cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Sextupole and Quadrupole Magnetic Field in an ECR-PE Sputtering System

In the era of nanotechnology, VLSI industry employs various deposition methods and techniques to develop various sensors & devices, utilized in numerous applications. The commonly used deposition methods e.g., ALD, MBE, Vacuum Evaporation, CVD, PLD, Sputtering etc. are mostly dedicated for specific sets of deposition. Some of the methods are even extremely sophisticated, expensive or lack precision. Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Enhanced (ECR-PE) multipurpose nano-film deposition system is one such unique apparatus that is in-house designed & developed to deposit high quality thin films of various metals and non-metals. Both, Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PE-CVD) arrangement and Sputter deposition arrangement is designed in the same plasma reactor considering permanent magnets. Although, the PE-CVD setup is already developed and made operational using a permanent magnet return yoke structure, the fabrication of the sputtering setup is yet to be carried out for its accommodation in the system. In this study, two annular permanent magnet assembly consisting of six (sextupole) and four (quadrupole) dipole magnets have been designed and simulated to study magnetic field distribution inside reactor for the sputter deposition arrangement.
Drug therapy of Aspergillus otitis externa.

Chairman's Comments: True mycotic infections of the ear canal are far less common than realized: “swimmer's ear” is often ascribed to a fungus by nonotolaryngologists. However, mycotic infections, especially those due to Aspergillus, are difficult to eradicate and topical drug therapy is an important part of treatment.Lopez and Evens summarize the available literature related to treatment of Aspergillus external otitis in this drug capsule. Their review is interesting and informative. It is remarkable how many medications have been used for this stubborn condition.
Disparities on Baseline Performance Using Neurocognitive and Oculomotor Clinical Measures of Concussion.

Background:Given the high participation of Black/African American individuals in high school sports, especially high-risk sports for concussion, it is important to note if racial and socioeconomic ...
Half-Heusler Alloys for Efficient Thermoelectric Power Conversion

Half-Heusler (HH) phases (space group F43m, Clb) are increasingly gaining attention as promising thermoelectric materials in view of their thermal stability and environmental benignity as well as efficient power output. Until recently, the verifiable dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) of HH phases has remained moderate near 1, which limits the power conversion efficiency of these materials. We report herein ZT ∼ 1.3 in n-type (Hf,Zr)NiSn alloys near 850 K developed through elemental substitution and simultaneous embedment of nanoparticles in the HH matrix, obtained by annealing the samples close to their melting temperatures. Introduction of mass fluctuation and scattering centers play a key role in the high ZT measured, as shown by the reduction of thermal conductivity and increase of thermopower. Based on computation, the power conversion efficiency of a n–p couple module based on the new n-type (Hf,Zr,Ti)NiSn particles-in-matrix composite and recently reported high-ZT p-type HH phases is expected to reach 13%, comparable to that of state-of-the-art materials, but with the mentioned additional materials and environmental attributes. Since the high efficiency is obtained without tuning the microstructure of the HH phases, it leaves room for further optimization.
Mitigation of Saturated Cut-Sets During Multiple Outages to Enhance Power System Security

Ensuring reliable operation of large power systems subjected to multiple outages is a challenging task because of the combinatorial nature of the problem. Traditional approaches for security assessment are often limited by their scope and/or speed, resulting in missing of critical contingencies that could lead to cascading failures. This paper proposes a two-component methodology to enhance power system security. The first component combines an efficient algorithm to detect cut-set saturation (called the feasibility test (FT) algorithm) with real-time contingency analysis (RTCA) to create an integrated corrective action (iCA), whose goal is to secure the system against cut-set saturation as well as critical branch overloads. The second component only employs the results of the FT to create a relaxed corrective action (rCA) to secure the system against post-contingency cut-set saturation. The first component is more comprehensive, but the latter is computationally more efficient. The effectiveness of the two components is evaluated based upon the number of cascade triggering contingencies alleviated, and the computation time. The results obtained by analyzing different case-studies on the IEEE 118-bus and 2000-bus synthetic Texas systems indicate that the proposed two-component methodology successfully enhances the scope and speed of power system security assessment during multiple outages.
Design considerations of photonic lanterns for diffraction-limited spectrometry

The coupling of large telescopes to astronomical instruments has historically been challenging due to the tension between instrument throughput and stability. Light from the telescope can either be injected wholesale into the instrument, maintaining high throughput at the cost of point-spread function (PSF) stability, or the time-varying components of the light can be filtered out with single-mode fibers (SMFs), maintaining instrument stability at the cost of light loss. Today, the field of astrophotonics provides a potential resolution to the throughput-stability tension in the form of the photonic lantern (PL): a tapered waveguide that can couple a time-varying and aberrated PSF into multiple diffraction-limited beams at an efficiency that greatly surpasses direct SMF injection. As a result, lantern-fed instruments retain the stability of SMF-fed instruments while increasing their throughput. To this end, we present a series of numerical simulations characterizing PL performance as a function of lantern geometry, wavelength, and wavefront error (WFE), aimed at guiding the design of future diffraction-limited spectrometers. These characterizations include a first look at the interaction between PLs and phase-induced amplitude apodization (PIAA) optics. We find that Gaussian-mapping beam-shaping optics can enhance coupling into 3-port lanterns but offer diminishing gains with larger lanterns. In the y and J band (0.97–1.35 µm) region, with moderately high WFE (∼10% Strehl ratio), a 3-port lantern in conjunction with beam-shaping optics strikes a good balance between pixel count and throughput gains. If pixels are not a constraint, and the flux in each port will be dominated by photon noise, then larger port count lanterns will provide further coupling gains due to a greater resilience to tip-tilt errors. Finally, we show that lanterns can maintain high operating efficiencies over large wavelength bands where the number of guided modes at the lantern entrance drops, if care is taken to minimize the attenuation of weakly radiative input modes.
A broadband microstrip-to-waveguide transition using quasi-Yagi antenna

A novel microstrip-to-waveguide transition utilizing a coplanar strips Yagi-like antenna is presented. The X-band transition demonstrates about 40% bandwidth with return loss better than -12 dB. This transition should find wide applications due to its high compatibility with MIC/MMIC technology at very low fabrication cost.
The Impact of Distraction on an Intersection Crossing Assist System

The current study examines the impact of drivers’ use of an in-vehicle intersection crossing assist system under demanding cognitive load conditions. The use and adherence to the assist system is examined through intersection crossing driving performance measures. Furthermore, the impact of distraction is examined for younger and older drivers. The results suggest a more conservative approach to the crossing of rural intersections when using the assist system, a finding which was not altered by cognitive load.
Progress in Enforcing International Law against Rogue States?: Comparing the 1930S with the Current Age of Nuclear Proliferation

This chapter will first review why Hudson's generation failed to enforce international law during the 1930s and how this failure contributed to the outbreak of World War II. Then it will turn to one of the greatest security challenges of our time - the proliferation of nuclear weapons and examine how and why the international community is again failing to take the enforcement measures necessary to prevent a major calamity. The first major step in the decline of the nuclear nonproliferation regime involved a set of Indian and Pakistani nuclear detonations in 1998. Yet the international community has been strikingly hesitant to take strong enforcement action against North Korean violations of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. But China is concerned that significant economic or other pressure on North Korea might cause the North Korean regime to collapse, thereby flooding China with refugees that would be costly to care for. Keywords: international law; major calamity; nuclear proliferation; significant economic
Certification Processes for Safety-Critical and Mission-Critical Aerospace Software

This document is a quick reference guide with an overview of the processes required to certify safety-critical and mission-critical flight software at selected NASA centers and the FAA. Researchers and software developers can use this guide to jumpstart their understanding of how to get new or enhanced software onboard an aircraft or spacecraft. The introduction contains aerospace industry definitions of safety and safety-critical software, as well as, the current rationale for certification of safety-critical software. The Standards for Safety-Critical Aerospace Software section lists and describes current standards including NASA standards and RTCA DO-178B. The Mission-Critical versus Safety-Critical software section explains the difference between two important classes of software: safety-critical software involving the potential for loss of life due to software failure and mission-critical software involving the potential for aborting a mission due to software failure. The DO-178B Safety-critical Certification Requirements section describes special processes and methods required to obtain a safety-critical certification for aerospace software flying on vehicles under auspices of the FAA. The final two sections give an overview of the certification process used at Dryden Flight Research Center and the approval process at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL).
Education for Critical Democracy and Compassionate Globalization

In reflecting on the dilemmas of globalization, Nicholas Burbules and Carlos Torres ask, “is globalization merely deleterious, or are there positive features associated with its practices and dynamics?” This is certainly a difficult question; globalization is very complex and complicated and there is little consensus on its contours, dimensions, and impact. Among educators, it is largely unexplored. Most of my students and colleagues have little idea about the meaning of globalization, and critical conversations about it are conspicuously absent in prevailing educational reform proposals. Similarly, while some educational philosophers have been writing about globalization, it has not significantly affected how we think about our larger purposes or our field of study. Yet globalization has many negative consequences that ought to trouble us, and even make us rethink our passions and priorities. For example, it is not hard to show that the unfettered expansion of freemarket capitalism, a defining feature of globalization, has made the suffering and social injustice in our world markedly worse. We see growing gaps between the wealthy and the poor, loss of job security, exploitation of workers, privatization of public goods and services, environmental destruction, diminishment of biodiversity, disruption of indigenous cultures, loss of community, increased global homogenization, and ultimately, the almost complete subordination of the developing world to the needs and desires of transnational corporations.
Macro Approaches to Foreign Exchange Determination

Macroeconomic approaches to exchange rate determination are reviewed, with an emphasis on empirical models. Monetary and portfolio balance models of nominal exchange rates are described and evaluated. The literature on real models of real exchange rates is reviewed. The chapter ends with a brief survey of recent developments in exchange rate modeling. JEL Classification Nos.: F32, F41
Términos de intercambio, afluencia extraordinaria de divisas y tipo de cambio real en América Latina

Se formulara y estimara un modelo que incorpora factores monetarios, terminos de intercambio externos y otros factores relativos a la afluencia extraordinaria de divisas como variables determinantes del tipo de cambio real. Esto permite una comparacion estadistica de la intensidad de los procesos de equilibrio y de desequilibrio que afectan el tipo de cambio real. Los resultados destacan el rol que han jugado los terminos de intercambio en la alteracion del tipo de cambio de equilibrio en America Latina. Mas aun, estos resultados sugieren que cuando los terminos de intercambio son muy variables, las dos medidas de tipo de cambio real mas usadas mostraran senales bastante inconsistentes con el estado de la economia.
A Generic Model of Long Term Care for Social Work Education.

Abstract With the “graying” of America and the increasing life expectancy for the developmentally disabled, there is an increasing demand for long-term care (LTC). As in the past, provision of this care will depend heavily on families. Professional social work can expect an increased role in facilitating the balance of LTC resources. As this role evolves, social work educators may develop anticipatory responses by incorporating a generic but comprehensive framework of LTC in social work curricula. Such a framework is presented in this paper. It is neither age- nor etiology-specific; it is appropriate for use with the developmentally disabled, the frail elderly, or any other population in need of LTC.
How Linearity Affects Narrative: The Incomplete Story of Final Fantasy XIII

This review looks at the structure of the Final Fantasy XIII narrative and how it gets in the way of the overall game. It further looks at the purely narrative elements of the game, such as story and characterization, and makes a statement on how the linearity and pacing of the game prevent it from successfully exploring critical topics.
The imaginary term in readings about modernity: Taylor and Castoriadis' conceptions

Introduction Many different theoretical positions have been taken on the phenomenon of modernity, attempting to explain this complex epochal consciousness that builds its bases on the future by opposing antiquity, and which has brought about transformational processes from the dissolution of feudalism to the emergence of capitalism in the West. Among these diverse social and philosophical theoretical proposals for understanding modernity, and more precisely for understanding the issue of “wha...
The Role of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

Spirometry is a dynamic test that provides the best assessment of obstructive airway disease. The most useful value that the spirogram provides is the maximum volume of air that can be expelled with a forced expiration following a maximal inspiratory effort, the FEV1. Lung volume measurements are static studies and are less useful in assessing airway obstruction, but can demonstrate the presence of pulmonary overinflation. The carbon monoxide diffusing capacity can help distinguish between asthma and emphysema in patients that smoke. Arterial blood gas studies can assess the consequences of bronchospasm and provide a guide for hospitalizing patients with asthma exacerbation. Nonspecific bronchoprovocation challenge testing with methacholine or other agents, may help diagnose asthma when the clinical picture is unclear. Bronchoprovocation challenge testing using specific agents can help diagnose asthma because of substances in the work place. Exercise studies can evaluate the patient as a “whole” and can distinguish between dyspnea caused by respiratory diseases or dyspnea caused by cardiac disease and/or deconditioning. Exercise studies can document exercise induced bronchospasm and can evaluate the benefits of a rehabilitation program for the patient limited by asthma. Standardization of technique and rigid quality control are an absolute necessity in any pulmonary laboratory.
Human T-cell proliferation following PPD presentation by monocytes: Inhibition by anti-β2-microglobulin

Abstract Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from PPD-sensitive individuals and separated into a T-lymphocyte-enriched population and a monocyte-enriched population. The monocyte population was treated with mitomycin C, then pulsed with PPD. When the mitomycin C-treated, PPD-pulsed cells were cocultured with autologous T lymphocytes, the T cells proliferated demonstrating that human monocytes present antigen to T lymphocytes. When mitomycin C-treated, antigen-pulsed monocytes were preincubated with anti- β 2 m, no effect on the proliferative response was observed. However, when the responding T cells were preincubated with anti- β 2 m, the proliferative response was inhibited. Similarly, the effect of anti-HLA and anti-Ia on the PPD-induced proliferative response was studied. The results obtained demonstrated that anti-HLA had little or no effect on the proliferative response while anti-Ia appeared to inhibit the responding lymphocytes to the same extent as the antigen-pulsed stimulating cells.
Parametric study of macrosegregation in the horizontal strip casting process for different cooling rates and different casting speeds

The objective of this paper is to investigate sensitivity of the macrosegregation profiles in steel strips produced by the horizontal strip casting process to the major technological parameters controlling this process, such as the cooling rate and the casting speed. To perform this investigation, a mathematical model which accounts for fluid flow as well as for heat and solute transport is suggested. Extensive numerical simulations of the horizontal strip casting process for different cooling rates and different casting speeds are carried out.
Polymeric alkenoxy amino acid surfactants: V. Comparison of carboxylate and sulfate head group polymeric surfactants for enantioseparation in MEKC

In this work, six amino acid derived (L-leucinol, L-leucine, L-isoleucinol, L-isoleucine, L-valinol, and L-valine) polymeric chiral surfactants with carboxylate and sulfate head groups that were recently synthesized in our laboratory [30, 33, 35] are compared for the simultaneous enantioseparation of several groups of structurally similar analytes under neutral and basic pH conditions. The physicochemical properties of the monomers and polymers of both classes of sulfated and carboxylated surfactants are compared. In addition, cryogenic high-resolution electron microscopy showed tubular structures with distinct order of the tubes of 50-100 nm width. A Plackett-Burmann experimental design is used to study the factors that influence the chiral resolution and analysis time of ten structurally related phenylethylamines (PEAs). It is observed that increasing the number of hydroxy groups on the benzene ring of the PEAs resulted in deterioration of enantioseparation using any of the six polymeric surfactants. For all three classes of PEAs, polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-amino acidate (poly-L-SUCAA)-type surfactants provided enhanced resolution compared to that of polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-amino acid sulfates (poly-L-SUCAASS). Several classes of basic and neutral chiral compounds (e.g., beta-blockers benzoin derivatives, PTH-amino acids, and benzodiazepines) also provided improved chiral separations with poly-L-SUCAA. Among the poly-L-SUCAAs, polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-isoleucine sulfate (poly--SUCL) exhibited overall the best enantioseparation capability for the investigated basic and neutral compounds, while among the poly-L-SUCAASs, polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-isoleucine sulfate (poly-L-SUCILS), and polysodium N-undecenoxycarbonyl-L-valine sulfate (poly-L-SUCVS) proved to be equally effective for enantioseparation. This work clearly demonstrates that variation in the head group of polymeric alkenoxy amino acid surfactants has a significant effect on chiral separations.
Topical CTC-96 accelerates wart growth in rabbits infected with cottontail rabbit papillomavirus

CTC-96, a cobalt containing complex, was tested as a putative topical therapeutic agent for the treatment of papillomavirus-induced tumors in our cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV)-rabbit model system. Following experimental infection of domestic rabbits with CRPV, CTC-96 was applied to infection sites twice daily, 5 days a week for a total of 8 weeks. Two levels of concentrations of aqueous CTC-96 were compared to placebo control-treated animals. With increasing dose of CTC-96 we observed tumors earlier, larger, and more often across eight infected sites on each animal.
Transnational Quarantine Rhetorics: Public Mobilization in SARS and in H1N1 Flu

This essay examines how Chinese governments, local communities, and overseas Chinese in North America responded to the perceived health risks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and H1N1 flu through the use of public and participatory rhetoric about risk and quarantines. Focusing on modes of security and quarantine practices, I examine how globalization and the social crises surrounding SARS and H1N1 flu operated to regulate differently certain bodies and areas. I identify three types of quarantines (mandatory, voluntary, and coerced) and conduct a transnational comparative analysis to investigate the relationships among quarantines, rhetoric, and public communication. I argue that health authorities must openly acknowledge the legitimacy of public input and actively seek public support regarding health crises. Only by collaborating with concerned communities and citizens and by providing careful guidance for public participation can health institutions ensure the efficacy of quarantine orders during emerging epidemics.
Mobilization and fusion of a non-recycling pool of synaptic vesicles under conditions of endocytic blockade

Abstract At vertebrate central synapses, it has been demonstrated that a resting pool of synaptic vesicles (SVs) exists that normally does not participate in SV release and recycling. It remains unclear whether SVs within the resting pool are capable of mobilization and fusion. Here, we combine live imaging of SV exo- and endocytosis using pH-sensitive GFP (synapto-pHluorins) with pharmacological and genetic manipulations of the SV cycle at the Drosophila NMJ. We demonstrate that a resting pool of SVs exists at this synapse that encompasses 30–41% of the total SV pool. Under conditions of endocytic blockade, using a temperature-sensitive dynamin mutation, the resting pool of SVs can be mobilized and released. We present a model for the presence of a resting pool of SVs that does not require molecular specification of a subpopulation of SVs.
CD154 expression is associated with neutralizing antibody titer levels postinfluenza vaccination in stem cell transplant patients and healthy adults.

We undertook a prospective longitudinal study to examine humoral and cellular immune responses to influenza vaccination in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients and healthy adults. Healthy volunteers and HCT patients had blood samples taken prior to influenza vaccination and 30, 90, and 180 days postvaccination. Serum from pre- and postvaccination time points were tested for influenza A IgG and IgM by ELISA as well as tested for neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers via hemagluttination inhibition assay. Polychromatic flow cytometry was used to examine CD4+ T cells for levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and CD154 (CD40 ligand) expression after stimulation with inactivated flu virus. In healthy subjects, we found a significant increase in Influenza A IgG and IgM levels as well as an increase in NAb titers pre- and postinfluenza vaccination. Notably, NAb titers of most HCT patients did not rise to a protective level postvaccination. CD4+ T cell expression of CD154 and cytokine responses were significantly reduced in HCT recipients compared to healthy adults. A lack of B cell reconstitution and dysfunctional CD4 T cell costimulation (as marked by low CD154 expression) is associated with low NAb levels postvaccination in HCT patients.
Statistics on the heterotic landscape: Gauge groups and cosmological constants of four-dimensional heterotic strings

Recent developments in string theory have reinforced the notion that the space of stable supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric string vacua fills out a landscape whose features are largely unknown. It is then hoped that progress in extracting phenomenological predictions from string theory--such as correlations between gauge groups, matter representations, potential values of the cosmological constant, and so forth--can be achieved through statistical studies of these vacua. To date, most of the efforts in these directions have focused on type I vacua. In this note, we present the first results of a statistical study of the heterotic landscape, focusing on more than 10{sup 5} explicit nonsupersymmetric tachyon-free heterotic string vacua and their associated gauge groups and one-loop cosmological constants. Although this study has several important limitations, we find a number of intriguing features which may be relevant for the heterotic landscape as a whole. These features include different probabilities and correlations for different possible gauge groups as functions of the number of orbifold twists. We also find a vast degeneracy amongst nonsupersymmetric string models, leading to a severe reduction in the number of realizable values of the cosmological constant as compared with naieve expectations. Finally, we find strong correlations between cosmological constantsmore » and gauge groups which suggest that heterotic string models with extremely small cosmological constants are overwhelmingly more likely to exhibit the standard model gauge group at the string scale than any of its grand-unified extensions. In all cases, heterotic world sheet symmetries such as modular invariance provide important constraints that do not appear in corresponding studies of type I vacua.« less
The Concept of Strategic Groups: Theoretical Construct or Analytical Convenience

Despite the fact that a great deal of empirical research confirms the existence of strategic groups, not enough attention has been paid to their theoretical development. This paper links the theories of spatial competition and cognitive taxonomy to the very existence of strategic groups in a competitive environment. It is shown that the concept of strategic groups is not an analytical convenience but a theoretical construct.
Effect of diethyl maleate on glutathione, hepatic and renal cortical perfusion, and portal 6-ketopgf1α and TxB2 levels in swine

1. Effects of diethyl maleate (DEM) mediated glutathione (GSH) depletion on hepatic and renal cortical blood flow (perfusion), plasma GSH, and portal prostacyclin (6-ketoPGF1 alpha) and thromboxane (TxB2) were determined in anaesthetized swine. 2. Although DEM depleted hepatic GSH to 25% of control, plasma GSH increased 10-fold in comparison to controls. DEM caused a drop in blood pressure and renal cortical perfusion but had no effect on hepatic perfusion or portal 6-ketoPGF1 alpha or TxB2 levels. 3. Possibly, the unexpected rise in plasma GSH may have inhibited prostanoid synthesis, preventing any alterations in tissue perfusion that may have occurred following tissue GSH depletion.
African NGO's and Womanism: Microcredit and Self-Help

It is argued that womanism, a concept often associated with Black American women writers, is a driving force behind much of the activity of many West African cultures, including their current work with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). The historical nature of womanism, both on the continent and in the Americas is addressed, and microcredit and NGO work in other areas held up to contrast. The conclusion is that women-oriented microcredit projects need to be seen through a specific cultural lens.
Nonlinearity and the effects of microclimatic variability on a codling moth population (Cydia pomonella): a sensitivity simulation

Abstract Using a recently developed simulation model, we have examined the sensitivity of the dynamics of a population of codling moth to temperature variations of the magnitude that might reasonably occur between weather station measurements and tree canopy temperatures. Base temperatures used were from NOAA Weather Service records for 1976 and for 1978. Effects of temperature variation showed different patterns for the 2 years. Examination of the temperature dependence of rates of development and of mortality for the developmental life stages, indicates that the difference arises from the nonlinear temperature dependence of the underlying life stage processes. Implications are discussed concerning both the qualitative nature of effects of temperature variations, and the nature of the experimental and monitoring data needed if simulation models are to be useable for predicting and controlling codling moth populations.
Numerical verification of time-domain moment method in ultrasound tomography.

In ultrasound tomography the time-domain moment method is very promising in that it has been shown to yield a close agreement between the time-spatial moment expansion and the true field representation. This paper introduces a numerical technique to compute the analytical solution for forward scattering by using a Bessel function series and the inverse discrete Fourier transform, and shows that the artifacts that occur are due to convolution aliasing and undersampling aliasing. Computer simulation has reconstructed these two types of aliasing separately, and has shown that they can be removed by a properly designed algorithm. This alias-free numerical solution is used to verify Cavicchi’s moment-method formulation. A significant improvement in numerical verification is then obtained. © 1996 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
The role of effluent nitrate in trace organic chemical oxidation during UV disinfection

Most conventional biological treatment wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) contain nitrate in the effluent. Nitrate undergoes photolysis when irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light in the 200-240 and 300-325 nm wavelength range. In the process of nitrate photolysis, nitrite and hydroxyl radicals are produced. Medium pressure mercury lamps emitting a polychromatic UV spectrum including irradiation below 240 nm are becoming more common for wastewater disinfection. Therefore, nitrified effluent irradiated with polychromatic UV could effectively become a de facto advanced oxidation (hydroxyl radical) treatment process. UV-based advanced oxidation processes commonly rely on addition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of UV irradiation for production of hydroxyl radicals. This study compares the steady-state concentration of hydroxyl radicals produced by nitrate contained in a conventional WWTP effluent to that produced by typical concentrations of hydrogen peroxide used for advanced oxidation treatment of water. The quantum yield of hydroxyl radical production from nitrate by all pathways was calculated to be 0.24 ± 0.03, and the quantum yield of hydroxyl radicals from nitrite was calculated to be 0.65 ± 0.06. A model was developed that would estimate production of hydroxyl radicals directly from nitrate and water quality parameters. In effluents with >5 mg-N/L of nitrate, the concentration of hydroxyl radicals is comparable to that produced by addition of 10 mg/L of H(2)O(2). Nitrifying wastewater treatment plants utilizing polychromatic UV systems at disinfection dose levels can be expected to achieve up to 30% degradation of some micropollutants by hydroxyl radical oxidation. Increasing UV fluence to levels used during advanced oxidation could achieve over 95% degradation of some compounds.
In vivo cytokine-associated responses to biomaterials.

Cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were analyzed periodically over eight weeks from the wound exudate fluid surrounding biomaterials implanted subcutaneously within stainless steel mesh cages. TNF-α, MCP-1, MIP-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-1β, VEGF, IL-4, and IL-10 were measured from exudate samples collected from cages containing specimens of polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), or organo-tin polyvinyl chloride (ot-PVC). Empty cages served as negative controls, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) served as a positive control. Cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor concentrations decreased from the time of implantation to eight weeks post-implantation, and there was an overall increase in cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor production for material-containing cages compared to empty cages. However, cytokine production was only modestly affected by the different surface chemistries of the three implanted polymeric materials.
Differential display analysis of gene expression in mammals: a p53 story.

Differential display is used worldwide as a method to identify changes in gene expression and to discover novel genes that are involved in important biological pathways. The principle of differential display is the systematic amplification of the 3′ termini of messenger RNAs by using anchored oligo-dT primers in combination with upstream arbitrary primers. The separation of the polymerase chain reaction products by gel electrophoresis and their direct comparison allows the identification of differentially regulated genes. Recently, fluorescent differential display was established as the first nonradioactive differential display system with equivalent sensitivity to originally 33P isotopic labeling method. Because of its simplicity, sensitivity, reproducibility and automation, which increase the throughput and accuracy, differential display has become one of the most widely used gene-screening methods in biomedical research involving mammals. This chapter provides a glimpse of the application of differential display in search of target genes of the p53 tumor suppressor gene.
REDUCTION OF CIGARETTE SMOKING IN A UNIVERSITY CAFETERIA

Passive smoking has been shown to be hazardous to the health of nonsmokers. Given this documented link between exposure to smoke-filled environments and deleterious health consequences, there is a need to develop effective procedures that establish and maintain no-smoking areas in various public settings. The present study focused on decreasing cigarette smoking in a section of a university cafeteria. Posting of no-smoking signs was found to decrease levels of smoking only minimally. However, when smokers were verbally prompted not to smoke, in the presence of the signs, marked decreases in smoking occurred in the target area.
Capturing relightable images using computer monitors

Image based relighting techniques are a popular choice for generating photo-realistic images of objects under any lighting condition. A typical process for creating such a model involves photographing the object lit from different directions using a hemispherical lighting array. While generating high-quality results, this requires a customized hardware construction that puts the technology beyond average consumer reach. We investigate the use of monitor illumination as a light source for capturing relightable models, and show that comparable accuracy can be achieved using commodity hardware. In addition, monitors allow increased flexibility in terms of adaptive sampling of light positions. We also present a method of correcting extrapolation artifacts by augmenting hemispherical harmonics with a low order model when reconstructing novel lighting conditions outside the originally sampled region.
The thermal decomposition of sodium, titanyl and uranyl peroxide by the double-tagged isotope tracer technique

Abstract The double-tagged isotope tracer technique is discussed in reference to the decomposition of metal peroxides. The results show that sodium peroxide octahydrate initially decomposes with almost no scrambling of oxygen isotopes between peroxide ions. However, as decomposition proceeds, the amount of scrambling increases. The increase appears to be temperature dependent. Uranyl peroxide dihydrate and titanyl peroxide hydrate were also studied with this technique and found to give 20 per cent and 30 per cent initial scrambling, respectively. The amount of scrambling also increases as decomposition proceeds, but is not temperature dependent. Possible mechanisms for these decomposition processes are discussed.
Confirming a prediction of the calcium hypothesis of photoreceptor aging in mice.

Abstract Prior work in healthy rats supported a calcium hypothesis of photoreceptor aging, wherein progressive age-related declines in photopic vision are explainable by the extent of earlier escalating d -cis-diltiazem–insensitive increases in photoreceptor L-type calcium channel (LTCC) activity in vivo. Unlike rats, healthy mice have relatively stable photopic vision until after 18 months of age. We therefore hypothesized that photoreceptor LTCC activity in mice would not progressively increase until after 18 months. In 2–5, 10, 18, and 26 months male C57Bl/6J mice, photoreceptor LTCC activity and retinal thickness were evaluated in vivo (manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging) with some groups also treated with d -cis-diltiazem; visual performance was evaluated (optokinetic tracking). Data were calibrated for cone-only responses using mice without rod transducin (GNAT1−/−). Photopic vision was stable until after 18 months without retinal thinning or progressive increases in retinal manganese uptake. We measured an uptake spike at 10 months. This spike, unlike that in the rat, was diltiazem sensitive in the dark and diltiazem insensitive in the light. Between dark and light, uptake in inner retina of older mice was unequal (unlike that in 2–5 months mice); outer retinal uptake was similar to that in 2–5 months mice. Stable murine photopic visual performance and nonescalating photoreceptor LTCC activity before 18 months of age were consistent with a prediction of the calcium hypothesis. Stark differences in the temporal evolution of mouse and rat photoreceptor LTCC activity suggest the need for personalized identification of the retinal mechanisms contributing to declines in photopic vision to ensure success of future treatment efforts.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in the congenital polycystic mouse kidney.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in the congenital polycystic mouse kidney. The mechanisms responsible for renal cyst formation in congenital polycystic kidney disease remain unknown, although abnormalities of cellular metabolism, basement membrane components, and growth factors have been suggested. In the present study, we examined a potential role for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in cyst formation in a mouse model. We measured growth factor activity and concentration in renal cyst fluid, urine, and serum obtained from mice with congenital polycystic kidney disease (cpk). In affected mice, both growth factor activity of urine and the urinary EGF concentration were much lower than unaffected littermate controls even when corrected for creatinine concentration. Although the growth factor activity was much lower in affected mice, there were significant differences in the regional distribution of EGF in animals with cysts. Both growth factor activity and EGF concentration were greater in cyst fluid when compared to urine. Growth factor activity in cysts was completely inhibited by anti-EGF antibody using BALB/MK epithelial keratinocytes as targets. The expression of EGF mRNA in kidneys from affected mice was markedly decreased when compared to littermate controls. Theses results suggest that decreased EGF production and local differences in EGF concentration may contribute to cyst formation.
Recent developments on data processing of strong-motion accelerograms: interpolation of uniform and non-uniform sampling from digitized acceleration data

Various stages of data processing of strong-motion accelerograms often require the interpolation of uniformly spaced data to a higher sampling rate. Semi-automatic or automatic digitization of strong-motion earthquake data from analog traces on film can result in a portion or all of a record to be sampled at a nonuniform rate. This requires interpolation to obtain uniform, equally-spaced data. The procedure of a straight-line or a higher order interpolation is examined. The classical interpolation formulae are studied in the frequency domain. Interpolation formulae which are derived from the sampling theorem of bandlimited functions (the Cardinal Series) are also studied. Finally, the question of the unique reconstruction of bandlimited data from nonuniform samples is examined.
Hypotension During Dobutamine Stress Transesophageal Echocardiography: Relationship with Provoked Left Ventricular Obstruction

Background The mechanism of hypotension during dobutamine stress (DS) echocardiography is unknown. The role of left ventricular outflow tract (OT) or midcavitary (MID) obstruction provoked during stress in this process remains controversial. We hypothesized that left ventricular OT obstruction would account for hypotension as opposed to MID obstruction. Methods Multiplane DS transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in 142 adult patients who displayed no resting obstruction or DS-provoked ischemia. TEE was used to identify the precise site of obstruction. Dobutamine was infused from 5 to 40 μg/kg/min and atropine as needed. Continuous wave Doppler was performed from appropriate views to assess for obstruction. Results Ventricular obstruction was provoked at the OT in 13 patients, MID in 10 patients, and at both sites in 4 patients. A total of 115 patients without dobutamine-induced obstruction served as control subjects. Systolic blood pressure at rest was similar in all groups, but decreased to a greater magnitude from rest to peak stress in the OT (−20 ± 40 mm Hg) and MID (−29 ± 38 mm Hg) groups as compared with the control group (8 ± 30 mm Hg). A hypotensive response (ie, decrease in systolic blood pressure ≥ 20 mm Hg from baseline to peak stress) was significantly greater in OT (69%, P = .001) and MID (60%, P P P Conclusions Hypotension during DS TEE occurs commonly when ventricular obstruction is provoked. These data support a causal relationship between a provoked ventricular obstruction and hypotension during DS TEE.
The Effects of Free Trade on Development, Democracy, and Environmental Protection

Much literature in the social sciences addresses the relationship between economic development and democracy. Many large-scale surveys have found a strong relationship between economic development and democracy, while others indicate a more complex dynamic involving education and inequality. Comparative studies of fewer cases indicate ambiguous results but suggest the importance of historical contingencies, class conflict, unionization, and opposition parties. Free trade advocates argue that trade leads to economic development, which leads to increased demands for and gains in environmental protection. I argue, however, that the relationship needs to be understood in a more complex and dynamic way that takes into account a variety of political, cultural, and economic developments resulting from freer trade. Accordingly, I raise several reasons to be skeptical about claims linking free trade, development, democracy, and environmental protection. I further argue that free trade acts as a cultural constraint upon democratic and environmental protection initiatives.
Design and implementation of a service oriented architecture for peer-assisted video-on-demand

Compared with the traditional client/server streaming model, peer-assisted video streaming has been shown to provide better scalability with lower infrastructure cost. In this paper, we describe how peer-assisted video streaming can be implemented through real-time service oriented architecture. The first part of the paper presents an overall design of the Peer-Assisted ContenT Service (PACTS). We discuss the motivation, principles and service oriented architecture of PACTS modules and specify the workflow among them. By organizing elements of traditional video streaming and peer-to-peer computing into loosely-coupled composable middleware services and distributing them among participating entities, PACTS enables high-quality low-cost video streaming at a large scale and in real time. The second part of the paper describes an implementation of PACTS using existing off-the-shelf software followed by a performance evaluation based on practical environment settings. We illustrate the challenges and our approaches in designing distributed and highly efficient algorithms. In particular, the algorithms for performing peering-selection and incentive-driven pre-fetching are studied in detail. These designs are extensively evaluated by packet-level simulations. We show that our implementation of PACTS effectively offload server’s bandwidth demand without sacrificing the service quality. This benefit is further verified in dynamic settings with system churns. The simulation results show that the incentive mechanism from our service level agreement efficiently stabilizes the server bandwidth utilization with less than 4.5% control traffic overhead.
An Honor to Train: The Professional Identity of Army Trainers

One's identity is often closely tied to one's profession. It is one of the first questions typically asked when meeting someone new. It is often how we introduce ourselves and often included in introductory-type information when asked. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the professional identity of civilian (non-enlisted) U.S. Army trainers. Professional identity is a dynamic concept; developed and refined by a professional's interaction with the environment and with reflection and examination of that interaction. To examine the concept, participants in this study were asked to describe what it meant to them to be trainers for the Army. Results indicate that Army trainers have a strong connection to the Army and are a deep commitment to their students; many of whom are soldiers. Training soldiers for potentially dangerous missions motivates these trainers to provide quality instruction to their learners. Based on study findings, conclusions were drawn, and implications for researchers and practitioners in the field of human resource development (HRD) were presented.
Differentiation of resistance genes at the M1-a locus in six pairs of isogenic barley lines

Five pairs of lines, nearly isogenic except for genes for resistance and susceptibility to culture CR3 of Erysiphe graminis (DC). Merat hordei Em. Marchal, developed from the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties Algerian, Franger, Durani, Rupee, and Multan, had five different genes at the M1-a locus on chromosome 5 conditioning resistance to culture CR3. The resistant isogenic lines developed from Durani, Rupee, and Multan each had one additional resistance gene, closely linked in coupling to their resistance gene at the M1-a locus, conditioning resistance to culture 63.5 or 64.54. The sixth pair of isogenic lines, developed from the variety Long Glumes, had three resistance genes: one at the M1-a locus, a second closely linked in coupling to the first, and a third gene. The first and the third genes in Long Glumes appear to be the same as the two genes in Multan. The outstanding resistance to E. graminis hordei of most of the donor varieties for the isogenic lines is explained by their possessing two or more resistance genes. The presence of approximately 20 different genes in and around the M1-a locus suggests that there is a cluster of closely linked resistance loci in that region of chromosome 5.