cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of the resistive barrier discharge on bacterial viability, biochemical pathways, and morphology

Summary form only given, as follows. The Resistive Barrier Discharge (RBD) has been shown to be an effective bio-decontamination device by Laroussi, Dobbs and co-workers (2000). In previous presentations, we examined the killing efficacies as a function of various helium-oxygen mixtures. In these preliminary works, we found the optimal gas mixture for killing bacteria with the RBD to be 3% oxygen and 97% helium. Helium was selected as the carrier gas mainly for discharge stability. This "optimal gas mixture" was used for all experiments presented. First we present data from viability experiments employing standard cultural techniques with gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6051) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). For both strains of bacteria, cells in suspension and on a surface (cellulose nitrate membrane filters) were tested for their viability following various exposure times. Second, the biochemical impacts of RBD exposure on E. coli were addressed with sole carbon substrate utilization (SCSU) experiments, using Biolog GN2/sup TM/ 96-well microtiter plates. The purpose of the SCSU experiments was to determine if any enzyme activities were altered in E. coli subjected to sub-lethal doses of RBD. Finally, the effects of plasma on bacterial cell morphology were evaluated using evidence from electron microscopy.
Stress- and speech rate-induced vowel quality variation in Catalan and Spanish

Abstract This paper examines the effects of lexical stress and speech rate on vowel quality and duration in Central Catalan and Iberian Spanish and compares the patterns of phonetic variation caused by these two factors. For Catalan, with phonological vowel reduction, both absence of stress and fast speech rate result in vowel centralization and shorter durations, consistent with findings reported for other languages. For Spanish, the effects of speech rate are in line with those found for Catalan. Vowel quality is also sensitive to the absence of lexical stress in this language without phonological vowel reduction, however, not in a homogeneous and consistent way across speakers. The important individual variation observed suggests that the effect of stress on vowel quality is not conventionalized in Spanish. In addition, the durational difference between stressed and unstressed vowels is smaller in Spanish than in Catalan and less stable. This paper contributes data from two closely-related Western Romance languages (with important phonological differences) to a body of cross-linguistic research dealing with the influence of prosodic factors at the segmental level.
Urea kinetic analysis of automated peritoneal dialysis allows calculation of a CAPD-equivalent Kt/Vurea

Urea kinetic analysis of automated peritoneal dialysis allows calculation of a CAPD-equivalent Kt/V urea . Background Based on evidence of increased mortality with decreasing urea clearance, the Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (DOQI) recommended a weekly Kt/V urea of 2.0 or higher for patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). DOQI recommendations for automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) are based on efforts to determine the clearance providing urea mass removal equivalent to CAPD. We have adapted a variable volume direct quantitation urea kinetic model (UKM) in an effort to assess DOQI APD guidelines. Methods The daily urea mass removed with a weekly Kt/V urea of 2.0 was calculated using standardized CAPD patient profiles. Using this value and defining the pre-APD plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) as C 0 and equal to the CAPD steady-state PUN, the UKM reiteratively calculated the urea clearance from an APD treatment that provided a urea mass removal equivalent to CAPD. A total weekly Kt/V urea was calculated for various levels of continuous urea clearance (defined as K pr t/V urea ) and plotted against K pr t/V urea (weekly). The impact of dialytic time (t), drain volume of the daytime dwell (δ), and ultrafiltration volume (φ) were assessed, and all profiles were performed with C 0 equal to the corresponding blood urea nitrogen of 60, 70, and 80 mg/dL. Results The relationship between requisite weekly Kt/V urea and K pr t/V urea (weekly) was linear. Weekly Kt/V urea declined with increasing K pr t/V urea , t, δ, and φ. The effect of φ on the weekly Kt/V urea was independent of K pr t/V urea , and the magnitude of the effect of t and δ on the weekly Kt/V urea decreased with increasing continuous clearance. Weekly Kt/V urea values were independent of V and C 0 . The latter observation allowed extrapolation of CAPD clearance and urea generation relationships to APD: CAPD-equivalent weekly Kt/V urea = [700 × (U D + U r )]/(C 0 × V), where U D and U r are the daily urea mass (mg) in dialysate and urine, respectively. Conclusions The APD urea clearance, which provides urea mass removal equivalent to CAPD, varies as a function of a combination of patient and treatment variables. However, a CAPD-equivalent weekly Kt/V urea can be calculated by collecting appropriate dialysis and urine samples and estimating patient V. The results can be evaluated in the context of evidence-based CAPD guidelines, increasing the precision of adjustment and monitoring of the APD prescription.
False-positive exercise echocardiograms: impact of sex and blood pressure response.

Abstract Background Factors related to false-positive results of exercise echocardiography (ExE) to diagnose coronary disease have not been extensively studied. In addition, previous studies were performed before routine use of digital and tissue harmonic imaging. We evaluated the clinical and echocardiographic predictors of false-positive results during ExE. Methods Four hundred sixty-four patients who had both coronary angiography and ExE were enrolled retrospectively. Significant coronary disease was defined by stenoses ≥50% lumen diameter. Results Fifty-eight (13%) had false-positive results. Thirty-one (53%) of these patients were women, which was significantly higher than the percentage of women (25%) in the true-positive group ( P Conclusions The factors predictive of false-positive results during ExE to diagnose coronary disease were female sex, higher BP at peak exercise, lower risk by Duke score and lower number of abnormal segments and wall motion score index after peak exercise. Women appear to be susceptible to wall motion abnormalities caused by elevated exercise BP. These variables should be considered in the interpretation of ExE.
Improved video categorization from text metadata and user comments

We consider the task of assigning categories (e.g., howto/cooking, sports/basketball, pet/dogs) to YouTube videos from video and text signals. We show that two complementary views on the data -- from the video and text perspectives -- complement each other and refine predictions. The contributions of the paper are threefold: (1) we show that a text-based classifier trained on imperfect predictions of the weakly supervised video content-based classifier is not redundant; (2) we demonstrate that a simple model which combines the predictions made by the two classifiers outperforms each of them taken independently; (3) we analyse such sources of text information as video title, description, user tags and viewers' comments and show that each of them provides valuable clues to the topic of the video.
From budget allocation to collection development: A system for the small college library

Abstract Research has shown that faculty involvement in library collection development is directly proportional to the size of the library collection itself; specifically, as library collection size increases, faculty involvement in library collection development decreases. Conversely, the opportunity for faculty involvement in library collection development is enhanced in the small-college setting where collection development is a collaborative effort between the faculty, who serve as the counterparts of subject bibliographers in larger university settings, and librarians, who both oversee the collection development process and serve as bibliographers in general and interdisciplinary subject areas. The case study documents the collection development philosophy, selection and acquisitions policies, and accounting procedures used at the Iris Holt McEwen Library and LaRose Resources Center at Elon College in North Carolina. The interrelatedness of selection, acquisition, and accounting processes as well as the collaboration between librarians and faculty in collection development are emphasized. A time line for the collection development process is included.
Scattering cross-section emission factors for visibility and radiative transfer applications: military vehicles traveling on unpaved roads.

Emission factors for particulate matter (PM) are generally reported as mass emission factors (PM mass emitted per time or activity) as appropriate for air quality standards based on mass concentration. However, for visibility and radiative transfer applications, scattering, absorption, and extinction coefficients are the parameters of interest, with visibility standards based on extinction coefficients. These coefficients (dimension of inverse distance) equal cross-section concentrations, and, therefore, cross-section emission factors are appropriate. Scattering cross-section emission factors were determined for dust entrainment by nine vehicles, ranging from light passenger vehicles to heavy military vehicles, traveling on an unpaved road. Each vehicle made multiple passes at multiple speeds while scattering and absorption coefficients, wind velocity and dust plume profiles, and additional parameters were measured downwind of the road. Light absorption of the entrained PM was negligible, and the light extinction was primarily caused by scattering. The resulting scattering cross-section emission factors per vehicle kilometer traveled (vkt) range from 12.5 m2/vkt for a slow (16 km/ hr), light (1176 kg) vehicle to 3724 m2/vkt for a fast (64 km/hr), heavy (17,727 kg) vehicle and generally increase with vehicle speed and mass. The increase is approximately linear with speed, yielding emission factors per vkt and speed ranging from 4.2 m2/(vkt km/hr) to 53 m2/(vkt km/hr). These emission factors depend approximately linearly on vehicle mass within the groups of light (vehicle mass 8000 kg) vehicles yielding emission factors per vkt, speed, and mass of 0.0056 m2/(vkt km/hr kg) and 0.0024 m2/(vkt km/hr kg), respectively. Comparison of the scattering cross-section and PM mass emission factors yields average mass scattering efficiencies of 1.5 m2/g for the light vehicles and of 0.8 m2/g for the heavy vehicles indicating that the heavy vehicles entrain larger particles than the light vehicles.
Resolving fringe ambiguities of a wide-field Michelson interferometer using visibility measurements of a noncollimated laser beam

An actively stabilized interferometer with a constant optical path difference is a key element in long-term astronomical observation, and resolving interference fringe ambiguities is important to produce high-precision results for the long term. We report a simple and reliable method of resolving fringe ambiguities of a wide-field Michelson interferometer by measuring the interference visibility of a noncollimated single-frequency laser beam. Theoretical analysis shows that the interference visibility is sensitive to a subfringe phase shift, and a wide range of beam arrangements is suitable for real implementation. In an experimental demonstration, a Michelson interferometer has an optical path difference of 7 mm and a converging monitoring beam has a numerical aperture of 0.045 with an incidental angle of 17°. The resolution of visibility measurements corresponds to ~1/16 fringe in the interferometer phase shift. The fringe ambiguity-free region is extended over a range of ~100 fringes.
Preliteracy Speech Sound Production Skill and Later Literacy Outcomes: A Study Using the Templin Archive

Purpose This archival study examined the relationship between the speech sound production skill of kindergarten children and literacy outcomes in Grades 1–3 in a data set where most children’s voca...
Trajectory analysis on the origin of air mass and moisture associated with Atmospheric Rivers over the west coast of the United States

Abstract. The origins and pathways of air masses leading to heavy rainfall over the west coast of the United States are examined by computing the back-trajectories in a Lagrangian quasi-isentropic trajectory model. Extreme precipitation over the west coast of the United States often coincides with transport in a deep and narrow corridor of concentrated water vapor band from the ocean, commonly referred to as Atmospheric Rivers (ARs). They also occur in conjunction with moisture plumes emanating from the tropics, or along the mid-latitude storm track. However, the actual moisture sources and the dynamic and thermodynamic processes of the moisture transport, are still unclear. Trajectories are found to be insensitive to the reanalysis data set used; we examined NCEP, GMAO MERRA, and ECMWF ERA-Interim. Reconstructed water vapor mixing ratios along trajectories are in generally good agreement among the reanalysis datasets in most of the subtropics and extratropics, indicating that the large-scale circulation is a primary control for moisture transport over those regions. Clustering and pdf (probability density function) analyses illustrate that trajectories over the west coast of United States have different origins. One group of trajectories (cluster 1) originates in the warm part of extratropical cyclones in the low level. The other group of trajectories (cluster 2) originates in the cold and dry regions in the mid-level (pressures less than 600 hPa) over northeastern Asia, then cross the Pacific Ocean. This study demonstrates that the quasi-isentropic Lagrangian trajectory model and clustering analysis (that have been typically used to analyze trajectories in the upper troposphere and higher altitudes) can be used to examine sources of air masses and moisture, and also associated transport processes in the lower troposphere.
Petrogenetic implications of some new geochemical data on eclogitic and ultrabasic inclusions

Abstract Some eclogitic and ultrabasic inclusions, their separated minerals, host rocks, and related samples have been analyzed by mass-spectrometric isotope dilution for K, Rb, Sr, Ba and rare-earth elements (RE), and by other techniques for selected major elements. The results of these analyses, considered in terms of measured trace-element phenocryst-matrix partition-coefficients, suggest the following trace-element models. Many inclusions are contaminated with at least K, Rb and Ba. Some Kakanui eclogite phases were equilibrated with liquids similar in trace element concentrations to alkali basalt. Some Roberts Victor eclogite and garnet peridotite phases were in equilibrium with kimberlite. Salt Lake Crater eclogite might represent a low-calcium-pyroxene cumulate from alkali basalt. Some peridotites appear to have equilibrated with tholeiitic basalt; but some of these may have been subsequently metamorphosed. Alkali basalt peridotite nodules are not cumulates or residues directly related to their hosts; they might be contaminated metamorphic rocks. Ancillary conclusions are that kimberlite, carbonatite and nepheline-melilite basalt appear to constitute a quantized trace-element group. Rare-earth concentrations are perhaps the best criteria for distinguishing carbonatites from sedimentary carbonates. Roberts Victor omphacite can have high K Rb and Ba Ce . Clinopyroxene/garnet rare-earth ratios tend to be uniform, as, to a lesser extent, do diopside/orthopyroxene rare-earth ratios for coexisting minerals. Mantle rocks appear to have very low Eu 2+ Eu 3+ ratios; this might indicate oxidizing conditions. Alkali basalts approach uniformity in trace-element concentrations. Various degrees of partial fusion of garnet peridotite could account for the whole spectrum of rare-earth concentrations observed for basalts.
Three-dimensional recognition requirements for angiotensin agonists: a novel solution for an old problem.

Abstract A novel approach involving the search for a common spatial arrangement of functionally important (pharmacophoric) groups in low-energy conformers of AT and its active analogs has been employed to determine the receptor-bound ("biologically active") conformation(s) for angiotensin II (Asp 1 -Arg 2 -Va1 3 -Tyr 4 -Val/Ile 5 -His 6 -Pro 7 -Phe 8 , AT). The four pharmacophoric groups for AT are the aromatic moieties of Tyr 4 , His 6 and Phe 8 residues, as well as the C-terminal carboxyl. Geometrical comparison of the sets of low-energy backbone conformers for AT itself, and two analogs, [(αMe)Phe 4 ]-AT and [Pro 5 ]-AT, yielded the model for the receptor-bound conformation(s), which is compatible with cyclic AT analogs possessing substantial binding to specific AT receptors. A new analog, [D-Tyr 4 , Pro 5 ]-AT, was designed based on the proposed receptor-bound conformation. The analog showed a good affinity (IC 50 = 42.8 nM) towards specific AT receptors.
Responses of neurons in caudal solitary nucleus of female rats to stimulation of vagina, cervix, uterine horn and colon.

Neurons in the caudal part of the solitary nucleus (NTS) are known for their processing of information derived from many viscera, including cardiovascular, respiratory and alimentary tract organs. This study characterized responses of NTS neurons in female rats in estrus to mechanical stimulation of four pelvic visceral organs (i.e. the vaginal canal, cervix, uterine horn and colon) as well to gentle mechanical skin stimulation. Of the 90 neurons tested, 31% responded with excitation or inhibition to one (22%) or more (9%) visceral stimuli. Responses included 13% to vaginal distension, 12% to cervix stimulation, 10% to uterine distension and 4% to colon distension. None responded to gentle cutaneous stimuli. These results expand the domain of visceral functions of NTS neurons to include pelvic female reproductive organs. The failure of NTS neurons to respond to gentle cutaneous stimuli contrasts with convergent responses of neurons in the gracile nucleus to skin and pelvic visceral stimuli [13] indicating the two nuclei are involved in different aspects of visceral function.
Particle deposition in the wake of charged spheres

Abstract Earlier work in this laboratory, wherein aerosols were collected from gas streams moving around charged water droplets, indicated the likelihood of high rates of deposition on the aft side of the droplet where flow conditions are not adequately represented by potential flow theory. Further tests were made with metal spheres and the aerosol deposition pattern observed with scanning electron microscopy. Results from these test confirm that the developed wake has a definite influence on the collection pattern as well as the overall collection efficiency. Generally, minima were observed aft of the separation point at an angle at which the vortices flow tangentially to the sphere. Maxima appeared forward of the separation and advanced toward the forward stagnation point as the Reynolds number increased and overall collection efficiency declined. At higher levels of field intensity the deposition profile appeared flat as one scanned around the sphere, with a peak at the rear stagnation point. Very little information is available concerning deposition in the wake of moving droplets. This seems particularly important for scrubbers and spray towers where particles are collected by droplets moving at high Reynolds numbers where wakes and eddies are quite common.
Effect of different mathematical methods on etoposide area under the curve estimations and pharmacodynamic response predictions

Different methods to calculate interval area under the curve (AUC) data may produce substantial error. The purpose of this study was to compare methods of calculating etoposide AUC and determine the effect of these values on white blood cell (WBC) count nadir predictions calculated from a previously reported equation. Three AUC calculation methods were used: (1) the linear trapezoidal method, (2) a combination of the linear and logarithmic trapezoidal methods, and (3) the Lagrange method. Since none of the methods for determining the AUC could be considered the standard, the methods were evaluated by comparing differences between pairs of calculated AUC values by each method. The 95% CI for differences between all pairs of AUC values were greater than zero (no difference) indicating significance. Consistent with the smoother fitting function between data points, the Lagrange method tended to produce a larger AUC, lower clearance values, and lower WBC nadir count predictions than the other methods. The largest difference encountered was between the Lagrange and the linear-log AUC methods with a mean value of 16.9 μg h/ml (95% CI 9.4–24.3) This difference would account for approximately 11% of the total AUC. Using a previously published equation, where WBC nadir=−0.057+0.048×etoposide clearance, with clearance determined as dose/AUC, mean differences in calculated WBC nadir count values between the three AUC methods ranged from 80 to 220 cells/μl, which would be expected to be of little clinical consequence. The precision of this equation, using data derived from linear trapezoidal AUC calculations, had a mean absolute error of 0.93×103/μl (95% CI 0.53–1.32). Our findings suggest that any of the three mathematical methods studied would produce similar etoposide AUC values and pharmacodynamic predictions. Further, these findings also suggest that the major limitation in predicting etoposide leukopenia lies with the imprecision of the pharmacodynamic model more so than the ability to accurately determine the AUC. However, our findings may not be applicable if other factors intervene which dramatically alter the shape of the etoposide concentration-time curve.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES TO INFERTILITY IN UTERI CONTAINING FOREIGN BODIES

A chronic infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was invariably found in the infertile regions of uteri containing foreign bodies in conventional rats, germfree rats, mice, and rabbits. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were never found in the fertile regions of these uteri. A foreign body in the uterus of the rat, and probably also the mouse, was associated with a bacterial infection which spread the inflammatory response throughout the horn containing the foreign body, and in the mouse occasionally into the control horn as well. No bacteria could be cultured from the rabbit uterine horn containing a foreign body. In the germfree rat, both the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the uterus and fertility were significantly different from that observed in the conventional rat. Whereas in the conventional rat the inflammation and infertility extended along the entire length of the uterine horn containing a small foreign body, in the germfree rat the inflammation and infertility were closely correlated to the position of the foreign body. As judged by measurements of lysozyme in the uterine lumens of rats and rabbits, polymorphonuclear leukocytes released their contents into solution in the uterine lumen. It is concluded that some substance derived from polymorphonuclear leukocytes may exert toxic effects on fertilized ova or on spermatozoa and thus be responsible for the infertility of uteri containing foreign bodies.
Kinship and Mode of Production

KINSHIP AND MARRIAGE, in one form or another, are considered to be universals of human society. The comparison and analysis of similarities in their content and structure have occupied anthropologists from Morgan to the present. The aim of this article is to isolate the basic elements of kinship and marriage by presenting an analysis that allows for the ubiquity of these institutions without grounding them in an eternally set, unchanging human nature. Sociability is a panhuman, panprimate, and panmammalian tendency, but the molding of this sociability into forms of kinship and marriage is nonintrinsic and external, potentially as discardable as-the chrysalis of tomorrow's butterfly. It is assumed here that kinship influences but does not determine or create a sexual
Modern varieties, productivity, and sustainability : recent experience and emerging challenges

Abstract The contribution of modern varieties of cereal crops to increased productivity in the postGreen Revolution period is reviewed and the future role of hybrids and biotechnology discussed. Particular emphasis is given to the ways in which modern varieties may contribute to input efficiency and sustainability. Finally, economic and institutional issues in restructuring plant-breeding programs for the most efficient use of resources, in both the public and private sectors and at the national and international levels, are analyzed.
A technic for measurement of radioactive iodine (I-131) uptake by the human thyroid gland.

SummaryIt has been found that with the bismuth cathode tube, a 50 uC dose can be used efficiently, and that a tube-to-patient distance of 17 cm will cover a sufficiently large area to make variations in gland size unimportant to the accuracy of the test.
Is phosphoproteomics ready for clinical research

Abstract Background For many diseases such as cancer where phosphorylation-dependent signaling is the foundation of disease onset and progression, single-gene testing and genomic profiling alone are not sufficient in providing most critical information. The reason for this is that in these activated pathways the signaling changes and drug resistance are often not directly correlated with changes in protein expression levels. In order to obtain the essential information needed to evaluate pathway activation or the effects of certain drugs and therapies on the molecular level, the analysis of changes in protein phosphorylation is critical. Methods Existing approaches do not differentiate clinical disease subtypes on the protein and signaling pathway level, and therefore hamper the predictive management of the disease and the selection of therapeutic targets. Conclusions The mini-review examines the impact of emerging systems biology tools and the possibility of applying phosphoproteomics to clinical research.
Soot–additive interactions in engine oils

Soot is known to cause engine wear. In this work, we focus on how engine oil formulation affects soot-related wear, and how the lubricant-derived anti-wear film changes when soot is present. Friction and wear experiments of fully and partially formulated diesel engine oils (containing basestock, dispersants and viscosity modifiers) are conducted with a ball-on-disk rig in the presence of carbon black (CB) as a soot surrogate. The friction coefficient was largely unaffected by CB dispersed in the oils, but electrically insulating film formation, an indication of the formation of anti-wear films, was decreased. Wear on the disk was found to either remain the same or decrease when CB was present, depending on the oil formulation. An examination of the lubricant-derived films using Raman and Auger electron spectroscopies found that the presence of more abundant amorphous carbon and lesser amounts of anti-wear film components on the surface was associated with higher wear. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intervention in hypercholesterolemic college students: a pilot study.

Abstract Purpose: Since atherosclerosis begins in childhood and cholesterol levels can track from adolescence to adulthood, early intervention to lower elevated levels may be important. Our objective was to test the effectiveness of a health education intervention in hypercholesterolemic college students. Methods: Thirty-nine university students with plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels ⩾ 75th percentile (2.84 mmol/L, 110 mg/dL) were randomized into two study groups. The control group ( n = 19) attended a lecture and viewed a brief video on diet and cholesterol. The intervention group ( n = 20) participated in 7 weekly sessions on nutrition and behavior modification. At baseline and 8 weeks later, all subjects completed standardized tests assessing knowledge and attitudes regarding cholesterol, saturated fat fiber, and heart-healthy lifestyles. Lipid profiles were analyzed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 8 months after study initiation. Results: The groups did not differ at baseline in terms of knowledge, attitudes or lipid profiles. At the 8-week post-test, the intervention group's knowledge was superior to that of the control group ( p = p = 0.40). At the 8-month follow-up, LDL-C levels increased from baseline in both groups, but the control group levels rose significantly more than the intervention group (0.34 mmol/L vs. 0.05 mmol/L, p = 0.045). Students whose baseline LDL-C was ⩾ 95% (3.36 mmol/L, 130 mg/dL) benefitted more from the intervention than those with levels ⩾ 75% but Conclusions: We conclude that a 7-week intervention results in significant improvement in nutritional knowledge and protects hyperlipidemic college students with levels ⩾ 95% from significant increases in LDL-C.
Experimental investigation of trapped oil clusters in a water‐wet bead pack using X‐ray microtomography

[1] Uncertainties in the quantification of transport properties associated with multiphase flow in porous systems often make the prediction of fluid residence and migration a difficult task. Movement and trapping of immiscible fluids in permeable formations depends upon a complex combination of fluid properties, rock properties, fluid-solid interactions, and forcing conditions. This work consists of using X-rays and visualization techniques to map the distribution of immiscible fluids, particularly trapped oil clusters, residing in a glass bead pack subject to different flow conditions. We analyze the effect of flowing conditions on the evolution of fluid microstructures using X-ray microtomography. Spherical glass beads (0.425–0.600 mm in diameter), a water-wet porous medium, were packed inside a specially designed core holder. High-resolution imaging provides detailed mapping of pore structures resulting from bead packing, and characterization of fluid microstructures formed during sequential water and oil injections. We present spatial distribution of trapped oil clusters for the entire bead pack, as well as mechanistic explanations leading to the fluid configurations observed. We also present simple statistical analyses of blob size, shape, and surface area at the end of different fluid injection cycles. Trapped oil clusters appear in sizes that range from 5.923 × 10−5 mm3 to 3.119 × 103 mm3, where 0.01–0.50 mm3 clusters are most common. About 98% of the total trapped oil at the end of drainage and imbibition cycles corresponds to blobs that are smaller than 1 mm3. It is also shown that most blobs are larger than the mean pore size (0.03 mm3). The mean oil blob size is about 5 times larger than the average pore. A typical blob extends through various interconnected pores, exhibiting elongated of ramified shapes that include multiple voids and constrictions at the same time. The mean aspect ratio of these clusters is less than 2, and the surface area to volume ratio is constant for those larger than 0.1 mm3. Experimental methods and findings presented in this paper are expected to lead to powerful calibration mechanisms for multiphase flow models.
Standing wave patterns in shallow beds of vibrated granular material

Abstract Conventional and high-speed video imaging was used to observe surface waves in vertically oscillated, thin layers of dry, noncohesive granular material. The onset of wave formation is pressure dependent and sensitive to the preparation of the particle surface. The dispersion relation of these waves is different at high and low frequencies, and the transition can be explained within the context of a hydrodynamical model by the introduction of a frequency dependent viscous cut-off that dominates at high frequency. High-speed imaging also reveals a qualitative change in individual particle movement at high and low frequencies, and the compressibility of the granular layer.
Markov branching processes and semigroups of operators

Abstract In this paper we study the semigroups of operators associated with Markov branching processes. Our approach is based on the semigroup of operators associated with the generating function of the probabilities of a given branching process. Let F(s, t) = ∑ x = 0 ∞ P x (t)s x , ¦ s ¦ ⩽ 1 , denote the generating function of the probabilities { P x ( t )}. We consider F ( s , t ), for every fixed t, to be an element of the Hilbert space H 2 of functions analytic in the unit circle, and define an endomorphism T ( t ) on H 2 as follows: For F ( s , t ) ϵ H 2 , T ( t )[ F ( s , u )] = F ( F ( s , t ), u ) = F ( s , t + u ). If F ( s , 0) = s , then the above becomes F ( s , t ) = T ( t )[ s ], It is shown that the family of endomorphisms { T ( t ), t ⩾ 0} is a semigroup of endomorphisms in H 2 and various properties of the semigroup and its infinitesimal generator are established.
SU‐E‐T‐379: Development of a Monte Carlo Based Correction Strategy for a TG‐43 Based Brachytherapy Treatment Planning System to Account for Applicator Inhomogeneities

Purpose: To investigate the use of pre‐calculated Monte Carlo(MC) ovoid‐ and source‐based attenuation‐correction factors that would correct a commercially‐available brachytherapytreatment planning system (TPS) generated plan in order to account for any dosimetric effects due to the presence of intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) applicators during treatment delivery. Methods: The American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 43 (TG‐43) report was utilized to calculate absolute dose around an Ir‐192 source. MC was utilized to simulate dose distributions resulting from an Ir‐192 source at eight dwell‐positions within Nucletron's ICBT CT‐MR Fletcher applicator (with and without a shield surrogate). With these distributions, a library of ovoid‐ and source‐based 3D attenuation‐correction factor datasets characterizing the dosimetric effects of the ICBT applicator was developed. These factors were then applied to correct a brachytherapy TPS‐calculated plan. Plans with different maximum dwell‐time gradients were compared to evaluate the effectiveness of both correction methods with respect to criteria of acceptability being within +/− 2% absolute dose or +/− 2 mm distance‐to‐agreement (DTA). Results: Plans generated by a brachytherapy TPS with a maximum dwell‐time gradient less than 10% can be corrected utilizing either correction method to agree with full simulated Monte Carlo datasets to within criteria. A dwell‐time gradient of 10% is a threshold for the ovoid‐ based correction scheme. The source‐based correction method consistently results in 100% agreement between a corrected plan and the equivalent MC generated plan. Conclusions: No correction scheme is necessary for the ICBT CT‐MR Fletcher compatible ovoid applicator. For a shielded applicator, source‐ based correction factors can be applied to correct a TG‐43 based treatment plan with any set of dwell‐time combinations to match a full MC simulation.
Hell and Vagueness

A certain conception of Hell is inconsistent with God’s traditional attributes, or so I will argue. My argument is novel in focusing on considerations involving vagueness. The target doctrine of Hell is part of a “binary” conception of the afterlife, by which I mean one with the properties of dichotomy, badness, non-universality, and divine control. Dichotomy: there are exactly two states in the afterlife, Heaven and Hell. After death each person will come to be, determinately, in exactly one of these states. (The doctrine of Purgatory does not violate dichotomy provided everyone in Purgatory eventually ends up in Heaven.) My argument does not apply to a continuous conception of the afterlife, which to my mind is more defensible than the usual binary doctrine. Badness: Hell is very, very bad. Or at least, Hell is much worse than Heaven; for most of the argument this weaker premise will suf ce. More carefully, the premise is that everyone in Heaven is much, much better off than everyone in Hell. Non-universality: some people go to Heaven, and some people go to Hell. I have no objection to Universalists, according to whom everyone goes to Heaven. Nor does my argument apply to those who uphold universal damnation. Divine control: God is in control of the institution of divine judgment, in control of the mechanism or criterion that determines who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. This is not to say that God is solely responsible for the fate of created beings, for the divinely mandated criterion might contain a role for free choices. Nor is it to say that God is vindictive. The requirement makes no assumptions about the nature of the criterion, beyond that it is in God’s control. The argument proceeds as follows. Given dichotomy, the only possibilities in the afterlife are determinate membership in either Heaven or Hell; given badness, the second is far worse the rst; and given non-universality, each is populated. Divine control requires that God be in control of the criterion determining these populations, and thus that God’s choice of a criterion be consistent with his attributes. The criterion of judgment must therefore cohere with his perfect justice. This much is straightforward; the rest of the paper will be devoted to lling in the rest. Here is a sketch: any just criterion must
The Paradoxical Influence of Policy Exposure on Affirmative Action Attitudes

This commentary discusses recent research on the attitudes of employees who are affected by affirmative action to determine if societal-level beliefs about discrimination lead to policy endorsement among individuals whose career outcomes are at stake. It is suggested that policy exposure in the workplace leads to greater endorsement rather than a “backlash” against affirmative action. The mechanisms producing this effect are discussed.
Solid state proton spin lattice relaxation in four structurally related organic molecules

Abstract We report and interpret the temperature dependence of the proton spin–lattice relaxation rate at 8.50 and 22.5 MHz in four polycrystalline solids composed of structurally related molecules: 2-ethylanthracene, 2- t -butylanthracene, 2-ethylanthraquinone, and 2- t -butylanthraquinone. We have been unable to grow single crystals and therefore do not know the crystal structures. Hence, we use the NMR relaxometry data to make predictions about the solid state structures. As expected, we are able to conclude that the ethyl groups do not reorient in the solid state but that the t -butyl groups do. The anthraquinones have a “simpler” structure than the anthracenes. The best dynamical models suggest that there is a unique crystallographic site for the t -butyl groups in 2- t -butylanthraquinone and two sites, each with half the molecules, for the ethyl groups in 2-ethylanthraquinone. There are also two sites in 2-ethylanthracene, but with unequal weights, suggesting four sites in the unit cell with lower symmetry than the two anthraquinones. Finally, the observed relaxation rate data in 2- t -butylanthracene is very complex and its interpretation demonstrates the uniqueness problem that arises in interpreting relaxometry data without the knowledge of the crystal structure.
A photobleaching-based PDT dose metric predicts PDT efficacy over certain BPDconcentration ranges in a three-dimensional model of ovarian cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) dosimetry is an active area of study that is motivated by the need to reliably predict treatment outcomes. Implicit dosimetric parameters, such as photosensitizer (PS) photobleaching, may indicate PDT efficacy and could establish a framework to provide patient-customized PDT. Here, tumor destruction and benzoporphryin-derivative (BPD) photobleaching are characterized by systematically varying BPD-light combinations to achieve fixed PDT doses (M * J * cm-2) in a three-dimensional (3D) model of micrometastatic ovarian cancer (OvCa). It is observed that the BPD-light parameters used to construct a given PDT dose significantly impact nodule viability and BPD photobleaching. As a result, PDT dose, when measured by the product of BPD concentration and fluence, does not reliably predict overall efficacy. A PDT dose metric that incorporates a term for BPD photobleaching more robustly predicts PDT efficacy at low concentrations of BPD. These results suggest that PDT dose metrics that are informed by implicit approaches to dosimetry could improve the reliability of PDT-based regimens and provide opportunities for patient-specific treatment planning.
TGF-β3 stimulates and regulates collagen synthesis through TGF-β1- dependent and independent mechanisms

In contrast to the TGF-beta1 and beta2 isoforms, TGF-beta3 has shown the ability to downregulate scarring and fibrosis in vivo under certain experimental conditions. In this study, we determined the direct effects of TGF-beta3 on cultures of human dermal fibroblasts. TGF-beta3 (0.1 to 100 pg per ml) increased DNA synthesis up to 50% (p < 0.01, r = 0.970), collagen protein synthesis up to 200% (dose range of 0.1 to 5 ng per ml, p < 0.001, r = 0.990), and increased alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA levels (r = 0.999), with maximal effects (200% of control) observed by 24 h. Collagen lattice contraction was increased by more than 50% in response to TGF-beta3 (p < 0.001), and to a similar extent as the TGF-beta1 isoform. Stimulation of collagen synthesis and of alpha1(I) procollagen mRNA levels in response to TGF-beta3 was partially blocked by a TGF-beta1-specific anti-sense oligonucleotide but was still detectable (35% greater than baseline) when TGF-beta3 was added to dermal fibroblasts from TGF-beta1 knock-out mice. In contrast with these stimulatory effects, however, downregulation of alpha1(I) procollagen, alpha1(III) procollagen, and TGF-beta1 mRNA levels toward baseline occurred when TGF-beta3 (0.1 to 5 ng per ml) was added simultaneously and in combination with TGF-beta1. We conclude that stimulation of collagen synthesis by TGF-beta3 occurs through TGF-beta1-dependent and independent pathways. By downregulating the response to TGF-beta1 and by shifting from one pathway to the other, TGF-beta3 can dampen and provide fine-tuning to the overall TGF-beta's induced program of collagen deposition.
Effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on the gastric mucosal barrier in rats.

The gastric mucosal barrier to hydrogen ion (H+) after the administration ofN-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) on the rat stomach was studied. Increased H+ backdiffusion was observed 3 hr after oral doses of 1 mg of MNNG over a 3-day period. MNNG in concentrations of 250 μg/ml, 167 μg/ml, 86 μg/ml, and 50 μg/ml in the presence of acid caused increased H+ back-diffusion across the gastric mucosa within 1 hr. Gastric mucosal barrier disruption by MNNG may play a pathogenic role in gastric carcinogenesis.
Searching the Audio Notebook: Keyword Search in Recorded Conversation

MIT's Audio Notebook added great value to the note-taking process by retaining audio recordings, e.g. during lectures or interviews. The key was to provide users ways to quickly and easily access portions of interest in a recording. Several non-speech-recognition based techniques were employed. In this paper we present a system to search directly the audio recordings by key phrases. We have identified the user requirements as accurate ranking of phrase matches, domain independence, and reasonable response time. We address these requirements by a hybrid word/phoneme search in lattices, and a supporting indexing scheme. We will introduce the ranking criterion, a unified hybrid posterior-lattice representation, and the indexing algorithm for hybrid lattices. We present results for five different recording sets, including meetings, telephone conversations, and interviews. Our results show an average search accuracy of 84%, which is dramatically better than a direct search in speech recognition transcripts (less than 40% search accuracy).
Verb position in future clauses in Biblical Hebrew

In clauses with future meaning in Biblical Hebrew, a basically VSO language, there are consistent functional differences between clauses with verb-initial word order and clauses with non-verb-initial word order. Quantitative study shows that verb-initial clauses are associated with future events that come about through cooperation between (some combination of) the speaker, the listener, and God, whereas non-verb-initial clauses are associated with future events that are the result of unilateral action. This is related to the finding of Givon (1977) that, in clauses with past time reference in Biblical Hebrew, verb-initial order is associated with the unmarked function of temporal sequencing and continuity of the narrative, whereas non-verb-initial order is associated with a break in sequencing and discontinuity. If we take verb-initial order as generally associated with unmarked discourse functions, these data suggest that cooperation represents the unmarked expectation in dialogues about the future in the same way that sequencing represents the unmarked expectation in narratives about the past.
Transceiver Design for High-Density Links With Discontinuities Using Modal Signaling

In high-speed chip-to-chip single-ended signaling links, far-end crosstalk presents one of the dominant noise sources, limiting the performance of the link. Diagonalizing the channel using modal decomposition has been proposed to mitigate the crosstalk, but so far only the transceiver designed for uniform low-loss homogenous media channels has been investigated. Furthermore, a practical circuit implementation of such a transceiver system will unavoidably deviate from the ideal (crosstalk-free) eigenvalue decomposition. In this paper, the impact of modal encoder/decoder coefficient quantization, random common noise, and uncorrelated noise on signal integrity is analyzed in terms of system-level performance metrics, signal-to-noise ratio at the receiver slicer, and bit error rate. Also discussed is the optimal selection of decoder coefficients with respect to the input-referred noise at the receiver. Based on these guidelines, a circuit design of a modal transceiver system over a typical memory bus with discontinuities is presented in detail. The proposed approach is verified using circuit-based link simulation, and the performance compared to several other proposed crosstalk-cancellation techniques.
(Un)informed consent in exercise and sport science research? A comparison of forms written for two reading levels.

(2000). (Un)Informed Consent in Exercise and Sport Science Research? A Comparison of Forms Written for Two Reading Levels. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 71, No. 3, pp. 295-301.
Do FOMC forecasts add value to staff forecasts

Abstract This paper compares the economic forecasts of members of the Board of Governors and presidents of the Federal Reserve Banks, and then investigates the value of each group's forecasts in supplementing the forecasts of the Board of Governors' staff. We find that the presidents tend to forecast higher inflation and real GDP growth, and lower unemployment than the members of the Board of Governors. We also find that the presidents' real GDP and unemployment rate forecasts add value to the real economy forecasts of the staff, while the governors' inflation forecasts add value to the staff's inflation forecasts.