cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decontamination of drinking water using a pulsed spark plasma discharge

This paper presents experiments conducted using a high voltage pulsed spark plasma discharge having the following parameters: peak-to-peak voltage 25 kV, peak-to-peak current 400 A, pulse duration 1.8 mus, frequency 1-50 Hz and energy per pulse 2 J. This study demonstrates that a rather low energy input of 75 J/L of water is required to obtain a one-log reduction in Escherichia coli concentration. It was also found that water treated with plasma has a prolonged resistance to E. coli even hours after treatment. Similar work has been done by other researchers and attempts were made to understand the underlying mechanism.
Cytochrome P450s and other enzymes in drug metabolism and toxicity.

The cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are the major catalysts involved in the metabolism of drugs. bioavailability and toxicity are 2 of the most common barriers in drug development today, and P450 and the conjugation enzymes can influence these effects. The toxicity of drugs can be considered in 5 contexts: on-target toxicity, hypersensitivity and immunological reactions, off-target pharmacology, bioactivation to reactive intermediates, and idiosyncratic drug reactions. the chemistry of bioactivation is reasonably well understood, but the mechanisms underlying biological responses are not. In the article we consider what fraction of drug toxicity actually involves metabolism, and we examine how species and human interindividual variations affect pharmacokinetics and toxicity.
Terror Management in the Courtroom: Exploring the Effects of Mortality Salience on Legal Decision Making.

... When considering the powerful intimations of mortality an event like 9/11 could elicit, the legal ramifications can be quite disturbing. ... TMT research has explicated some of the cognitive and psychodynamic processes through which conscious and unconscious awareness of death impacts human social behavior (see Arndt, Cook, & Routledge, 2004; Pyszczynski, Greenberg, & Solomon, 1999 for reviews). ... Thus, on the surface, one would expect more punitive reactions to hate crime offenders when mortality is salient and people hear of a specific instance of a hate crime. ... The direction of bias instigated by thoughts of death would then depend on the nature of the juror's worldview. ... Whether a juror responds in a particular trial by upholding a legal process or by being more punitive or lenient toward a defendant can be understood as a function of the centrality of that domain to the person's belief system. ... First, recall that terror management findings have been obtained in a variety of countries, with a variety of participant populations (including actual municipal court judges), and with a variety of ecologically valid techniques of activating thoughts of death (e.g., prosecutors' statements, proximity to a funeral home) and measuring their effects. ... An existentialist view on mortality salience effects: Personal hardiness, death-thought accessibility, and cultural worldview defense. ...
PLEASURE AND TRUTH IN REPUBLIC 9

At Republic 9, 583b1–587a2, Socrates argues that the pleasure of the philosophical life is the truest pleasure. I will call this the ‘true pleasure argument’. The true pleasure argument is divisible into two parts: 583b1–585a7 and 585a8–587a2. Each part contains a sub-argument, which I will call ‘the misperception argument’ and ‘the true filling argument’ respectively. In the misperception argument Socrates argues that it is characteristic of irrational men to misperceive as pleasant what in fact is a condition of neither having pleasure nor being pained. In the true filling argument Socrates argues that in so far as pleasure entails somatic or psychic filling and there are more and less true fillings, there are more and less true pleasures. Philosophical filling is the truest filling and thus the truest pleasure. The misperception argument critically contributes to the true pleasure argument by clarifying what pleasure is not: merely an appearance (φαινόμeνον) or merely the absence of pain. The misperception argument thereby clears the ground for the constructive contribution of the true filling argument.
Applied linguists without borders

Until 1989, the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) could have been viewed as an interest group of the Linguistics Society of America (LSA); AAAL met in two designated meeting rooms as a subsection of the LSA conference. In 1991, I was asked to organize the first independent meeting of AAAL in New York City, with the help of Nathalie Bailey as local chair. With the planning committee, we made several important changes that would take effect in the first independent AAAL conference: we would have many more sessions than could be accommodated in two rooms, we would invite colloquia as well as individual papers, and we would go out of our way to recruit international presenters, even though our name was the american Association for Applied Linguistics. I remember that first independent AAAL conference as a resounding success, with 400 enthusiastic participants.
Effects of mobile phone radiation on reproduction and development in Drosophila melanogaster.

In this report we examined the effects of a discontinuous radio frequency (RF) signal produced by a GSM multiband mobile phone (900/1,900 MHz; SAR approximately 1.4 W/kg) on Drosophila melanogaster, during the 10-day developmental period from egg laying through pupation. As found earlier with low frequency exposures, the non-thermal radiation from the GSM mobile phone increased numbers of offspring, elevated hsp70 levels, increased serum response element (SRE) DNA-binding and induced the phosphorylation of the nuclear transcription factor, ELK-1. The rapid induction of hsp70 within minutes, by a non-thermal stress, together with identified components of signal transduction pathways, provide sensitive and reliable biomarkers that could serve as the basis for realistic mobile phone safety guidelines.
Quantification of reflex activity in stroke survivors during an imposed multi-joint leg extension movement

The goal of this study was to compare short- and long-latency reflex responses in eight major lower-extremity muscle groups following an imposed multi-joint leg movement between a group of 14 chronic (>1 year) stroke survivors and 10 healthy age-matched controls, and to investigate the influence of joint velocities and muscle excitation levels on these reflex responses in each respective group. Subjects were seated with their foot anchored to a sliding footplate that could extend their leg. Prior to the leg being moved, subjects were instructed to pre-activate hip and knee flexors and extensors. Feedback of joint torque was used to help subjects activate muscles over a range of excitation levels. Following pre-activation, the subject’s leg was passively extended so the knee or hip joint rotated at one of three different speeds (30, 60, and 120°/s). In general, it was found that the magnitude of stroke survivors’ reflex response was greater compared to controls’ in certain biarticular muscles, notably the gastrocnemius and medial hamstring, and the uniarticular adductor longus, and that the long-latency reflex component (between 40 and 150 ms post-movement) accounted for most of the observed differences. Furthermore, while reflex response amplitudes increased in both groups with increasing movement speed, the rate of increase was significantly larger in stroke subjects than in controls. Clinically, these findings may help explain why stroke survivors walk slowly since it is under these conditions that reflex responses better emulate those of their able-bodied counterparts.
BIPHASIC MICROTITER METHOD FOR CAMPYLOBACTER RECOVERY AND ENUMERATION

We developed a biphasic method for recovery and enumeration of campylobacters. The biphasic system was composed of 96-well microtiter plates containing Campy–Line agar prepared 2¥ for all ingredients except for 1¥ agar (0.1 mL per well). Samples were prepared in either twofold or fivefold dilution series across separate 96-well plates and directly transferred (0.1 mL) to the agar-containing microtiter plates to create the biphasic system. Biphasic plates were incubated for up to 48 h at 42C either aerobically or microaerobically in a gas mixture of 5% O2, 10% CO2 and 85% N2. Campylobacter was recovered in the aerobically incubated biphasic plates; however, significantly greater Campylobacter recovery was obtained in the biphasic plates incubated microaerobically (P 0.05). Significantly higher numbers of injured campylobacters from chicken carcass rinse samples were recovered by the biphasic method compared with conventional direct plating techniques (P 0.05).
Changes in vegetative coverage of the Hongze Lake national wetland nature reserve: a decade-long assessment using MODIS medium-resolution data

Wetlands are important ecosystems on Earth. However, global wetland coverage is being reduced due to both anthropogenic and natural effects. Thus, assessment of temporal changes in vegetative coverage, as a measure of the wetland health, is critical to help implement effective management plans and provide inputs for climate-related research. In this work, 596 moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250-m resolution images of the Hongze Lake national wetland nature reserve from 2000 to 2009 were used to study the veg- etative coverage (above the water surface) of the reserve. Three vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced VI (EVI), and floating algae index (FAI)) were compared to evaluate their effectiveness in assessing relative changes. FAI was less sensitive than NDVI and EVI to aerosol effects and showed less statistical error than NDVI and EVI. Long- term FAI data revealed clear seasonal cycles in vegetative coverage in the 113-km 2 core area of the reserve, with annual maximal coverage relatively stable after 2004. This suggests that the national wetland nature reserve was well protected through the study period. However, vegeta- tive coverage decreased due to the flooding event in 2003. Moreover, correlation analysis showed that annual sunshine duration collectively played a significant role in affecting the wet- land vegetative coverage. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. (DOI: 10.1117/1.JRS.7.073589)
Low-cost single-phase powered induction machine drive for residential applications

In conjunction with the 2003 future energy challenge (FEC), a low-cost integrated machine end drive system is considered for residential applications between 50 and 500 W. The objective is to remain cost competitive with traditional single phase induction machine solutions while improving system performance. The basic architecture includes a power factor correction boost rectifier, a hex-bridge inverter, control circuitry implementing selective harmonic elimination, auxiliary power supplies, and a three phase induction machine designed for inverter operation. This paper discusses system design, performance, cost, and lifetime.
A reformulation and applications of interfacial fluids with a free surface

A non-local formulation, depending on a free spectral parameter, is presented governing two ideal fluids separated by a free interface and bounded above either by a free surface or by a rigid lid. This formulation is shown to be related to the Dirichlet–Neumann operators associated with the two-fluid equations. As an application, long wave equations are obtained; these include generalizations of the Benney–Luke and intermediate long wave equations, as well as their higher order perturbations. Computational studies reveal that both equations possess lump-type solutions, which indicate the possible existence of fully localized solitary waves in interfacial fluids with sufficient surface tension.
State-dependent deadline scheduling

This paper presents a new workload model, called the state-dependent deadline model, for applications whose high-level timing requirements may change with time. The problem is how to choose target deadlines for jobs from their time-varying deadlines so that the system can meet its requirements with a high probability. In the clairvoyant case, the deadline of every job is given by a known function of time for all times after the job is released. There is an optimal deadline determination algorithm. When the future values of job deadlines are unknown, it is not possible to make optimal choices of job deadlines. Several heuristics can be used to determine deadlines in this realistic case. Simulation results show that these heuristics allow the system to achieve good processor utilization and high probability of meeting its time-varying requirements.
Genetic control of the mouse cerebellum: identification of quantitative trait loci modulating size and architecture.

To discover genes influencing cerebellum development, we conducted a complex trait analysis of variation in the size of the adult mouse cerebellum. We analyzed two sets of recombinant inbred BXD strains and an F2 intercross of the common inbred strains, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. We measured cerebellar size as the weight or volume of fixed or histologically processed tissue. Among BXD recombinant inbred strains, the cerebellum averages 52 mg (12.4% of the brain) and ranges 18 mg in size. In F2 mice, the cerebellum averages 62 mg (12.9% of the brain) and ranges ∼20 mg in size. Five quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that significantly control variation in cerebellar size were mapped to chromosomes 1 ( Cbs1a ), 8 ( Cbs8a ), 14 ( Cbs14a ), and 19 ( Cbs19a , Cbs19b ). In combination, these QTLs can shift cerebellar size an appreciable 35% of the observed range. To assess regional genetic control of the cerebellum, we also measured the volume of the cell-rich, internal granule layer (IGL) in a set of BXD strains. The IGL ranges from 34 to 43% of total cerebellar volume. The QTL Cbs8a is significantly linked to variation in IGL volume and is suggestively linked to variation in the number of cerebellar folia. The QTLs we have discovered are among the first loci shown to modulate the size and architecture of the adult mouse cerebellum.
Sensual Re-Readings: Gender, Sensibility, and the Classes of Flânerie

As ambivalent hero of the urban imaginary of the nineteenth century, the flâneur enjoys the licence to loiter in the streets and look at the spectacle of the crowds and the hall of mirrors of the city scene. However, feminist inquiry has dislocated the flâneur’s panoramic embrace of sites/sights of authority, and reconfigured the gendered mastery of urban perception by the all-seeing voyeur. Benjaminian approaches have focused on the production of art in an age of mass consumption and the flâneur’s seduction by the erotics of capitalist consumption and commodity fetishism. Building on both interpretations, this article performs sensual re-readings of novels and essays by Balzac, Valles, and Colette, in order to recapture the rich potential of the senses in the activities of walking, feeling, and representing the city. The embodied experience of boundaries undoes three hierarchies: the gendered and class divisions of social spheres, and the division of the senses into higher and lower faculties.
Relationship between train-of-four ratio and first-twitch depression during neuromuscular blockade: A pharmacokinetic/dynamic explanation

Fade, as measured by train-of-four, lags behind twitch depression during the initial phase of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade, i.e., the ratio of the fourth to first twitch height in a train (T4/T1) is greater at the onset of the block than during spontaneous recovery for the same level of first twitch depression. We believe that these data can be explained by picturing the muscle as having localized regions that respond much more slowly than the rest, leading to a delay in drug effect in that area, especially when the drug concentration rises rapidly as during bolus administration. This was modeled by computer as a muscle of 15 compartments distributed in a log-normal fashion according to equilibration rate. Experimental data consisting of the time course of first twitch and train-of-four ratio were fitted by nonlinear regression to the model. A good fit was obtained with a median equilibration time t1/2 of 3.3 min and a standard deviation of 2.1. The difference between train-of-four during onset and regression of block at the same level of first twitch depression was reproduced.
Patterns of growth and tract formation during the early development of secondary lineages in the Drosophila larval brain

The Drosophila brain consists of a relatively small number of invariant, genetically determined lineages which provide a model to study the relationship between gene function and neuronal architecture. In following this long-term goal, we reconstruct the morphology (projection pattern and connectivity) and gene expression patterns of brain lineages throughout development. In this article, we focus on the secondary phase of lineage morphogenesis, from the reactivation of neuroblast proliferation in the first larval instar to the time when proliferation ends and secondary axon tracts have fully extended in the late third larval instar. We have reconstructed the location and projection of secondary lineages at close (4 h) intervals and produced a detailed map in the form of confocal z-projections and digital three-dimensional models of all lineages at successive larval stages. Based on these reconstructions, we could compare the spatio-temporal pattern of axon formation and morphogenetic movements of different lineages in normal brain development. In addition to wild type, we reconstructed lineage morphology in two mutant conditions. (1) Expressing the construct UAS-p35 which rescues programmed cell death we could systematically determine which lineages normally lose hemilineages to apoptosis. (2) so-Gal4-driven expression of dominant-negative EGFR ablated the optic lobe, which allowed us to conclude that the global centrifugal movement normally affecting the cell bodies of lateral lineages in the late larva is causally related to the expansion of the optic lobe, and that the central pattern of axonal projections of these lineages is independent of the presence or absence of the optic lobe.
Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha synergistically induce NO synthase in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Cytokine-inducible nitric oxide (NO) production has been implicated in the pathogenesis of septic shock. The present study was designed to determine which cytokines induce expression of the NO synthase gene in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro and whether NO synthase gene expression is inducible in vivo. NO synthase mRNA appeared after 4-h exposure to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and levels continued to increase up to 24 h. Levels of NO synthase transcripts were greatest in VSMC treated with IL-1 beta (1 nM), lower in VSMC treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 micrograms/ml), and just detectable in VSMC treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 1 nM). IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and LPS each induced NO synthase activity, assessed by release of nitrite, conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline, and increased levels of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, whereas IL-2, IL-6, and interferon-gamma were ineffective. IL-1 beta was more potent and effective than TNF-alpha; however, submaximal concentrations of TNF-alpha acted synergistically with IL-1 beta to induce NO synthase gene expression and activity. Inducible NO synthase mRNA was present in aorta from rats 6 h after treatment with LPS (5 mg/kg), but not at 24 h. Synergistic activation of NO synthase gene expression in VSMC by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha may contribute to hypotension in sepsis.
Radiation Damage in YBa2Cu3O7 by Fast Neutrons

The superconducting transition temperature of sintered YBa2Cu3O7 decreases at a rate of 2.7 K/1018 n/cm2 (E > 0.1 MeV) for fast neutron irradiation. The critical current density Jc increases a factor of three at zero field and more than three at nonzero fields for fluences up to 2×1018 n/cm2. At both 7 and 75 K, Jc is decreasing with fluence near 3×1018 n/cm2.
The Mandatory Core of Section 4 of the Federal Arbitration Act

In Rent-a-Center v. Jackson, the U.S. Supreme Court will determine whether businesses can require their employees, consumers, and franchisees to arbitrate the issue of whether the arbitration clause itself is unconscionable. The conventional wisdom, based on dicta in several Supreme Court decisions, is that parties can arbitrate the validity of the arbitration clause as long as there is clear and unmistakable evidence of their intent to do so. Conversely, this short Essay argues that courts, not arbitrators, have the exclusive power to determine whether an arbitration clause is invalid under traditional contract defenses. The source of the judiciary’s monopoly is section 4 of the Federal Arbitration Act, which mandates that any time the “making of the agreement to arbitrate” is “in issue,” a judge must resolve the matter.
Who Is the Jordan of Gauss-Jordan?

(1988). Who Is the Jordan of Gauss-Jordan? Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 61, No. 2, pp. 99-100.
Instructed fear learning, extinction, and recall: additive effects of cognitive information on emotional learning of fear

The effects of instruction on learning of fear and safety are rarely studied. We aimed to examine the effects of cognitive information and experience on fear learning. Fourty healthy participants, randomly assigned to three groups, went through fear conditioning, extinction learning, and extinction recall with two conditioned stimuli (CS+). Information was presented about the presence or absence of conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) contingency at different stages of the experiment. Information about the CS-US contingency prior to fear conditioning enhanced fear response and reduced extinction recall. Information about the absence of CS-US contingency promoted extinction learning and recall, while omission of this information prior to recall resulted in fear renewal. These findings indicate that contingency information can facilitate fear expression during fear learning, and can facilitate extinction learning and recall. Information seems to function as an element of the larger context in which conditioning occurs.
Preparation and Electro-catalytic Oxidation Characteristics of Nd-doped Ti/TiO_2 Electrodes

With Ti(OBu)4 and(CH2CH2OH)2NH,C2H5OH and Nd(NO3)3 as precursors,the Nd-doped Ti/TiO2 electrodes were prepared by sol-gel method.By analyzing COD degradation of oil-field wastewater,the preparation conditions of the electrodes are optimized.The micrograph of the electrode surface,the element composition of surface layers and the structure of the electrode surface were analyzed by SEM,EDX and XRD.The electrode surface became more smooth,more dense and almost no cracks after Nd doping.The uniform of the high-density structure of the small debris may have a larger surface area and surface roughness,which is in favor of catalytic reactions.The crystal structure of TiO2 electrode is anatase.It was found that doping of Nd at a proper proportion is in favor of grain refining and helped to enhance the electrical conductivity of the electrodes.The results showed that the Nd-doped is beneficial for going up electrode performance.The optimized conditions is as follows that heat treatment of the electrobes is at 540℃ for 1h and doping amout of Ti:Nd is100:1.Besides,it is easier for the COD to be degraded on the Ti-based TiO2 electrode doped with Nd than on the electrode without Nd doping,and the COD reducing could be removed up to a rate of 81.6% after 60min treatment with the electrode doped with Nd,and only 67.7% with the electrode doped without Nd.
Abstract B12: Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 as a potential biomarker for racial disparity in prostate cancer

Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) has drawn significant attention due to its association with the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Recent studies have projected MIC-1 as a potential biomarker for various disease conditions including PCa. Given evidence for more aggressive disease among African American (AA) men, we aimed to investigate if MIC-1 was differentially expressed among AA and Caucasian men. We measured serum MIC-1 levels by sandwich ELISA in samples collected during the diagnosis of PCa (pre-surgical). Our data consists of information on 40 Caucasian and 40 AA men between the ages of 43 and 75 years (Median = 60 years). Based on the analysis of log transformation of the data, significant differences among the two races were found, with AA having higher MIC-1 expression (Median 1220.4 versus 790.8, p=0.0001), Gleason scores (Median 7 versus 6, p=0.0009) and PSA (Median 6.72 versus 6.35 ng/ml, p = 0.04) than Caucasians. No differences in age or pathological stage of disease were observed between groups (p > 0.05). Higher levels of MIC-1 and Gleason scores were associated (p Citation Format: Dev Karan, Seema Dubey, Jo Wick, Ossama Tawfik, Guru Sonpavde, Peter VanVeldhuizen. Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 as a potential biomarker for racial disparity in prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B12.
Improving evolutionary algorithm performance for integer type multi-objective building system design optimization

Abstract Building system design optimization is becoming popular for design decision making. State-of-the-art technique that couples evolutionary algorithms with a building simulation engine, which is time consuming and often cannot reach the “true” optimal solutions. Studies addressing these issues focus on implementing strategies such as fine tuning optimization algorithm's parameters, hybrid evolutionary algorithms with a local search algorithm or optimizing meta-models. Unlike the previous studies, this paper proposes two improvement strategies for building system design optimization. The two strategies, adaptive operators approach and adaptive meta-model approach, modify the behaviors of conventional evolutionary algorithms to improve the optimization convergency and speed performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of these two strategies compared to conventional algorithms, a case study was conducted. The case study observed high convergency performance from both strategies with 30% and 60% time savings respectively. Furthermore, this study examines the performance comparison in respect to convergency, diversity preservation and speed between these two strategies.
The structure of graphs not topologically containing the Wagner graph

A structural characterization of graphs not containing the Wagner graph, also known as V 8 , is shown. The result was announced in 1979 by the second author, but until now a proof has not been published.
Demonstration of a remote FPAA system for research and education

Figure 1 illustrates part of the user experience of the remote test system for this demonstration. This demonstration requires only basic resources (power plug and table), utilizing a wireless network as available. Participants can experience both sides of the remote system, one laptop running the remote system and infrastructure, and a second laptop (or more) only running the resulting tools and taking experimental data. Participants can try different circuits among many options already available for the user to use or modify.
Enhanced tensile, hardness and wear behaviors of pure aluminum matrix reinforced with steel chips via powder metallurgy technique

The mechanical properties and wear behavior of aluminum matrix reinforced with steel machining chips was investigated. Pure aluminum was reinforced with 5, 7.5, and 10 wt% steel chips with an average size of 100 μm using powder metallurgy technique. Aluminum reinforced with 5 and 10 Wt.% SiC particles were manufactured for comparison. The investigation showed clear evidence that the addition of steel machining chips resulted in significantly low porosity levels in the aluminum matrix composites compared with the use of SiC as reinforcement. The mechanical properties (tensile and hardness) as well as the wear resistance were also observed to improve with the use of the steel machining chips as reinforcement. The results demonstrate the capability of steel machining chips to act as efficient reinforcing material and a reliable cost effective candidate in the development of aluminum matrix composites.
Associational Participation and Network Expansion: Microcredit Self-Help Groups and Poor Women's Social Ties in Rural India

Group-based microcredit has become a globally adopted anti-poverty intervention. An important institutional variant of this is the self-help group (SHG) model, where non-commercialized lending is done through neighborhood-based savings and lending associations. We examine the effect of women's participation in SHGs in India on their social networks and social capital. We use household survey data, including rich social network information from seventy-five villages in rural Karnataka. In a context where women's interactions are largely restricted to their kinship networks and heavily constrained by rural life and patriarchal norms, participation in SHGs provides opportunities for socially isolated women to form new relationships. Descriptive analyses show that SHG participants, despite being more socioeconomically disadvantaged than non-participants, have significantly more incoming ties from nonkin than both non-participant women and men. After using propensity score matching to model selection into microcredit associations, we find consistent evidence that SHG participants have significantly more ties from nonkin and that these ties originate from other participants. We conclude that relationships formed within SHGs extend beyond the group and constitute important social capital, as women form friendships, give each other advice, and exchange vital basic needs resources.
First principles study of Cr poisoning in solid oxide fuel cell cathodes: Application to (La,Sr) CoO3

Abstract Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems provide efficient and clean power. Chromium poisoning is known to deteriorate the performance of the SOFC cathodes such as La1−xSrxCoO3 (LSCO) due to the formation of undesired products. We identify the reaction products when LSCO is in a CrO3 and O2 atmosphere using first principle thermodynamics, with the assumption that gas-phase CrO3 is the Cr source. Our results correctly identify SrCrO4 as the primary Cr poisoning product as observed in experiments and also provides temperature-pressure regimes under which Cr poisoning effects may be avoided.
Imaging of labyrinthine fistula after repair with bone pate.

Objectives/Hypothesis To demonstrate imaging of labyrinthine fistula due to cholesteatoma and illustrate outcome following repair with bone pate. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods Patients with labyrinthine fistula due to cholesteatoma were identified, and pre- and postoperative imaging was assessed. Method of repair was recorded. The fistula site was examined for patency and bone density after repair. Results Twenty-nine fistulae were seen in a cohort of 375 cholesteatoma cases (8%). Preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging for fistula detection showed sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 90%. The lateral semicircular canal was the most common site of dehiscence occurring in all cases. Facial nerve dehiscence is observed in 91% of fistula cases and stapes erosion in 69%. Severe hearing loss was present preoperatively in four (14%) cases. Bone pate was used to repair the fistula with CT-documented restoration of the otic capsule in 11/13 cases with postoperative imaging. When bone pate was not used, the otic capsule defect persisted. Conclusions Spontaneous repair of the otic capsule following treatment of cholesteatoma is expected to be an uncommon occurrence. Repair of the fistula with bone can result in long-lasting restoration of the otic capsule. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2017
Abstract 129: The Role of Intron-2 Conversion Polymorphism in the Regulation of Human Aldosterone Synthase Gene Expression

The hCYP11B2 gene encodes aldosterone synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of aldosterone. Inappropriate excess levels of aldosterone induces positive sodium balance and predisposes to hypertension and other cardiovascular problems. hCYP11B2 has a T/C polymorphism located at -344 in its promoter region. This variant is in close linkage disequilibrium with a complex hCYP11B2 Intron 2 conversion polymorphism (IC), which replaces a segment of DNA within intron 2 with the corresponding region of hCYP11B1. Epidemiological studies have suggested that -344 T/C and the IC polymorphism associating with hypertension. The IC polymorphism always occur when the promoter contains -344T variant. In the present study we have for the first time sequenced the full length hCYP11B2 intron 2 from randomly selected hypertensive samples from the Caucasian cohort and identified the segment of hCYP11B2 replaced by that of hCYP11B1 Intron2. It is interesting to note that in these genomic DNA samples there is no change in the hCYP11B1 intron2 sequence. In silico transcription factor binding site predictions indicate that there are several transcription factors which can bind more strongly to the hCYP11B2 IC region as compared to wild type intron2 (wt). We have cloned the IC polymorphism and the wt intron nucleotide sequences in front of the 1kb hCYP11B2 promoter containing -344T. These reporter constructs showed differential transcriptional activation. Basal promoter activity of IC intron was increased by 1.94 fold (p
Decoupling tyre and suspension via frequency based substructuring

Noise and vibrations transmitted through the tyre then, subsequently, the suspension has a major impact on the overall ride quality in a passenger vehicle. Much work has been done in the past to evaluate ride comfort subjectively, but recent years have seen a marked increase in the development of objective/analytical methods. The following paper presents a method to mathematically separate the vibrational properties of the tyre and the suspension in order to further understand the mechanism of vibration transmission between the two. Frequency based substructuring (FBS) techniques will be used to decouple the tyre subsystem from the suspension subsystem. In this work, these FBS techniques are applied first to decouple the equations of motion of a simple quarter car system as a proof of concept. Then, a more generalised approach is taken which will be applicable to experimental data.
Determining aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids in biomass-derived oil samples using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and liquid chromatography-electrospray injection-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

Abstract Converting biomass to a useful fuel commonly incorporates the pyrolysis of the biomass feed stock. The base liquid fraction usually contains high concentrations of ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acids, of which each can cause detrimental issues related to the storage and upgrading process. Knowing the carbonyl species and the concentration of each will provide value information to the pyrolysis researchers, specifically as that community branches into more targeted end-products such as jet fuel or biogenic-derived oxygenate-containing fuel products. The analysis of aldehydes, ketones and small alkyl carboxylic acids using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) derivation method has been well documented and the method is commonly used the analytical community. By using liquid chromatograph coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, biomass sample analysis can be complete with identification of most carbonyl species. The issue of identifying isobaric ketone and aldehyde compounds can be resolved by utilizing differences in retention time or characteristic fragment ions of ketones and aldehydes. One issue which could not resolved using published methods was identifying aromatic or large non-aromatic carboxylic acids from their corresponding hydroxyl aldehyde or ketone analogs. By modifying the current method for determining carbonyls in biomass samples, carboxylic and hydroxyl-carbonyl can be determined. A careful adjustment of the pH during the extraction procedure and extended heating time of the DNPH solution allowed for the successful derivation of aromatic carboxylic acids. Like other dinitrophenylhydrazones, carboxylic acid derivatives also produce a unique secondary ion pattern, which was useful to distinguish these species from the non-acid analogs.
Research Strategy in Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis, Prognosis

At present, by the time the primary tumor is diagnosed, some two thirds of patients with cancer already have metastases. NCI has therefore set as an intermediate goal the diagnosis of 75% of all ca...
Efficient genome editing in Fusarium oxysporum based on CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes

The Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) is an economically important group of pathogenic filamentous fungi that are able to infect both animals and plants. Reverse genetic techniques, including gene disruption/deletion methods, to study these fungi are available although limitations exist resulting in decreased efficiency. Herein we describe a gene editing system developed using a F. oxysporum-optimized Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and protoplast transformation method. The Cas9 protein and sgRNA were assembled to form a stable RNP in vitro and this complex was transferred into fungal protoplasts for gene editing with PEG-mediated transformation. In order to determine if the Cas9 RNP system is functional in the FOSC protoplasts and assess the efficacy of the system, two genes, URA5 and URA3, were selected for targeted disruption generating uracil auxotroph mutants that are resistant to 5-fluoroorotic acid, 5-FOA. In addition, a gene in a secondary metabolite biosynthetic cluster, the ortholog of BIK1, was mutated using this system and the maximum efficiency of this gene disruption was about 50%. Further analysis of the bik1 mutant confirmed that this polyketide synthase was involved in the synthesis of the red pigment, bikaverin. The mutants generated in this study displayed the strong expected phenotypes, demonstrating this F. oxysporum-optimized CRISPR/Cas9 system is stable and can efficiently disrupt the genes of interest.
Airborne Toxic Elements and Organic Substances (ATEOS) project: overview.

The approach and conclusions of the ATEOS project will be examined with an emphasis on future design considerations and strategies to address and reduce exposures. The ATEOS was a five year project that conducted field sampling in the summer and winter for the years 1981 through 1983. Eighty-five outdoor air pollutants were measured including the composition of inhalable particulate mass, and volatile organic compounds. The particulate mass components measured were the non-polar through polar organic fractions, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, SO4(-2), trace elements and alkylating agents. From the numerous volatile organic compounds present in the atmosphere measurements were made of 10 chlorinated compounds, the automobile by products, e.g., benzene, o and p xylene, and 13 solvents. Other measurements included local meteorology. Besides the wealth of variables an important component of the study was the selection of the outdoor sites. The approach was to choose specific types of population--industrial-commercial locales with increasing (or decreasing) complexity. The sites were located in the New Jersey urban centers of Newark, Elizabeth and Camden, and a rural setting in Ringwood, N.J. The Newark site was the most complex industrial-commercial-residential interface followed in decreasing order by Elizabeth, Camden and Ringwood. The manuscript will emphasize the characteristics of the measured variables in relation to the differences in the neighborhoods surrounding each site. Summary information on source-receptor modeling, pollution accumulation processes, episode analyses, and exposure assessment studies will be presented. These will be all evaluated with respect to future study design questions, including monitoring frequency, epidemiological exposure assessments and indoor air pollution.
Symmetrical Joukowsky airfoils in shear flow

The usual two-dimensional theory of airfoils assumes a uniform velocity for points far from the airfoil. There are many applications where this condition is not satisfied. For example near the ground there is a large vertical velocity gradient, and therefore a first approximation to the problem can be obtained by assuming a linear velocity distribution. This has, in fact, been done by H. v. Sanden [1] in connection with O. Lilienthal's experiments in natural wind. However, v. Sanden used a numerical method of integrating the differential equation and carried out the calculation only for a wedge-shaped body. Th. von Karman * suggested to the author to take up this problem again in order to develop a more complete theory. Hence in the first part of this paper, a generalization of the well-known Blasius theorem for calculating aerodynamic forces acting on an airfoil is given. Then the result is applied to the case of symmetrical Joukowsky airfoils and the final data are given in a number of tables and graphs.
Brain Structure and Consumption Dynamics

This paper approaches the dynamics of consumption behavior in terms of a vertically integrated tri-level brain structure whose third (or highest) level is viewed metaphorically of a central processor that rides herd over a series of interconnected modular centers practicing a division of labor. The individual is assumed to be motivated by a desire to maintain a satisfactory level of physiological and psychological well-being. Consumption activity is assumed to be hierarchical, with first claim going to activities associated with the maintenance of physiological and psychological comfort. These higher-order activities are assumed to be controlled primarily by the two lower levels of the brain. The lower-order (or creative) activities are assumed to be controlled by the third-level brain. The third-level brain is assumed to monitor the activities of the lower-level brains, to react to distress signals from these brains, and to have the capability of initiating actions to counteract their activities.
Murky Water: What Really is Taxed as Court Costs in North Carolina?

This comment undertakes an in-depth look into what is currently being taxed as court costs in North Carolina, as well as a discussion into the differing lines of authority that have created a costs problem in North Carolina. It first delineates the problem that has arisen before discussing the "reasonable and necessary" and "explicitly delineated" approaches to answering the question, as well as the legislative amendments of the controlling authority. The author then proposes a solution to the problem of costs in North Carolina.
Cognitive Data Analysis for Big Data

Cognitive data analysis (CDA) automates and adds cognitive processes to data analysis so that the business user or data analyst can gain insights from advanced analytics. CDA is especially important in the age of big data, where the data is so complex, and includes both structured and unstructured data, that it is impossible to manually examine all possible combinations. As a cognitive computing system, CDA does not simply take over the entire process. Instead, CDA interacts with the user and learns from the interactions. This chapter reviews IBM Corporation’s (IBM SPSS Modeler CRISP-DM guide, 2011) Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) as a precursor of CDA. Then, continuing to develop the ideas set forth in Shyr and Spisic’s (“Automated data analysis for Big Data.” WIREs Comp Stats 6: 359–366, 2014), this chapter defines a new three-stage CDA process. Each stage (Data Preparation, Automated Modeling, and Application of Results) is discussed in detail. The Data Preparation stage alleviates or eliminates the data preparation burden from the user by including smart technologies such as natural language query and metadata discovery. This stage prepares the data for specific and appropriate analyses in the Automated Modeling stage, which performs descriptive as well as predictive analytics and presents the user with starting points and recommendations for exploration. Finally, the Application of Results stage considers the user’s purpose, which may be to directly gain insights for smarter decisions and better business outcomes or to deploy the predictive models in an operational system.
A Digital-Controlled SiC-Based Solid State Circuit Breaker with Soft-Start Function for DC Microgrids

This paper introduces a digital-controlled, SiC MOSFET based, autonomously operated 380V/20A solid state circuit breaker (SSCB) that features a soft start function in addition to basic short circuit protection function. The SSCB offers three distinct operation states: ON, OFF, and PWM Current Limiting (PWM-CL). While the conventional ON/OFF states allow the SSCB to conduct normal load currents or interrupt fault currents, the PWM -CL state allows the SSCB to gradually charge the input capacitors of electronic loads at a limited current level during load startup. The SSCB can switch from the PWM-CL state to the OFF state if a true short circuit fault is detected. In the PWM -CL state, a variable frequency PWM control technique is proposed to optimally operate a buck converter for soft start and short fault detection. The controller design of the new SSCB combines the flexibility of a DSP with the µs-scale ultrafast response time of an analog-like overcurrent detection circuit. The paper analyzes the relationship between the PWM frequency and circuit parameters, load voltage, and load resistor. The new SSCB is prototyped and experimentally verified.
Optimizing Tile Set Size While Preserving Proofreading with a DNA Self-assembly Compiler

Algorithmic DNA tile systems have the potential to allow the construction by self-assembly of large structures with complex nanometer-scale details out of relatively few monomer types, but are constrained by errors in growth and the limited sequence space of orthogonal DNA sticky ends that program tile interactions. We present a tile set optimization technique that, through analysis of algorithmic growth equivalence, potentially sensitive error pathways, and potential lattice defects, can significantly reduce the size of tile systems while preserving proofreading behavior that is essential for obtaining low error rates. Applied to systems implementing multiple algorithms that are far beyond the size of currently feasible implementations, the optimization technique results in systems that are comparable in size to already-implemented experimental systems.