cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breathing new life into the critical oxygen partial pressure (Pcrit): a new definition, interpretation and method of determination

Abstract The critical oxygen partial pressure (Pcrit) is most commonly defined as the oxygen partial pressure below which an animal’s standard metabolic rate can no longer be maintained. It is widely interpreted as measure of hypoxia tolerance, which influences a species’ aerobic scope and, thus, constrains biogeography. However, both the physiology underlying that interpretation and the methodology used to determine Pcrit remain topics of active debate. The debate remains unresolved in part because Pcrit, as defined above, is a purely descriptive metric that lacks a clear mechanistic basis. Here we redefine Pcrit as the PO2 at which physiological oxygen supply is maximized and refer to these values, thus determined, as Pcrit-α. The oxygen supply capacity (α) is a species- and temperature-specific coefficient that describes the slope of the relationship between the maximum achievable metabolic rate and PO2. This α is easily determined using respirometry and provides a precise and robust estimate of the minimum oxygen pressure required to sustain any metabolic rate. To determine α, it is not necessary for an individual animal to maintain a consistent metabolic rate throughout a trial (i.e. regulation) nor for the metabolic rate to show a clear break-point at low PO2. We show that Pcrit-α can be determined at any metabolic rate as long as the organisms’ oxygen supply machinery reaches its maximum capacity at some point during the trial. We reanalyze published representative Pcrit trials for 40 species across five phyla, as well as complete datasets from six additional species, five of which have not previously been published. Values determined using the Pcrit-α method are strongly correlated with Pcrit values reported in the literature. Advantages of Pcrit-α include: 1) Pcrit-α is directly measured without the need for complex statistics that hinder measurement and interpretation; 2) it makes clear that Pcrit is a measure of oxygen supply, which does not necessarily reflect hypoxia tolerance; 3) it alleviates many of the methodological constraints inherent in existing methods; 4) it provides a means of predicting the maximum metabolic rate achievable at any PO2, 5) Pcrit-α sheds light on the temperature- and size-dependence of oxygen supply and metabolic rate and 6) Pcrit-α can be determined with greater precision than traditional Pcrit.
The visible effects of ‘invisible politics’: ‘everyday forms of resistance’ and possible outcomes

We evaluate existing case studies of ‘everyday forms of resistance’ and explore the possibilities for a systematic research on its political impacts. Due to its elusive nature, the impact of this l...
Blood norepinephrine/epinephrine/dopamine measurements in 108 patients with takotsubo syndrome from the world literature: pathophysiological implications

Release of norepinephrine (NE) from neuronal cardiac nerve endings and/or blood-borne catecholamines (CATs), mainly epinephrine (EPI), may mediate TTS. The aim of this study was to document the lev...
The Art of Seeing Like a State: State-Building in Afghanistan, the Congo, and Beyond

This paper considers the implications of James Scott’s Seeing Like a State (1998) and The Art of Not Being Governed (2009) for state-building efforts in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In Seeing Like a State, Scott warns of the problems associated with top-down planning efforts to improve the human condition. In The Art of Not Being Governed, Scott discusses the 'art' of state avoidance and self-governance. These works have important insights for contemporary state-building processes and we explore some of the applications in the context of Afghanistan and the DRC. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for current and future state-building efforts.
Optimization of Magnesium-Doped Lithium Metal Anode for High Performance Lithium Metal Batteries through Modeling and Experiment

Lithium (Li)-magnesium (Mg) alloy with limited Mg amount, which can also be called Mg-doped Li (Li-Mg), has been considered as a potential alternative anode for high energy density rechargeable Li metal batteries. However, the optimum doping-content of Mg in Li-Mg anode and the mechanism of the improved performance are not well understood. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to investigate the effect of Mg amount in Li-Mg anode. The Li-Mg with about 5 wt.% Mg (abbreviated as Li-Mg5) has the lowest absorption energy of Li, thus all the surface area can be "controlled" by Mg atoms, leading to the smooth and continuous deposition of Li on the surface around the Mg center. A localized high concentration electrolyte enables Li-Mg5 to exhibit the best cycling stability in Li metal batteries with high-loading cathode and lean electrolyte under 4.4 V high-voltage, which is approaching the demand of practical application. This electrolyte also helps generate an inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase, which leads to smooth, compact and less corrosion layer on the Li-Mg5 surface. Both theoretical simulations and experimental results prove that Li-Mg5 has optimum Mg content and gives best battery cycling performance. This work also provides an effective approach to identify optimal alloy-type Li metal anodes for improving long-term cycling stability of high-energy-density Li metal batteries.
Data Driven Order Set Development Using Metaheuristic Optimization

An unanticipated negative consequence of using healthcare information technology for clinical care is the cognitive workload imposed on users due to poor usability characteristics. This is a widely recognized challenge in the context of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) technology. In this paper, we investigate cognitive workload in the use of order sets, a core feature of CPOE systems that assists clinicians with medical order placement. We propose an automated, data-driven algorithm for developing order sets such that clinicians’ cognitive workload is minimized. Our algorithm incorporates a two-stage optimization model embedded with bisecting K-means clustering and tabu search to optimize the content of order sets, as well as the time intervals where specific order sets are recommended in the CPOE. We evaluate our algorithm using real patient data from a pediatric hospital, and demonstrate that data-driven order sets have the potential to dominate existing, consensus order sets in terms of usability and cognitive workload.
Improving multistage network performance under uniform and hot-spot traffics

The major performance drawbacks of multistage interconnection networks are due to link contention and message blockage. To remedy this problem, the authors propose a switch design which uses two independent routes between each input port and each output port within a switch. With proper routing control mechanisms, the adverse effect on link conflicts can be greatly reduced. Various simulations are used to illustrate the performance improvement of this new design under both uniform and hot-spot traffic patterns. >
Nonequilibrium quantum dissipation in spin-fermion systems

Dissipative processes in nonequilibrium many-body systems are fundamentally different than their equilibrium counterparts. Such processes are of great importance for the understanding of relaxation in single-molecule devices. As a detailed case study, we investigate here a generic spin-fermion model, where a two-level system couples to two metallic leads with different chemical potentials. We present results for the spin relaxation rate in the nonadiabatic limit for an arbitrary coupling to the leads using both analytical and exact numerical methods. The nonequilibrium dynamics is reflected by an exponential relaxation at long times and via complex phase shifts, leading in some cases to an ``antiorthogonality'' effect. In the limit of strong system-lead coupling at zero temperature we demonstrate the onset of a Marcus-like Gaussian decay with voltage difference activation. This is analogous to the equilibrium spin-boson model, where at strong coupling and high temperatures, the spin excitation rate manifests temperature activated Gaussian behavior. We find that there is no simple linear relationship between the role of the temperature in the bosonic system and a voltage drop in a nonequilibrium electronic case. The two models also differ by the orthogonality-catastrophe factor existing in a fermionic system, which modifies the resulting line shapes. Implications for current characteristics are discussed. We demonstrate the violation of pairwise Coulomb gas behavior for strong coupling to the leads. The results presented in this paper form the basis of an exact, nonperturbative description of steady-state quantum dissipative systems.
Manganese Detection Using Stencil-printed Carbon Ink Electrodes on Transparency Film

Mn concentrations were determined using square-wave cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) with inexpensive, stencil-printed carbon ink electrodes generated on polypropylene transparency films. Using an optimized pH 5 ammonium acetate buffer and addition of 1,4-benzoquinone, a detection limit as low as 500 nM (30 ppb) was achieved. Addition of 1,4-benzoquinone improved peak potential reproducibility and height, while addition of 3.5 % w/w sodium chloride to the background solution approximately doubled the sensitivity (μA/ppm). Tolerance tests with interfering metals were conducted and the method was found to be resilient to chromium(VI), iron(III), magnesium(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II), but susceptible to aluminum(III), copper(II), iron(II), and lead(II) at concentration ratios at or below one. This technique was successfully used to measure Mn levels in yerba mate and green tea samples as an example application.
Polymer/metal composite for interconnection technology

In this paper, we report on the the rheological, electrical and mechanical properties of paste which is composed of a thermoplastic polymer, solvent and silver particles, and the resulting polymer/metal composite (PMC) which forms after the solvent from the paste has dried. We will refer to the two states as paste and PMC. The paste properties indicate the applicability of the material for fine feature size interconnects such as required for flip-chip-attach. The adhesive and electrical properties of PMC demonstrates that this material will be suitable as an interconnect media in high performance applications. Furthermore, the system chosen is reworkable and the bonding process is volatile-free (i.e. the solvent may be completely removed prior to the bonding step).
Testbed for evaluating worm containment systems

Dangerous worms like CodeRed or Slammer can spread millions of probe packets in just seconds which can result in thousands of infected hosts and large losses. Fast and effective containment strategies are crucially important to protect the Internet Infrastructure. Toward this goal of fast and effective worm containment, different techniques have been presented such as address blacklisting and content filtering [3], anomaly detection [6] and signature-based detection [5]. Meanwhile recently developed worm models [1] enable us to develop a testbed to accurately and quickly evaluate the efficiency of these defense mechanisms. In this paper, we present a testbed which utilizes software agents to allow large scale simulation with individual host functionality. We utilize this testbed to evaluate our containment systems in terms of security and performance tradeoff.
Influences of Treatment Temperature and Water Content on Capacity and Rechargeability of V 2 O 5 Xerogel Films

V 2 O 5 xerogel films prepared with spray deposition have been investigated for their lithium battery applications. The influences of spray deposition and postannealing temperatures on the water content, structure, and electrochemical performance of the films have been studied. Water contents of the V 2 O 5 .nH 2 O films depend on the deposition and postannealing temperatures. One film sprayed at 150°C and annealed at 190°C exhibited a large discharge capacity and the longest cycling life. By contrast, the films sprayed or annealed at high temperatures (>250°C) showed poor electrochemical performance. The film deposited at a substrate temperature of 420°C demonstrated structural features and electrochemical behavior of orthorhombic V 2 O 5 . X-ray diffraction patterns of the films treated at different temperatures reveal that removal of too much water at high temperatures results in crystallization or a small interlayer spacing, which may restrict the diffusion of lithium ions inside V 2 O 5 .nH 2 O films. 51 V solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra show that the films annealed at low temperatures (i.e., 120°C or room temperature) have broad peaks and significant downfield isotropic chemical shifts, suggesting that the interlayered water produces a distorted square-pyramidal ligand field that may favor lithium intercalation and electron transfer within the matrix of the films.
Microwave-induced temperature fields in cylindrical samples of graphite powder – Experimental and modeling studies

Abstract Microwave heating of graphite powder is the key process of a number of promising applications and emerging technologies ranging from kiln crucibles to synthesis of graphene. However, this process is typically studied in terms of structural parameters of the resulting products, whereas the prime electromagnetic and associated temperature characteristics remain insufficiently studied. In this paper, we investigate microwave heating of graphite powder in a batch (non-resonant) and waveguide (resonant) reactors using multiphysics (electromagnetic–thermal) modeling and experimentation. Temperature-dependent material parameters of graphite power are determined from measurements and appropriate physical models. Non-uniform temperature fields and their trend for relatively quick homogenization are shown to be conditioned by high values of the loss factor and thermal conductivity. These parameters are also found to be responsible for the effect of post-microwave heating. It is demonstrated that processing of graphite power in a resonant reactor may be convenient for controlling the heating rate and the level of temperature uniformity.
Barium titanate ceramics prepared from conventional and microwave hydrothermal powders

Microwave-hydrothermal (MH) synthesis of BaTiO3 was done at 138°C with reaction time as low as 15 min, using Ba(NO3)2, TiCl4 and KOH as starting chemicals. The resulting powder was pressed into pellets and sintered at different temperatures. BaTiO3 ceramics prepared by the above method resulted in a density of about 93% upon sintering at 1300°C/2 h with larger grains and room temperature relative permittivity of 2000 at 1 kHz with a Curie temperature of 125°C. The above properties were compared with samples of the same composition prepared by conventional hydrothermal (CH) method using the same starting solutions.
Urban politics and federal equity policy: Title IX and employment in New York City public schools

The implementation of federal educational equity policies, such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, has been beset by numerous difficulties, of a political, legislative, and administrative nature. The paper analyzes these factors as they influenced the effect of Title IX with respect to employment of women in administrative positions by the New York City Board of Education in the period 1972–1981. It concludes that policy design and management, as well as local political alignments, condemned the law to ineffectuality and that they will continue to do so barring other policy formulations and political configurations.
The Organization of Convection in Narrow Cold-Frontal Rainbands

Abstract Narrow cold-frontal rainbands are lines of intense precipitation that straddle surface cold fronts. Recent observational work has revealed that the rainfall within the band is organized into regularly spaced ellipsoidal cells called precipitation cores. The rainband is coincident with a line of intense cyclonic shear associated with a low-level jet that lies ahead of and parallel to the surface cold front. Numerous authors have suggested that the organization of cells in the rainband is the result of shear instability of the horizontal wind field. To investigate this hypothesis, a linear stability analysis was performed on an idealized frontal zone consisting of a line of convection coincident with a line of cyclonic shear. To model the convective processes, the air inside the rainband was assumed to be unstably stratified. The presence of horizontal wind shear in an unstably stratified environment resulted in the existence of a mode with a short wave cutoff. The coupling between the convective p...
Neolithography Consortium: a progress report

The role of process simulation is becoming an increasingly important part of microlithography process control and photomask metrology as wafer feature sizes become smaller than the exposure wavelength, because the pattern transfer from photomask to wafer is nonlinear due to diffraction and other effects.
Parvalbumin immunoreactivity reveals layer IV of monkey cerebral cortex as a mosaic of microzones of thalamic afferent terminations.

Abstract Correlative light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical methods were used to study the pattern of staining for the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) in the primary visual area (area 17) and area 3b of the first somatic sensory area of the monkey cerebral cortex. A conspicuous feature of the light microscopic staining pattern is the presence of focal aggregations of immunoreactive terminal-like puncta within the major thalamic recipient layers (IV and VI). At the electron microscopic level these aggregations of puncta are found to be immunoreactive terminals most of which form asymmetric synapses, principally on dendritic pines and, to a lesser extent, on dendritic shafts. Outside the aggregations, most PV-immunoreactive terminals form symmetric synapses. Correlative observations in the present and other studies indicate that the aggregations of PV-immunoreactive terminals form asymmetric synapses arise from thalamic afferent fibers while those forming symmetric synapses arise from intrinsic γ-aminobutyric acid neurons. The aggregations of PV immunoreactivity in layers IV and VI form microzones of preferred thalamic afferent terminations which may contribute to the formation of functional columns based upon focussed thalamic inputs.
The effects of furosemide on the endocochlear potential and auditory-nerve fiber tuning curves in cats

Furosemide was injected intravenously in anesthetized cats while the endocochlear potential (EP) and tuning curves from fibers of the auditory nerve were simultaneously monitored in the same ear. The characteristic frequencies (CF's) of the fibers studied ranged from 0.25 to 28 kHz. Furosemide administration produced reversible, dose-related decreases in the EP which were accompanied by threshold elevations and alterations in the tuning curves of auditory nerve fibers. There was approximately 1 dB of threshold elevation for every millivolt decrease in the EP. For fibers with CF's above 3 kHz, threshold elevation at CF (in the tip of the tuning curve) was three times that in the tail of the tuning curve. Threshold elevation in the tip was always accompanied by threshold elevation in the tuning curve tail. Threshold elevation was dependent upon the CF of the fiber, with higher CF fibers showing larger threshold shifts than lower CF fibers. Threshold elevation was accompanied by a systematic shift in the CF of the fiber. Fibers with CF above 1 kHz exhibited downward shifts in CF, while those with CF less than 1 kHz generally exhibited upward shifts in CF.
Modular Approach to the Accelerated Convergent Growth of Laser Dye-Labeled Poly(aryl ether) Dendrimers Using a Novel Hypermonomer

The synthesis of novel dendrimers functionalized with laser dyes both at the periphery and at the core, along with all relevant model compounds necessary for accurate photophysical studies, is described. The utilized synthetic strategy involves a modular approach in which a variety of peripheral and core moieties can be placed on a dendritic structure bearing electrophilic peripheral groups and a nucleophilic core. Specifically, the target macromolecules required functionalization with the laser dyes coumarin 2 (periphery) and coumarin 343 (core) due to the possibility of energy transfer from the former to the latter dye. In addition, the preparation of a novel, highly soluble and reactive hypermonomer utilized in the rapid and efficient synthesis of high-generation dye-labeled dendrimers and model compounds is outlined.
The Impact of Communication and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Environment on Parent Involvement

Abstract Survival rates of premature infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units have improved dramatically due in large part to technological advancements in obstetrics and neonatology. The first neonatal intensive care units were restrictive to parents. Parental involvement has evolved from parental viewing from outside a window, to a “family-centered care” focus. This transition in thinking and practice has lead to the critical examination of the environment in which care is provided to critically ill neonates and how communication patterns may be influenced by the physical environments themselves. This article describes the evolution of parent involvement as it pertains to caring for critically ill newborns and the physical structure of the environment where these newborns receive care. In addition, the many C's of communication are examined, and strategies to enhance effective communication among health care professionals and with parents are provided.
Thermobacteroides acetoethylicus gen. nov. and spec. nov., a new chemoorganotrophic, anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium

The taxonomic and metabolic characteristics of a new caldoactive bacterium, Thermobacteroides acetoethylicus, that is prevalent in volcanic features where organic matter is vigorously being decomposed is described. T. acetoethylicus is a nonsporing, obligately anaerobic rod that stains gram-negative and exists singly or in pairs. Electron micrographs revealed peritrichous flagellation and a distinctive outer wall envelope structure without an outer wall membrane layer. The temperature range for growth was >40°C and <80°C; the pH range was between 5.5 and 8.5. The DNA base composition was 31±1 mol% guanosine plus cytosine. Fermentable carbohydrates included glucose, mannose, cellobiose, lactose, maltose, sucrose and starch. Growth on glucose in complex medium was associated with a 30 min doubling time; and ethanol, acetate, H2/CO2, butyrate and isobutyrate accounted for a balanced fermentation. Lactic acid was not formed. Growth was inhibited by O2, 2% NaCl, penicillin, streptomycin, vankomycin and neomycin, but not by chloramphenicol or hydrogen (2 atm). Glucose was metabolized via the Embden-Meyerhoff Pathway. A molar growth yield of 18.3 g cell per mol glucose and an ATP yield of 8 g cell per mol ATP produced was obtained. These results support the absence of detectable cytochromes and suggest that energy conservation is via substrate level phosphorylation alone.
On the independence of the CNV and the P300 components of the human averaged evoked potential.

Abstract We report an experiment designed to assess the interactions between the CNV and the P300 components of human event-related potential. Eight subjects were each presented with series of experimental trials on all of which either a 1200 c/sec or an 800 c/sec tone was presented. There were three independent variables: (a) The presence or absence of a warning flash 1000 msec prior to the tone. (b) The task assigned to the subject—that is subjects were either to make a discriminative response to the tone or, on half the series, to predict prior to the trial which of the two tones would be presented. (c) The predictability of the tone frequency. On half the series high and low tones alternated from trial to trial. On the other series, tones were chosen randomly on each trial. The data show that the amplitude of the P300 component is not affected by the presence or absence of a warning stimulus. Furthermore, the distributions of P300 and the CNV over the scalp are quite different. These conclusions are supported by a principal component and a discriminant analysis of the data.
Increasing short-term fluctuation by increasing the intensity of the fixation aid during perimetry.

An increase in short-term fluctuation is a clinically useful clue in the diagnosis of acquired disorders of the visual pathways. However, short-term fluctuation can also be increased in normal subjects by several factors. We found an increase in short-term fluctuation occurred in normal subjects when the visual field was tested using a bright fixation aid. Eight normal subjects underwent automated perimetry with the Octopus 2000R, in which the dimmest (12.5 candelas/m 2 ) and brightest (435 cd/m 2 ) available fixation aids were used. Mean short-term fluctuation values were 1.63 ± 0.27 dB with the dimmest aid, and were 2.65 ± 1.26 dB with the brightest aid. The difference was significant using the paired t -test (P = .037). Moreover, mean sensitivity was reduced from 35.67 ± 2.26 dB to 33.66 ± 1.71 dB when the brightest fixation aid was used (P = .004). In six of eight subjects, the relative changes in short-term fluctuation after an increase in brightness of the fixation aid were more pronounced than those in mean sensitivity. An increase in intensity of the fixation aid may cause visual changes in normal subjects that resemble those induced by disorders in the visual pathways. Whenever possible, minimal intensity of the fixation aid should be used to allow for an adequate interpretation of short-term fluctuation values.
No Story Is Ever Just a Story

The 41 films at the 2004 Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival showcased a multiplicity of styles and approaches, thus widening the perspective of “what counts” as ethnographic film. The two main events—A Tribute to Jean Rouch and Native Voices—epitomized the festival's commitment to diversity and creative talent. Despite the festival's awkward location in the American Museum of Natural History, the films tackled challenging political subjects and directly addressed questions of representation. Postscreening musical performances, informational panels, and audience–director discussion sessions shaped the festival itself as an ethnographic experience, as well as being a venue for the year's best documentary films. Festival highlights were Raven Tales: How Raven Stole the Sun (2004), Mr. Patterns (2004), and Beauty Academy of Kabul (2004).
Practical aspects of mixed mobile phases in capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

Studies of mixed mobile phases in supercritical fluid chromatography must include consideration of a number of factors. Phase equilibria and critical parameters of a mixed fluid are very important in both the solvent delivery system and in the chromatographic column. The effects of pressure and temperature on retention with mixed mobile phases were studied and compared to estimated density values. System equilibration times with regard to pressure, temperature, and composition were studied. A mixed mobile phase was applied to the analysis of a high-molecular-weight metalloporphyrin.
A present risk from past activities: sinkhole occurrence above underground quarries

Sinkholes are extremely common in Apulia, a low-relief carbonate region of southern Italy that is highly predisposed to this hazard due to the widespread presence of soluble rocks. In addition to the natural setting favoring their development, sinkholes may also be induced by anthropogenic activities and in particular by extensive systems of underground quarries. Many types of rocks have been historically quarried in Apulia, from the Cretaceous limestones to the Quaternary calcarenites, and used in different epochs as building and ornamental materials. In several areas, the rocks with the best petrographic characters are located at depths ranging from a few to some tens of meters. This, combined with the need to save pieces of land for agriculture, caused opening of many quarries underground and development of complex networks of subterranean galleries, especially at the turn between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Later on, many quarries were progressively abandoned, partly because of appearance of the first signs of instability, both underground and at the ground surface. With time, memory of the existence and precise location of the quarries was progressively lost, with severe repercussions for safe land use above the excavated areas. Lack of knowledge of the subterranean pattern of galleries, combined with the expansion of built-up areas at the surface, resulted in increasing the vulnerability of the exposed elements at risk. As a matter of fact, a strong increase in the frequency of events had to be recorded in Apulia during the last 5 years, as pointed out by the accounts reported in this paper.
Intraoperative validation of a new system for invasive continuous cardiac output measurement.

Although bolus thermodilution technique for cardiac output (CO) measurement has widespread acceptance, new systems are currently available. We evaluated a continuous CO system (TruCCOMS, Aortech International Inc.) that operates on the thermal conservation principle and we compared it with the reference standard transit time flow measurement (TTFM). Nine consecutive cardiac surgery patients were evaluated. After general anesthesia and intubation, a TruCCOMS catheter was percutaneously placed in the pulmonary artery (PA). After median sternotomy and pericardiotomy, a TTFM probe was placed around the main PA. Right ventricular (RV) CO measurements were recorded with both TruCCOMS and TTFM at different times: before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (T0), during weaning from CPB (T1), and prior to sternal closure (T2). Data analysis included paired student t test, Pearson correlation test, and Bland–Altman plotting. TruCCOMS CO values were significantly lower at T0 (TruCCOMS 4.0 ± 1.0 vs. TTFM 4.5 ± 1.0 L/min; P < 0.0001) and T1 (TruCCOMS 3.6 ± 0.5 vs. TTFM 4.2 ± 0.7 L/min; P < 0.0001), and comparable at T2 (TruCCOMS 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. TTFM 4.6 ± 0.8 L/min; P = 0.4). Pearson test showed a significant correlation between TruCCOMS and TTFM CO measurements (RT0 = 0.9, RT1 = 0.8, RT2 = 0.6; P < 0.0001). Bland–Altmann plotting showed a bias of −0.53 ± 0.43 L (−12%) at T0, −0.64 ± 0.43 L (−14.5%) at T1, and −0.1 ± 0.66 L (−0.8%) at T2. Although TruCCOMS may significantly underestimate CO, measurement trends correlate with TTFM. For this reason, a negative trend in RV output should trigger more specific diagnostic procedures.
Back to the Future?: Timor-Leste, Cuba and the return of the mass literacy campaign

In December 2005, eleven Cuban educational advisers arrived in Timor-Leste to begin work on a national literacy campaign. Adapting the program known in Latin America as Yo, Si Puedo (Yes I Can), the Cubans trained over 400 local tutors to run classes in every part of the country, using a method they call ‘alphanumeric’, delivered via audiovisual technology. The campaign was launched in March 2007, and the first classes began in June of that year. By September 2010, three years later, over 70,000 adults, over one fifth of the total illiterate population, had successfully completed a thirteen week basic literacy course. Drawing on original research undertaken in Timor-Leste between 2004 and 2009, followed by further investigations in May 2010 in Havana, Cuba, this paper describes the Timor-Leste campaign, locating it within the historical commitment of the country’s independence movement to adult literacy, and the broader context of Cuba’s international literacy work.
Selections from Moon Over Samarqand by Mohamed Mansi Qandil

by Mohamed Mansi Qandil, Cairo, American University Press, 2006, 432pp., ISBN 978-9774161896 This novel is the story of one Egyptian man’s quest for the truth about his past. The hero, Ali, travels...
Innovative uses of near-infrared spectroscopy in food processing.

ABSTRACT: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has experienced widespread use as an analytical tool in the last 3 decades. Researchers today are exploring ways of applying NIRS that expand beyond compositional analyses into process control. Processes such as meat tenderness evaluation, curd cutting, and dough mixing have traditionally been controlled by highly skilled master craftsmen; new NIRS research applications are demonstrating that these complex processes can be monitored and controlled in situ to produce consistent, high quality end products with online NIRS technology. Additionally, researchers also now have the potential ability to develop new nondestructive spectroscopic techniques to probe the underlying molecular evolution of these products during processing.
A Teacher's Use of the Environment To Facilitate the Social Development of Children

Abstract In the mid-1600s, when schooling became compulsory and the public support of schools was mandated, its socialization function was forthright. Curriculum and instruction were designed for both academic and social development. Today, in the morass of high-stakes testing and the all-encompassing emphasis upon academic achievement, socialization via schooling is masked. In this case study, the efforts of a 4th/15th-grade teacher were examined. The environment the teacher created was viewed in relation to the teacher's declared goals of socially developing students, Erikson's industry versus inferiority crisis, and empowerment via shared authority by teacher and student.
Laboratory Tests on Hydraulic Properties of Municipal Solid Waste

In order to analyze the hydraulic properties of municipal solid waste (MSW), laboratory tests on the soil-water characteristic curves of 6 groups of MSW samples with different void ratios and organic contents are performed by means of the unsaturated consolidation apparatus. The filter paper method is also employed to determine their soil-water characteristic curves. The distribution indexλof void size of the samples is analyzed. The results show that the air-entry value of the MSW samples is very small and about 1kPa, and it increases owing to the action of loading. The value ofλ decreases with the increase of the initial void ratio and increases with the increase of the organic content in the samples. For measuring the soil-water characteristic curves of MSW by means of the filter paper method, the values at high suction phase are more rational and significant.
Unraveling the sources of ground level ozone in the Intermountain Western United States using Pb isotopes

Ozone as an atmospheric pollutant is largely produced by anthropogenic precursors and can significantly impact human and ecosystem health, and climate. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently proposed lowering the ozone standard from 75 ppbv (MDA8 = Maximum Daily 8-Hour Average) to between 65 and 70 ppbv. This will result in remote areas of the Intermountain West that includes many U.S. National Parks being out of compliance, despite a lack of significant local sources. We used Pb isotope fingerprinting and back-trajectory analysis to distinguish sources of imported ozone to Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada. During discrete Chinese Pb events (> 1.1 ng/m(3) & > 80% Asian Pb) trans-Pacific transported ozone was 5 ± 5.5 ppbv above 19 year averages for those dates. In contrast, concentrations during regional transport from the Los Angeles and Las Vegas areas were 15 ± 2 ppbv above the long-term averages, and those characterized by high-altitude transport 3 days prior to sampling were 19 ± 4ppbv above. However, over the study period the contribution of trans-Pacific transported ozone increased at a rate of 0.8 ± 0.3 ppbv/year, suggesting that Asian inputs will exceed regional and high altitude sources by 2015-2020. All of these sources will impact regulatory compliance with a new ozone standard, given increasing global background.
Structure and synthesis of gastrolactone

Abstract The novel cyclopentenoid monoterpene, gastrolactone ( 4 ), was synthesized from carvenolide ( 5 ), and the synthetic material was found to be identical to the natural product by direct comparison. This synthesis confirmed structure 4 which had been suggested earlier on the basis of spectral data.
Femtosecond pH jump: dynamics of acid-base reactions in solvent cages

Studies are reported of the dynamics of proton-transfer reactions, with sub-picosecond time resolution, in solvent cages. The acid—base system studied in a molecular beam is 1-naphthol as a solute and ammonia (or water) as a solvent, with the number of solvent molecules (n) varying. At the threshold (n=3) for proton transfer we examine the accurate form of the decay, which has an apparent biexponential character, and we relate it to the nature of deprotonation and recombination. From studies of the effect of the total energy, isotope substitution and solvent number (n), we discuss the nature of the transfer and the interplay between the local structure of the base solvent and the dynamics.
Protein kinase D as a potential new target for cancer therapy

Protein kinase D is a novel family of serine/threonine kinases and diacylglycerol receptors that belongs to the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase superfamily. Evidence has established that specific PKD isoforms are dysregulated in several cancer types, and PKD involvement has been documented in a variety of cellular processes important to cancer development, including cell growth, apoptosis, motility, and angiogenesis. In light of this, there has been a recent surge in the development of novel chemical inhibitors of PKD. This review focuses on the potential of PKD as a chemotherapeutic target in cancer treatment and highlights important recent advances in the development of PKD inhibitors.
Contrast Effects In Verbal Output

Abstract Ss' freely constructed descriptions of several photographs, showing posed emotional expressions, were partly dependent on the array of contextual stimuli (other photographs) that appeared on the same page. Ss who were assigned to a predominantly pleasant array of photographs produced the least pleasant descriptive passages, followed by those in an unbiased (full range) condition, and finally, those Ss who were assigned to an unpleasant context, whose descriptions were the most pleasant of all three groups. This experiment suggests that when A communicates with B concerning some external referent, the meaning that he conveys may be significantly affected by the context surrounding his intended referent.
Laser-plasma accelerators: Gamma-rays going cheap

Generating intense bursts of high-energy radiation usually requires the construction of large and expensive facilities, such as free-electron lasers, which are based on conventional particle accelerators. Laser-driven accelerators offer a cheaper and smaller alternative, and they are now capable of generating intense bursts of gamma-rays.
Dynamics of protozoan population density, plasma glutamic oxalacetic transaminase and plasma bilirubin concentrations during histomoniasis in turkeys.

Abstract Density of populations of Histomonas meleagridis in ceca of infected turkeys was recorded daily for the first 17 days postinoculation with 20,000 protozoa. The major features of population growth were a 5-day lag period followed by rapid growth and plateau on the order 10 7 protozoa/ml. Protozoan populations in hosts that failed to develop clinical histomoniasis remained close to the lag period density for the duration of the experiment. Plasma concentrations of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) were found to be only weakly associated with the occurrence of clinical symptoms. Those results suggest that clinical symptoms are a cecal phenomenon, dependent on high population density of H. meleagridis . Evidence for elevation of both conjugated (direct) and protein-bound (indirect) bilirubin during histomoniasis suggests hemolytic jaundice, complicated with liver daage.
Transient tensile behavior of interstitial-free steel and 70/30 brass following plane-strain deformation

The transient behavior of interstitial-free (IF) steel and 70/30 brass which results from an abrupt change in strain state has been investigated experimentally and modeled analytically. After a plane-strain prestrain, reloading in uniaxial tension results in a negative stress transient for brass and a positive stress transient for IF steel. The strain behavior during the stress transient was studied by measuring the local axial and transverse strains using resistance strain gages. The monotonic data exhibited a constant plastic strain ratio, whereas the prestrain data showed decreasing plastic strain ratios with increasing axial strain for both IF steel and brass. A simple analysis of the transient was performed by modifying Hill's nonquadratic yield surface to allow variable plastic anisotropy (via r) during the transient. By choosing an appropriate variation ofr, the stress transient could be reproduced. The predicted variations in strain ratios by the model agreed qualitatively with measurements for brass but were of the opposite sign to measurements for steel. Although not conclusive, this result suggests that the normality condition is violated during a stress transient induced by an abrupt change in strain path.
Cumene hydroperoxide-generated spectral interactions of piperonyl butoxide and other synergists with microsomes from mammals and insects

Abstract Piperonyl butoxide-dependent formation of type III difference spectra and the resulting inhibition of carbon monoxide binding by microsomal cytochrome P-450 were investigated using a cumene hydroperoxide-supplemented reaction medium. Cumene hydroperoxide is capable of supporting the formation of type III spectra with piperonyl butoxide and microsomes from several different species. NADPH is not required in the presence of cumene hydroperoxide. Similarities and differences between NADPH- and cumene hydroperoxide-mediated reactions were noted. Comparative studies indicated that, as in mammals, insect microsomal cytochrome P-450 also possesses peroxidase activity. In addition to piperonyl butoxide, other methylenedioxyphenyl compounds such as sulfoxide, n-propyl isome, and sesamol also give rise to a similar spectral response in either NADPH- or cumene hydroperoxide-supplemented reaction media. The significance of the cumene hydroperoxide-dependent reaction in elucidating the mechanism of synergistic action of methylenedioxyphenyl compounds is discussed.
DNA polymerase activity of cultured normal and leukemic lymphocytes: Response to phytohemagglutinin

Abstract Normal lymphocytes when cultured with PHA showed increased DNA polymerase activity in 24 h. This preceded the onset of DNA synthesis. Further large increases in enzyme activity occurred in the next day or two of culture accompanying blast-cell formation and the start of mitosis. Leukemic lymphocytes from cases with low peripheral WBC counts showed the greatest increases in DNA polymerase activity and produced the largest numbers of blast-cells, while cells from cases with high WBC counts produced few or no blast-cells and failed to increase their DNA polymerase content. A broad spectrum of intermediate results were obtained in a series of 21 cases ranging in cell count from 21,000 to 265,000 per mm3. Initial studies indicate that a fluorimetric assay of cellular DNA may be a more satisfactory basis than initial cell count or protein determination for calculation of results of enzyme content of cells clumped by PHA. Increased DNA polymerase activity may be an essential preliminary to increased DNA synthesis in cells responding to PHA stimulation in cultures.
Stroke Frequency Descriptors for Handwriting-Based Writer Identification

ABSTRACT Writer identication in oine handwritten documents is a dicult task with multiple applications such as au-thentication, identication, and clustering in document collections. For example, in th e context of content-baseddocument image retrieval, given a document with handwritten annotations it is possible to determine whetherthe comments were added by a specic individual and nd other documents annotated by the same person. Incontrast to online writer identication in which temporal stroke information is available, such information is notreadily available in oine writer identication. The base approach and the main contribution of our work is theidea of using derived canonical stroke frequency descriptors from handwritten text to identify writers. We showthat a relatively small set of canonical strokes can be successfully employed for generating discriminative fre-quency descriptors. Moreover, we show that by using frequency descriptors alone it is possible to perform writeridentication with success rate which is comparable to the known state of the art in oine writer identicationwith close to 90% accuracy. As frequen cy descriptors are independent of existing descriptors, the performanceof oine writer identication may be improved by combining both standard and frequency descriptors. Experi-mental evaluation with quantitative performance evaluation is provided using the IAM dataset.
An optical interpretation of polarization parameters

Abstract We stress the simplicity of the language of optics in discussing experiments with polarized beams and/or polarized targets, and present a semi-classical model which permits simple calculations of polarization and spin-correlation parameters for general spins. The assumptions that nucleons interact primarily diffractively, and that the only spin dependence of the interaction arises from a weak spin-orbit force, leads us to a simple model for all the nucleon polarization and spin-correlation parameters which is consistent with the available data. A number of predictions are given for future experiments, and possible test of the model are noted. The relation between the s -channel optical language and the t -channel exchange language is also discussed. It is shown that several features of the Regge exchange picture (suppression of unnatural parity exchanges, approximate factorization of the amplitude, and the presence of weak cuts) are natural consequences of the model.
Self-organizing features for regularized standardization of brain images

Normal variability of anatomy is a key issue in standardization. By reducing normal variability, functional activity from multiple subjects can be overlayed to study localization, and variability outside normal ranges can be used to report abnormalities. Most of the existing global standardization methods fail to align individual anatomic structures. We propose a semi-automatic, feature-based standardization technique to complement these global methods. Benefits of our method are speed and accuracy in local alignment. The method consists of three phases: In phase one, templates are generated from the atlas structures, using Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs). The parameters of each SOM are determined using a new topology evaluation technique. In phase two, the atlas templates are reconfigured using points from individual features, to establish a one-to-one correspondence between the atlas and individual structures. During training, a regularization procedure can be optionally invoked to guarantee smoothness in areas where the discrepancy between the atlas and individual feature is high. In the final phase, difference vectors are generated using the corresponding points of the atlas and individual structure. The whole image is warped by interpolation of the difference vectors through Gaussian radial basis functions, which are determined by minimizing the membrane energy. Results are demonstrated on simulated features, as well as selected sulci in brain MRIs.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.