cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating contact rates at a mass gathering by using video analysis: a proof-of-concept project

Background Current approaches for estimating social mixing patterns and infectious disease transmission at mass gatherings have been limited by various constraints, including low participation rates for volunteer-based research projects and challenges in quantifying spatially and temporally accurate person-to-person interactions. We developed a proof-of-concept project to assess the use of automated video analysis for estimating contact rates of attendees of the GameFest 2013 event at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York.
TU-D-J-6C-02: Radiation Dose Reduction in 4D Computed Tomography

Purpose: 4D CT is useful clinically for detailed abdominal and thoracic imaging over the course of the respiratory cycle. However, it usually delivers 10∼15 times more radiation dose to the patient as compared to the standard 3D CT, since multiple scans at each couch position are required to obtain the temporal information. In this work we propose a method to obtain high quality 4D CT with low tube current, hence reducing the radiation exposure of patients. Method and Materials: The improvement of the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the CTimage at a given phase was achieved by superposing the imaging information from other phases with the use of a deformable image registrationmodel. To further reduce the statistical noise caused by low tube current, we developed a novel 4D penalized weighted least square (4D‐PWLS) method to smooth the data spatially and temporally. The method was validated by motion‐phantom and patient studies using a GE Discovery‐ST PET/CT scanner. A Varian RPM respiratory gating system was used to track the motion and to facilitate the phase binning of the 4D CT data. Results: We calculated the SNRs for both studies. The average SNR of 10 mA phantom images increased by more than three‐fold from 0.051 to 0.165 after the proposed 4D‐PWLS processing, without noticeable resolution loss. The patient images acquired at 90mA showed an increase from 2.204 to 4.558 for the end‐inspiration phase, and from 1.741 to 3.862 for the end‐expiration phase, respectively. By examining the subtraction images before and after processing, good edge preservation was also observed in the patient study. Conclusion: By appropriately utilizing the temporal information in 4D‐CT, the proposed method effectively suppresses the noise while preserving the resolution. The technique provides a useful way to reduce the patient dose during 4D CT and is thus valuable for 4D‐radiotherapy.
Courtship in the rough-skinned newt Taricha granulosa

Courtship was studied in the rough-skinned newt, Taricha granulosa. Newt sexual behaviour included pre-insemination, insemination and post-insemination stages. During the pre-insemination stage, behaviour of the male and female changed concomitatly. Male hind limb contraction rate increased as females became more receptive (lowered-head position to raised-head position). The preinsemination stage of courtship lasted a median of 7 h. Of first sperm transfer attempts, 89·5% culminated in successful insemination. After insemination, females no longer were receptive in response to courtship; although pre-insemination courtship and insemination inhibited receptivity in 40% of the females, preinsemination courtship, insemination and post-insemination amplexus inhibited receptivity in 100% of famales tested. This unique result demonstrates that post-insemination association may ensure paternity through inhibiting female sexual receptivity.
Detection rate and outcome of colonic serrated epithelial changes in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's colitis.

Summary Background Chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC) and colonic Crohn's disease (CD) increase colorectal neoplasia (CRN) risk. While sessile serrated polyp (SSP) is a known cancer precursor, serrated epithelial changes (SEC) are of uncertain prevalence and neoplastic risk. Aim To assess the serrated lesion detection rates in CUC and CD and documented incidence of subsequent CRN in a retrospective, single-centre cohort study. Methods Patients were identified by a central diagnostic index and pathology review confirmed SEC, SSP, CUC and CD diagnoses from 2006–12. Matched controls were identified from among all CUC and CD patients having colonoscopy during the second half of the time period. All were followed for incident CRN, estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Results Between 2006 and 2012, 79 SEC and 10 SSP cases were identified. Detection rates were estimated to be 10/1000 and 2/1000 patients, for SEC and SSP respectively, among 4208 unique CUC or CD patients having colonoscopy from 2010–12. With only 10 cases, SSP patients were not further analysed. Cumulative incidence of subsequent CRN at 1 and 3 years was 12% (95% CI, 0–30%) and 30% (3–57%), respectively, in SEC patients compared to 4% (0–12%) and 9% (0–23%), respectively, in CUC or CD controls (P = 0.047, log-rank). However, this statistical difference was not significant after patients were stratified for history of prior or synchronous dysplasia (P = 0.09). Conclusions Serrated epithelial changes and sessile serrated polyps are uncommonly detected by colonoscopy in chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients. Histology with changes of serrated epithelium may be associated with risk of subsequent colorectal neoplasia, however further studies are needed to explore this relationship.
Impact of atmospheric uncertainties and viscous interaction effects on the performance of aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicles

Simulations of aerobraking trajectories of aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicles (AOTV's) returning from geosynchronous orbit were analyzed to examine the effects of high-altitude viscous interactions and off-nominal atmospheres on AOTV return weight, heating, and loads performance. Viscous interaction effects encountered at high altitudes had little detrimental effect on the return weight capabilities for AOTV's representing a range of lift/drag ratios. Most of the AOTV return weight increase over an all-propulsive OTV occurred for a low lift/drag ratio. Smaller increases in return weight were observed for higher lift/drag ratios, at the expense of significantly higher heating and aerodynamic loads. Off-nominal atmospheres based on Shuttle-derived data and multipliers on a U.S. Standard Atmosphere were considered. AOTV's intended for entry under standard atmospheric conditions either deorbited during the pass through the off-nominal atmospheres or missed the target phasing orbit by wide margins. The AOTV's could successfully negotiate these atmospheres when new bank-angle histories were implemented with little loss and sometimes with a gain in return weight.
Kaleidoscope of Aid for Parents Whose Child Died by Suicidal and Sudden, Non-Suicidal Means:

The sudden loss of a child, especially by suicide, can be a lifelong sentence of suffering for the bereaved parents. Reaching out for help is often an inconceivable and impossible task for the parent survivors due to the complex grief process that is experienced. What roles helpers can play, who can fill this position of helper, and what criteria such providers of assistance must meet to be effective are addressed. Special considerations in doing grief counseling with survivors of suicide are summarized.
Dissolving Oral Clonazepam Wafers in the Acute Treatment of Prolonged Seizures

Klonopin (clonazepam; Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, California) oral wafers are benzodiazepines with anticonvulsive and anxiolytic properties. Our institution has been prescribing clonazepam wafers for acute treatment of prolonged seizures for years. Patients' size determined dosing at 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 mg wafers. We proceeded to obtain evidence for efficacy. Hospital Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for anonymous patient survey. All children who had been prescribed clonazepam wafers over a 6-year period at our institution were mailed detailed questionnaires. Three hundred eighty-one questionnaires were mailed with 88 replies but only 56 with meaningful data. Average age was 12.1 years. There were 31 males. Efficacy was defined as stopping seizure within 10 minutes, >50% of the time. Thirty-eight of the 56 (68%) patients met this criterion. From these 38 patients, 19 (50%) had seizures stop within 1 minute. Overall results were comparable to Diastat (rectal diazepam; Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Aliso Viejo, California). Clonazepam wafers are an effective acute therapy for prolonged seizures.
Infrared lidar measurements of crustal aerosol mixing in the troposphere.

La comparaison des profils de retrodiffusion des aerosols, enregistres durant un jour sec et clair et un jour humide et nuageux pres de Boulder (Colorado, USA), montre que, durant les jours humides les aerosols sont transportes par les nuages convectifs vers des hauteurs elevees, bien au-dessus de la couche limite atmospherique et dans l'atmosphere libre
Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus anginosus (Streptococcus milleri group) are of different clinical importance and are not equally associated with abscess

Difficulties in distinguishing organisms of the "Streptococcus milleri group" (SMG; Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus constellatus, and Streptococcus anginosus), have caused ambiguity in determining their pathogenic potential. We reviewed 118 cases in which SMG isolates had been identified using 16S rDNA sequence. S. constellatus and S. anginosus were isolated far more frequently than was S. intermedius. Nearly all isolates of S. intermedius and most isolates of S. constellatus, but only 19% of those of S. anginosus, were associated with abscess. Our findings suggest that speciation of the SMG may guide diagnostic evaluation, give insight into the possible role of coinfecting organisms, and help assess the need to search for occult abscess.
An exact integral of complete spectral equations for unsteady one-dimensional flow

Finite-amplitude, one-dimensional, isothermal flow of a perfect gas is considered. When the flow is organized initially as a “linear” sound wave, it is equivalent to the solution of an “advection equation”. The flow that evolves in this way from an initial state is analyzed by means of a Fourier series in space, with time-dependent coefficients. These coefficients can be determined exactly when the initial velocity is a pure sinusoid. The result is such that the Fourier series in space is a Kapteyn series in time. The series is valid up to the time of shock formation. Throughout this interval the lowest harmonics inferred from severely truncated spectral equations are in good agreement with the exact solution. However, the spectral representation becomes very inefficient as the discontinuous state is approached. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1964.tb00179.x
Text message reminders to promote human papillomavirus vaccination.

Objective: To implement and evaluate text message reminders for the second (HPV2) and third (HPV3) vaccine doses. Design: Site-based intervention. Setting: Nine pediatric sites (5 academic and 4 private) located in New York City. Participants: Parents of adolescents 9–20 years who received HPV1 or HPV2 during the intervention period, January–June 2009. Intervention: Parents who enrolled received up to three weekly text message reminders that their daughter was due for her next vaccine dose. Outcome measure: On-time receipt of the next vaccine dose, within one month of its due date. Results: During the intervention period, of 765 eligible HPV vaccine events, 434 enrollment instructions were distributed to parents (56.7% of doses). Parents of 124 adolescent girls (28.6% of those handed instructions) activated text message reminders. Comparing children of parents who enrolled versus those who did not, on-time receipt of next HPV vaccine dose occurred among 51.6% (95% CI 42.8–60.4%) versus 35.0% (95% CI 29.6–40.2%) of adolescents (p = .001). Similarly, among a historical cohort of adolescents, receiving HPV1 or HPV2 in the six months prior to the intervention period, on-time receipt of next vaccine dose was noted for 38.1% (95% CI 35.2–41.0%) (p = .003). Increases in receipt of next vaccine dose among intervention subjects were sustained at 4 months following the vaccine due date. Using a logistic regression model, after controlling for insurance and site of care, intervention subjects were significantly more likely than either control population to receive their next HPV vaccine dose on-time. Conclusion: Among those choosing to enroll, text message reminders were an effective intervention to
Properties of fuzzy implication operators

In this paper we discuss both forward implication and backward implication, and the difference between them is defined. We introduce some properties of fuzzy implication operators, and show the expectation, the variance, and the distribution of each fuzzy implication operator, assuming that the two propositions in a given compound proposition are independent of each other and the truth values of the propositions are uniformly distributed on the interval [0, 1].
Wear resistance of laser-deposited boride reinforced Ti-Nb–Zr–Ta alloy composites for orthopedic implants

Abstract The inherently poor wear resistance of titanium alloys limits their application as femoral heads in femoral (hip) implants. Reinforcing the soft matrix of titanium alloys (including new generation β-Ti alloys) with hard ceramic precipitates such as borides offers the possibility of substantially enhancing the wear resistance of these composites. The present study discusses the microstructure and wear resistance of laser-deposited boride reinforced composites based on Ti–Nb–Zr–Ta alloys. These composites have been deposited using the LENS™ process from a blend of elemental Ti, Nb, Zr, Ta, and boron powders and consist of complex borides dispersed in a matrix of β-Ti. The wear resistance of these composites has been compared with that of Ti–6Al–4V ELI, the current material of choice for orthopedic femoral implants, against two types of counterfaces, hard Si 3 N 4 and softer SS440C stainless steel. Results suggest a substantial improvement in the wear resistance of the boride reinforced Ti–Nb–Zr–Ta alloys as compared with Ti–6Al–4V ELI against the softer counterface of SS440. The presence of an oxide layer on the surface of these alloys and composites also appears to have a substantial effect in terms of enhanced wear resistance.
Analysis of unstable recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae population growth in selective medium.

Widely applied selection strategies for plasmid-containing cells in unstable recombinant populations are based upon synthesis in those cells of an essential, selection gene product. Regular partitioning of this gene product combined with asymmetric plasmid segregation produces plasmid-free cells which retain for some time the ability to grow in selective medium. This theory is elaborated here in terms of a segregated model for an unstable recombinant population which predicts population growth characteristics and composition based upon experimental data for stable strain growth kinetics, plasmid content, and selection gene product stability. Analytical solutions from this model are compared with an unsegregated phenomenological model to evaluate the effective specific growth rate of plasmid-free cells in selective medium. Model predictions have been validated using experimental growth kinetics and flow cytometry data for Saccharomyces cerevisiae D603 populations containing one of the plasmids YCpG1ARS1, YCpG1ΔR8, YCpG1ΔR88, YCpG1ΔH103, YCpG1ΔH200, pLGARS1, and pLGSD5. The recombinant strains investigated encompass a broad range of plasmid content (from one to 18 plasmids per cell) and probability α of plasmid loss at division (0.05 ≤ α ≤ 0.42). Experimental data for all strains considered is inconsistent with the hypothesis that plasmid-free cells are unable to grow in selective medium. For a given value of a, the fraction of plasmid-containing cells in the population decreases with increasing plasmid content and increases for less stable selection gene products. This conceptual framework and mathematical model will aid in strain development for greater effective stability.
Temperature Dependence of Critical Opalescence in Carbon Dioxide

Rayleigh scattering has been studied along the critical isochore and the coexistence curve of carbon dioxide. Measured intensities interpreted according to the theory of Ornstein and Zernike agree with expectation based on classical $\mathrm{PVT}$ measurements. It is suggested that over many decades of temperature distance from ${T}_{c}$ the $\mathrm{PVT}$ and optical data are consistent with a reduced compressibility ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\rho}}{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\mu}})}_{T}=\ensuremath{\Gamma}{t}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}{(\ensuremath{-}t)}^{{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$, with $t=\frac{(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c})}{{T}_{c}}$, where $\ensuremath{\gamma}=1.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02={\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=0.072\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006=4.1{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{gas}}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\simeq}3.6{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{liq}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$.
Quantitative analysis of earthy and musty odors in drinking water sources impacted by wastewater and algal derived contaminants.

Abstract The goal of this study was to develop a robust method capable of quantifying taste and odor compounds (i.e., geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) at very low aqueous concentrations in the presence of wastewater and algal derived contaminants. A polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fiber was used to perform headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) to extract and analyze taste and odor compounds from model, source water, and finished drinking water samples. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometery (GC/MS) in full scan mode was used to analyze the compounds desorbed from the fiber in the GC inlet. The following parameters were optimized in order to enhance analyte recovery: extraction temperature, extraction time, desorption time, sonication temperature, sonication time and GC/MS configuration/temperature program. After optimization, the method provided a linear response from 1 to 300 ng L −1 and yielded limit of detections (LODs) of 1 ng L −1 for both 2-MIB and geosmin. In MS full scan mode, wastewater contaminants and other algal derived volatile organic compounds (ADVOCs) relevant to cyanobacterial bloom dynamics were detected and monitored in real source water samples. In the presence of known interferents with similar mass/charge fragments and elution times, the optimized method yielded low detection limits as well as exact molecular confirmation for taste and odor compounds in impacted source water samples. This method could be used as a tool to aid in the development of source water protection plans by identifying potential sources of anthropogenic and algal derived contamination in drinking water sources.
Human acellular dermal matrix for ventral hernia repair reduces morbidity in transplant patients

Purpose Organ transplantation is widely accepted as the treatment of choice for native organ failure. Due to required immunosuppression, however, organ recipients are prone to wound infections, incisional hernias, and fascial dehiscence. These complications are especially dangerous in this patient population, as they can compromise the survival of the transplanted organ. Various methods have been employed to repair ventral and incisional hernias in these patients. These include primary repair, synthetic mesh, biologic mesh, tensor fascia lata grafts (TFL), component separation, flaps from the thighs, or a combination of these. The goal of this study was to review the experience at our institution with ventral hernia repair in transplant patients and to compare outcomes of the various repair techniques.
Issues and controversies surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of social anxiety disorder

Although much has been learned about social anxiety disorder (SAD) in recent decades, many questions and controversies surrounding its diagnosis and treatment have remained. Similar to the state of affairs with other psychiatric disorders, no clear pathophysiology has been identified for SAD, and the question of where to draw the line between shyness, SAD and even avoidant personality disorder continues to be debated. Much of the evidence to date suggests that among persons with SAD, it is under-recognized and undertreated; however, other researchers contend that it may be overdiagnosed in some individuals. Questions also remain as to how best treat these individuals, such as with pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the controversies related to the diagnosis and treatment of SAD. In addition, suggestions for future research are provided that could perhaps clarify these remaining questions, such as maximizing treatment efficacy by targeting broader outcomes such as quality of life and addressing common comorbidities that occur with SAD.
Preparation from chitin of (1→4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranuronan and its 2-sulfoamino analog having blood-anticoagulant properties☆☆☆

Abstract Chitosan, prepared by total N -deacetylation of chitin, underwent complete and specific carboxylation at C-6 when oxidized, as the perchlorate salt 2 , with chromium trioxide in acetic acid. The resultant (1→4)-2-amino-2-deoxy-β- D -glucopyranuronan, obtained as its perchlorate ( 3 ), was N -sulfated with chlorosulfonic acid in pyridine to afford a (1→4)-2-deoxy-2-sulfoamino-β- D -glucopyranuronan, isolated as its amorphous sodium salt 4 ; the latter displayed moderate blood-anticoagulant activity. The products 3 and 4 showed marked in vitro growth inhibition of leukemia L-1210 cells.
Shock compression measurements at 1 to 7 TPa

A shock wave generated by an underground nuclear explosion was used to perform impedance-matching experiments for several different materials at pressures from 1 to 7 TPa. The nearly planar shock passed through a 180-mm-diam by 12-mm-thick molybdenum standard and into stacks of 10-mm-thick samples of the following adjacent pairs of materials: LiD-Be, Be-LiD, Al-Mo, Pb-quartz, W-Mo (low density, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}=8.29$ g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$), U-Mo, and Fe. An array of 75 electrical contact pins was used to determine the shape of the shock front and the shock velocities in the standard and in the samples with uncertainties ranging from 1.5 to 2.5%. The measured shock velocity of 27.30 km/s (\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5%) in the molybdenum standard corresponds to a pressure of 4.95 TPa (\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.5%) based on a theoretical equation of state (EOS) that includes electronic-shell-structure effects. An impedance-matching analysis was performed for each sample stack to obtain Hugoniot data for all samples except those in the U-Mo stack; neutron-induced fission heating in the uranium perturbed the initial state and produced inconclusive results. Predictions, based on the SESAME EOS library, of shock velocities in most samples agree with the experimental results within the uncertainties. For the quartz and low-density molybdenum, the SESAME-predicted shock velocities are too large by 5 to 10%. The following Hugoniot points in pressure ($P$)-particle-velocity ($u$) coordinates were determined for the indicated samples: LiD ($p=0.946$ TPa, $u=29.39$ km/s), Be (1.46, 22.69); Be (1.79, 25.42), LiD (1.038, 31.23); Al (2.23, 23.89), Mo (4.03, 16.05); Pb (4.80, 17.84), quartz (1.66, 23.64); W (6.51, 15.10), and Mo (${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}=8.29$ g ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) (3.68, 18.27). The results for iron have a larger uncertainty but are consistent with the SESAME predictions.
Oscillator strengths and wavelengths for the copper and zinc isoelectronic sequences; Z = 29 to 42

Abstract Semiempirical model-potential methods are used to calculate energy levels, wavelengths, and oscillator strengths for the copper and zinc isoelectronic sequences out to Mo XIV and Mo XIII, respectively.
IL-3 production as an in vitro marker of the genetically determined traits of UVB susceptibility and UVB resistance

The capacity of low-dose ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation to disrupt epidermal Langerhans cell function and to prevent the induction of contact hypersensitivity (CH) is genetically determined in mice and men. In mice, Tnf alpha and Lps are the genetic loci at which reside alleles that dictate susceptibility and resistance to the deleterious effect of UVB radiation. Detection of the UVB-susceptibility (UVB-S) and UVB-resistance (UVB-R) traits relies upon the in vivo end point of contact hypersensitivity, and is cumbersome, labor intensive, and time consuming. It has recently been reported that hapten-immune murine T cells can secrete interleukin-3 (IL-3) in vitro when exposed to hapten-derivatized syngeneic stimulator cells. To determine whether this assay might be useful in distinguishing UVB-R from UVB-S mice, panels of UVB-susceptible (C57BL/10, C3H/HeN) and UVB-resistant (A/J, BALB/c, C3H/HeJ) mice were sensitized epicutaneously with dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). When challenged in vitro 6 d later with dinitrophenyl-derivatized stimulator cells, T cells from all strains proliferated and secreted IL-3. Moreover, T cells from UVB-R mice that were sensitized through UVB-treated skin also made copious amounts of IL-3. However, T cells from UVB-S mice whose abdominal skin had been UVB irradiated prior to epicutaneous application of DNFB failed to secrete IL-3 in vitro, although the cells did proliferate. We conclude that following application of a sensitizing dose of hapten to UVB-exposed skin of UVB-S mice a) hapten-specific T cells are selectively unable to secrete IL-3 in vitro in response to hapten stimulation, and b) this inability is a reliable marker of the UVB-S trait. The IL-3 assay may prove useful in elucidating the mechanism by which UVB-exposed Langerhans cells activate regulatory T cells, and in detecting the UVB-S and UVB-R traits in humans.
Lack of evidence for solar-cycle variations in high-speed streams in the solar wind.

The observed yearly numbers and durations of high-speed streams in the solar wind previously reported by Intriligator (1973), when normalized to the duration of available observations, do not exhibit a significant systematic variation with solar cycle, contrary to the inference drawn by him.
Quantitative Immunochemistry and the Evolution of Primate Albumins: Micro-Complement Fixation

Quantitative micro-complement fixation was used to compare human serum albumin with the serum albumins of apes, monkeys, and prosimians. The results are consistent with those obtained by other immunological techniques, and they are consistent with the accepted phylogenetic position of these groups. The method requires much less antigen and antibody is more sensitive to small differences in albumin structure. A large scale survey of species differences in protein structure is possible with less than a milliliter of antiserum.
Construction and deconstruction of aldehydes by transfer hydroformylation

For more than 75 years, the chemical industry has relied on the hydroformylation reaction (the “oxo” process) to convert alkenes, CO, and H2 into aldehydes ( 1 ) used in making plasticizers, alcohols, amines, and esters. Although “syngas,” the 1:1 mixture of CO and H2, is inexpensive and abundant, it is also toxic and highly flammable, so most commercial applications of hydroformylation are limited to commodity-scale processes in plants dedicated to handling superambient pressures of gases. More general use of the hydroformylation process would be facilitated by “gasless” group-transfer approaches to hydroformylation. On page 56 of this issue, Murphy et al. ( 2 ) report a rhodium catalyst that transfers the equivalent of H2 and CO between an aldehyde and an alkene under mild conditions and without evolving gases.
Estimation of surface O3 from lower-troposphere partial-column information: Vertical correlations and covariances in ozonesonde profiles

Abstract Analysis of the spatial correlation of ozone mixing ratio in the vertical provides information useful for several purposes: (a) it aids description of the degree of regionality of the ozone transport-transformation processes, (b) the information provided in the form of a priori covariance matrices for remote retrieval algorithms can simplify and sharpen accuracy of the resulting estimates, and most importantly, (c) it allows a first evaluation of the improvement that remote retrievals can give over boundary-layer climatology. Vertical profiles of mean, variance, and vertical autocovariance, and vertical autocorrelation of ozone mixing ratios were estimated and given parameterizations. The WOUDC ozonesonde network database was used. During the years 2004–2006, these were considerably augmented by sondes taken by NASA, NOAA, and Canadian agencies during recent summertime intensive periods in North America. There are large differences across the North American continent in the patterns and magnitudes of correlation, especially in the lowest 2–3 km of the troposphere. This is especially significant for the near-surface layers (100's of meters deep) which determine actual surface O3 smog exposure and phytotoxicity, since satellite retrievals typically characterize at best a thick layer extending 3 km or more from the surface. The relative variation of O3 decreases in the vertical, particularly for the somewhat polluted launch stations, and this affects inference of surface O3 significantly. We outline a simple synthesis of mixed-layer and ozone-chemistry behavior to aid discussion of this and similar phenomena. Regional differences suggest broad if qualitative explanations in terms of larger-scale (interstate-transport) and local-scale phenomena (lake and sea breezes, degree/frequency of subsidence), inviting future study. The character of near-surface-to-full-layer covariance suggests that remote retrieval can describe surface ozone surprisingly well using 0–3 km partial-column ozone… for many situations. This indicates that there is substantial utility for new remote-retrieval methods that exploit ozone absorption in multiple wavelength regions, e.g., UV + Vis, UV + IR, or UV + Vis + IR. In summary, we find considerable value in interpreting retrievable O3 columns to estimate O3 quantities that are closely relevant to air pollution mitigation.
Luminaire development for hybrid solar lighting applications

Efficient hybrid luminaire development is an integral part of the Hybrid Solar Lighting Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Hybrid luminaires are necessary to blend light from a fiber optic solar source with electric fluorescent lamps. The luminaire designs studied involve a commercially available fluorescent luminaire that has been modified to include optical elements for efficiently dispersing fiber optic solar light sources. Quantitative measurements of optical efficiency and spatial intensity distribution for two luminaire designs are compared.
An alternate approach to adaptive beamforming using SRP-PHAT

An important application for microphone arrays is to extract high-quality output from a single wideband source in multi-source and adverse environments. Methods based on blind-source separation and beamforming have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for isolating sources which may be considered an alternate approach to adaptive beamforming. The proposed method assigns every time-frequency point to one of the sources in the environment or as background noise using an SRP-PHAT-based discriminator. It then creates the desired source's output by spectrally subtracting the inappropriate time-frequency points. After giving the details of the procedure, we show results from real data from our large-aperture microphone array. Though, clearly a relatively small subset, listening results to date for two or three talkers have yielded high-quality isolations. For two talkers, in particular, results are presented which indicate that the method correctly identifies and removes about 90% of those time-frequency points where the interfering signal is dominant, without affecting the desired signal significantly.
Analysis of Shellsort and Related Algorithms

This is an abstract of a survey talk on the theoretical and empirical studies that have been done over the past four decades on the Shellsort algorithm and its variants. The discussion includes: upper bounds, including linkages to number-theoretic properties of the algorithm; lower bounds on Shellsort and Shellsort-based networks; average-case results; proposed probabilistic sorting networks based on the algorithm; and a list of open problems.
What makes a stopping rule sexist

Parents’ decisions to have children are modeled by a simple stopping rule that describes the probability of having another child as a function of the number of boys and girls already born to the parents. Because the stopping rule depends on the sex of the offspring, the rule may introduce a correlation between sex of offspring and the number of siblings the offspring has. When this is coupled with a correlation between number of siblings and well‐being, a correlation between sex and well‐being may emerge despite equal treatment of the two sexes within each family. The author provides sufficient conditions on a stopping rule for it to be sexist in the sense that the average well‐being of one sex is higher than that of the other sex.
AdventurePlayer: using interactive technology to assist constructivist learning

Computer tools for education have become common in university research settings. However, their practical and widespread benefit has yet to be realized. Furthermore, cognitive science literature on learning and transfer suggests that concepts acquired in a single context tend to be coupled to that context and hence are not likely to be spontaneously accessed and used in new settings. Such findings suggest limits to the traditional use of computer-based environments since most learning systems facilitate problem solving only in a single context. This paper discusses Anchored Interactive Learning Environments (AILE), an emerging paradigm for computer-based instruction. AILE extend well-developed theories of educational practice into the domain of interactive computer assisted instruction. The resulting computer-based environments facilitate the sustained learning of active learners. The AdventurePlayer system is discussed, an interactive learning environment designed to facilitate constructivist learning of trip planning concepts. Principles for the design and development of other AILE systems and lessons learned are also presented.
Female–female competition for male ‘friends’ in wild chacma baboons (Papio cynocephalus ursinus)

Lactating female chacma baboons, Papio cynocephalus ursinus, maintain close associations, or ‘friendships’, with particular males that may protect infants from sexually selected infanticide by a newly immigrated alpha male. In a 2-year study, we sought evidence of female–female competition for male friends in cases where two mothers maintained friendships with the same male simultaneously. In this context, relative competitive abilities of the rival females influenced social access to the shared male friend: dominant females maintained higher levels of close proximity and allogrooming with the male than their subordinate counterparts. This disparity was greatest when younger dominant females and older subordinate females shared a male friend. This pattern resulted from social displacement: subordinate females experienced a significant decrease in time spent near the male friend immediately after a dominant female began associating with him (but the converse was not true). Changes in time male–female friends spent near one another were due primarily to changes in the behaviour of the females. Females may compete for friends based on male rank and probability of paternity of their current infants. Evidence that lactating females may pursue alternative anti-infanticide strategies besides friendship formation came from two sources. First, subordinate females displaced from a friendship made compensatory changes in their relationships with the potentially infanticidal alpha male: spatial proximity and the rate of contact with him fell significantly in the period immediately following displacement. Second, across the entire sample of friendships, female social behaviour and age were significantly correlated. Compared to younger mothers, older females showed: (1) a smaller relative contribution to maintaining close proximity to the male friend; (2) less close proximity to the male friend; and (3) greater proximity to relatives (this association applied to higher-ranking females). Thus, avoidance of infanticidal threat and protective association with maternal kin may constitute two alternative counterstrategies for some lactating females.  2001 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Two Class-D audio amplifiers with 89/90% efficiency and 0.02/0.03% THD+N consuming less than 1mW of quiescent power

The high efficiency of Class-D amplifiers (CDAs) makes them highly attractive candidates for audio drivers in systems with extremely low-power requirements. However, to achieve low distortion, the audio modulator is usually complex and power hungry.
The Possibility of Life After Death

What I shall call ‘the ordinary Christian view of life after death’, namely, the belief that after persons die, their souls go to some kind of spiritual abode (‘Heaven’, ‘Hell’ or ‘Purgatory’, depending on God's Judgement), has come in for a great deal of criticism in recent years. Opponents of the belief have been encouraged by the lack of evidence from the countless areas of scientific research and by the large numbers of philosophers (even Christian philosophers) who claim that a proper understanding of personal identity precludes any sort of hope of existence in a non-physical body.
The Foundation Coalition [engineering education]

In its first year of NSF support the Foundation Coalition has accomplished its major initial goals of developing and beginning implementation of first year, i.e., freshman, "Foundation Curricula" at each coalition site. These curricula are characterized by integration, active learning, and enabling technologies utilized against a backdrop of continuous improvement through assessment, evaluation, and dissemination. The synergism produced by combinations of these four parallel thrusts has already been demonstrated to produce significantly improved student performance. All activities are designed to mesh with the coalition-wide action plan, which focuses on creating systemic and systematic change in engineering education by starting with the freshman programs and progressing through upper-division curricula over the five-year period 1993-1998. This collaborative approach in which all members focus on changing the same part of the undergraduate curriculum at the same time is a natural extension of the team-based management philosophy which characterizes the Foundation Coalition at all levels from individual classrooms to coalition-wide budget reviews.
Trafficking of the transcription factor Nrf2 to promyelocytic leukemia-nuclear bodies: implications for degradation of NRF2 in the nucleus.

Ubiquitylation of Nrf2 by the Keap1-Cullin3/RING box1 (Cul3-Rbx1) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex targets Nrf2 for proteasomal degradation in the cytoplasm and is an extensively studied mechanism for regulating the cellular level of Nrf2. Although mechanistic details are lacking, reports abound that Nrf2 can also be degraded in the nucleus. Here, we demonstrate that Nrf2 is a target for sumoylation by both SUMO-1 and SUMO-2. HepG2 cells treated with As2O3, which enhances attachment of SUMO-2/3 to target proteins, increased SUMO-2/3-modification (polysumoylation) of Nrf2. We show that Nrf2 traffics, in part, to promyelocytic leukemia-nuclear bodies (PML-NBs). Cell fractions harboring key components of PML-NBs did not contain biologically active Keap1 but contained modified Nrf2 as well as RING finger protein 4 (RNF4), a poly-SUMO-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase. Overexpression of wild-type RNF4, but not the catalytically inactive mutant, decreased the steady-state levels of Nrf2, measured in the PML-NB-enriched cell fraction. The proteasome inhibitor MG-132 interfered with this decrease, resulting in elevated levels of polysumoylated Nrf2 that was also ubiquitylated. Wild-type RNF4 accelerated the half-life (t½) of Nrf2, measured in PML-NB-enriched cell fractions. These results suggest that RNF4 mediates polyubiquitylation of polysumoylated Nrf2, leading to its subsequent degradation in PML-NBs. Overall, this work identifies Nrf2 as a target for sumoylation and provides a novel mechanism for its degradation in the nucleus, independent of Keap1.
Spectrophotometric Determination of Magnesium in Blood Serum Using Magon

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of serum magnesium using Magon, 1-azo-2-hydroxy-3- (2,4-dimethylcarboxanilido) naphthalene- 1’- (2-hydroxybenzene), is presented. The serum is prepared by a nitric-perchloric acid digestion. Interfering phosphate is removed as aluminum phosphate. The colored complex is developed at pH 11.2 in an alcoholic medium and read at 505 mµ.
HISTORY AND APPLICATIONS OF PHASOR MEASUREMENTS

Synchronized phasor measurements are traced from their origins in computer relaying to present applications in power system operation, protection, and control. The principle behind the measurement technique is reviewed along with the details of phasor measurement units (PMUs). Two IEEE standards, applicable to PMU technology, the 'COMTRADE' standard, and the 'SYNCHROPHASOR' standards are summarized. Applications of PMUs to state estimation, measurement based control, adaptive protection, and a new generation of remedial action schemes are described
Reexamining the Role of Recasts in Native-Speaker/Nonnative-Speaker Interactions

This study examines the occurrence and use of recasts in adult native-speaker/nonnative-speaker interactions in a nonclassroom setting. The study focuses on native-speaker recasts in three types of negotiations: one-signal negotiated interactions, extended negotiated interactions (Pica, 1988), and nonnegotiated interactions, and on recasts in response to nonnative speaker levels of grammaticality (single vs. multiple errors) resulting from four conversation tasks. The results show that recasts occur in different patterns than those reported in earlier research, but that these recasts are nevertheless used at rates consistent with previous research. These findings raise questions concerning current criteria for determining the existence of negative evidence in patterns that can be used by learners.
Moral luck and moral insurance

Il semble injuste, a la reflexion, de blâmer les agents pour les mauvaises consequences non voulues de leurs actions. Le present article montre au contraire que la pratique de blâmer les agents d'une facon differente en raison de circonstances pourtant fortuites est bel et bien juste apres tout. Si les agents agissent de maniere impeccable, ils prennent une «assurance morale» contre la malchance et se mettent ainsi a l'abri de tout blâme relatif aux consequences non voulues de leurs actions. Mais s'ils agissent mal, ils renoncent a cette assurance morale et s'exposent ainsi a etre blâmes pour ces mauvaises consequences non voulues. Le fait que les agents qui agissent mal renoncent intentionnellement a leur assurance justifie que nous les blâmions pour les mauvaises consequences non voulues de leurs actions.
Double inv(3)(q21q26.2) in acute myeloid leukemia is resulted from an acquired copy neutral loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 3q and associated with disease progression.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with inv(3)(q21q26.2)/t(3;3)(q21;q26.2) is a distinct clinicopathologic entity with a poor prognosis. However, double inv(3)(q21q26.2) is extremely rare in AML. We report here 3 cases analyzed by oligonucleotide microarray comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Clinicopathologic, cytogenetic and molecular findings were correlated with clinical outcome to better understand the entity. The study group included one man and two women at 56–74 years of age. The AML arose from myelodysplastic syndrome in one patient and from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in another patient. Monosomy 7 was found as additional cytogenetic finding in one patient. One patient had a single inv(3) in the initial clone and acquired double inv(3) as part of clonal evolution. EVI1 (MECOM) rearrangement was confirmed using metaphase/interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Microarray (aCGH + SNP) data analysis revealed that the double inv(3) was a result of acquiring copy neutral loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 3q: arr[hg19] 3q13.21q29(10,344,387–197,802,470)x2 hmz, spanning ~ 94.3 Mb in size. Mutational profiling showed a PTPN11 mutation at a low level (~10 %) in one patient and wild type FLT3 and RAS in all patients. No patients achieved cytogenetic remission and all died with an overall survival (OS) of 23, 12 and 5 months, respectively. Double inv(3) is a result of acquired copy neutral loss of heterozygosity, a somatic repair event occurring as a part of mitotic recombination of the partial chromosome 3q. The double inv(3) in AML patients is highly associated with a rapid disease progression.
TEACHING MORAL CHARACTER: TWO ALTERNATIVES FOR TEACHER EDUCATION

Debating whether or not teachers should teach values addresses the wrong question. Education already is a values-infused enterprise. The larger question is how to train teachers for positive character formation. Two teacher education strategies are presented in this article. A “minimalist” strategy requires teacher educators to make explicit the hidden moral education curriculum and to reveal the inextricable linkage between best practice instruction and moral character outcomes. The “maximalist” approach requires preservice teachers to master a tool kit of pedagogical strategies that target moral character directly as a curricular goal. To this end, the Integrative Ethical Education model outlines five steps for moral character development: supportive climate, ethical skills, apprenticeship instruction, self-regulation, and adopting a developmental systems approach.
Charge optimization for a triangular-shaped etched micro heat pipe

An analytical model considered to be the first analytical micro heat pipe model to predict the capillary limit of operation as well as the radius of curvature in the evaporator section and the optimal value of liquid charge was developed for a triangular-shaped, etched micro heat pipe. This model predicted optimal liquid prime values between 16-25% for various power levels and also indicated an optimal charge value which would not exceed 25%. Micro heat pipe arrays with liquid prime values ranging from 10 to 50% were used. The model was validated by comparing the predicted values of maximum heat transport capacity with experimental data at various liquid fill ratios. Although the model correctly predicted the trends associated with the variations in the fill ratio, significant differences were evident in the predicted and measured dryout level. 8 refs.
Transmission coupling mechanisms: cultural group selection

The application of phylogenetic methods to cultural variation raises questions about how cultural adaption works and how it is coupled to cultural transmission. Cultural group selection is of particular interest in this context because it depends on the same kinds of mechanisms that lead to tree-like patterns of cultural variation. Here, we review ideas about cultural group selection relevant to cultural phylogenetics. We discuss why group selection among multiple equilibria is not subject to the usual criticisms directed at group selection, why multiple equilibria are a common phenomena, and why selection among multiple equilibria is not likely to be an important force in genetic evolution. We also discuss three forms of group competition and the processes that cause populations to shift from one equilibrium to another and create a mutation-like process at the group level.