cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy measurements of uranium and thorium powders and uranium ore

Abstract Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to analyze depleted uranium and thorium oxide powders and uranium ore as a potential rapid in situ analysis technique in nuclear production facilities, environmental sampling, and in-field forensic applications. Material such as pressed pellets and metals, has been extensively studied using LIBS due to the high density of the material and more stable laser-induced plasma formation. Powders, on the other hand, are difficult to analyze using LIBS since ejection and removal of the powder occur in the laser interaction region. The capability of analyzing powders is important in allowing for rapid analysis of suspicious materials, environmental samples, or trace contamination on surfaces since it most closely represents field samples (soil, small particles, debris etc.). The rapid, in situ analysis of samples, including nuclear materials, also reduces costs in sample collection, transportation, sample preparation, and analysis time. Here we demonstrate the detection of actinides in oxide powders and within a uranium ore sample as both pressed pellets and powders on carbon adhesive discs for spectral comparison. The acquired LIBS spectra for both forms of the samples differ in overall intensity but yield a similar distribution of atomic emission spectral lines.
Hyperactive tendon reflexes in spastic multiple sclerosis: Measures and mechanisms of action

Abstract Zhang L-Q, Wang G, Nishida T, Xu D, Sliwa JA, Rymer WZ. Hyperactive tendon reflexes in spastic multiple sclerosis: measures and mechanisms of action. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:901-9. Objective: To develop new measures of tendon reflexes and evaluate hyperactive reflexes in patients with spastic multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: With the subject relaxed, a hand-held instrumented hammer was used to tap the patellar tendon and record the tapping force, while knee extension torque and quadriceps EMG were recorded isometrically as measures of the reflex response. Setting: Research laboratory in a rehabilitation hospital. Subjects: Ten spastic MS and 14 healthy subjects. Main Outcome Measures: Tendon tapping force (designated as system input), reflex torque (as output), their dynamic relationship (characterized as system parameters tendon reflex gain, contraction rate, and reflex loop delay), Ashworth scale, and tendon reflex scale. Results: The system parameters provide more repeatable measures than do input or output parameters alone because they quantify the input and output simultaneously and dynamically. Compared with control subjects, MS patients had a significantly lower threshold in tapping force ( p =.026), yet their evoked reflex torque was significantly higher ( p =.033). Despite significant quadriceps weakness ( p ≤.0001), MS patients had a significantly higher reflex gain ( p =.0002) and contraction rate ( p =.0002), and shorter reflex loop delay ( p =.0046), indicating hyperexcitability of motoneurons and peripheral receptors, and indicating that relatively more of the muscle was activated reflexively, with greater recruitment of larger fast-twitch fibers. Both the reflex gain and rate measures correlated more closely with the Ashworth scale and tendon reflex scale than did the output measures, indicating their potential clinical value. Conclusions: With appropriate simplification, the method may be used in clinical practice to quantify more precisely the tendon jerk than is currently feasible with standard clinical tests. © 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Closed-form linear stability conditions for magneto-convection

Chandrasekhar (1961) extensively investigated the linear dynamics of Rayleigh–Benard convection in an electrically conducting fluid exposed to a uniform vertical magnetic field and enclosed by rigid, stress-free, upper and lower boundaries. He determined the marginal stability boundary and critical horizontal wavenumbers for the onset of convection as a function of the Chandrasekhar number . Instability in this limit always sets in via overstability.
Robot coverage of terrain with non-uniform traversability

In this paper, we study how multiple robots can cover known terrain quickly. We extend Multi-Robot Forest Coverage, a state-of-the-art multi-robot coverage algorithm, from terrain with uniform traversability to terrain with non-uniform traversability, which is nontrivial. We prove that its cover times are at most about sixteen times larger than minimal and demonstrate experimentally that they are significantly smaller than those of an alternative multi-robot coverage algorithm.
Scheduling hybrid WDM/TDM passive optical networks with nonzero laser tuning time

Owing to the high bandwidth provisioning, hybrid wavelength division multiplexing/time division multiplexing (WDM/TDM) passive optical network (PON) is becoming an attractive future-proof access network solution. In hybrid WDM/TDM PON, tunable lasers are potential candidate light sources attributed to their multiwavelength provisioning capability and color-free property. Currently, the laser tuning time ranges from a few tens of nanoseconds to seconds, or even minutes, depending on the adopted technology. Different laser tuning time may introduce different network performance. To achieve small packet delay and ensure fairness, the schedule length for given optical network unit (ONU) requests is desired to be as short as possible. This paper illustrates contributions in four main aspects. First, we show that both preemptive and nonpreemptive scheduling problems with the objective of minimizing the schedule length are NP-hard when the laser tuning time is nonzero. Second, we present a heuristic preemptive scheduling algorithm with an approximation factor of at most 2 and a heuristic nonpreemptive scheduling algorithm with an approximation factor of at most 2 - 1/m, where m is the number of wavelengths. Third, extensive simulations have been conducted, and simulation results show that our proposed algorithms, which consider laser tuning time, achieve significantly better performances as compared to algorithms that are directly derived from existing algorithms without considering laser tuning time. Fourth, since the scheduling in one cycle is related to that in the last cycle, we provide some discussions on the scheduling in multiple cycles.
Phosphorus Metabolism and Requirements of Hens

Abstract THE phosphorus requirement of laying hens has not been adequately defined. Earlier work at this Station indicated that 0.5 percent of phosphorus in the ration was insufficient to maintain egg production and egg shell strength but that 0.75 percent was adequate for these purposes (Norris, Heuser, Wilgus and Ringrose, 1933). Miller and Bearse (1934) obtained greater egg production with a ration containing approximately 0.8 percent phosphorus than with one containing 0.6 percent of this element. Evans and Carver (1942) reported that 0.8 percent of phosphorus gave better results than 0.6 or 1.2 percent when the ration contained 2.5 percent calcium. However, they found little difference between 0.6 and 0.8 percent phosphorus in a ration containing only 1.5 percent calcium. Evans, Carver and Brant (1944) reported that 0.8 percent phosphorus gave more consistently satisfactory egg shell quality than 0.6 percent phosphorus. In the case of young chicks and poults, it has …
Synergistic Proinflammatory Effects of the Antiviral Cytokine Interferon-α and Toll-Like Receptor 4 Ligands in the Atherosclerotic Plaque

Background— Interferon (IFN)-α is a pluripotent inflammatory cytokine typically induced by viral infections. In rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques, plasmacytoid dendritic cells produce IFN-α. In the present study we explored the contribution of IFN-α to inflammation and tissue injury in the plaque microenvironment. Methods and Results— In 53% of carotid plaques (n=30), CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells clustered together with CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells, a distinct dendritic cell subset specialized in sensing danger signals from bacteria and tissue breakdown. Tissue concentrations of IFN-α and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α transcripts were tightly correlated (r=0.76, P<0.001), suggesting a regulatory role of IFN-α in TNF-α production. Plaque tissue stimulation with CpG ODN, a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 ligand, increased IFN-α production (57.8±23.7 versus 25.9±8.6 pg/mL; P<0.001), whereas the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide induced TNF-α secretion (225.1±3.0 versus 0.7±0.2 pg/mL; P<0.001). Treating ...
Overweight and Hyperinsulinemia Provide Individual Contributions to Compromises in Brachial Artery Distensibility in Healthy Adolescents and Young Adults: Brachial Distensibility in Children.

Abstract Brachial artery distensibility (BrachD) was measured in healthy children to identify associations with atherosclerotic risk factors. Nine hundred sixty-nine black and white subjects, 13–22 years of age, were classified as lean (L) or overweight (O) and as hyperinsulinemic (H-I) or normoinsulinemic (N-I). Blood pressure (BP) and BrachD were obtained with a DynaPulse Pathway instrument. Analysis of variance was performed, looking for group mean differences. Correlations between BrachD and risk variables were examined. Determinates of BrachD were determined by backward elimination regression, stratified by body mass index (BMI)-insulin group. Decreased BrachD correlated with male gender, O, higher BP, heart rate, fasting glucose, and log of fasting insulin after adjusting for pulse pressure (PP). BrachD was greatest in L+N-I, with progressive decreases seen in L+H-I, O+N-I, and O+H-I subjects. Regression modeling found that PP and HR were major determinates of BrachD. Glucose was significant for subjects with N-I, regardless of adiposity. Excluding BP, glucose remained important in N-I subjects. Gender was significant for all. HR retained significance only in O subjects, regardless of insulin level. In healthy adolescents, hyperinsulinemia and obesity adversely affect brachial artery function, with overweight contributing to a greater degree. In normoinsulinemic subjects, fasting glucose was inversely related to BrachD. Metabolic factors may play a role in vascular function in youth.
Film Cooling of a Cylindrical Leading Edge With Injection Through Rows of Compound-Angle Holes

Computations, based on the κ-ω shear-stress transport (SST) turbulence model in which all conservation equations were integrated to the wall, were performed to investigate the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer about a semi-cylindrical leading edge with a flat afterbody that is cooled by film-cooling jets, injected from a plenum through three staggered rows of compound-angle holes with one row along the stagnation line and two rows along ±25 deg. Results are presented for the surface adiabatic effectiveness, normalized temperature distribution, velocity vector field, and surface pressure
GEF means go: turning on RHO GTPases with guanine nucleotide-exchange factors

Guanine nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs) are directly responsible for the activation of Rho-family GTPases in response to diverse extracellular stimuli, and ultimately regulate numerous cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation and movement. With 69 distinct homologues, Dbl-related GEFs represent the largest family of direct activators of Rho GTPases in humans, and they activate Rho GTPases within particular spatio-temporal contexts. The failure to do so can have significant consequences and is reflected in the aberrant function of Dbl-family GEFs in some human diseases.
BITE MARKS IN FORENSIC DENTISTRY: A REVIEW OF LEGAL, SCIENTIFIC ISSUES

Bite marks are an important and sometimes controversial aspect of forensic odontology. The discipline has recently received considerable attention in the media and in scientific realms. Although there are many cases in which bite mark evidence has been critical to the conviction or exoneration of criminal defendants, there is continuing dispute over its interpretation and analysis. This article explores the legal and scientific basis of bite mark evidence.
Control of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes without weight loss by modification of diet composition

Over the past several years our research group has taken a systematic, comprehensive approach to determining the effects on body function (hormonal and non-hormonal) of varying the amounts and types of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the diet. We have been particularly interested in the dietary management of type 2 diabetes. Our objective has been to develop a diet for people with type 2 diabetes that does not require weight loss, oral agents, or insulin, but that still controls the blood glucose concentration. Our overall goal is to enable the person with type 2 diabetes to control their blood glucose by adjustment in the composition rather than the amount of food in their diet. This paper is a brief summary and review of our recent diet-related research, and the rationale used in the development of diets that potentially are useful in the treatment of diabetes. We determined that, of the carbohydrates present in the diet, absorbed glucose is largely responsible for the food-induced increase in blood glucose concentration. We also determined that dietary protein increases insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose. Fat does not significantly affect blood glucose, but can affect insulin secretion and modify the absorption of carbohydrates. Based on these data, we tested the efficacy of diets with various protein:carbohydrate:fat ratios for 5 weeks on blood glucose control in people with untreated type 2 diabetes. The results were compared to those obtained in the same subjects after 5 weeks on a control diet with a protein:carbohydrate:fat ratio of 15:55:30. A 30:40:30 ratio diet resulted in a moderate but significant decrease in 24-hour integrated glucose area and % total glycohemoglobin (%tGHb). A 30:20:50 ratio diet resulted in a 38% decrease in 24-hour glucose area, a reduction in fasting glucose to near normal and a decrease in %tGHb from 9.8% to 7.6%. The response to a 30:30:40 ratio diet was similar. Altering the diet composition could be a patient-empowering method of improving the hyperglycemia of type 2 diabetes without weight loss or pharmacologic intervention.
Experimental demonstration of loop-coupled microring resonators for optimally sharp optical filters

We present the first experimental demonstration of recently proposed loop-coupled resonator device concepts, with characteristic transmission zeros, enabling optimally sharp passbands for channel add-drop filter applications. Fourth-order SiN-core and Si-core strong-confinement microring-resonator designs are described.
Cognitive Reserve: Implications for Assessment and Intervention

The concept of reserve is used to explain the observation that some individuals function better than others in the presence of brain pathology. This article reviews the concept of reserve from its theoretical basis to the implication of reserve for clinical practice. A distinction between brain reserve, referring to individual differences in the anatomic substrate, and cognitive reserve, referring to differences in the flexibility or adaptivity of cognitive networks, is useful. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that a set of life exposures including higher educational and occupational attainment, and engaging in leisure activities is associated with a lower risk of incident dementia, suggesting that these life exposures may enhance cognitive reserve. This provides a basis for controlled clinical studies that can test specific exposures that may enhance reserve. The concept of cognitive reserve also has important implications for clinical practice in terms of diagnosis and prognosis.
Modeling generation company decisions and electric market dynamics as discrete systems

Electric market dynamics (including quantity and price) is important to market design and reliability. Generation Companies (GENCOs) decision dynamics and interactions between them are the major source of market dynamics. This paper studies GENCOs decision dynamics as control problem and models electric market as control systems. Three kinds of GENCO decision-making processes are analyzed: probabilistic decision-making, learning effects during interactions with competitors, and a kind of complex decision-making. Based on these analyses, electric market is modeled respectively. Results shown this method can provide conclusions that are difficult or impossible to get by pure equilibrium analysis. The models can be used to study market properties, analyze interactions between GENCOs, and design control scheme.
Photochemistry of the tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)-peroxydisulfate system in aqueous and mixed acetonitrile-water solutions: evidence for a long-lived photoexcited ion pair

Photooxydation de Ru(bpy) 3 2+ par S 2 O 8 2− en solutions aqueuses et mixtes CH 3 CN-H 2 O. Etude par extinction de luminescence et duree de vie d'emission. Formation de paire d'ion a l'etat fondamental [Ru(bpy) 3 2+ •S 2 O 8 2− ]. Durees de vie longues de cette paire photoexcitee: 0,11 μs dans H 2 O a 0,53 μs dans CH 3 CN(50%)
A Similarity Hypothesis for Air–Sea Exchange at Extreme Wind Speeds

Abstract Hurricane intensity is sensitive to fluxes of enthalpy and momentum between the ocean and atmosphere in the high wind core of the storm. It has come to be recognized that much of this exchange is likely mediated by sea spray. A number of representations of spray-mediated exchange have appeared in recent years, but when these are applied in numerical simulations of hurricanes, storm intensity proves sensitive to the details of these representations. Here it is proposed that in the limit of very high wind speed, the air–sea transition layer becomes self-similar, permitting deductions about air–sea exchange based on scaling laws. In particular, it is hypothesized that exchange coefficients based on the gradient wind speed should become independent of wind speed in the high wind limit. A mechanistic argument suggests that the enthalpy exchange coefficient should depend on temperature. These propositions are tested in a hurricane intensity prediction model and can, in principle, be tested in the field.
Star Enterprises Inc: Getting Control of Your Fixed Assets

Investment in fixed assets constitutes the largest part of the asset side of the balance sheet. This paper looks at the processes to create, purchase, manage, and evaluate the value and effectiveness of fixed assets using an SAP R/3 Resource Planning System. The case can be used to discuss a variety of issues associated with Asset accounting. This case is appropriate for an undergraduate course in accounting informational systems and/or intermediate accounting. The case does require access to an SAP R/3 server, and some knowledge of how to navigate the SAP R/3 system. The scenario uses the current version (ECC6.0) of SAP available to members of the SAP University Alliance.
Crystal Structures and Inhibition Kinetics Reveal a Two-Stage Catalytic Mechanism with Drug Design Implications for Rhomboid Proteolysis

Intramembrane proteases signal by releasing proteins from the membrane, but despite their importance, their enzymatic mechanisms remain obscure. We probed rhomboid proteases with reversible, mechanism-based inhibitors that allow precise kinetic analysis and faithfully mimic the transition state structurally. Unexpectedly, inhibition by peptide aldehydes is non-competitive, revealing that in the Michaelis complex, substrate does not contact the catalytic center. Structural analysis in a membrane revealed that all extracellular loops of rhomboid make stabilizing interactions with substrate, but mainly through backbone interactions, explaining rhomboid's broad sequence selectivity. At the catalytic site, the tetrahedral intermediate lies covalently attached to the catalytic serine alone, with the oxyanion stabilized by unusual tripartite interactions with the side chains of H150, N154, and the backbone of S201. We also visualized unexpected substrate-enzyme interactions at the non-essential P2/P3 residues. These "extra" interactions foster potent rhomboid inhibition in living cells, thereby opening avenues for rational design of selective rhomboid inhibitors.
Moroccan women's rights movement

Amy Young Evrard's book Moroccan Women's Rights Movement provides an in-depth description of the processes that Moroccan women activists, collectively and individually, have undertaken for addressi...
Collégial Relationships and Social Support in Organizations

Richard just started his job at a new multinational company. Although he has prior experience in his field, he has not worked at a global company before, particularly one so large. In addition his new organization utilizes a lot of teamwork, which is new to him because in his previous job he was very independent and had little contact with coworkers. He is relieved to find that his onboarding experience is pleasant, with people in his workplace being generally warm and supportive. His coworkers extend frequent invitations lor him to join them for lunch and even for drinks afler work, and his supervisor stops frequently to discuss how Richard is adjusting to his new job. The support that his coworkers and supervisor provide makes Richard feel welcome, and he finds that his transition to his new organization is going much better than expected.
Wine tourism suppliers’ and visitors’ experiential priorities

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the alignment of experience economy design priorities and perceptions of rural wine tourism suppliers (i.e. winery-farm owners, restaurateurs retailers, lodging providers, attraction operators) with tourists’ perceived experiences. Design/methodology/approach – Adapting the 4E (educational, escapist, esthetic and entertainment) measurement scales of Oh et al. (2007), a cross-sectional survey design was used to gather data from 169 suppliers and 970 wine tourists. Factor analyses, t-tests and ANOVA tests were used to explore differences. Findings – Supply-side cohesion among the four supplier groups appeared across all experiential design priorities and across three of the 4Es regarding their perceptions of the destination; esthetics was the exception. Significant differences between suppliers’ design priorities and visitors’ experiential perceptions were found on three experiential dimensions, and alignment on esthetics was revealed. Research limitations/implicatio...
Estimating the hessian for gradient-type geometry optimizations

Optimization methods that use gradients require initial estimates of the Hessian or second derivative matrix; the more accurate the estimate, the more rapid the convergence. For geometry optimization, an approximate Hessian or force constant matrix is constructed from a simple valence force field that takes into account the inherent connectivity and flexibility of the molecule. Empirical rules are used to estimate the diagonal force constants for a set of redundant internal coordinates consisting of all stretches, bends, torsions and out-of-plane deformations involving bonded atoms. The force constants are transformed from the redundant internal coordinates to Cartesian coordinates, and then from Cartesian coordinates to the non-redundant internal coordinates used in the specification of the geometry and optimization. This method is especially suitable for cyclic molecules. Problems associated with the choice of internal coordinates for geometry optimization are also discussed.
Genotype-by-Environment Interaction

The ability of a genotype to alter its phenotype in response to the environment is called phenotypic plasticity. When different genotypes exhibit different responses to an environmental factor (i.e., exhibit different plastic responses), there is a genotype-by-environment interaction. Genotype-by-environment interaction influences the expression of genetic variation and genetic correlations in different environments and thereby influences evolutionary processes of adaptation. Genotype-by-environment interaction also represents genetic variation for phenotypic plasticity, which enables plasticity to evolve. Phenotypic plasticity influences several ecological and evolutionary processes, including the ability to inhabit variable environments, adaptation to novel environments, and the ability of populations to persist under conditions of environmental change.
Practical and theoretical methods for determining the trajectories for particles involved in elastic collisions

The present paper shows how to use the conservation of the energy-momentum in order to determine the trajectories of two particles after they are subjected to an elastic collision. While the problem is studied in existent literature, there are severe limitations in the solutions, like the fact that the solution only determines the angle between the particles after the collision and not their exact trajectories. This is not very satisfactory when it comes to setting up experiments aimed at verifying the theoretical predictions. In the following paper, we will show how to obtain a much more detailed fix of the trajectories of the particles post collision by determining their exact angles with respect to the trajectory of the particles before the collision. The new approach is extremely important in applications like particle accelerators where we can only work with directly measurable quantities, the kinetic energy KE and the momentum p. The paper is intended for particle physicists who work with particle accelerators as well as graduate students and teachers.
Working effectively with asset managers and institutional groups

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how property management firms are responding to the demands of asset managers and institutional real estate owners to address potential sources of conflict related to fee structures, reporting requirements and incongruent managerial philosophies. Design/methodology/approach – Interviews conducted with executives representing 25 of the largest apartment management firms in the USA are used to complete the analysis. Findings – Many of the apartment management firms represented in the sample are embracing incentive-based fee structures and a la carte service offerings as a means of aligning their interests with those of the asset managers and institutional clients they represent. A number of these firms are additionally incorporating new technologies and training procedures into their operating platforms to facilitate customization and responsiveness throughout the reporting process. Respondents also noted their firms are becoming more selective about who they work with and more willing to walk away from business opportunities when managerial philosophies conflicts. Research limitations/implications – The characteristics of the population from which the sample is drawn limit the generalizability of the results to large property management firms operating in the multifamily housing industry. Nonetheless, the best practices put forth by those participating in the study are anticipated to have relevance to a wide variety of real estate practitioners. Practical implications – The analysis links theory to practice by considering how apartment managers are evolving in response to the institutionalization of the multifamily housing industry. Originality/value – This paper is the first to the authors’ knowledge to examine apartment managers’ perceptions about the challenges associated with representing institutional clients.
Mid-wavelength infrared InAsSb/InSb nBn detector with extended cut-off wavelength

We extended the cut-off wavelength λc of bulk InAsSb nBn detectors to λc = 4.6 μm at T = 200 K by incorporating series of single InSb monolayer into InAsSb absorber. Detectors with 2 μm thick absorber showed a temperature independent quantum efficiency QEm ≈ 0.45 for back-side illumination without antireflection coating. The dark current density was jd = 5 × 10−6 A/cm2 at T = 150 K, and increased to jd = 2 × 10−3 A/cm2 at T = 200 K. At temperatures of T = 150 K and below, the demonstrated photodetectors operate in the background limited performance mode, with detectivity D*(λ) = 3–6 × 1011 cm Hz0.5/W for the background temperature of 300 K, and f/2 field of view.
Robust channel coding strategies for machine learning data

Two important recent trends are the proliferation of learning algorithms along with the massive increase of data stored on unreliable storage mediums. These trends impact each other; noisy data can have an undesirable effect on the results provided by learning algorithms. Although traditional tools exist to improve the reliability of data storage devices, these tools operate at a different abstraction level and therefore ignore the data application, leading to an inefficient use of resources. In this paper we propose taking the operation of learning algorithms into account when deciding how to best protect data. Specifically, we examine several learning algorithms that operate on data that is stored on noisy mediums and protected by error-correcting codes with a limited budget of redundancy; we develop a principled way to allocate resources so that the harm on the output of the learning algorithm is minimized.
Comment on “Political Institutions and Fiscal Policy: Evidence From The U.S. Historical Record”

The basic idea underlying the Inman and Fitts article is that excess spending on local public goods has to be the result of some sort of noncooperative equilibrium. Intuitively, then, one might suspect that exogenous factors which create stronger leadership might result in more collectively rational equilibria and, thus, in lower levels of excess expenditures. What the authors do is focus on two variables which they interpret as affecting the strength of leadership. These are a measure of presidential strength and the size of the majority in the House of Representatives.1 The marriage of theory and data works nicely for the case of presidential strength. The theory predicts that government expenditures will decrease in the measure of presidential strength and the empirical analysis confirms this prediction. Of course, one might want to question the theory on logical grounds or question the way that presidential strength is measured. Nonetheless, the article is successfuil in the sense that it creates a theory with a testable prediction and confirms the prediction. In my comment, I am going to focus on the Inman and Fitts' analysis of the second variable-the size of the majority. In this case, the authors create a more elaborate formal theory and interpret their data as supporting the theory and suggesting that there could be large social costs to excess spending on local public goods. I think that these conclusions are more problematic, or at least need to be carefully qualified. The heart of the problem is that the most natural and straightforward version of the authors' theory is that larger majorities cause collectively more
Heat treatment effects for improved creep-rupture resistance of a Fe3Al-based alloy

Abstract The iron-aluminide alloy FA-180, an Fe 3 Al-based alloy with a composition of Fe-28Al-5Cr-0.5Nb-0.8Mo-0.025Zr-0.05C-0.005B (at%), is of interest because it has improved creep-rupture resistance when compared to other Fe 3 Al and FeAl-based alloys. Previous creeprupture testing at 593 °C and 207 MPa has shown that FA-180 has a rupture life of approximately 100 h in the warm-rolled and stress relieved (l h at 700–750 °C) condition, as compared to about 20 h for the FA-129 base alloy (Fe-28Al-5Cr-0.5Nb-0.2C). Solution-annealing for 1 h at 1150 °C (followed by air cooling) dramatically improved the creeprupture life of FA-180 to about 2000 h but had little effect on the FA-129 base alloy. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that this strengthening was due to the precipitation of fine ZrC in the matrix and along grain boundaries. In the current study, creeprupture data showed that a further improvement in creeprupture life to over 6000 h can be produced by increasing the cooling rate (quenching in oil or water) after solution annealing at 1150 °C. Instead of ZrC precipitates, the microstructure of quenched FA-180 contained many fine dislocation loops which were determined to have a (001) habit plane, b //[001]. They are therefore most likely vacancy in nature. These fine loops evolved into a structure of larger dislocation loops and networks during creep at temperatures of 593–700 °C, acting as obstacles to network dislocation climb and resulting in the observed improvement in creep strength and rupture resistance.
Ladd’s Procedure for Malrotation (Laparoscopic and Open)

Ladd’s procedure is performed for malrotation, with or without volvulus. This chapter describes both open and laparoscopic approaches to this problem. Indications, essential steps, common technical variations, and complications are given for each approach. A detailed operative dictation note is included for each.
The domestic drivers of state finance institutions: evidence from sovereign wealth funds

Sovereign wealth funds – large state-owned investment funds – are key players in international finance, but little is known about their underlying political drivers. Why do some states with surplus...
A phase separated organelle at the root of motile ciliopathy

Hundreds of different cell types emerge in the developing embryo, each of which must compartmentalize cell type specific biochemical processes in a crowded intracellular environment. To study cell type specific compartmentalization, we examined motile ciliated cells, which must assemble vast numbers of dynein motors to drive ciliary beating, as mutation of dyneins or their assembly factors causes motile ciliopathy. We show that dyneins, their assembly factors, and chaperones all concentrate together in Dynein Assembly Particles (DynAPs). These phase-separated organelles are specific to ciliated cells but share machinery with stress granules. Our data suggest that a common framework underlies ubiquitous and cell-type specific phase separated organelles and that one such organelle is defective in a human genetic disease.
Electric field encephalography for brain activity monitoring.

Objective. We describe an early-stage prototype of a new wireless electrophysiological sensor system, called NeuroDot, which can measure neuroelectric potentials and fields at the scalp in a new modality called Electric Field Encephalography (EFEG). We aim to establish the physical validity of the EFEG modality, and examine some of its properties and relative merits compared to EEG. Approach. We designed a wireless neuroelectric measurement device based on the Texas Instrument ADS1299 Analog Front End platform and a sensor montage, using custom electrodes, to simultaneously measure EFEG and spatially averaged EEG over a localized patch of the scalp (2 cm × 2 cm). The signal properties of each modality were compared across tests of noise floor, Berger effect, steady-state visually evoked potential (ssVEP), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and others. In order to compare EFEG to EEG modalities in the frequency domain, we use a novel technique to compute spectral power densities and derive narrow-band SNR estimates for ssVEP signals. A simple binary choice brain–computer-interface (BCI) concept based on ssVEP is evaluated. Also, we present examples of high quality recording of transient Visually Evoked Potentials and Fields (tVEPF) that could be used for neurological studies. Main results. We demonstrate the capability of the NeuroDot system to record high quality EEG signals comparable to some recent clinical and research grade systems on the market. We show that the locally-referenced EFEG metric is resistant to certain types of movement artifacts. In some ssVEP based measurements, the EFEG modality shows promising results, demonstrating superior signal to noise ratios than the same recording processed as an analogous EEG signal. We show that by using EFEG based ssVEP SNR estimates to perform a binary classification in a model BCI, the optimal information transfer rate (ITR) can be raised from 15 to 30 bits per minute—though these preliminary results are likely sensitive to inter-subject variations and choice of scalp locations, so require further investigation. Significance. Enhancement of ssVEP SNR using EFEG has the potential to improve visually based BCIs and diagnostic paradigms. The time domain analysis of tVEPF signals shows robust features in the electric field components that might have clinical relevance beyond classical VEP approaches.
Chlorination, decarboxylation and bactericidal activity mediated by the MPO-H2O2-C1- system.

Ever since the early 1950’s, systematic studies concerned with the biochemical and antimicrobial activities of different phagocytic cells have intensified. Several reviews of these studies are available (3,6,9,10,14).
Critical Frameworks for Building Evaluation: Total Building Performance, Systems Integration, and Levels of Measurement and Assessment

Although there has been heated discussion over the past few years about the need for both objective and subjective field evaluation methods, there has been very little discussion about the need to complete those field evaluations in all performance areas simultaneously. One possible explanation of this void might be the difficulty that the design community has in defining total building performance, much less establishing limits of acceptability and testing for them. Notwithstanding, there have been some collective attempts at the definition of total building performance by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS, 1972), the International Standards Organization (ISO, 1972), and the Centre Internationale de Batiment (OB, 1982). The authors of this chapter have built on these efforts, to develop a more manageable yet comprehensive list of six performance mandates for the built environment: spatial quality, thermal quality, acoustic quality, visual quality, air quality, and long-term building integrity against degradation (figure 1) (Hartkopf, Lof tness, Mill, 1983).
The Spectacle of the “Third World Girl” and the Politics of Rescue

In this chapter, I ask what are the risks of the stories MHM tells about girls’ lives? I assert that MHM’s tendency to “spectacularize” the implications of what’s considered “poor” MHM is reflective of the Western imaginary of the “third world girl”—a flattened, overly simplified unitary subject that lacks agency. Intended to generate empathy and build cross-cultural support, MHM campaign discourse, through the use of this trope, may ironically further the distance between those in the Global North and Global South. I suggest that many of the stories of MHM are “feminist fables” following Cornwall et al. (2008)—representations that resonate with Western assumptions about life in the Global South, promulgate geopolitical hierarchies, and authorize “rescue” by well-meaning “saviors” in the shape of a narrow set of interventions. This, in short, is the problem with the problem frame advanced by advocates of MHM.
Preoperative Malnutrition Negatively Correlates With Postoperative Wound Complications and Infection After Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Malnutrition continues to be prevalent in the general population. A variety of studies have correlated poor nutritional status with reduced perioperative outcomes. However, the correlation between serologic malnutrition and arthroplasty outcomes has not been systematically evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine if serologic malnutrition has a correlation with postoperative wound infection, as well as other complications, after total joint arthroplasty. Methods A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify studies that reported on outcomes for patients who were malnourished and had undergone a total hip or knee arthroplasty. Results Twenty studies were included for review. Based on the quality of the evidence of the different studies, the balance between desirable/undesirable outcomes and the values of patients, there was a strong recommendation that preoperative serologic markers of malnutrition are significantly associated with inferior postoperative outcomes. All 20 studies analyzed albumin as a marker for malnutrition. Eleven (55%) studies used the total lymphocyte count, and 6 (30%) studies reported transferrin as a marker for malnutrition. Among 20 studies, 18 (90%) studies reported a correlation with at least one serological marker and poor postoperative outcomes. Finally, patients with an albumin level Conclusions There is strong evidence that serologic malnutrition was associated with increased risk of poor postoperative outcome across all total joint replacement interventions.
The Weierstrass–Mandelbrot Process Revisited

We derive a functional central limit theorem for quasi-Gaussian processes. In particular, we prove that the limit of the Mandelbrot–Weierstrass process is a complex fractional Brownian motion.
THE PARTICIPATORY DESIGN OF EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT APPARATUS

Background and Aims: Sensor-equipped phones, handheld monitors, and instrumented bicycles are just three examples of the diverse forms of personal and microenvironmental monitoring equipment that c...
Investigation of tightly coupled porphyrin arrays comprised of identical monomers for multibit information storage

Our prior designs for molecular-based information storage devices have employed multiple redox-active units organized in weakly coupled, covalently linked arrays. To explore a simpler design, we report here the synthesis of porphyrin arrays where porphyrins with identical oxidation potentials are directly linked to one another instead of joined via a molecular linker. Oxidative coupling with AgPF6 of zinc(II)-5,15-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)-10-phenylporphyrin, obtained by a rational synthesis, afforded the expected dimer joined by a meso-meso linkage and an unexpected trimer joined by meso-meso linkages. For attachment to an electroactive surface we synthesized a meso-linked porphyrin dimer with a thiol-linker in one of the meso positions. The S-acetyl protecting group was used to avoid handling free thiol groups. Coupling of zinc(II)-5,10,15-tris(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin (“upper half”) and zinc(II)-5-[4-(S-acetylthio)phenyl]-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin (“lower half”) afforded three ...
Biopolitics, Essential Labor, and the Political-Economic Crises of COVID-19

Biopolitics is the power to control life. In the early global reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people’s daily labor functions have been placed into stark relief, with a tripartite typology ...
Modifying Phosphorus(III) Substituents to ActivateRemote Ligand-Centered Reactivity in Triaminoborane Ligands

Triaminoborane-bridged diphosphorus ligands called TBDPhos can undergo cooperative ligand-centered reactions at the 1,8,10,9-triazaboradecalin (TBD) backbone while bound to metals, but the factors ...
Static Analysis Opportunities for Improving Agile and Moving Target Defenses

Agile defenses have been proposed to enable systems to change their defensive posture dynamically to thwart attacks. Researchers have suggested a variety of agile defenses that leverage renaming (e.g., for network services), migration (e.g., for cloud instances), variation (e.g., for application configurations), and patching (e.g., for programs), among others. These agile defenses demonstrate promise for achieving a key goal: increasing the cost of launching a successful attack. However, agile defenses also incur non-trivial costs in overhead and/or complexity to defenders as well, leaving defenders hesitant to employ such defenses without further justification for their necessity. A question we examine in this keynote is how to develop techniques that may aid defenders in choosing when to employ agile defenses and which agile defenses to employ.
Patterning of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior at and Away from School in Preadolescent Children.

Background: Understanding how and where children accumulate their physical activity (PA) and sedentary minutes throughout the day has important implications for behavioral interventions. Purpose: T...
Count-Valued Time Series Models for COVID-19 Daily Death Dynamics.

We propose a generalized non-linear state-space model for count-valued time series of COVID-19 fatalities. To capture the dynamic changes in daily COVID-19 death counts, we specify a latent state process that involves second order differencing and an AR(1)-ARCH(1) model. These modeling choices are motivated by the application and validated by model assessment. We consider and fit a progression of Bayesian hierarchical models under this general framework. Using COVID-19 daily death counts from New York City's five boroughs, we evaluate and compare the considered models through predictive model assessment. Our findings justify the elements included in the proposed model. The proposed model is further applied to time series of COVID-19 deaths from the four most populous counties in Texas. These model fits illuminate dynamics associated with multiple dynamic phases and show the applicability of the framework to localities beyond New York City.
Therapy of Diarrhea in Calves

Diarrhea in calves can result in physiological derangements including dehydration, acidosis, hypothermia, septicemia and infection, systemically or elsewhere. A thorough physical examination of calves presented with diarrhea will help to determine which problems are present. Therapeutic options include include oral or intravenous administration of fluids containing electrolytes, energy sources and/or alkalinizing agents, warming the calf, antimicrobial drugs, and changes in feeding management.
Examining the relation between whole numbers and fractions: A meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach

Abstract With a Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling approach, we investigated the role of whole-number knowledge on fraction performance, accounting for domain-general skills, age, and mathematics-difficulty status. We conducted analyses based on 6,096 students from 39 independent samples within 29 studies. Findings suggested conceptual whole-number knowledge emerged as a significant and stable predictor of conceptual and procedural fraction knowledge. More importantly, students experiencing mathematics difficulty demonstrated a distinct pattern of performance compared to typically-achieving students, including: conceptual whole-number knowledge had lesser impacts on conceptual fraction knowledge; procedural whole-number knowledge had greater impacts on procedural fraction knowledge; and working memory and fluid intelligence made fewer contributions to fraction knowledge.
Reservoir Mass Analysis by a Low-Flow Series

Generation and use of nonsequential series of low-flow events, for improved mass-type analysis of proposed impounding reservoir; determination of reservoir capacity necessary to meet particular gross draft rates during critical droughts having various recurrence intervals; determination of length of critical drawdown periods by mass-type analysis for selection of optimum economic reservoir design.
Die Swell and Delayed Die Swell

A jet of viscoelastic fluid which is extruded from a pipe can swell to three or four times the diameter of the pipe from which it is extruded. The old name for this is “die swell” or more recently extrudate swell, since the extrudate rather than the die, swells.* The phenomenon of die swell is one important signature of the nonlinearity of flow in non-Newtonian fluids. It is a very important problem in industry because so many processes involve the extrusion of viscoelastic fluids, say plastic in their molten state. Die swell is not well understood. There are a number of approximate approaches and numerical simulations based on assuming different constitutive models. These approaches are well represented in the books of reference and will not be discussed here.