cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water-supply options in arsenic-affected regions in Cambodia: targeting the bottom income quintiles.

In arsenic-affected regions of Cambodia, rural water committees and planners can choose to promote various arsenic-avoidance and/or arsenic-removal water supply systems. Each of these has different costs of providing water, subsequently born by the consumer in order to be sustainable. On a volumetric basis ($/m3-yr) and of the arsenic-avoidance options considered, small-scale public water supply – e.g., treated water provided to a central tap stand – is the most expensive option on a life-cycle cost basis. Rainwater harvesting, protected hand dug wells, and vendor-supplied water are the cheapest with a normalized present worth value, ranging from $2 to $10 per cubic meter per year of water delivered. Subsidization of capital costs is needed to make even these options affordable to the lowest (Q5) quintile. The range of arsenic-removal systems considered here, using adsorptive media, is competitive with large-scale public water supply and deep tube well systems. Both community level and household-scale systems are in a range that is affordable to the Q4 quintile, though more research and field trials are needed. At a target cost of $5.00/m3, arsenic removal systems will compete with the OpEx costs for most of the arsenic-safe water systems that are currently available. The life-cycle cost approach is a valuable method for comparing alternatives and for assessing current water supply practices as these relate to equity and the ability to pay.
Coupling of the random properties of the source and the ground motion for the 1999 Chi Chi earthquake

[1] We show that both the slip distribution and the peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the 1999 Chi Chi earthquake can be described by Levy laws. Furthermore, we found that the tails of the probability density functions (PDF) characterizing the slip and the ∣PGA∣ are governed by a parameter, the Levy index, with almost the same values as predicted by the Central Limit theorem. The PDF tail controls the frequency at which extreme large events can occur. These events are the large stress drops–asperities–distributed over the fault surface and the large ∣PGA∣ observed in the ground motion. Our results suggest that the frequency of these events is coupled; the PDF of the ∣PGA∣ is a direct consequence of the PDF of the asperities. The physical rationale responsible for the coupling is the principle of superposition of wave signals characterized by random properties that are governed by the Central Limit theorem.
The labor supply of male Hispanic immigrants in the United States.

Several recent studies have begun the systematic analysis of the labor market characteristics of Hispanics in the United States. This research has focused on two related issues: a) how the immigration and assimilation experience affects Hispanic earnings; and b) the measurement of wage differentials between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. The main findings of this research are that the earnings of (some) Hispanic immigrants rise rapidly after immigration; and that the wage differential between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites is generally due to differences in observable skill characteristics. This article extends previous research by focusing on another labor market characteristic: the labor supply of Hispanic immigrants. (EXCERPT)
Role of metal additives in light scattering from flame particulates

The scattering and extinction behavior of multicomponent particles formed in flame systems is significant in a number of research areas and practical applications, such as the production of superconducting and other ceramic materials by means of the aerosol route as well as pollutant suppression through the use of metal additives. The objective of this study is to assess the role of iron pentacarbonyl vapor addition on the light scattering and extinction behavior of flame soot. Calculations were carried out by using the scattering models for homogeneous and coated spheres and comparisons were made between the particle diameters and volume fractions. In addition, scattering, absorption, and dynamic light-scattering measurements at the wavelength of 488 nm in a premixed propane–oxygen flame with a fuel-equivalence ratio of ϕ = 2.4 unseeded and seeded with iron pentacarbonyl vapor 0.32% by weight iron to fuel were performed. The refractive index and number densities of the soot particles in the unseeded flame were determined as functions of position above the burner by combining the scattering and absorption measurements with the particle size-distribution parameters determined from photocorrelation. In the seeded flames the soot particles were found to contain iron oxide throughout the flame. Thus the data were analyzed by using both the scattering–absorption model for coated spheres and the Maxwell-Garnett relation for the effective refractive index. Differences up to 131% in particle-volume fractions were found from the data analysis by using the constant and variable effective index of the mixture (soot plus iron oxide). The results of the coated-sphere analysis are discussed and the effects of particle agglomeration on the inference of particle-volume fractions are assessed. It is concluded that the effects of particle optical inhomogeneity in the analysis of scattering and absorption data from multicomponent particles cannot be neglected.
Gender, gender role, and body image

The relationship between gender role and body image was examined in this research. Females and males who differed in their gender roles (i.e., masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated) completed the Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (B. A. Winstead & T. F. Cash, “Reliability and Validity of the Body-Self Questionnaire: A New Measure of Body Image,” paper presented at the meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1984) and a measure of self-esteem. Results indicated that feminine females evaluated their physical appearance less favorably than androgynous females, although physical appearance was equally important to both groups. The importance of the masculine component of gender role was reflected in the favorable body-image ratings of androgynous and masculine females in all domains (i.e., physical appearance, physical fitness, and physical health), and in the unfavorable ratings of feminine males in the physical fitness domain. Regression analyses to predict body-image ratings indicated that while self-esteem was an important predictor, it did not account for the relationships between gender, gender role, and body image. Implications of the findings for future research on the relationships between gender role, body image, and indices of mental health are discussed.
Holographic schlieren investigation of laser-induced plasmas

Abstract Quantitative holographic schlieren studies of a CO2 laser induced breakdown in argon have been made using a pulsed ruby laser. Complete mappings of the density gradient profiles at different temporal stages of the plasma are obtained. The density gradients are integrated to obtain density profiles which compare well with those obtained directly by holographic interferometry.
An experimental determination of ferrous chloride and acetate complexation in aqueous solutions to 300°C

Reliable thermodynamic information on the stability of ferrous chloride complexes at high temperatures is important to evaluations of iron transport in hydrothermal fluids, and to the power industry for iron corrosion and transport in the water/steam cycle. The formation of the monochloroiron(II) complex, FeCl[sup +], was studied potentiometrically from 125 to 295[degrees]C at 25 degree intervals at one molal ionic strength in aqueous solutions containing acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate. In this method, competition between chloride and acetate ions for the ferrous cation resulted in a change in solution pH, which in turn was monitored in situ in a hydrogen-electrode, concentration cell. A simple empirical approach was used to extrapolate these formation quotients to infinite dilution. The resulting constants proved to be in excellent agreement with previous spectrophotometric results obtained from 25 to 200[degrees]C. Thus, the present study confirms the validity of the conclusions made based on these earlier data concerning the solubility of Fe-containing minerals in hydrothermal brines. Formation constants at infinite dilution for FeCl[sup +] are compared with the stability of ferrous acetate and hydroxide complexes. The original potentiometric titration data for ferrous acetate complex formation were combined in a new fit with values determined frommore » the present study at unit ionic strength. Two empirical treatments (namely the isocoulombic method and the temperature/water density function) were considered for fitting and extrapolating the infinite dilution formation constants to 350[degrees]C. 40 refs., 12 figs., 5 tabs.« less
Magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity of some Th2Zn17-type rare-earth zinc phases

Abstract We report measurements of the magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity of the iostructural compounds RE2Zn17 (RE=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu). The composition dependence of the lattice parameter and effective moment indicate that all the RE ions are trivalent except Yb which is divalent. Magnetic order is observed in compounds where RE=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er. A second transition is seen for RE=Pr, Ho, Sm and Tb. Superzone boundary effects are observed in the electrical resistivity of these four alloys as well as in Er2Zn17. Resistivity measurements reveal concentrated Kondo behavior (or 4f instability) of Ce in Ce2Zn17.
Passive microwave remote sensing of the ocean - A review

This paper reviews the current status of passive microwave remote sensing of the ocean. The physics of emission and instrumentation are highlighted in order to establish a relationship between the thermal emission and retrieved geophysical parameters. A discussion then follows on measurements of temperature, salinity, windspeed, etc. using passive microwave systems. These measurements are related to the accuracy and spatial resolution required by the users. The status of passive microwave remote sensing is summarized and recommendations for future research are presented.
Reactions of N2+(v) with CO and NO at thermal energy

Abstract A selected ion flow tube (SIFT), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) technique is used for vibrational state specific measurements of the total removal rate constants and vibrational relaxation for N 2 + ( v ) reactions with CO and NO. The removal rate constants for N 2 + ( v =0 and 2) in collisions with CO are 0.76 (±0.10) and 1.8 (±0.3)×10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , respectively, obtained by comparison with the rate constant for the N 2 + ( v =1)+Ar charge transfer reaction. The increased reactivity with vibrational excitation arises both from vibrational deactivation and enhanced charge transfer. For N 2 + ( v =0 and 2) in collisions with NO, the ions are removed with rate constants of 3.8 (±0.3) and 6.3 (±1.0)×10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , respectively. The increased reactivity with vibrational excitation arises primarily from vibrational deactivation. The rate constants and vibrational relaxation mechanisms of the N 2 + ( v )+CO and N 2 + ( v )+NO reactions are compared with earlier results from our laboratory for the N 2 + ( v )+O 2 reaction [S. Kato, M.J. Frost, V.M. Bierbaum, S.R. Leone, Can. J. Chem. 72 (1994) 625].
Our skewed sense of space

The hippocampus is the brain region where spatial maps of our surroundings are encoded. A specific location will activate a set of neurons called place cells to represent the particular place. What happens as the number of environments encountered increases? Does the hippocampus continually create and store distinct independent “maps” for each locale, or can place cells be recruited for more than one map to generalize across locales? It appears that both mechanisms contribute in unique ways.
Cognitive and affective trust in service relationships

Abstract Social psychologists conceptualize trust in a manner that differs from conceptualizations used by marketing researchers to date. Building from the social psychology literature, we posit that interpersonal trust in consumer-level service relationships has cognitive and affective dimensions. We examine the relative impact of service provider expertise, product performance, firm reputation, satisfaction, and similarity in influencing customer's perception of these dimensions of trust in a service provider. Using survey data from 349 customers of a firm of financial advisers in the United Kingdom, our results show that cognitive and affective dimensions of trust can be empirically distinguished and have both common and unique antecedents. The results also provide further clarification concerning the relationship between trust and sales effectiveness.
Paths to the job satisfaction of bank employees

Using a sample of 267 bank employees, this study traced the paths to the job satisfaction of employees at the workplace through the quality of life factors of job involvement and sense of competence. Results indicated that personal, job, and organizational climate factors influenced the ego investment or job involvement of people in their jobs, which in turn influenced the intrapsychic reward of sense of competence that they experienced, which then directly influenced employees' job satisfaction. Implications of these findings for managers are discussed.
Book Selection in the College Library: The Faculty Perspective

It has been acknowledged in the literature of library administration and book selection that in a college library, the faculty play an important role in the development of the book collection. Lyle, in discussing book selection within the larger context of the administration of a college library, notes that “close cooperation between the librarian and members of the faculty is vital in selecting books.” He goes on to state that “in lieu of its own specialist staff, the library leans heavily on the faculty,” and yet “there is very little factual information on the methods by which faculty go about choosing library materials.” Carter et al. spent six pages on the role of the faculty in selection. They theorized about the faculty's role from incidents that had been called to their attention. Broadus acknowledged the role of the faculty but offered no theory or conclusions on their role in the selection process.
Structural and functional information—an evolutionary approach to pragmatic information

The paper starts with a critics of the potential information which is related to the statistical entropy. In order to include the syntactic and semantic aspects of information, we propose a distinction between structural and functional information, instead. Structural information represents the structural determination of a system state, it measures the content of information, as given by the material structure. Functional information, on the other hand, represents the operational closure of the system, it could be e.g. an algorithm which activates and interprets the existing structural information. From an evolutionary point of view, pragmatic information is generated by an interplay of structural and functional information. This leads to a new insight into the concept of pragmatic information, which is not an invariant of evolution, but must be steadily re‐generated. The active role of information in a self‐organization process is demonstrated in a model of artificial agents. It is shown by means of com...
Systematic review of non-pharmacologic interventions to delay functional decline in community-dwelling patients with dementia

Objectives: Older adults with dementia experience progressive functional decline, which contributes to caregiver burden and nursing home placement. The goal of this systematic review was to determine if any non-pharmacologic interventions have delayed functional decline among community-dwelling dementia patients. Method: We completed a systematic literature review to identify controlled clinical trials reporting the impact of non-pharmacologic interventions on any measure of functional impairment or disability among community-dwelling dementia patients. We included studies that reported any proxy-respondent, self-reported, or performance-based standardized assessments. Results: We identified 18 published clinical trials that met inclusion criteria and found that study interventions fell into three different groups: occupational therapy, exercise, and multi-faceted (“other”) interventions. The three groups of studies tended to vary systematically regarding the conceptual framework for the disabling process...
Elevated prostaglandin E2 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.

Understanding local pulmonary immunoregulatory mechanism(s) in patients with carcinoma of the lung is an important step towards the development of innovative methods of treatment. Prostaglandin E 2 plays an integral role in immunoregulation. Therefore, we evaluated PGE 2 concentrations in BALF from 18 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, compared to that from six patients with pulmonary diseases other than carcinoma and ten normal smokers of similar age. The level of PGE 2 in patients with lung carcinoma (158.1±88.7 pg/ml) was significantly (p 2 also varied among patients with carcinoma of different cell types. Patients with SQCA had significantly (p 2 (242.7±29.4 pg/ml) than patients with ADCA or SCCA (82.3±27.9 and 66.3±15.2 pg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, there was a marked difference in PGE 2 concentration between carcinomatous lung and clinically noninvolved lung in patients with SQCA and ADCA. Further study is warranted to determine the interactions between PGE 2 and other cytokines (interleukin-1, IL-2, and tumor necrosis factor), as well as the activity of cytolytic lymphocytes (LAK cells) in the lungs of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.
Techno-economic problems of the development of special purpose automatic machines used in metal-working industries and some suggested solutions

Abstract This paper studies two major problems of development, i.e., making equipment perform satisfactorily after it has been completely assembled: (1) the estimation of actual time spent on development work, and (2) the content and magnitude of the delays occurring during development work. A multi-variate analysis approach is introduced for relating the actual development time with the complexity characteristics of the equipment. On the basis of an extensive survey, significant causes of development delays and their time distribution are established. Although this work concentrates on the development process of special purpose machines used in metal-working industries, it is emphasized that the same methodology can be used for any other types of special purpose machines if the corresponding complexity variables are known.
In vitro development of Brugia pahangi and Brugia malayi in cultured mosquito thoraces

Abstract In vitro cultivation of Brugia pahangi and subperiodic Brugia malayi one-day old larvae to infective stage larvae (L3) within thoraces excised from Aedes aegypti (Black Eye, Liverpool) and Anopheles quadrimaculatus was attempted. The mosquito thoraces were excised under aseptic conditions, 24 h after a blood meal on either B. pahangi- or B. malayi-infected jirds. The excised thoraces were washed aseptically and inoculated into a diphasic media. A nutrient agar base was overlaid with either Grace's insect cell culture medium or Schneider's Drosophila medium or a mixture (1:1) of these two media. Each overlay medium contained a 1 × concentration of antibiotic/antimycotic mixture plus 20% fetal bovine serum. The excised thoraces provided the intracellular milieu for development of Brugia larvae. In Grace's or Schneider's insect tissue culture medium alone, the filaria larvae of both species developed only to the second larval stage after 12 days; whereas, in a mixture (1:1) of Grace's and Schneider's media, some one-day old larvae of both Brugia species developed to the infective larval (L3) stage after 12 days. However, large numbers of both species of larvae developed to the infective larval stage when, prior to providing an infective blood meal, the mosquitoes of both species were fed 1 × concentration of antibiotic/antimycotic mixture in a 10% sucrose solution containing 0.1% p-aminobenzoic acid for 6 days. These results showed for the first time that if one-day old Brugia larvae are confined intracellularly in excised thoraces, they can then develop in insect tissue culture media without adding a feeder layer of mosquito cells or conditioning the media with mosquito cell lines.
Rational approach to the treatment of a patient with a small renal cortical tumor.

Radical nephrectomy has traditionally been considered the treatment of choice for localized kidney tumors. In this Case Study, Huang and Russo report a patient with an incidentally discovered small renal cortical tumor who underwent open partial nephrectomy. The authors comment on the advantages of this approach, particularly with regard to the preservation of renal function. Background A 64-year-old man with a history of hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus presented to his primary care physician for his annual health examination. Renal ultrasonography revealed a solid right renal mass, which was confirmed by MRI. The initial consultant recommended laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. The patient sought a second opinion. Investigations Physical examination, baseline serum creatinine level, urine cytology, CT urogram and renal ultrasonography. Diagnosis Centrally located subcortical tumor arising from the renal parenchyma. Management Open partial nephrectomy. There were no intraoperative complications and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful.
Individual tree diameter increment model for managed even-aged stands of ponderosa pine throughout the western United States using a multilevel linear mixed effects model

A diameter increment model is developed and evaluated for individual trees of ponderosa pine throughout the species range in the United States using a multilevel linear mixed model. Stochastic variability is broken down among period, locale, plot, tree and within-tree components. Covariates acting at tree and stand level, as breast height diameter, density, site index, and competition indices are included in the model as fixed effects in order to explain residual variability. The data set used in this study came from long-term permanent research plots in even-aged, pure stands both planted and of natural origin. The data base consists of six levels-of-growing stock studies supplemented by initial spacing and other permanent-plot thinning studies for a total of 310 plots, 34,263 trees and 153,854 observations. Regression analysis is the preferred technique used in growth and yield modeling in forestry. We choose the mixed effects models instead of the regression analysis approach because it allows for proper treatment of error terms in a repeated measures analysis framework. Regional growth and yield models exist for ponderosa pine. However, data collection and analysis procedures differ. As a result, comparisons of growth responses that may be due to geographic variation of the species are not possible. Our goal is to present a single distance-independent diameter increment model applicable throughout the geographic range of ponderosa pine in the United States and by using only data from long-term permanent plots on sites capable of the productivity estimated by Meyer [Meyer, W.H., 1938. Yield of Even-Aged Stands of Ponderosa Pine. US Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin 630].
A projection-driven pre-correction technique for iterative reconstruction of helical cone-beam cardiac CT images

Modern CT systems have advanced at a dramatic rate. Algebraic iterative reconstruction techniques have shown promising and desirable image characteristics, but are seldom used due to their high computational cost for complete reconstruction of large volumetric datasets. In many cases, however, interest in high resolution reconstructions is restricted to smaller regions of interest within the complete volume. In this paper we present an implementation of a simple and practical method to produce iterative reconstructions of reduced-sized ROI from 3D helical tomographic data. We use the observation that the conventional filtered back-projection reconstruction is generally of high quality throughout the entire volume to predict the contributions to ROI-related projections arising from volumes outside the ROI. These predictions are then used to pre-correct the data to produce a tomographic inversion problem of substantially reduced size and memory demands. Our work expands on those of other researchers who have observed similar potential computational gains by exploiting FBP results. We demonstrate our approach using cardiac CT cone-beam imaging, illustrating our results with both ex vivo and in vivo multi-cycle EKG-gated examples.
Seasonal stable isotopic variations in living planktonic foraminifera from bermuda plankton tows

Abstract Seasonal variations in surface water temperature and the 18O/16O ratios of calcite tests of living planktonic foraminifera collected in the upper 10 mare are coincident in the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda. The δ 18O of seasonally restricted Globorotalia truncatulinoides and Globigerinoides ruber (pink and white) may be used to determine the seasonal temperature contrast of the oceans in the past. A preliminary model based on yearly absolute abundance and isotopic composition of these two species is able to approximate the composite δ 18O of fossil specimens of these species. Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of most species are size-dependent, with the largest differences occuring in δ 13C as a function of size. The calcite tests of all living species were depleted in δ 13C relative to the δ 13C of total dissolved CO2 at 0 and 50 m, with no seasonal pattern in δ 13C being discernible in any species. In almost all cases, fossil specimens from box core sediments are significantly enriched in δ 13C and slightly enriched in δ 18O relative to their counterparts in the living fauna because the sediment populations are generally composed of larger-sized specimens compares to the plankton. of larger-size specimens compared to the plankton.
250 INDOMETHACIN DISPOSITION IN PREMATURE INFANTS: BLEEDING DUE TO PLATELET DYSFUNCTION AFTER SINGLE DOSES OF INDOMETHACIN

Indomethacin failed to produce permanent ductal closure in any of four premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus to whom the drug was given (0.15-0.30 mg/kg). Indomethacin half-lives measured in two premature infants were 21 and 24 hours, much longer than in full-term newborns or adults. Platelet function, as measured by platelet aggregation, was grossly abnormal for two to four days after indomethacin administration, normal values returning only by the ninth and tenth day. Gastrointestinal bleeding and transient renal dysfunction occurred in one infant. Measurement of plasma indomethacin concentrations in sick, low birthweight infants could help to monitor indomethacin dose and dosage interval, thereby preventing drug accumulation and reducing toxicity. Further studies of potential toxicity seem to be indicated before instituting widespread indomethacin administration for ductal closure in premature infants.
Relationship of nine constants

Through the process of trial and error, four unitless equations made up of nine constants have been found with exact answers. The related constants are the Speed of Light [1], the Planck constant [2], Wien’s displacement constant [3], Avogadro’s number [4], the universal Gravity constant [5], the Ampere constant [6], the Faraday constant [7], the Gas constant [8] and Apery’s constant [9].
Refractory concretes of a new generation: Low-cement concretes and castable vibration-treated (Vibrocast) thixotropic refractory bodies — A review

The new generation of the low-cement concretes and CVTRB based on a binder consisting of a high-alumina cement came into existence during the evolution process of refractories as a result of the systematic studies conducted for developing and improving the conventional HAC-based concretes.
A new method reveals microtubule minus ends throughout the meiotic spindle

Anastral meiotic spindles are thought to be organized differently from astral mitotic spindles, but the field lacks the basic structural information required to describe and model them, including the location of microtubule-nucleating sites and minus ends. We measured the distributions of oriented microtubules in metaphase anastral spindles in Xenopus laevis extracts by fluorescence speckle microscopy and cross-correlation analysis. We localized plus ends by tubulin incorporation and combined this with the orientation data to infer the localization of minus ends. We found that minus ends are localized throughout the spindle, sparsely at the equator and at higher concentrations near the poles. Based on these data, we propose a model for maintenance of the metaphase steady-state that depends on continuous nucleation of microtubules near chromatin, followed by sorting and outward transport of stabilized minus ends, and, eventually, their loss near poles.
A computational model for organizations of cooperating intelligent agents

A computational model is developed, which captures properties of relationship and organization in sets of distributed intelligent agents. The model is inspired by sociological theory, and uses centrally a concept of commitment. Symbolic interactionist concepts in sociology are reviewed from the perspective of Distributed Artificial Intelligence. This includes the work of Anselm Strauss and Elihu Gerson.A formulation of the concept of commitment is proposed. The concept is propagated into notions of agent and organization. A formulation and computational model of the basic notion of commitment is given, which represents commitments as mutually agreed constraints on action, belief and world state. The issues of agent integrity, plans and resources, and their representation, are then discussed, and computational mechanisms defined. An organization is defined as a set of agents with consistent mutual commitments. A mechanism is defined to check and enforce the consistency of these commitments.
Treatment of dairy wastewater with two-stage anaerobic sequencing batch reactor systems - thermophilic versus mesophilic operations

Abstract A two-stage anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) system was studied in the laboratory to evaluate a temperature-phased anaerobic digestion process for dairy wastewater treatment. The temperature-phased anaerobic digestion system incorporates thermophilic digestion and mesophilic digestion processes into one system which has the potential to offer the benefits of high digestion rate, fecal bacteria destruction, process stability, and favorable economics for animal wastewater treatment. Two thermophilic (55°C)-mesophilic (35°C) systems (II and III) were evaluated against one mesophilic (35°C)-mesophilic (35°C) system (I) at two system hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (3 and 6 days) and five volatile solids (VS) loading rates (2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 g/l/day). The three systems were designed with different first- and second-stage volume ratios: 1:4 for systems I and II and 1:2 for system III. The effects of temperature configurations and volume ratios between the two stages, HRTs, and VS loading rates on the performance of the two-stage ASBR system were studied. A relatively high solid retention time (SRT) of 13–18 days was achieved at both 3- and 6-day HRTs for all three systems. The performance of each system depends on the HRT and the VS loading rate. All three systems at the 3-day HRT deteriorated when the VS loading rate reached 6 g/l/day. The total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS) removals were similar for 3- and 6-day HRTs at the VS loading rates of 2, 3 and 4 g/l/d. For the same VS loading rate in the range of 2–4 g/l/day and the same first- to second-stage volume ratio (1:4), the VS removal and specific methane production rate of the thermophilic-mesophilic system (II) were 43.8–44.1% and 0.41–0.82 l/l/day for 3-day HRT, respectively, and 37.1–38.9% and 0.34–0.72 l/l/day for 6-day HRT, respectively, which are higher than the VS removal and specific methane production rate of the mesophilic-mesophilic system (I) (29.3–30.2% and 0.27–0.56 l/l/day for 3-day HRT, respectively; 26.1–29.1% and 0.27–0.48 l/l/day for 6-day HRT, respectively). With the thermophilic-mesophilic system, the 1:4 ratio for the first- and second-stage reactors yielded better solids removals and methane production rate than the 1:2 ratio. Both thermophilic-mesophilic systems were found to be more effective in destroying the total coliforms present in the wastewater than the mesophilic-mesophilic system. As far as solids removal, biogas production, and coliform bacteria destruction are concerned, thermophilic-mesophilic systems are recommended over the mesophilic-mesophilic systems. However, the increased heating energy requirement of the former system needs to be considered when comparing the economics of these two treatment systems.
A REVISED ALGORITHM FOR THE COMPUTATION OF SUPER-TRANSITION ARRAY SPECTRA OF HOT DENSE PLASMAS

Abstract The formula for computing bound–bound X-ray absorption from unresolved ‘Super’-transition arrays is reformulated in terms of correlated occupation numbers, averaged over subensembles of the ideal grand canonical ensemble. These can be expressed as generalized Fermi factors which depend on the ratio of partition functions. A new algorithm for the computation of this ratio is presented, hybridizing recursion relations starting from full or empty super-shells with an exact relation numerically stable about the average occupation of the supershell.
Photoinitiated Singlet and Triplet Electron Transfer across a Redesigned [Myoglobin, Cytochrome b5] Interface

We describe a strategy by which reactive binding of a weakly bound, ‘dynamically docked (DD)’ complex without a known structure can be strengthened electrostatically through optimized placement of ...
Wound excision to fascia in burn patients.

• All charts of burn patients admitted to the US Army Institute of Surgical Research over a four-year period were reviewed to determine the efficacy of excision of the burn wound to fascia as a therapeutic modality. Of 1,013 burn patients, 72 underwent this procedure. The patients who had excisions had a mean total burn size of 52% of body surface area (BSA) and a mean third-degree burn of 33%. We correlated survival with burn size, associated injuries, day of excision, wound coverage, and sepsis. Survival in the group who had excisions (57%) did not differ substantially from that of the other patients (38%) when broken down by burn size. Careful selection of patients for this procedure and criteria for selection are stressed. ( Arch Surg 113:403-407, 1978)
Effects of size and frequency dispersion in plasmonic cloaking

The plasmonic venue to realize invisibility and cloaking [A. Alu and N. Engheta, Phys. Rev. E 72, 016623 (2005)] is analyzed here in terms of its limitations and its frequency dispersion relative to the cloak size. Intrinsic limits due to causality and comparison with transformation-based cloaking techniques are discussed and analyzed. An interestingly simple low-dispersion cloak is also suggested for background materials with larger refractive index. These results may shed light on this scattering cancellation phenomenon, suggesting potential applications in scattering reduction and noninvasive probing.
Technology transfer in snow control engineering

The design and construction of a complex snow fence system, the development and implementation of a visual range monitoring system, and the development and use of a snow profile prediction model for highway design, are used as examples of successful technology transfer. Contributing factors include a strong imperative and commitment to solving an urgent problem; the availability of knowledge, the direct involvement of scientists and engineers working together throughout the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages; and a synergetic relationship between research and application.
Quantum hadrodynamics parametrization: A least-squares fit to nuclear ground-state properties

We study the four meson masses and coupling constants used in quantum hadrodynamics by comparing the relativistic Hartree-Fock calculation with nuclear ground-state properties. Six parameters are determined by least-squares fit to experimental ground-state properties of five spherical nuclei $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$; these properties are total binding energies, charge radii, and surface thicknesses. This work is compared with an earlier relativistic Hartree least-squares fit. We find that by including exchange terms, the best-fit meson masses are within 3% of their physical values, which is not the case if only direct terms are used. Both calculations reproduce binding energies and radii with an average error around 1%. Hartree-Fock values for the nuclear surface thickness are a substantial improvement (around 15%); however, both calculations consistently produce too small a value.
Spectral and functional comparisons between the carotenoids of the two antenna complexes of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata.

Abstract The spectral and functional properties of carotenoids associated with each of the two light-harvesting complexes of the Rhodopseudomonas capsulata photosynthetic antenna system have been distinguished by studying mutants lacking one or the other complex. In mutants containing only the light-harvesting I complex (LH-I), the absorption spectrum of the carotenoids is blue-shifted compared to wild type. Carotenoid absorption in mutants possessing only the light-harvesing II complex (LH-II) complex is red-shifted. The circular dichroism spectrum of carotenoids in each complex is also distinctive. Although carotenoids in each complex function with approximately the same efficiency in harvesting and transmitting light energy for photosynethesis, only the carotenoids associated with LH-II undergo an electrochromic bandshift upon generation of a transmembrane potential. These observations are interpreted to indicate that both the orientation of carotenoid molecules with respect to the plane of the membrane, and the immediate electrochemical environment of these molecules differ in the two light-harvesting complexes.
Bispectral index monitoring quantifies depth of sedation during emergency department procedural sedation and analgesia in children.

Abstract Study objective The bispectral index monitor uses processed electroencephalogram signals to measure sedation depth on a unitless scale from 0 to 100 (0, coma; 40 to 60, general anesthesia; 60 to 90, sedated; 100, awake). It has been validated in the operating room as an objective measure of sedation depth with nondissociative general anesthesia; however, its usefulness in the pediatric emergency department (ED) for procedural sedation and analgesia has not been established. We determine the ability of the bispectral index to monitor depth of nondissociative procedural sedation and analgesia in children. Methods This was an observational study conducted in a children's hospital ED. Procedural sedation and analgesia was performed in the standard manner, with the addition of bispectral index monitoring and simultaneous clinical sedation scoring (modified Ramsay Sedation Scale [range 1 to 8; 1=alert, 8=unresponsive]). Paired bispectral index and Ramsay Sedation Scale scores were assigned every 5 minutes during the sedation. Ramsay Sedation Scale scores were assigned by a single study investigator blinded to the bispectral index score. An emergency physician independently administered all medications for procedural sedation and analgesia. The correlation between the paired bispectral index/Ramsay Sedation Scale scores was determined by using a repeated-measures regression analysis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the ability of the bispectral index to discriminate various thresholds of sedation depth. Results A convenience sample of 20 patients was enrolled, providing 217 paired bispectral index/Ramsay Sedation Scale measurements. Median age was 4.6 years (range 0.4 to 16.7 years). Fourteen patients received midazolam with fentanyl; the remainder received pentobarbital. Bispectral index scores ranged from 40 to 98 (mean 81.6±16.1). Ramsay Sedation Scale scores ranged from 1 to 8 (median 3; interquartile range 2 to 4). The simple Pearson correlation between paired bispectral index and Ramsay Sedation Scale scores was −0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.83 to −0.72; P to −0.43; P Conclusion Bispectral index monitoring correlated with clinical sedation scores and may serve as a useful, objective adjunct in quantifying depth of nondissociative procedural sedation and analgesia in children.
Use of MM-PBSA in Reproducing the Binding Free Energies to HIV-1 RT of TIBO Derivatives and Predicting the Binding Mode to HIV-1 RT of Efavirenz by Docking and MM-PBSA

In this work, a new ansatz is presented that combines molecular dynamics simulations with MM-PBSA (Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/surface area) to rank the binding affinities of 12 TIBO-like HIV-1 RT inhibitors. Encouraging results have been obtained not only for the relative binding free energies, but also for the absolute ones, which have a root-mean-square deviation of 1.0 kcal/mol (the maximum error is 1.89 kcal/mol). Since the root-mean-square error is rather small, this approach can be reliably applied in ranking the ligands from the databases for this important target. Encouraged by the results, we decided to apply MM-PBSA combined with molecular docking to determine the binding mode of efavirenz SUSTIVA(TM) another promising HIV-1 RT inhibitor for which no ligand-protein crystal structure had been published at the time of this work. To proceed, we define the following ansatz: Five hundred picosecond molecular dynamics simulations were first performed for the five binding modes suggested by DOCK 4.0, and then MM-PBSA was carried out for the collected snapshots. MM-PBSA successfully identified the correct binding mode, which has a binding free energy about 7 kcal/mol more favorable than the second best mode. Moreover, the calculated binding free energy (-13.2 kcal/mol) is in reasonable agreement with experiment (-11.6 kcal/mol). In addition, this procedure was also quite successful in modeling the complex and the structure of the last snapshot was quite close to that of the measured 2,3 A resolution crystal (structure the root-mean-square deviation of the 54 C(alpha) around the binding site and the inhibitor is 1.1 A). We want to point out that this result was achieved without prior knowledge of the structure of the efavirenz/RT complex. Therefore, molecular docking combined with MD simulations followed by MM-PBSA analysis is an attractive approach for modeling protein complexes a priori.
Animal virus screens for potential teratogens. I. Poxvirus morphogenesis

The growth of poxvirions in cell culture is considered a teratogen screening test, since this virus has a rapid, simple morphogenetic pathway that is dependent upon cell proliferation. Vaccinia WR-infected BSC 40 monolayers were exposed to 42 known teratogens and 9 nonteratogens at dosages from 1 μM to 100 mM. After 24 h of infection, the number of functional virions was determined by plaque assay. Thirty-three of the 42 teratogens inhibited the virus, 3 teratogens stimulated the virus, and 6 teratogens were false-negatives. Eight of the 9 nonteratogens had no effect on virus proliferation at dosages as high as 600 times the lowest reported teratogenic dosage. The number of new virions could be directly related to the concentration of the teratogen in vitro, thus allowing each compound to be characterized by an RD50. The RD50 dosage in milligrams per liter was 98% correlated with the lowest reported teratogenic dose in vivo in milligrams per kilogram. In sum, vaccinia-infected cells have an easily identifiable endpoint, plaque-forming units, which may be an accurate prognosticator of teratogenesis.
On-line disciplines: Computer-mediated scholarship in the humanities and social sciences

The recent creation of global-area computer networks invites the development of tools and resources that can reap the scholarly advantages of such technology. In this paper, we discuss prospects for the productive use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) for scholarly interaction. We begin by describing the technology used to deliver information over academic networks and the kinds of disciplinary services that the technology enables. In the second half of the paper we consider factors that bear upon the development of CMC-based disciplinary centers and we call attention to their potential to create a highly interactive form of scholarship.
The microbiological effects of endovaginal sonographic assessment of cervical length.

Objective. To determine whether performance of endovaginal sonography for the measurement of cervical length results in a statistically significant change in endocervical culture results. Methods. Women attending a routine prenatal clinic were offered enrollment in the study. Exclusion criteria included the presence of a cervical cerclage, vaginal examination or coitus within the preceding 24 hours, antibiotic therapy within the preceding 7 days, or the presence of ruptured membranes. A sterile speculum examination and collection of cervical cultures were performed before (initial) and immediately after (final) endovaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length. Quantitative cultures were completed and evaluated for differences in growth by a standardized 4-quadrant technique. Results. A total of 25 women enrolled and completed the study protocol. Quantitative assessment of colony growth showed that the mean growth in the initial samples ± SD was 3.48 ± 1.74, with 1+ indicating growth in 1 quadrant; 2+, growth in the first and second quadrants; 3+, growth in the first, second, and third quadrants; and 4+, growth in all quadrants. The mean growth cultured in the final sample was 3.79 ± 2.26 (P = .364; 95% confidence interval of the difference, ‐1.00 to +.381). Conclusions. The results of this study do not show a statistically significant inoculation effect associated with performance of endovaginal sonography for the measurement of cervical length. Key words: cervical cultures; cervical length; endovaginal sonography; preterm premature rupture of
Prevalence of Medical Illness in Patients with Anxiety Disorders

Objective:This investigation examines the prevalence and characteristics of medical illness in 711 patients enrolled in the Harvard/Brown Anxiety Disorders Research Program (HARP), a multi-center, ...