cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Jatropha waste meal as an alternative energy source via pressurized pyrolysis: A study on temperature effects

Abstract As an alternative energy source, Jatropha is a promising biomass resource due to its high content of oil contained in the seed. However, after the oil extraction process, more than 50% of initial weight remained as residue. This Jatropha de-oiled cake was considered a valuable feedstock for thermochemical conversion process due to its high volatile matter (73%) and energy content (20.5 MJ/kg). Pyrolysis turned biomass into solid product of biochar, liquid product (bio-oil and aqueous phase), and pyrolysis gas. The effects of pyrolysis temperature under the pressure of 0.69 MPa on the product yields and characteristics were investigated using a bench-scale batch reactor. The gross calorific value of pyrolytic oil was measured to be 35 MJ/kg with high carbon content (71%) and low oxygen content (10%). Phenols and hydrocarbons were the main compounds present in the pyrolytic oil. The heating value of the biochar was also high (28 MJ/kg), which was comparable to the fuel coke. More combustible gases were released at high pyrolysis temperature with methane as a main constituent. Pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C, was determined to be an optimum condition for the mass and energy conversions with 89% of the mass and 77% of the energy recovered.
Lack of CaBP1/Caldendrin or CaBP2 Leads to Altered Ganglion Cell Responses.

Calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) form a subfamily of calmodulin-like proteins that were cloned from the retina. CaBP4 and CaBP5 have been shown to be important for normal visual function. Although CaBP1/caldendrin and CaBP2 have been shown to modulate various targets in vitro , it is not known whether they contribute to the transmission of light responses through the retina. Therefore, we generated mice that lack CaBP2 or CaBP1/caldendrin ( Cabp2 –/– and Cabp1 –/– ) to test whether these CaBPs are essential for normal retinal function. By immunohistochemistry, the overall morphology of Cabp1 –/– and Cabp2 –/– retinas and the number of synaptic ribbons appear normal; transmission electron microscopy shows normal tethered ribbon synapses and synaptic vesicles as in wild-type retinas. However, whole-cell patch clamp recordings showed that light responses of retinal ganglion cells of Cabp2 –/– and Cabp1 –/– mice differ in amplitude and kinetics from those of wild-type mice. We conclude that CaBP1/caldendrin and CaBP2 are not required for normal gross retinal and synapse morphology but are necessary for the proper transmission of light responses through the retina; like other CaBPs, CaBP1/caldendrin and CaBP2 likely act by modulating presynaptic Ca 2+ -dependent signaling mechanisms.
Device performance enhancement of polymer solar cells by nanoparticle self-assembly

Abstract We show that it is possible to assemble a sparse mono-layer of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) at cathode interface of a polymer solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl-C60-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) through the synergic effect of strong convective outflow, surface energy, Fe3O4 NPs concentration and active layer thickness. When the distance between those Fe3O4 NPs is smaller than the size of P3HT, the P3HT is excluded from the inter-particle space, and fullerene molecules fill in the space to build electron transport pathways improving charge transport and collection near cathode interface proved by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The power conversion efficiency of the devices is improved up to 20%. The bulk morphology of light absorbing layers is not affected by the addition of Fe3O4 NPs as demonstrated by neutron and X-ray scattering results.
Social media indicators of the food environment and state health outcomes

Abstract Objectives Contextual factors can influence health through exposures to health-promoting and risk-inducing factors. The aim of this study was to (1) build, from geotagged Twitter and Yelp data, a national food environment database and (2) to test associations between state food environment indicators and health outcomes. Study design This is a cross-sectional study based upon secondary analyses of publicly available data. Methods Using Twitter's Streaming Application Programming Interface (API), we collected and processed 4,041,521 food-related, geotagged tweets between April 2015 and March 2016. Using Yelp's Search API, we collected data on 505,554 unique food-related businesses. In linear regression models, we examined associations between food environment characteristics and state-level health outcomes, controlling for state-level differences in age, percent non-Hispanic white, and median household income. Results A one standard deviation increase in caloric density of food tweets was related to higher all-cause mortality (+46.50 per 100,000), diabetes (+0.75%), obesity (+1.78%), high cholesterol (+1.40%), and fair/poor self-rated health (2.01%). More burger Yelp listings were related to higher prevalence of diabetes (+0.55%), obesity (1.35%), and fair/poor self-rated health (1.12%). More alcohol tweets and Yelp bars and pub listings were related to higher state-level binge drinking and heavy drinking, but lower mortality and lower percent reporting fair/poor self-rated health. Supplemental analyses with county-level social media indicators and county health outcomes resulted in finding similar but slightly attenuated associations compared to those found at the state level. Conclusions Social media can be utilized to create indicators of the food environment that are associated with area-level mortality, health behaviors, and chronic conditions.
INHIBITION OF MUSCLE DEGENERATION USING PROTEASE INHIBITORS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the inhibition of muscle degeneration using protease inhibitors. Although, the primary lesion responsible for muscle degeneration in muscular dystrophy is unknown, both the human and animal disease are characterized by an extensive loss of sarcoplasmic and contractile protein and their replacement by fat and connective tissue. There is little doubt that proteases are somehow involved, be they lysosomal or cytoplasmic, when one considers the large quantity of contractile protein that must be catabolized. In dystrophic untreated animals (DU), there was a progressive increase of fatty tissue with considerable fiber degeneration. In contrast, dystrophic treated muscle (DT) showed little fatty infiltration and the general architecture of the muscle was well preserved. It is possible that dystrophic muscle is embryonic in nature and contains contractile proteins in their embryonic form, which are more susceptible to proteolysis.
Round Table Summary : Endogeneous and Exogeneous Inhibitors and Sensitizers. Fundamental Aspects

This Round Table, which served as an introduction to the more clinically oriented Round Table on photosensitization held later in the Congress (Therapeutic and Pathophysiologic Implications) was con cerned with the basic aspects of photosensitization and protection against photosensitized damage at the molecular and cellular levels. It was first shown by Raab in 1900 that low concentrations of acridines and certain other dyes, which had no deleterious effects in the dark, give a rapid killing of paramecia on illumination; a few years later von Tappeiner and coworkers demonstrated that dyes such as eosin sensitize the photoinactivation of enzymes (see references in 1). Photosensitized phenomena of this type in biological systems are often termed “photodynamic” reactions, especially in those cases where oxygen is involved.
Wearable sensing devices for human-machine interaction systems

Two projects involving wearable sensing devices with antennas are summarized. The first project senses physiological signals; namely, photoplethysmograph (PPG), galvanic skin response (GSR), and skin temperature (SKT), in a design that is low cost, low power, and embedded in a non-intrusive wristband form factor. These wearable sensors are capable of physiological monitoring, which is important when detecting implicit communication cues related to emotions and affective expressions such that affective computing is possible [1]. The device transmits data wirelessly to a PC using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. A related computer interaction has been developed to teach words to students, while monitoring their physiological signals to classify engagement. The second project aims to provide occupant-specific energy feedback in real-time. To do so, it is necessary to gather information about how each occupant is using energy (i.e., how much electricity they use on a daily basis). Therefore, a sensor was designed with the capabilities of detecting energy-related events, confirming the energy-related events using a proximity sensing technique, and being small enough to be worn or carried around during day-to-day activities. The printed circuit board (PCB) designs of both projects are summarized.
IDIOPATHIC TRICUSPID REGURGITATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED LONG TERM SURVIVAL

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) frequently occurs as a consequence of left sided heart disease or pulmonary hypertension. However, there is a growing population of patients with severe TR in the absence of a readily identifiable cause (‘idiopathic TR'). In these patients without significant
The Nature of Environmental Conflict

Not that long ago, most people regarded economic development as the cornerstone of social progress. Industrial expansion, municipal growth, highway construction, energy development, and mineral extraction were promoted both as ends in themselves and as the means by which the lives of all members of society would constantly improve.
Career Concerns, Project Choice, and Signaling

This paper studies how career concerns affect an agent's choice between a risky and a safe project when the risky project's return depends on its quality and the agent's ability. If the agent does not know her ability, career concerns lead to underinvestment in the risky project, which generalizes a result in Holmstrom (1999). In contrast, if the agent privately knows her ability, then project choice itself signals ability, resulting in overinvestment. Moreover, if project quality is verifiable, first-best is attainable if the agent does not know her ability, but not attainable if she privately knows her ability.
Build Rate Optimization for Powder Bed Fusion

The authors previously proposed a geometrically based model to predict the volume fraction of lack-of-fusion porosity in parts produced by powder bed fusion. To test this model, AlSi10Mg cubes with varying hatch spacing and layer thickness were printed in this work. Bulk densities of samples were measured with the Archimedes method and agree well with model predictions. The model was also validated by results from the literature on additively manufactured PA-12 polymer parts. Quantitative prediction of conditions that lead to part porosity allows considerable improvement in the volumetric build rate, compared with the default processing parameters provided by the equipment supplier. Nearly fully dense AlSi10Mg parts (> 99.5% dense) were fabricated with a build rate double that for standard conditions. Some melt-pool variability and large changes in hatch rotation angle do not affect the overall volume fraction of residual porosity.
Interaction and presence in the virtual classroom: An analysis of the perceptions of students and teachers in online and blended Advanced Placement courses

Abstract Interaction has been shown to be a key component to the success of online and blended learning, so it is crucial to understand how teachers and students perceive the interaction within online and blended secondary courses. Using a qualitative content analysis approach to student and teacher focus group transcripts, this study focuses on student and teacher perceptions of interaction in Virtual Advanced Placement courses across a state in the northeastern United States. Viewed through the lenses of social and teaching presence components of the community of inquiry model, students and teachers perceived the interaction within the course very differently, with teachers reporting largely favorable views of the interaction and students generally viewing the interaction in opposing ways. Results of this study suggest that a fourth presence, learning presence, warrants consideration since without it areas of student experience in online and blended coursework remain unaccounted for. Results of this coding scheme show that we can do more to communicate both the expectations and the process of communication between students and teachers in online and blended coursework, especially at the secondary level.
Dissertation Chapter 4: Memory Set Free: The Execution as the End of the Victim-Offender Relationship

Prior to McVeigh's execution on June 12, 2001, victims' family members and survivors perceived that they were trapped in an involuntary relationship wherein McVeigh was a unwanted part of their lives, an intruder into the processes of memory reconstruction who could manipulate or unsettle recovery at will with callous media commentary. McVeigh's behavior at trial upset many because McVeigh did not comport himself as a remorseful defendant, but as a defiant offender who took pride in the devastation he had wrought. Those who witnessed the execution confronted McVeigh again in his final moments, face-to-face in the case of those who witnessed by closed-circuit. However, this confrontation was on different terms. McVeigh was no longer a man presumed innocent but a condemned offender strapped to a gurney to die. And the ones witnessing that death had survived a tremendous tragedy and were adamant that they were not only going to survive, but that they were going to live. As a result of the execution, family members and survivors were able to finally exorcise McVeigh as a presence in their lives and detangle him from their day-to-day mnemetic reconstructive formations. With McVeigh removed as a reconstructive roadblock, and with legal proceedings against him finally at an end, mnemetic healing could resume. This chapter begins by discussing executions as communicative events that play formative roles in victims' and survivors' reconstructive mnemetic processes. It then proceeds to analyze the roles of gazing behavior and silence in the McVeigh execution. With respect to gaze, not only did witnesses perceive that McVeigh's gaze held communicative import, but his gazing behaviors confirmed witnesses' prior impressions of McVeigh as a defiant and remorseless offender. This chapter then discusses three dimensions of silence: witnesses' silence, McVeigh's silence, and execution as a means of silencing McVeigh. Finally, this chapter discusses witnesses' reactions to McVeigh's peaceful death and their desires for a more palpable display of suffering. This chapter concludes by observing that, although many characteristics of an "ideal" execution, such as the offender's apology, were not present, McVeigh's execution was ultimately successful because it effected a period of silence in which victims' families and survivors could finally proceed with mnemetic reconstruction.
Incorporating the impacts of climate change into infrastructure life cycle assessments: A case study of pavement service life performance

Climate change is expected to impact both the operational and structural performance of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, and buildings. However, most past life cycle assessment (LCA) studies do not consider how the operational/structural performance of infrastructure will be affected by a changing climate. The goal of this research was to develop a framework for integrating climate change impacts into LCA of infrastructure systems. To illustrate this framework, a flexible pavement case study was considered where life‐cycle environmental impacts were compared across a climate change scenario and several time horizons. The Mechanistic‐Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) was utilized to capture the structural performance of each pavement performance scenario and performance distresses were used as inputs into a pavement LCA model that considered construction and maintenance/rehabilitation materials and activities, change in relative surface albedo, and impacts due to traffic. The results from the case study suggest that climate change will likely call for adaptive design requirements in the latter half of this century but in the near‐to‐mid term, the international roughness index (IRI) and total rutting degradation profile was very close to the historical climate run. While the inclusion of mechanistic performance models with climate change data as input introduces new uncertainties to infrastructure‐based LCA, sensitivity analyses runs were performed to better understand a comprehensive range of result outcomes. Through further infrastructure cases the framework could be streamlined to better suit specific infrastructures where only the infrastructure components with the greatest sensitivity to climate change are explicitly modeled using mechanistic‐empirical modeling routines.
Medication Safety: Unique Aspects in ASCs

In the United States, adverse drug events due to medication errors result in thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in increased health care costs every year, and ASCs are not immune. Errors are not usually the result of a single caregiver’s willfully unsafe actions, but instead are usually the result of compound failures in several levels of safeguards designed into the health care system. Information on adverse drug events and near-misses must be continually reviewed to detect trends or patterns that may indicate systemic vulnerabilities. An open reporting culture, a robust, data-driven monitoring system, and proactive managers who seek out opportunities to learn from the mistakes and unsafe conditions reported at other institutions will all help to minimize medication errors. ASCs should ideally utilize a medication management committee, rather than a single individual. This committee will help the ASC implement and evaluate its processes and policies relating to medication planning, selection and procurement, storage, ordering, preparing and dispensing, administration, storage, and evaluation. Each of these phases poses unique challenges for the ASC, and this chapter describes how to minimize risks for the ASC’s patients.
Parental substance use and child reward-driven eating behaviors

Abstract Family history of substance use is a well-established risk factor for greater substance use in adolescence and adulthood. The biological vulnerability hypothesis proposes that family history of substance use might also confer risk for obesogenic eating behavior because of similar rewarding characteristics between substances and certain foods (e.g., processed foods high in refined carbohydrates and fat). Indeed, preliminary research shows that family history of substance use is linked with sweet liking and obesity in adults; however, it is unknown whether this factor is linked to eating behavior earlier in development. The present study (n = 52) tested the association of severity of parental nicotine dependence and alcohol use (drinking frequency, drinking quantity, binge drinking, and number of annual drinks consumed) with two types of child [Mage = 10.18 (0.83) years] eating behavior: homeostatic eating behavior, or eating regulated by internal satiety cues, and reward-driven eating behavior, or eating motivated by pleasure. Results indicated that—over and above the influence of child age, child biological sex, and family income—more severe parental nicotine dependence and frequent and/or heavy, frequent parental alcohol use were associated with significantly greater child reward-driven eating behaviors as indexed by the Food Responsiveness and Enjoyment of Food subscales on the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Parental substance use was not associated with child homeostatic eating behavior as indexed by the Satiety Responsiveness subscale. Family history of substance use may be an important transdiagnostic risk factor that identifies children at risk for obesogenic, reward-driven eating behaviors.
GeniusRoute: A New Analog Routing Paradigm Using Generative Neural Network Guidance

Due to sensitive layout-dependent effects and varied performance metrics, analog routing automation for performance-driven layout synthesis is difficult to generalize. Existing research has proposed a number of heuristic layout constraints targeting specific performance metrics. However, previous frameworks fail to automatically combine routing with human intelligence. This paper proposes a novel, fully automated, analog routing paradigm that leverages machine learning to provide routing guidance, mimicking the sophisticated manual layout approaches. Experiments show that the proposed methodology obtains significant improvements over existing techniques and achieves competitive performance to manual layouts while being capable of generalizing to circuits of different functionality.
The Value of Public Parks: A Hedonic Price Model

This paper uses a hedonic price model to estimate the value of public parks in the city of Buenos Aires. The main aim is to verify the externalities generated by parks and other green spaces, as reflected in real estate values.
Sorption and abiotic transformation of monensin by iron and manganese oxides.

Abstract Monensin, an ionophore antibiotic, is commonly administered as a feed additive to cattle and poultry. A large percentage of the administered dose is excreted in animal waste, which is often applied to agricultural fields as fertilizer. The objective of this work is to gain insight into the fate of monensin in soil by investigating the interactions between monensin and common soil minerals, including sorption and transformation to unmonitored partial oxidation products. Batch sorption experiments across varying conditions (i.e., pH, ionic strength) and desorption experiments (i.e., methanol, PO43−, methyl tert-butyl ether) were used to determine the extent to which a selection of common redox-active soil minerals [birnessite (δ-MnO2), goethite (α-FeOOH), hematite (α-Fe2O3)] can bind and transform monensin. Monensin was bound by hematite (pH
Beyond Racial Visibility and Invisible: Reply to Hartman and Sheehi

In responding to the rich discussions from Stephen Hartman and Lara Sheehi (this issue), the author builds on the ways each discussant explores how invisibility and visibility shape phantomatic obs...
Implosion of spherical and cylindrical air cavities

Collapses of various air cavities (or bubbles) surrounded by much higher water pressures were investigated using the analytical equations as well as the finite element analysis (FEA) to understand the characteristics of the collapsing cavities and the propagation of shock waves resulting from the collapse. Both spherical and infinitely long cylindrical cavities were considered, while the initial radius of the cavity and the water depth were varied. The study examined the collapsing speeds of the cavities to their minimum sizes, the times to reach the minimum sizes, the resultant maximum pressures in the cavity, and the propagating pressure profiles emitted from the collapsed cavities. The FEA solutions were compared to analytical equations from different theories when the latter was available. Empirical equations were also developed with the guidance of the theories and the observation of the FEA results for those parameters examined in the study, so that the characteristic behaviors of collapsing cavities and their generation of shock waves could be better understood and predicted.
Brain Selective Estrogen Treatment Protects Dopaminergic Neurons and Preserves Behavioral Function in MPTP-induced Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and loss of both motor and non-motor features. Several clinical and preclinical studies have provided evidence that estrogen therapy reduces the risk of PD but have limitations in terms of adverse peripheral effects. Therefore, we examined the potential beneficial effects of the brain-selective estrogen prodrug, 10β, 17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one (DHED) on nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration and behavioral abnormalities in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. Wild-type mice were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of DHED (50 and 100 µg/kg) or vehicle for four weeks. To produce PD-like symptoms, mice were injected with MPTP (18 mg/kg in saline; intraperitoneally) four times at 2-hr intervals for one day. After behavioral examination, mice were sacrificed, and the brains were isolated for neurochemical and morphological examinations. MPTP injected mice exhibited loss of dopaminergic neurons and fibers in substantia nigra and striatum respectively, along with impaired motor function at day 7 post MPTP injection. These phenotypes were associated with significantly increased oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the striatum regions. DHED treatments significantly mitigated behavioral impairments and dopaminergic neurodegeneration induced by MPTP. We further observed that DHED treatment suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation in the striatum of MPTP treated mice when compared to vehicle treated mice. In conclusions, our findings suggest that DHED protects dopaminergic neurons from MPTP toxicity in mouse model of PD and support a beneficial effect of brain-selective estrogen in attenuating neurodegeneration and motor symptoms in PD-related neurological disorders.
Drivers of Revenue Generation in the Blue Economy of Bangladesh: A Case Study on the Chattogram Sea Port

Blue Economy is a blessing for an emerging economy like Bangladesh. After achieving a new maritime boundary, it becomes more significant for economic development utilizing ocean resources. Considering this phenomenon, this paper aims to find out the drivers of revenues in the context of the Blue Economy of Bangladesh. The study has confined itself to the Chattogram Sea Port and its operations. It is based on historical data ranges from 2009 to 2018. The methods of research analysis were descriptive statistical tools, tabular and graphical analysis. The study has found out that the Chattogram Sea Port (CSP) has been contributing to the Blue Economy of Bangladesh. The major drivers of revenue generation are living resources, minerals, energy and transport and trade at the seaports.CSP generates most of its revenues from the export-import, containers and vessel management. Expenditure control can also enhance the revenue of CSP. Proper planning and policies can expedite the growth of the Blue Economy in Bangladesh. The effort should be balanced between proper planning and effective execution.
Enhancing pyrolysis gas and bio-oil formation through transition metals as in situ catalysts

Abstract Biobased fuels resulting from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic materials suffer from several key issues. Only a portion of the biomass feedstock is converted to pyrolysis oil, and only a portion of compounds in that oil represent desired end products. Bio-oil contains myriad oxygenated and aromatic compounds, many of which form tars and impart high acidity, viscosity, and instability. This necessitates substantial upgrading to generate a stable, valuable product. The inclusion of in situ catalysts during pyrolysis can improve the pyrolysis oil by promoting the cracking of tarry compounds and formation of smaller furans and phenols. This study examines the impact of in situ transition metal catalysts on cellulose pyrolysis, quantifying changes in bio-oil composition and non-condensable gas generation. Cellulose was wet impregnated with six different metal acetates at a concentration of 0.05 M and pyrolyzed at 600 °C, and some samples additionally pyrolyzed at 350 °C. The metals enhanced devolatilization, increasing hydrogen gas production at high and low temperatures and improved bio-oil yields while decreasing the average molecular weight of the oil compounds. Nickel proved to be the most effective at generating hydrogen gas and producing a wider array of light-weight bio-oil compounds. Copper aided dehydrogenation at lower temperatures and began the initial stages of primary pyrolysis by generating levoglucosenone and glucopyranose. These findings shed light on metal-biomass interactions and contribute to the growing body of knowledge of in situ bio-oil upgrading. By understanding how catalysts improve bio-oils we can generate high-density and cleaner-burning liquid fuels to displace the use of fossil fuels.
Trend of Diabetes-Related Hospital Admissions During the Transition Period From Adolescence to Adulthood in the State of California.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the incidence of diabetes-related hospital admissions and described the characteristics among youth and emerging adults with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in California. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted using the statewide inpatient database during the years 2014-2018. Individuals aged 13-24 years hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or severe hypoglycemia (SH) were recorded. Demographic characteristics and health measures among youth (ages 13-18) and young adults (ages 19-24) were compared. RESULTS A total of 34,749 admission encounters for T1D and 3,304 for T2D were analyzed. Hospitalization rates significantly increased with age during the transition to adulthood, from 70/100,000 California population at age 17 to 132/100,000 at age 19 in T1D. Higher hospitalization rates were demonstrated in young adults than in youth in T1D, and the rate was significantly higher in Black young adults (23.9%) than in youth (12.0%) among the age-adjusted population with diabetes (P < 0.0001). More young adults admitted were on public insurance, and approximately half were from the lowest income quartile. No difference was observed in hospital length of stay; however, hospital charges were higher among young adults. Young adults were three times more likely to be admitted for severe conditions. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated a significant rise in hospital admission during the transition period in individuals with T1D. There were significantly more Black young adults who were on public insurance and had lower socioeconomic status. Our findings suggest that the health care system fails many emerging adults with diabetes, particularly for people of color, and that improving medical transition is crucial.
The Hardiness of Fame

After Whitman’s first paralytic stroke in 1873 his body recovered very slowly but his fame surged, especially in England. His mother died in 1873. Among many, James E. Miller, Jr., and Roger Asselineau saw great artistic change in Whitman’s later poems. Discussion of “Prayer of Columbus,” “Gods,” “Perfections,” “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer,” “I Sit and Look Out,” and others; also “Specimen Days.”
Friction measurement method and modeling of a metallic rod sliding through a flexible polymer tube

Abstract A new tribometer has been developed for the measurement of sliding friction between a stationary flexible polymeric sleeve and a rigid metallic rod that moves longitudinally within the sleeve. The tribometer enables both the normal and pull forces to be controlled and measured to high accuracy. The pull force was provided by an adaptation of a tensile testing machine which imparts a precisely controlled linear motion to the sliding tribopartner. Direct measurement of the normal force at the interface between the tribopartners is not necessary since it can be determined to very high accuracy by the innovative use of numerical simulation. Prior to its application to a specific physical situation, numerous replicate experiments were performed which demonstrated virtually perfect reproducibility. The tribometer was applied to determine the relationship between the extent of plasma processing of the bore of a flexible polymeric tube and the coefficient of friction between the tube and a stainless steel rod sliding within the silicone tube. This situation frequently arises in connection with therapeutic biomedical devices. The coefficients of friction determined from the experiments displayed a monotonic decrease as the extent of processing increased.
Distinct contributions by ionotropic purinoceptor subtypes to ATP‐evoked calcium signals in mouse parotid acinar cells

There is emerging consensus that P2X₄ and P2X₇ ionotropic purinoceptors (P2X₄R and P2X₇R) are critical players in regulating [Ca²⁺]i dynamics and fluid secretion in the salivary gland. In contrast, details regarding their compartmentalization and selective activation, contributions to the spatiotemporal properties of intracellular signals and roles in regulating protein exocytosis and ion channel activity have remained largely undefined. To address these concerns, we profiled mouse parotid acinar cells using live-cell imaging to follow the spatial and temporal features of ATP-evoked Ca²⁺ dynamics and exocytotic activity. Selective activation of P2X7Rs revealed an apical-to-basal [Ca²⁺]i signal that initiated at the sub-luminal border and propagated with a wave speed estimated at 17.3 ± 4.3 μm s⁻¹ (n =6). The evoked Ca²⁺ spike consisted of Ca²⁺ influx and Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release from intracellular Ca²⁺ channels. In contrast, selective activation of P2X₄Rs induced a Ca²⁺ signal that initiated basally and propagated toward the lumen with a wave speed of 4.3 ± 0.2 μm s⁻¹ (n =8) that was largely independent of intracellular Ca²⁺ channel blockade. Consistent with these observations, P2X₇R expression was enriched in the sub-luminal regions of acinar cells while P2X₄R appeared localized to basal areas. In addition, we showed that P2X₄R and P2X₇R activation evokes exocytosis in parotid acinar cells. Our studies also demonstrate that the P2X₄R-mediated [Ca²⁺]i rise and subsequent protein exocytosis was enhanced by ivermectin (IVR). Thus, in addition to furthering our understanding of salivary gland physiology, this study identifies P2X₄R as a potential target for treatment of salivary hypofunction diseases.
Design, Simulation, and Implementation of Hybrid Systems

This talk will present two detailed examples of hybrid systems, covering design, simulation and implementation. The first concerns an Automated Highway System. The second application deals with a collection of autonomous unmanned aircraft. The paper provides a background about hybrid systems.
The enzymic and molecular nature of the lactic dehydrogenase subbands and X4 isozyme.

Abstract 1. Kinetic data have been obtained with the purified X4 isozyme of lactic dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) from rabbit and human spermatozoa, and compared with the data for the purified H4 and M4 isozymes. The studies indicate that the rabbit or human X4 isozymes have enzymatic properties very similar to those of the rabbit or human H4 isozymes, respectively. 2. The average molecular weight of the rabbit X4 isozyme was estimated by sucrose density gradient to be 150,000, identical with that of the rabbit H4 isozyme, while the rabbit M4 isozyme had an average molecular weight of 140,000. 3. The distribution of the X4 isozyme in various rabbit tissues was investigated, and bands corresponding to the X4 isozyme were found in the seminal fluid, and in extracts of heart, kidney, and the ampulla, as well as in the testes and spermatozoa. 4. Kinetic data concerning substrate inhibition by l-lactate of the rabbit H4 isozyme subbands was obtained, which demonstrate that these subbands do not all have the same enzymatic properties. 5. The electrophoretic patterns, molecular weights, heat stabilities, and enzymatic properties were interpreted as suggesting that the X4 isozyme and the subbands of rabbit lactic dehydrogenase are tetramers formed by hybrid subunits, and are not controlled by genes other than those controlling the synthesis of the H4 and M4 isozymes.
Directed diffusion based on weighted Grover's quantum algorithm (DWGQ)

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have become involved in many different areas such as military, disaster management, and many other civic uses. So, improving the overall performance of the network is very necessarily to achieve the desired aim. One of the most famous protocols that used in wireless sensor networks is the Directed Diffusion protocol. Also, Quantum computing is a new field in computer science and it tries to speed up the process of any computation by parallelizing the work using the same hardware. Therefore, in this study a comparison is conducted between the classical Directed Diffusion Protocol and the proposed protocol that based on the weighted Grover's Quantum Algorithm. An example of the proposed solution shows that our protocol is performing much better in case of end-to-end delay and power consumption.
NPZ Models of Plankton Dynamics: Their Construction, Coupling to Physics, and Application

Nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton (NPZ) models have been in use in oceanography for at least three decades, and are still a common research tool. Given the discoveries of the last two decades, particularly concerning the role of bacteria in the plankton, there are questions as to whether NPZ models can still be supported as a useful tool in planktonic research. Here I review the construction of NPZ models, and some of the physical platforms they have been coupled to. I then discuss the applications of NPZ-physical models, and conclude that they still constitute an important and viable research tool, provided that the questions being explored are clearly stated.
CARDIOVASCULAR HEMODYNAMICS IN PREGNANCY. I. BLOOD AND PLASMA VOLUMES IN MULTIPLE PREGNANCY.

Abstract The indicator dye dilution technique, using T-1824, was used to determine vascular compartment increments over the nongravid state in both single and multiple pregnancies. Plasma volume in single pregnancy was shown to rise progressively to a plateau of 48 per cent above normal during the last 8 weeks of gestation. In twin pregnancy, plasma volume rose to a peak of 67 per cent above normal at 37 to 40 weeks of gestation. The increment for twin pregnancy was 43 per cent greater than for single pregnancy. Blood volumes and red cell volumes showed similar qualitative and quantitative changes, but the dependence of these values on body hematocrit levels impaired the statistical significance of these results. The blood volume in single pregnancies rose to a plateau of 42 per cent above normal for the last 12 weeks of gestation; in twin pregnancies, blood volume reached a peak of 49 per cent above normal at 37 to 40 weeks' gestation. Red cell volume increased to 31 per cent above normal by 8 weeks before term in single gestation, and to 40 per cent above normal by 4 weeks before term in twin pregnancies. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the degree of plasma volume increment near term and placental mass, confirming in part the influence of the placenta as an arteriovenous shunt on the maternal vascular compartments.
Low-frequency variability of precipitation in the North American monsoon region as diagnosed through earlywood and latewood tree-ring chronologies in the southwestern US

Recent studies have pointed out the statistical occurrence of dual-season droughts detected in tree-ring chronologies over the southwestern US region that is not well described by instrumental observed records of the 20th century. In this study, a multi-statistical approach that evaluates persistent dual-season drought using a mode-of-variability oriented approach is proposed, considering a new network of tree-ring earlywood (EW)- and latewood-adjusted (LWadj) chronologies from throughout southwestern North America. To determine dominant patterns of spatiotemporal variability, empirical, orthogonal functions, canonical correlation analysis, and multi-taper-method singular value decomposition analyses were applied, with focus on variability from inter-annual to centennial periods and highlighting the multi-decadal signals inherent to proxy record network. During the instrumental period, we demonstrate that EW and LWadj networks of tree-ring chronologies are able to capture the associated precipitation responses of cool and warm season atmospheric teleconnections. Considering the four-century period of the complete tree-ring network, we explore the possibility of a dual summer–winter variability signal in the low-frequency climate regime. EW and LWadj seem to be coherent in-phase at the very low-frequency scale (50–100 years spectral band). This provocative result is supported by major historic documented multi-year droughts of the region since 1650. Thus, the temporal variation of these chronologies time series and its associated spatial pattern strongly suggest that this low-frequency mode might represents an important spatiotemporal variation of droughts in the Southwest; however, the source of this signal is still an open question and of great interest for drought planning and resource management in the region.
Predicting the influence of overload and loading mode on fatigue crack growth: A numerical approach using irreversible cohesive elements

This paper describes an irreversible cohesive zone model to simulate fatigue crack growth. The model includes a three-dimensional (3-D) cohesive law that follows a distinct loading/unloading path and a damage evolution mechanism that reflects a gradual degradation of cohesive properties of the material under the influence of cyclic loading. To overcome convergence difficulties arising from nonlinearity of the cohesive zone model, the stabilization technique and the viscous regularization of the constitutive law are employed. For high-cycle fatigue applications, a damage extrapolation scheme is adopted to reduce computational cost. The irreversible cohesive zone model is implemented in the finite element software ABAQUS through a user defined subroutine and is used to predict fatigue crack growth in a compact-tension-shear (CTS) specimen with an emphasis on the extrinsic influence of overload for different loading modes. The numerical results show good agreement with experimental records documented in the open literature and capture the essential features of fatigue crack growth for various loading conditions. This indicates that the irreversible cohesive zone model can serve both as an accurate and efficient tool for the prediction of fatigue crack growth.
Wet Deposition of Fission-Product Isotopes to North America from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Incident, March 2011

Using the infrastructure of the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), numerous measurements of radionuclide wet deposition over North America were made for 167 NADP sites before and after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station incident of March 12, 2011. For the period from March 8 through April 5, 2011, wet-only precipitation samples were collected by NADP and analyzed for fission-product isotopes within whole-water and filterable solid samples by the United States Geological Survey using gamma spectrometry.Variable amounts of 131I, 134Cs, or 137Cs were measured at approximately 21% of sampled NADP sites distributed widely across the contiguous United States and Alaska. Calculated 1- to 2-week individual radionuclide deposition fluxes ranged from 0.47 to 5100 Becquerels per square meter during the sampling period. Wet deposition activity was small compared to measured activity already present in U.S. soil. NADP networks responded to this complex disaster, and provided scientifically valid...
Ion Selectivity and Permeation in a Potassium Ion Transporter

The TrkH/TrkG/KtrB family of proteins mediate K+ uptake in bacteria and likely evolved from simple K+ channels by multiple gene duplications or fusions. We have solved the crystal structure of a TrkH from Vibrio parahaemolyticus to 3.5 A. TrkH is a homodimer, and each protomer contains an ion permeation pathway. A selectivity filter, similar in architecture to that in K+ channels but significantly shorter, is lined by backbone and side chain oxygen atoms. Functional studies showed that TrkH allows permeation of K+ and Rb+ but not smaller ions such as Na+ or Li+. Immediately intracellular to the selectivity filter is an intramembrane loop and an arginine residue, both highly conserved, that constrict an otherwise open permeation pathway. Functions of the loop and the positive charge (Arg) will be addressed.
PLANT GROWTH UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS. IX. GROWTH AND FRUITING OF THE KENTUCKY WONDER BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS)

PREVIOUS REPORTS in this series have dealt primarily with tomatoes (Went, 1944a, b, 1945, 1950a, b; Went and Cosper, 1945), chili peppers (Dorland and Went, 1947) and tobacco (Camus and Went, 1952). This communication extends the series to include the response of a plant in another genus, Phaseolus, to varying conditions of temperature and photoperiod. MATERIALS AND METHODS.-The experiments were conducted in the Earhart Plant Research Laboratory where environmental conditions can be controlled to a degree not possible either in the field or in conventional greenhouses and where it is permissible to use fewer plants without sacrifice of statistically reliable results (Went, 1949, 1950b). Seeds of Kentucky wonder rust resistant beans3 were sown in a mixture of equal volumes of vermiculite and gravel in 2-gal. glazed earthen crocks and watered with the standard nutrient of the laboratory. The plants were grown to maturity in normal full daylight at all combinations of temperatures, 20?C., 23?C. and 26?C. from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. and 14?C., 17?C. and 20?C. from 4 P.M. to 8 A.M. (long day). A duplicate series of plants were exposed to normal full daylight from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. but were then moved to darkness for a
Externalization of employment in a service environment: the role of organizational and customer identification

This study investigates the impact of employment externalization (in the form of limited-term vs. permanent employment status) on customer-oriented service behavior, and how identification processes may help to resolve the ‘paradox of externalization’ (i.e., organizations relying more on potentially disenfranchised employees to maintain strong connections with their customers). Survey data were obtained from 369 sales, service, and technical support personnel from the Canadian subsidiary of a large international service organization in the high technology sector. Organizational and customer identification fully mediate the relationship between employment status and customer-oriented service behavior. Additionally, the perceived external image of the organization and the visibility of one's affiliation with the organization moderate the relationships between employment status and organizational and customer identification. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The new cooperative cataloging

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the social phenomenon known as tagging and its use in libraries' online catalogs, discussing folksonomies, social bookmarking, and tagging web sites. The paper also seeks to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a controlled vocabulary such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings, and how tagging can assist the LCSH in information retrieval. LibraryThing and the University of Pennsylvania's PennTags are examined.Design/methodology/approach – Review of recent literature in print and online, as well as browsing Library OPACs using tagging, was the basis for the paper.Findings – The paper concludes that access to information is the main purpose of cataloging, and use of both traditional methods of cataloging as well as interactive methods such as tagging is a valid method for reaching library users of the future.Originality/value – The paper lists many problems and concerns of which to be aware, if a library should choose to adopt tagging for their catalog. It loo...