cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Population Characteristics of the Dragonfly Pantala flavescens (F.)1 Colonizing Small Constructed Ponds

A series of small ponds was constructed to determine whether dragonflies would oviposit in them. Four pond sizes - 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 m2 - were replicated and randomized in each of six blocks. Ponds in three of the blocks were planted with cattail (Typha sp.) and three with spike rush (Junca sp.). Sampling revealed that of 273 nymphs collected, 267 were Pantala flavescens (F.) and six were Orthemis ferruginea (F.), although adults of 15 other dragonfly species were seen in the study area. Dragonfly nymphs were not found in any of the smallest size of pond. Significantly more nymphs were found in ponds planted with cattail than rush (215 vs 52), but the nymphs grew larger in ponds with rushes. The mean number of nymphs was larger in the 1.2-m2 ponds (21.8) than in the 0.6-m2 ponds (8.7), while 0.9 m2 was intermediate (15.0). However, when the number of nymphs per unit area was compared, there were no differences between any of the pond sizes within a vegetation class -- cattail or rush. Between classes, more nymphs per unit area were in ponds planted with cattails. Because the one species of dominant dragonfly was not representative of distribution of dragonfly species in normal-sized ponds and probably was the only dragonfly found in any similar experiment, use of small reference ponds of these sizes was not feasible for assessing dragonfly diversity and abundance.
Knowing what I have done

The literature on agentive or practical knowledge tends to be focused on knowing what one is doing or what one is going to do. Knowing what one has done and has achieved thereby seems to be another matter. In fact, achievements are often taken to be beyond the ken of practical knowledge. I argue that this is a mistake. The intelligibility of the very idea of practical knowledge depends on the possibility of knowing one's achievements in the same manner. For if it is to be intelligible as knowledge of the actuality of one's action in the material world, knowing what one is doing has to include knowledge of what one has done so far.
Atypical Laryngeal Infections: Localized Lesions from Unusual Organisms May Simulate Malignancy.

Objective:The identification of rare sources of laryngeal infection in immunocompetent patients. Recovered organisms were Mycobacterium tuberculosis (laryngeal tuberculosis [LTB]), Mycobacterium fo...
Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Clipping of Intracranial Aneurysms: An Anatomic Feasibility Study.

Background Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) located in the midline region represent formidable challenge owing to their deep location. The objective of this study was to assess feasibility and identify the limitations of endoscopic endonasal clipping of IAs. We further aimed to describe the locations and characteristics of aneurysms that may be amenable for endoscopic endonasal clipping; thus outlining the indications of these approaches. Methods Fifteen latex-injected cadaveric heads were used for endoscopic endonasal exposure of anterior and posterior cerebral circulations. An aneurysm simulator model with 2 different sizes was used at the common sites for IAs to emulate a real surgery. Key measured parameters included “exposure of vessels and their respective perforators,” “ability to gain proximal/distal control,” and “possibility of clip placement” according to the size, direction, and location of the aneurysm model. Maneuverability of instruments and the need for pituitary gland transposition were assessed and recorded as well. Results Exposure of the anterior communicating artery complex and the common sites of posterior circulation aneurysms were feasible. The size, location, and direction of the aneurysm model had an impact on obtaining proximal and/or distal control, and the ability of clip placement. Conclusions Clipping of midline aneurysms of the posterior circulation is feasible via endoscopic endonasal approach. Small-sized ventrally and medially directed aneurysm models carried a better probability of getting proximal and/or distal control, as well as better overall ability to place a clip. The endonasal route seems to provide a limited condition for proper management of anterior circulation aneurysms.
Rice intake and emerging concerns on arsenic in rice: a review of the human evidence and methodologic challenges

Rice is a major staple food worldwide and a dietary source of arsenic. We therefore summarized the state of the epidemiologic evidence on whether rice consumption relates to health outcomes associated with arsenic exposure. While epidemiologic studies have reported that higher rice consumption may increase the risk of certain chronic conditions, i.e., type 2 diabetes, most did not consider specific constituents of rice or other sources of arsenic exposure. Studies that examined rice intake stratified by water concentrations of arsenic found evidence of increasing trends in cardiovascular disease risk, skin lesions, and squamous cell skin cancers and bladder cancer associated with higher rice consumption. Further studies are needed to understand the health impacts of arsenic exposure from rice consumption taking into account all sources of rice intake and potential confounding by other dietary constituents or contaminants and arsenic exposure from sources such as water.
High-resolution imaging on TPUs.

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is leading to a new generation of hardware accelerators optimized for deep learning. Some of the designs of these accelerators are general enough to allow their use for other computationally intensive tasks beyond AI. Cloud tensor processing units (TPUs) are one such example. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach using TensorFlow on Cloud TPUs to implement a high-resolution imaging technique called full-waveform inversion. Higher-order numerical stencils leverage the efficient matrix multiplication offered by the Cloud TPU, and the halo exchange benefits from the dedicated high-speed interchip connection. The performance is competitive when compared with Tesla V100 graphics processing units and shows promise for future computation- and memory-intensive imaging applications.
El tiempo profundo de la infraestructura mediática

In this chapter of the book Signal Traffic: Critical Studies of Media Infrastructures, I rethink urban history as a history of communication infrastructures. Blending media archaeology and archaeology proper, I consider cities as sites of sonic mediation, via radio and sound waves, as substrates for inscription. And I outline historiographic and methodological approaches that can help us to think about mediacities, urban history, and infrastructural history in tandem.
What Makes the Human Brain Human

Which elements of the genome endow human brains with the capacity for heightened cognitive abilities? In this issue of Neuron, Namba et al. (2020) find that ARHGAP11B, a human-specific gene, augments cerebral cortex expansion by regulating metabolic pathways in mitochondria.
Holographic line defects in D =4 , N =2 gauged supergravity

We construct solutions of four-dimensional $N=2$ gauged supergravity coupled to vector multiplets which are holographically dual to superconformal line defects. For the gauged STU and the $\mathrm{SU}(1,n)/\mathrm{U}(1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathrm{SU}(n)$ coset models, we use the solutions to calculate holographic observables such as the expectation value of the defect and one-point functions in the presence of the defect.
Machine learning prediction of the adverse outcome for nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage patients.

OBJECTIVE Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is often devastating with increased early mortality, particularly in those with presumed delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The ability to accurately predict survival for SAH patients during the hospital course would provide valuable information for healthcare providers, patients, and families. This study aims to utilize electronic health record (EHR) data and machine learning approaches to predict the adverse outcome for nontraumatic SAH adult patients. METHODS The cohort included nontraumatic SAH patients treated with vasopressors for presumed DCI from a large EHR database, the Cerner Health Facts® EMR database (2000-2014). The outcome of interest was the adverse outcome, defined as death in hospital or discharged to hospice. Machine learning-based models were developed and primarily assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS A total of 2467 nontraumatic SAH patients (64% female; median age [interquartile range]: 56 [47-66]) who were treated with vasopressors for presumed DCI were included in the study. 934 (38%) patients died or were discharged to hospice. The model achieved an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.92) with only the initial 24 h EHR data, and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92-0.96) after the next 24 h. INTERPRETATION EHR data and machine learning models can accurately predict the risk of the adverse outcome for critically ill nontraumatic SAH patients. It is possible to use EHR data and machine learning techniques to help with clinical decision-making.
Evaluating social work clinical practice in the real world: Feedback informed treatment

Roughly speaking there are at least 1.5 million and possibly over 2 million social workers in the world, many of whom work with individuals. This article focuses on one type of evaluation of social work practice, the evaluation of the outcome of help seeking for personal problems that is called clinical practice usually provided by social work case managers and therapists. The article primarily discusses Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) developed in the early 2000s. It is a formal structured approach utilizing two validated very brief measures employed during every client session that can be graphed and is designed to evaluate the client’s wellbeing and the worker’s intervention throughout the course of treatment. The article argues that this is the best way for social workers to assess whether or not the client is benefitting from their work as well as evaluating the approach of the helping professional even though this well studied and effective approach is almost nonexistent in social work either in Europe or the United States. We also discuss single subject design that is the mainstay of social work evaluation of clinical practice courses taught for decades even though it is almost never used in actual practice.
Effects of Low-Level Artificial Light at Night on Kentucky Bluegrass and an Introduced Herbivore

Increasing evidence suggests that artificial light at night (ALAN) can negatively impact organisms. However, most studies examine the impacts of ALAN on a single species or under high levels of artificial light that are infrequent or unrealistic in urban environments. We currently have little information on how low levels of artificial light emanating from urban skyglow affect plants and their interactions with herbivores. We examined how low levels of ALAN affect grass and insects, including growth rate, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance in grass, and foraging behavior and survival in crickets. We compared growth and leaf-level gas exchange of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) under low-levels of ALAN (0.3 lux) and starlight conditions (night light at 0.001 lux). Furthermore, each light treatment was divided into treatments with and without house crickets (Acheta domesticus). Without crickets present, bluegrass grown under artificial light at night for three weeks grew taller than plants grown under natural night light levels. Once crickets were introduced at the end of week three, grass height decreased resulting in no measurable effects of light treatment. There were no measurable differences in grass physiology among treatments. Our results indicate that low levels of light resulting from skyglow affect plant growth initially. However, with herbivory, ALAN effects on grass may be inconsequential. Gaining an understanding of how ALAN effects plant-insect interactions is critical to predicting ecological and evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic disturbance.
Stealthy monitoring-control attacks to disrupt power system operations

Abstract We propose in this paper a model to quantify the consequences of the vulnerabilities of the AC-based state estimation against data-integrity cyber attacks. We consider attacks whose goals are to corrupt the state estimator and/or the operation of the power grid. By considering AC-based models of the state estimator and the operation of the power system, the proposed model allows quantifying the reliability consequences (i.e., alteration in the active and reactive power), and the economic consequences (e.g., distorting locational marginal prices) of such attacks. We consider a resource-constrained omniscient attacker intending to alter the operation of the power system. We impose a stealthy condition on the attacker so that its malicious action is invisible to the bad-data-detection algorithm. The upper-level problem of the proposed bilevel model represents the attacker’s action and pursues disrupting the system operation and it is constrained by two lower-level problems. The first lower-level problem is the state-estimation that calculates the most likely state of the system considering the corrupted measurement. The second lower-level problem is a conic relaxation of the optimal power flow that uses the output of the state estimation problem to minimize operation costs. We illustrate the proposed bilevel model using two test systems.
An electrophoretic comparison of vertebrate histones.

We have studied histones from a wide range of vertebrates with high resolution electrophoresis. There are five major electrophoretic fractions of histone in all somatic tissues in all species examined. Two fractions of histone have a constant electrophoretic mobility no matter what their source. Two fractions vary somewhat from class to class of vertebrate; and one fraction, the lysine-rich fraction, varies considerably in mobility, indicating substantial changes in its primary structure during evolution. This interpretation is confirmed by separation of the individual histone fractions and amino acid analysis. Electrophoretic heterogeneity is found within several of these fractions in good agreement with previous reports on calf histones (Panyim and Chalkley, Biochemistry 8, 3972 (1969)). The electrophoretic heterogeneity within Fractions F2al and F3 is manifested by bands which, while varying in relative intensity from species to species, nonetheless always have a constant mobility. On the other hand the extent of the electrophoretic heterogeneity of the lysine-rich histone group varies among species indicative of a much less stringent demand for a constancy of primary sequence of these molecules relative to the more arginine-rich histone molecules.
The ability of adolescents to predict future outcome. Part II: Therapeutic enhancement of predictive skills

The assertion of autonomy, a developmental challenge of adolescence, helps predict the teenager's attitude toward pregnancy and parenthood. Significantly, the ability to predict the future relationship with the infant has direct implications for the achievement of an adaptive outcome. Indeed, the interpersonal outcome of the parent-infant relationship may be predicted by the adolescent's behaviors with her infant. A prospective orientation may offer an important vantage point for improving this relationship. For example, the ability to predict future outcome helps identify potential conflict, such as abuse. When applying a prospective approach during the prenatal period, the adolescent's past relationship with her own mother and her motivations for becoming a parent will be explored in order to predict the future dyadic relationship. For adolescents who are already parents, an assessment of the dyad's contemporaneous interaction may further predict future interpersonal exchange. Moreover, orienting the adolescent parent toward the future may identify areas of potential conflict, as well as foster more adaptive dyadic exchange.
From conventions to prescriptions. Towards an integrated view of norms

In this paper, a model of norms as cognitive objects is applied to establish connections between social conventions and prescriptions. Relevant literature on this issue, especially found in AI and the social sciences, will be shown to suffer from a dychotomic view: a conventionalistic view proposed by rationality and AI scientists; and a prescriptive view proposed by some philosophers of law (Kelsen 1934/1979, Hart 1961, Ross, 1958). In the present work, the attempt is made to fill the gap between these views by putting forward a hypothesis concerning the process from perceived behavioural regularities to normative assumptions. The emergence of norms will be here seen as intrinsically intertwined with the emergence of normative beliefs. Unlike that assumed by the conventionalistic sight, the process of emergence is seen as a non-continuous phenomenon. A given behavioural regularity will be argued to give rise to a normative belief if and as long as that regularity is believed to be prescribed within the community. Two corollaries of this hypothesis will be examined: (1) unlike that implied by the conventionalistic view, the spreading of norms is not only due to a passive behavioural social influence (imitation) but also to an active cognitive one (the spreading of normative wants and beliefs); (2) unlike that assumed by the prescriptive view, a norm is not necessarily explicitly and deliberately issued by some normative authority, but is grounded upon the norm-addressees' beliefs that they are generally prescribed to comply with it. One day, a sentinel in charge with watching a besieged castle spread for fun a false alarm about a forthcoming enemy. But as he saw the population getting in arm and running to the city walls, he himself hastened to defend his city from the enemy he had invented. (Medieval tale)
Toward a Minority Culture of Mobility: Immigrant Integration into the African‐American Middle Class

Two important social transformations have occurred since the 1960s: the rise of the Black middle class and the influx of immigrants from Latin, America, Asia and Africa. The cultural and economic outcomes for first- and second-generation Black immigrants are often linked to the Black poor/underclass. However, we understand little about the ways in which the Black middle class is a potential pathway of integration for immigrants. This paper reviews the sociological debates on the socioeconomic incorporation of immigrants and the racial and ethnic relations of new and old African-Americans. It discusses the important contributions of minority culture of mobility hypothesis for class-based theories of immigrant integration. We draw from the literature on social stratification, race relations and immigrant incorporation in order to chime in on the conversation about how becoming socially mobile in America may mean having similar social experience as the African-American or minority middle class. The paper also suggests ways to better analyze the relationship between identity, integration, space and generation in minority incorporation.
Nondestructive identification of multiple flaws using XFEM and a topologically adapting artificial bee colony algorithm

SUMMARY We present a novel algorithm based on the extended finite element method (XFEM) and an enhanced artificial bee colony (EABC) algorithm to detect and quantify multiple flaws in structures. The concept is based on recent work that have shown the excellent synergy between XFEM, used to model the forward problem, and a genetic-type algorithm to solve an inverse identification problem and converge to the ‘best’ flaw parameters. In this paper, an adaptive algorithm that can detect multiple flaws without any knowledge on the number of flaws beforehand is proposed. The algorithm is based on the introduction of topological variables into the search space, used to adaptively activate/deactivate flaws during run time until convergence is reached. The identification is based on a limited number of strain sensors assumed to be attached to the structure surface boundaries. Each flaw is approximated by a circular void with the following three variables: center coordinates (xc, yc) and radius (rc), within the XFEM framework. In addition, the proposed EABC scheme is improved by a guided-to-best solution updating strategy and a local search (LS) operator of the Nelder–Mead simplex type that show fast convergence and superior global/LS abilities compared with the standard ABC or classic genetic algorithms. Several numerical examples, with increasing level of difficulty, are studied in order to evaluate the proposed algorithm. In particular, we consider identification of multiple flaws with unknown a priori information on the number of flaws (which makes the inverse problem harder), the proximity of flaws, flaws having irregular shapes (similar to artificial noise), and the effect of structured/unstructured meshes. The results show that the proposed XFEM–EABC algorithm is able to converge on all test problems and accurately identify flaws. Hence, this methodology is found to be robust and efficient for nondestructive detection and quantification of multiple flaws in structures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel weld transition joint by friction surfacing

Abstract A novel weld transition joint by solid state friction surfacing method is developed. Weld transition joint between Cr-Mo steel and austenitic stainless steel was developed by depositing series of Ni-alloy coatings between them. These multi-layered coatings with gradual rather than abrupt change in coefficient of thermal expansion between Cr-Mo and austenitic stainless steels are expected to improve the service life of dissimilar metal welds used in thermal and nuclear industries. Metallurgically bonded coatings with minimal dilution were achieved. Grain refinement and increase in hardness were observed in all the coatings due to the dynamic recrystallization.
INFRARED VIBRATIONAL PREDISSOCIATION SPECTRA OF LARGE WATER CLUSTERS

Abstract The infrared absorption spectrum in the OH stretching region of (H2O)19 clusters formed in a supersonic molecular beam is reported. It was obtained with mass-spectrometric detection and is compared with a similarly obtained spectrum of (H2O)6 and a large-cluster spectrum obtained with bolometric detection. The mass-resolved spectra show a broad absorption band between ≈ 3200 and 3600 cm−1, reminiscent of the H-bonding feature in acondensed phase spectrum. The spectrum via the bolometer is peaked to the blue of this region, suggesting that the level of H-bondingis much lower. Mass resolution is clearly advantageous in selectively obtaining spectra of large clusters, free of interferencefrom smaller ones.
Distinction of basaloid carcinoma of the prostate from benign basal cell lesions by using immunohistochemistry for bcl-2 and Ki-67

Abstract The distinction of rare basaloid carcinomas (BC) of the prostate from more common basal cell hyperplasia may be difficult, because basal cell hyperplasia (BCH) may have prominent nucleoli and may appear infiltrative. Using immunohistochemistry, we studied bcl-2 and p53 expression and Ki-67 proliferation index in eight cases of typical BCH, eight cases of BCH with nucleoli, and six cases of BC. Bcl-2 expression ( P P = .005) were elevated in BC compared with typical BCH or BCH with nucleoli, whereas there was no significant difference between typical BCH and BCH with nucleoli. P53 was not discriminative in separating benign from malignant basal cell lesions of the prostate. Bcl-2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of basal cell lesions of the prostate. Elevated expression of bcl-2 and higher Ki-67 index may aid in the diagnosis of basal cell proliferative lesions of the prostate.
Colloidal dispersion of gold nanorods: Historical background, optical properties, seed-mediated synthesis, shape separation and self-assembly

The color of colloidal dispersions of gold particles in a fluid, typically water, varies from red to blue, depending upon the shape and size of particles. The color and optical properties of gold nanoparticles originate from localized surface plasmons, and are sensitive to their local dielectric environment. Unlike nanospheres, the optical properties, hydrodynamic behavior as well as phase behavior of nanorods are influenced by their shape anisotropy. Thus, rods have an additional absorption peak, possess very different dynamics (affects sedimentation) and their concentrated dispersions form liquid crystalline phases. In this review, we focus on presenting the essential shape dependent optics, as well as the hydrodynamics and phase behavior of rod-like gold nanoparticles. We reveal our methodology for making less polydisperse nanorods sols by using an optimized seed-mediated synthesis (controlled chemistry), followed by shape separation by centrifugation (based on our hydrodynamics arguments). We elucidate the role of Brownian motion in determining colloidal stability and sedimentation behavior, and describe patterns formed by drying mediated assembly on glass slides and TEM grids. We outline early studies (before 1930) of gold sols that are not only instructive in learning about synthesis and physical properties of gold nanoparticles, but show how the study of colloidal gold established many key principles in colloidal science.
The electrical resistivity of resin-treated wood and laminated hydrolyzed-wood and paper-base plastics

WOOD in the dry state is an excellent dielectric, having a volume resistivity in the range of 3 × 1017 to 3 × 1018 ohmcentimeters.2 The resistivity decreases rapidly, however, with an increase in moisture content, reaching values of 105 to 106 ohm-centimeters at the fiber-saturation point (30-per-cent moisture content on the basis of the dry weight of the wood).5 This tremendous change in the electrical resistance of wood with changes in moisture content, which so overshadows the variations due to varying species and specific gravity and ash content of the wood, 4,6 furnishes an excellent means of measuring the moisture content of wood.6,12
The anticonvulsant SGB-017 (ADCI) blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in rat and human neurons: comparison with carbamazepine.

Summary: Purpose: SGB-017 (ADCI) is a novel anticonvul-sant that blocks both voltage-activated sodium channels and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor-gated channels. Results by Rogawski et al. suggested that SGB-017 produces its anticonvulsant action primarily by inhibition of NMDA-receptor channels. However, SGB-017 is effective in several animal models of epilepsy that are unresponsive to NMDA antagonists. These results indicate that block of NMDA-receptor channels is not the only mechanism contributing to its anticonvulsant activity. Thus the effects of SGB-017 on neu-ronal sodium channels were investigated. Methods: Whole cell voltage-clamp techniques were used to record sodium currents in freshly dissociated rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and hippocampal neurons and cultured human NT2 neurons. The effects of SGB-017 on the amplitude of sodium currents, elicited by a depolarizing pulse to 0 mV from different holding potentials, were measured and compared with those of carbamazepine (CBZ). Results: SGB-017 inhibited sodium currents in rat SCG and hippocampal neurons with a similar potency to CBZ. Like CBZ, the inhibition of sodium channels by SGB-017 was voltage dependent. Its median inhibitory concentration (IC50) for inhibition of sodium channels at depolarized holding potentials is similar to that for its inhibition of NMDA receptor channels. In human hNT2 neurons, SGB-017 was more potent than CBZ at inhibiting sodium currents. Conclusions: SGB-017 produces its anticonvulsant activity by blocking both sodium- and NMDA-receptor channels in a voltage- and use-dependent manner. The combination of these two mechanisms of action makes SGB-017 an effective AED in several different animal models of epilepsy.
Integrated simulation, error assessment, and tool path correction for five-axis NC milling

Abstract A system of algorithms is presented for material removal simulation, dimensional error assessment, and automated correction of five-axis numerically controlled (NC) milling tool paths. The methods are based on a spatial partitioning technique that incorporates incremental proximity calculations between milled and design surfaces. Hence, in addition to real-time animated five-axis milling simulation, milling errors are measured and displayed simultaneously. Using intermediate error assessment results, a reduction-of-intersection-volume algorithm is developed to eliminate gouges on the workpiece via tool path corrction. A similar technique is implemented for detection and elimination of unexpected collisions between the tool assembly and the workpiece. These combined algorithms provide efficient, accurate, and automatic assessment and correction of five-axis milling tool paths. Finally, the view dependency typical of previous spatial partitioning based NC simulation methods is overcome by a contour display technique that generates parallel planar contours to represent the workpiece, thus enabling dynamic viewing transformations without reconstruction of the entire data structure.
Corticosteroid Feedback Control of ACTH Secretion: Effect of Stress-Induced Corticosterone Secretion on Subsequent Stress Responses in the Rat1

The stresses of electrical shock or laparotomy were repeated at various intervals up to 24 hr after the initial stress in an attempt to demonstrate inhibition of the second response as a consequence of corticosterone secreted after the first stress. In all cases the second response was equal to or greater in magnitude than the first. When the stress of prolonged (60-90 min) restraint was paired with the minor stress of injection several hr later, no inhibition of the corticosterone response to injection was observed. However, if the plasma corticosterone levels provoked by restraint stress were mimicked by injections of corticosterone or of ACTH, the subsequent response to injection stress was inhibited. We conclude from these, and previous studies in the adrenalectomized rat, that corticosterone does act to inhibit ACTH secretion, but that stress causes a prolonged period of hyper—responsiveness in either CNS or anterior pituitary components of the adrenocortical system. (Endocrinology 92: 1367, 1973)
The sensitivity of entrained-flow coal gasification diffusion burners to changes in geometry

Abstract Three axisymmetric diffusion flame burners were designed and installed on a laboratory-scale, downfired, entrained-flow, coal gasifier operated at pressures up to 560 kPa. Each burner was studied by varying reactor pressure, oxygen coal ratio and steam coal ratio. The gasifier performance was assessed by collecting space-resolved gas and char samples in the reaction chamber and analysing them for carbon conversion, gas composition (CO, CO2, H2, H2O and CH4) and cold gas efficiency. Burner geometry affected carbon conversion, gas composition and cold gas efficiency. Each burner had unique flame structural characteristics which resulted in burner-unique trends with reactor pressure, oxygen coal ratio and steam coal ratio. At 560 kPa, diffusion flame burner performance approached premixed flame performance. The results from this study suggest that it might be possible to design a diffusion burner that outperforms a fuel-oxidant premixing burner for some operating conditions due to its flame structure and its characteristic energy transfer to the chamber. Performance characteristics of diffusion burners correlated with system pressure, oxygen coal ratio or steam coal ratio cannot be generalized into trends representative of all diffusion flame burners.
Divorce and Mental Health Sequelae for Children: A Two-Year Follow-up of a Nationwide Sample

This is the initial report of longitudinal findings from the National Association of School Psychologists-Kent State University, nationwide study of the impact of divorce on children. Results are based on multifactored mental health assessment of 110 children from the original sample of 699 children assessed 2 years previously. Consistent with Time-1 analyses, divorced-family children performed more poorly than intact-family children on several indices, and boys showed more adverse effects than did girls. Stability and predictive significance of Time-1 mental health scores were also greater for girls than boys across the 2-year time period. ANCOVAs controlling for family income demonstrated a reduced-number of differences between the groups, whereas controls for child's IQ did not. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry , 24, 5:531–537, 1985.
Technologies for Next Generation T/R Modules

Technologies to enable the next generation of transmit/receive modules for sensor and communications systems are being pursued in programs funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA programs contributing to dramatically improved performance and wafer-scale integration for T/R modules will be highlighted. These programs include the Wide Band Gap Semiconductors for RF Applications (WBGS-RF) program, the Scalable Millimeter Wave Architectures for Reconfigurable Transceivers (SMART) program, the Integrated Sensor Is Structure Critical Technology Demonstration (ISIS-CTD), and the Sub-millimeter Wave Imaging Focal-plane Technology (SWIFT) program.
Severe storms and storm systems: Scientific background, methods, and critical questions

The structure and dynamics of severe convective storms and their mesoscale environments is described on the basis of current literature. Numerical modeling of regional and cloud-scale meteorology is reviewed with respect to its contribution to the understanding of convective storm evolution. Observation techniques are surveyed briefly. Critical questions, principally on the triggering of convective storms, are listed and a U.S. national program (Project SESAME) aimed at answering them is briefly described.
Prehospital Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids and Point Prevalence of Pneumonia at the Time of Hospital Admission: Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Cohort Study

Objective: To address clinical concern regarding the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and the risk for pneumonia, particularly among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Patients and Methods: A multicentered prospective cohort of patients admitted to the hospital from March 1, 2009, through August 31, 2009, with pneumonia or another risk factor for acute respiratory distress syndrome was analyzed to determine the risk for pneumonia requiring hospitalization among patients taking ICSs. The adjusted risk (odds ratio [OR]) for developing pneumonia because of ICSs was determined in a multiple logistic regression model. Results: Of the 5584 patients in the cohort, 495 (9%) were taking ICSs and 1234 (22%) had pneumonia requiring hospitalization. In univariate analyses, pneumonia occurred in 222 (45%) of the patients on ICSs vs 1012 (20%) in those who were not (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 2.71-3.96; P<.001). After adjusting in the logistic regression model, prehospital ICS use was not significantly associated with pneumonia in the whole cohort (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.93-1.53; P¼.162), among the subset of 589 patients with COPD (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.95-2.09; P¼.093), among the 440 patients with asthma (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.61-1.87; P¼.81), nor among the remaining 4629 patients without COPD or asthma (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.88-1.97; P¼.179). Conclusion: When adjusted for multiple confounding variables, ICS use was not substantially associated with an increased risk for pneumonia requiring admission in our cohort.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in prostate cancer

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play important roles in the normal physiology and in pathological states including inflammation and cancer. While much is known about the biosynthesis and biological activities of eicosanoids derived from ω6 PUFA, our understanding of the corresponding ω3 series lipid mediators is still rudimentary. The purpose of this review is not to offer a comprehensive summary of the literature on fatty acids in prostate cancer but rather to highlight some of the areas where key questions remain to be addressed. These include substrate preference and polymorphic variants of enzymes involved in the metabolism of PUFA, the relationship between de novo lipid synthesis and dietary lipid metabolism pathways, the contribution of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases as well as terminal synthases and prostanoid receptors in prostate cancer, and the potential role of PUFA in angiogenesis and cell surface receptor signaling.
A (Fluoroalkyl)Guanidine Modulates the Relaxivity of a Phosphonate-Containing T1-Shortening Contrast Agent

Abstract Responsive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, those that change their relaxivity according to environmental stimuli, have promise as next generation imaging probes in medicine. While several of these are known based on covalent modification of the contrast agents, fewer are known based on controlling non-covalent interactions. We demonstrate here accentuated relaxivity of a T1-shortening contrast agent, Gd-DOTP5− based on non-covalent, hydrogen bonding of Gd-DOTP5− with a novel fluorous amphiphile. By contrast to the phosphonate-containing Gd-DOTP5− system, the relaxivity of the analogous clinically approved contrast agent, Gd-DOTA− is unaffected by the same fluorous amphiphile under similar conditions. Mechanistic studies show that placing the fluorous amphiphile in proximity of the gadolinium center in Gd-DOTP5− caused an increase in τm (bound-water residence lifetime or the inverse of water exchange rate, τm = 1/kex) and an increase in τR (rotational correlation time), with τR being the factor driving enhanced relaxivity. Further, these effects were not observed when Gd-DOTA− was treated with the same fluorous amphiphile. Thus, Gd-DOTP5− and Gd-DOTA− respond to the fluorous amphiphile differently, presumably because the former binds to the amphiphile with higher affinity. (DOTP = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraphosphonic acid; DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid).
Assessing murine resistance artery function using pressure myography.

Pressure myograph systems are exquisitely useful in the functional assessment of small arteries, pressurized to a suitable transmural pressure. The near physiological condition achieved in pressure myography permits in-depth characterization of intrinsic responses to pharmacological and physiological stimuli, which can be extrapolated to the in vivo behavior of the vascular bed. Pressure myograph has several advantages over conventional wire myographs. For example, smaller resistance vessels can be studied at tightly controlled and physiologically relevant intraluminal pressures. Here, we study the ability of 3rd order mesenteric arteries (3-4 mm long), preconstricted with phenylephrine, to vaso-relax in response to acetylcholine. Mesenteric arteries are mounted on two cannulas connected to a pressurized and sealed system that is maintained at constant pressure of 60 mmHg. The lumen and outer diameter of the vessel are continuously recorded using a video camera, allowing real time quantification of the vasoconstriction and vasorelaxation in response to phenylephrine and acetylcholine, respectively. To demonstrate the applicability of pressure myography to study the etiology of cardiovascular disease, we assessed endothelium-dependent vascular function in a murine model of systemic hypertension. Mice deficient in the α1 subunit of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGCα1-/-) are hypertensive when on a 129S6 (S6) background (sGCα1-/-S6) but not when on a C57BL/6 (B6) background (sGCα1-/-B6). Using pressure myography, we demonstrate that sGCα1-deficiency results in impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. The vascular dysfunction is more pronounced in sGCα1-/-S6 than in sGCα1-/-B6 mice, likely contributing to the higher blood pressure in sGCα1-/-S6 than in sGCα1-/-B6 mice. Pressure myography is a relatively simple, but sensitive and mechanistically useful technique that can be used to assess the effect of various stimuli on vascular contraction and relaxation, thereby augmenting our insight into the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease.
Modeling the neutrally stable atmospheric boundary layer for laboratory scale studies of the built environment

Abstract The properties of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) influence a range of physical phenomena in urban areas such as wind loading on buildings, wind-driven ventilation flows, pollution dispersion, and the lift off and transport of loose debris. In order to accurately model the ABL velocity profile at laboratory scale, it is important to establish the shear velocity u∗, surface roughness z0, and zero plane displacement d in either a wind tunnel or water flume. Current techniques for establishing these parameters are based on either an analysis of the boundary layer surface geometry or iterative curve fitting techniques that use mean velocity and/or turbulent kinetic energy profiles, occasionally combined with empirical correlations for z0. A new curve fitting method for calculating these logarithmic velocity profile parameters is presented. This new method calculates u∗, z0, and d directly from time-averaged velocity profile data in just two steps without any iteration. A comparison is presented between the results of the new method and other available methods applied to a range of velocity profile measurements in air and water. The comparison shows that, although the new method requires less data and fewer steps, it calculates u∗ and z0 with greater accuracy than existing techniques, and d with equivalent accuracy to existing techniques.
Claisen-Type Condensation of Vinylogous Acyl Triflates

The Claisen-type condensation reaction of cyclic vinylogous carboxylic acid triflates with lithium enolates and their analogues produces acyclic alkynes bearing a 1,3-diketone-type moiety. The present transformation is proposed to proceed via a 1,2-addition of the enolate to the vinylogous acyl triflate, followed by fragmentation of the aldolate intermediate.
Tunable Diode Laser Study of the Reaction OH + ClO → HCl + O2

Time-resolved tunable diode laser spectroscopy has been used to measure the production of HCl in the reaction of OH and ClO radicals. The OH and ClO radicals were formed from the 308 nm laser photolysis of mixtures containing O 3 , Cl 2 , and H 2 O. Computer simulations of the chemistry were used to derive a rate coefficient of (1.25 ′ 0.45) x 10 - 1 2 cm 3 molecule - 1 s - 1 for the title reaction at 298 K. This reaction rate, which corresponds to a branching fraction of (6.5 ′ 3.0)% relative to the currently recommended rate coefficient for the overall reaction, confirms that the reaction will have a substantial impact on the partitioning of chlorine compounds in the stratosphere.
Propulsion of magnetically levitated trains

A propulsion system for magnetically levitated trains is proposed. A method of periodically energizing magnetic loops on a train moving over a periodically undulating track allows the net repulsive magnetic force to tilt forward or backward for either propulsion or braking. The principle is explained and a specific example discussed. Approximate calculations show feasibility. Problems requiring technical solutions which cannot be considered present state-of-the-art are ac losses at frequencies up to 20 Hz and mechanical fatigue properties at low temperatures. Suitable primary power could be derived from hydrogen fuelled turbines yet to be developed.
Quantitative cytology of the alfalfa generative cell and its relation to male plastid inheritance patterns in three genotypes

Studies utilizing restriction analysis of plastid DNA, as well as those employing chlorophyll-deficient mutants, have shown a high frequency of paternal plastid transmission in alfalfa. Recent research has also shown that plastid inheritance patterns among alfalfa genotypes and are under genetic control. In a previous study we were unable to detect any correlations between qualitative, three-dimensional ultrastructure of generative cells and male plastid transmission strength in certain genotypes. In the present study we used serial ultrathin sectioning, computerized reconstruction and quantitation, and stereology to further analyze generative cells within mature pollen. Measurements included volumes and surface areas of cells, nuclei, and organelles, as well as organelle number and distribution. Three genotypes were investigated, one that is a strong transmitter of male plastids (genotype 301), one that is a weaker transmitter of male plastids (genotype 7W), and a third that is an even weaker male plastid transmitter (genotype MS-5). Our results show that genotype MS-5 has significantly fewer plastids/generative cell than either of the other genotypes, which may account for it being a relatively poor transmitter of male plastids. However, plastid number does not explain known differences in male plastid inheritance between genotypes 301 and 7W, since plastid number does not differ significantly between these two genotypes. Regarding the other features of generative cells measured in this study, no consistent correlations were found that might account for differences in male plastid inheritance patterns between genotypes. Plastid distribution is equal in each end of the spindle-shaped generative cell in all genotypes studied. Similar relative results were found with regard to mitochondria within generative cells; however, comparative genetic data are not available on mitochondrial transmission patterns in alfalfa genotypes.
Dissolution of granules in the Malpighian tubules of Musca autumnalis degeer, during mineralization of the puparium

Abstract The dissolution of mineralized granules stored in the larval Malpighian tubules of the face fly, Musca autumnalis DeGeer, was studied both in situ and with isolated granules in vitro . The release of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium from granules increased exponentially as the pH of the bathing medium was decreased. The pH measured in the distal region of the Malpighian tubules was 8.08 while that of the proximal region was 7.35. Thus, the decrease in pH of lumen contents from distal to proximal regions of the tubules appears to be a major effector of granule dissolution. Loss of structural integrity of the granules accompanied mineral release and also increased as pH of the bathing medium was lowered in vitro . This structural disintegration was similar to that observed in naturally dissolving granules isolated from the proximal region of the Malpighian tubules. The larval tubules, therefore, appear to have regional specialization in that granules are formed and stored in the distal lumen and dissolution takes place as granules move into the more acidic proximal region. No granules were found in the larval hindgut contents also indicating that dissolution and transport take place in the proximal region of the tubules. However, granules of similar composition were found in the meconium and in the most distal regions of adult Malpighian tubules.