cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Floral diversity, phytogeography, and climatic amelioration during the Early Carboniferous (Dinantian)

Phytogeographic analysis of three Early Carboniferous intervals (Tournaisian–early Visean, Visean, and late Visean–early Namurian A) indicates a high level of phytogeographic differentiation in the beginning of the Early Carboniferous that decreases toward the end of this period. Climatic amelioration (warmer or wetter conditions) in the north middle and high latitudes, caused by the collision of Laurussia and Gondwana at the end of the Early Carboniferous, may be responsible for this decrease in phytogeographic provinciality. Toward the end of the Early Carboniferous, a large number of equatorial genera expand their ranges northward, and the average generic diversity of assemblages in the north high latitudes (Siberia) also rises. Both support the hypothesis of climatic amelioration. Northward migration of equatorial forms and the appearance of new genera endemic to Siberia both contributed to the rise in Siberian diversity. Although this trend is not statistically significant, additional evidence of diversity increase in northern high latitudes tied to climatic amelioration comes from the northernmost limit of diverse (≥ 10 genera) assemblages, which rises from 20°N at the beginning to 55°N at the end of the Early Carboniferous. Global plant diversity assessed at the generic level remained constant during the Early Carboniferous. The increase in Siberian diversity was offset by a decrease in equatorial diversity, perhaps due to the loss of pronounced latitudinal climatic gradients between north-middle and equatorial latitudes.
Pregnant Adolescents' Perceptions of Their Babies Before and After Realtime Ultrasound

1. Research has shown that adolescent mothers both overestimate and underestimate their infant's abilities. 2. Results indicated that the majority of the adolescents exhibited a different perception of their fetus postultrasound, especially in their babies' kinesthetic characteristics. 3. Nurses must develop visual aids that are attractive, bright in color, contain more pictures than words, and are kinesthetic in nature. These visual instructional processes regarding fetal characteristics including movement, heart beating, and developmental capabilities should be incorporated in pregnant teen educational programs.
Relative Duration as a Perceptual Cue to Stress in Mandarin

Perceptual tests were carried out to examine (1) whether Fo is necessary to perceive stress in Mandarin, and (2) if not, which cue, duration or intensity, is more important. The results indicate th...
Superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Introduction To report on prognostic and treatment factors influencing the response of SVCO and related survival outcomes in advanced non small cell lung cancer. Material and methods From November 2008 through December 2011, 18 consecutively diagnosed NSCLC patients with SVCO were included in this study. The patient, tumor and treatment related factors were analyzed. Median overall survival (OS), Kaplan -Meier survival plots, T-test, Cox Proportional Hazards models were generated by multiple covariates (MVA) and analyzed on SPSS software (version 19.0; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Results Thirteen patients (72%) had presented with SVCO before the pathological diagnosis of underlying lung malignancy, while 5 (28%) progressed to SVCO after initiating treatment with chemotherapy. Twelve (68%) patients achieved subjective relief from the obstruction at the completion of palliative radiation therapy. Treating oncologists preferred 4 Gy per fraction in 11 (62%), while the median biologically equivalent dose delivered was 28 Gy. Six (33%) patients received chemotherapy during the course of treatment. Median OS of the entire cohort was 3±1.85mths and 1-year survival rate of 7%. Univariate analysis confirmed that SVCO patients with good performance score (p=0.02), and partial response to chemotherapy (p= 0.001) have superior OS. However, Cox regression modeling for MVA demonstrated only good performance SVCO patients (p = 0.05) have a better OS. Conclusion RT effectively relieves SVCO but overall poor survival associated in our clinical scenario needs to be improved with multimodality approach. Adjuvant chemotherapy is to be considered after initial radiation therapy in good performance patients. Keywords superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), BED (biologically equivalent dose).
Third-order optical properties of ion-implanted gold nanoclusters in sapphire

Large third-order optical susceptibilities have been reported for gold clusters in dielectric media at 532 nm, close to the surface plasmon resonance. The nonlinear optical (NLO) mechanism has been attributed by Hache et al.,1 to optical heating of the electron gas, which results in a refractive index modulation due to Fermi smearing in the vicinity of the L point of the Brillouin zone. Evidence for electron heating in gold films was also observed in transient reflectivity measurements, which reported energy transfer from the hot electron gas to the lattice within several picoseconds.2,3 Previous measurements of degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) in gold clusters, using 5–35-ps pulses, did not resolve this dynamic response.
Choreiform Movements and Valproic Acid

Three patients, aged 10, 17, and 36 years, who developed chorea during long-term treatment with valproic acid are reported from the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
Stability study on an anti-cancer drug 4-(3,5-bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid (CLEFMA) using a stability-indicating HPLC method.

Abstract CLEFMA, 4-(3,5-bis(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, is a new chemical entity with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we report its stability in solution against stress conditions of exposure to acid/base, light, oxidant, high temperature, and plasma. The identity of the degradation products was ascertained by mass and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To facilitate this study, we developed and validated a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography method for detection of CLEFMA and its degradation. The method was linear over a range of 1–100 µg/mL; the accuracy and precision were within acceptable limits; it was stability-indicating as it successfully separated cis-/trans- isomers of CLEFMA as well as its degradation product. The major degradation product was produced from amide hydrolysis at maleic acid functionality caused by an acidic buffer, oxidant (3% hydrogen peroxide), or temperature stress (40–60 °C). The log k -pH profile showed that CLEFMA was most stable at neutral pH. In accelerated stability study we found that the shelf-life ( T 90% ) of CLEFMA at 25 °C and 4 °C was 45 days and 220 days, respectively. Upon exposure to UV-light (365 nm), the normally prevalent trans- CLEFMA attained cis- configuration. This isomerization also involved the maleic acid moiety. CLEFMA was stable in plasma from which it could be efficiently extracted by an acetonitrile precipitation method. These results indicate that CLEFMA is sensitive to hydrolytic cleavage at its maleic acid moiety, and it is recommended that its samples should be stored under refrigerated and light-free conditions, and under inert environment.
Surgical Emergencies in the Palliative Care Setting

Palliative care may be defined as “an interdisciplinary team approach to care with a focus on comfort and quality of life rather than prolongation or ‘cure’ for a patient and their loved ones” (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 13:337–339, 2004). This definition stresses the interdisciplinary nature of palliative care, and marks the importance of the surgeon in this setting. Emergency situations are crystallized in the setting of advanced disease. The decision making may be especially difficult not only for patients and caregivers, but also for clinical teams. Fortunately, true emergencies are rare and typically allow time to consider the risks and potential benefits of surgical interventions.
Theater of war edited by Meredith Davenport

Over the past three decades, and particularly since the first Persian Gulf War, scholarship on photojournalistic and televisual representations of war (Jean Baudrillard’s The Gulf War Did Not Take ...
Robotic trans-atrial and trans-mitral ventricular septal resection

Localized ventricular septal hypertrophy, also known as idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis or idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic septal obstruction (IHSS), can create severe ventricular outflow obstruction. This often results in a high sub-aortic pressure gradient with potentially lethal symptoms. In 1960, Braunwald described the hemodynamic characteristics of IHSS, and thereafter, Morrow developed a trans-aortic approach to resect a large part of the ventricular septum, enlarging the outflow tract. The Morrow operation has remained the gold standard for surgically treating this pathology. However, in patients with a small aortic annulus, a severely hypertrophied septum, and a long anterior mitral leaflet, the trans-aortic approach may be more difficult, resulting in an inadequate resection and/or systolic anterior leaflet motion. The latter usually increases the obstruction and can cause mitral regurgitation. Herein, we describe a minimally invasive trans-left atrial robotic approach to treat IHSS. First, the anterior mitral leaflet is incised radially to reveal the aortic outflow tract and ventricular septum, which are located posteriorly. Thereafter, a deep “block” of septum is excised, beginning at the right valve cusp nadir and continued counterclockwise toward the left fibrous trigone. This excision is extended to the anterior papillary muscle base, where any septal connections must be divided. Subsequently, the anterior leaflet is re-suspended and the repair is completed with a flexible annuloplasty band. If necessary, the anterior leaflet can be augmented with a pericardial patch. The “wristed” robotic instruments and magnified 3-D vision definitely facilitate an adequate septal resection and anterior papillary muscle mobilization. Moreover, it is possible that this fine control helps to reduce complications, such as heart block or a ventricular septal defect.
Effects of trade and agricultural policies on the structure of the U.S. tomato industry

Abstract Over the last few decades, accelerated growth of Mexican tomato imports to the United States has caused several trade disputes with U.S. growers. A data-driven approach was used to analyze trade flows in the tomato industry from 1970 to 2015 and all structural changes to policy interventions implemented during the same period were linked. Tests for endogenous breakpoints reveal that NAFTA and trade pricing policies are two of the main factors that caused structural changes in the tomato industry in 1992 and 1999. While U.S. agricultural policies sought to protect domestic tomato producers, they did not stop Mexican tomatoes from taking an important share of the U.S. market. Mexican imports to the United States, especially post-NAFTA, have a high explanatory power for U.S. domestic production.
AnimaStage: Hands-on Animated Craft on Pin-based Shape Displays

In this paper, we present AnimaStage: a hands-on animated craft platform based on an actuated stage. Utilizing a pin-based shape changing display, users can animate their crafts made from various materials. Through this system, we intend to lower the barrier for artists and designers to create actuated objects and to contribute to interaction design using shape changing interfaces for inter-material interactions. We introduce a three-phase design process for AnimaStage with examples of animated crafts. We implemented the system with several control modalities that allow users to manipulate the motion of the crafts so that they could easily explore their desired motion through an iterative process. To complement the animated crafts, dynamic landscapes can also be rendered. We conducted a user study to observe the subject and process by which people make crafts using AnimaStage. We invited participants with different backgrounds to design and create crafts using multiple materials and craft techniques. A variety of outcomes and application spaces were found in this study.
Mass trapping designs for organic control of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

BACKGROUND In some regions of North America, damage caused by the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, has been increasing as beetle populations continue to become established and expand. This poses a pest management challenge for crop farmers, in particular organic producers. From 2014 to 2016 we evaluated the ability of novel mass trapping systems to capture P. japonica in elderberry and blueberry orchards in Missouri, USA. RESULTS Across a 3-year period in two locations, the mass trapping systems collected 10.3 million P. japonica adults while season-long adult densities on crop plants were comparatively low (elderberry: 0.5–3.7 per plant; blueberry: 0.01–0.07 per plant). Damage by P. japonica averaged 6.8% per plant in elderberry and 0.12% in blueberry. In 2015 and 2016, large-capacity bins with increased ventilation captured similar beetle numbers as did 1.2-m-long mesh socks (single design used in 2014), and these two trap designs outperformed non-ventilated bins. CONCLUSION The mass trapping designs captured high numbers of adult P. japonica, while comparatively few adults and little damage to the foliage were recorded on plants. Mass trapping may provide effective alternative management options for P. japonica with less or no insecticides applied to the crop. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Hypertension and Peripheral Vascular Disease

The majority of deaths in western societies such as the United States are attributed in large part to arteriosclerosis, or hardening and thickening of the arterial wall (1). Underlying peripheral vascular disease as well as coronary artery and cerebrovascular disease is atherosclerosis, a disorder of larger arteries and one type of arteriosclerosis (1). Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the general population in industrialized countries (1). It is well recognized that hypertension plays a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). This has important implications from a public health perspective because of the high prevalence of hypertension and its amenability to effective treatment.
The Colorline as Capitalist Accumulation

Symposium: Thinking Through Law's Questions of Class, Economics, and Inequality. Before the mark of dispossession, all we have is the skin that holds us. Before the mark, the skin we are in holds all of us in common, and all is common. For possession to enter the world the mark must be made or found ready-made on the skin. The mark, written or found ready-made on the skin, separates those who are to have from those who are to have not. The mark splits the commons. The first commons is the skin we are all in. Before the mark, we are. After the mark, we are white-over-black. This essay argues that the mark is the beginning of property and law.
Formal Communications’ Role in Knowledge Work: Evidence From Projects

To investigate the contribution of formal communications (FCs) to problem-solving knowledge work, this study examines survey, interview, and observational data from 212 teams who produced contracti...
Listening to Voices Seldom Heard

As narrative inquiry begins its second decade of formal engagement in the field of music education, there is a need to expand upon the work of two introductory texts, Narrative Inquiry in Music Education: Troubling Certainty (Barrett and Stauffer, Narrative inquiry in music education: troubling certainty. Springer, New York/Dordrecht, 2009), and Narrative Soundings: An Anthology of Narrative Inquiry in Music Education (Barrett and Stauffer, Narrative soundings: an anthology of narrative inquiry in music education. Springer, New York/Dordrecht, 2012). The present volume is intended to build upon these previous texts in two ways. First, it allows scholars and readers to experience and confront music education stories from multiple perspectives and worldviews, inviting an international readership to engage in critical dialogue with and about seldom-heard or relegated voices in music. Second, the authors address ways in which narrative might be represented beyond the printed page, such as with music, film, photography, and performative pieces.
Editor's Message: Understanding the Sacroiliac Joint

The sacroiliac joint is the source of low back pain in 15% to 30% of patients.1 In patients who have had a fusion to the sacrum it is even higher. There has been increasing interest in this topic from surgeons. Recent clinical trials2,3 have demonstrated good outcomes with surgical intervention. To
Chapter 9 – Genetic Drift

Genetic drift was the second accepted mechanism of evolutionary change in genomes (before the term genome was even in use). The logic of these random changes in small populations, and even in larger populations over large numbers of generations, was sound. Modern genomics is now showing just how extensive the effects of genetic drift have been with genes and several chromosomal mutations. Genetic drift contrasts with the famed Hardy–Weinberg law, which predicts for large populations that the frequency of alternate neutral alleles will remain stable over the generations, but given enough time, random intergenerational changes in these frequencies are likely to eventually cause the elimination of some alleles and the fixation of others.
Review of Schizophrenia Research Using MEG

Schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness characterized by hallucinations, delusions, changes in affect and serious cognitive and social dysfunction. MEG has made contributions to our understanding of the disorder in many areas, although the most significant contributions have been in four areas. First, MEG has suggested that schizophrenia may be characterized by alteration in cerebral lateralization, particularly in auditory evoked responses. Second, auditory evoked responses suggest significant impairment in early auditory perceptual processes. Third, in one of these sensory deficits in particular, the underlying source configuration of sensory gating abnormalities has provided us with information about the localization of the deficit that was not apparent from EEG studies. Finally, spectrotemporal abnormalities are evident in the disorder, particularly for low frequency oscillations, and MEG has contributed to our understanding of the regional distribution of those anomalies. These and other interesting, but less well characterized electrophysiological phenomena studied using MEG methods in schizophrenia and related psychopathologies, are reviewed in this chapter.
Post Procedural Peak Left Atrial Contraction Strain Predicts Recurrence of Arrhythmia after Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

Left atrial (LA) function can be impaired by the atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and might be associated with the risk of recurrence. We sought to determine whether the post-procedural changes in LA function impact the risk of recurrence following AF ablation. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent AF ablation between 2009 and 2011 and underwent transthoracic echocardiography before ablation, 1-day and 3-month after ablation. Peak left atrial contraction strain (PACS) and left atrial emptying fraction (LAEF) were evaluated during sinus rhythm and compared across the three time points. The primary endpoint was atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence after ablation. A total of 144 patients were enrolled (mean age 61 ± 11 years, 77% male, 46% persistent AF). PACS and LAEF initially decreased 1-day following ablation but partially recovered within 3 months in PAF patients, with a similar trend in the PerAF patients. After median 24 months follow-up, 68 (47%) patients had recurrence. Patients with recurrence had higher PACS1-day than that in non-recurrence subjects (-10.9 ± 5.0% vs. -13.4 ± 4.7%, p = 0.003). PACS1-day -12% distinguished recurrence cases with a sensitivity of 67.7% and specificity of 60.5%. The Kaplan–Meier curves showed significant difference in 5-year cumulative probability of recurrence between those with PACS ≥ -12% and PACS < -12% (log rank p < 0.0001). Multivariate regression showed that PACS1-day was an independent risk factor of arrhythmia recurrence. Left atrial function deteriorates immediately following AF ablation and partially recovers in 3 months but remains abnormal in the majority of patients. PACS1-day post procedure predicts arrhythmia recurrence at long-term follow-up.
A screen for sleep and starvation resistance identifies a wake-promoting role for the auxiliary channel unc79

The regulation of sleep and metabolism are highly interconnected, and dysregulation of sleep is linked to metabolic diseases that include obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Furthermore, both acute and long-term changes in diet potently impact sleep duration and quality. To identify novel factors that modulate interactions between sleep and metabolic state, we performed a genetic screen for their roles in regulating sleep duration, starvation resistance, and starvation-dependent modulation of sleep. This screen identified a number of genes with potential roles in regulating sleep, metabolism, or both processes. One such gene encodes the auxiliary ion channel UNC79, which was implicated in both the regulation of sleep and starvation resistance. Genetic knockdown or mutation of unc79 results in flies with increased sleep duration, as well as increased starvation resistance. Previous findings have shown that unc79 is required in pacemaker for 24-hours circadian rhythms. Here, we find that unc79 functions in the mushroom body, but not pacemaker neurons, to regulate sleep duration and starvation resistance. Together, these findings reveal spatially localized separable functions of unc79 in the regulation of circadian behavior, sleep, and metabolic function.
Kierkegaard and Socrates: Johannes Climacus, Socratic Philosopher

The relationship between philosophy and religious faith is the central theme of two of Kierkegaard's pseudonymous volumes. Philosophical Fragments, or A Fragment of Philosophy , by Johannes Climacus, edited by S. Kierkegaard, was published in 1844. Concluding Unscientific Postscript to Philosophical Fragments : A Mimical-Pathetical-Dialectical Compilation, An Existential Contribution , also by Johannes Climacus, edited by S. Kierkegaard, appeared two years later, in 1846. These are the only works by Climacus in the Kierkegaardean corpus. Kierkegaard first mentions the name of Climacus in connection with the speculative philosophy of G W F. Hegel (1770–1831), whose followers, including theologians as well as philosophers, played a leading role in the Danish intellectual scene of the day. In a journal entry dated January 20, 1839, he writes: “Hegel is a Johannes Climacus who does not storm the heavens as do the giants – by setting mountain upon mountain – but climbs up to them by means of his syllogisms.” Hegel ascends to the “heaven” of absolute knowledge stepwise, on the basis of a series of philosophical arguments. This occurs in his Phenomenology of Spirit , which he envisions as furnishing the natural or prephilosophic consciousness with a “ladder” to the “absolute” beginning of his philosophical system – the standpoint of absolute spirit and absolute knowing. Kierkegaard's allusion to the rebellious giants of Greek myth who made war on Zeus after the defeat of the Titans hints that, in his view, Hegel's philosophical ascent is both hybristic and illegitimate – a point to which we shall return in due course.
Party Priorities, Agenda Control, and Bipartisan Cooperation in Congress

Although an increasingly large body of literature has examined rising party polarization in Congress, most of the empirical work has focused on ideological polarization between members. Less work has explicitly examined the resulting levels of bipartisan cooperation or the relationship between individual preferences and party strategy. This paper takes on both of these tasks, examining the joint roles of preferences and party strategy in the declining levels of bipartisanship in Congress. By breaking apart congressional behavior into cosponsorship coalitions and roll call votes, this paper suggests that although partisan behavior has increased substantially in roll call votes, the same is not true for bill cosponsorship coalitions. These divergent patterns can be reconciled by taking into consideration congressional agenda control and providing a theoretical perspective on party goals as they relate to partisanship and bipartisanship. As congressional parties sorted, partisan legislation became increasingly likely to face a roll call vote whereas bipartisan legislation became less likely to face a roll call vote.
Visually guided robotic tracking and grasping of a moving object

Visually guided tracking and grasping of a moving object by a robot manipulator is discussed in this paper. Position-based and image-based tracking schemes are proposed. It is shown that when the motion of the object is accurately estimated, both schemes are equivalent since they are the same control problem considered in two spaces. If the image of the gripper is also available, the image-based controller can be improved to cope with the system calibration error. The tracking and grasping performance is demonstrated from simulations. >
Nuclear reactor control system design with sensor failure

The problem of designing a constrained feedback control system for a nuclear reactor is investigated. The constraint imposed is that system stability must be retained under possible loss of any arbitrary feedback signal due to failure of the signal sensor. In addition, the control law is synthesized using only partial state availability, and the nominal control system without sensor failure is designed so that the system performs in a desired fashion. Several mathematical models of the reactor dynamics were employed. However, only a model with negative moderator activity coefficients and a single delayed neutron group was used as an example. This model permits a demonstration of two different computational methods for obtaining the required feedback control laws. The first of these two computational methods uses a global procedure for solving polynomial inequalities that represent the stabilization problem. The second method uses an algorithm for decreasing a spectral radius function until it is negative, thus allowing implicit control over eigenvalue placement.
the career counseling with underserved populations model

Providing effective career counseling to culturally diverse individuals is not the same as helping those from majority cultures. The Career Counseling With Underserved Populations model aids career counselors in supporting underserved populations as they strive to address their important career counseling issues.
Waterborne lead affects circadian variations of brain neurotransmitters in fathead minnows

Lead is a potent neurotoxin affecting brain levels of a number of vertebrate neurotransmitters. Reports on these effects are, however, not consistent either among or within species. For example, with lead-intoxicated rats there are reports of decreased acetylcholine (ACh) release and decreased ACh brain levels as well as reports of increased levels or no change in levels. Also, with rats there are reports of increased levels, decreased levels, or no change in brain catecholamines, with lead producing similar changes in both norephinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) in some cases and differences in response between the two in others. Although most early reports dealt with whole brain levels, reports on neurotransmitter levels in specific brain regions can be equally conflicting. Similar sorts of discrepancies exist among studies with fishes. Much of the variation among studies on lead effects on neurotransmitters is, no doubt, due to differences among the studies in variables such as: species, age, dosage and duration, route of administration. However, lead can apparently affect circadian locomotor rhythms of both rats and fishes. Therefore, another possible cause for the variation among studies is that there is an interaction among dosage, sampling time and endogenous rhythms. A lead-produced phase shift ormore » disruption in endogenous neurotransmitter rhythms could in turn elicit a host of varying results and interpretations depending on the circadian time of sampling. We elected to examine this possibility in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, a freshwater species widely used for toxicity studies. 15 refs., 3 figs.« less
Pose detection and control of multiple Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) using optical feedback

This paper proposes pose detection and control algorithms in order to control the relative pose between two Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) using optical feedback. The leader UUV is configured to have a light source at its crest which acts as a guiding beacon for the follower UUV which has a detector array at its bow. Pose detection algorithms are developed based on a classifier, such as the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), and chosen image parameters. An archive look-up table is constructed for varying combinations of 5-degree-of-freedom (DOF) motion (i.e., translation along all three coordinate axes as well as pitch and yaw rotations). Leader and follower vehicles are simulated for a case in which the leader is directed to specific waypoints in horizontal plane and the follower is required to maintain a fixed distance from the leader UUV. Proportional-Derivative (PD) control (without loss of generality) is applied to maintain stability of the UUVs to show proof of concept. Preliminary results indicate that the follower UUV is able to maintain its fixed distance relative to the leader UUV to within a reasonable accuracy. KeywordsUnmanned underwater vehicle, optical feedback, leader-follower, detection, control design
Electrical system architecture and controls for the electrification of heavy-duty trucks

The control system components and concepts presented in this paper were developed as part of a larger research project, funded through contract DE-FC04-2000AL67017, Parasitic Energy Loss Reduction and Enabling Technologies for Class 7/8 Trucks, with Sid Diamond, Technology Development Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, and awarded October 2000. Participating partners in the project included Caterpillar, Inc., Kenworth Truck Company, Engineered Machine Products, Inc., and Emerson Electric Company. Prototype electric accessory components were designed, fabricated, and integrated into a Kenworth T-2000 class 8 truck for proof of concept validation, fuel economy testing, and demonstration purposes
Energy Spectrum of the Heavy Nuclei in the Cosmic Radiation between 7- and 100-Bev/Nucleon

The energy spectrum of the heavy nuclei of the cosmic radiation was determined between 7 Bev/nucleon and 100 Bev/nucleon. The distribution for the $M(6\ensuremath{\le}Z\ensuremath{\le}9)$ and $H(Z\ensuremath{\ge}10)$ charge groups agree with one another within the limits of error. Combining both charge groups, the integral spectrum is of the form $N(gE)\ensuremath{\sim}{E}^{\ensuremath{-}1.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15}$ ($E=\mathrm{total}\mathrm{energy}/\mathrm{nucleon}$). Flux values for nuclei of the $M$, $H$, and $VH(Z\ensuremath{\ge}20)$ charge groups at the geomagnetic equator are given. Comparing these results with flux values obtained at high latitudes, it is concluded that a power spectrum of the form ${E}^{\ensuremath{-}1.6}$ fits all three charge groups within the limits of error between 2.5 Bev/nucleon and 7 Bev/nucleon. From the observation of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle showers of very high energy we conclude that under certain assumptions the integral spectrum of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles can be represented by $N(gE)\ensuremath{\sim}{E}^{n}$ with $n=\ensuremath{-}{{1.58}_{\ensuremath{-}0.18}}^{+0.21}$ for energies \ensuremath{\le}1500 Bev/nucleon.
Resident-Owned, Informal Mobile Home Communities in Rural California: The Case of Rancho Don Antonio, Coachella Valley

California's farmworkers are among the lowest-paid wage earners in the state. They often live in crowded or substandard housing. The Polanco Bill—state legislation enacted in the early 1990s—aimed to increase the supply of housing for farmworkers by encouraging the development of employee housing on land zoned for agriculture. This article discusses the implementation and effects of the Polanco Bill in the agricultural area of the eastern Coachella Valley. It finds, somewhat unexpectedly, that groups of farmworkers, often family members, have used the bill to collaborate and develop small, resident-owned, informal mobile home communities, called polancos, and focuses on one such case. Although the article's key contribution is to identify the informal approach and its key attributes, it also discusses whether a new housing model based on the collectively owned polancos is possible.
α-thalassemia subtyping and the detection of silent mutations by high-resolution fragment analysis and DNA sequencing***

Background : Sets of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were used that make it possible to study subtypes of the most prevalent mutations that cause α-thalassemia (−α3.7 deletions). These primers (Dev and C3, Dev and C9c) can be used in PCR to amplify regions that are characteristic of the three −α3.7 deletion subtypes (α3.7i, α3.7ii, α3.7iii). These subtypes are important because the type of α-chain deletion can affect the level of α-globin production. Methods and Results : The PCR products were screened using automated high-resolution electrophoresis on a DNA sequencer. Subtypes were then identified by automated DNA sequencing. During the screening for subtypes with high-resolution fragment analysis, new fragments were detected that were slightly different from the expected size. DNA sequencing of these fragments demonstrated the presence of three mutations that had not been described or fully characterized before. Conclusions : High-resolution fragment analysis is a convenient way to detect α-thalassemia subtypes, and DNA sequencing of silent mutations can lead to a better understanding of the cause of these mutations.
The role of the apolipoprotein E polymorphism in the prediction of coronary artery disease age of onset

We investigated the role of the apolipoprotein (Apo) E polymorphism in the prediction of CAD age of onset in a sample of unrelated living male (n = 65) and female (n = 54) Caucasian subjects diagnosed with CAD. Cumulative distributions of age at the first diagnosis of CAD were estimated for each Apo E genotype and tested for homogeneity using the log-rank test. The Apo epsilon 33 genotype was used as a reference group for all hypothesis tests. Analyses were performed separately in males and females. We found evidence suggesting that the presence of the Apo epsilon 32 genotype in males is associated with a significantly earlier CAD age of onset. These results suggest that the Apo E polymorphism may be a gender-specific predictor of CAD age of onset.
High heat flux boiling and burnout as microphysical phenomena : Mounting evidence and opportunities

In our recent works Theofanous et al., 2002a-b, we have demonstrated that burnout in pool boiling is not hydrodynamically limited, at least not in the sense that has been perceived in the past. In this paper, we discuss the opportunities created by the new understanding of mechanisms that govern the boiling crisis. This understanding is built upon a scales separation phenomenon, referring to a vapor blanket separating the liquid film on the heater surface from the chaotic, churning flow in the two-phase pool. In essence, the scales separation suggests that mechanisms of boiling crisis should be sought within the micro-hydrodynamics of the evaporating liquid microlayer rather than in the pool thermal-hydraulics. Detail analysis of surface temperature patterns obtained by infrared imaging at high heat fluxes points to a nearly static picture of boiling heat transfer, with intense cooling at locations which were nucleation sites activated at lower heat fluxes. Furthermore, we show that control of the surface and coolant chemistry offers the potential to enhance resistance to burnout and achieve critical heat fluxes (CHF) exceeding those defined by the so-called hydrodynamic limit. Our more recent experiments show an improved resilience of the heater to burnout when a high-solubility salt or nanoparticles are added to the coolant (water). We explain the observed phenomenon through the increase in disjoining pressure at the meniscus contact line that promotes liquid spreading towards the dry area. It is noteworthy that the scales separation phenomenon provides a basis to suggest that mechanisms of enhancement to burnout in pool boiling are also active, even to a larger extent, in spray cooling and flow boiling.
Transitional Foster Youth’s Perceptions of Preparation to Act as Self-Advocates: A Phenomenological Study

Foster youth face a number of challenges as they transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Emancipation for foster youth occurs between the ages of 18 and 22, during which those successful in this transition are required to make well thought out decisions and act in their own best interest. However, few foster youth have learned the skills necessary to act as self-advocates. This in-depth phenomenological study explored the perceptions of three emancipated foster youth who were judged to be more effective self-advocates than their peers, concerning how prepared they felt to act as self-advocates. Research findings highlight the fact that many emancipated foster youth are rarely taught self-advocacy skills explicitly but rather learn the skills themselves through trial and error or happenstance and suggest ways that therapists can make the process. Research findings also suggest that acting as a self-advocate may enhance the educational choices and familial relationships of transitional foster youth.
Original Intent and the Sherman Antitrust Act: A Re-examination of the Consumer-Welfare Hypothesis

An important tenet of the Chicago School of antitrust asserts that the Sherman Act's framers sought to foster consumer welfare. This article challenges that interpretation by re-examining the legislative history. That history suggests that a consumer-welfare standard did not survive the legislative process and that, if anything, Congress focused on the behavior of producers. In 1966 Judge Robert Bork published an article in The Journal of Law & Economics titled "Legislative Intent and the Policy of the Sherman Act." Bork argued that the bills and debates preceding adoption of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 clearly indicated that Congress intended the measure to enhance consumer welfare. Since then, the "Chicago School" of antitrust has carried the day in both academic and public policy circles, and the conventional wisdom has incorporated Bork's view of the Sherman Act.' In this article I re-examine the Act's legislative history, taking exception to Bork's view and argue that, of the variety of goals expressed in the debates, Congress appeared to reject consumer welfare. If anything, Congress seemed more concerned with producer, rather than consumer, welfare. The widespread acceptance of Bork's perspective flies in the face of a large literature on antitrust's history that identifies a bewildering variety of goals. Some argue that the political content of antitrust was at least as important as its economic content.2 Important histories of antitrust note the shift in contemporary public concern about monopolies from abuse of governmental power to abuse of private power.3 The
Bioceramics for implant coatings

Abstract During the past century, synthetic materials and devices have been developed to the point at which they can be used successfully to replace and/or restore function to diseased or damaged tissues. In the field of orthopedics, the use of metal implants has significantly improved the quality of life for countless individuals. Critical factors for implant success include proper design, material selection, and biocompatibility. Early research in this field focused on understanding the biomechanical properties of metal implants, but recent work has turned toward improving the biological properties of these devices. This has led to the introduction of calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics as a bioactive interface between the bulk metal impart and the surrounding tissue. The first CaP coatings were produced via vapor phase processes, but more recently solution-based and biomimetic methods have emerged. While each approach has its own intrinsic materials and biological properties, in general CaP coatings promise to improve implant biocompatibility and ultimately implant longevity.
Further Results on Multipath Angle Error Reduction Using Multiple-Target Methods

The two-target technique proposed by the author in an earlier paper [1] for reducing radar multipath angle tracking errors has been simulated on a digital computer assuming an actual closed-loop system. When tracking with noise, the technique provides angle error performance which compares quite favorably with the expected performance given in [1] Furthermore, the large bias errors usually encountered in normal monopulse systems at low elevation angles are removed. Results of typical tracks are given, both for the method of [1], and for a modified version of the method which applies primarily to shipboard radar systems. Some results on loss of lock are also presented.
Biomechanical Forces Shape the Tumor Microenvironment

The importance of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression is indisputable, yet a key component of the microenvironment—biomechanical forces—remains poorly understood. Tumor growth and progression is paralleled by a host of physical changes in the tumor microenvironment, such as growth-induced solid stresses, increased matrix stiffness, high fluid pressure, and increased interstitial flow. These changes to the biomechanical microenvironment promote tumorigenesis and tumor cell invasion and induce stromal cells—such as fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells—to change behavior and support cancer progression. This review highlights what we currently know about the biomechanical forces generated in the tumor microenvironment, how they arise, and how these forces can dramatically influence cell behavior, drawing not only upon studies directly related to cancer and tumor cells, but also work in other fields that have shown the effects of these types of mechanical forces vis-a-vis cell behaviors relevant to the tumor microenvironment. By understanding how all of these biomechanical forces can affect tumor cells, stromal cells, and tumor–stromal crosstalk, as well as alter how tumor and stromal cells perceive other extracellular signals in the tumor microenvironment, we can develop new approaches for diagnosis, prognosis, and ultimately treatment of cancer.
Are U.S. Corporations Top-Heavy? Managerial Ratios in Advanced Capitalist Countries

I assess here the evidence for Gordon's thesis in Fat and Mean that a bureaucratic burden of managers and supervisors has grown in response to the breakdown of the postwar labor-capital accord. My results suggest that increases in managerial ratios are explained only partly by the switch to a more conflictual regime. Much of the postwar increase in managerial intensity coincided with the increased power of labor during the accord period. Management aggressiveness in the subsequent period weakened labor, but did not necessarily involve increased managerial ratios. Increases in firm size and in the importance of professional and other specialized knowledge workers in Taylorist workplace systems explain much of the increase in managerial ratios.
Sucrose sham feeding decreases accumbens norepinephrine in the rat.

Abstract Noradrenergic projections from the dorsomedial medulla reach the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), a structure implicated in both reward and feeding behavior. Despite this relationship, the effect of food reward on accumbens norepinephrine (NE) remains uninvestigated. In the course of assessing dopamine (DA) in the NAcc during sucrose ingestion [0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 M; Am. J. Physiol., Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol. , 286 (2004) R31], we also analyzed NE in the microdialysis samples from 14 ad-libitum-fed male rats. In contrast to DA, which increased with sucrose concentration (+20–47%) during sham feeding, in the same animals, NE levels were reduced (approximately −20%), regardless of sucrose concentration. These results demonstrate a novel relationship between accumbens DA and NE during orosensory stimulation with a preferred nutrient.
The ignition parameter Tnτ and the energy multiplication factor k for fusioning plasmas

This paper presents some novel interpretations of fusion plasmas which may be of interest to both fission and fusion scientists and engineers. A new fusion ignition parameter (TneτE)I is proposed which is proportional to β2B4 and inversely proportional to the fusion power density (PFusion) of a reacting plasma. Curves are given for many potential nuclear fusion fuels. The energy utilization factor in existing devices is defined as f = PFusion/PLoss = (TneτL)/(TneτE)I; in experimental plasmas, f has increased by about two orders of magnitude in the past decade and now exceeds 10−4 (a "nearest" f* exceeds 10−3). The f factor is also analogous to its fission counterpart in the four-factor neutron multiplication factor k = f η p, where f is the neutron thermal utilization factor. Past, present, and future fusion experiments are discussed briefly in this context.
Bi bell: Spirituality and the Sexual Intellectual

Currently, there is very little research and scholarship on spirituality and bisexuality in Black American life and culture. Although numerous books and essays on Black theology, Black liberation theology and spirituality exist, these collections’ singular focus remains on the politics of race. Only recently has there been a growing trend to study gender and sexuality as part of these theologies. Even then the attention to bisexuality in dominant models of religion and spirituality for Black Americans is rare. In this article, the author proposes that searching outside the typical configurations of spirituality unveils spiritual traditions that readily incorporate bisexuality for Black people in the United States. Specifically, I argue that the act of writing serves as an alternative spiritual tradition for Black intellectuals interested in deconstructing the false divides between spirituality, sexuality and the intellect. Analyzing the work of bell hooks, the author argues that writing as spirituality pr...
EDUCATIONAL REFORM: A NEW DIMENSION FOR TECH PREP AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

In response to the Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act, secondary schools and community colleges across the country are rushing forth to launch Tech Prep education programs. The resulting...
Low-temperature transport through a quantum dot: The Anderson model out of equilibrium.

The infinite-U Anderson model is applied to nonequilibrium transport through a quantum dot containing two spin levels weakly coupled to two leads. At low temperatures, the Kondo peak in the equilibrium density of states is split upon the application of a voltage bias. The split peaks, one at the chemical potential of each lead, are suppressed by nonequilibrium dissipation. In a magnetic field, the Kondo peaks shift away from the chemical potentials by the Zeeman energy, leading to an observable peak in the differential conductance when the nonequilibrium bias equals the Zeeman energy.