cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Blood Taken from Patients with Neoplastic Disease on the Chick Embryo.

Summary and conclusion1. Whole blood from 89 patients with neoplastic disease and 35 apparently normal control individuals was inoculated onto the chorioallantoic membrane of the 8-day chick embryo; 10 eggs were used for each sample. 2. In 35 controls the embryo mortality was 7% and the mortality did not exceed 3/10 eggs from any blood specimen. Of the 89 patients with neoplastic disease tested, the over-all embryo mortality was 16%, and in 14 instances more than 3/10 embryos died; 6 “toxic” bloods, however, were “non- toxic” on repeat examination. 3. This study failed to demonstrate the presence of a reproducible or a consistent factor in the blood of patients with neoplastic disease toxic to the 8-day chick embryo.
Intracranial Venous Sinus Stenting for Benign Intracranial Hypertension: Clinical Indications, Technique, and Preliminary Results

Objective The cause of pseudotumor cerebri, or benign intracranial hypertension (BIH), is controversial. We report our results from 18 cases of venous sinus stenting (VSS), the largest series in the literature, with specific focus on the rate of technical success, amelioration of the subjective symptom of headache, attendant complications, and radiographic patency on follow-up. Methods Review of our prospectively maintained database identified 18 patients who had undergone 19 VSS procedures for the placement of 30 stents in the past 2.5 years. Indications for treatment included a clinical diagnosis of BIH with venographic demonstration of stenosis. Results VSS was technically successful in all patients (100%). No patient suffered a permanent complication. Three patients were lost to follow-up. The remaining 15 patients were followed clinically and asked to rate their headache severity on a scale of 1 to 10 both before and after VSS. Overall, 12 patients (80%) qualified their headaches as better after VSS, two stated that they were the same, and one patient said that they were worse. Of 14 patients who underwent follow-up angiography, all demonstrated normal patency of the stented segments. In one of these patients, stenosis was detected on follow-up in the unstented segment of the sigmoid sinus and jugular bulb. Conclusions VSS is highly effective (80%) in ameliorating headache associated with BIH. The procedure is associated with a high rate of technical success (100%), a low rate of permanent complications (0), and a high rate of stent patency on follow-up angiography (100%).
First-principles study of epitaxial strain in perovskites

Using an extension of a first-principles method developed by King-Smith and Vanderbilt [Phys. Rev. B, 49, 5828 (1994)], we investigate the effects of in-plane epitaxial strain on the ground-state structure and polarization of eight perovskite oxides: $\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{Ca}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{K}\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{Na}\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{Pb}\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and $\mathrm{Ba}\mathrm{Zr}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. In addition, we investigate the effects of a nonzero normal stress. The results are shown to be useful in predicting the structure and polarization of perovskite oxide thin films and superlattices.
Iris segmentation in non-ideal images using graph cuts

A non-ideal iris image segmentation approach based on graph cuts is presented that uses both the appearance and eye geometry information. A texture measure based on gradients is computed to discriminate between eyelash and non-eyelash regions, combined with image intensity differences between the iris, pupil, and the background (region surrounding the iris) are utilized as cues for segmentation. The texture and intensity distributions for the various regions are learned from histogramming and explicit sampling of the pixels estimated to belong to the corresponding regions. The image is modeled as a Markov Random Field and the energy minimization is achieved via graph cuts to assign each image pixel one of the four possible labels: iris, pupil, background, and eyelash. Furthermore, the iris region is modeled as an ellipse, and the best fitting ellipse to the initial pixel based iris segmentation is computed to further refine the segmented region. As a result, the iris region mask and the parameterized iris shape form the outputs of the proposed approach that allow subsequent iris recognition steps to be performed for the segmented irises. The algorithm is unsupervised and can deal with non-ideality in the iris images due to out-of-plane rotation of the eye, iris occlusion by the eyelids and the eyelashes, multi-modal iris grayscale intensity distribution, and various illumination effects. The proposed segmentation approach is tested on several publicly available non-ideal near infra red (NIR) iris image databases. We compare both the segmentation error and the resulting recognition error with several leading techniques, demonstrating significantly improved results with the proposed technique.
Stability of the strained-layer superlattice (GaP) 1 /(InP) 1 (001)

First-principles total-energy methods have been used to study the stability of the strained monolayer superlattice (GaP)/sub 1//(InP)/sub 1/ (001). We find a value of 4 mRy for the heat of formation, suggesting that this superlattice is unstable to disproportionation into its bulk constituent compounds. Upon formation of the superlattice, a small charge transfer from GaP to the more ionic InP is found. The Ga-P and In-P bond lengths in (GaP)/sub 1//(InP)/sub 1/ are within 1% of their bulk theoretical values.
THIOCARBAMATE COMPLEXES. IV. SYNTHETIC STUDY INVOLVING IRON, MOLYBDENUM, PALLADIUM AND PLATINUM

Abstract A comparative synthetic study of the ligational properties of thiocarbamate (SOCNR 2 ) and dithiocarbamate (S 2 CNR2) monoanions has been carried out. The substitution of oxygen for sulfur along with the resulting decrease in chelate bite brings about a dramatic change in donor properties, as evidenced most dearly in the synthetic chemistry. In general, the synthetic chemistry of the thiocarbamate ligand is much more difficult and less predictable than is that for the dithiocarbamates. Specific new thiocarbamate compounds reported and characterized include: Fe(OSCNR 2 ) 3 , η 5 -C 5 H 5 Fe(CO) 2 (OSCNC 4 H 8 ), Mo 2 (OSCNC 4 H 8 ) 4 , cis -Pd(Ph 3 P) 2 (OSCNC 4 H 8 ) 2 ·2C 6 H 6 , and cis -Pt(Ph 3 P) 2 (OSCNC 4 H 8 ) 2 ·2C 6 H 6 . Also discussed are other iron and molybdenum systems for which dithiocarbamates are known to exist, but which do not provide analogous thiocarbamates. Finally, a new bonding mode for the thiocarbamate ligand is proposed.
Impact of level of spontaneous heating during storage of bermudagrass hay on rumen in situ disappearance kinetics in steers

Abstract Spontaneous heating reduces forage quality and nutrient digestibility in stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and cool-season grasses. However, research describing the impact of spontaneous heating on disappearance kinetics of warm-season grasses is limited. Five crossbred ruminally cannulated steers were used in a randomized complete block design to determine the impact of spontaneous heating during the curing process on in situ disappearance kinetics of bermudagrass hay. Bermudagrass hays were baled at various moisture levels and bale densities that resulted in spontaneous heating that produced 5, 119, 201, 273, or 401 heating-degree days (HDD; >35 °C) during a 60-day storage period. Hays were evaluated for rumen dry matter (DM), neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), N, and neutral-detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) disappearance kinetics. The immediately soluble DM fraction and effective ruminal DM disappearance generally decreased ( P P K d ) was faster ( P K d for NDF was faster ( P P K d for N was faster ( P P K d for NDIN was faster ( P P
Finding rates of incorporation of windblown dust into soils

As winds blow dust around, a significant amount settles back into terrestrial soils, providing minerals to the soils and affecting soil chemistry and erosion rates. However, the rate at which dust is incorporated into regolith, the loose soil and rock on surfaces, is difficult to measure, especially on eroding terrain. Ferrier et al. have developed a simple method of estimating the long-term (millennial-scale) rate of dust incorporation into actively eroding regolith by measuring regolith production rates and the concentrations of two immobile elements (e.g., zirconium and titanium) in dust, soil, and bedrock. The researchers applied their method at 17 field sites in the South Fork of the Salmon River in central Idaho and inferred dust incorporation rates of 3–13 tons per square kilometer per year, which is comparable to results from other studies. They suggest that their technique can be used to estimate long-term rates of dust incorporation into soils, which can then be compared to modern measurements of dust deposition to study the effects of recent changes such as climate change and human activity. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, doi:10.1029/2011JF001991, 2011)
Metropolitan suburbanization and central city problems

Abstract This paper is an empirical study of effects of central city problems on population and employment suburbanization. It is widely believed that high crime, high taxes, and large minority groups in central cities are important causes of rapid suburbanization of U.S. metropolitan areas. A large set of density functions is estimated for population and employment in U.S. metropolitan areas in 1960 and 1970. Thus, relative central city and suburban measures of crime, taxes, etc., are used in an interactive model to explain population and employment suburbanization. It is found that only racial minorities have an effect on suburbanization.
Restricted food intake limits brown adipose tissue hypertrophy in cold exposure

Two factors that may determine brown adipose tissue (BAT) hypertrophy during conditions of increased metabolic heat production are increased food intake and increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Since these two proceed pari passu during cold exposure, their independent contributions to BAT hypertrophy are unknown. To examine the role of each, we limited the food intake of a group of cold exposed rats by pair feeding them to warm exposed control rats and then compared the pair fed rats to ad lib fed cold exposed animals. Restricted food intake limited absolute BAT hypertrophy (0.226 +/- 0.01 g. vs 0.488 +/- 0.02 g, pair fed vs ad lib, P less than 0.01), BAT as per cent body weight (0.189 +/- 0.12 vs 0.252 +/- 0.012, P less than 0.01) and BAT protein content (34.4 +/- 3.8 vs 48.9 +/- 2.6 mg, P less than 0.01) despite evidence of quantitatively similar activation of the SNS in BAT in both groups. We conclude that increased food intake contributes to BAT hypertrophy in cold exposure independent of sympathetic activity.
Accelerating traffic microsimulations: a parallel discrete-event queue-based approach for speed and scale

We present FastTrans -- a parallel, distributed-memory simulator for transportation networks that uses a queue-based event-driven approach to traffic microsimulation. Queue-based simulation models have been shown to be significantly faster than cellular-automata type approaches, sacrificing spatial granularity for speed, while preserving link and intersection dynamics with high fidelity. Significant advances over previous work include the size of the simulated network, support for dynamic responses to congestion and the absence of precomputed routes -- all routing calculations are executed online. We present initial results from a scalability study using a real-world network from the North-East region of the United States comprising over 1.5 million network elements and over 25 million vehicular trips. Simulation of an entire day's worth of realistic vehicular itineraries involving approximately five billion simulated events executes in less than an hour of wall-clock time on a distributed computing cluster. Initial results suggest almost linear speed-ups with cluster size.
The Making of an Extreme Event: Putting the Pieces Together

We examine how physical factors spanning climate and weather contributed to record warmth over the central and eastern United States in March 2012, when daily temperature anomalies at many locations exceeded 20°C. Over this region, approximately 1°C warming in March temperatures has occurred since 1901. This long-term regional warming is an order of magnitude smaller than temperature anomalies observed during the event, indicating that most of the extreme warmth must be explained by other factors. Several lines of evidence strongly implicate natural variations as the primary cause for the extreme event. The 2012 temperature anomalies had a close analog in an exceptionally warm U.S. March occurring over 100 years earlier, providing observational evidence that an extreme event similar to March 2012 could be produced through natural variability alone. Coupled model forecasts and simulations forced by observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) show that forcing from anomalous SSTs increased the probability of e...
CT scans may not reduce the negative appendectomy rate in children.

Abstract Background/purpose Concern about an increased lifetime risk of cancer in children who have undergone a single computed tomography (CT) scan prompted us to review utilization of this diagnostic test in our appendicitis population. Methods From 1998 to 2001, the records of 720 children admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of appendicitis were reviewed for adjunct diagnostic modalities, including ultrasonography (USG) and CT scanning. Negative appendectomy rates were determined by the final pathologic report. Statistical comparisons were made using the χ 2 test, and significance was assigned at P Results The use of ultrasound scan for diagnosing appendicitis decreased from 20.0% in 1998 to 7.0% in 2001 ( P P P Conclusions Liberal use of CT scans in diagnosing appendicitis in children has not resulted in a decreased negative appendectomy rate. Potentially harmful radiation exposure should prompt pediatric surgeons to reevaluate the role of CT scanning in the management of children with suspected appendicitis.
The Institution of Care Pathways in Nephrology Patient Care: A Response to the Changing Health Care Climate

The development of managed health care in the United States has provided an impetus for newstrategies that promote efficiency, streamline healthcare delivery, and maintain quality care. The increasing number of end-stage renal disease patients, their complexity of care, and a looming manpower shortage in nephrology strain the present system trying to meet these demands. One mode of healthcare delivery that may address specific needs in the nephrology population is case management. This approach to medical care uses a care pathway that serves as a multidisciplinary blueprint for patient care. Such pathways eliminate duplicated services and maximize efficiency by keeping the healthcare team focused. In response to market forces in our community, we implemented care pathways for percutaneous renal biopsy and vascular access surgery. Costs per procedure and hospital length of stay were reduced. Patient outcomes and procedure success rates were unchanged from pre-pathway years. Moreover, patients preferred the care pathway care for their problems. Case management and care pathways are tools that are effective in their scope for helping deliver better care for nephrology patients. While they should not be considered a panacea for the problems facing renal care providers, these tools should be considered as part of nephrology healthcare delivery in the future.
Increases in δ13 values of radish and soybean plants caused by ozone

SUMMARY This greenhouse study was undertaken to determine whether changes in photosynthesis and conductance caused by air pollution also affected the δ13C value of plant tissue. Experiments with radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv. Cherrybelle) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Williams) exposed to ozone (O3) at 0.12 μl 1−1 showed significant growth reductions, 14–20 μl l−1 reductions in CO2 internal (C1), and + 0.3 to + 0.7% shifts in the δ13C values of leaves and roots. These results indicate that ambient (O3) may influence the δ13C values of plants found in many agricultural and industrial regions, and that O3 may act simultaneously to suppress growth and increase water use efficiency (WUE). Stable carbon isotope techniques may be useful for integrating the metabolic effects of O3 over long exposures to air pollution.
Religion and Regional Culture: Embedding Religious Commitment within Place

Recently, there has been a call for social scientific studies of religion to start taking “place” seriously. This paper adds to this growing literature by embedding religious commitment within place. We propose that the tension religious groups experience with their surroundings partly depends on local contexts and that certain types of local contexts may generate more tension. These contexts include regions in which the nonreligiously affiliated constitute the majority of the population, such as the American Pacific Northwest (PNW) region. Analysis of qualitative data on evangelical and liberal Protestants from western Oregon and western Washington suggests that they are aware of and experience tension with the regional PNW culture, which shapes their religious experience.
A simple electrical-mechanical model of the heart applied to the study of electrical-mechanical alternans

Recent evidence has shown that a subtle alternation in the surface ECG (electrical alternans) may be correlated with the susceptibility to ventricular fibrillation. In the present work, the author presents evidence that a mechanical alternation in the heartbeat (mechanical alternans) generally accompanies electrical alternans. A simple finite-element computer model which emulates both the electrical and the mechanical activity of the heart is presented. A pilot animal study is also reported. The computer model and the animal study both found that (1) there exists a regime of combined electrical-mechanical alternans during the transition from a normal rhythm towards a fibrillatory rhythm, (2) the detected degree of alternation is correlated with the relative instability of the rhythm, and (3) the electrical and mechanical alternans may result from a dispersion in local electrical properties leading to a spatial-temporal alternation in the electrical conduction process. >
A Molecular Method for Associating the Dimorphic Sexes of Velvet Ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae)

Abstract For several groups of insects, including the velvet ants, male–female associations are difficult because of extreme dimorphism between the sexes. Many species, or even genera, are known from only a single sex. In this study, we investigate the use of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 & ITS2) as a means of associating males and females in velvet ants. We compare ITS sequences between sexes in taxa where the associations are well documented and uncontested. We compare these sequences to other closely related species. The DNA sequence data show little or no variability between sexes, while much greater differences exist between species. This method should prove a valuable technique for making associations between previously unmatched males and females in velvet ants, and likely other hymenopteran taxa.
Advances in Intracranial Pressure Monitoring and Its Significance in Managing Traumatic Brain Injury

Intracranial pressure (ICP) measurements are essential in evaluation and treatment of neurological disorders such as subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, hydrocephalus, meningitis/encephalitis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The techniques of ICP monitoring have evolved from invasive to non-invasive—with both limitations and advantages. Some limitations of the invasive methods include short-term monitoring, risk of infection, restricted mobility of the subject, etc. The invasiveness of a method limits the frequency of ICP evaluation in neurological conditions like hydrocephalus, thus hampering the long-term care of patients with compromised ICP. Thus, there has been substantial interest in developing noninvasive techniques for assessment of ICP. Several approaches were reported, although none seem to provide a complete solution due to inaccuracy. ICP measurements are fundamental for immediate care of TBI patients in the acute stages of severe TBI injury. In severe TBI, elevated ICP is associated with mortality or poor clinical outcome. ICP monitoring in conjunction with other neurological monitoring can aid in understanding the pathophysiology of brain damage. This review article presents: (a) the significance of ICP monitoring; (b) ICP monitoring methods (invasive and non-invasive); and (c) the role of ICP monitoring in the management of brain damage, especially TBI.
Envisioning a region. The US “Silk Road” as an object of academic enquiry

Geography-based interpretations of world affairs have invaded the media world, and the policy and expert communities along with it. Some regions of the world seem subject to an excess of geographic...
Design and fabrication of MEMS-type compliant overhang flip-chip interconnect for RF applications

With the increase of I/O density and scaling of interconnects, conventional solder ball interconnects are required to be made smaller. As a result, the reliability of the conventional solder ball flip-chip interconnects worsens. One method to mitigate this issue is by using underfill. However, underfill undermines the reworkability of the solder joints and is challenging to apply when the gap between chip and substrate is small. Another approach to enhance the reliability is to use taller solder ball interconnects, which is however usually more costly. Instead of using conventional solder ball interconnects, compliant interconnects have also been researched in the past few decades to mitigate the reliability issue. The use of compliant structures can compensate for the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between a Si chip and an organic substrate. In this work, we present the design and fabrication of MEMS-type compliant overhang flip-chip interconnects. The structures are placed at the end of...
Is indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase another heme and copper containing enzyme?

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase catalyzes a reaction similar to that catalyzed by L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenases except that the former shows little substrate specificity while the latter shows absolute specificity for L-tryptophan. Originally referred to as D-tryptophan oxygenase, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase has been detected in and/or purified from rabbit small intestine (1–7), rabbit brain (8), rat intestine (9), and rat brain (10–11). Serotonin, melatonin, D- and L-5-hydroxytryptophan, tryptamine, and D- and L-tryptophan have been shown to be substrates for indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. An unusual characteristic of this enzyme is the requirement for methylene blue and ascorbate in eliciting catalytic activity in vitro (1,2,5), although a recent report suggests that tetrahydrobiopterin can also serve in this process(12). Hirata and Hayaishi (3,5) have implicated the involvement of O 2 - in the reaction catalyzed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, based mainly on the ability of superoxide dismutase to inhibit the ongoing reaction. Based on my previous work with L-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenases (13, 14), we became interested in the possibility that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase might also be a heme and copper containing enzyme.
Fermion parity flips and Majorana bound states at twist defects in superconducting fractional topological phases

In this paper, we consider a layered heterostructure of an Abelian topologically ordered state (TO), such as a fractional Chern insulator (FCI)/quantum Hall state (FQH) with an $s$-wave superconductor in order to explore the existence of non-Abelian defects. To uncover such defects, we note that the ground state corresponds to a charge $2e$ Cooper pair, the electron can no longer be treated as a local particle, and hence we must consider a larger TO due to the presence of $h/2e$ flux vortices, which strictly speaking are not deconfined. Quantum dimension and species of the defects follow directly from the fusion algebra. For FCI/Laughlin states, we show the presence of three kinds of defects, two of which had been previously ignored. They owe their origin to a general anyon permutation symmetry (AS) that exists in any fermionic Abelian TO state in contact with an $s$-wave superconductor. Physically, this permutation corresponds to adding a fermion to odd flux vortices (in units of $h/2e)$ as they travel around the associated topological (twist) defect. As such, we call it a fermion parity flip AS. We show that calculations can be handled more simply, by considering an equivalent fermion parity gauged theory, where the original TO is suitably augmented by a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ gauge sector coming from the $s$-wave SC, but with identical fusion structure. This trick makes our approach useful for analyzing a wide variety of FQH/FCI heterostructures. We give examples of the fermion parity gauging procedure for a large number of hierarchy and spin singlet states. We consider twist defects which mutate anyons according to the fermion parity flip symmetry and show that they can be realized at domain walls between distinct gapped edges or interfaces of the TO superconducting state. We analyze the properties of such defects and show that fermion parity flip twist defects are always associated with Majorana zero modes. When defects corresponding to AS which is a combination of fermion parity flip and charge conjugation are considered, they lead to ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2n+1}$ parafermions in Laughlin $1/(2n+1)$ states. Our formalism also reproduces known results such as Majorana/parafermionic bound states at superconducting domain walls of topological/fractional Chern insulators when twist defects are constructed based on charge conjugation symmetry. Finally, we briefly describe more exotic twist liquid phases obtained by gauging the AS where the twist defects become deconfined anyonic excitations.
Distribution pattern of Lower Triassic (Scythian) conodonts in the Western United States; documentation of the Pakistan connection

Sweet's prototype 1970 Lower Triassic conodont zonation based on collections from West Pakistan stimulated worldwide studies of equivalent faunas. In the western United States, however, recognition of many of the Tethyan zonalforms was delayed by an early research emphasis on Lower Triassic nearshore paleoenvironments in the Great Basin. An ongoing regional study of the entire Lower Triassic depositional basin in western United States establishes a commonality of North American conodonts with those of Eurasia, and clarifies the distribution pattern of midScythian conodonts in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin. Seldom-reported Neospathodus kummeli and Neospathodus pakistanensis are present in a crescent-shaped "basinal" region along the depocenter trend centered in southeast Idaho. Recent modification of the Lower Triassic conodont zonation by Sweet and Bergstrom utilizing graphic correlation has created an evolving but workable worldwide tool, and all nine Scythian zones are now recognized in the western United States. Many conodont species, as well as other marine biota, were effectively dispersed across a 20,000 km equatorial span of the Early Triassic seaway, and inhabited both the eastern and western shores of Pangaea.
Potentiation of hemolytic plaque formation by incubation of immunized spleen cells in phenothiazine derivatives.

SummaryStimulation of hemolytic plaque formation by rat spleen cells after primary immunization was produced by in vitro incubation of these cells with chlorpromazine, promethazine and thioridazine in 2 X 10−3 M concentration. This effect may be the result of increased cell membrane permeability produced by these compounds. The phe-nothiazine derivatives may be useful agents for increasing the sensitivity of the hemolytic paque procedure by enhancing the release of antibody from immunized cells.
Malignant Melanoma in Meckel’s Diverticulum

Meckel’s diverticulum is a vestigial remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct, which is rarely affected by neoplasia. The authors report the first case of malignant melanoma in Meckel’s diverticulum in a middle-aged man without skin or ocular lesions. Five other Meckel’s diverticuli were evaluated histologically and by immunoperoxidase technics for neural crest elements, which could have given rise to this lesion.
Effect of addition of a non-equidiffusional reactant to an equidiffusional diffusion flame

A Burke–Schumann (flame-sheet) formulation is developed for diffusion flames between a fuel and oxidiser with Lewis numbers of unity, subject to addition to the fuel and/or oxidiser stream of a different reactant for which the Lewis number differs from unity. This formulation is applied to laminar counterflow diffusion-flame experiments, reported here, in which hydrogen was added to either methane–nitrogen mixtures or oxygen–nitrogen mixtures at normal atmospheric pressure, with both feed streams at normal room temperature. Experimental conditions were adjusted to fix selected values of the stoichiometric mixture fraction and the adiabatic flame temperature, and the strain rate was increased gradually, maintaining the momentum balance of the two streams, until extinction occurred. At the selected sets of values, the strain rate at extinction was measured as a function of the hydrogen concentration in the fuel or oxidiser stream. The ratio of the fraction of the oxidiser flux that consumes hydrogen to the ...
The Microstructure and Properties of 40CrNiMoA Steel Surface Strengthened by Transient Electric-energy

The surface of the 40CrNiMoA is strengthened by transient electric-energy of SQ-2 surface-strengthening machine, with graphite, CrWMn, YG-8 and Cr12MoV as electrode respectively. Microstructure, hardness, phase composition and properties of strengthened layer are investigated. The results indicate that the transition layer of 40CrNiMoA steel strengthened with graphite or Cr12MoV electrode is thicker than that with CrWMn or YG-8 electrode. Although strengthened layers of 40CrNiMoA steel strengthened by Cr12MoV and CrWMn electrodes are consist mainly of Fe phase, Fe_ 1.88 C_ 0.12 and FeN_ 0.0324 , there are more nitrides and carbides in surface strengthened by Cr12MoV electrode than that by CrWMn electrode. The wear-resisting of strengthened layer formed by graphite electrode or Cr12MoV electrode is approximately five times more than that of untreated surfaces, and hardness-improved layer is thicker than that strengthened by CrWMn orYG-8 electrode.
Study on Electric Power Emergency Management Platform

Based on the researching on electric power emergency management in depth,the authors propose a conception of electric power emergency management platform and discourse upon the relation between electric power emergency management platform and power dispatching system during emergency management process. On the basis of wide investigation and deep analysis,an overall framework of power emergency management platform is put forward and the detailed description on the composition of power emergency management platform is given;the information acquisition and exchange system and contents for emergency management platform are pointed out;a comprehensive application system of power emergency management platform is designed and functional requirements of subsystems are analyzed in detail. Finally,the key technologies to be further researched for power emergency management platform are analyzed.
The Mattress Sutures: Vertical, Horizontal, and Corner Stitch

The interrupted vertical and horizontal mattress suture techniques are two of the most commonly used skin closure methods. These mattress sutures promote wound edge eversion and less prominent scarring. Vertical and horizontal mattress sutures allow for skin edges to be closed under tension when wound edges have to be brought together over a distance. The corner stitch, a variation of the horizontal mattress suture, is commonly used for closure of angled skin flaps or wounds. Although mattress sutures can produce surface scarring or "railroad marks," early removal of these sutures can limit this damage.
M4FT-15LL0806062-LLNL Thermodynamic and Sorption Data FY15 Progress Report

This progress report (Milestone Number M4FT-15LL0806062) summarizes research conducted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) within Work Package Number FT-15LL080606. The focus of this research is the thermodynamic modeling of Engineered Barrier System (EBS) materials and properties and development of thermodynamic databases and models to evaluate the stability of EBS materials and their interactions with fluids at various physicochemical conditions relevant to subsurface repository environments. The development and implementation of equilibrium thermodynamic models are intended to describe chemical and physical processes such as solubility, sorption, and diffusion.
Customary International Law: A Reconceptualization

The current state of international law is one of deep confusion over the role of state practice and opinio juris within the customary element. The debate between adherents of “modern custom” versus those of “traditional custom” has resulted in deep uncertainty and confusion. New theories of customary international law have proved inadequate in clarifying the current state of the field. Confusions over the meanings and relationships between state practice and opinio juris aside, current approaches are all also flawed due to a heavily state-centric bias that fails to take into account the very real affects that norm-generating transnational actors have on the international system. “Conceptual stretching” is an idea coined by the social scientist Giovanni Sartori to describe the distortions that result when established concepts are introduced to new cases without the required accompanying adaption. This idea is important to the discussion because the current conceptualization of customary international law, relying as it does on the dual attributes of state practice and opinio juris, is “conceptually stretched.” Utilizing Sartori’s “ladder of abstraction,” a new framework for studying customary international norms can be utilized, one which looks to general theories of norm formation instead of focusing on customary international law and its dual attributes of state practice and opinio juris. In pursuing this line of inquiry, the idea of “legal recursivity” is especially promising and can be seen as a more apt description of how, in a new international system dominated by norm-generating transnational actors, international norms develop and operate. First proposed by legal sociologists Terence Halliday and Bruce Carruthers, “legal recursivity” examines how norms can be exchanged and transferred between the transnational governmental, quasi-governmental, and non-governmental institutions within the international community as a whole, and domestic states.
Polyanhydride Nanoparticle Interactions with Host Serum Proteins and Their Effects on Bone Marrow Derived Macrophage Activation.

An in-depth understanding of the interactions of vaccine delivery vehicles with antigen presenting cells is important for tailoring optimal adjuvant properties. Polymeric nanoparticles have been widely studied as adjuvants and delivery vehicles; however, there is little information regarding the effect of serum protein adsorption onto biomaterials and the effect of this adsorption upon interactions with antigen presenting cells. The current studies analyzed effects of polyanhydride chemistry on serum adsorption to nanoparticles with respect to their uptake by and activation of bone marrow-derived macrophages. Differential effects of serum adsorption based on nanoparticle chemistry were shown to enhance (for 1,6-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)hexane and sebacic anhydride-based) or reduce (for 1,6-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)hexane and 1,8-bis(p-carboxyphenoxy)-3,6-dioxaoctane-based) nanoparticle uptake. The observed complex interdependence between nanoparticle chemistry and serum protein adsorption on macrophage activation...
Introduction to a special issue on concept mapping

Concept mapping was developed in the 1980s as a unique integration of qualitative (group process, brainstorming, unstructured sorting, interpretation) and quantitative (multidimensional scaling, hierarchical cluster analysis) methods designed to enable a group of people to articulate and depict graphically a coherent conceptual framework or model of any topic or issue of interest. This introduction provides the basic definition and description of the methodology for the newcomer and describes the steps typically followed in its most standard canonical form (preparation, generation, structuring, representation, interpretation and utilization). It also introduces this special issue which reviews the history of the methodology, describes its use in a variety of contexts, shows the latest ways it can be integrated with other methodologies, considers methodological advances and developments, and sketches a vision of the future of the method's evolution.
Power, Ideology and Authority: Two Case Studies from the Daudi Bohras

In many religious (and other) communities, a dispute about ideology is often more accurately understood as a dispute about authority and power. Such a conflict may progress through three stages, each one more deeply challenging to the legitimacy of traditional authority structures. Whether the challenge ultimately succeeds or fails, its impact may reach far beyond the immediate issue ostensibly in contention: What might start as a narrowly-defined question of ideology or theology may evolve into a comprehensive rejection of the dominant authority’s moral foundation. This article examines such a dynamic through two case studies from the Daudi Bohra community, a denomination of Shi’a Islam spread across Asia, Africa, and four other continents. The first case involves a century-long contestation between the denomination’s apex cleric and a group of dissidents over the proper limits of clerical control. The second case, unfolding in 2014, involves a clerical dispute over succession to the hegemonic office of da’i-al mutlaq . In both cases, the Bohra experience in dealing with issues of ideology and authority provides an example illustrative of a dynamic found in many religious communities worldwide.
Analyzing species distributions among temporary ponds with a permutation test approach to the join-count statistic

The Bluff Springs Sand Ponds (BSSPs) are a set of closely-spaced temporary ponds of varying hydroperiod, depth and surface area. We sampled crustacean communities of 15 ponds throughout hydroperiods in 1996 to examine species distributions among ponds. Although ponds were closely spaced (within ca. 16 ha), most species were present in subsets of the 15 ponds. We then analyzed spatial patterns of 12 crustacean species for complete spatial randomness (CSR) using join-count statistics. However, the join-count was designed for large-samples (n>50), so we further analyzed (by simulation) the join-count and a variation of the join-count (Cliff & Ord, 1981) for small-scale reliability. Simulation results revealed that neither testing distribution was reliable for n<30. We then used a permutation test to analyze species distributions and concluded that some species were distributed non-randomly. Therefore, further investigations of mechanisms causing species distributions (e.g., hydroperiod, physical/chemical conditions, biotic interactions) are clearly prescribed. The permutation test should be useful for studies of species distribution patterns among other temporary waters, and can help focus studies on causal mechanisms of distributions among small numbers of temporary aquatic habitats.
Transoral incisional fundoplication for reflux after peroral endoscopic myotomy: a crucial addition to our arsenal.

Introduction Increased esophageal acid exposure is seen in a large percentage of patients with achalasia who undergo peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Endoscopic transoral fundoplication (TIF) is a novel endoscopic technique for the management of patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). We present the first case series evaluating the role of TIF post-POEM. Methods Consecutive patients 18 years or older from our academic institution who underwent a POEM procedure and subsequently underwent TIF for symptomatic reflux or regurgitation between December 2014 and June 2017 were included. The primary outcome was discontinuation of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use and healing of esophagitis (when initially present) on post-procedure esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Technical success was defined as successful completion of the endoscopic fundoplication. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded for all patients. Results Five patients were included (60 % male, average age 55 ± 14 years). Technical success was achieved in 100 % of patients. Discontinuation of PPI use was achieved in 5/5 patients (100 %). Three patients had esophagitis pre-procedure and all were noted to have resolution of inflammation on post-procedure EGD. No adverse events were noted. Mean follow-up time was 27 months (range 5 – 34 months). Conclusion TIF post-POEM appears feasible, safe, and efficacious in improving symptoms and esophagitis, decreasing long-term risks of acid exposure, and decreasing risks of long-term PPI use in patients post-POEM in this small cohort of patients. Larger studies are needed to confirm these initial findings.
“Mothers’ Freedom Is the Key to Women’s Emancipation:” Feminist Efforts to Expand Maternity Legislation in the Interwar Period

During the interwar period, Norwegian feminists transformed maternity support from a form of economic protection, one that in many cases was tainted by a rhetoric of dependence and included means-testing, to an economic right. Situated within the larger history of European feminist struggles for economic rights in the interwar period, this chapter examines feminist efforts to get motherhood recognized as a service women performed for the state, a service that deserved recognition and compensation. They built on the Castbergian Children’s Laws and the maternity insurance laws and worked to expand these laws to include more women, especially middle-class, married women. The chapter outlines the two strategies feminists used to achieve this goal. One involved treating motherhood as a profession that should be paid for by the state and ultimately led to the passage of Norway’s first universal social policy in 1946. The other sought to increase women’s ability to combine motherhood with paid employment outside the home by lobbying for better and more comprehensive forms of maternity leave that could enable all mothers to work outside the home without suffering economic discrimination. The chapter demonstrates how these feminist efforts contributed to the crafting of a Norwegian welfare state that contained dual paths to economic support for mothers, which continues to characterize maternity policies in place in Norway today.
Termiticide use and indoor air quality in the United States

Organochlorine insecticides have been used extensively for the past 35 yr to reduce termite damage. The USEPA estimates that chlordane and heptachlor have been used in 24 million homes in the US. The pollution of air inside dwellings is a growing concern in the US because the population at risk includes the young and aged. Those exposed to pollutants in the home may be exposed for 24 hr instead of the usual 8 hr a day in the work place. Many of the halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons have been used as pesticides and have been reported as air contaminants inside buildings. Most of these chemicals are lipophilic, ubiquitous in the environment, and persistent. A number of chemicals found in indoor air have been reported to cause human health effects and some are carcinogenic. Many studies have been conducted using a variety of air samplers inside dwellings to determine levels of termiticides in indoor air. These include the Greenburg-Smith impinger, nylon chiffon screens, polyurethane foam plug samplers, and a Millipore miniature vacuum pump with a sampling tube containing Chromosorb 102 as the collecting medium. Chlordane and heptachlor have been widely used as termiticides and both have been implicated as serious problems. The US Air Force experienced several instances of contamination of houses with airborne chlordane following termite treatment, and numerous other studies have shown the magnitude of the problem. Because of increased instances of indoor air contamination, several new alternatives have been developed for termite control to reduce the potential for chemical exposure in indoor air of houses treated with termiticides. These new techniques include use of growth regulators and newer less hazardous chemicals.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems

Intrusion detection is the process of monitoring the events occurring in a computer system or network and analyzing them for signs of possible incidents, which are violations or imminent threats of violation of computer security policies, acceptable use policies, or standard security practices. An intrusion detection system (IDS) is software that automates the intrusion detection process. An intrusion prevention system (IPS) is software that has all the capabilities of an IDS and can also attempt to stop possible incidents. IDS and IPS technologies offer many of the same capabilities, and administrators can usually disable prevention features in IPS products, causing them to function as IDSs. Accordingly, for brevity the term intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPSs) is used throughout the rest of this chapter to refer to both IDS and IPS technologies. Any exceptions are specifically noted.
Crystallization of proteins

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on basic protein chemistry, variables affecting solubility, mechanisms of growth rate, and the typical means of screening crystallization conditions. Protein crystallization has become a critical scientific tool. Crystallization is a simple yet effective means of purifying one protein from a mixture and has found some industrial applications. In addition, crystallization of proteins within living organisms is linked to a variety of diseases. The knowledge of the native structure of a given protein is essential for both practical applications such as drug discovery and for fundamental studies such as enzymology. The application of the basic principles of crystallization to proteins is not different than other small molecule applications. The crystallization of proteins is going to remain primarily a lab-scale process; however, new pharmaceuticals based on proteins are entering the marketplace and will ultimately require scaling up to large batch operations. The highly compressible and fragile nature of the crystals must be explicitly factored into any design of protein crystallization equipment. As with any chemical system, the key challenges for protein crystallization will be identifying suitable solution conditions to generate crystals of desired size; shape; and density and to measure the solidity; nucleation rates; and growth rates as function of solution variables.
Assessing librarians’ teaching of one-shot sessions: A new model for evaluating instructional performance

It is essential that the tool used to evaluate librarians’ teaching is appropriate to the type of teaching and methodologies being utilized. In many cases, academic librarians are evaluated using t...