cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of relative energies and powers

Many times, you can evaluate a statement or theory just looking to see if the energy and power involved are reasonable. In this article I have included some discussions of notorious, and inaccurate, comparisons. These are designed to show that mere comparisons of energy aren't necessarily significant and that a little qualitative analysis helps to separate the marketing hype from reasonable facts.
THE IMPACT OF RED DYE ON THE STABILITY OF MARINE DIESEL FUELS

ABSTRACT The use of red dye formulations to identify high sulfur diesel fuels were mandated before their effects on fuel stability had been thoroughly investigated. The effects of the red dye on stability were studied in a group of ten low- and high-sulfur diesel fuels. The red dye was not found to significantly degrade storage stability and thermal oxidation stability of these fuels, beyond normal variations. There were some effects noticed on blending compatibility, but, in general, these were within the range of effects due to fuel composition.
Hemodynamic effects of the different vascular accesses used for double-filtration plasmapheresis.

Systematic investigations of hemodynamic status during double filtration plasmapheresis (DFP) are rare in the literature. To investigate the hemodynamic effects of the vascular access chosen for DFP, variations in blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) induced acutely by DFP were prospectively analyzed in 46 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients a standard DFP protocol with isovolumetric saline fluid replacement. BP and PR were monitored at 30-min intervals (baseline, M30, M60, M90, and M120) during the procedures. The patients were randomized into central vein (CV) and peripheral vein (PV) groups based on the vascular access used. Systolic BP (SBP) dropped significantly at M60 (P < 0.05), M90 (P < 0.001), and M120 (P < 0.001) when compared to the baseline level. Symptomatic hypotension was not observed in any of the 46 sessions. SBP values during DFP in the CV group were significantly lower than the PV group's at M60 (93.1 vs. 101.0%, P < 0.05) and marginally lower at M90 (91.2 vs. 97.2%, P = 0.06). There was no significant difference in diastolic BP changes between the two groups. In the CV and PV groups, PR changes during plasmapheresis also differed at M90 (103.4 vs. 94.5%, P < 0.001) and M120 (101.3 vs. 95.0%, P < 0.05). The significantly lower SBP during DFP in the CV group at M60 may be due to the high central vein flow rate and resultant delay in volume replacement. In conclusion, the vascular access selected for DFP plays a role in the pathogenesis of plasmapheresis-related hypotension. Controlling flow rates may help to prevent hypotension.
Tears, laughter, anxiety, and awe: The first day of kindergarten

Few events can compare with the magnitude and the impact of the first day of school for a five-year-old child. And for the principal players—the teachers and the students—it is an experience that lasts forever.
Computation of oscillator open-loop Bode plots

The author presents a method for computing the open-loop gain and phase response of oscillators by using two successive SPICE runs. A current balance method which insures accuracy is described. Some graphical results are discussed, and the difficulties with conventional methods are described. The proposed method introduces a current balance technique which allows a driving signal to be entered into the loop without disturbing the impedance loadings and feedback, and nulls out the unwanted voltage from the measurement of the loop output voltage. The phase slope is related to the loaded Q, which can be used to predict some aspects of the oscillator noise characteristics. >
INFLUENCE OF GROUND WATER TABLE FLUCTUATION ON LATERAL LOAD BEHAVIOR OF RIGID DRILLED SHAFTS IN STIFF CLAY

A series of static one-way lateral load tests was performed on prototype-scale drilled shafts installed in a stiff surficial clay crust to investigate the effect of ground water on lateral load behavior. Tests were conducted under different ground water conditions at the National Geotechnical Experimentation Site at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The load-displacement results of the tests are presented herein. The results of the tests show that the load-displacement behavior was significantly influenced by the ground water regime at the time of testing. The ultimate lateral load capacity, defined as the load at a displacement of 10% of the shaft diameter, and the initial stiffness increased as the water table dropped. A drop in the ground water table from 0.4 m to 2.3 m below ground surface increased the ultimate lateral load from 30 kN to 95 kN. The paper presents a summary of the testing and illustrates the influence that ground water can have on field tests.
On Behavioral-Environmental Economics

Traditional environmental and resource economics uses rational choice theory to guide the evaluation of alternative policy options to correct market failure. Behavioral economics, however, has chal ...
The median whole‐blood donation time in the best‐case scenario: findings at one blood center

BACKGROUND: Whole-blood donation times in a donor population when there are no impediments to blood donation at any point can be used to determine the shortest median whole-blood donation time. This statistic is relevant to blood donors and collection staff. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Small, overstaffed blood drives in August 2004 were evaluated via operation records and supervisor interviews to determine if there were any impediments to whole-blood donation at any point in the process. Four-hundred ninety-two whole-blood donations from 33 blood drives were not impeded and were evaluated for whole-blood donation times. Registration records (entry time) and blood donor records (phlebotomy start and end time) provided three objective time points for the process, the median postphlebotomy interval at the phlebotomy station was estimated, and 10 minutes was assigned for the refreshment period. RESULTS: The median donation time for the whole-blood donation process was 50 minutes. The 25 to 75 percent range was 46 to 56 minutes, and the 10 to 90 percent range was 42 to 64 minutes. First-time blood donors had blood donation times that were 5 to 6 minutes longer than in repeat blood donors (55.5 min vs. 50 min), and women had slightly longer donation times than men (51 min vs. 49 min). Five percent of the donors had donation times that exceeded 69 minutes. CONCLUSION: The median whole-blood donation time and range under the best circumstances was defined based on the process in place in our blood center in August 2004.
Phonetic Category Learning and Its Influence on Speech Production

One of the hallmarks of any flexible system of perception and motor control is the ability to adjust to changes induced by dialect, development, fatigue, disease, or aging. Phonetic categories are an essential component of language that enables listeners and speakers to communicate effectively. Four studies are reviewed that illustrate how adults and infants adjust their phonetic categories rapidly and efficiently to maintain a tight coupling between speech perception and speech production. Although this process of adaptive plasticity takes place at the level of phonetic categories, it is also constrained by the lexicon. Words that share similar sounds or similar vocal-articulatory gestures impede the process of adaptation.
Using Atmospheric Profiles to Forecast Severe Hail Events in Northern Arizona During the North American Monsoon Season

ABSTRACT Although it is a rare phenomenon, hail on the Colorado Plateau can be a significant hazard. This study identifies threshold values of specific atmospheric variables associated with observed severe hail occurrences for northern Arizona during the North American monsoon seasons associated with the 1996–2009 timeframe. The threshold constraints on hail are found by constructing long-term means of the overall, non-severe hail, and severe hail atmospheric environments over northern Arizona, based on Flagstaff, Arizona, 1200 UTC radiosonde data. Results indicate that days experiencing severe hail possess a significantly different morning atmospheric profile. Key variations between days with severe hail versus days without severe hail are elevated sub-300-hPa moisture, a warmer atmosphere, lighter above surface wind speeds, more southerly to southeasterly oriented winds throughout the atmospheric column (except at the 700-hPa pressure level), and noticeably higher geopotential heights at all mandatory p...
Prevalence and Characteristics of Vibrator Use among Women who have Sex with Women

ABSTRACT Introduction Research suggests that vibrator use may be more prevalent among lesbian/bisexual‐identified women. However, previous research has been limited by small samples of lesbian‐ and bisexual‐identified women and has not focused specifically on the characteristics of vibrator use between women. Aims The present study was designed in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of women's use of vibrators with their female sexual partners and to understand the extent to which vibrator use is related to their sexual experiences. Methods Data were collected via a cross‐sectional web‐based survey from 2,192 women living in the United States and the United Kingdom. All participants reported engaging in sexual behavior with only women in the previous year. Main Outcome Measures Sociodemographic characteristics, vibrator use history, vibrator use perceptions, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results Over three‐quarters of women in the sample reported a history of vibrator use during solo masturbation/with a female partner and over a quarter of the sample reported use in the previous month. Participants who were older, white, and in a long‐term relationship were the most likely to use a vibrator with a female partner in the previous year. Vibrator use lifetime history was unrelated to all FSFI subscales with the exception of pain for lesbian and queer‐identified women. In contrast to lifetime use, participants who used a vibrator with a female sexual partner in the previous month scored higher on several of the FSFI domains than women who reported no vibrator use or vibrator use only during solo masturbation in the past month. Conclusions Vibrator use was common among this sample of women who have sex with women. Women who reported recent vibrator use with other women had higher mean sexual functioning scores than women who reported no vibrator use or vibrator use only during masturbation. Implications for health‐care providers are discussed. Schick V, Herbenick D, Rosenberger JG, and Reece M. Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use among women who have sex with women. J Sex Med **;**:**–**.
Finite Element-Based Analysis of Single-Crystal Si Contour-Mode Electromechanical RF Resonators

Micron-scale electromechanical disk-shaped resonators have exhibited operational frequencies above 1 GHz and quality factors exceeding 1,500 at these frequencies. Additionally, such disk resonators can be potentially realized in current silicon CMOS and BiCMOS integrated circuit processes, making them attractive alternatives to traditional high-Q off-chip components. Accurate modeling of these devices is critical to predicting the mode-shape and, most importantly, the vibration frequency. This paper presents a finite element-based approach to modeling higher-order effects in disk-shaped resonators using ANSYS 7.0. An in-depth study of the mode-shapes for disk resonators of various sizes, and the effects of substrate anchors attached to the disks at various locations, is included. Effects on resonator operation due to metal layers, such as electroless plated copper, deposited on the disks are also simulated. All simulations are performed in a fully coupled electrical-mechanical environment so as to incorporate as many process and excitation variables as possible.
The influence of the DC link inductor design on the rectifier voltage stress in an adjustable speed drive during a mains voltage surge

The use of diode bridge rectifiers in modern adjustable speed drives (ASD) is widespread due to their simplicity and low cost. The diode bridge rectifier is commonly used in conjunction with a passive L-C filter to provide a suitable DC link. The design of the L-C filter involves many factors including its impact on the ASD performance during a mains voltage surge. This paper presents an analytical method to determine the impact of the DC link inductor design on the diode bridge rectifier voltage stress during a mains voltage surge. Several common DC link inductor designs are considered and their effect on the diode bridge rectifier peak voltage stress is shown to be a function of the mutual inductance and also the loading condition of the ASD. Experimental results are obtained that confirm both the analytical and computer simulation models.
Talking Back: Shifting the Discourse of Deficit to a Pedagogy of Cultural Wealth of International Instructors in US Classrooms

Using a combination of critical theory, poststructuralism, and critical pedagogy, this chapter calls for a shift in the ways we conceive, imagine, and represent international instructors in US classrooms. More specifically, it highlights the importance of the voices of international instructors themselves, proposes a shift from the current discourse of deficit to one of cultural wealth, and offers some directions for future research in this area.
Do Voices Matter? Vocality, Materiality, Gender Performativity:

While vocal acts, such as interpellation and speech acts, constitute a network of theoretical nodes in Butler’s writings, her theory of gender performativity neglects to theorize the mediation of such acts through the voice and its technologies. In a close reading of Butler’s influential texts, the paper examines the ramifications of a notion of gender performativity that ignores the performative aspects of the voice, asking what it means to think a body without a voice. What notions of materiality and subjectivity does such a thinking it assume? How does it understand the relationship of performativity, performance and sound technology? I argue that the repression of the sonoric aspects of the voice can be read as a symptom of the role of materiality in the theory of gender performativity. Despite Butler’s attempts to attend to the material body within a discourse of the performative, the notion of materiality is constrained through the economy of the sign and remains subordinated to the realm of intelli...
Atomoxetine modulates spontaneous and sensory-evoked discharge of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons.

Abstract Atomoxetine (ATM) is a potent norepinephrine (NE) uptake inhibitor and increases both NE and dopamine synaptic levels in prefrontal cortex, where it is thought to exert its beneficial effects on attention and impulsivity. At the behavioral level, ATM has been shown to cause improvements on the measures of executive functions, such as response inhibition, working memory and attentional set shifting across different species. However, the exact mechanism of action for ATM's effects on cognition is still not clear. One possible target for the cognitive enhancing effects of ATM is the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC), the only source of NE to key forebrain areas such as cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Although it is known that ATM increases NE availability overall by blocking reuptake of NE, the effects of this agent on impulse activity of LC neurons have not been reported. Here, the effect of ATM (0.1–1 mg/kg, ip) on NE-LC neurons was investigated by recording extracellular activity of LC neurons in isoflurane-anesthetized rats. ATM caused a significant decrease of the tonic activity of LC single-units, although leaving intact the sensory-evoked excitatory component of LC phasic response. Moreover, the magnitude of the inhibitory component of LC response to paw stimulation was increased after 1 mg/kg of ATM and its duration was prolonged at 0.3 mg/kg. Together, these effects of ATM produced an increase in the phasic-to-tonic ratio of LC phasic response to sensory stimulation. ATM also modulated the average sensory-evoked local field potential (LFP) and spike-field coherence in LC depending on the dose tested. The lower dose (0.1 mg/kg) significantly decreased early positive and negative components of the sensory-evoked LFP response. Higher doses (0.3–1 mg/kg) initially increased and then decreased the amplitude of components of the evoked fields, whereas the spike-field coherence was enhanced by 1 mg/kg ATM across frequency bands. Finally, coherence between LC fields and EEG signals was generally increased by 1 mg/kg ATM, whereas 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg respectively decreased and increased coherence values in specific frequency bands. Taken together these results suggest that ATM effects on LC neuronal activity are dose-dependent, with different doses affecting different aspects of LC firing. This modulation of activity of LC-NE neurons may play a role in the cognitive effects of ATM. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Cognitive Enhancers’.
Career Education for Students With Disabilities

Career education is as important for students in special education services as it was a decade ago. The majority of these students continue to experience extreme difficulties in making a successful transition from secondary programs to employment and independent living. The authors review the state of the art and then present a life-centered career education curricular approach to prepare students with the important competencies needed for successful adult adjustment. Sample programs are cited. The school counselor is viewed as an important contributor to this process, and several critical guidance functions are recommended by using a comprehensive guidance program model. A challenge to the professional is presented to complete the unfinished agenda that presently exists in services to students with disabilities.
A DEAD-box-family protein is required for nucleocytoplasmic transport of yeast mRNA.

An enormous variety of primary and secondary mRNA structures are compatible with export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Therefore, there seems to be a mechanism for RNA export which is independent of sequence recognition. There nevertheless is likely to be some relatively uniform mechanism which allows transcripts to be packaged as ribonucleoprotein particles, to gain access to the periphery of the nucleus and ultimately to translocate across nuclear pores. To study these events, we and others have generated temperature-sensitive recessive mRNA transport (mtr) mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which accumulate poly(A) 1 RNA in the nucleus at 37C120 kDa. Mtr4p shares characteristic motifs with DEAD-box RNA helicases and associates with RNA. It therefore may well affect RNA conformation. It shows extensive homology to a human predicted gene product and the yeast antiviral protein Ski2p. Critical residues of Mtr4p, including the mtr4-1 point mutation, have been identified. Mtr4p may serve as a chaperone which translocates or normalizes the structure of mRNAs in preparation for export. The mechanism of export of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is remarkably accommodating in the sense that an enormous variety of primary and secondary RNA structures are compatible with export. The fact that neither the 59methyl cap structure nor the 39poly(A) tail appears altogether essential for export (16) suggests that there is a mechanism in the nucleus which allows for RNA recognition independent of the sequence. It is likely that during or immediately after their synthesis, transcripts are quickly packaged into ribonucleoprotein particles (RNP) which enable them to gain access to the periphery of the nucleoplasm and interact specifically with componentsofnuclearpores,throughwhichtheysubsequently translocate (14, 42). If this itinerary is relatively uniform for most mRNAs, it is reasonable to postulate that there are factors which serve as RNA chaperones and/or normalize RNA secondary structure. Single-stranded RNAs spontaneously acquire an extensive secondary structure, which is subject to proteins with annealing activity (p53 and heterogeneous nuclearRNP[hnRNP]A1[24,25])andmeltingactivity(helicases [34]). Studies of the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaehave identified several proteins which, when mutated, lead to nuclear accumulation of poly(A) 1 RNA without inhibiting pre-mRNA splicing.Apartfromnucleoporins(8),theseincludescomponents of a nucleocytoplasmic GTPase cycle [the Cnr1/2p (Gsp1/2p) GTPases, Mtr1p (Prp20p), and Rna1p (6, 35)], a cytoplasmic protein (Mtr7p [34a]), the nucleolar protein Mtr3p (19), the nuclearproteinsMtr2p(19)andRat1p(1),andthenuclearhnRNP
PKCθ is dispensable for megakaryopoiesis

Megakaryocytes are large polyploid cells that produce platelets. Megakaryocytes undergo an abbreviated cell cycle (known as endomitosis) that does not proceed to cytokinesis [1]. After repeated rou...
Housing Boom-Bust and Price-Rent Dynamics Over the Business Cycle

Housing market is documented with several observations: considerably larger fluctuations in housing prices than in rents, correlation between housing prices and investment, lead-lag pattern of housing and macroeconomic variables. This paper constructs a two-sector housing model with home owning/renting heterogeneity and housing financial frictions to explain the observed facts in housing markets and to explore the interactions between housing markets, rental markets and mortgage markets. The model provides theoretical explanations to the housing boom-bust and the transmission mechanism of housing market fluctuations to business cycles. The paper predicts that house rent-price ratio correlates with expected house price growth and changes with temporary shocks in financial constraints and/or persistent changes in mortgage rates. Model extension suggests that home ownership is endogenously determined by down payment restrictions and aggregate shocks. The model matches with the empirical evidences observed in house market. The quantitative results suggest that the financial shock generates house price fluctuation considerably larger than rents, which explains the observed price-rent fluctuations.
Phoning it in? Examining Pre-Employment Phone Interview Procedure in Higher Education

In the United States, the employment screening process for hiring full-time faculty in higher education involves the vetting of curricula vitae, phone interview(s), and/or campus visits (Cardeiro, 2010; Shively, Woodward, & Stanly, 1999). The purpose of this research was to examine the phone interview procedure at one institute of higher education, and from there, formulate a systematic phone interviewing procedure that could be put to use at this particular university. After conducting a review of relevant literature, the researchers engaged in action research that utilized qualitative data of 10 participants who took part in the pre-interview, professional development intervention, and the post-interviews for this research project. The action research protocol involved identifying the problem to bring about a positive organizational change, selecting the needed change, implementing the proposed change, and evaluating the results of the change. Upon completion of which, three emerging themes from the collected data were determined: a) phone interview procedure and structure, b) assessment and screening procedures, c) organizational fit.
Multimodality Imaging Approach towards Primary Aortic Sarcomas Arising after Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Case Series Report

Primary aortic neoplasms are rare. Aortic sarcoma arising after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a scarce subset of primary aortic malignancies, reports of which are infrequent in the published literature. The diagnosis of aortic sarcoma is challenging due to its non-specific clinical presentation, and the prognosis is poor due to delayed diagnosis, rapid proliferation, and propensity for metastasis. Post-EVAR, aortic sarcomas may mimic other more common aortic processes on surveillance imaging. Radiologists are rarely knowledgeable about this rare entity for which multimodality imaging and awareness are invaluable in early diagnosis. A series of three pathologically confirmed cases are presented to display the multimodality imaging features and clinical presentations of aortic sarcoma arising after EVAR.
Synthesis of tetraphenylporphyrinate manganese(III) siloxides by silyl group transfer from silanethiols

AbstractReaction of [Mn(OAc)(TPP)] (TPP = dianion of meso-tetraphenylporphine) with both HSSiiPr3 and HSSiPh3 in the presence of air leads to formation of the corresponding siloxide complexes, [Mn(OSiR3)(TPP)] (R = iPr, Ph), via silyl group transfer from S to O. The new compounds have been fully characterized in solution and the solid state and represent rare examples of Mn(III) porphyrinates containing Lewis basic axial ligands. X-ray crystallographic analyses of both complexes reveal very short Mn–O bond distances consistent with the presence of a siloxide ligand. Investigations of the reaction pathway are consistent with initial reduction of [Mn(OAc)(TPP)] to [MnII(TPP)] by the silanethiol. Subsequent aerobic oxidation of the reaction mixture is proposed to generate a Mn(III) porphyrinate and the corresponding silanol, which combine to yield the observed siloxide complex. These findings stand in sharp contrast to those of iron(III) porphyrinates, where silanethiolate complexes are stable.
Measuring the concept of “wellbeing”: A first approach for Bolivia

This is a first approach to measuring wellbeing inBoliviaat subnational levels. The analysis includes the construction of a multidimensional index that calculates “distances” (Distance P2). The index considers the worst values of a set of indicators taken as a reference among municipalities (unit of analysis) and aggregates across time (from 2000 to 2011) and dimensions (material, social and human). The comparisons are of changes over time between municipalities, based on their wellbeing values. It aims to answer the following questions: What is the level of wellbeing of the Bolivian population from an objective-subnational perspective? Which municipalities have the highest and lowest levels of wellbeing? How has the wellbeing of the Bolivian population evolved over time at subnational levels? Which indicators contribute most to the measurement of wellbeing at subnational levels? In general, the municipalities with the lowest values of wellbeing are concentrated in the Department of Oruro. In addition, if temporal analysis is included, these municipalities remain in the lowest positions. Overall, Bolivians’ wellbeing decreased at subnational levels over time from 2000 to 2011.
A vision-based perceptual learning system for autonomous mobile robot

Autonomous robots are intelligent machines capable of performing tasks in the real world without explicit human control for extended periods of time. A high degree of autonomy is particularly desirable in fields where robots can replace human workers, such as state-of-the-practice video surveillance system and space exploration. However, not having human’s sophisticated sensing and control system, two broad open problems in autonomous robot systems are the perceptual discrepancy problem, that is, there is no guarantee that the robot sensing system can recognize or detect objects defined by a human designer, and the autonomous control problem, that is, how the robots can operate in unstructured environments without continuous human guidance. As a result, autonomous robot systems should have their own ways to acquire percepts and control by learning. In this work, a computer vision system is used for visual percept acquisition and a working memory toolkit is used for robot autonomous control. Natural images contain statistical regularities which can set objects apart from each other and from random noise. For an object to be recognized in a given image, it is often necessary to segment the image into nonoverlapping but meaningful regions whose union is the entire image. Therefore, a biologically based percept acquisition system is developed to build an efficient low-level abstraction of real-world data into percepts. Perception in animals is strongly related to the type of behavior they perform. Learning plays a major part in this process. To solve how the robots can learn to autonomously control their behavior based on percepts they’ve acquired, the computer vision system is integrated with a software package called the Working Memory Toolkit (WMtk) for decision making and learning. The WMtk was developed by Joshua L. Phillips & David C. Noelle based on a neuron computational model of primate working memory system. The success of the whole system is demonstrated by its application to a navigation task.
Research on heritage Spanish phonetics and phonology: Pedagogical and curricular implications

This paper creates a novel link between research on linguistics and education by discussing what we know about the sound system of heritage language users of Spanish and how these findings can inform practices implemented in heritage Spanish courses in the USA. First, we provide an overview of terminology associated with heritage language research, situating heritage Spanish programs within the educational context of the USA, and explaining why heritage Spanish phonetics and phonology remain relatively unexplored. Next, we delve into previous linguistic research on the heritage Spanish sound system in terms of individual vowels and consonants, as well as at the level of intonation, rhythm, and stress, while highlighting any observed differences between the system of heritage Spanish and those of Spanish speakers of other backgrounds. Finally, motivated by the phonetic/phonological insight of previous work, in addition to existing pedagogical and curricular research on heritage Spanish, we consider how and why the inclusion of specific types of sound-system-based commentary and practice in the educational experience of heritage users of Spanish could be beneficial.
Fabrication and Characterization of Bi2Te3-Based Chip-Scale Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices

Thermoelectric energy harvesters convert otherwise wasted heat into electrical energy. As a result, they have the potential to play a critical role in the autonomous wireless sensor network signal chain. In this paper, we present work carried out on the development of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric chip-scale energy harvesting devices. Process flow, device demonstration and characterization are highlighted.
Boltzmann Analysis of Cryogenic $\text{He}$ –$\text{H}_{\text{2}}$ Gas Mixtures as Dielectric Media for High-Temperature Superconducting Power Devices

Analysis of the dielectric properties of gas mixtures in the context of their application as cryogens for high-temperature superconducting power applications is presented. Boltzmann analysis was conducted for pure gaseous helium (He) and its mixtures consisting of small mole fractions of gaseous hydrogen (H 2 ) to establish a theoretical foundation for the observed enhancement in dielectric strength at cryogenic temperatures. Boltzmann analysis showed that the electron energy distribution function shifts to the lower energy region, the reduced ionization coefficient (α/N), and the reduced effective ionization coefficient ((α - η)/N) decreases, whereas the reduced attachment coefficient (η/N) and the reduced critical electric field ((E/N)cr) increases as the mole fractions of H 2 increase in the He-H 2 mixture. The results of the analysis predict a persisting enhancement of dielectric strength by adding larger amounts of H 2 beyond the reported 4 mol% in the He-H 2 mixtures. The analysis also provides a basis for identifying a suitable gas mixture for gaseous cryogen cooled superconducting device with a required power rating.
Alanine Charge Screening Demonstrates Cytochrome C Unfolding on Cardiolipin Membrane Surfaces

Cytochrome c (Cytc) has been shown to play an important role in signaling during apoptosis. In the initial stages, positively charged regions of Cytc interact electrostatically with negatively charged, cardiolipin (CL) on the inner mitochondrial membrane. In the presence of reactive oxygen species, Cytc demonstrates increased peroxidase activity and a propensity to oxidize CL. Cytc dissociate from the oxidized CL freeing it to form the apoptosome in the cytoplasm and initiate apoptosis. The exact mechanism for this initial electrostatic interaction and the role of structure and conformation of Cytc have been extensively debated. Using heme Soret band circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence (Trp59) and UV-visible spectroscopies, in coordination with alanine charge screening, we investigate the initial electrostatic cytochrome c/cardiolipin interaction.To date, several cardiolipin interaction sites have been proposed on cytochrome c. At pH 8, we are able to isolate and study the cytochrome c/cardiolipin interaction at anionic binding site A with 100% cardiolipin vesicles. Using alanine charge screening (Lys→Ala mutations), we investigated the role of lysines 72, 73, 86 and 87 in site A during electrostatic cardiolipin binding. Optimized titration techniques were utilized that generate reproducible quantitative data that can then be fit to extract the binding contribution to cardiolipin for each amino acid investigated. Our data indicate that an initial binding occurs at lipid to protein, L/P, ratios below 5. However, neither Trp59 fluorescence nor Soret band CD is strongly sensitive to this early binding event making quantitative evaluation of this interaction difficult. At L/P ratios >20 a binding event consistent with a conformational rearrangement on the surface of the CL vesicle occurs. Our data indicate that one lysine from either side of Site A (Lys72/73 versus Lys86/87) is important for both the cooperativity of and L/P ratio needed for this conformational rearrangement on the liposome surface.
Understanding limiting factors in thick electrode performance as applied to high energy density Li-ion batteries

Increasing electrode thickness, thus increasing the volume ratio of active materials, is one effective method to enable the development of high energy density Li-ion batteries. In this study, an energy density versus power density optimization of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA)/graphite cell stack was conducted via mathematical modeling. The energy density was found to have a maximum point versus electrode thickness (critical thickness) at given discharging C rates. The physics-based factors that limit the energy/power density of thick electrodes were found to be increased cell polarization and underutilization of active materials. The latter is affected by Li-ion diffusion in active materials and Li-ion depletion in the electrolyte phase. Based on those findings, possible approaches were derived to surmount the limiting factors. The improvement of the energy–power relationship in an 18,650 cell was used to demonstrate how to optimize the thick electrode parameters in cell engineering.
CHROTRAN 1.0: A mathematical and computational model for in situ heavy metal remediation in heterogeneous aquifers

Abstract. Groundwater contamination by heavy metals is a critical environmental problem for which in situ remediation is frequently the only viable treatment option. For such interventions, a multi-dimensional reactive transport model of relevant biogeochemical processes is invaluable. To this end, we developed a model, chrotran , for in situ treatment, which includes full dynamics for five species: a heavy metal to be remediated, an electron donor, biomass, a nontoxic conservative bio-inhibitor, and a biocide. Direct abiotic reduction by donor–metal interaction as well as donor-driven biomass growth and bio-reduction are modeled, along with crucial processes such as donor sorption, bio-fouling, and biomass death. Our software implementation handles heterogeneous flow fields, as well as arbitrarily many chemical species and amendment injection points, and features full coupling between flow and reactive transport. We describe installation and usage and present two example simulations demonstrating its unique capabilities. One simulation suggests an unorthodox approach to remediation of Cr(VI) contamination.
Branching Systems and Super-processes

Binary splitting and scaling limits; Finiteness, extinction, and genealogy; Moment measures and Palm trees; Moment densities; Regular Palm distributions; Hitting rates and approximation; Lebesgue approximation; Local stationarity and invariant cluster; Local hitting and conditioning; Stability of discrete clustering.
Control-oriented discrete-time large-signal model of phase-shift full-bridge DC–DC converter

In this paper, a new approach toward large-signal discrete-time modeling of phase-shift full-bridge (PSFB) dc–dc converter for discontinuous conduction mode operation has been introduced. Instead of averaging the circuit elements or state variables, this approach makes use of the inherent characteristics of the dc–dc converter by developing piecewise differential equations of the switching network in different time intervals. Then, these differential equations are analytically solved with appropriate boundary conditions in order to develop the discrete-time nonlinear model of the PSFB dc–dc converter. The developed nonlinear model captures the complete dynamics of state variables within a switching cycle. Another major contribution of this research work is an accurate linear model of PSFB dc-dc converter, which has been acquired by employing small signal approximations and change of variables. The proposed model has been compared to the previously reported large-signal models of the PSFB dc–dc converter. Detailed theoretical results have been included, which show excellent agreement of the proposed model with the original switching network.
Invitations to Intervene and the Legitimacy of EU and NATO Civilian and Military Operations

ABSTRACTThis article investigates the connection between invitations to intervene and the creation of legitimacy for European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations. By...
Impact of FDG Dose Reduction on Lesion Quantification in Dynamic PET - A Simulation Study Based on Clinical Trial Data

1003 Objectives To investigate the impact of tracer dose reduction on dynamic 18F-FDG PET lesion quantification in order to explore the ability of low dose dynamic PET for both accurate quantification and reduction of tracer dose burden to the patient especially for response assessment at multiple time points of treatment. Methods 20 min-long dynamic FDG PET scans were acquired 30min post-injection on a Philips Gemini TF 64. Dynamic list mode PET data were reconstructed using different subset numbers (Ns) (33s, 29s, 25s, 21s, 15s, 13s, 9s and 5s) and following a 20-frame (fr) protocol (60 sec ×20 fr), a 40-frame protocol (30 sec ×40 fr) and an 80-frame protocol (15 sec × 80 fr) to simulate full tracer dose of 13 mCi (481 MBq) FDG and 100%, 50% and 25% dose administrations, respectively. Maximum activity concentrations (Bq/mL) of target tumor lesions and plasma in the descending aorta were obtained with 3D Volume of Interest (VOI) placement along the different time frames. The average uptake value (Lesion: L_Ave, Artery: A_Ave), median uptake value (Lesion: L_Med, Artery: A_Med) and the standard deviation (SD) of dose uptake (Lesion: L_SD, Artery: A_SD) of both lesion and artery were calculated. The ratio of artery average uptake to lesion average uptake (A/L_Ave) and the ratio of artery median uptake to lesion median uptake (A/L_Med) were also calculated for comparison. Parameters calculated from the data reconstructed with 60 sec ×20 fr and with 33 subsets were taken as reference (gold) standard. L_Ave, L_Med, A_Ave and A_Med values generated with different doses were compared to gold standard using Student’s t-test with statistical significance being set at p Results All lesions were readily identifiable even when the simulated FDG dose was decreased by 50%. However, obvious noise artifacts appeared on PET images in 3 out of 5 data sets with 33 subsets and 2 out of 5 data sets with 21 subsets when simulated FDG dose was decreased to 1/4 of the original dose. Artifacts on PET images at this 25% level could be largely eliminated when the number of subsets was decreased to be less than 15. Dose reduction greatly increased L_SD and A_SD of dose uptake time activity data. However, both L_SD and A_SD could be reduced to even lower than the gold standard values when the number of subsets was decreased (100% dose: SN 0.05). A/L_Ave and A/L_Med remained consistent when dose decreased (A/L_Ave=0.22±0.007; A/L_Med=0.22±0.006), revealing a robust relationship between lesion uptake and artery uptake with dose reduction. Conclusions A 50% dose reduction in dynamic FDG PET can be readily achieved without negative impact providing that the reconstruction is modified to use 9 subsets. This study demonstrates dynamic PET can be performed even with low tracer doses and accurate quantification realized when the appropriate number of subsets is adjusted in PET reconstruction to account for the difference in iterative convergence.
Novel metrics for growth model selection

Literature surrounding the statistical modeling of childhood growth data involves a diverse set of potential models from which investigators can choose. However, the lack of a comprehensive framework for comparing non-nested models leads to difficulty in assessing model performance. This paper proposes a framework for comparing non-nested growth models using novel metrics of predictive accuracy based on modifications of the mean squared error criteria. Three metrics were created: normalized, age-adjusted, and weighted mean squared error (MSE). Predictive performance metrics were used to compare linear mixed effects models and functional regression models. Prediction accuracy was assessed by partitioning the observed data into training and test datasets. This partitioning was constructed to assess prediction accuracy for backward (i.e., early growth), forward (i.e., late growth), in-range, and on new-individuals. Analyses were done with height measurements from 215 Peruvian children with data spanning from near birth to 2 years of age. Functional models outperformed linear mixed effects models in all scenarios tested. In particular, prediction errors for functional concurrent regression (FCR) and functional principal component analysis models were approximately 6% lower when compared to linear mixed effects models. When we weighted subject-specific MSEs according to subject-specific growth rates during infancy, we found that FCR was the best performer in all scenarios. With this novel approach, we can quantitatively compare non-nested models and weight subgroups of interest to select the best performing growth model for a particular application or problem at hand.
Development of natural killer cells, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and mast cells from single hematopoietic progenitors in culture of murine fetal liver cells.

We have recently established a clonal culture system that supports the growth of immature natural killer (NK) cells from murine fetal thymocytes. We now describe a culture system for mixed NK cell colony formation from single lymphohematopoietic progenitors. When Sca-1+c-kit+ fetal liver cells were cultured in methylcellulose media with interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-11, and steel factor (SF), we found mixed colonies consisting of diffuse small round cells characteristic of immature NK cells and other types of cells. The single cell origin of the mixed colonies was established by micromanipulation. Individual mixed colonies derived from single cells were characterized by flow cytometric analysis and May-Grunwald Giemsa staining. All mixed colonies contained Thy-1+B220- cells, which can differentiate to mature NK cells in fetal thymus organ culture. Most of the colonies contained B220+ B-lineage cells and macrophages, and some contained mast cells. IL-1alpha and IL-3, which have previously been shown to inhibit the T- and B-cell potentials of blast colonies, suppressed the formation of mixed NK cell colonies. The clonal culture assay presented here may be useful in analysis of the developmental pathway and commitment of NK cells from multipotential progenitors.
Creating a new psychiatry: on the origins of non-institutional psychiatry in the USA, 1900-50

This paper examines the early origins of the shift away from institutional psychiatry in the USA. It focuses on the period between 1900 and 1950. Attention is paid to the role of neurologists and disaffected asylum doctors in the early emergence of extra-institutional practice; to the impact of the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and Thomas Salmon; to the limited role of psychoanalysis during most of this period; and to the influence of the Rockefeller Foundation's decision to focus most of its effort in the medical sciences on psychiatry.
Visual(ization) Education: More Than Meets the Eye

“When students do ‘art’ they indirectly learn all sorts of things about the visual. But one has to ask, is that the most efficient way to teach them to under-stand and control all things visual?”1 ...
The Anticancer Agent Elesclomol Has Direct Effects on Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Function in Isolated Mammalian Mitochondria.

Elesclomol ((N-malonyl-bis(N′-methyl-N′-thiobenzoylhydrazide)); formerly STA-4783) is a mitochondria-targeted chemotherapeutic agent that has demonstrated efficacy in selective cancer cell killing in pre-clinical and clinical testing. The biologically active form of elesclomol is a deprotonated copper chelate (elesclomol:copper; E:C), which has been shown to enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induce a transcriptional gene profile characteristic of an oxidative stress response in vitro. Previous studies suggest that E:C interacts with the electron transport chain (ETC) to generate high levels of ROS within the organelle and ultimately induce cell death. The purpose of this study was to further explore the mechanism of cellular and mitochondrial toxicity of E:C by examining its direct effect on mitochondrial bioenergetic function. The results obtained indicate that E:C treatment in whole cells of non-tumorigenic origin at high concentrations (40 μM and higher) induces a rapid and substantial increase in mitochondrial superoxide levels and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, similar higher concentrations of E:C act as a direct uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation and generalized inhibitor of electron transport activity in isolated, intact mitochondria, and induce a dose-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity in freeze-thawed mitochondrial preparations. The results of this study are important in that they are the first to demonstrate a direct effect of the E:C chelate on bioenergetic function in isolated mammalian mitochondria, and suggest the possibility that the increase in ROS production and cytotoxicity induced by E:C may in part be due to uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and/or inhibition of electron transport activity. These results also provide important information about the mechanisms of mitochondrial and cellular toxicity induced by E:C and will ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of elesclomol as an anticancer compound.