cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE STRUCTURE OF DETONATION WAVES

Multidimensional time-dependent numerical simulations have been used to study the initiation, propagation, and extinction of detonations in gases and liquids. The simulations, which calculate the detailed behavior of the interacting shock waves and reaction zones forming the detonation wave, are used to study the evolution of the instability that leads to the cellular structure of detonations. The simulations consist of two-dimensional time-dependent solutions of the convection of mass density, momentum density and energy coupled to models for chemical energy release. The convective transport equations are solved by the Flux-Corrected Transport algorithm. The chemical reactions and energy release are usually modelled by the two-step induction parameter model. We conclude that the behavior of the multidimensional structure of a detonation depends on the differences of the thermodynamic properties in the inductiori zones behind the Mach stem and the incident shock. The formation of unreacted pockets behind the detonation front depends on the inclination of the transverse waves and the curvature of the shock fronts. Highly curved fronts may result in large pockets. The temperature dependence of the induction time is a major factor in the regularity of detonation structure. Detonation structure is affected by the energy release parameters. Instantaneous energy release leads to one-dimensional structures. Fast energy release results in less regular structures. Very slow energy release results in large pockets, highly curved fronts, and the detonation may die out. Article published online by EDP Sciences and available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/jphyscol:1987406
Maillard Browning of Common Amino Acids and Sugars

Common amino acids and amide derivatives have been ranked according to the intensity of Maillard browning formed when heated in an autoclave at 121°C for 10 min, under identical conditions, with each of the sugars D-ribose, D-glucose, D-fructose, α-lactose and sucrose. The amino compounds have been grouped into high, intermediate and low browning producing groups. Browning formed by heating a representative of each group with D-glucose, D-fructose and α-lactose at pH values ranging from 6–12 was studied. Maximum browning was obtained at a pH value of about 10 in all of the amino acid-sugar solutions tested.
Language policy and reforms of writing systems for minority languages in China

This paper examines how China’s language policy, dictated by its ethnic minorities policy, has influenced reforms of writing systems for minority languages since 1949. Measured by the landmark publication of the Plan for the Phonetic Spelling of Chinese in 1957, reforms of minority writing systems can be divided into three stages. The pre-Plan stage featured efforts to match written and oral languages, and Russian influence including introduction of the Cyrillic script. During the Plan-oriented stage, romanization ruled not only the creation of new writing systems for oral languages, but also the reform of existing non-roman systems. The relatively Plan-independent stage, ushered in by standardization of the Yi writing system in a Siniform script, has opened the door, though only narrowly, to “native” writing systems. Examined from an international perspective, China’s language policy has undergone the same waxing and waning of assimilation and accommodation as those of industrialized and developing countries; but the Chinese experience demonstrates both the advantages and disadvantages of direct government involvement in minority language maintenance and development.
Experimental validation of the vibro-acoustic model of a pressurized membrane

Abstract In the odyssey of achieving further lightweight space structures and systems, optical-quality membrane mirrors are expected to replace the conventional, metal-based and glass-based, rigid mirrors. These thin film membranes offer an order of magnitude size increase in apertures and in weight reduction. Some of these membrane mirrors are coupled to a pressurized cavity with the end goal of using the pressure in the chamber for shape control. The replacement of rigid mirrors for optical quality membrane mirrors is still a large area of research with many questions thus far requiring further investigation. These areas include modeling, material properties, fabrication due to high tolerances required for imaging, storage, and deployability. The ability to accurately model and predict the dynamics of these space-based membrane mirrors is of great importance. This will lead to more adequate design and manufacturing processes and optimized performance of such systems. The work presented here focuses on the validation of an impedance-based model of a membrane in air and of a coupled membrane–cavity system using experimental results. The impedance based model takes into account sound radiation and energy loss to the far field. This is crucial in earth-based telescopes and also very important when testing and validating these systems on earth before being launched into space.
Active species of copper chromite catalyst in C–O hydrogenolysis of 5-methylfurfuryl alcohol

Abstract The active sites of copper chromite catalyst, CuCr2O4·CuO, were investigated for the condensed-phase hydrogenolysis of 5-methylfurfuryl alcohol to 2,5-dimethylfuran at 220 °C. The bulk and surface features of the catalyst were characterized by XRD, H2-TPR, N2 adsorption, CO chemisorption, N2O titration, NH3-TPD, XPS, and AES. Maxima of both of the potential active species, Cu0 and Cu+, occurred after reduction in H2 at 300 °C compared to 240 and 360 °C. These Cu0 and Cu+ maxima also coincided with the highest specific rate of reaction based on the surface area of the reduced catalyst. The trends of Cu0 and Cu+ observed by N2O titration and CO chemisorption were also observed qualitatively by AES. Correlations between activity and the possible active species suggested that Cu0 was primarily responsible for the activity of the catalysts.
Reactions between perchlorate salts and tetrahydrofuran

Abstract Reactions between tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 22 different perchlorate salts, most often in the presence of organic halides were studied. The use of the organic halides including acetyl, benzoyl and substituted allyl chlorides aided in arranging the perchlorates according to their ability to give good yields of tertiary oxonium ion and polymer from THF. The approximate order, based on the yield of poly(tetrahydrofuran) obtained after 24 hr was Ag + , Hg 2+ > Pb 2+ , Tl 3+ > Fe 3+ , Al 3+ , Na + , Fe 2+ > Cr 3+ , Mn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Co 2+ , Cd 2+ ⪢ Ce 3+ , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Ba 2+ , Zn 2+ , Li + , K + , NH 4 + = 0. Only Ag + and Hg 2+ perchlorates gave polymer when allylhalides were used. With one other perchlorates the order of reactivity of the halide was acetyl > benzoyl ⪢ allyl = 0.
Vector Potential Electromagnetics with Generalized Gauge for Inhomogeneous Media: Formulation (Invited Paper)

The mixed vector and scalar potential formulation is valid from quantum theory to classical electromagnetics. The present rapid development in quantum optics applications calls for electromagnetic solutions that straddle both the quantum and classical physics regimes. The vector potential formulation using A and ' (or A-' formulation) is a good candidate to bridge these two regimes. Hence, there is a need to generalize this formulation to inhomogeneous media. A generalized gauge is suggested for solving electromagnetics problems in inhomogenous media that can be extended to the anistropic case. An advantage of the resulting equations is their absence of catastrophic breakdown at low-frequencies. Hence, the usual difierential equation solvers can be used to solve them over a wide range of scales and bandwidth. It is shown that the interface boundary conditions from the resulting equations reduce to those of classical Maxwell's equations. Also, the classical Green's theorem can be extended to such a formulation, resulting in an extinction theorem and a surface equivalence principle similar to the classical case. Moreover, surface integral equation formulations can be derived for piecewise homogeneous scatterers. Furthermore, the integral equations neither exhibit the low-frequency catastrophe nor the frequency imbalance observed in the classical formulation using E-H flelds. The matrix representation of the integral equation for a PEC (perfect electric conductor) scatterer is given.
Four-component power spectral density model of steady-state isometric force

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a model based upon four identified characteristics of the power spectral density associated with isometric force at a range of constant force levels (5–95% maximum voluntary contraction). The characteristics modeled were: (1) a low-frequency resonant peak located at about 1 Hz; (2) a region of 1/f-like fractional Gaussian noise (fGn); (3) the resonant peak in the 8–12 Hz region on the PSD; and (4) Gaussian white noise resulting from a combination of neural as well as equipment noise. When superimposed, these components were used in a direct fit to the isometric force data to generate a linear predictor that resulted in residual values on the order of the white noise present in the original force time series.
Use of microcarrier beads to facilitate epithelial outgrowth inside collagen gel

Multicellular aggregates of some epithelial cell types rapidly produce ductlike protuberances when cultured inside a matrix of hydrated collagen gel. However, some epithelioid cells aggregate poorly. These cell types will produce outgrowths rapidly if they are attached to microcarrier beads before embedding them in the collagen matrix. Methods are described for preparing such cultures.
Topical Nutrients Promote Engraftment and Inhibit Wound Contraction of Cultured Skin Substitutes in Athymic Mice

Routine treatment of burns with cultured skin substitutes (CSS) has been limited by poor engraftment and by scarring. Hypothetically, topical application of essential nutrients and/or growth factors may support epithelial survival temporarily during graft vascularization, CSS, composed of human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts attached to collagen-glycosaminoglycan substrates, were incubated for 19 d in media optimized for keratinocytes. CSS, human xenografts, murine autografts, or no grafts were applied orthotopically to full-thickness skin wounds (2 × 2 cm) in athymic mice. Wounds were irrigated for 14 d with 1 ml/d modified cell culture medium or with saline containing epidermal growth factor, or were treated with dry dressings. After 6 weeks, treated sites were scored for percentage original wound area (mean ± SEM) and percentage HLA- ABC-positive healed wounds [(number positive/n) × 100], and tested for significance (analysis of variance, p
The impregnation of bone and pathologic calcification by metal salts and their recognition by unoxidized hematoxylin

Of 225 metal compounds tested, salts of 34 metals can enter the calcium carbonate-phosphate-protein complex of bone and calcified tissue. The soluble salts of silver and mercury (I) form black deposits by direct reaction; mercury forms black feathery or acicular crystals as well. The other metals are easily detected by the formation of colored compounds when dilute unoxidized hematoxylin is applied. Nine metals combine with the protein moiety, as their presence is still observed by color changes with hematoxylin after decalcification of the tissues with acids or sequestrene prior to metal impregnation. Because of similarity of color produced by similar metal salts, there seems to be some resemblance between the protein of the keratohyalin granules of the skin and the protein of bone and pathologic calcification.
DC-HIL is a negative regulator of T lymphocyte activation.

T-cell activation is the net product of competing positive and negative signals transduced by regulatory molecules on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) binding to corresponding ligands on T cells. Having previously identified DC-HIL as a receptor expressed by APCs that contains an extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig)–like domain, we postulated that it plays a role in T-cell activation. To probe this function, we created soluble recombinant DC-HIL, which we observed to bind activated (but not resting) T cells, indicating that expression of the putative ligand on T cells is induced by activation. Binding of DC-HIL to naive T cells attenuated these cells' primary response to anti-CD3 antibody, curtailing IL-2 production, and preventing entry into the cell cycle. DC-HIL also inhibited reactivation of T cells previously activated by APCs (secondary response). By contrast, addition of soluble DC-HIL to either allogeneic or ovalbumin-specific lymphocyte reactions augmented T-cell proliferation, and its injection into mice during the elicitation (but not sensitization) phase of contact hypersensitivity exacerbated ear-swelling responses. Mutant analyses showed the inhibitory function of DC-HIL to reside in its extracellular Ig-like domain. We conclude that endogenous DC-HIL is a negative regulator of T lymphocyte activation, and that this native inhibitory function can be blocked by exogenous DC-HIL, leading to enhanced immune responses.
Heavy ions, radioprotectors and genomic instability: implications for human space exploration.

The risk associated with space radiation exposure is unique from terrestrial radiation exposures due to differences in radiation quality, including linear energy transfer (LET). Both high- and low-LET radiations are capable of inducing genomic instability in mammalian cells, and this instability is thought to be a driving force underlying radiation carcinogenesis. Unfortunately, during space exploration, flight crews cannot entirely avoid radiation exposure. As a result, chemical and biological countermeasures will be an important component of successful extended missions such as the exploration of Mars. There are currently several radioprotective agents (radioprotectors) in use; however, scientists continue to search for ideal radioprotective compounds—safe to use and effective in preventing and/or reducing acute and delayed effects of irradiation. This review discusses the agents that are currently available or being evaluated for their potential as radioprotectors. Further, this review discusses some implications of radioprotection for the induction and/or propagation of genomic instability in the progeny of irradiated cells.
Multi-Agent Intersection Management for Connected Vehicles Using an Optimal Scheduling Approach

Today's transportation systems are facing numerous issues resulting from the increased travel demands and limited capacities of roadway infrastructure. As a potential intelligent transportation system (ITS) solution, multi-agent intersection management systems have recently received increased attention with the rapid advance in wireless communications and comprehensive vehicular technologies. Most of the proposed multi-agent system approaches take a FIFO (first-in first-out) approach to time-space occupancy scheduling. However, by also optimizing the departure sequence, greater global benefits are possible. In this paper, we propose a modified multi-agent system with optimal scheduling of Vehicle Agent's (VAs') departure times. Compared with the FIFO-based system developed in the authors' previous work, the modified system can provide more system-wide benefits in terms of mobility, reliability and sustainability. Simulation studies have shown improvements in travel times, but more importantly an approximately 58% reduction in travel time variability and 49%-60% reductions in (partial) stops. These leads to potential benefits in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, primarily by carefully designing VAs' trajectories through the intersection.
Experimental demonstration of high mobility Ge NMOS

The highest electron mobility in Ge NMOS to-date, ∼1.5 times the universal Si mobility, is demonstrated experimentally. Gate stack engineered with ozone-oxidation is integrated with low temperature S/D activation to fabricate Ge NMOS. Mechanisms responsible for poor Ge NMOS performance in the past are investigated with detailed gate dielectric stack characterizations and Hall mobility analyses for the first time. High S/D parasitic resistance, inversion charge loss due to trapping, and high interface trap density are identified as the mechanisms responsible for Ge NMOS performance degradation.
Negative association between ethanol intoxication and myocardial infarction in patients with chest pain

Study objectives: In our experience, ethanol-intoxicated patients with chest pain have a low incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our hypothesis is that intoxication is negatively associated with AMI in patients with chest pain. All patient data, including chief complaint, emergency department discharge diagnosis, and laboratory studies, are recorded in the Emstat database. At presentation, if nurses suspect intoxication, breath ethanol is measured and recorded in its own field. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 30 years or older and with a chief complaint or discharge diagnosis of chest pain who also had a breath ethanol level of 0.08% or greater, from January 1, 2000, through October 31, 2002. As a "no intoxication" control group, we searched the database for all patients aged 30 years or older and with a chief complaint or discharge diagnosis of chest pain during 2001 whose breath ethanol was either not recorded or was less than 0.08%. Patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, unstable angina, or AMI whose chief complaint was other than chest pain were not included in either group. Troponin I (TnI) was assayed by Dade Dimension RxL; the normal level is less than 0.1 ng/mL; the diagnostic level is greater than 0.3 ng/mL. All TnI levels, single or serial, were reviewed for all patients. AMI was defined as at least 1 TnI greater than 0.3 ng/mL or at least 1 troponin level of 0.2 or 0.3 ng/mL and a determination by medical record review (including cardiology consultations, ECGs, clinical course, nuclear scanning, provocative testing, and cardiac catheterization) that this troponin elevation was a result of AMI. Rates of AMI between the experimental and control group were compared using χ 2 tests. Results: There were 219 patients in the study group of intoxicated patients with chest pain; 2 (0.9%) of 219 patients had AMI. There were 3,344 patients in the "no intoxication" control group; 155 (4.64%) patients had AMI ( P =.009). Conclusion: At our institution, among ethanol-intoxicated patients aged 30 years or older with chest pain, compared with nonintoxicated patients, there is a significant negative association with AMI. Prospective investigation is needed to determine whether ethanol intoxication in patients who present with chest pain is negatively predictive of AMI.
Effects of Substrate Thermal Characteristics on the Electromigration Behavior of Al Thin Film Conductors

Electromigration failure in aluminum conductors is strongly temperature activated, and reliable levels of current density do significantly raise the conductor temperature. However, the temperature increase and its ultimate effect on the conductor lifetime is related to device and substrate structure and to the pulsewidth and duty cycle of pulsed currents. This work describes simple but accurate models for thermal buildup in typical IC structures due to both constant and pulsed currents. The results are then included in predictive models for pulsed current electromigration lifetime. These models include temperature cycling and its effect on damage relaxation between pulses, and they are built up in a modular fashion from the basic constant current model. Experimental data is shown to support the theory.
Daily tracking of the locomotion of the nudibranch Tritonia tetraquetra (Pallas 1788 = Tritonia diomedea Bergh 1894) in nature and the influence of water flow on orientation, crawling, and drag

We observed orientation and locomotion of the nudibranch Tritonia tetraquetra in its natural habitat using SCUBA over many sequential days, in three different months. The slugs oriented significantly headfirst to tidal currents. Nevertheless, the direction of locomotion of the slugs over hours was not usually correlated with tidal flow direction (i.e. not indicative of consistent rheotaxis). We did not find evidence of consistent body axis orientation to the geomagnetic field, but the direction of locomotion of some groups of slugs over hours was significantly correlated with geomagnetic direction. Independent of direction, each slug changed position by an average of ∼2 m during a single tidal phase (∼6 h), and changed position by an average of ∼4 m over a full tidal cycle (∼25 h). Orientation to flow reduced drag, and reduced the probability that a slug will be dislodged from the soft bottom, in laboratory experiments. Slugs deprived of olfactory and flow cues exhibit a search-like pattern of multiple an...
Power-shifted microwave resonances of a hot cavity filled with a surface-ionized alkali-metal plasma: Theory and experiment.

A new kind of thermal plasma device has been constructed consisting of an indirectly heated 2100 K X-band microwave cavity. The cavity is filled with a surface ionized K or Cs plasma with densities of from 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{16}$ to 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$. As a first experiment, the frequency of the ${\mathrm{TM}}_{010}$ mode has been measured as a function of microwave power absorbed by the cavity. The measurements are carried out under conditions where instabilities are not observed in the plasma. The resonant frequency is found to decrease as the microwave power increases. Two theories are developed to explain the frequency shifts, one depending on the ponderomotive force, the other on high-frequency resistive electron heating. Frequency shifts predicted by the ponderomotive force theory are substantially smaller than the observed shifts. The data are in reasonable agreement with the resistive-electron-heating theory if it is assumed that the work function of the microwave cavity wall is decreased by alkali-metal-atom coverage.
Macromolecule-small molecule interactions; introduction of additional binding sites in polyethyleneimine by disulfide cross–linkages

Polyethyleneimine and its acyl derivatives have been thiolated with thiobutyrolactone and the SH groups introduced have been crosslinked in the presence of and in the absence of methyl orange, respectively. After crosslinking of the polymers, the bound methyl orange was removed. The resultant two kinds of crosslinked polymers have been examined for their ability to bind methyl orange. The polymer crosslinked in the presence of methyl orange shows more binding sites and stronger binding than does the polymer crosslinked in the absence of methyl orange. It seems, therefore, that the conformation of the polymer may be molded to provide sites that can accommodate a specific small molecule.
Congenital cleft spleen with CT scan appearance of high-grade splenic laceration after blunt abdominal trauma

The spiral computed tomography (CT) scan has made the diagnosis of traumatic injury increasingly rapid and accurate, especially in cases of solid parenchymal organ injury that follows blunt abdominal trauma. Nonetheless, this valuable method of diagnosis can be confounded when anatomical variances are encountered in the setting of concomitant associated injuries. We present here a case where a congenitally bi-lobed spleen was diagnosed by CT scan as an apparent high-grade splenic laceration, prompting emergent laparotomy.
Important Distinctions in Measuring Maternal Responses to Communication in Prelinguistic Children with Disabilities

Two research hypotheses were tested in the research reported here: The first was that non linguistic maternal responses to intentional child communication, but not to preintentional communication, will predict later intentional communication but not later language development. The second hypothesis was that linguistic mapping of intentional communication, but not of preintentional communication, will predict later language development but not later intentional communication. Study participants were 58 children with disabilities or developmental delays and their primary caretakers. Receptive language, prelinguistic communication, and maternal responses were measured at Time 1 (entry into study) and Time 2 (6 months later). Vocabulary level was measured at Time 2. Expressive and receptive language were measured at Time 3 (12 months after entry into study). After controlling for initial measures of child communication or language, number of maternal nonlinguistic responses to intentional communication were p...
Efficient representation of the variant PSF of structured light system

This paper proposes a novel and efficient representation of the point-spread function (PSF) well suited for structured light systems used in digital profilometry. For this particular application the PSF is spatially variant over the working volume and the current parametric as well as non-parametric representations are insufficient. We validate our method using a standard data set and imagery acquired using an off-the-shelf multimedia projector and an industrial camera.
Regulatory analysis of the C. elegans genome with spatiotemporal resolution

Discovering the structure and dynamics of transcriptional regulatory events in the genome with cellular and temporal resolution is crucial to understanding the regulatory underpinnings of development and disease. We determined the genomic distribution of binding sites for 92 transcription factors and regulatory proteins across multiple stages of Caenorhabditis elegans development by performing 241 ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing) experiments. Integration of regulatory binding and cellular-resolution expression data produced a spatiotemporally resolved metazoan transcription factor binding map. Using this map, we explore developmental regulatory circuits that encode combinatorial logic at the levels of co-binding and co-expression of transcription factors, characterizing the genomic coverage and clustering of regulatory binding, the binding preferences of, and biological processes regulated by, transcription factors, the global transcription factor co-associations and genomic subdomains that suggest shared patterns of regulation, and identifying key transcription factors and transcription factor co-associations for fate specification of individual lineages and cell types.
Pseudopotential Analog for Zero-Range Photoassociation and Feshbach Resonance

A zero-range approach to atom-molecule coupling is developed in analogy to the Fermi-Huang pseudopotential approach to collisions. It is shown by explicit comparison to an exactly solvable finite-range model that replacing the molecular bound-state wave function with a regularized delta function can reproduce the exact scattering amplitude in the long-wavelength limit. Using this approach, we find an analytical solution to the two-channel Feshbach resonance problem for two atoms in a spherical harmonic trap, highlighting the strong dependence of the effective scattering length and bare-molecule population on the atom-molecule coupling strength.
Total cross sections for the double photoionization of Li from the ground and excited states

Two nonperturbative approaches are used to calculate the total cross sections for the double photoionization of Li from its ground and first excited states. From the ground state, both the time-dependent close coupling and $R$ matrix with pseudostate approaches find reasonable agreement with experimental data, and from the first excited state (where no measurements are available), the two approaches are also in reasonable agreement.
God and Other Theoretical Entities

In his now-classic God and Other Minds, Alvin Plantinga embarked on the project that we have since come to know as Reformed epistemology. 1 Plantinga used the following strategy to defend the epistemic rationality of theistic belief. The best arguments for other minds and for theism are, according to the book, the argument from analogy and the argument from design, respectively. But both arguments suffer from the same "crippling defect, ''2 and so both enjoy the same lowly status: neither argument provides an epistemically good reason for holding the belief in question. Thus, if, as nearly all of us do, we grant that belief in other minds is, or can be, rational, we ought also to grant that belief in God is, or can be, rational. For Plantinga, neither belief requires evidence, or epistemically good reasons, in order to be rationally held. Even its critics credited Plantinga's book with offering "an ingenious argument for the conclusion that belief in God is perfectly justified in the absence of any good reason whatever. ''3 This striking conclusion is remarkably similar to the claim for which Plantinga argues some sixteen years later, a claim which has earned the right to be called the very "thesis of Reformed epistemology": 4
Work values evolution in a baccalaureate student nurse population

Abstract Differences related to degree aspiration, desired nursing career specialty, and other nursing-related biographical variables were found among the four classes of a sample of 408 full-time non-RN female subjects in a baccalaureate nursing program. These differences were associated with shifts in the work values patterns of the subjects. Extrinsic work values and a nurturant nursing-specific work values system characterized the freshman profile. This was replaced by an intrinsic work values system and a leadership nursing-specific work value profile cluster in the senior sample. There was no detectable classwise change in the high altruistic work values emphasis of the sample.
Model predictive dispatch in electric energy systems with intermittent resources

This paper addresses potential benefits of applying model predictive control (MPC) to solving the energy dispatch problem in electric energy systems with many intermittent renewable resources. Based on predicting the output from the intermittent resources, this paper introduces a look-ahead optimal control algorithm for dispatching the available generation with the objective of minimizing the total production cost. This method is compared with the static economic dispatch which treats intermittent resources as uncertain negative loads. We suggest that the proposed MPC approach could lower the total generation cost by directly dispatching the output from the renewable resources in order to compensate temporal load variations over pre-defined time horizons. A small 12-bus power system comprising five generators is simulated to illustrate potential benefits from a look-ahead dispatch of both intermittent and more conventional power plants. The proposed method is directly applicable to managing systems with large presence of wind and photovoltaic resources.
A novel soft starting strategy of an LLC resonant DC/DC converter for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Usually a high-efficiency Level 1~2 battery charger consists of an AC/DC (PFC) part and a DC/DC part, which in this paper is a CoolMOS based 97%-efficiency full-bridge LLC resonant DC/DC converter. Due to the existence of the output capacitance and high input voltage (usually 400VDC), the inrush current of the DC/DC converter in the starting process is inevitable, which requires an effective soft starting strategy. This paper proposed an effective soft starting strategy to gradually charge the output capacitor, decrease the inrush current and, more importantly, avoid the hard switching in the starting process, which is a must to the CoolMOS. The proposed starting strategy has been experimentally validated on a 10kW LLC resonant DC/DC converter.
1,3‐Benzodithiol‐1‐ium Tetrafluoroborate

[57842-27-0] C7H5BF4S2 (MW 240.07) InChI = 1S/C7H5S2.BF4/c1-2-4-7-6(3-1)8-5-9-7;2-1(3,4)5/h1-5H;/q+1;-1 InChIKey = CUSWPJQKCZMDPY-UHFFFAOYSA-N (formyl2 and methyl cation3 equivalent; nucleoside hydroxyl protection group;4 1,1-dipole equivalent11) Physical Data: mp 150–150.5 °C (dec). Solubility: sol MeCN and DMF (slowly reacts); insol ether. Form Supplied in: light brown powder. Preparative Method: treatment of 2-(3-methylbutoxy)-1,3-benzodithiole2 with Tetrafluoroboric Acid in Acetic Anhydride at 0 °C. Purification: recrystallized from acetic acid or acetonitrile/ether. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: can be stored in the absence of moisture and light; no toxicity data is currently available; 1,3-benzodithiol-1-ium perchlorate [32283-21-9] is also known,2 but poses a risk of explosion.
Brain death without definitions.

Most of the world now accepts the idea, first proposed four decades ago, that death means "brain death." But the idea has always been open to criticism because it doesn't square with all of our intuitions about death. In fact, none of the possible definitions of death quite works. Death, perhaps surprisingly, eludes definition, and "brain death" can be accepted only as a refinement of what is in fact a fuzzy concept.
Inductance computation by incremental finite element analysis

The paper introduces the enhanced incremental energy method (EIEM) for the accurate and efficient computation of nonlinear differential inductance coefficients. The EIEM has the following advantages: (i) only one incremental analysis is required for any coefficient, self or mutual; (ii) first derivative evaluation; (iii) the current increment may be large; (iv) there is no need to evaluate the nonlinear magnetic energy, instead, an "incremental energy" is calculated according to a simple expression; (v) only load vectors should be computed, the stiffness matrix can be saved; (vi) if a direct solver is applied, additional matrix factorization is avoided. These advantages provide improved accuracy and computational efficiency. The paper outlines the new EIEM and illustrates it the example of a transformer.
Increased Proteasome Activity, Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes, and eEF1A Translation Factor Detected in Breast Cancer Tissue

The ubiquitin (Ub)/proteasome pathway facilitates the degradation of damaged proteins and regulators of growth and stress response. The activation of this pathway in various cancers and malignancies has been described, and several genetic determinants of breast cancer, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, are linked to protein degradation. To investigate the involvement of the Ub/proteasome system in breast cancer, we examined a collection of 25 patient-matched breast cancer and normal adjacent tissues and detected activation of numerous components of the Ub/proteasome pathway. The activity of the proteasome, and levels of proteasome subunits and various targeting factors, were increased in >90% of primary breast cancer tissue specimens. In contrast, no activation was observed in benign solid tumors, indicating that the response is specific to abnormal growth in neoplastic cells. Additionally, the accumulation of high levels of certain Ub-conjugating enzymes (UbcH1, UbcH2, and UbcH5), was specific to breast cancer, as no change in abundance was detected in primary colon cancer tissue extracts. Surprisingly, the Ub/proteasome system was not activated in a well-characterized cell culture-based breast cancer model system. Collectively, these findings suggest that the analysis of primary breast cancer tissue samples will be indispensable for the biochemical characterization of neoplastic growth and for the development of therapeutics.
Notes on the Text and Metre of Ezekiel the Tragedian's Exagôgê

In the recent critical edition of Eusebius' Prœparatio Evangelica lines 180–186 of Ezekiel the Tragedian's Exagōgē, as Eusebius (Pr. Ev. IX 20, 13 [443d] Mras I, 53325–5346) quotes them from Alexander Polyhistor, run;
Energy based methodology for damage and life prediction of solder joints under thermal cycling

Thermal fatigue of solder joints is critical to electronic package performance and life considerations. It is also difficult to predict because of complex time temperature dependence of solder behavior. Strain based solder fatigue descriptions, like Coffin-Manson, are not adequate as the fatigue life of the solder may also be function of stresses. When the relationship between stress and strain is not unique, which is the case here because of strain rate dependence, a Coffin-Manson type of strain based correlation will be valid only over a limited range. A nonlinear finite element method (FEM) based simulation methodology, has been developed, for predicting the life of solder joints when subjected to thermal cycling. This methodology uses a hysteresis energy based damage function approach for damage and fatigue life prediction of the solder joint. The nonlinear solder behavior response inclusive of elastic, time independent plastic and time dependent viscoplastic response is accounted for. The methodology has been used for correlating the fatigue life of flip chip package designs with silicon die, alumina substrate and 95Pb5%Sn peripheral bumps subjected to thermal cycling. Two different bump designs and six temperature cycles with different ramp and dwell times were used from the literature to correlate the life prediction methodology with experimentally determined mean cycles to failure. A multiple cycle response was simulated to determine the stable cycle response. The observed correlation between the hysteresis energy based damage function and experimentally determined fatigue life is extremely encouraging. >
Self-assembly of fully conjugated rod–rod diblock copolymers within nanofibers

We report the fabrication and self-assembly study of electrospun nanofibers of oligothiophene-block-oligophenylenevinylene, a fully conjugated rod–rod diblock copolymer (BCP). X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy of microtomed sections of nanofibers and solution-cast films revealed the formation of hierarchical self-assembly, consisting of BCP micro-phase separation at the length scale of 5 nm and molecular ordering within individual conjugated blocks at the length scale of 0.4–1.6 nm. Extensional flow during electrospinning transforms the curved BCP morphology (in films) into a lamellar morphology in nanofibers oriented along the axis. In addition, electrospinning induces a partial inter-digitation of side chains resulting in a unique thiophene phase with two distinct populations of π–π stacking structures at the molecular sub-nanometer level. To our knowledge, this is the first ever study to investigate the self-assembly of fully conjugated rod–rod block copolymers within nanofibers, a material system with the potential to revolutionize the field of wearable photovoltaics.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair—Traditional Anchor Techniques

Initial fixation strength and minimal gap formation are thought to be important concepts for optimization of rotator cuff tendon healing. Failure of rotator cuff healing after repair has been reported to be relatively high. This suggests that traditional repair techniques fail to restore a sufficient healing environment. Traditional arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs are performed using a single row of suture anchors along the greater tuberosity. Anatomically, there is theoretical benefit of double-row repairs because techniques that increase the surface area between the tendon and bone will potentially have higher rates of structural healing. There have been significant advances in arthroscopic techniques and instrumentation for the past decade. Suture anchor design, insertion technique, and configuration are important biomechanical factors and are the subjects of recent studies. Clinical studies have failed to show superior functional outcomes or healing rates when comparing single- with double-row techniques, and there are some concerns about vascularity of the tendon using some of these double-row techniques. This article reviews the biomechanical basis of rotator cuff tear and repair, and surgical technique of rotator cuff repair, outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and important considerations in rotator cuff repair, including tear pattern recognition, marginal convergence, and suture technique.
Mental health and social services : Results from the school health policies and programs study 2006

Background: Schools are in a unique position not only to identify mental health problems among children and adolescents but also to provide links to appropriate services. This article describes the characteristics of school mental health and social services in the United States, including state- and district-level policies and school practices. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) every 6 years. In 2006, computer-assisted telephone interviews or self-administered mail questionnaires were completed by state education agency personnel in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and among a nationally representative sample of school districts (n = 445). Computer-assisted personal interviews were conducted with personnel in a nationally representative sample of elementary, middle, and high schools (n = 873). Results: Although states and districts generally had not adopted policies stating that schools will have mental health and social services staff, 77.9% of schools had at least a part-time counselor who provided services to students. Fewer schools had school psychologists or social workers. Consequently, counseling services were more common in schools than were psychological or social services. Few schools delivered mental health and social services through school-based health centers. Arrangements with providers not located on school property were more common. Conclusions: SHPPS 2006 reveals that linkages with the community need to continue and grow to meet the mental health needs of students. Efforts must be made to build systematic state agendas for school-based mental health, emphasizing a shared responsibility among families, schools, and other community systems.
The Ticket to Work Program and Beneficiaries With Blindness or Low Vision Characteristics of Beneficiaries Who Assign Their Tickets and Preliminary Outcomes

Using Social Security Administration data, the author evaluated the characteristics of beneficiaries who were blind and visually impaired and who assigned their tickets, the characteristics of beneficiaries who assigned their tickets to employment networks (ENs), and preliminary employment outcomes. The characteristics that predicted assignment of a ticket were younger age, higher education level, no additional disability, receipt of social security disability insurance, and African American or White race/ethnicity. The only substantial predictor of assignment of a ticket to an EN was race/ethnicity, with all minority groups more likely to assign to ENs than were White beneficiaries. Differences in employment outcomes based on assignment to an EN versus a state vocational rehabilitation agency were found, with preliminary evidence favoring outcomes for beneficiaries served by ENs.
Qualitative user aiding for alarm management (QUALM): an integrated demonstration of emerging technologies for aiding process control operators

Managing abnormal situations in industrial processes has become increasingly challenging due to the increased sophistication of both the process as well as the automated control system. Operators can benefit significantly from tools that assist in abnormal situation management. Some critical technologies that can help operators include: user intent recognition, diagnosis and advanced graphical user interface. While each of these technologies independently have been proven to be valuable, enhanced benefits can be reaped by integrating all these into a single framework. In this work, we describe a framework for integrating these technologies to provide the operator with a single system. A real-time simulation of a unit in a chemical plant is used to test the value of the integrated framework. This effort has helped us identify functional requirements of the various modules and the mechanism in which they interact. >
Use of georeferenced data to study clustering in the primary wood products industry of the US South

Forest business clusters offer a unique opportunity to improve competitiveness of the forest products sector and stimulate economic development in rural areas. This study utilized georeferenced data on the location of primary wood products manufacturers in the US South to examine spatial clustering within this industry. Independent spatial analyses, F-hat and L-hat, and a χ2 statistic provided evidence of regional clustering. A count data model was used to determine location preference of primary wood-using mills and identify factors promoting industry clustering. It was determined that access to a labor pool, low cost of primary inputs, presence of related industries, adequate transportation infrastructure, and low land values positively influenced clustering among primary wood-using mills. A marginal analysis indicated that counties with adequate transportation infrastructure and presence of related industries were most likely to attract new primary forest products manufacturers. These two factors incre...
Discrete Fourier Series Approximation to Periodic Solutions of Autonomous Delay Differential Equations

This paper describes the algorithmic details involved in developing high-order Fourier series representations for periodic solutions to autonomous delay differential equations. Although the final approximate Fourier coefficients are computed by way of a nonlinear minimization algorithm, the steps to set up the objective function are shown to involve a sequence of matrix-vector operations. By proper coordination, these operations can be made very efficient so that high-order approximations can be obtained easily. An example of the calculations is shown for a Van der Pol equation with unit delay.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Zona pellucida filtration of structurally abnormal spermatozoa and reduced fertilization in teratospermic cats.

Zona pellucida (ZP) penetration, in vitro fertilization, embryo development, and the morphology of fertilizing sperm were examined through use of normospermic (> 60% structurally normal sperm/ejaculate) versus teratospermic ( 60% ). Swim-up processing increased (p 0.05). ZP penetration of salt-stored oocytes by normospermic ejaculates (73.7%) was superior (p 0.05) between cat populations regardless of the morphologic forms in the inseminate. Structurally abnormal sperm from teratospermic males were capable of ZP binding (29%) and initial penetration into the outer ZP (17%). However, only 3% of the inner ZP sperm were pleiomorphic, and every sperm within the perivitelline space was morphologically normal. Although swim-up processing increased sperm motility and the number of structurally normal sperm in the teratospermic inseminates, no difference (p > 0.05) was observed in cleavage or ZP penetration. These results indicate that the ZP is an efficient filter for structurally abnormal sperm, but even normal sperm from teratospermic cats appear impaired in fertilizing ability. Although teratospermia compromises ZP penetration and fertilization, the few embryos produced via teratospermic ejaculates develop normally in vitro.