cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glutamate is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the Drosophila olfactory system

Glutamatergic neurons are abundant in the Drosophila central nervous system, but their physiological effects are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of glutamate in the Drosophila antennal lobe, the first relay in the olfactory system and a model circuit for understanding olfactory processing. In the antennal lobe, one-third of local neurons are glutamatergic. Using in vivo whole-cell patch clamp recordings, we found that many glutamatergic local neurons are broadly tuned to odors. Iontophoresed glutamate hyperpolarizes all major cell types in the antennal lobe, and this effect is blocked by picrotoxin or by transgenic RNAi-mediated knockdown of the GluClα gene, which encodes a glutamate-gated chloride channel. Moreover, antennal lobe neurons are inhibited by selective activation of glutamatergic local neurons using a nonnative genetically encoded cation channel. Finally, transgenic knockdown of GluClα in principal neurons disinhibits the odor responses of these neurons. Thus, glutamate acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the antennal lobe, broadly similar to the role of GABA in this circuit. However, because glutamate release is concentrated between glomeruli, whereas GABA release is concentrated within glomeruli, these neurotransmitters may act on different spatial and temporal scales. Thus, the existence of two parallel inhibitory transmitter systems may increase the range and flexibility of synaptic inhibition.
An in situ method of creating metal oxide–carbon composites and their application as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Transition metal oxides are actively investigated as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and their nanocomposites with carbon frequently show better performance in galvanostatic cycling studies, compared to the pristine metal oxide. An in situ, scalable method for creating a variety of transition metal oxide–carbon nanocomposites has been developed based on free-radical polymerization and cross-linking of poly(acrylonitrile) in the presence of the metal oxide precursor containing vinyl groups. The approach yields a cross-linked polymer network, which uniformly incorporates nanometre-sized transition metal oxide particles. Thermal treatment of the organic–inorganic hybrid material produces nearly monodisperse metal oxide nanoparticles uniformly embedded in a porous carbon matrix. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling electrochemical measurements in a lithium half-cell are used to evaluate the electrochemical properties of a Fe3O4–carbon composite created using this approach. These measurements reveal that when used as the anode in a lithium battery, the material exhibits stable cycling performance at both low and high current densities. We further show that the polymer/nanoparticle copolymerization approach can be readily adapted to synthesize metal oxide/carbon nanocomposites based on different particle chemistries for applications in both the anode and cathode of LIBs.
Monuments and Texts: Antiquarianism and the Beauty of Antiquity

Maria Grazia Lolla has published articles in English and Italian on various aspects of antiquarianism, aesthetics and eighteenth–century culture, as well as on Caribbean poetry and literature. She received her PhD from the University of Cambridge, has been awarded fellowships from the British Council and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has held research fellowships at the Wesleyan University Center for the Humanities and the Huntington Library. Now at work on Rivers Unknown to Song: Antiquarian Explorations of the East and West Indies, she is an adjunct professor at New York University. From the beginning of the Renaissance antiquaries had been publishing monuments at such a pace that publishing as much as collecting or studying monuments could be counted amongst the defining features of antiquarianism. However widely and routinely practised, the publication of monuments revealed substantial divisions within the world of antiquarianism. Antiquaries were faced with the choice of either textualizing monuments – turning monuments from visual or tactile objects into reading material – or attempting to reproduce their materiality – even if the monument was a text. The paper analyses Johann Joachim Winckelmann’s Monumenti antichi inediti (1767) as a significant example of the former and the discussion concerning the publication of Domesday Book that took place in the rooms of the London Society of Antiquaries in 1768 as a compelling example of the latter. Juxtaposed to one another, Monumenti antichi inediti and the projected facsimile of the Domesday Book provide mutually revealing accounts of the aesthetic and intellectual complexities of eighteenth–century antiquarian practice. Where Winckelmann patently sought to rid monuments of their materiality in an effort, perhaps, to nobilitate antiquarianism – while nevertheless keeping it in a suitably ancillary position to literature – the fellows of the Society of Antiquaries chose the facsimile as the vehicle of preservation and transmission best suited to conveying their admiration of texts as material objects, indeed, as non–representational art. As necessarily (and self–consciously) imperfect attempts to reproduce original monuments, facsimiles provide both a marker of deep scepticism about the possibility of ever really knowing the past and a precious trace of past versions of the past – of what could be seen and deemed worthy of preservation, scholarly investigation and aesthetic appreciation.
Development of serum-free culture systems for human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells, because of their unique combination of long-term self-renewal properties and pluripotency, are providing new avenues of investigation of stem cell biology and human development and show promise in providing a new source of human cells for transplantation therapies and pharmaceutical testing. Current methods of propagating these cells using combinations of mouse fibroblast feeder cultures and bovine serum components are inexpensive and, in general, useful. However, the systematic investigation of the regulation of self-renewal and the production of safer sources of cells for transplantation depends on the elimination of animal products and the use of defined culture conditions. Both goals are served by the development of serum-free culture methods for human embryonic stem cells.
Unification-based pointer analysis with directional assignments

This paper describes a new algorithm for flow and context insensitive pointer analysis of C programs. Our studies show that the most common use of pointers in C programs is in passing the addresses of composite objects or updateable values as arguments to procedures. Therefore, we have designed a low-cost algorithm that handles this common case accurately. In terms of both precision and running time, this algorithm lies between Steensgaard's algorithm, which treats assignments bi-directionally using unification, and Andersen's algorithm, which treats assignments directionally using subtyping. Our “one level flow” algorithm uses a restricted form of subtyping to avoid unification of symbols at the top levels of pointer chains in the points-to graph, while using unification elsewhere in the graph. The method scales easily to large programs. For instance, we are able to analyze a 1.4 MLOC (million lines of code) program in two minutes, using less than 200MB of memory. At the same time, the precision of our algorithm is very close to that of Andersen's algorithm. On all of the integer benchmark programs from SPEC95, the one level flow algorithm and Andersen's algorithm produce either identical or essentially identical points-to information. Therefore, we claim that our algorithm provides a method for obtaining precise flow-insensitive points-to information for large C programs.
Representative Image Thumbnails for Good Browsing

Image thumbnails are commonly used for selecting images for display, sharing or printing. Standard thumbnails, generated with current techniques, do not distinguish between high and low quality originals. Both sharp and blurry originals appear sharp in the thumbnails, and both clean and noisy originals appear clean in the thumbnails. This leads to errors and inefficiencies during image selection. In this paper, thumbnails generated using image analysis better represent the local blur and the noise of the originals. The new thumbnails provide a quick, natural way for users to identify images of good quality, while allowing the viewer's knowledge to select desired subject matter. Computer simulations with added blur and noise show the new thumbnails better represent images of differing qualities. Validation of these findings is found in a subjective evaluation reported elsewhere but summarized below.
A Cognitivist’s View of the Units Debate in Cultural Anthropology:

This article explores some of the implications of the current ideational definition of culture. If culture consists of shared ideas, then the findings of cognitive psychology concerning the limits of shortterm memory necessarily constrain the size and complexity of cultural units. Wierzbicka’s universal linguistic primes or primitives would then be the atomic units of culture. Although this approach has much to recommend it, problems remain concerning the relation of cultural ideas to their physical manifestations in artifacts and actions, and a classification of the kinds of relations cultural ideas have to their physical manifestations is presented. Finally, the notion that the collection of cultural items held by the members of a society form any kind of entity is critiqued, and the argument is made that there is just one common culture for all humans.
Variational principle for obtaining approximate analytical solutions of the temperature‐perturbed Thomas–Fermi equation for compressed atoms

A temperature correction to the Thomas–Fermi (TF) model of a neutral compressed atom has been given by Marshak and Bethe. The aim of the present work is to point out that, by formulating a variational principle, one may obtain approximate analytical solutions of the temperature-perturbed TF equation. As a test of the proposed theory, the total energy of a Ne atom, confined to a spherical container, has been calculated as a function of the container radius at T = 0°K. Comparison of the data obtained with energy values calculated by Ludena, using a self-consistent-field Hartree–Fock approach, shows reasonable agreement. It is, therefore, concluded that the variational approach suggested in this paper is a sound one.
Distributing Time-Synchronous Phasor Measurement Data Using the GridStat Communication Infrastructure

The emergence of phasor measurement units (PMUs) coupled with GPS time devices makes it feasible to directly compare timestamped measurements collected at different locations without needing to account for clock drift. GridStat is a flexible publish-subscribe status dissemination middleware framework with capabilities that include rate-filtered multicast for each subscription. In this paper we explore GridStat's ability to hide the complexities of distributed systems from application developers while efficiently providing time-synchronous groups of PMU data from physically disparate locations.
Fe substitution for Al in glauconite with increasing diagenesis in the first Wilcox sandstone (lower Eocene), Livingston Parish, Louisiana

Glauconites in early ankerite concretions, ferroan calcite-cemented sandstones, and unce- mented sandstones in the first Wilcox sandstone of the Lockhart Crossing field, Livingston Parish, Lou- isiana, show a progressive substitution of Fe for octahedral A1 with increasing diagenesis. An octahedral Fe content of 0.50 atoms was calculated from glauconite located in early ankeritic concretions. Octahedral Fe averaged 0.60 and 0.90 atoms in later ferroan calcite-cemented sandstone and uncemented sandstone, respectively. Corresponding octahedral AI averages were 1.16, 1.03, and 0.67, respectively. A systematic increase in average interlayer K from 0.49 to 0.54 to 0.61 was also observed, with apparent increases in diagenesis. All element determinations were made with an electron microprobe and recast on an anion equivalent basis to structural formulae based on the O jo(OH)2 unit. The clay preserved in the early ankerite concretions was found to be an illite/smectite containing about 20% expandable layers, and the mineral in the glauconite pellets from uncemented areas of the sandstone, an ordered glauconite. "Minus cement" porosities of the sandstone indicate that glauconitization may have taken place at burial depths greater than 0.6 to 1.8 km, but the mechanism for the incorporation of Fe 3§ in the glauconite at that depth is not apparent.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Plasma Lipoprotein Levels in an Autoimmune Mouse Model Interactions Between Lipoprotein Metabolism, Autoimmune Disease, and Atherogenesis

The autoimmune MRL/lpr mouse strain, a model for systemic lupus erythematosus, exhibited an unusual plasma lipoprotein profile, suggesting a possible interaction of autoimmune disease and lipoprotein metabolism. In an effort to examine the genetic basis of such interactions, and to study their relationship to atherogenesis, we performed a quantitative trait locus analysis using a total of 272 (MRL/lprxBALB/cJ) second generation (F2) intercross mice. These mice were examined for levels of total plasma cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL and LDL cholesterol, unesterified cholesterol, autoantibodies, and aortic fatty streak lesions. Using a genome scan approach, we identified 4 quantitative trait loci controlling plasma lipoprotein levels on chromosomes (Chrs) 5, 8, 15, and 19. The locus on Chr 15 exhibited lod scores of 11.1 for total cholesterol and 6.7 for VLDL and LDL cholesterol in mice fed an atherogenic diet, and it contains a candidate gene, the sterol regulatory element binding protein-2. The locus on Chr 5 exhibited lod scores of 3.8 for total cholesterol and 4.1 for unesterified cholesterol in mice fed an atherogenic diet, and this locus has been observed in 2 previous studies. The locus on Chr 8 exhibited a lod score of 3.1 for unesterified cholesterol in mice fed a chow diet. This locus contains the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase gene, and decreased activity of the enzyme in the MRL strain suggests that this gene underlies the quantitative-trait locus. The locus on Chr 19 exhibited a lod score of 8.4 for HDL cholesterol and includes the Fas gene, which is mutated in MRL/lpr mice and is primarily responsible for the autoimmune phenotype in this cross. That the Fas gene is responsible for the HDL quantitative-trait loci is supported by the finding that autoantibody levels were strongly correlated with HDL cholesterol levels (rho=-0.37, P<0.0001) among the F2 mice. HDL cholesterol levels were in turn significantly associated with aortic fatty streak lesions among the F2 mice (rho=-0.17, P=0.006). Further, there was a threshold effect of autoantibody levels on the development of fatty streak lesions (rho=0.45, P=0.004 for 42 F2 mice with anti-dsDNA Ab over 0.5 OD). Our results support the concept that the high prevalence of coronary artery disease in systemic lupus erythematosus is due in part to a reduction of HDL cholesterol levels resulting from the autoimmune disease.
Energy transfer through a dissociated diatomic gas in Couette flow

The transfer of energy through a dissociated diatomic gas in Couette flow is considered, taking oxygen as a numerical example. The two extremes of chemical equilibrium flow and chemically frozen flow are dealt with in detail, and it is shown that the surface reaction rate is of prime importance in the latter case. The chemical rate equations in the gas phase are used to estimate the probable chemical state of the gas mixture, this being deduced from the ratio of a characteristic chemical reaction time to a characteristic time for atom diffusion across the layer. The influence of the surface reaction appears to spread outwards through the flow from the wall as gas-phase chemical reaction times decrease. For practical values of the surface reaction rate on a metallic wall, the energy transfer rate may be significantly lower in chemically frozen flow than in chemical equilibrium flow under otherwise similar circumstances.Similar phenomena to those discussed will arise in the more complicated case of boundary layer flows, so that a treatment of the simpler type of shear layer represented by Couette flow may be of some value in assessing the relative importance of the various parameters.
Risk Factors for Patients With Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases Following Radical Cystectomy With En Bloc Pelvic Lymphadenectomy: The Concept of Lymph Node Density

ABSTRACTPurpose: We evaluated the clinical outcomes and risk factors for progression in a large cohort of patients with lymph node metastases following en bloc radical cystectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy.Materials and Methods: From July 1971 through December 1997, 1,054 patients underwent radical cystectomy and bilateral pelvic-iliac lymphadenectomy for high grade, invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Of these patients 244 (23%) with a median age of 66 years (range 36 to 90) had pathological lymph node metastases. Overall 139 of the 244 patients (57%) received some form of chemotherapy. At a median followup of greater than 10 years (range 0 to 28) outcomes data were analyzed in univariate analysis according to tumor grade, carcinoma in situ, primary bladder tumor stage, pathological subgroups, total number of lymph nodes removed and involved with tumor, and lymph node density (total number of positive lymph nodes/total number removed). In addition, the form of urinary diversion...
Essentialist thinking predicts decrements in children's memory for racially ambiguous faces.

Past research shows that adults often display poor memory for racially-ambiguous and racial outgroup faces, with both face types remembered worse than own-race faces. The present study examined whether children also show this pattern of results. It also examined whether emerging essentialist thinking about race predicts their memory for faces. Seventy-four White children (ages 4–9) completed a face-memory task comprised of White, Black, and racially-ambiguous Black/White faces. Essentialist thinking about race was also assessed (i.e., thinking of race as immutable and biologically based). White children who used essentialist thinking showed the same bias as White adults—they remembered White faces significantly better than ambiguous and Black faces. However, children who did not use essentialist thinking remembered both White and racially-ambiguous faces significantly better than Black faces. This finding suggests a specific shift in racial thinking wherein the boundaries between racial groups become more discrete, highlighting the importance of how race is conceptualized in judgments of racially-ambiguous individuals.
Carbon Nanotube - Silicon Heterojunction Hyperspectral Photocurrent Response

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been studied intensively for explorations of their unique electrical and mechanic properties in many applications. However, direct and functional integration of carbon nanotubes with silicon to form an electronically functional structure or device has remained a great challenge. Whereas vertically aligned bundles of nanotubes have been grown previously on silicon, the integration is mechanical, rather than electronical, in nature and the application of such mechanical integration is rather limited. In this work, we report on electronically functional integration of carbon nanotube with silicon, i.e., the formation of an electronic heterojunction by controlled growth of vertical and highly ordered array of ‘carbon nanotube - silicon’ (CNTS) heterojunctions of uniform diameter, length, and alignment. Moreover, we examine it as a hyperspectral photodiode. From the measured spectral dependence of the photocurrent, one may also extract the band gap of the nanotubes, which we find to be in agreement with that determined from conductance measurements. Mechanism of the infrared photocurrent response is elucidated by the current-voltage (I-V) and radiation intensity-photoresponse measurements. The linear intensity dependence of the photoresponse in the absorption ranges of Silicon and CNTs and the measured I-V characteristics all suggest that the photocurrent responses corresponding to the Silicon and CNT bands both originate from the intrinsic functionality of the heterojunction.
Laparoscopic Lavage for Hinchey Grade III Sigmoid Diverticulitis

Laparoscopic lavage has emerged as a possible non-resection treatment option for patients with purulent peritonitis from diverticulitis. This article critically reviews the laparoscopic lavage literature and offers a recommendation regarding the use of lavage in the management of patients with diverticulitis.
The recovery of intestine after ischaemic injury.

A reproducible model of reversible segmental ischaemia was used to evaluate methods of predicting intestinal viability after the release of strangulation. Visual assessment in the immediate period after reperfusion and at ‘second-look’ 24 hours later was inaccurate in identifying recoverable bowel. A Doppler probe used to detect the return of pulsatile blood flow was overpredictive of necrosis. The pattern of surface fluorescence after injection of the supravital dye fluorescein increased the accuracy of predicting intestinal recovery. A series of silicone rubber injections was carried out to investigate whether the patency of the microvessels influenced the outcome. It was shown that as the ischaemic period increased there was progressive failure of the microcirculation. It was concluded that the fluorescein injection test correctly identifies recoverable bowel and that the outcome after ischaemic injury is related to microvascular patency.
Sun‐Orientation and Homing in Fishes1

The white bass, Roccus chrysops, has two principal spawning grounds 1.6 km apart on the northern shore of Lake Mendota. Fish displaced from these spawning grounds return faithfully to their respective spawning sites, and of 1366 fish marked and displaced to midlake, a distance of 2.4 km, 181 were recaptured in fyke nets and less than 9% erred by being recaptured at the net on the other spawning ground. Fish released at the spawning ground were not recaptured in greater percentage than those displaced and released in mid-lake. Fish to which floats were attached for direct tracing moved generally north from the center of the lake when released on clear days. Moreover, fish released between the two spawning grounds also moved north on clear days. On cloudy days, however, or if blinded witheyecaps, they moved at random. Unexplained is how they differentiate between the two spawning areas; apparently it is by means other than with the aid of the sun. A laboratory analysis of the sun-compass mechanism was made. An immature specimen of Lepomis macrochirus was trained, at a specific time of day, to find cover in one of sixteen boxes of a circular tank. When trained, the fish entered the training box in a consistent compass-direction at any time of day. Under an overcast sky the choices were completely unoriented. When tested under an artificial sun, (light bulb), this fish responded as though it were the real sun, at that time of day and sought cover in the “artificial” diiection, reaffirming the presence of a biological clock. White bass were also successfully trained to a compass-direction under the natural sun. Lepomis gibbosus was tested with another method. It too has a sun-compass mechanism. These field and laboratory experiments suggest strongly that the sun serves as the point of reference, and that the animal compensates for its movement by a biological chronometer.
Acute Lead Toxicosis in Mourning Doves

Previous research has suggested that free-ranging mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) may ingest spent lead pellets, succumb to lead toxicosis, and die in a relatively short time (i.e., an acute lead toxicosis hypothesis). We tested this hypothesis by administering 157 captive mourning doves 2–24 lead pellets, monitoring pellet retention and short-term survival, and measuring related physiological characteristics. During the 19- to 21-day posttreatment period, 104 doves that received lead pellets died (deceased doves) and 53 survived (survivors); all 22 birds in a control group survived. Within 24-hr of treatment, blood lead levels increased almost twice as fast for deceased doves compared to survivors (F1,208 = 55.49; P < 0.001). During the first week, heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratios increased twice as fast for deceased doves than with survivors (F1,198 = 23.14, P < 0.001). Posttreatment survival differed (χ2 = 37.4, P < 0.001) among the 5 groups of doves that retained different numbers of pellets, and survival ranged from 0.57 (95% CI: 0.44–0.74) for doves that retained ≤2 lead pellets 2 days posttreatment compared to 0.08 (95% CI: 0.022–0.31) for those doves that retained 13–19 lead pellets on 2 days posttreatment; significant differences existed among the 5 groups. After controlling for dove pretreatment body mass, each additional lead pellet increased the hazard of death by 18.0% (95% CI: 1.132–1.230, P < 0.001) and 25.7% (95% CI: 1.175–1.345, P < 0.001) for males and females, respectively. For each 1-g increase in pretreatment body mass, the hazard of death decreased 2.5% (P = 0.04) for males and 3.8% (P = 0.02) for females. Deceased doves had the highest lead levels in liver (49.20 ± 3.23 ppm) and kidney (258.16 ± 21.85 ppm) tissues, whereas controls showed the lowest levels (liver, 0.08 ± 0.041 ppm; kidney, 0.17 ± 0.10 ppm). For doves dosed with pellets, we observed simultaneous increases in blood lead levels and H:L ratios, whereas packed-cell volume (PCV) values declined. Our results support an acute lead toxicosis hypothesis. Although further research is necessary to investigate the magnitude of lead shot ingestion and toxicosis in mourning doves, we recommend that management agencies initiate development of a long-term strategic plan aimed at implementing a nontoxic shot regulation for mourning dove hunting.
Packing Changes and Liquefaction Susceptibility

The purpose of this note is to examine, with the aid of a particular model, packing changes that occur during cyclic straining of sands that influence liquefaction susceptibility
A Plate Bending Elasto-Plastic Equivalent Grid Finite Element

A bridge analysis computer program BRANDE IV (McCarthy, White, Minor 1980) was developed as an instrument for the limit analysis of a bridge superstructure. BRANDE IV provides an elastoplastic analysis which incorporates a convenient data format and reduced input work requirements. The program is readily adaptable to both continuous slabs and slab over girder-diaphragm networks. The program incorporates an elasto-plastic finite element analysis of plates as the primary component of the limit analysis procedure.
Impact of Singapore's importers on life-cycle assessment of concrete

Abstract Singapore consumes large volumes of concrete to sustain its growth in construction. To comply with its Green Mark Scheme, it is necessary for Singapore to take action in consuming concrete products with lower carbon footprint. This study quantifies and suggests alternatives for reducing the embodied energy and environmental impacts of cement and aggregate consumption in concrete products being utilized in Singapore. A cradle-to-gate life-cycle assessment methodology is considered to quantify the life-cycle inventory of cement and aggregates based on the current trading volumes of these concrete materials imported to Singapore. The cradle-to-gate system boundary includes raw materials extraction, production processes, and transportation of raw materials to production facilities as well as transportation of end-products (cement and aggregates) from the production facility in the importing country to the Port of Singapore. Geographical system boundary covers the neighboring countries that export cement and aggregates to Singapore. Life-cycle inventory results include an inventory of environmental exchanges (energy as input and major air emissions as output) for the functional unit within the defined product system. In this study, results are first demonstrated as per unit weight of cement and aggregate imported to Singapore. Following the calculation of life-cycle inventory results per unit weight of cement and aggregates, embodied energy and global warming potential of a concrete mix normalized with respect to strength are compared for two scenarios. The first scenario represents the Singapore's current trading volumes while the second one is based on cement and aggregate imports from Malaysia which due to its close proximity to Singapore and efficient production technologies and greener fuel mixes results in a reduction in both global and regional impacts compared to the Singapore's current trading conditions. By importing cement and aggregates from Malaysia instead of the current trading conditions global warming potential and embodied energy of a high-strength concrete mix can be reduced by 11% and 31%, respectively.
Lessons from genetically altered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): candidates for improved MSC-directed myocardial repair.

The regenerative and reparative potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) make them attractive candidates for numerous cell-directed therapies. The variant degree of tissue repair by transplanted ...
Using Low Cost Sensors to Measure Ambient Particulate Matter Concentrations and On-Road Emissions Factors

Abstract. Air quality is a growing public concern in both developed and developing countries, as is the public interest in having information on air pollutant concentrations within their communities. Quantifying the spatial and temporal variability of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is of particular importance due to the well-defined health impacts associated with PM2.5. This work evaluates a number of select PM sensors (Shinyei: models PPD42NS, PPD20V, PPD60PV) under a variety of ambient conditions and locations including urban background and roadside sites in Atlanta, GA, as well as a location with substantially higher ambient concentrations in Hyderabad, India. Low cost sensor measurements were compared against reference monitors at all locations. On-road emissions factors were calculated at the Atlanta site by pairing PM2.5 and separately determined black carbon (BC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) measurements. On-road emission factors can vary in different locations and over time for a number of reasons, including vehicle fleet composition and driving patterns and behaviors, and current environmental policy. Emission factors can provide valuable information to inform researchers, citizens, and policy makers. The PPD20V sensors had the highest correlation with the reference environmental beta attenuation monitor (E-BAM) with R2 values above 0.80 at the India site while at the urban background site, the PPD60PV had the highest correlation with the tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) with an R2 value of 0.30. At the roadside site, only the PPD20V was used, with an R2 value against the TEOM of 0.18. Emissions factors at the roadside site were calculated as 0.39 ± 0.10 g PM2.5 per kg fuel and 0.11 ± 0.01g BC per kg fuel, which compare well with other studies and estimates based on other instruments. The results of this work show the potential usefulness of these sensors for high concentration applications in developing countries and for their use in generating emissions factors.
Survey of resident education in intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has been gaining increasing popularity among practicing physicians in the U.S., but the extent to which radiation oncology residents are taught the principles of this technology and are trained to use IMRT remains unknown. In this paper, we assessed the current level of resident education in IMRT in the United States.Chief residents at all 77 accredited radiation oncology programs were sent a 13-question survey addressing formal didactics and hands-on experience in IMRT. The survey assessed the frequency, subject, and format of IMRT didactics. Questions also addressed the number of IMRT patients and anatomical sites treated, resident involvement in the IMRT process, and the intent of IMRT use. Finally, residents were asked for their opinions on their IMRT education.Sixty-one surveys (79%) were completed. Overall, forty-three respondents (71%) reported receiving formal IMRT didactics, with nearly one-third reporting extensive didactics (≥ 3 lectures/seminars et ...
Vacancy Ordering in the Basal Plane of YB2Cu3Oz

The ordering in the Cu-O basal plane of the high Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3Oz is investigated. Asymmetric pairwise interactions between nearest and next nearest neighbors are assumed. Ordering instabilities in two-dimensional k-space are mapped out as a function of the interactions and the ordered ground state superstructures consisting of occupied and empty oxygen sites are determined. A temperature-composition phase diagram is calculated by means of the Cluster Variation Method. The thermodynamic behavior of the superconducting compound is discussed in the light of these results.
Growth of Thin Epitaxial Silicon Layers on Heavily Doped Substrates by RTP-CVD

Silicon epitaxy plays an important role in improving the performance and reliability of semiconductor devices. The continuous scale-down in device feature size demands a low thermal budget epitaxial technique to maintain the structural integrity of processed devices. In this paper, rapid thermal processing chemical vapor deposition (RTP-CVD) has been used to deposit high quality, thin silicon epitaxial films with superior thickness control. Parameters affecting the quality and rate of epitaxial growth are discussed.
The Academy Color Encoding System: Standards for Digital Image Interchange, Color Management and Long-Term Archiving

The Academy Color Encoding System, known as ACES, was released to the industry in December 2014 as a production-ready suite of technical standards, best practices, and support tools. Developed and tested by equipment manufacturers, facilities, and filmmakers over the past 11 years, ACES is intended to be the standard digital production infrastructure that enables the industry to take full advantage of new high-dynamic-range and wide color gamut capture, processing, and display technologies. This paper reviews the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standards that are the foundation for ACES and how these standards are used in practice today, and discusses the road map for standardizing ACES transforms, metadata, and additional color encodings.
Lexisnexis® Guide to FATCA Compliance: Chapter 1

The LexisNexis® Guide to FATCA Compliance provides a framework for meaningful interactions among enterprise stakeholders, and between the FATCA Compliance Officer and the FATCA advisors/vendors. Analysis of the complicated regulations, recognition of overlapping complex regime and intergovernmental agreement requirements (e.g. FATCA, Qualified Intermediary, source withholding, national and international information exchange, European Union tax information exchange, information confidentiality laws, money laundering prevention, risk management, and the application of an IGA) is balanced with substantive analysis and descriptive examples. The contributors hail from several countries and an offshore financial center and include attorneys, accountants, information technology engineers, and risk managers from large, medium and small firms and from large financial institutions. Thus, the challenges of the FATCA Compliance Officer are approached from several perspectives and contextual backgrounds. Several new contributing authors joined the FATCA Expert Contributor team this fourth edition. This fourth edition has been expanded by 19 new chapters and from a total of 54 to 73 chapters, with over 500 new pages of regulatory and compliance analysis based upon industry feedback of internal challenges with systems implementation. The previous 54 chapters have been substantially updated and expanded, including many more practical examples to assist a compliance officer contextualize the regulations, IGA provisions, and national rules enacted pursuant to an IGA. The new chapters include by example an in-depth analysis of designing a FATCA internal policy that is compliant with the initial two year soft enforcement initiative, designing an equivalent form to the W-8, reporting accounts, reporting payments, operational specificity of the mechanisms of information capture, management and exchange by firms and between countries, insights as to the application of FATCA and the IGAs within new BRIC and European country chapters, and a project management schedule for the compliance officer. This fourth edition will provide the financial enterprise's FATCA compliance officer the tools for developing and maintaining a best practices compliance strategy, starting with determining what information is needed for planning the meetings with outside FATCA experts. This Guide may be leveraged in combination with the tools for identification of U.S. indicia of LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
Effect of superoxide dismutase on hemorrhagic hypotension and retransfusion-evoked middle cerebral artery endothelial dysfunction.

UNLABELLED Middle cerebral artery rings (MCA) were prepared from control and hemorrhagic hypotension and retransfusion-subjected (HHR) cats, with or without superoxide dismutase (SOD) treatment. Two-mm-long MCA segments were suspended in organ chambers containing Krebs-Henseleit solution (37 degrees C, gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2) for isometric force measurements. HHR was produced by bleeding to 90, 70, and 50 mmHg MAP and maintained for 15 min at each level, followed by retransfusion. HHR resulted in a marked attenuation of the acetylcholine- and ATP-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations of the MCA in vitro. Relaxations induced by the nitric oxide (NO) donor SIN-1 remained unaltered. In vitro treatment of the vessels with SOD (150 U/ml), facilitated the acetylcholine-induced relaxations both in the control arteries and in the vessels after HHR. In the vessel rings from cats that received in vivo SOD (10 mg/kg initial bolus, followed by 0.1-mg/kg/min infusion) during HHR, cholinergic relaxations were more pronounced than in the HHR untreated cats. The ATP-induced relaxations, however, remained attenuated after SOD treatment, except for the highest dose (10(-5) M) that was applied. CONCLUSION Superoxide release attenuates the endothelium-dependent relaxation by acetylcholine both in control arteries and after HHR in vitro. The protective effect of in vivo SOD treatment on cerebrovascular endothelium-dependent reactivity in cats suggests that superoxide free radicals contribute to the development of the endothelium dysfunction in MCA rings after HHR.
“Stunning” of the left atrium after spontaneous conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm: Demonstration by transesophageal Doppler techniques in a canine model

Abstract Objectives. This study compared left atrial and left atrial appendage contraction velocities in sinus rhythm before and after a brief period of atrial fibrillation in a canine model. Background. In patients, left atrial appendage contraction velocities measured during sinus rhythm after cardioversion from atrial fibrillation are depressed relative to left atrial appendage emptying velocities measured during atrial fibrillation, suggesting that the left atrial appendage is mechanically “stunned.” Methods. This phenomenon was studied in a canine model of acute (60 min) pacing-induced atrial fibrillation followed by spontaneous reversion to sinus rhythm using epicardial and transesophageal pulsed wave Doppler. Unique features of the model include: 1) comparison of left atrial function postconversion to baseline sinus rhythm rather than to measurements during atrial fibrillation, 2) control of the duration of atrial fibrillation and 3) elimination of the extraneous influences of direct current shock and antiarrhythmic agents, which may independently depress left atrial function. Results. Hemodynamic conditions (heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, mean pulmonary artery pressure, mean right atrial pressure and mean left atrial pressure) at baseline, during 60 min of atrial fibrillation and after reversion to sinus rhythm were constant throughout the study period. Peak left atrial contraction velocities (measured from the transmitral flow velocity profile) were significantly (p Conclusions. Even brief (60 min) periods of atrial fibrillation in normal canine hearts result in marked depression of global left atrial systolic function and regional left atrial (left atrial appendage) systolic function upon resumption of sinus rhythm. This “mechanical stunning” of left atrial systolic function appears to be more profound and of longer duration for the left atrial appendage compared with the left atrium as a whole, which may predispose the appendage to blood stasis and thrombus formation. Chronic models of atrial fibrillation need to be developed to examine the impact of longer periods of atrial fibrillation upon the magnitude and duration of postconversion left atrial “stunning.”
When human rights become wrongs

Accepting the idea that we are biological machines can lead us down a dangerous path, finds John H. Evans
Differences Between Native and Non-native Chinese Speaking Teachers: Voices from Overseas Students Who Study Chinese in China

The majority of Chinese language teachers in China and overseas are Chinese native speakers. These native speaking teachers’ educational and cultural backgrounds are different than non-native Chinese speaking teachers. Studies have shown that teachers’ educational and cultural experiences influence their pedagogical decisions such as teaching beliefs, styles, and approaches. This chapter attempted to identify the teaching models Chinese native teachers use and document the Chinese models in practice by comparing the differences between native and non-native Chinese teachers from the students’ perceptions. A survey with 44 survey items and two open-ended questions regarding students’ perceptions of native and non-native Chinese teachers was used. The survey items with which the majority of the participants agreed or disagreed were presented and discussed. The answers of the open-ended questions were categorized into different themes and were used to further elaborate the participants’ opinions. The results showed that, from the perspectives of the participants, Chinese language teaching has some unique aspects, which can be attributed to traditional Chinese teaching concepts, such as the lecture teaching style and the belief of teachers as authority figures.
Detection of Ionospheric Perturbations Following an Earthquake with the Global Positioning System: Implications for Nuclear Tests Discrimination

Sources such as undergroung nuclear explosions and strong shallow earthquakes causing large vertical near-field displacement of the earth’s surface are known to excite atmospheric acoustic and gravity waves that propagate upward in the atmosphere. At ionospheric altitudes these waves are coupled to ionospheric gravity waves and induce variations in the ionospheric electron density. In this work, we used Global Positioning System (GPS) data and identify such an ionospheric perturbation after the January 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake (California, USA). We show that the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a valuable tool for detecting ionospheric perturbations and therefore has the potential for contributing to nuclear test discrimination.
Fertilizer Rate and Pot-In-Pot Production Increase Growth of Heritage River Birch

Abstract A study was conducted to compare the effects of three fertilizer rates [High N Southern Formula, 23N–1.7P–6.6K (23–4–8) at 1.3, 1.7, and 2.0 kg N/m3 (2.2, 2.8, and 3.4 lb N/yd3)] and two production systems [pot-in-pot (PIP) or conventional above-ground (CAG)] on the growth of Heritage river birch (Betula nigra L. ‘Cully’) in 26 liter (#7) containers. Plants grown PIP had greater shoot dry weight (20%), root dry weight (31%), total biomass (27%) and root:shoot ratios (12%). Increasing fertilizer rates increased shoot dry weights but decreased root:shoot ratios. Rate of fertilizer application influenced foliar Mg, Zn, and Fe while production system had no effect. The foliar P:Zn ratio increased linearly as rate of fertilizer increased. Soluble salts and NO3-N in the leachate increased linearly as rate of fertilizer increased at 15 and 60 days after application (DAA), whereas the response was curvilinear at 120 DAA. When different, nutrient concentrations in the leachate were greater for plants grow...
The Professional Development of Pre-service Teachers in an Integrated Science and Language Acquisition Curriculum with Third-Grade Students

The purpose of this chapter is to report on a 3-day classroom professional development study that integrated science and second-language learning for ten preservice teachers. The professional development was based on sociocultural theories of learning, language-acquisition theories, scientific inquiry methodologies, and professional development principles. The 3-day professional development included a morning session in a third-grade dual-language classroom where the university instructor first modeled a unit on luminous energy with the third graders. In the two subsequent mornings, the preservice teachers and the university instructor co-taught the third-grade students. In the afternoons, the preservice teachers participated in discussions and analyses of the instructional practices and learning opportunities third graders experienced. Preservice teachers also helped prepare the instructional materials that included the science inquiry projects for the next days’ lessons. The results of the questionnaires and interviews revealed that preservice teachers learned about accommodating their future instruction for bilingual learners and learned about light energy. It is concluded that professional development situated in both an elementary classroom and in a university classroom provides preservice teachers opportunities to learn about the complexity of curriculum integration of science and language acquisition with specific experiences for accommodating curricula to language learners.
Fatigue in Type 2 Diabetes: Impact on Quality of Life and Predictors.

Fatigue is a persistent symptom, impacting quality of life (QoL) and functional status in people with type 2 diabetes, yet the symptom of fatigue has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between fatigue, QoL functional status and to investigate the predictors of fatigue. These possible predictors included body mass index (BMI), Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), sleep quality, pain, number of complications from diabetes, years since diagnosis and depression. Forty-eight individuals with type 2 diabetes (22 females, 26 males; 59.66±7.24 years of age; 10.45 ±7.38 years since diagnosis) participated in the study. Fatigue was assessed by using Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). Other outcomes included: QoL (Audit of Diabetes Dependent QoL), and functional status (6 minute walk test), BMI, HbA1c, sleep (Pittsburg sleep quality index, PSQI), pain (Visual Analog Scale), number of complications, years since diagnosis, and depression (Beck’s depression Inventory-2). The Pearson correlation analysis followed by multivariable linear regression model was used. Fatigue was negatively related to quality of life and functional status. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed sleep, pain and BMI as the independent predictors of fatigue signaling the presence of physiological (sleep, pain, BMI) phenomenon that could undermine health outcomes.