and decreased radio-chloride backflux consistent with the observed increase in transepithelial resistance and the cellular depolarization typical of transport stimulation in this tissue. Speculation on the role of the tails in species-specific recognition is supported by the nature of amino acid residue substitutions in urotensin II, somatostatin, and SMS 201-995 and suggests the existence of multiple receptor types for this group of peptides.
Glycoproteins as biological antifreeze agents in Antarctic fishes.

The blood serums of Antarctic fishes freeze at -2 degrees C, which is approximately 1 degrees C below the melting points of their serums. This thermal hysteresis is due to the influence of serum glycoproteins. The temperatures of freezing and melting of aqueous solutions of the purified glycoproteins suggest that this thermal hysteresis results from the adsorption of the glycoprotein molecule onto the surface of ice crystals.
MICRO‐FRESNEL STRUCTURES FOR MICROSCOPY OF LASER GENERATED BRIGHT X‐RAY SOURCES*

A brief parametric survey of the x-ray characteristics of a gold micro-disk irradiated at 3 x 10/sup 14/ watt/cm/sup 2/ by a 1 nsec Nd-glass laser pulse has been provided as an example of a laser generated bright x-ray source. It was shown that a simple phenomenological model of the laser generated x-ray source as a microscopic equilibrium plasma radiating as a blackbody for a finite time determined by its hydrodynamic disassembly and radiation losses, serves to provide an adequate approximation to the x-ray characteristics of such sources. The current state of x-ray microscopy within the LLL laser fusion program was briefly reviewed. Kirpatrick--Baez grazing incidence reflection x-ray microscopes are being used to provide 3 to 5 ..mu..m resolution, broadband images (..delta..E/E approx. 0.3) over a spectral range from .6 keV to 3.5 keV. Zone Plate Coded Imaging is used to provide 5 to 10 ..mu..m resolution, broadband (..delta..E/E approx. 0.5) images over a spectral range from 3 keV to 50 keV. Efficient x-ray lensing elements with anticipated submicron resolution are being developed for narrowband (..delta..E/E approx. 10/sup -2/) imaging applications over a spectral range .1 keV to 8 keV. The x-ray lens design is that of a transmission blazedmore » Fresnel phase plate. Micro--Fresnel zone plates with 3200 A minimum linewidth have been fabricated and preliminary resolution tests begun. The first resolution test pattern, having minimum linewidth of 2.5 ..mu..m, was imaged in lambda = 8.34 A light with no difficulty. Newer test patterns with submicron minimum line are being prepared for the next stage of resolution testing. An off-axis Fresnel zone plate with 1600 A minimum linewidth is presently being fabricated for use as an imaging spectrometer in order to provide spatially separated, chromatically distinct images of characteristic line emissions from laser fusion targets.« less
The use of downhole heat exchangers

The downhole heat exchanger (DHE), used extensively in Klamath Falls, Oregon, in over 500 installations, and in Turkey and New Zealand, provides heating for one or more homes, schools, and apartment buildings from a single geothermal well. The DHE eliminates the problem of disposal of geothermal fluid, since only heat is extracted from the well. The heat exchangers consist of a loop of pipes or tubes suspended in the geothermal well, through which “clean” secondary water is pumped or allowed to circulate by natural convection. The maximum output of large installations is typically less than 3 GJ/h or 0.8 MWt, with well depths up to about 150 m, and may be economical under certain conditions at a well depth of 500 m. However, the typical output for an individual home in Klamath Falls tends to be less than 265 MJ/h (0.07 MWt). In order to obtain maximum output, the well must be designed to have an open annulus between the wellbore and casing, with perforations near the top and bottom of the submerged heat exchanger, just below the water surface and at the hot aquifer at the bottom of the well. Natural convection circulates the well water down inside the casing, through the lower perforations, up through the annulus and back into the casing through the upper perforations, with the new geothermal water mixing with the old. This vertical convection cell exposes the DHE to the near-maximum temperature of the well water and thus increases the heat output of the DHE. The heat output from a DHE system is dependent on the bore diameter, casing diameter, DHE length, tube diameter, number of loops in the well, flow rate and temperature of the geothermal fluid. Based on local experience in Klamath Falls, the “rule-of-thumb” is that contractors estimate approximately “1 foot of DHE pipe per 1500 Btu/h” (5200 kJ/h/m or 1.44 kW/m) as an average output.
Heterogeneity of aerosol deposition in a two-dimensional model of human alveolated ducts

Abstract Transport of 0.5– 5 μm diameter particles was simulated within a symmetric two-dimensional (2D) six-generation structure representative of the human acinus. Aerosol boluses were introduced at the beginning of a breathing cycle (2-s inspiration, 2-s expiration). Airflow corresponded to a flow rate at the mouth of 500 ml/s . Deposition increased from 1% to 100% for 0.5– 5 μm diameter particles. Deposition agreed with the upper limit of alveolar deposition predicted by the one-dimensional (1D) ICRP66 model but only after accounting for multibreath. The 2D model showed that, for each particle size and structure orientation, there was a large heterogeneity in deposition among ducts. Differences of more than one order of magnitude were found between deposition in a single duct of a given generation and the average deposition in that generation. The presence of “hot spots” may have important implications in human health as several studies suggest a strong correlation between airborne pollutants and the onset of pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases.
ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF L-STATISTICS FOR A LARGE CLASS OF TIME SERIES

In this paper we derive the asymptotic normality ofL-statistics with unbounded scores for a large class of time series. To handle the dependence structure, we use the concept ofm(n)-decomposability as an alternative to classical mixing concepts.
Addressing the nursing work environment to promote patient safety.

TOPIC. The nursing work environment has a critical impact on patient safety. Yet confusion on the specific roles and competencies of nurses, staff ratio issues, and lack of nurse empowerment create weaknesses that result in safety risks. PURPOSE. These interrelated issues must be addressed systemically to impact the nursing care system. DISCUSSION. Educational reform focusing upon standardized, higher level nursing education using a military model, appropriate staff ratio laws derived from the outcomes literature, and recurrent training incorporating policy-making powers can result in nurse empowerment and improved patient safety. CONCLUSION. Improving the nursing environment requires a broad approach to benefit patient safety. By treating the work environment as a complex system, approaches can result in greater nurse professionalism, empowerment, and patient safety.
The Communication of Community Collaboration: When Rhetorical Visions Collide

Recently, community coalitions have grown in size, scope, and popularity in response to increasing demands for community-based involvement. Despite this trend, little is known about the ubiquitous role communication plays in the creation of community coalition missions, goals, and enactment practices. In addition, few studies have focused on the symbolic discourse of vital, active community groups. This study examines how coalition members have symbolically converged around a shared vision, which has unintentionally affected group sustenance. Fantasy theme analysis identifies two distinct visions in competition with one another, highlighting possible group dysfunction and decline. This communicative analysis of the group's symbolic life, coupled with a practical look into group effectiveness, bridges the gap between functionalist and interpretive approaches to studying organizational groups.
The Control structure Diagram: an automated graphical representation for software

A description is given of the Control Structure Diagram (CSD), a graphical stepwise refinement tool for use in the development and maintenance of software. The CSD can be used as a natural extension to popular high-level representations such as data-flow diagrams and structure charts. It includes graphical constructs for refinement, sequence, concurrency, selection, iteration, and exit, which are clearly distinguishable, have meaningful connotations, and provide for a high degree of connectivity in the CSD. The CSD is easy to use manually since it can be virtually superimposed on structured pseudocode or source code. A fully operational prototype CSD editor was designed and implemented to provide extensive automated support for the CSD, thus making it especially suitable for use in rapid prototyping environments. >
Charge control approach to the small signal theory of field-effect devices

The operation of a field-effect device is described in terms of the total charge in the channel region. The analysis is primarily developed for the small-signal operation for which the charge control equations are linear and have constant coefficients. The complete expressions for the small signal admittance parameters are obtained in both the linear and the pinch-off regions leading directly to equivalent circuits. It is believed that the charge control approach not only simplifies the mathematics involved, but provides new insights into device operation as well.
LEONARD S. ROBINS

Dr. Leonard S. Robins died on November 9, 2009, at the age of 71, from complications following major surgery. Lenny, as he was known to his friends and colleagues, received his undergraduate degree in political science at the University of Minnesota and went on to study public affairs at the University of Michigan. After several years working in public service and research organizations, he returned to the University of Minnesota for his Ph.D., which was awarded in 1975. In 1982, he took a position in public administration at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he stayed until his retirement in 2003.
SITUATIONS AND INTERVALS

The PUNDIT system processes natural language descriptions of situations and the intervals over which they hold using an algorithm that integrates aspect and tense logic. It analyses the tense and aspect of the main verb to generate representations of three types of situations---states, processes and events---and to locate the situations with respect to the time at which the text was produced. Each situation type has a distinct temporal structure, represented in terms of one or more intervals. Further, every interval has two features whose different values capture the aspectual differences between the three different situation types. Capturing these differences makes it possible to represent very precisely the times for which predications are asserted to hold.
Fabrication of Ag/Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8±x superconducting tapes by the oxidation and postoxidation (partial melt) annealing of malleable, metal-bearing precursors

A solid metal-bearing precursor route has been used to fabricate Ag-sheathed Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca{sub 1}Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8{+-}}{sub x}(2212) superconducting tapes. Intimately mixed Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Sr-Ca-Cu-bearing powder was first synthesized by a two-stage, high-energy/low-energy mechanical alloying process. The powder was then packed into silver tubes and formed into tapes by drawing and biaxial (Turk's-head) rolling. The precursor tapes were oxidized and converted into Ag-sheathed 2212 by heat treatment at 350-860 degree sign C in oxygen. Subsequent annealing at 897 degree sign C, followed by slow cooling and subsolidus annealing at 850 degree sign C, yielded 2212 grains with enhanced c-axis alignment. The resulting tapes exhibited average and maximum transport J{sub c} (4.2 K, self-field) values of 3.2x10{sup 4} and 6.8x10{sup 4} A/cm{sup 2}, respectively. (c) 2000 Materials Research Society.
A CONVENIENT TWO-STEP ONE-POT SYNTHESIS OF PHOSPHONAMIDATES

Phosphonamidates are formed in high yield from a one-pot sequential reaction of a phosphonyl dichloride with an alcohol and then an amine in the presence of catalytic 1H-tetrazole. Undesired disubstitution of the phoshphonyl dichloride by the alcohol or the amine is minimal due to the presence of tetrazole.
Caffeine and exercise performance. An update.

Three principal cellular mechanisms have been proposed to explain the ergogenic potential of caffeine during exercise: (a) increased myofilament affinity for calcium and/or increased release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle; (b) cellular actions caused by accumulation of cyclic-3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in various tissues including skeletal muscle and adipocytes; and (c) cellular actions mediated by competitive inhibition of adenosine receptors in the central nervous system and somatic cells. The relative importance of each of the above mechanisms in explaining in vivo physiological effects of caffeine during exercise continues to be debated. However, growing evidence suggests that inhibition of adenosine receptors is one of the most important, if not the most important, mechanism to explain the physiological effects of caffeine at nontoxic plasma concentrations. Numerous animal studies using high caffeine doses have reported increased force development in isolated skeletal muscle in both in vitro and in situ preparations. In contrast, in vivo human studies have not consistently shown caffeine to enhance muscular performance during high intensity, short term exercise. Further, recent evidence supports previous work that shows caffeine does not improve performance during short term incremental exercise. Although controversy exists, the major part of published evidence evaluating performance supports the notion that caffeine is ergogenic during prolonged (>30 min), moderate intensity (≈75 to 80% V2max) exercise. The mechanism to explain these findings may be linked to a caffeine-mediated glycogen sparing effect secondary to an increased rate of lipolysis.
Molecular and culture-based analyses of aerobic carbon monoxide oxidizer diversity.

Isolates belonging to six genera not previously known to oxidize CO were obtained from enrichments with aquatic and terrestrial plants. DNA from these and other isolates was used in PCR assays of the gene for the large subunit of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (coxL). CoxL and putative coxL fragments were amplified from known CO oxidizers (e.g., Oligotropha carboxidovorans and Bradyrhizobium japonicum), from novel CO-oxidizing isolates (e.g., Aminobacter sp. strain COX, Burkholderia sp. strain LUP, Mesorhizobium sp. strain NMB1, Stappia strains M4 and M8, Stenotrophomonas sp. strain LUP, and Xanthobacter sp. strain COX), and from several well-known isolates for which the capacity to oxidize CO is reported here for the first time (e.g., Burkholderia fungorum LB400, Mesorhizobium loti, Stappia stellulata, and Stappia aggregata). PCR products from several taxa, e.g., O. carboxidovorans, B. japonicum, and B. fungorum, yielded sequences with a high degree (>99.6%) of identity to those in GenBank or genome databases. Aligned sequences formed two phylogenetically distinct groups. Group OMP contained sequences from previously known CO oxidizers, including O. carboxidovorans and Pseudomonas thermocarboxydovorans, plus a number of closely related sequences. Group BMS was dominated by putative coxL sequences from genera in the Rhizobiaceae and other alpha-PROTEOBACTERIA: PCR analyses revealed that many CO oxidizers contained two coxL sequences, one from each group. CO oxidation by M. loti, for which whole-genome sequencing has revealed a single BMS-group putative coxL gene, strongly supports the notion that BMS sequences represent functional CO dehydrogenase proteins that are related to but distinct from previously characterized aerobic CO dehydrogenases.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND. Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon malignant tumor of the skin that, after standard surgical excision, tends to recur locally and develop regional nodal spread. OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the use of Mohs micrographic surgery for this aggressive neoplasm. METHODS. A retrospective study of 86 patients with Merkel cell carcinoma established rates of local persistence and the development of regional metastasis after standard surgical excision. Detailed follow-up was availake on a subgroup of 13 patients treated with Mohs surgery. RESULTS. Standard surgical excision for local disease was associated with high rates of local persistence (13 of 41 [31.7%]) and regional metastasis (20 of 41 148.8%]). Mean follow-up was 60 months. Mean follow-up for the group treated with Mohs was 36 months. Only one of 12 (8.3%) Mohs-treated patients with histologically confirmed clearance has had local persistence of disease. This patient underwent a second Mohs excision and has remained disease free for 84 months. Regional metastasis devel-oped in four of 12 cases (33.3%). Regional metastasis developed in none of the four patients treated with radiotherapy after Mohs surgery and in four of eight patients treated with Mohs surgery without postoperative radiotherapy. CONCLUSION. Mohs surgery compares favorably with standard surgical excision. Radiotherapy after Mohs surgery may further reduce persistent metastases in transit and nodal disease.
Soft-decision interference cancellation for AWGN multi-user channels

This work applies the EM algorithm and a more powerful generalized EM algorithm for ML estimation to the multi-user detection problem. A key feature of the resulting receivers is that they use conditional-mean estimates of the users' bits to reconstruct and cancel multiple-access interference. These soft-decision estimates inherently account for the users SNRs, thereby allowing for effective use of decisions for weaker users in interference cancellation and improving upon the performance of comparable hard-decision-based receivers. >
Vagueness And The Sorites Paradox

Examinant la fonction semantique du predicat vague dans les paradoxes sorites, l'A. s'interesse au phenomene du flou dans la langue naturelle. Evitant toute theorie epistemique, l'A. defend une approche intuitive des pratiques linguistiques qui n'est pas incompatible avec la logique classique.
Lazy Bagging for Classifying Imbalanced Data

In this paper, we propose a lazy bagging (LB) design, which builds bootstrap replicate bags based on the characteristics of the test instances. Upon receiving a test instance Ik, LB will trim bootstrap bags by taking Ik's nearest neighbors in the training set into consideration. Our hypothesis is that an unlabeled instance's nearest neighbors provide valuable information for learners to refine their local decision boundaries for classifying this instance. By taking full advantage of Ik's nearest neighbors, the base learners are able to receive less bias and variance in classifying Ik. This strategy is beneficial for classifying imbalanced data because refining local decision boundaries can help a learner reduce its inherent bias towards the majority class and improve its performance on minority class examples. Our experimental results will confirm that LB outperforms C4.5 and TB in terms of reducing classification error, and most importantly this error reduction is largely contributed from LB's improvement on minority class examples.
Dual-Polarization Spatial-Hole-Burning-Free Microchip Laser

We propose a novel spatial-hole-burning-free dual-polarization Nd : YAG microchip laser lasing at 1064 nm. The device has been experimentally investigated. Stable dual-polarization operation was observed.
In situ testing and calibration of tube piezoelectric scanners

Abstract The tube scanner, a piezoelectric ceramic tube with the outer metal coating sectioned into four quadrants, is widely used in scanning probe microscopes. Based on stress-and-strain analysis, we obtain analytic expressions for the deflections of tube scanners, which are found to be in good agreement with the results of finite-element analyses and experimental measurements. Also, we show that by applying an AC voltage on one of the quadrants, an AC current of well-defined intensity and phase is generated from each of the other three quadrants to the ground (inner metal coating). This current can be used to measure the piezoelectric coefficient and to inspect the uniformity and geometrical accuracy of tube scanners. A combination of those who results provides an easy and accurate method for testing and calibrating tube scanners in situ, for example, in a vacuum chamber or in a cryostat.
Production of indole alkaloids by selected hairy root lines of Catharanthus roseus.

Hairy root cultures of Catharanthus roseus were established by infection of seedlings with Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834. Approximately 150 transformants from four different. C. roseus cultivars were screened for desirable traits in growth and indole alkaloid production. Five hairy root clones grew well in liquid culture with doubling times similar to those reported for cell suspensions. Fast growing clones had similar morphologies, characterized by thin, straight, and regular branches with thin tips. The levels of key alkaloids, ajmalicine, serpentine, and catharanthine, in these five clones, also compared well with literature data from cell suspensions, yet HPLC and GC-MS data indicate the presence of vindoline in two clones at levels over three orders of magnitude greater than the minute amounts reported in cell culture. These results suggest that further optimization may result in hairy roots as a potential source of vindoline and catharanthine, the two monomers necessary to synthesize that antineoplastic drug, vinblastine. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Simultaneous Growth and Yield Prediction Equations for Pinus elliottii Plantations in Zululand

SYNOPSIS Long-term remeasurements of spacing and thinning (CCT) experimental plots are used to formulate stand basal area and stem volume prediction and projection equations, consistent with observed growth trends. Logically consistent yield prediction and projection equations are thus derived for unthinned as well as thinned plantations. The system of interrelated equations includes a survival function and a dominant height projection equation. An equation is also provided to predict merchantable stem volume yield from the expected total stem volume.
Cellular Defense Systems of the Coelenterata

The phylum Coelenterata is composed of three classes: Hydrozoa (e.g., Hydra, hydroids), Scyphozoa (the true jellyfish), and Anthozoa (e.g., sea anemones, sea fans, and corals). Although some, such as the corals and sea whips, are truly sessile, most coelenterates are capable of some form of movement, ranging from creeping on a pedal disc and burrowing to freely swimming. Coelenterates include both marine and freshwater species. They are found from the deepest reaches of the ocean to the intertidal zone, and in some habitats they are one of the dominant animals. Representatives of the phylum have been identified in Precambrian fossils and there are an estimated 11,000 extant species (Russell-Hunter, 1969). The phylum Coelenterata must therefore be counted among the oldest and more successful of the animal groups.
Design Tool for the Structural Stability of Rootwads in Streambanks

This deign tool utilizes measurable and default characteristics of a rootwad, the streambank soil into which it is embedded, and the velocity of adjacent flows to estimate the ability of the rootwad to remain in place during design events. The stability is expressed in terms of factors of safety, for both a variety of the rootwad’s individual components (e.g. header log, ballast rocks) and for the entire rootwad. The former allows the spreadsheet design tool to also be used to assess the stability of log vanes. Over 200 rootwads were installed as streambank stabilization projects at 17 sites, with a wide range of conditions, to verify the applicability of the model. The development of this tool was a joint project with USDA-NRCS, PA-DEP, and the Pennsylvania State University.
Investigations of TiO2 Nanoparticles Surface-Doped with Eu in Aqueous Fluids to High P-T Conditions

A hydrothermal reactor has been used for surface doping of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (∼ 13 nm across) with Eu3+ ions in aqueous fluids to 370 °C and ∼20 MPa. XRD and Raman measurements made both before and after hydrothermal treatment with Eu show that the anatase structure of the TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) is preserved. SEM imaging, combined with XRD indicates that the size and overall morphology of the TiO2 nanoparticles is preserved subsequent to hydrothermal treatment in the presence of Eu. The photoluminescence occurring in the 400 to ∼700 nm range of the (as prepared) Eu surface-doped TiO2 NPs are red-shifted by ∼ 50 nm and reduced in intensity relative to the photoluminescence of TiO2 NPs.
Evaluation of AIDS Health Education among Leaders from Grass Roots of Taishan District

Objective To understand AIDS related knowledge,and to prevent and national control strategy among leaders from grass roots,and provide evidences for improving strategic support for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.Methods A total of 575 leaders from grass roots of Taishan district were chosen with cluster sampling.Health education methods included:giving special subject lecture about AIDS and handing out the booklets,a questionnaire were conducted after Health education.Results A total of 401 leaders were investigated.The overall rate of correct answer about AIDS related knowledge was 86.30%,83.79% of them know the national HIV/AIDS prevention and controlling policies "Four free and one care".Conclusion There are high level about AIDS related knowledge and the national HIV/AIDS prevention and controlling policies among leaders from grass roots of Taishan district after health education.AIDS health education needs to be strengthened so that prevention and control strategy could be implemented in an active manner.
The ordination of women: Biblical perspectives

This essay focuses on one aspect of the debate regarding the ordination of women by analyzing and challenging interpretations and translations of specific biblical passages that have often been used to argue against the ordination of women. It provides reflections on only one aspect of a much broader discussion that even members of denominations that have long ordained women should not ignore.
A System is How the Pieces Fit

The years since the early 1970s have been the most tumultuous in monetary history. The world price level in 2008 was more than five times higher than in 1970; never before have price levels increased so rapidly in so many countries. The US dollar price of gold at the end of 2008 was more than 25 times higher than the US$35 parity in 1970 — and this price had been 25 percent higher in the summer of 2008 than at the end of the year. A barrel of oil nearly reached $150 in June 2008, more than 50 times higher than at the end of 1970; the oil price had quintupled between 2003 and 2008 and then declined to below $50 toward the end of the year.
First Steps towards Online Optimal Control of Molecular Weight in Batch and Semi-batch Free-Radical Polymerization Reactors

Abstract This paper discusses the first steps towards the formulation and implementation of a generic and flexible model centric framework for integrated simulation, estimation, optimization and feedback control of polymerization systems. Off-line capabilities of the framework were fully tested experimentally for model validations, parameter estimation as well as for process optimization using the Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization reactions (ACOMP). A brief analysis on the controllability of the system under feedback conditions was also performed through a combination of simulation and experimental runs. Results are provided for free radical solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate system (MMA).
High Speed Search Algorithms for Block-Based Motion Estimation Video Compression

The enormous computations associated with motion estimation prevent software implementations from running in real time. A hardware implementation to achieve real time video compression was demonstrated utilizing Mentor Graphics tools. Several block-matching criteria and architectures were developed to improve the hardware efficiency and computational speed of block-matching VLSI chips. The VHDL code for block-based motion estimation was designed using high speed arithmetic units. As the complexity of motion estimation is greatly influenced by the search algorithm and search range, the design focuses mainly on the high throughput rate and scalability for increased search ranges. The design was simulated for different image sizes at different clock frequencies with varying block sizes and search areas. The paper details the search algorithms and simulation results in order to achieve high speed hardware processing. With a clock frequency of 400MHz, the estimated time for motion estimation for QCIF and CIF sequences shows the feasibility for real-time video-codec.
Fair Howsing? Robert Howse on Strauss and Straussians

ABSTRACTRobert Howse's Leo Strauss Man of Peace performs a valuable service in vindicating Strauss against scurrilous charges coming from the academic Left in recent decades that he was an antidemocratic warmonger, rather than (as Strauss described Socrates) a seeker of peace, though not a pacifist. Unfortunately, Howse initially pursues his goal by launching a variety of unfounded criticisms of some of Strauss's most prominent students, accusing them of distorting their master's teaching in the direction of bellicosity and intolerance. This major flaw aside, Howse's book offers insightful interpretations of Strauss's analyses of Thucydides, and Machiavelli, as well as his opposition to Carl Schmitt's “warrior morality,” that are highly illuminating. Howse demonstrates that Strauss was neither a Machiavellian “realist” nor someone who dismissed the Florentine as a mere “teacher of evil” (as a superficial reading based on the first page of Thoughts on Machiavelli would suggest); rather, he found in Thucydi...
Cytoprotective Role of Dietary Phytochemicals Against Cancer Development via Induction of Phase II and Antioxidant Enzymes

Abstract Cancer poses a lingering health threat to the humans which is attributable to the shortage in availability of efficient curative agents. Several lines of epidemiological evidence as well as substantive in vivo and in vitro investigations have led to the emergence of the chemoprevention/cytoprotection concept. This principle denotes cell protection against development of cancer (carcinogenesis) through the regular intake of sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruits as these contain a myriad of phytochemicals which are discerned as the putative chemopreventive substances in plants. Alternatively, purified phytochemicals can be administered in daily doses. These plant constituents act by elevating the activity and/or increasing the gene expression of phase II detoxification enzymes and the antioxidant enzymes, collectively known as the cytoprotective enzymes. The first class of enzymes are capable of neutralizing the reactive electrophiles and the carcinogens via formation of water-soluble conjugates that are rapidly eliminated from the cells and excreted. The antioxidative enzymes act as scavengers for the reactive oxygen species and thus abrogate the oxidative stress which is a predisposition for carcinogenesis. Chemopreventive phytochemicals have been found among polyphenols and isothiocyanates, beside other phytochemical classes, including monophenolic acids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and triterpenes.
Search Neutrality as an Antitrust Principle

Google's perceived dominance in Internet search, and the perception that Google exploits this dominance to favor its own websites and service, has led to call for a mandatory legal requirement of "search neutrality." This essay argues that a general principle of search neutrality ignores the realities of Internet search and would stymie search innovation.
The effects of thioamide backbone substitution on protein stability: a study in α-helical, β-sheet, and polyproline II helical contexts

Thioamides are single atom substitutions of the peptide bond that serve as versatile probes of protein structure. Effective use of thioamides requires a robust understanding of the impact that the substitution has on a protein of interest. However, the thermodynamic effects of thioamide incorporation have only been studied in small structural motifs, and their influence on secondary structure in the context of full-length proteins is not known. Here we describe a comprehensive survey of thioamide substitutions in three benchmark protein systems (calmodulin, the B1 domain of protein G, and collagen) featuring the most prevalent secondary structure motifs: α-helix, β-sheet, and polyproline type II helix. We find that in most cases, effects on thermostability can be understood in terms of the positioning and local environment of the thioamide relative to proximal structural elements and hydrogen bonding networks. These observations set the stage for the rational design of thioamide substituted proteins with predictable stabilities.
Evidence that abnormal grain growth precedes fatigue crack initiation in nanocrystalline Ni-Fe

Abstract Prior studies on the high-cycle fatigue behavior of nanocrystalline metals have shown that fatigue fracture is associated with abnormal grain growth (AGG). However, those previous studies have been unable to determine if AGG precedes fatigue crack initiation, or vice-versa. The present study shows that AGG indeed occurs prior to crack formation in nanocrystalline Ni-Fe by using a recently developed synchrotron X-ray diffraction modality that has been adapted for in-situ analysis. The technique allows fatigue tests to be interrupted at the initial signs of the AGG process, and subsequent microscopy reveals the precursor damage state preceding crack initiation.
Pectoral Fascial (PECS) I and II Blocks as Rescue Analgesia in a Patient Undergoing Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery.

Introduction Patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery have the potential for significant pain from the thoracotomy site. We report the successful use of pectoral nerve block types I and II (Pecs I and II) as rescue analgesia in a patient undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair. Case Report In this case, a 78-year-old man, with no history of chronic pain, underwent mitral valve repair via right anterior thoracotomy for severe mitral regurgitation. After extubation, he complained of 10/10 pain at the incision site that was minimally responsive to intravenous opioids. He required supplemental oxygen because of poor pulmonary mechanics, with shallow breathing and splinting due to pain, and subsequent intensive care unit readmission. Ultrasound-guided Pecs I and II blocks were performed on the right side with 30 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine with 1:400,000 epinephrine. The blocks resulted in near-complete chest wall analgesia and improved pulmonary mechanics for approximately 24 hours. After the single-injection blocks regressed, a second set of blocks was performed with 266 mg of liposomal bupivacaine mixed with bupivacaine. This second set of blocks provided extended analgesia for an additional 48 hours. The patient was weaned rapidly from supplemental oxygen after the blocks because of improved analgesia. Conclusions Pectoral nerve blocks have been described in the setting of breast surgery to provide chest wall analgesia. We report the first successful use of Pecs blocks to provide effective chest wall analgesia for a patient undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery with thoracotomy. We believe that these blocks may provide an important nonopioid option for the management of pain during recovery from minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
Inhibitors of Anion Exchanger Activity Reduce Sodium Chloride-Dependent Taurine Transport by Brush Border Vesicles

The erythrocyte anion exchanger, or band 3 protein, catalyzes the exchange of chloride and bicarbonate in many cells. Anion exchanger activity is predominantly found in the basolateral membrane of the cortical collecting duct. Because proximal tubular renal taurine uptake across the brush border surface is dependent upon sodium and chloride, the effect of inhibitors of anion exchanger activity on renal taurine accumulation by rat renal brush border membrane vesicles was examined. The anion exchanger probes, DIDS (4,4-’diisothiosulfonic acid), and NBD-taurine (N-[7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl]-aminoethane sulfonic acid), and NBD-taurine (N-[7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl]-aminoethane sulfonic acid), were used as inhibitors of anion exchanger activity. DIDS, NAP-, and NBD-taurine all markedly inhibit the initial rate of NaCl-dependent accumulation of taurine by brush border membrane vesicles. NAP- and NBD-taurine accumulation is chloride dependent because inhibition was not found when uptake was performed in the presence of NaNO3 in place of chloride. In the presence of maximal inhibition of taurine uptake by NAP- or NBD-taurine, no additional inhibition was evident after incubation with DIDS. On the other hand, when a competitive inhibitor of taurine uptake, β-alanine, was used, additional inhibition of taurine accumulation was found in the presence of NAP- or NBD-taurine (p < .01 respectively). These results suggest some interaction of the anion exchanger and the taurine accumulation process at the apical surface of the proximal tubule. Because NBD-taurine is a fluorescent probe, it may be possible to isolate membrane peptides that bind NBD-taurine and demonstrate fluorescence. Preliminary isoelectric focusing experiments of brush border protein incubated with NBD-taurine show fluorescence localized to several particular fractions. Hence this observation that inhibitors of the anion exchanger system block NaCl-dependent taurine uptake can potentially serve as a means of isolating the taurine transporter protein.
Standards of Evidence for Conducting and Reporting Economic Evaluations in Prevention Science.

Over a decade ago, the Society for Prevention Research endorsed the first standards of evidence for research in preventive interventions. The growing recognition of the need to use limited resources to make sound investments in prevention led the Board of Directors to charge a new task force to set standards for research in analysis of the economic impact of preventive interventions. This article reports the findings of this group’s deliberations, proposes standards for economic analyses, and identifies opportunities for future prevention science. Through examples, policymakers’ need and use of economic analysis are described. Standards are proposed for framing economic analysis, estimating costs of prevention programs, estimating benefits of prevention programs, implementing summary metrics, handling uncertainty in estimates, and reporting findings. Topics for research in economic analysis are identified. The SPR Board of Directors endorses the “Standards of Evidence for Conducting and Reporting Economic Evaluations in Prevention Science.”
Implementation and utilization of hypofractionation for breast cancer.

Abstract Purpose Hypofractionation (HF) of whole breast irradiation has become a standard treatment regimen because randomized trials continue to demonstrate equivalence in survival and local control compared with conventional fractionation. In 2011, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) adopted clinical guidelines on the proper selection of HF. Nevertheless, utilization remains lower than predicted. We evaluate the effects of clinical directives that serve as default treatment decisions and prospective contouring rounds on the implementation of HF in a large, multicenter radiation oncology department. Methods and materials In 2010, we implemented consensus-driven and evidence-based clinical directives to guide treatment decisions. Five directives were available for adjuvant breast cancer treatment, including conventional fractionation and HF approaches, and were selected on the basis of disease specifics and clinical judgment. In 2012, we instituted prospective contouring rounds wherein the treating physicians presented their directive selection and patient contours for peer-review and consensus opinion. For this study, charts for patients with early stage breast cancer were reviewed. A total of 1043 cases of breast cancer were identified. Patients receiving HF were analyzed on the basis of the ASTRO 2011 guidelines and adherence to our more inclusive clinical directives. Results For the ASTRO-endorsed group (n = 685), 49% of patients received HF in 2011, and 80% received HF in 2015. For the directives-endorsed group (n = 1042), 47% of patients received HF in 2011, and 73% received HF in 2015. Conclusions HF is underutilized despite equivalent local control, superior toxicity profile, and noninferior late effects. Our study demonstrates the possibility of achieving high levels of utilization in a large, multisite, outpatient setting. Factors responsible may include default rules established through the development of consensus-based treatment directives, peer review by faculty, and strong financial leadership to implement HF when indicated. To our knowledge, this is the first example of combining both consensus-based treatment directives and prospective contouring rounds in an attempt to change practice patterns.
Non-anglophone Ethnoarchaeologies

This chapter explores a number of dimensions of ethno-archaeology and its history that are brought to the fore when archaeologists in the non-Anglophone countries of Europe, Asia, and North Africa have their say. Among others, the examples discussed in this chapter include the relationship of ethno-archaeology and archaeologists to nation states and ruling ideologies through history, the importance of the interregional scale for the understanding of local process in ethnography, history and archaeology, and the potentially fruitful relationships between ethno-archaeology and material culture studies.
Congenital aortic stenosis: Experience with 43 patients

Between September, 1967, and January, 1975, 43 patients underwent intracardiac repair for congenital aortic stenosis at the Buffalo Children's Hospital. The patients ranged in age from 2 days to 24 years, 6 of them being below one year of age. Valvular aortic stenosis was found in 21 cases (4 infants [Group I-A] and 17 older patients [Group I-B]), discrete subaortic membranous diaphragm in 11 (Group II), diffuse subvalvular muscular obstruction in 3 (Group III), supravalvular stenosis in 4 (Group IV), and multiple-level obstruction in 4 (2 infants [Group V-A] and 2 older patients [Group V-B]). Preoperatively, 58 per cent of the patients were symptomatic and 67 per cent had abnormal electrocardiograms. Associated congenital cardiac defects were found in 28 per cent of the cases. The over-all hospital mortality rate was 9 per cent (3 patients in Group l-A and one in Group V-A), with no deaths occurring in patients older than 3 months of age at the time of operation. Two late deaths occurred (Groups I-B and V-B). A complete heart block developed in one patient (Group III). The average intraoperative peak systolic left ventricular-aortic gradient decreased in all groups after repair but progressively increased in the late hemodynamic studies obtained in symptomatic patients. Six patients were reoperated upon for recurrent obstruction. Late results were evaluated on the basis of symptoms, electrocardiographic findings, valve function, and hemodynamic data. They showed excellent or satisfactory results in 59 per cent of the patients in Group I-B, in 45 per cent in Group II, in 66 per cent in Group III, and in 25 per cent in Group I-V. Results were fair or poor in Groups I-A, V-A, and V-B. In children and adolescents, effective relief of the obstruction and of the symptoms can be obtained with minimal operative risk and minimal morbidity. In symptomatic infants, despite the high operative mortality rate, surgical intervention is indicated because of the poor prognosis.