cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Processing of Highly Concentrated Aqueous α‐Alumina Suspensions Stabilized with Polyelectrolytes

Stability and rheology of aqueous α-Al2O3 suspensions with poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolytes were studied as a function of pH, solids loading, and molecular weight. Past work has found polyelectrolyte-stabilized suspensions to be fairly pH independent at low (e.g., 20 vol%) solids loadings. However, we now show that the effective pH range to provide dispersed and fluid suspensions narrows as the concentration of solids increases as related to interparticle forces. At high solids levels, the presence of excess polymer in solution has detrimental effects on stability, which increases as the molecular weight increases. Finally, with knowledge of these concepts, highly concentrated fluid suspensions of 60 vol% Al2O3 (>85 wt%) with submicrometer-size particles have been processed. Higher consolidated densities and reduced sintering temperatures are attained when compared with more conventional processing techniques.
A New Microstructured DSC Photoelectrode for Potential High Power Conversion Efficiency

This paper includes an overview of general approaches and efforts to enhance the power conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) and then the recent development of hierarchically structured photoelectrodes for DSC. Hierarchically structured photoelectrodes are made of submicron-sized aggregates of ZnO nanocrystallites. Such structured photoelectrodes retain the desired large surface area and crystal facets for dye molecule adsorption and possess the ability to scatter the visible light within the photoelectrodes, so as to enhance light adsorption and thus lead to more efficient photon capturing. In ZnO DSC, hierarchically structured photoelectrodes demonstrated over 200% enhancement in power conversion efficiency.
The estimation of tree posterior probabilities using conditional clade probability distributions.

In this article I introduce the idea of conditional independence of separated subtrees as a principle by which to estimate the posterior probability of trees using conditional clade probability distributions rather than simple sample relative frequencies. I describe an algorithm for these calculations and software which implements these ideas. I show that these alternative calculations are very similar to simple sample relative frequencies for high probability trees but are substantially more accurate for relatively low probability trees. The method allows the posterior probability of unsampled trees to be calculated when these trees contain only clades that are in other sampled trees. Furthermore, the method can be used to estimate the total probability of the set of sampled trees which provides a measure of the thoroughness of a posterior sample. (Bayesian phylogenetics; conditional clade distributions; improved accuracy; posterior probabilities of trees.)
Selenium protects plants from phloem-feeding aphids due to both deterrence and toxicity

Summary • Certain plant species hyperaccumulate selenium (Se) to 1000 mg kg−1 d. wt, even from low-Se soils. It is not known whether Se hyperaccumulation offers these plants any advantage. In this study the hypothesis was tested that Se can protect plants from phloem-feeding herbivores. • Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) grown with or without Se was subjected to colonization by green peach aphids (Myzus persicae). • In choice feeding experiments the aphids clearly avoided Se-containing plant material, and were able to detect and avoid Se-containing leaves with levels as low as 10 mg Se kg−1 d. wt. In nonchoice feeding experiments aphid population growth was inversely correlated with leaf Se concentration. The leaf Se concentration leading to a 50% reduction in aphid population growth was 1.5 mg kg−1 d. wt, and ≥ 10 mg Se kg−1 d. wt was lethal. • In summary, Se can protect plants from feeding by aphids at leaf levels two orders of magnitude lower than those found in hyperaccumulators in the field. These results shed light on the possible functional significance of Se hyperaccumulation.
Chemical transformations of nanomaterials for energy applications

Chemical Transformations of Nanomaterials (CTNMs) is a powerful method to modify as-synthesized nanomaterials into forms with novel composition and structure. CTNMs allows access to nano-based materials that are difficult to synthesize by conventional means, including metastable materials through partial transformations. These new nanomaterial forms can have property and stability advantages when used for energy applications. This short review highlights recent research progress in chemical transformations of non-metallic nanomaterials as a means to create useful energy materials, such as metastable structures, with a focus on fuel cell catalysts and battery technologies. In addition to discussing progress with chemically transformed materials, this review briefly highlights several metastable materials that have been used for energy applications but were synthesized through conventional means. Synthetic protocols of CTNMs could be used to produce these metastable energy materials, which may result in novel properties. Finally, the review concludes with a forward looking perspective of metastable materials that have yet to be synthesized, but are good candidates for catalysis/batteries as metastable materials. These proposed systems could yield next generation catalysts/battery materials.
Xylem anisotropy and water transport—a model for the double sawcut experiment

Early experiments with overlapping cuts to the stems of trees demonstrated that lateral flow within the stem must be possible to allow such trees to maintain water flow to their leaves. We present a mathematical approach to considering lateral flow in stems by treating the xylem as an anisotropic medium for flow and develop an expression of its conductivity in the form of a tensor. In both 3D models of tracheid-bearing stems with cuts (incorporating this tensor analysis) and experimental stems with steadily deepening cuts, it is shown that flow can continue despite the presence of even strongly overlapping cuts through 90% of the stem. Such remaining conducting ability was, however, strongly dependent on values for radial and tangential conductivity (conductivity to lateral flow across the stem either radially with respect to the central axis or tangentially to the stem surface). Furthermore, the lateral flow around obstructing cuts was more dependent on tangential flow around the stem upstream and downstream of the cuts than on radial flow across the stem. The relative importance of tangential flow could be accounted for by a greater tangential conductivity, perhaps related to the predominance of pits on radial walls of tracheids, and the presence of non-conducting pith and early growth rings in the stems. These results demonstrate that a consideration of anisotropy in transport properties of the xylem will be important for future studies of flow in stems around naturally occurring geometric features such as branching points.
A Path Toward Interracial Marriage: Women's First Partners and Husbands across Racial Lines

We examine interracial marriage as a culminating event in a sequence of intimate relationships across the life course. Using data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, we analyze the background characteristics associated with selecting a first sex partner and first husband who differ in race/ethnicity from the respondent as well as the continuity across both outcomes. Our results show that respondents' race/ethnicity, parents' education, and region of birth are significant predictors of both choices. Selecting partners across racial lines for first sex is significantly associated with the selection of a first husband across race; the association between both outcomes is particularly strong for non-Hispanic black women, implying that social integration across race may be a life course phenomenon.
Modeling of a waveguide probe excitation for dielectric resonator antennas

Analysis of a dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) fed by a waveguide probe is presented. The probe is excited by the dominant mode of a waveguide and extends into the DRA through a hole in the waveguide wall. The DRA has, in general, an arbitrary shape and resides on an infinite ground plane, which coincides with the exterior of the waveguide broad wall. The input impedance of the DRA is obtained independent of the waveguide part, and then transferred using transmission line transformation to the waveguide side to take into account the effect of the wall thickness. The rectangular waveguide dyadic Green's functions are used to analyze the waveguide part, where the input impedance of the DRA appears as a concentrated load at the end of the probe segment in the waveguide. Results obtained using the MoM are compared with those obtained using the FDTD method and exhibit very good agreement.
Infectious optic neuropathy

A wide variety of infectious agents are known to cause optic neuropathy. This article will consider the bacteria, spirochetes, fungi, and viruses that most commonly affect the optic nerve. Clinical presentation is variable, but some pathogens often produce a characteristic funduscopic pattern. Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of clinical suspicion and serologic testing. Polymerase chain reaction is also increasingly utilized. Most infectious agents can be effectively treated but visual recovery is highly variable.
Geometry of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and the Intraluminal Thrombus From 3D Image Reconstruction Using Active Contours

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant disease in the United States, and an intraluminal thrombus (ILT) develops in the majority of AAAs. Rupture prediction of AAA has been performed on patient specific models based on reconstruction of computed tomography (CT) images. The ILT alters stress distribution in the AAA wall [1], and ILT growth and thickness are correlated to rupture risk [2, 3]. Drug treatment of AAA is under investigation by several groups [4]. It is also known that the wall covered by the ILT is weaker than other areas [1]. If local drug delivery through the lumen is to be achieved, the barriers for transport through the ILT must be investigated. Patient specific geometries of the ILT would be necessary for such analysis.© 2009 ASME
Community coalitions for prevention and health promotion

In the last several years, health promotion specialists have stressed the importance of multiple interventions aimed both at individuals who are at health risk, and at risk-producing environments and policies (Milio, 1980; McLeroy et al., 1988; Pentz et al., 1989; Winett et al., 1989). The current emphasis on multiple interventions at multiple levels of the 'social ecology' is a response to the severity and complexity of chronic health conditions that are rooted in a larger social, cultural, political and economic fabric. The current wisdom in health promotion holds that targeting the behavior of individuals, without also intervening at these other social levels that shape behavior, will not have as great an impact on health status (McLeroy et al., 1988; Minkler, 1989; Hawkins and Catalano, 1992; Stokols, 1992). The development of coalitions of community agencies, institutions and concerned citizens to combat chronic health conditions is gaining popularity as an intervention aimed at strengthening the social fabric. Currently, hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested in coalition development as a health promotion intervention. For instance, both the COMMIT and ASSIST community tobacco control programs, funded by the National Institutes for Health, require coalitions of citizens in order to develop local strategies to decrease tobacco use (National Cancer Institute, 1988; Shopland, 1989).
F-actin-binding proteins

The study of proteins that bind filamentous actin (F-actin) is entering an exciting stage as more and more structures are determined. After more than 50 years in which the focus was on muscle proteins, emphasis has recently shifted towards understanding the complex interplay among actin-binding molecules in non-muscle cells. To date, the binding sites for eight classes of filament-binding molecules have been determined by combining low- to intermediate-resolution maps obtained by electron microscopy with atomic structures determined by X-ray crystallography and NMR. Recent results have dramatically accentuated the importance of filament geometry and actin conformation in defining these interactions.
Utilization of the Social Fabric Matrix to Articulate a State System of Financial Aid for Public Schools and to Derive Conceptual Conclusions

Central government education formulas for the distribution of funds to local public schools have a long history in numerous countries, with special importance at the state level in the United States. Such formulas have been formulated to express an array of concerns to include equity, ability to pay, adequacy, need, willingness to pay taxes, geographical sparcity, tax burdens, the political power to acquire more money for an area, and so forth. The differentiation and elaboration of school-aid formulas have led to the evolution of greater formula complexity and the emergence of very different kinds of school finance systems in different states. The social fabric matrix is utilized to articulate the Nebraska State system used for the distribution of financial aid to kindergarten- through- grade- 12 public schools. This demonstrates how states can model their systems in order to observe the interconnections through algebraic formula terms in order to determine the consequences of planned changes. The findings of the analysis are also drawn upon for conceptual conclusions about school-aid policy, rules, and systems.
Report of Committee on Ground Water—1944–1945

Professor Swinnerton and Dr. Lahee asked to resign from the Committee at least for the duration of the war but they have been persuaded to remain on the Committee in the hope that after the war they can again take active part. The recent untimely deaths of DAVID G. THOMPSON and Major RICHARD C. CADY came as a severe shock to their many friends and fellow-workers in ground-water hydrology. Fitting memorials to these men by O. E. MEINZER are presented in these Transactions [pp. 9–12], and the Committee also wishes to pay sincere tribute to these two distinguished ground-water geologists. As Chairman of the Committee on Ground Water for many years, Mr. Thompson gave unstintingly of his time and energy, and in taking over this responsibility the present Chairman realties with a deep sense of humility the difficulties of maintaining the excellent standard he established.
Electricity storage for intermittent renewable sources

With sufficient electricity storage capacity, any power production profile may be mapped onto any desired supply profile. We present a framework to determine the required storage power as a function of time for any power production profile, supply profile, and targeted system efficiency, given the loss characteristics of the storage system. We apply the framework to the electrochemical storage of intermittent renewable power, employing a simplifying linear response approximation that permits the entire efficiency behavior of the system to be described by a single scalar figure of merit—the discharge power capacity. We consider three exemplary grid supply scenarios: constant, grid-minus-baseload, and square wave; and two different production scenarios: wind with a capacity factor 32.5%, and solar photovoltaic (PV) with a capacity factor of 14%. For each of these six combinations of scenarios, the storage energy and discharge power capacity requirements are found for a range of system efficiencies. Significantly diminishing efficiency returns are found on increasing the discharge power capacity. Solid-electrode batteries are shown to have two orders of magnitude too little energy to power ratio to be well suited to the storage of intermittent renewable power.
Heart Transplantation in Children With a Fontan Procedure

Background Previous studies have reported that children with a prior Fontan procedure have decreased survival after heart transplantation. We examined 190 primary pediatric heart transplants. Methods Since 1988, 27 (14.2%) of 190 children less than 18 years old undergoing primary heart transplantation had a Fontan procedure 3.7 ± 4.3 years before transplantation. Compared with 163 (85.8%) non-Fontan primary transplants, the Fontan patients were similar in age (8.2 ± 5.0 vs 6.5 ± 6.0 years), presensitization, and pretransplant clinical status. More Fontan patients had prior operations (100% vs 50%; p Results Donor ischemic times (211 ± 72 vs 170 ± 61 minutes; p = 0.0018) and cardiopulmonary bypass times (197 ± 91 vs 121 ± 53 minutes; p Conclusions Contrary to prior reports, we did not identify any early or midterm disadvantage for children undergoing heart transplantation after a previous Fontan procedure despite more complex transplant operations. We contend that carefully selected children with a failing Fontan circulation can do as well as other children with heart transplantation.
IMPLICIT LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP THEORIES: DYNAMIC STRUCTURES FOR LEADERSHIP PERCEPTIONS, MEMORY, AND LEADER-FOLLOWER PROCESSES

In this review, we address implicit leadership theories (ILTs) and implicit followership theories (IFTs). Both types of implicit theories are important because leadership and followership are dynamic, socially constructed processes (Meindl, 1995) in which a leader’s perceptions of followers are as critical as followers’ perceptions of leadership. Both types of perceptions elicit confirming responses from the person being perceived, helping to create a dynamic leadership process in which relatively stable social structures emerge over time as leader and follower roles become differentiated. ILTs (and IFTs), which are a fundamental part of this process, are also dynamic in that they can be tuned automatically to particular contexts (Lord, Brown, and Harvey, 2001). In this dynamic process, both parties use their implicit theories to make sense of and react to the other party’s behavior, creating an evolving basis for further interaction. In this sense, leadership is an ongoing, dynamic, two-way exchange between leaders and followers that is structured by both parties’ implicit theories. Shamir (2007) provided an example of how important this process can be. He noted that Adolf Hitler perceived himself to be merely a drummer gathering the masses for the arrival of the “great leader” (the F¨ uhrer) until his 30s, when he began to view himself as Germany’s rightful leader. This shift in his self-perception may have been largely influenced by the way his followers responded to him. Within this chapter, we discuss three broad areas of research that emphasize perceptual processes that are central to this dynamic leadership process. First,
Endogenous WNT Signaling Regulates hPSC-Derived Neural Progenitor Cell Heterogeneity and Specifies Their Regional Identity

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a multipotent cell population that is capable of nearly indefinite expansion and subsequent differentiation into the various neuronal and supporting cell types that comprise the CNS. However, current protocols for differentiating NPCs toward neuronal lineages result in a mixture of neurons from various regions of the CNS. In this study, we determined that endogenous WNT signaling is a primary contributor to the heterogeneity observed in NPC cultures and neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, exogenous manipulation of WNT signaling during neural differentiation, through either activation or inhibition, reduces this heterogeneity in NPC cultures, thereby promoting the formation of regionally homogeneous NPC and neuronal cultures. The ability to manipulate WNT signaling to generate regionally specific NPCs and neurons will be useful for studying human neural development and will greatly enhance the translational potential of hPSCs for neural-related therapies.
Isolation dependence of gate oxide quality at the LOCOS edge using an in-situ HCl-based pre-gate Pyroclean

The in-situ furnace HCl-based Pyroclean has been shown to remove metallics from silicon surfaces with dramatic efficiency. This paper demonstrates for the first time that, while the Pyroclean effectively reduces initial gate oxide shorts, it can degrade the gate oxide charge-to-breakdown of isolation modules which have not been properly optimized. A comparison of three LOCOS isolation schemes suggests that the Pyroclean preferentially attacks stressed previously roughened silicon. Optimizing the isolation edge to reduce stress and roughness is shown to eliminate deleterious Pyrocleaning effects.
The Neuroendocrine Basis of Social Recognition

All social relationships are dependent on an organism's ability to remember conspecifics. Social memory may be a unique form of memory, critical for reproduction, territorial defense, and the establishment of dominance hierarchies in a natural context. In the laboratory, social memory can be assessed reliably by measuring the reduction in investigation of a familiar partner relative to novel conspecifics. The neurohypophyseal neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin have been shown to influence a number of forms of social behavior, including affiliation, aggression, and reproduction. This article reviews vasopressin and oxytocin effects on social cognition, particularly the acquisition and retention of social recognition in rats and mice. Studies in rats have demonstrated that vasopressin in specific neural pathways, such as the lateral septum, is necessary for social recognition. As vasopressin facilitates recall when given after an initial encounter, the peptide appears important for the consolidation not the acquisition of a social memory. Although oxytocin has complex effects on social memory in rats, mice with a null mutation of the oxytocin gene are completely socially amnestic without other cognitive deficits evident. As oxytocin given centrally before but not after the initial encounter restores social recognition in these mutant mice, the neuropeptide appears critical for the acquisition rather than the consolidation phase of memory. Oxytocin's effects on social memory are mediated via a discrete cell population in the medial amygdala. These findings support the hypothesis that vasopressin and oxytocin are essential for social memory, although they appear to influence different cognitive processes and may modulate different neural systems. (c) Elsevier Science.
Diffusion of radioactively tagged 1,1-diphenylethane and n-hexadecane through rubbery polymers: Dependence on temperature and dilution with solvent

The diffusion of 1,1-diphenylethane in trace amounts through eight rubbery polymers has been studied by radioactive tagging of this penetrant with 14C. For several polymers, the dependence on temperature and on dilution (swelling) by untagged diphenylethane was investigated. In the diluted systems, tagged n-hexadecane was also used as a trace penetrant. The temperature and concentration dependences were interpreted rather successfully in terms of the free volume. In comparing different polymers, with a 4000-fold range of diffusion coefficients, the translatory friction coefficient of 1,1-diphenylethane was found to be proportional to that of n-hexadecane to the power 1.06. This is interpreted qualitatively by the free volume concept to indicate a slightly less efficient mobility mechanism for the diphenylethane.
Nocturnal Autonomic Balance and Sleep in PTSD and Resilience

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with heightened nocturnal autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal and sleep disturbances. It has been suggested that relationships between sleep and nocturnal ANS activity are influenced by insomnia; however, investigation of this relationship has been limited in PTSD. This study examined nocturnal ANS activity and its relationship to sleep in PTSD and resilience. Physically healthy young adult African Americans with current PTSD (n = 20) or who had never had PTSD despite exposure to a high-impact traumatic event (resilient, n = 18) were monitored with ambulatory electrocardiograms and actigraphy for 24-hr periods. Frequency-domain heart-rate variability measures, that is, low-frequency to high-frequency ratios (LF/HF), which index sympathetic nervous system activity, and normalized HF (nHF), which indexes parasympathetic nervous system activity were examined. Normalized HF during the time-in-bed period was lower for those with PTSD than those with resilience (p = .041). Total sleep time was strongly correlated with time-in-bed LF/HF (r = -.72) and nHF (r = .75) in the resilient group, but these were not correlated in the PTSD group. The results suggest elevated nocturnal ANS arousal and dissociation between ANS activity and total sleep time in PTSD.
Construct Differentiation and Person-Centred Regulative Messages

This research examined the effect of interpersonal construct differentiation and legitimate authority on several facets of regulative message design: the number of message strategies persuaders use...
Mechanical, Biomechanical and Psychophysical Study of Carpet Performance

This study investigated carpet performance by using mechanical, biomechanical and psychophysical methods. Four different carpets were tested in this study using a force platform which also served as a hard control floor. Compliance modulus was measured to characterize the mechanical property of carpets. Six college students stood barefoot on the force platform covered by a carpet sample under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. The center of pressure recorded by the force platform was used to quantify the postural sway in quiet stance. Perceived comfort was evaluated in different body areas for each flooring condition. Visual environment was found to significantly influence postural sway in quiet standing, and more compliant carpets were observed in general to be associated with faster sway velocity and smaller sway area. Also, more compliant carpets provided better perceived comfort, in particular in ankles and feet.
Electoral democratisation in nepal

Patterns of democratisation and political stability in Asia have been decidedly mixed over the last 20 years. Indeed, according to Freedom House (http://www.freedomhouse.org) and Polity (http://www...
THYMUS CELL MATURATION STUDIES ON THE ORIGIN OF CORTISONE-RESISTANT THYMIC LYMPHOCYTES

Outer thymic cortical large lymphocytes were labeled by transcapsular administration of tritiated thymidine. By 2–4 days after labeling, small and medium labeled lymphocyte descendants were found throughout the cortex and in the medulla. The labeled cortical lymphocytes undergo pycnosis after parenteral administration of hydrocortisone 24 h previously, but their (labeled) medullary descendants do not. In addition, parenteral administration of hydrocortisone at the time of surface labeling results in the absence of the appearance of labeled medullary descendants.
Classroom Teachers' Views Of Intervention Strategies For Learning And Behavior Problems: Which Are Reasonable And How Frequently Are They Used?

This study investigated intervention strategies that general educators use and believe are reasonable for implementation when dealing with children with mild learning and behavior problems. Two sources of data were used. Teachers from Wisconsin and Illinois (n = 232) rated how often they used 57 intervention strategies and how reasonable these strategies were for implementation in the classroom as a means of accommodating the needs of students with mild learning and behavior problems. Teacher ratings of use and reasonability were factor-analyzed, and five factors were generated for each. The two factor structures were interrelated and had similar factors. Factors generated for use were principal involvement, teacher intervention, special education, teacher consultation, and parent involvement. Factors generated for reasonability were teacher intervention, principal/teacher consultation, student alternatives, special education, and data collection. Eighty-seven of these teachers then were interviewed to de...
PROTECT: a deployed game theoretic system to protect the ports of the United States

While three deployed applications of game theory for security have recently been reported at AAMAS [12], we as a community remain in the early stages of these deployments; there is a continuing need to understand the core principles for innovative security applications of game theory. Towards that end, this paper presents PROTECT, a game-theoretic system deployed by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the port of Boston for scheduling their patrols. USCG has termed the deployment of PROTECT in Boston a success, and efforts are underway to test it in the port of New York, with the potential for nationwide deployment.PROTECT is premised on an attacker-defender Stackelberg game model and offers five key innovations. First, this system is a departure from the assumption of perfect adversary rationality noted in previous work, relying instead on a quantal response (QR) model of the adversary's behavior --- to the best of our knowledge, this is the first real-world deployment of the QR model. Second, to improve PROTECT's efficiency, we generate a compact representation of the defender's strategy space, exploiting equivalence and dominance. Third, we show how to practically model a real maritime patrolling problem as a Stackelberg game. Fourth, our experimental results illustrate that PROTECT's QR model more robustly handles real-world uncertainties than a perfect rationality model. Finally, in evaluating PROTECT, this paper for the first time provides real-world data: (i) comparison of human-generated vs PROTECT security schedules, and (ii) results from an Adversarial Perspective Team's (human mock attackers) analysis.
Summarizing Topical Contents from PubMed Documents Using a Thematic Analysis

Improving the search and browsing experience in PubMed r is a key component in helping users detect information of interest. In particular, when exploring a novel field, it is important to provide a comprehensive view for a specific subject. One solution for providing this panoramic picture is to find sub-topics from a set of documents. We propose a method that finds sub-topics that we refer to as themes and computes representative titles based on a set of documents in each theme. The method combines a thematic clustering algorithm and the Pool Adjacent Violators algorithm to induce significant themes. Then, for each theme, a title is computed using PubMed document titles and theme-dependent term scores. We tested our system on five disease sets from OMIM r and evaluated the results based on normalized point-wise mutual information and MeSH r terms. For both performance measures, the proposed approach outperformed LDA. The quality of theme titles were also evaluated by comparing them with manually created titles.
Results from IceCube

Data from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory have revealed the existence of a flux of high energy neutrinos of extraterrestrial origin, which is observed in a number of analyses spanning different energy ranges, fields of view, and neutrino flavors. The current data are consistent with an isotropic, equal-flavor flux described by a simple power law spectrum, but deviations from this simple model cannot yet be constrained with high precision. The existing observations in this area are reviewed, along with recent results on dark matter searches and observations of cosmic rays.
Torture in the Naked Public Square

Is torture ever ethically permissible? O’Donohue et al. (2014) argued that there are situations in which it is not only morally permissible but actually morally obligatory to torture a prisoner. Arrigo, DeBatto, Rockwood, and Mawe (2015) wrote a critical reply; O’Donohue et al. (2015) have responded. Yet to date, the specifically ethical weaknesses of the O’Donohue et al. position have not been examined; no argument against torture has been offered, nor have the lessons of the CIA’s secret program been taken into account. The present article moves the discussion forward on all three fronts. A case against torture is offered on pragmatic grounds.
Homolateral Synchronism of Lymphatic Hearts

It is a long recognized fact that the opposite members of each of the 2 pairs∗ of anuran lymph hearts do not beat in unison. There has apparently resulted a universal assumption that the same lack of unison exists between the anterior and posterior members of these pairs; that the several automatic spinal centers, which are known to deliver groups of nerve impulses rhythmically to the lymph hearts, operate each independently of the others1 (Fig. 1, a).Such independence, however, is discovered to be purely contralateral. A simultaneous mechanical record of the beats of anterior and posterior hearts of the same side reveals a strict correspondence of rhythm, in contrast to the obvious lack of synchrony registered at the same time by a heart of the opposite side (Fig. 2). The synchrony is remarkably stable, persisting even in extreme arrhythmia (Fig. 3). Spinal section between 4th and 5th vertebrae abolishes the unison but not the activity of the homolateral organs, while curarization or stimulation of one f...
Age at Menarche and Choice of College Major: Implications for STEM Majors

Even though boys and girls in childhood perform similarly in math and spatial thinking, after puberty fewer young women pursue majors that emphasize abilities such as science, technology, engineeri...
The role of magnetic agents in shaping post-disaster land use

Three neighborhoods in Lexington, Kentucky, share a common flood history, including property acquisitions, as a means to mitigate against flooding; yet, the interactions of residents with the buyout landscapes vary significantly among the neighborhoods. Although the same institutions and structural controls implemented flood buyout programs in all three neighborhoods, semi-structured interviews illustrate that differing perspectives, personalities, and neighborhood politics shaped unique identities and land uses for the acquired properties in each neighborhood. Varying levels of resident engagement with the buyout landscape resulted in a range of attitudes towards hazard preparation, management, and mitigation, thus leaving some neighborhoods more resilient to future flooding than others. This study explores key residents, termed magnetic agents, who drove neighborhood civic action and land uses on the open space created through floodplain property acquisition. This research indicates magnetic agents can serve as important partners for local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in building community-based projects aimed at reducing vulnerability to flood events and instituting high utility land uses on floodplain buyout open space.
Analysis of Electrocardiogram Results of Unexpected Sudden Cardiac Death in Yunnan,China from 2005 to 2006

Objective In order to master the electrocardiogram(ECG) before epidemic and during epidemic in the areas of the unexpected sudden cardiac death in Yunnan(USCD).Methods People of 3 to 60 years old from Ajiju Village of Dayao County and Donghua Village of Tengchong County were taken electrocardiogram before epidemic and during epidemic in 2005 and 2006.Then the data were analyzed.Results The abnormal ECG were mainly ST-T alteration, Q-T prolongation,atrioventricular block,premature beat,sinus tachycardia,complete right bundle branch block,left anterior hemiblock.The abnormal ratio before epidemic in 2006 were higher than that in 2005,and also higher than that during epidemic in 2006.The results also consisted in every area.Conclusions The abnormal ratio in USCD areas were higher than others.The risk factors were persistently attack the cardiac muscle of the people who are living in the USCD areas,and stronger in the year when there are sudden death case happened.Electrocardiography is very important for controlling and preventing the USCD.
The practicality of using the SMAST and AUDIT to screen for alcoholism among adolescents in an urban private family practice

We assessed the practicality of using the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in screening adolescents for alcoholism in a primary care setting. In addition, we sought to determine the prevalence of alcohol use among adolescents, 16-21 years of age, presenting to a private Family Medicine practice for medical care. A consecutive sample of 67 subjects presenting for medical care were asked to complete the SMAST and AUDIT questionnaires. Overall, 52 (78%) of the questionnaires were returned with complete data. Of the 52 patients, 25 (48%) admitted to drinking. Using a "positive" score on either the SMAST or AUDIT as a positive test for alcohol use yielded a sensitivity of 40% and a predictive value positive of 100%. Using a "negative" score on both the SMAST and AUDIT as a negative test for alcohol use yielded a specificity of 100% and a predictive value negative of 64%. Although alcohol use was relatively common considering the age group, using the SMAST and AUDIT to screen for alcoholism is labor intensive and is not practical in this situation. Because patients appeared to misinterpret some questions and were often accompanied to the office by their parents, their answers may not be valid. History of alcoholism taken upon typical office examination and relevant advice appears to be a better alternative to the use of questionnaires in determining the prevalence of alcohol use in this age group.
Randomized Systematic Sampling in Physician Surveys

In this paper, we examine the problem of estimating physician readership of health-care publications, Typically, market researchers have used the easy-to-implement procedure of systematic sampling; however, this often violates necessary statistical assumptions and leads to unquantifiable, sometimes biased results. A randomized procedure is described which insures valid statistical inferences.
Environmental Change and Farmer-Herder Conflict in Agro-Pastoral West Africa

The debate concerning resource conflict, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), has become a polarized “dialogue of the deaf” between modelers who argue for a robust relationship between climate anomalies and conflict and scholars who are skeptical of this assertion. Most skeptical scholars, arguing for the primary importance of economic and political factors, have largely eschewed quantitative engagement with the biophysical dimensions of resource conflicts. This article takes a step towards reconciling these seemingly disparate but compatible viewpoints by using a political ecology framework together with empirical measurements of the environmental changes—rainfall, land cover, and fire—that play key roles in the increasingly intense competition between smallholder farmers and semi-nomadic livestock herders. An original contribution of this article is its use of geographic scale to identify relationships between these environmental changes, agro-pastoral livelihood adaptations and resource tenure arrangements that may be contributing to more local resource conflicts.
The mechanism of eutectic growth in highly anisotropic materials.

In the past 50 years, there has been increasing interest—both theoretically and experimentally—in the problem of pattern formation of a moving boundary, such as a solidification front. One example of pattern formation is that of irregular eutectic solidification, in which the solid–liquid interface is non-isothermal and the interphase spacing varies in ways that are poorly understood. Here, we identify the growth mode of irregular eutectics, using reconstructions from four-dimensional (that is, time and space resolved) X-ray microtomography. Our results show that the eutectic growth process can be markedly different from that seen in previously used model systems and theories based on the ex situ analysis of microstructure. In light of our experimental findings, we present a coherent growth model of irregular eutectic solidification. The origins of non-periodic growth features observed in irregular eutectics have been a source of controversy. Here authors use time-resolved X-ray microtomography during eutectic growth of an alloy to show how competing models can be extended and reconciled.
Comparison of transepithelial resistance measurement techniques: Chopsticks vs. Endohm

TER measurements across confluent cellular monolayers provide a useful indication of TJ strength between epithelial and endothelial cells in culture. Having a reliable and accurate method of measuring cell-to-cell adhesion is critical to studies in pathophysiology and cancer metastasis. However, the use of different technical approaches to measure TER has reportedly yielded inconsistent measurements within the same cell lines. In the current study, we compared the peak TER values for the MDCK (canine kidney) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer) epithelial cell lines using two common approaches (Chopstick and Endohm) and two types of polymer inserts (PC and PET). Both cell lines demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the peak TERs obtained using the two different approaches. Further, the MDCK (but not the MCF-7) cells demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the peak TERs when using the same approach but different inserts. Our study indicates the importance of using a single approach when seeking to measure and compare the TER values of cultured cell lines.
A 64×64 high-density redox amplified coulostatic discharge-based biosensor array in 180nm CMOS

This paper describes the design of a high-density 4,096-pixel electrochemical biosensor array in 180nm CMOS for biomedical applications that require multiple analyte detection from small (5μL) samples. Each pixel of the array contains an exposed 45×45μm2 interdigitated micro-electrode surrounded by a ∼9pL nanowell fabricated using only a standard CMOS process along with a simple electroless gold plating procedure without the need for further post processing. Directly underneath each transducer is a complete ultra-low-leakage (sub-fA) readout circuitry, which leverages the Coulostatic Discharge sensing technique and interdigitated electrode (IDE) geometry to minimize both the complexity and overall size of the array. By evaluating IDE designs with different feature sizes (2–5μm), an average maximum amplification factor of 10.5x was achieved using redox cycling coupled with the higher collection efficiency of trenches formed from opening the passivation. The array's sensor density is comparable to or better than state-of-the-art sensor arrays, all without augmenting the sensors with additional materials or structures. Using the array, detection of anti-Rubella is demonstrated as progress towards a complete vaccination panel.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Place of the Charter in Europe: Common Values

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (hereinafter: Charter) lacks a distinct identity as a legal instrument. Almost every detail is known about the process from which it emerged. It is also a matter of common knowledge that it was adopted at a meeting of the European Council in Nice on 7 December 2000, where it was signed and proclaimed by the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission.1 But it cannot easily be classified as a legal act to which secondary rules2 attribute a specific connotation. Since neither of the institutions of the European Union (hereinafter: Union) enjoys a power to amend the treaties on European integration, it does not form part and parcel of the treaty system on which the Union is predicated. On the other hand, it does not constitute an act of secondary law of the European Community since the Community3 has not been empowered to set forth or codify human rights law in genera1.4
Fractal Structures and Dynamics of Cluster Growth

Publisher Summary The formation of large clusters by the binding together of single particles or monomers occurs commonly in many important processes in physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering. These monomers can be atoms or molecules but can also be considerably larger growth units. Many growth phenomena in which a complex pattern is formed by addition or removal of material can also be modeled by a cluster growth process. This chapter discusses some of the recent advances in describing the morphology and the growth kinetics of clustering phenomena using scaling and fractal concepts. Fractal properties of a cluster are independent of many of the details of the system and provide a unified framework for characterizing the geometrical and morphological aspects of clusters. The kinetics of cluster formation can be studied through the temporal evolution of the cluster-size distribution in aggregation phenomena and the time dependence of the surface-roughness in surface growth processes. The chapter presents the dynamic scaling approach and explains how the kinetics of cluster growth and the temporal evolution of growing surfaces can be described using this powerful and general approach.
Tools for Analyzing Quantitative Data

Data analysis tools for quantitative studies are addressed in the areas of: (a) enhancements for data acquisition, (b) simple to sophisticated analysis techniques, and (c) extended exploration of relationships in data, often with visualization of results. Examples that are interwoven with data and findings from published research studies are used to illustrate the use of the tools in the service of established research goals and objectives. The authors contend that capabilities have greatly expanded in all three areas over the past 30 years, and especially during the past two decades.
Preclinical evaluation of a novel silver gelling fiber dressing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a porcine wound infection model

The wound environment is a fertile ground for biofilm forming pathogens. Once biofilms form within the wound, they can be very challenging to eradicate. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a gelling fiber dressing with silver using a well-established porcine wound biofilm model. Deep partial thickness wounds were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27312 and covered with a polyurethane film dressing to promote biofilm formation. Wounds were then divided into treatment groups: gelling fiber dressing with silver, gelling fiber dressing without silver, hydrofiber dressing with silver, benzethonium chloride and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and compared to untreated control. Microbiological, biofilm, and histological wound assessments were performed on days 3, 5, and 7 postinfection. Treatment with gelling fiber dressing with silver resulted in significant reduction of P. aeruginosa biofilm when compared to all other treatment groups on every assessment time point. In addition, gelling fiber dressing with silver treatment resulted in detachment of biofilm from the wound, while wounds treated with gelling fiber dressing with and without silver showed more granulation tissue formation on day 3. Our data show that a new gelling fiber dressing with silver was effective in reducing biofilm associated P. aeruginosa in vivo. This study may have important clinical implications especially for wounds heavily colonized with gram-negative biofilm-forming bacteria.
Low Pass Filter PUF: Authentication of Printed Circuit Boards Based on Resistor and Capacitor Variations

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are probabilistic circuit primitives that extract randomness from the physical characteristics of a device. PUFs are easy and simple to implement and its random...