cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between sleep problems and dangerous driving behaviors in Japanese short-haul commercial truck drivers: a cross-sectional survey using digital tachograph data

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between sleep problems and objective driving behaviors of short-haul commercial truck drivers in Japan. One hundred and ten male short-haul commercial truck drivers’ sleep duration, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and frequency of sleepiness at the wheel were measured by survey in June 2019. In addition, their dangerous driving behaviors (i.e., overspeeding, sudden start and acceleration, sudden deceleration, and sudden braking) during June were calculated using digital tachograph data. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) was performed. The dependent variables were the presence/absence of dangerous driving behaviors, and sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleepiness were assigned as independent variables. Body mass index was adjusted as a confounding variable. LRA for sleep duration revealed that the “<5 h group” was associated with tendency of a higher adjusted odds ratio (2.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.87–9.45, p = 0.08) for sudden braking compared with the “6 h group.” LRA for sleep quality revealed that the “poor quality group” was associated with a higher adjusted OR (2.56, 95% CI = 1.09–6.01) for sudden braking compared with the “normal quality group.” LRA for the frequency of sleepiness revealed that the “frequently group” was associated with a higher adjusted OR (5.15, 95% CI = 1.10–24.13) for sudden braking compared with the “never group.” Nevertheless, sleep problems were nonsignificantly associated with other dangerous driving behaviors. Truck drivers with poor sleep quality and/or frequent sleepiness at the wheel displayed a 2.5–5.1 times greater risk of sudden braking than did drivers without these sleep problems.
Unusual dislocation activity in Ge containing Sn particles

Abstract We report an unexpectedly high dislocation activity around Sn inclusions in the Ge matrix below the brittle-to-ductile (BDT) transition temperature of Ge as observed using transmission electron microscopy. These dislocations nucleate at the Sn/Ge interface in form of dislocation loops upon solidification of Sn inclusions on cooling. The Sn inclusions solidify ~130 °C below the BDT of Ge. The novel feature is the unusual extent of dislocation loops so far from the inclusions, especially since the mobility of dislocations is limited in Ge below BDT. Considering the velocity of dislocation in Ge below the BDT to be ≈10−11 ms−1, it is normally not enough to increase the loop size from ≈1 nm to more than 300 nm in the short solidification time. We propose that in addition to diffusive type heat propagation, the sudden energy release upon solidification of Sn in Ge matrix can also be carried away by the expanding dislocation loops, thereby enhancing the velocity of dislocations significantly below the BDT. The role of expanding dislocation loops at Sn/Ge interface upon solidification of inclusions is thus fundamentally significant in understanding the rapid dissipation of latent heat from nanocrystalline inclusions embedded in a matrix.
Efficient passivation of n-type and p-type silicon surface defects by hydrogen sulfide gas reaction

An efficient surface defect passivation is observed by reacting clean Si in a dilute hydrogen sulfide-argon gas mixture (<5% H2S in Ar) for both n-type and p-type Si wafers with planar and textured surfaces. Surface recombination velocities of 1.5 and 8 cm s-1are achieved on n-type and p-type Si wafers, respectively, at an optimum reaction temperature of 550 °C that are comparable to the best surface passivation quality used in high efficiency Si solar cells. Surface chemical analysis using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that sulfur is primarily bonded in a sulfide environment, and synchrotron-based soft x-ray emission spectroscopy of the adsorbed sulfur atoms suggests the formation of S-Si bonds. The sulfur surface passivation layer is unstable in air, attributed to surface oxide formation and a simultaneous decrease of sulfide bonds. However, the passivation can be stabilized by a low-temperature (300 °C) deposited amorphous silicon nitride (a-Si:NX:H) capping layer.
Leveraging Service Meshes as a New Network Layer

As modern cloud services have scaled out, applications have moved from relatively monolithic designs to highly modularized fleets of microservices that communicate among each other to perform application-level tasks. These microservices effectively form a network at the application layer, and service mesh frameworks have recently emerged to factor out microservices' common communication functionality. This paper seeks to highlight the emergence of service meshes as what is effectively a new layer in the networking stack, and the associated new challenges and opportunities. As a case study, we leverage the fact that service meshes can be better informed about application needs, and design a system that utilizes provenance tracing within the service mesh to perform cross-layer prioritization of latency-sensitive requests, within an application serving a mix of workloads. Broadly speaking, we believe that as applications factor out communication into service meshes, an exciting new domain is opening that can utilize techniques from the networking community to improve application performance.
Role of carrier gases in enhancement of gas exchange and aerosol–drug delivery under invasive high frequency oscillatory ventilation

The primary objective of this paper is to understand the role of carrier gas properties in gas exchange and particle transport during high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Recent studies have indicated that particle deposition efficiencies during HFOV are similar to normal breathing and conventional ventilation modes. However, a detailed understanding of the role of carrier gas mixtures is required to enhance HFOV therapy in clinical practice. The continuous phase was modeled using large eddy simulation. A Lagrangian particle tracking approach was used to model particle transport in a realistic human upper tracheobronchial tree model. Coupled airways resistance-compliance was used to apply physiological pressure boundary conditions. Four different carrier gases, He, He-O2 (Heliox), Xe-O2 and SF6-O2 were used and the results compared to air only simulations. A significant reduction of the flow turbulence and airway resistance occurred under HFOV conditions when using Heliox. A substantial amplification of the pendelluft flow and improvement in gas exchange was achieved by reducing the carrier gas density that also significantly altered aerosol-drug delivery; the deposition fraction in the upper tracheobronchial tree decreased indicating enhancement of the lung periphery delivery. Furthermore, the filtered aerosol-drug in the ventilator circuit could be significantly reduced by using Heliox, and further reduction could be achieved by reducing the operating frequency. In general, HFOV therapy could be improved under Heliox with greater content of He, thereby reducing the risk of lung hyperinflation.
Exploiting RNA aptamers for cancer therapy (P4407)

Nucleic acid ligands (aptamers), both antagonists and agonists, can be used to target receptors on cells with high affinity and specificity. We describe the development of RNA aptamers for several cancer therapeutic applications: (1) targeting antigens to dendritic cells (DCs), (2) immune modulation, and (3) tumor-specific delivery of therapeutics. Our laboratory has successfully engineered a nuclease-resistant RNA aptamer that binds to the macrophage mannose receptor (MMR) expressed on DCs with excellent specificity and high affinity. MMR aptamer-mediated targeting of tumor antigen peptide to DCs resulted in a 4-fold increase of IFN-γ expression, which enhanced cross-presentation and T cell activation in vitro. For immune modulation of T cell function, we have now developed a human OX40 aptamer that is used as an agonist. A multimerized version of the human OX40 aptamer stimulates T cell proliferation and IFN-γ expression. Lastly, we have developed an aptamer to deliver toxic agents to a subset of leukemia and lymphoma cells. This aptamer is engineered into a chimeric molecule possessing two levels of specificity: the binding domain (aptamer) and the agent domain (saporin) that specifically targets and kills leukemia cells (K562) in vitro.
Heart Failure: A Practical Approach to Treatment.

The management of chronic diseases is one of the great triumphs and one of the great discouragements in modern American medicine. Heart failure is no exception. With its sharp increase in prevalence, every clinician will encounter patients with this condition. It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with heart failure. This leads to an annual cost exceeding $33 billion. Luckily, the progression of heart failure can be greatly reduced by early treatment. Abraham and Krum have contributed a nicely concise, yet comprehensive review of the evidence-based treatment modalities. The book is cleanly divided into 22 exceedingly readable chapters of 10 to 20 pages, written by various experts in each field. The early chapters provide a background and historical framework to discuss the definitions of heart failure along with the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation. However, the true substance and strength of the work revolves around the individual chapter discussions of each particular treatment modality from non-pharmacologic treatments to specific medications to surgery and transplantation options. Each chapter is thoroughly referenced with all of the relevant and up-to-date clinical studies should the clinician want to refer to the detailed primary literature. I particularly appreciated the concluding chapter, which served as a very helpful recapitulation of the main objectives of each section. This chapter included efficient “at-a-glance” algorithms for the clinician to follow with regard to establishing an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment approach. Additionally, I was impressed by the lengthy chapter on the use of digitalis in heart failure patients, since guidelines in this area have previously been muddled. The medication and its pharmacodynamics are discussed in impressive detail while still staying on point for the busy clinician. The authors successfully distill the relevant clinical trials and subsequently consolidate the findings into a clear set of recommendations for each patient population. However, one weakness is the chapter on the use of diuretics, which stands out with its convoluted sentence structure and relatively poor organization. This difficulty is exacerbated by overly complicated figures that contribute little and seem at odds with the otherwise succinct nature of this book. In fact, the entire book’s graphics are visually uninteresting black-and-white figures and tables. I found this disappointing, as they do not draw the reader’s attention. Despite these shortcomings, Heart Failure: A Practical Approach to Treatment succeeds handsomely in exactly what it sets out to accomplish. The book provides a crisp and inclusive one-stop clinical resource for the management of patients with heart failure.
Wall-wake velocity profile for compressible nonadiabatic flows

A form of the wall-wake profile, which is applicable to flows with heat transfer, and for which a variation in y = O at y = delta, was suggested. The modified profile, which takes into account the effect of turbulent Prandtl number, was found to provide a good representation of experimental data for a wide range numbers and heat transfer. The Cf values which are determined by a least squares fit of the profile to the data agree well with values which were measured by the floating element technique. In addition, the values of delta determined by the fit correspond more closely to the outer edge of the viscous flow region than those obtained with earlier versions of the wall-wake profile.
Russia on the Eve of Modernity: Popular Religion and Traditional Culture under the Last Tsars

Russia on the Eve of Modernity is a pioneering exploration of a world that has been largely destroyed by revolutionary upheavals and obscured in historical memory by scholarly focus on elites. Drawing on traditional religious texts, ethnographic materials and contemporary accounts, this book brings to light the ideas and perceptions of the ordinary Russian people of the towns and countryside who continued to live in a pre-modern, non-Western culture that showed great resilience to the very end of the Romanov Empire. Leonid Heretz offers an overview of traditional Russian understandings of the world and its workings, and shows popular responses to events from the assassination of Alexander II to the First World War. This history of ordinary Russians illuminates key themes ranging from peasant monarchism to apocalyptic responses to intrusions from the modern world and will appeal to scholars of Russian history and the history of religion in modern Europe.
Inductive Dependencies and Approximate Databases

Query processing in a (relational) database context has been mainly confined to deducing information that is available in the database. The answers given to queries are supported by available data in the database and are computed using the classical operations of select, project and join. When the query cannot be answered using the above operations the database system returns an empty answer. But there are cases where an approximate answer for the query would be desirable instead of no answer from the database. In this paper, we provide one such approximation technique, inductive dependencies, that can be used to enhance conventional relational databases. The approach finds an approximation for a null value in the database, by using similarities, aggregate functions and relationships that are not expressible by functional dependencies. Inductive dependencies can also be applied to heterogeneous databases, where relationships between databases need to be expressed in a concise way.
Enrichment As Categorical Delooping I: Enrichment Over Iterated Monoidal Categories

The 2-category V-Cat of categories enriched over a braided monoidal category V is not itself braided in any way that is based upon the braiding of V. The exception is the case in which V is symmetric, which leads to V-Cat being symmetric as well. This paper describes how these facts are related to a categorical analogue of topological delooping. It seems that the analogy of loop spaces is a good guide for how to define the concept of enrichment over various types of monoidal objects, including k-fold monoidal categories and their higher dimensional counterparts. The main result is that for V a k-fold monoidal category, V-Cat becomes a (k-1)-fold monoidal 2-category in a canonical way. I indicate how this process may be iterated by enriching over V-Cat, along the way defining the 3-category of categories enriched over V-Cat.
Error Analysis of a Laser Strainmeter

A servo-controlled LASER strainmeter has been designed based on an optical interferometer. The design goal is a strain sensitivity of 10-10 using a small interferometer — of the order of 1 m. To achieve this sensitivity with such a small instrument, it is necessary to pay careful attention to possible noise or error sources.
Great Powers and Strategic Hedging: The Case of Chinese Energy Security Strategy

We present the strategic hedging framework as a structural theory of interstate competition. Strategic hedging extends the logic of traditional balance of power theory in order to account for a wider range of foreign policy behavior, while maintaining a strong emphasis on structural incentives that critics found lacking in the soft balancing approach. We provide a four-step identification mechanism that allows the analyst to spot potential cases of strategic hedging and then to filter out behavior that is better categorized as hard balancing, normal diplomatic friction, or simple power maximization. We use the case of Chinese energy security strategy as an illustrative case study and employ the identification mechanism to demonstrate its viability as a strong example of strategic hedging. Given the importance of energy security within the context of Sino-American relations, this paper not only contributes to the development of new structural theory in international relations, it presents a new interpretation of an important policy issue.
Short-term exposure to engineered nanomaterials affects cellular epigenome

Extensive incorporation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) into industrial and biomedical applications increases the risks of exposure to these potentially hazardous materials. While the geno- and cytotoxic effects of ENMs have been investigated, the potential of ENMs to target the cellular epigenome remains largely unknown. Our goal was to determine whether industry relevant ENMs can affect the epigenome at low cytotoxic doses. A panel of cells relevant to inhalation exposures such as human and murine macrophages (THP-1 and RAW264.7, respectively) and human small airway epithelial cells (SAEC) were exposed to printer-emitted engineered nanoparticles (PEPs), mild steel welding fumes (MS-WF), copper oxide (CuO) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Toxicological effects, including cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses were assessed, taking into consideration in vitro dosimetry. The effects of ENMs on cellular epigenome were determined by addressing the global and transposable elements (TEs)-associated DNA methylation and expression of DNA methylation machinery and TEs. The percentage of ENMs-induced cytotoxicity for all cell lines was in the range of 0-15%. Oxidative stress was evident in SAEC after exposure to PEPs and in THP-1 when exposed to CuO. In addition, exposure to ENMs resulted in modest alterations in DNA methylation of two most abundant TEs in mammalian genomes, LINE-1 and Alu/SINE, their transcriptional reactivation, and decreased expression of DNA methylation machinery in a cell-, dose- and ENM-dependent manner. These results indicate that exposure to ENMs at environmentally relevant concentrations, aside from the geno- and cytotoxic effects, can also affect the epigenome of target cells.
The Glucose Binding Protein as Glucose Sensor

For the past several years now, our group has been developing a novel set of proteins for sensing applications. These are soluble proteins found in the periplasmic space of gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Their main function is to shuttle small molecules from the outside world to membrane receptors, which then transports the molecules into the cytoplasm in an ATP-expending mechanism1,2. There is also evidence that these so-called binding proteins (BP’s) are involved in chemotaxis3,4. Based on their functions, the binding proteins have evolved extremely high selectivity and sensitivity for their substrates5. As a general rule, the binding constants of the BP’s for their substrates are in the micromolar range. BP’s for glutamine, arabinose, histidine and many others, recognize only their respective substrates. The E. coli glucose binding protein (GBP), which is the subject of this chapter, mainly recognizes glucose but also binds galactose to a lesser degree. The sensitivity and selectivity of BP’s make them ideal for biosensor development. But the main attractive feature of BP’s is that they are not enzymes. Thus, they are considered as reagentless biosensors in that no additional ingredient is required for the sensing mechanism to proceed. For glucose sensing in particular, this is an improvement from glucose oxidase-based sensors where oxygen can be a limiting reagent. Additionally, glucose oxidase sensors produce hydrogen peroxide in the presence of glucose that in time degrades the enzyme itself. In contrast, GBP does not alter the chemistry of glucose. Rather, the process is a simple equilibrium driven association between substrate and protein. For this reason GBP and other BP’s retain their activity for longer periods even in solution.
Alleviating the effect of transient background for detection enhancement of nondeterministic chirp signals

A major source of false-alarms in various radar applications is due to sudden noise spikes that cover wide frequency bands. These transient signals have high amplitudes and occur at random time instants. This leads to erroneous detection decision. In this paper, we study the influence of amplitude limiting the noisy signal on reducing the received false alarms and enhancing the detection performance. We address this problem in the context of detecting chirp signals that are encountered in a bistatic radar which we are developing for remote sensing of cosmic ray induced air showers. In this paper, the radar experimental system is introduced. In addition, modeling and emulation of radar target return echoes is studied. Finally, the emulation results of the system performance are presented and analyzed.
Intraportal injection of monoclonal antibody in nude mice bearing hepatic metastases

Using a model for hepatic human colorectal carcinoma metastases in athymic mice, we compared the selective [intraportal (ip)] and systemic [intravenous (iv)] injection of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody (mAb) strongly reactive against the cell line. Percent injected dose of radiolabeled antibody per gram (%id/g) of tumor or normal tissues was measured at selected time points (up to 5 days postinjection) within 3 dose levels: 0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 micrograms (micrograms). At each dose level, 3-9 animals were studied in each of 3 groups: animals receiving ip injection (group HT-29-15 ip), those receiving intravenous injection (group HT-29-15 iv), and those receiving isotype-matched control antibody via the intraportal route (group BL-3 ip). Significantly greater (P < 0.005) %id/g in tumor was seen in group HT-29-15 ip at all time points and dose levels compared to those in groups HT-29-15 iv or BL-3 ip. However, immediately after injection of mAb, there was no difference in tumor %id/g between groups HT-29-15 ip and HT-29-15 iv at the highest dose level. There was no increase in %id/g of mAb in normal liver and blood after ip injection compared to iv injection beyond day 1. Therefore ip injection resulted in higher tumor to liver and tumor to blood ratios compared to iv (P < 0.005). We conclude that delivery of mAb to hepatic metastases can be enhanced by selective injection; this has important implications in the design of future clinical trials utilizing radiolabeled mAb in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic metastases.
Reduction in bioavailability of organic contaminants to the amphipod pontoporeia hoyi by dissolved organic matter of sediment interstitial waters

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic systems is known to reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals. Recent studies have shown similar reductions in bioavailability of organic contaminants. The mechanism for reduction, with Aldrich humics, was to reduce the freely dissolved, bioavailable, xenobiotic concentration by partitioning to DOM. This mechanism was also found to apply to organic contaminants in the presence of DOM from interstitial waters. A reverse-phase separation technique was used to measure the sorbed xenobiotic, and by difference from the total, the freely dissolved concentration of a contaminant permitting the calculation of a partition coefficient (Krp). Equilibrium partitioning of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and poly-chlorinated biphenyl congeners to the DOM, in interstitial waters from several geographical sources, ranged over several orders of magnitude for a single compound. The reduction in bioavailability was measured by reduction in the conditional uptake rate constant for organic xenobiotics in the presence of DOM, for the amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi (the major benthic invertebrate in the Great Lakes). Reduction in the conditional uptake rate constant versus controls was used to calculate a biologically determined partition coefficient (Kb). The log Krp was well correlated with log Kb, log Kb = 1.54(0.15) + 0.723(0.03) log Krp (r2 = 0.74, n = 195) over a range of three orders of magnitude in measured partition coefficient for individual compounds using DOM from different sources.
Biomarkers of Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning

Abstract Urine specimens from patients diagnosed with neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) were examined for biomarkers of brevetoxin intoxication. Brevetoxins were concentrated from urine by using solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Urine extracts were fractionated by LC, and fractions analyzed for brevetoxins by ELISA. In subsequent LC-MS/MS analyses, several brevetoxin metabolites of B-type backbone were identified, with elution profiles consistent with those of ELISA. The more abundant brevetoxin metabolites in urine were characterized structurally by LC-MS/MS. With the exception of BTX-3, brevetoxin metabolites in urine differed from those found in shellfish and in shellfish meal remnants. Proposed structures of these major urinary metabolites are methylsulfoxy BTX-3, 27-epoxy BTX-3, and reduced BTX-B5. BTX-3 was found in all specimens examined. BTX-3 concentrations in urine, as determined by LC-MS/MS, correlated well with composite toxin measurements by ELISA ( r 2 = 0.96). BTX-3 is a useful biomarker for confirmation of clinical diagnosis of NSP.
Surface impedance measurements of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ thin films in stripline resonators

The microwave surface impedance of thin films of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ is measured as a function of temperature, frequency, and RF magnetic field, H/sub RF/, using a stripline-resonator technique. The films were deposited in situ by single-target off-axis magnetron sputtering. The frequency range was from 0.4 to 20 GHz, the temperature range from 4.2 K to T/sub c/, and the RF magnetic field range from 0 to 30 Oe. The surface resistance R/sub S/ at 4.2 K and 1.5 GHz is 4*10/sup -6/ Omega . The penetration depth is determined to be 0.167 mu m in the best film, In some films, R/sub S/ shows a linear dependence on H/sub RF/ and rises rapidly at large fields, showing no evidence of saturation. In others, R/sub S/ shows weak dependence on H/sub RF/ before rising rapidly. These behaviors differ from those observed in bulk ceramic YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ and in unpatterned films measured in microwave cavities. However, the shape of R/sub S/(H/sub RF/) for the YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ films is similar to that of Nb and NbN films measured in the same stripline geometry. The authors also present measurements of the intermodulation products in the resonators and discuss the implications of the R/sub S/ and intermodulation measurements for microwave device applications.
Fast fully parallel thinning algorithms

Abstract Three new fast fully parallel 2-D thinning algorithms using reduction operators with 11-pixel supports are presented and evaluated. These are compared to earlier fully parallel thinning algorithms in tests on artificial and natural images; the new algorithms produce either superior parallel computation time (number of parallel iterations) or thinner medial curve results with comparable parallel computation time. Further, estimates of the best possible parallel computation time are developed which are applied to the specific test sets used. The parallel computation times of the new algorithms and one earlier algorithm are shown to approach closely or surpass these estimates and are in this sense near optimally fast.
Consequences of cellular cholesterol accumulation: basic concepts and physiological implications

The cells of most organs and tissues satisfy their requirements for membrane cholesterol via endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis (1). Many cell types, however, have acquired mechanisms to internalize exogenous sources of cholesterol, usually in the form of plasma-derived lipoproteins (2). Examples include steroid-synthesizing cells, hepatocytes, and macrophages and smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic lesions, often referred to as foam cells. In the case of steroidogenic cells, the internalization of lipoprotein-cholesterol represents a physiological process that provides cells with precursor cholesterol stores, to be used for “acute” steroid hormone production (3). Hepatocyte lipoprotein uptake mediates the clearance of various classes of plasma lipoproteins (1), which can lead to whole-body elimination of excess diet-derived cholesterol in the bile, a process known as reverse cholesterol transport (Tall, this Perspective series, ref. 4). The uptake of arterial-wall lipoproteins by macrophages and smooth muscle cells may be a type of physiological scavenging response that initially helps rid the endothelium of potentially harmful lipoprotein material (5). As will be discussed below, however, this cellular process eventually contributes to the progression and complications of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Two-dimensional descent through a compressible atmosphere: Sequential deceleration of an unpowered load

Equations, based on Rayleigh's drag law valid for high Reynolds number, are derived for two-dimensional motion through a compressible atmosphere in isentropic equilibrium, such as characterizes the Earth's troposphere. Solutions yield horizontal and vertical displacement, velocity, and acceleration as a function of altitude and ground-level temperature. An exact analytical solution to the equations linearized in the aero-thermodynamic parameter is given; in general the equations must be solved numerically. The theory, applied to the unpowered fall of a large aircraft stabilized to flat descent by symmetrical, sequential deployment of horizontal and vertical decelerators, shows that such an aircraft can be brought down with mean peak deployment and impact decelerations below 10g.
E-Health: Steps On The Road To Interoperability

ABSTRACT: Interoperable electronic medical records (EMRs) have the potential to produce better health outcomes while improving the efficiency of care delivery and reducing its costs. Implementation...
Selective removal of metals from waste streams

Abstract Copper, chromium, nickel, and zinc are frequently found in high concentrations in industrial waste water and can be removed by precipitation. Typical precipitation processes do not allow each metal to be precipitated separately, and hence selective metal recovery is not possible. It is desirable to recover each metal separately to allow recycling of metals and to satisfy waste minimization requirements. Chelation can be utilized to selectively remove metals from aqueous solution, since chelation can be controlled by pH. A study has been undertaken to determine the pH optima for removal of copper, nickel, and zinc by chelation with dithiozone. A similar study will be initiated to determine the pH optimum for removal of chromium by chelation with Aliquat 336, a high molecular weight amine. Percent extraction of metal was measured as a function of metal solution pH. Two dithiozone solvents, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, were investigated. The preliminary results indicate that the optimum pH for extraction of copper with dithiozone—chloroform solution is near pH 3. As a solvent, chloroform allows more copper extraction than carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride was rejected as a solvent due to the low solubility of dithiozone in carbon tetrachloride. The chelation reaction must be performed in a pH-buffered solution to maintain a constant pH. The results of this study will be utilized to design a process to selectively recover metals from industrial waste water.
Determination of the Local Cross-Link Density in Polyisobutylene-Based Elastomers by NMR Imaging

Gravimetrical Flory−Rehner experiments are combined with MRI experiments to study the spatially dependent degree of cross-linking in unfilled, 1,6-hexamethylenediamine-cured poly(isobutylene−p-methylstyrene−p-bromomethylstyrene) terpolymers. MRI relaxometry reveals two proton T2 relaxation decay times in CCl4 swollen specimens: a fast decaying component reflecting the constrained chain segments near cross-links and entanglements and a slow decaying component originating from less constrained, remote chains. On the basis of a linear relation between the bulk Mn,eff (number-average molecular weight between effective cross-links) and the volume-averaged T2 decay times, MRI allows the determination of the local cross-link density in inhomogeneously cross-linked specimens by means of the spatially dependent T2 decay times. MRI solvent diffusion experiments reveal that the ingress kinetics of cyclohexane in PIB terpolymers is Fickian. It is shown that the diffusion coefficient varies linearly with the cure sta...
Newton-Krylov Strategy for Compressible Turbulent Flows on Unstructured Meshes

Introduction T HE objective of this Note is to investigate the performance of Newton–Krylov methods applied to the solution of compressible high Reynolds number  ows around two-dimensional geometries. Although these methods have already been employed successfully for the computationof inviscid and viscous  ows,1i3 very few attempts have been made to apply these techniques to the simulation of turbulent  ows with partial differential equation turbulencemodels.4 In this Note, which summarizes the resultspresented in Refs. 5 and 6, we consider the one-equation Spalart–Allmaras model7 and the two-equationk–! model,8 and we examine the performance of the Newton–Krylov solver for the computation of the turbulent  ow over a NACA 0012 airfoil, an RAE 2822 airfoil, and a two-element airfoil.
The environmental biogeochemistry of chelating agents and recommendations for the disposal of chelated radioactive wastes

Abstract Chelating agents are used in nuclear decontamination operations because they form very selective and strong complexes with numerous radionuclides. However, if environmentally-persistent chelated wastes are disposed of without pretreatment to eliminate the chelating agents, increased radionuclide migration rates from the disposal sites may occur. The environmental chemistry of the three most common aminopolycarboxylic acid chelating agents, NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid), EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), and DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) is reviewed. This review includes information on their persistence in the environment, as well as their tendency to form complexes with actinides. Data on the sorption of chelated actinides by geologic substrates and on the uptake of chelated actinides by plants are also presented. Increased solubility and/or migration of radionuclides by chelating agents used in decontamination operations have been observed at two different radioactive waste burial grounds. EDTA was found to be promoting the migration of 6O Co and possibly other radionuclides from liquid waste disposal sites at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (1). Recently EDTA has again been identified in radioactive wastes-this time in trench waters containing from 600–16,100 pCi 238 Pu per liter from solid waste burial grounds in Maxey Flats, Kentucky (2). These observations at Oak Ridge and Maxey Flats suggest that the practice of disposing chelated radioactive wastes should be reevaluated. Three different technical options for disposing chelated low-level radioactive wastes are proposed: 1. [1] Bind the solidified chelated waste in some kind of solid matrix that has a slow leach rate and bury the waste in a “dry” disposal site. 2. [2] Substitute biodegradable chelating agents in the decontamination reagent for the chelating agents that are persistent in the environment. 3. [3] Chemically or thermally degrade the chelating agents in the waste prior to disposal. The relative advantages and disadvantages of each of these options are discussed. We feel that surprisingly little attention has been given to an obvious procedure for the disposal of chelated radioactive wastes: chemically or thermally degrading the chelating agent prior to disposal. Any of the above three options might in fact be a satisfactory approach to the disposal of chelated wastes. However, we suggest that the burial of chelating agents such as EDTA be avoided and that option [3] be given more consideration.
Delineation of vagal emetic pathways: intragastric copper sulfate-induced emesis and viral tract tracing in musk shrews

Signals from the vestibular system, area postrema, and forebrain elicit nausea and vomiting, but gastrointestinal (GI) vagal afferent input arguably plays the most prominent role in defense against...
Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the alkaline earth hexaammines

Abstract Conduction electron paramagnetic resonance (CEPR) was investigated in Ca(NH3)6, Sr(NH3)6, and Ba(NH3)6 in the range 8.5 to 300 K. CEPR lineshapes in Ca(NH3)6 and Sr(NH3)6 are Dysonian, and by analyzing the lineshape the relaxation time, g shift, and diffusion time were determined. A line-broadening transition, which is associated with rapid ammonia diffusion, occurs below about 120 K in both compounds. However, no CEPR signals could be detected in Ba(NH3)6. In general, the results of this study indicate that the dominant relaxation mechanism involves the motional modulation of the spin-orbit coupling between the conduction electrons and cations. A narrow signal, which may be associated with local-moment formation, also was observed in Sr(NH3)6 below about 200 K.
How Knowledge Validation Processes Affect Knowledge Contribution

To ensure that knowledge repositories contain high-quality knowledge, knowledge management research recommends that contributions to a repository undergo stringent validation processes. To date, however, no research has studied the impact of such processes on contributors' repository-related perceptions or behaviors. To address this gap, we develop a model based on signaling theory and reinforcement theory to explain how individuals' perceptions of three primary validation process characteristics (duration, transparency, and restrictiveness) impact their perceptions of repository knowledge quality and their contribution behaviors. Our empirical results confirm the importance of implementing review processes that are transparent and developmentally oriented as a way of encouraging knowledge contribution. More broadly, this study underscores the need to develop integrated theoretical models that draw from a variety of reference theories when attempting to explain knowledge-related behaviors.
Neuroprotective peptides prevent some alcohol-induced alteration in γ-aminobutyric acid A-β3, which plays a role in cleft lip and palate and learning in fetal alcohol syndrome

Objective Prenatal alcohol exposure affects 1 in 100 births in the United States and results in craniofacial dysmorphologic condition and learning disabilities. In a model for fetal alcohol syndrome, neuroprotective peptides prevented fetal death and learning deficits. The γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABA) receptor subunit GABAβ3 plays a critical role for nervous system and palate development. Our objective was to determine whether the neuropeptides prevented alcohol-induced damage through GABAβ3. Study design With a model for fetal alcohol syndrome, timed pregnant C57B16/J mice were treated on gestational day 8 with alcohol (25% alcohol) or control (saline solution) or alcohol plus peptides NAPVSIPQ + SALLRSIPA (NAP + SAL; 20 μg). Embryos were harvested at 6 and 24 hours and 10 days after treatment. Adult males were tested for learning on the Morris water maze, and their brains were dissected. With samples from at least 3 litters per time point, calibrator-normalized relative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for GABAβ3 with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase standardization. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance and Fisher protected least significant difference. Results Twenty-four hours and 10 days after treatment, alcohol decreased GABAβ3 in the embryos ( P ≤ .01); this decrease was prevented by the peptides ( P = .01). GABAβ3 was higher in alcohol treated adult brains respect to the controls ( P = .002); this rise was not prevented by the peptides. Conclusion Treatment with the neuropeptides NAPVSIPQ and SALLRSIPA prevented the alcohol-induced decline in GABAβ3 expression 10 days after alcohol exposure. Because palate formation continues through E18, NAPVSIPQ and SALLRSIPA may be beneficial for the prevention of cleft lip and palate.
High-throughput computing provides substantial time savings for landscape and conservation planning

Abstract The social and ecological complexity of conservation has increased as a function of human transformation of landscapes, requiring robust decision support tools for planning. Remotely sensed data, available at increasingly fine-grain sizes, combined with powerful computing hardware and a plethora of software packages, provide landscape and conservation planners an opportunity to contribute to the design of future landscapes at local-regional extents. A computing limitation that has largely been accepted by the planning community is a sacrifice of grain size with increasing spatial extent. High-throughput and high-performance computing applications (i.e., “grid computing”, “supercomputing”) expand the potential for large-extent analyses with high-resolution data. We provide three landscape and conservation planning experiments that investigate to what degree high-throughput computing expedites spatial analyses at varying grains and extents. The first two distribute tasks to networked GIS computers: (1) detecting small landforms using fine-grained data over a limited spatial extent and (2) coarse-grained protected areas analysis at a continental-extent. The final experiment uses a supercomputer to run stand-alone software for a multi-step habitat connectivity analysis at moderate resolution and extent. All three experiments demonstrated massive time savings, shifting processing time for intensive landscape analyses from months to hours. We suggest high-throughput computing will improve landscape planning by (1) allowing finer grained analyses at greater extents, (2) reducing time consumed by complex algorithms, and (3) facilitating analyses of model sensitivities. Employing these methods may allow planners to ask and solve more complex ecological and planning questions and more accurately represent pattern and process at multiple scales.
Rain-attenuation measurements of millimetre waves over short paths

Results of rain-attenuation measurements at millimetre waves are presented that have been obtained with a shuttle-pulse technique. This technique requires a path length through rain of only a few metres, so that the rainfall rate and drop-size distribution can be considered to be uniform along this path.
Self-refuting theories of strategic interaction: A paradox of common knowledge

Game theoretic reasoning is sometimes strikingly inconsistent with observed behavior, or even with evidence from introspection. Famous examples of such inconsistency are the finitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma game and Selten’s Chain Store Paradox (Selten, 1978). In both cases, some plausible solutions run counter to game theoretic reasoning and appear to point to the inadequacy of the game theoretic notion of rationality in capturing important features of human behavior. These considerations do not apply to artificial settings only: in a wide range of ordinary social interactions it does not pay to be (or look) too rational. As Goffman puts it, expert poker players sometimes discover that one can lose the game because of playing too well (Goffman, 1969). In international conflicts, it may well pay to be thought of as a ‘mad dog’. And in the above quoted games, all or some of the players involved get a lower payoff than they would were they to play in less than a rational manner. All attempts to explain the emergence of cooperation in a finitely repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma, as well as that of ‘reputation effects’ in the Chain Store story, have required either some version of ‘imperfect rationality’ (Selten, 1978) or a change in the structure of the game, such as assuming altruism (and thus changing the payoffs), or imposing incomplete information at the beginning of the game (Kreps et al., 1982).
Reading Putin in Russian and Soviet Literature

Putin’s authoritarian leadership style has tremendous resonance in Russian literature and daily life.
First Report of the Occurrence of White Leaf Streak in Louisiana Rice.

White leaf streak, caused by Mycovellosiella oryzae (Deighton and Shaw) Deighton (syn. Ramularia oryzae), was found in Louisiana rice. The symptoms closely resemble those of narrow brown leaf spot caused by Cercospora janseana (Racib.) O. Const. (syn. C. oryzae (Miyake)), and it is difficult to distinguish between these two diseases. Initially both produce similar elongated light brown lesions, but later the lesions of white leaf streak become wider with a whitish center and are surrounded by a narrow light brown margin (2,3). The disease was first observed at the Rice Research Station, Crowley, LA, in 1996 on older leaves of the cultivar Lemont at maturity. Leaves containing the unusual lesion types were placed in a moist chamber and incubated at 28°C for 5 days. Abundant conidia were produced and the fungus was isolated on acidified potato dextrose agar (APDA) by single spore isolation and by plating infected tissues after surface sterilization in 40% Clorox for 10 to 15 min. The colonies grew slowly on...
Peptides in ionic solutions : a simulation study of a bis(penicillamine) enkephalin in sodium acetate solution

The bis(penicillamine) enkephalin, a small zwitterionic pentapeptide, has been studied in explicit 1.0 M sodium acetate solution with use of the molecular dynamics technique. During the simulation the association of multiple acetate ions with the positively charged N terminal region was observed. In addition, but to a far lesser extent, sodium ion binding to backbone carbonyl groups close to the negatively charged C terminus also occurred. Interesting individual events, such as the simultaneous binding of an acetate to a hydrogen of the N terminus and to backbone NH groups, were observed. Most often acetates only associated with the N terminal hydrogens. Subtle conformational changes in the peptide backbone were found as a consequence of acetate binding