cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of cylindrical near-field measurement technique to the calibration of spaceborne radar antennas: NASA scatterometer and SeaWinds

Modern spaceborne radar scatterometers, such as the NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) and SeaWinds radar instruments, require precise determination of the normalized backscattered radar cross section within a few tenth of a decibel. This is needed to achieve the desired wind velocity and direction measurement accuracy of 2 m/s and 20/spl deg/, respectively. This high level of precision demands a priori prelaunch accurate knowledge and determination of the radar antenna's absolute gain and relative radiation patterns characteristics over wide angular range. Such characterizations may be performed on a far-field range, compact range, or in an indoor near-field measurement facility. Among the unique advantage of the near-field measurement is that most of the information of the radar antenna radiation properties can be obtained anywhere outside the near-field measurement surface. Two recently designed radar scatterometers are considered in this paper, NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) and SeaWinds, to demonstrate the utility of a newly completed cylindrical near-field measurement range. As an example of an advanced calibration methodology, the data based on a recently measured JPL/NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) radar antenna are used to experimentally demonstrate the role of the probe pattern compensation, probe multiple reflection effects, probe mispositioning effects, scan area truncation effects, etc. A measurement test on a standard gain horn (SGH) has been performed to achieve and verify the absolute gain calibration accuracy. A comparison between direct far-field measured data and those obtained from cylindrical near-field measurements for the SeaWinds radar antenna was found in excellent agreement. It is demonstrated that the near-field measurement technique is a viable approach in accurately characterizing the performance of spaceborne radar antennas.
Application of a tetrazolium salt with a water-soluble formazan as an indicator of viability in respiring bacteria.

The tetrazolium salt sodium 3′-{1-[(phenylamino)-carbonyl]-3,4-tetrazolium}-bis (4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) was examined for use as a colorimetric indicator of viability in respiring bacteria. XTT was reduced to an orange, water-soluble formazan product by Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis. Formazan production was proportional to live cell biomass, and XTT was reduced by all cultures in the absence of added electron-coupling agents. XTT reduction by M. trichosporium OB3b was linear over several hours and was stimulated by the presence of an exogenous substrate (methanol). Addition of cyanide to cultures incubated under oxic conditions gave an initial 10-fold increase in XTT reduction. Viability of bacteria incubated in the absence of exogenous carbon substrates was measured as XTT reduction and compared with viability estimates from plate counts. Results obtained with the two methods were generally comparable, but the XTT assay was superior when cell recovery on plates was low. Incubation of E. coli for 7 days in the absence of exogenous carbon substrates decreased viability by 90%, whereas the corresponding decreases for cultures of M. trichosporium OB3b, P. putida, and B. subtilis were less than 40%.
Rethinking the indications for the ventriculoperitoneal shunt tap.

Object Tapping of a suspected malfunctioning ventriculoperitoneal shunt is usually easy, sometimes informative, but also potentially misleading. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a shunt evaluation protocol that does not involve direct shunt tapping except in rare and specific cases. Methods The authors adopted a protocol for shunt evaluation that involves shunt tapping only in selected cases of suspected infection or in patients with noncommunicating hydrocephalus and equivocal computed tomography (CT) findings of shunt infection. They then reviewed the clinical characteristics and surgical findings in 373 consecutive assessments of 155 pediatric patients who were evaluated for shunt malfunction and/or infection by using this protocol between January 2003 and December 2005. Results Mental status change and headache were the symptoms most concordant with shunt malfunction, but no symptom had a predictive value much better than 50%. Follow-up CT scans demonstrated enlarged ven...
Boundlessness, Consolidation, and Discontinuity between Generations: Catholic Seminary Studies in Antebellum America

Many years ago John Higham identified a transition in American culture “from boundlessness to consolidation,” the beginnings of which could be traced to the 1850s. Among indications of a scaling back in the prevailing sense of unlimited openness were an incipient shift from romanticism to realism in the arts, and a movement toward tighter organization and centralization, often associated with the Civil War, which was already discernible in the prewar decade. In describing this shift, Higham said little about religion, observing only that the growth of professionalism reduced competition among Protestant denominations and “produced a more highly trained ministry, greater concern with the liturgical side of religion, and a decline of the crusading fervor of an earlier day.” Although he made no mention of American Catholicism, the concept of “boundlessness” seems sufficiently capacious to apply to the pioneering decades of Catholic development, and by midcentury a process of consolidation was definitely under way in that dimension of the national culture. My aim in this essay is to look more closely at boundlessness in one area of Catholic life and to call attention to a generational shift in outlook that accompanied the process of consolidation.
High-pressure elasticity of sodium majorite garnet, Na2MgSi5O12

Garnet is the second most abundant mineral phase in the upper mantle and transition zone settings. The crystal structure of garnet is quite flexible and hence it is able to accommodate various cations, including large incompatible cation such as sodium. We used first-principles simulation based on density functional theory and two widely used approximations—local density approximation (LDA) and generalized gradient approximation (GGA)—to explore the crystal structure, equation of state, and elasticity of sodium bearing majorite garnet with Na 2 MgSi 5 O 12 stoichiometry at pressures relevant to the upper mantle and transition zone. We find that the pressure-volume results based on LDA can be explained by a Birch Murnaghan finite strain equation of state with V 0 = 1447.6 (± 0.1) A 3 , K 0 = 177.4 (± 0.4) GPa, and K ′ 0 = 3.93 (± 0.02). The results based on GGA can be explained by a Birch Murnaghan finite strain equation of state with V 0 = 1525.8 (± 0.2) A 3 , K 0 = 160.2 (± 0.4) GPa, and K ′ 0 = 3.96 (± 0.02). The full elastic moduli tensor for Na-majorite with tetragonal symmetry exhibits slight deviation from the cubic symmetry with C 11 C 33 , C 12 ~ C 13 , and C 44 ~ C 66 . The magnitude of the tetragonal strain also captures the slight deviation from the cubic symmetry. At pressures corresponding to the upper mantle and mantle transition zone, the compressional wave velocity, v P , and shear wave velocity, v S , for the Na-majorite garnet are fast compared to a wide variety of garnets such as pyrope, grossular, almandine, and majorite garnet. Although single-crystal anisotropy of Na-majorite is greater than pyrope, it is still low compared to the major mantle phases.
Supporting document and data views of source code

The paper describes the use of an XML format to store and represent program source code. A new XML application, srcML (SouRCe Markup Language), is presented. srcML presumes a document view of source code where information about the syntactic structure is layered over the original source code document. The resultant multi-layered document has a base layer of all the original text (and formatting). The second layer is the syntactic information, derived from the grammar of the programming language, and is encoded in XML. This multi-layered view supports both the creation and viewing of the source code in its original form and the use of XML technologies (for tasks such as analysis and transformation of the source). Although directed at source code documents, (particularly C++) srcML is also applicable to other programming languages and to languages with a strict syntax. srcML represents a departure from the compiler centric manner in which source code is commonly stored, instead a document point of view is taken thus better supporting the manipulation and management of the large numbers of source documents typical in modern software systems.
The Biological Activities and Detection of Naturally Occuring 12,13-Epoxy-δ'-Trichothecenes

(1972). The Biological Activities and Detection of Naturally Occuring 12,13-Epoxy-δ'-Trichothecenes. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 495-515.
Preemptive spatial competition under a reproduction-mortality constraint

Spatially structured ecological interactions can shape selection pressures experienced by a population's different phenotypes. We study spatial competition between phenotypes subject to antagonistic pleiotropy between reproductive effort and mortality rate. The constraint we invoke reflects a previous life-history analysis; the implied dependence indicates that although propagation and mortality rates both vary, their ratio is fixed. We develop a stochastic invasion approximation predicting that phenotypes with higher propagation rates will invade an empty environment (no biotic resistance) faster, despite their higher mortality rate. However, once population density approaches demographic equilibrium, phenotypes with lower mortality are favored, despite their lower propagation rate. We conducted a set of pairwise invasion analyses by simulating an individual-based model of preemptive competition. In each case, the phenotype with the lowest mortality rate and (via antagonistic pleiotropy) the lowest propagation rate qualified as evolutionarily stable among strategies simulated. This result, for a fixed propagation to mortality ratio, suggests that a selective response to spatial competition can extend the time scale of the population's dynamics, which in turn decelerates phenotypic evolution.
Convergence as an Optimization Strategy in Bilingual Speech: Evidence from Code-Switching.

The present article examines one property of bilingual speech – convergence – and strives towards explanatory depth by attending to the insights of the antecedent research in formal linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. In particular, the paper adopts as a point of departure (and further substantiates) the argument that convergence will be evidenced in the syntax–pragmatic interface (Hulk and Muller, 2000) and the assertion that convergence is a ‘bilingual optimization strategy’ (Muysken, 2002), in advancing the claim that convergence (cum congruent lexicalization) in bilingual speech may be amplified or attenuated in tandem with the language mode (bilingual versus monolingual) of the bilingual (Grosjean, 1998). Specifically, it will be demonstrated through an analysis of two individual bilinguals' productions in both monolingual and bilingual modes that the convergence that is already manifested to some degree in these individuals' Spanish is enhanced in Spanish-English code-switching when their languages are simultaneously activated and deployed.
Multilevel Linkages between State Standards, Teacher Standards, and Student Achievement: Testing External versus Internal Standards-Based Education Models.

Drawing on national and state assessment datasets in reading and math, this study tested “external” versus “internal” standards-based education models. The goal was to understand whether and how student performance standards work in multilayered school systems under No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Under the “external” model, states’ common standards shape teachers’ standards which, in turn, affect student achievement. Under the “internal” model, teacher standards are insulated from state standards but instead influenced by prior student achievement and background characteristics in classrooms. The study employed multilevel analysis and instrumental variable analysis with fixed effects. Findings provided support for the internal as opposed to the external model. The linkage between state standards and teacher standards was tenuous, whereas the linkage between teacher standards and student achievement was solid and reciprocal. Further, students’ gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES...
Experiences and lessons from the analysis of TCAS II

This report highlights some of the experiences gathered while analyzing the requirements specification for a commercial avionics system called TCAS II (Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System II) for consistency and completeness. Completeness in this context is defined as a complete set of requirements, that is, there is a behavior specified for every possible input and input sequence.Under the leadership of Dr. Nancy G. Leveson, the Irvine Safety Research Group has developed a state-based requirements specification language RSML (Requirements State Machine Language) using TCAS II as a testbed [6]. The TCAS requirements specification project was very successful; RSML was well liked by all participants in the project, and the formal specification has been adopted as the official TCAS II requirements. The requirements document has been delivered to the FAA and has undergone an extensive independent validation and verification effort (IV&V).In a previous investigation, we defined procedures for analyzing state-based requirements specifications for completeness and consistency [5]. To demonstrate that our approach is feasible and is applicable to realistic systems, we have implemented a draft analysis tool and we have applied the analysis to the TCAS II requirements. The initial results from the analysis effort were encouraging [4, 5] and scaled well to a large requirements specification. The most complex parts of the TCAS requirements specification have recently been analyzed. Even though the effort was largely successful, some limitations with the approach have surfaced. Most importantly, the accuracy of the analysis algorithms needs improvement. When analyzing the most complex parts of the TCAS requirements, the number of spurious error reports can occasionally be overwhelming. Furthermore, we discovered that once the analysis has identified problems, it has been unexpectedly difficult to correct some of them.
Few-photon optical diode

We propose a scheme of realizing an optical diode at the few-photon level. The system consists of a one-dimensional waveguide coupled asymmetrically to a two-level system. The two or multiphoton transport in this system is strongly correlated. We derive exactly the single and two-photon current and show that the two-photon current is asymmetric for the asymmetric coupling. Thus the system serves as an optical diode which allows transmission of photons in one direction much more efficiently than the opposite.
A generalization to QUAIDS

Previous research shows that consumers’ response to price and income changes is heterogeneous. In addition, evidence from national data often does not support the classical assumption of one commodity-one price. This paper introduces a data coherent generalization to the quadratic form of the almost ideal demand system (g-QUAIDS) that incorporates the sources of heterogeneity in the demand function and allows for regional price variation. Aggregation over consumers imposes a linearization to the g-QUAIDS that requires a new set of price indices. The results from an empirical study by using microdata from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey of Iran highlight the impact of aggregation bias in relation to the level of aggregation. An investigation of the predictive power of linear versus nonlinear g-QUAIDS in different aggregation levels provides practical recommendations for consumer demand analysis.
Subtle Differences in Jet Noise Scaling with Narrow Band Spectra Compared to 1/3-Octave Band

The purpose of this paper is twofold: First, a set of narrowband noise spectra for an unheated round subsonic jet is produced that can be compared with other nozzles and other facilities as well as for evaluating computational or analytical methods. Second, the subtle differences in dealing with narrowband and 1/3-octave spectra when analyzing jet noise are highlighted and a general method is presented to adjust experimental data of any bandwidth. The spectral character of noise generated from an unheated round jet is examined for a range of subsonic jet velocities for a convergent nozzle of given size. Following established scaling guidelines, the 1/3-octave spectra at a polar angle of 90 0 (produced from the narrowband data) can be collapsed to a single curve based on a non-dimensional frequency and the eighth power law of the jet exit velocity. At angles normal to the jet axis, the peak non-dimensional frequency corresponds to a value of approximately unity. Performing the same analysis with the narrowband spectra reveals two things: (1) The peak non-dimensional frequency normal to the jet axis corresponds to a value of approximately 0.3 and (2) in order to achieve a good collapse of the spectra with velocity, the narrowband data must be normalized per unit non-dimensional frequency. The former point while intuitive and mostly understood, is important for those interested in prediction schemes (namely computational efforts) and to designers who want to use a universal jet noise spectra and determine the actual peak frequency of interest (at 90 0 ). The latter point is a nuance that results in the scaling of jet noise effectively as the seventh power of velocity for narrowband spectra. Finally, the present data is compared with well accepted subsonic jet noise data from the literature using a scaling method that can be used for both 1/3-octave data and narrowband data.
Enhanced lysosomal enzyme activity in mouse cells treated with bacterial endotoxin in vitro.

SummaryThe specific activity of β-glu-curonidase in the granular fraction from whole spleen, adherent spleen cells, or peritoneal exudate cells of ICR mice was greater for samples from cell cultures treated with 10μg of endotoxin/ml in vitro than that for the corresponding untreated cultures. The endotoxin-stimulated elevation in β-glucu-ronidase and acid phosphatase activities was obtained with adherent spleen cells incubated in modified Eagle's medium and Hanks' balanced salt solution, with or without glucose. The specific activities of β-glu-curonidase in adherent spleen cells from endotoxin-tolerant ICR mice or genetically resistant C3H/HeJ mice were essentially the same for endotoxin-treated cultures and their untreated counterparts.
Antihypertensive therapy with hydralazine and propranolol: a case history

Rapid control of arterial blood pressure through use of the interacting drugs hydralazine and propranolol is discussed. A case history illustrating the treatment is described, and various aspects of this therapy are discussed, including mechanisms of action and side effects.
Social Stress-Induced Alterations in CRF Signaling in the VTA Facilitate the Emergence of Addiction-like Behavior.

Stress increases the vulnerability to addiction in humans (for review, see [Sinha, 2008][1]). In preclinical studies, stressors can enhance drug self-administration and induce relapse ([Miczek et al., 2008][2]; [Mantsch et al., 2016][3]). The brain region-specific molecular mechanisms that mediate
Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Caffeine for Migraine

The effectiveness of two tablets of the nonprescription combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine in alleviating migraine headache pain was evaluated in 1357 patients (mean age, 36 years) from several centers, enrolled in three double-blind, single-dose, placebo-controlled studies.
Phase-aware predictive thermal modeling for proactive load-balancing of compute clusters

The increasing trend of high density computing environments have exacerbated the cooling infrastructure of the modern datacenters which contributes to mounting energy costs due to uncoordinated operation. By integrating information technology and infrastructure management through continuous monitoring, a balance between energy requirements of compute and cooling equipment can be achieved. Building an online thermal profile calculation with certain measure of accuracy is a complex problem due to the number of variables involved. In this paper we propose a phase-aware workload placement scheme that helps in reducing thermal variance in a cluster of compute nodes. We use a phase-aware machine learning approach to forecast server thermal profile which is then used for predicting the cluster-level thermal variance.We leverage Intel Xeon class server platform sensors and machine monitoring capability for fine grained assessment of power, thermal and compute utilization. We are able achieve thermal balance by applying intelligent placement algorithms by predetermining the thermal impact of a variation in workload's utilization on a prospective cluster of server using the forecasted temperature. Results from a prototype implementation on a typical server-cluster environment have demonstrated accurate thermal prediction and significant reduction in thermal variance.
Bortezomib induces a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein expression profile necessary to kill therapy-resistant B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (B-NHL)

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 4383 Cancer cells, including B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, sculpt their phenotype in an attempt to escape not only immune-surveillance but also evade the anti-tumor activity of biological agents such as rituximab and/or chemotherapy drugs. To study the mechanisms that mediate rituximab resistance we developed several rituximab-resistant cell lines and demonstrated that the emergence of a rituximab-resistant phenotype was associated with deregulation of anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins leading to concomitant resistance to multiple chemotherapy agents. These therapy-resistant cell lines (TRCL) represent a model of multi-therapy resistant B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that can be used to investigate the efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance. To this end, we studied the ability of the small molecule proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (PS-341, Velcade®) to induce cell death in our therapy resistant cell lines (TRCL) and in lymphoma cells isolated from patients with treatment-naive or refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Cell viability was determined by propidium iodide exclusion or CellTiter-Glo® luminescent assay 24 to 72 hours following exposure to bortezomib. We found that bortezomib triggered cell death of ex vivo treated primary DLBCL cells regardless of their sensitivity to chemotherapy or rituximab. Additionally, TRCL were killed equally well by bortezomib when compared to parental Raji or RL cell lines. Since the proteasome is known to regulate several members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins we studied the effect of bortezomib on their expression by Western blot. Treatment of therapy-resistant cell lines (TRCL) with bortezomib or other proteasome inhibitors resulted in increased expression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins Bak, Bik and Noxa along with caspase-dependent cleavage of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1. Ex vivo treated primary B-NHL cells displayed similar changes in Bcl-2 family protein expression following exposure to bortezomib. siRNA-mediated knock-down of Bak, Bik or Noxa resulted in inhibition of bortezomib-dependent cell death of TRCL. Together these data suggest that proteasome inhibition by bortezomib induces a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein expression profile that is necessary for bortezomib to kill therapy-resistant B-NHL. Therapies that selectively favor a pro-apoptotic phenotype, such as bortezomib, are attractive strategies to overcome chemotherapy resistance in B-cell lymphomas.
Issue-Relevant Values and Opinions About Gay Rights: Beyond Equality and Morality

Although many studies have examined the role of values in shaping public opinion, the number of values that inform this research is limited. This article employs the concept of issue-relevant values as a means to explore the broader range of values associated with policy issues. After discussing the concept in general terms, the article explores issue-relevant values pertinent to public opinion about gay rights. Using the policy examples of employment nondiscrimination and same-sex couple adoption, the present study identifies, measures, and assesses several values that add to the very short list previously used to explain public opinion about gay rights issues. Content from interest-group Web sites and news media coverage of the two issues aided in identifying the values. Data from an original Internet survey yield valid measures of the values. Multivariate analyses indicate that the values behave in predictable ways: they are strongly influenced by partisanship, and they strongly affect opinions about the two issues. The performance of the values is consistent with findings from previous research on the partisan basis of values and the value-based nature of opinions. The article concludes with suggestions for further empirical and theoretical work that could apply and extend the concept of issue-relevant values.
Abstract 829: MicroRNA regulation of radiation sensitivity in colorectal cancer

Background Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer receive neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and subsequent surgery. While 10-25% of patients have complete response to CRT, the remaining patients undergo extensive tumor excision resulting in significant quality of life issues. Response to CRT is an independent predictor of overall survival highlighting the importance of improving CRT response rates. Several tumor intrinsic factors govern responses to CRT including specific gene expression programs. Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRs) modulate gene expression programs in response to radiation and have been implicated in several pathological processes associated with colorectal cancer progression. In this context, we hypothesized that differential expression of miRs regulates colorectal cancer radiation sensitivity and can be used as a biomarker to predict radiation efficacy. Methods To investigate the differences in miR profiles between rectal cancer patients that had either a pathological partial response (PR) or no response (NR), we isolated RNA from FFPE biopsies using the miRvana microRNA isolation kit (Life Technologies). We used the Nanostring miR profiling platform and obtained absolute counts for >700 human miRs. We performed in vitro gain and loss of studies with candidate miR transfections in human CRC cell lines and used a luminescence-based assay for proliferation (Cell titer glo, Promega). Surviving fraction assays were performed by seeding cells and counting colonies stained with Crystal Violet. Eight distinct miR bioinformatic target prediction algorithms initiated miR target identification, and a RISC-Trap assay was implemented to confirm miR-target interactions. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were accessed to acquire provisional survival data on 639 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. Results We identified 17 miRs that were differentially expressed, and miR-451a, among the most upregulated miRs, inhibited proliferation and colony formation in 2D and 3D assays in the presence of radiation. Target prediction algorithms highlighted CAB39, EMSY, EREG, and MEX3C as prominent miR-451a targets in colorectal cancer and/or radiation. TCGA subset anaylsis found CAB39 and EMSY protein levels were found to be upregulated in 14% and 6% of cases, respectively, and upregulated co-expression of these genes significantly reduced 3 year overall survival (69% vs 78%, p Conclusions miRs alter cell survival networks affecting radiation sensitivity and serve to identify pathways amenable to alternative therapeutic modulation Citation Format: Shushan Rana, Katherine Kelley, Rebecca Ruhl, Charles Thomas, Liana Tsikitis, Sudarshan Anand. MicroRNA regulation of radiation sensitivity in colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 829. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-829
Barriocide: Investigating the Temporal and Spatial Influence of Neighborhood Structural Characteristics on Gang and Non-Gang Homicides in East Los Angeles:

This study explored how changes in neighborhood structural characteristics predicted variation in gang versus non-gang homicides in a policing division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). ...
Sb-induced strain fluctuations in a strained layer superlattice of InAs/InAsSb

We show that Sb substitution for As in a MBE grown InAs/InAsSb strained layer superlattice (SLS) is accompanied by significant strain fluctuations. The SLS was observed using scanning transmission electron microscopy along the [100] zone axis where the cation and anion atomic columns are separately resolved. Strain analysis based on atomic column positions reveals asymmetrical transitions in the strain profile across the SLS interfaces. The averaged strain profile is quantitatively fitted to the segregation model, which yields a distribution of Sb in agreement with the scanning tunneling microscopy result. The subtraction of the calculated strain reveals an increase in strain fluctuations with the Sb concentration, as well as isolated regions with large strain deviations extending spatially over ∼1 nm, which suggest the presence of point defects.
Methodology for Studying Surface Chemistry and Evolution during the Nucleation Phase of Atomic Layer Deposition Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

We study the nucleation stage and growth of atomic layer deposition (ALD) on hydrogen terminated silicon (Si:H) by in-situ and ex-situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM allows the in-depth study of surface chemistry and evolution during the ALD nucleation phase. Here, the ALD systems studied to demonstrate this technique are ZnO via diethyl zinc (DEZ) and TiO2 via titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). In-situ STM revealed that DEZ does not discriminate between different surface sites, in contrast to TiCl4 which shows a strong preference towards dangling or OH bonds. Continued deposition showed distinct island growth for TiO2 deposition on Si:H, versus homogeneous growth for DEZ. ZnO ALD exhibited a delay of approximately 5 ALD cycles in transitioning from lateral to vertical growth and nominal physical film closure occurred after approximately 12-15 cycles. STM observations of these ALD chemistries demonstrated the strength of this technique in quantifying film closure and the effects of surface terminat...
The location of Sb luminescence centers in Ca10(PO4)6F2 phosphors

Abstract The luminescence centers in antimony doped fluorapatite phosphors were characterized by optical emission spectroscopy, IR and FTIR absorption, and Raman scattering. The luminescence centers in commercial phosphors consist of covalently bound Sb O pairs (N center). The vibrational spectrum of analogous Bi O pairs was studied for the first time in FAP. New methods of preparation yielded material with a record high level of Sb O doping. There is a second well established (HE) center which consists of Sb on Ca2 sites and Na at nearby Ca1 or Ca2 sites. The properties of the N and HE centers differ greatly and are described in detail. We showed for the first time that HE centers like N centers can efficiently sensitize the fluorescence of manganese in FAP.
The Canonical Form

We shall give here, following Lanford [1], an elementary and straightforward derivation of the canonical form for the mapping Φµ: ℝ2 → ℝ2. Recall that we have already arranged things so that $$ {{\phi }_{\mu }}\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} x \\ y \\ \end{array} } \right) = \left( {1 + \mu } \right)\;\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {\cos \theta \left( \mu \right)} \\ {\sin \theta \left( \mu \right)} \\ \end{array} \quad \begin{array}{*{20}{c}} { - \sin \theta \left( \mu \right)} \\ {\cos \theta \left( \mu \right)} \\ \end{array} } \right)\left( {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} x \\ y \\ \end{array} } \right) + 0\left( {{{{\text{r}}}^{2}}} \right) $$ We want to organize the second, third, and fourth degree terms by making further coordinate changes. It will be convenient to identify R2 with the complex plane by writing $$ {\text{z}} = {\text{x}} + {\text{iy}} $$ Then $$ {{\phi }_{\mu }}(z) = \lambda \left( \mu \right)z + 0\left( {{{{\left| z \right|}}^{2}}} \right),\;\lambda \left( \mu \right) = \left( {1 + \mu } \right){{e}^{{{\text{i}}\theta \left( \mu \right)}}} $$ From now on we shall leave y out of our notation as much as possible.
Improving light yield measurements for low-yield scintillators

Abstract Light power spectra are introduced as a new tool for relative light yield (LY) determinations. Light event spectra have commonly been used for this purpose. Theoretical background supporting this change is provided. It is shown that the derivative of a light power spectrum can provide a reliable LY measurement at levels as low as 2% of those for high-yield liquid scintillators . Applications to light evolution in the PPO+LAB system and to water-based liquid scintillators are described.
Experimenting with Caseworker Direction Evidence from Voucher-Funded Job Training

We experimentally study the intensity of caseworker direction given to eligible voucher recipients selecting a job-training program. Requiring counseling led some to forgo training, but those assigned to the most directive approach had higher survey-reported earnings seven years after study entry, with targeting implications: dislocated workers did no worse with optional counseling, while disadvantaged workers earned less. Although impacts on earnings were inconsistent for dislocated workers when using administrative data, they were consistent for disadvantaged workers. Finally, using simulations, we find that changing caseworker direction can have impacts that are similar in magnitude to participating in any job training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Visualization of educational data mined from the moodle e-learning platform

Educational data, collected when learners interact with an e-learning platform and stored in the platform databases, are sources of valuable information for the improvement of the educational process, of the learning outcomes and of the learning experience. Data visualization is a domain that has received considerable attention recently, in connection to the Data Mining paradigm. The visualization of educational data mined from e-learning platforms and analyzed to extract answers to research questions or models for student behavior is an open and challenging task. This paper presents the design, development and use of a new plug-in for the visualization of student evaluation data drawn from a moodle platform. The new plug-in is embedded in an active, operational moodle server, with satisfactory visualization results obtained on real-field undergraduate student data collected over the period of the last three academic years.
The community resilience reader: essential resources for an era of upheaval

As a sociologist who specializes in community development and community resilience, I was eager to read this book. As promised the book is a reader and potentially useful for a lower-level communit...
Experimental and statistical investigation of drilling fluid loss in porous media: Part 2 (Fractures)

Abstract Drilling fluid loss and mud filtration occur concurrently during overbalanced drilling. Characterization of fluid loss is mostly done via experimental studies with several types of setups and porous media. The first part of this study has been conducted on pore-scale homogenous and heterogenous media. Sequel to the study, this paper presents fracture-scale characterization of drilling fluid loss using experimental and statistical methods. The statistical methods that were used in this study include: experiment design, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression analysis. Dynamic fluid loss experiments were conducted with a setup capable of simulating drillpipe rotation inside thick-walled cylindrical fracture slots that represents natural fractures. The results show that temperature, fracture size and orientation, and type/concentration of lost circulation material (LCM) are the critical factors that influences dynamic fluid loss in fractures. The results from testing the filter cake stability showed that the filter cake layer ruptured on three of the experiments out of the nine that were conducted. For the experimental conditions with the vertical fractures, the regression analysis showed that dynamic fluid loss can be predicted from changes in LCM concentration and fracture width with a considerably high R2 and adjusted R2 values. The R2 value is a parameter that is used to quantify the predictability of an empirical model. The effect of fracture positioning and orientation was also observed and recorded. The originality in this experimental method is the application of thick-walled cylindrical fracture slots (simulating natural fractures) to characterize dynamic drilling fluid loss. Temperature, drillpipe rotation, and pressure conditions were programed to simulate dynamic wellbore conditions under which fluid loss, filter cake evolution, and plastering occur. The methods used in this study can be employed in mud design for wellbore strengthening application and selection of operating conditions.
Effects of omeprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, on gastrointestinal secretions, serum gastrin, and gastric mucosal blood flow in dogs

Abstract In dogs with gastric fistulas and vagally denervated Heidenhain pouches, omeprazole, a benzimidazole derivative infused intravenously or given intraduodenally, dose-dependently inhibited gastric acid secretion, which had been induced by histamine, pentagastrin, or urecholine. It also suppressed gastric acid response to physiologic stimulants such as sham-feeding and gastric peptone meal without affecting serum gastrin level. The inhibition of histamine-induced acid secretion was accompanied by a parallel reduction in the mucosal blood flow, but no significant alteration in the ratio (R) value, indicating that omeprazole primarily affected gastric acid secretion but did not limit gastric mucosal microcirculation. Omeprazole, infused into the Heidenhain pouch, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the Heidenhain pouch response to intravenous histamine without any significant change in the acid response of the main stomach and plasma concentrations of the drug. This indicates that omeprazole may exhibit local inhibitory action on the oxyntic glands. Omeprazole did not affect gastric mucosal integrity or the rate of alkaline secretion from the gastroduodenal mucosa or the pancreas stimulated by duodenal acidification or secretin.
Electrostrictive Cavitation in Water Induced by a SnO2 Nanoparticle

Cavitation phenomenon in dielectric fluids has been a recent topic of interest in theory and experiment. We study a dielectric fluid–nanoparticle system subjected to an external electric field using molecular dynamics simulations. Electric fields ranging from 0.042 to 0.25 V/A are applied to a water and tin dioxide system. Cavitation is observed in simulations with both SPC/E water and the hydrogen bonding polarizable model. The cavitation onset time displays a stretched exponential relaxation response with respect to the applied electric field with an exponent β = 0.423 ± 0.08. This is in accordance with the exact theoretical value for systems with long-ranged forces. Cavity growth rates are divided into two phases, a spherical growth phase and a cylindrical one. Both are reported as a function of the applied electric field. The structure of the electric field is analyzed both spatially and temporally.
A High Efficiency Multi-Mode Outphasing RF Power Amplifier With 31.6 dBm Peak Output Power in 45nm CMOS

A high efficiency multi-mode class-E outphasing RF power amplifier (PA) with a passive combining circuit is presented. The multi-mode PA combines multiple class-E amplifier branches and can work in different configurations. The PA improves efficiency at lower power levels by switching ‘on’ and ‘off’ individual branches in a static or dynamic manner and using Efficiency Enhancement Circuit (EEC). The proposed power amplifier is designed in 45nm CMOS technology. The PA delivers 31.6 dBm peak output power at 2.4 GHz with 49.2% drain efficiency in high power single level mode. With 64-QAM long-term evolution (LTE) signal with 10 MHz and 20 MHz bandwidth, −57 dBc and −53 dBc adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) are obtained in single level outphasing (SLO) mode after digital pre-distortion (DPD). 25% and 33% average drain efficiency are achieved with LTE signal with 6 dB peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in single level outphasing and asymmetric multilevel outphasing (AMO) mode, respectively. The PA satisfies the spectral mask requirement of 802.11g WLAN signal with high margin. Error vector magnitude (EVM) of 1.1% (−39.36 dB) is obtained from the PA in single level outphasing high power mode after DPD with 64-QAM LTE signal with 10 MHz bandwidth.
The Effect of Sales Assistance on Purchase Decisions: An analysis using retail video data

We investigate the role of sales assistance in driving customer’s purchase decision using unique observational video data from a cosmetics retail chain. The data contain visual descriptors of customers and their in-store activities including the time they spent in interacting with salespersons (sales assistance), and are linked to their purchase decisions. Our empirical specification is based on the process of customer deciding to engage in sales assistance to acquire information meaningful toward purchase decision. Thus, we treat sales assistance as endogenous construct, and employ a control function approach to correct for this endogeneity using instruments pertaining to the supply of sales assistance. Our analysis quantifies the role of sales assistance in driving a customer’s purchase decision, and it shows that the effectiveness of sales assistance diminishes with its amount. In addition to highlighting the importance of sales assistance towards purchase decisions, our results also quantify how the retailer can influence sales assistance by increasing the availability of salespersons. We also examine the effect of sales assistance on in-store search carried out by the customer. Finally, we offer number of context specific insights into the heterogeneity of customers’ shopping and purchasing behavior.
A Review of Neuromodulation for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Pediatric Patients and Novel Use of Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation in an Adolescent Patient With 30-Month Follow-Up.

Objectives Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder in which pain and discomfort are out of proportion to the amount of tissue damage. While prevalence is 20.57 per 100,000 adults, it has not been studied in the U.S. pediatric population. Conservative treatment options include pharmacologic, behavioral, and psychological treatment. If these fail, invasive therapies such as sympathetic blocks and neuromodulation may be performed. The ACCURATE study demonstrated efficacy of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation for the treatment of refractory CRPS, but did not include pediatric patients and there are no reported cases of its use in the pediatric population. We review the use of neuromodulation for CRPS in pediatric patients and present a novel case using DRG stimulation in an adolescent patient. Materials and methods A literature search was performed for any studies of neuromodulation as treatment of pediatric CRPS. The literature is reviewed and the case of a 17-year-old female with CRPS treated with DRG stimulation is presented. Results A 15-year-old female developed CRPS type I of the left ankle after a sports injury. She was unable to wear a shoe or venture outside the home due to pain, swelling, and allodynia. Conservative therapies, including medications, physical therapy, and lumbosacral sympathetic plexus blocks, failed. At age 17, she underwent DRG stimulator lead placement targeting the left L4 and L5 nerve roots. Her therapy provided 100% relief of pain within four days of placement and was sustained at 30-month follow-up. Conclusions DRG stimulation has been shown to significantly alter the symptomatology in patients with CRPS. This case suggests that DRG stimulation may be as effective for the treatment of refractory CRPS in pediatric patients as in adults.
Electrochemically mediated deionization: a review

Electrochemical deionization technologies allow generation of potable water from contaminated sources and extraction of valuable resources from seawater, brines and industrial wastewater—all in an environmentally friendly and energy efficient manner. In this review, we detail existing electrode materials, cell architectures, and charge transfer mechanisms related to electrochemically driven desalination and selective element extraction in aqueous environments. More specifically, we address capacitive and faradaic charge-transfer processes—ion electrosorption and ion intercalation, respectively. We also address selective electrosorption/electrodeposition at functionalized electrode surfaces. The selectivity is driven by ion specific interactions at the electrode, such as chelation and redox activity. Electrochemically mediated deionization strategies can help address the global need for potable water. Their widespread adoption hinges on a thorough understanding of the range of available deionization methods—which we attempt to provide in this review.
Organizational behavior and procedural - interactive justice in HRM : a secondary school level study

The purpose of the present study was to explore the basic problems being faced in organizational behavior and human resource management. An empirical study was made, whether and how the organizational behavior (OB) influences the relationship between employees perception towards Procedural-Interactive Justice in human resource management (HRM). This study is based on the leadership-member exchange theory (LMX). A survey was conducted over the educational professionals of mixed cadres. Exploratory analyses of 300 employees representing 60 local secondary schools in Punjab, Pakistan showed that organizational behavior and procedural interactional justice are significantly correlated with each other. Two dimensions of the OB i.e. altruism and generalized compliance, have significant relationship between procedural and interactional justice dimensions like formal procedure and interactive justice in HRM. More over regression analysis also provided a significant effectiveness of organizational behavior with procedural and interactive justice.
Ocupar o terreno: revisitando "Além dos significados de Miranda: des/silenciando o 'Terreno Demoníaco' da mulher de Calibã

Este artigo e uma revisita ao texto de Sylvia Wynter, intitulado originalmente “Beyond Miranda’s Meanings: Un/Silencing the ‘Demonic Ground’ of Caliban’s Woman” [Alem dos Significados de Miranda: Des/Silenciando o ‘terreno demoniaco’ da Mulher de Caliba], e que figura como posfacio do livro Out of the Kumbla : Caribbean Women and Literature , publicado originalmente em 1990. Esse livro representa a primeira coletânea de textos voltados especificamente para o estudo de escritoras afro-caribenhas. Ja o posfacio de Wynter destaca-se pela apresentacao do conceito de “terreno demoniaco” ( demonic ground ), sobre o qual se debruca este artigo.
17 Alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate use in a rural state.

17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHP) is used to reduce the recurrent risk of preterm delivery in women with a history of preterm delivery. Meis et al. conducted a double-blind placebo cont...