cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Modelling, Simulating and Verifying a Decentralized Mission Control Algorithm for a Fleet of Collaborative UAVs

Abstract It can be relatively easy to correctly design a centralized mission control algorithm for a fleet of UAVs to achieve optimal mission efficiency. However, the fault intolerance of an algorithm can put the fleet at risk for missions in a noisy communication environment. This paper presents a Decentralized Mission Control (DMC) algorithm for coordinating a fleet of UAVs to accomplish a specific mission. The symbolic model of the UAV fleet configuration and the software processes are applied to the Berkley UAV systems described in [1] and [10] , which facilitate peer-to-peer communication and environmental awareness. The design goal of DMC algorithm is that the UAVs work either cooperatively to achieve the highest efficiency under normal communication modes or adaptively to guarantee the safety of the UAVs under various fault modes. The communication protocol of DMC algorithm mostly relies on message broadcasting in order to minimize the dependency on a ground station. The task assignment schema of the DCM algorithm depends on the modes of the environment variables. It is derived from the Hungary Algorithm [11] , which attains the optimal assignment for equal numbers of tasks and agents. A formal method is used to verify the safety and progress properties such as tolerance to faults and freedom from deadlocks. The real-time interactions of the system are modeled as a nexus of UPPAAL automata and are verified against expected properties specified as a list of temporal CTL queries. A C# program is used to simulate and measure the mission efficiency.
Consonant Phonemic Errors Associated with Pure-Tone Configurations and Certain Kinds of Hearing Impairment.

In the course of developing multiple-choice items for speech discrimination testing, phonemic errors were observed as they relate to pure-tone configurations and to certain types of hearing impairm...
Complications Associated With the Use of Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy in an Adult Patient With Ebstein's Anomaly

This case describes issues related to left ventricular assist device placement in an adult with ischemic heart disease with well-compensated Ebstein's anomaly who subsequently developed severe right heart dysfunction. We discuss strategies for dealing with this rare but structurally important congenital heart defect.
Disaster and emergency management systems in urban areas

This article focuses on the factors shaping and constituting governance in urban/metropolitan emergency management. The main focus of the article is the multi-faceted inter-organizational relationships producing shared goals that are practiced at the local level, and specifically within the context of county-level metropolitan emergency management. The article presents a conceptual understanding of the governance concept, a brief summary of related research in the context of emergency management, and an example of the Orlando Metropolitan Area in the State of Florida for practical purposes.
Older Adults who Overcame Oppression

This article presents the results of a study that examined 24 ethnically diverse older adults' autobiographical memories of critical life events involving discrimination and oppression. Narrative interviews reveal the impact that such experiences have on individual, family, and societal resilience. The study contributes to the growing body of research literature that allows for a deeper understanding of how a client's particular life story and personal experiences interplay with collective histories. It also discusses how clinicians, including physicians, nurses, and social workers, can benefit from conversations that mutually construct personal narratives that reveal circumstances pertinent to intervention strategies (Cohler & Cole, 1996; Gergen, 1996).
The interaction of heparin sulfate and adeno-associated virus 2.

Abstract Recently heparan sulfate was proposed as the host cell receptor for the dependovirus, adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2). We show that although heparan sulfate on the cell surface may contribute to the binding of AAV2 to permissive cells, the amount of heparan sulfate on the cell surface as determined by flow cytometry using four different monoclonal antibodies does not correlate with AAV2 binding to cells or recombinant AAV2 transduction efficiency. Experiments with either mutant CHO cells or cells treated with chlorate to remove sulfate groups showed that sulfation was not absolutely required for infection or binding: in the absence of cell surface sulfation, recombinant AAV2 was still able to be transduced in previously permissive cells. Heparin is commonly used as a substitute in studies of the interaction between heparan sulfate and ligand, and we demonstrate that the binding affinity of AAV2/heparin is low, with a K d value of ∼2.0 nM. A study of the direct interaction between AAV2 and artificial glycosaminoglycans showed that a high degree of sulfation on heparin was critical for the ability to bind AAV2 and compete rAAV2 transduction and that both O- and N-sulfate groups are required. Overall, our data suggest that, as has been shown for other viruses, the presence of a high-affinity AAV2 receptor mediates AAV2 infection in addition to the low-affinity heparan sulfate binding.
Further Characterization of Androgen Binding Protein in Epididymis and Blood

Androgen binding protein (ABP) has been purified and conclusively shown to have a subunit structure. Antibodies against purified ABP were utilized to detect an immunoreactive material in blood of male rats. It has been shown that this material binds steroid and is the same size as native ABP. Steroid binding by serum albumin has been shown to mask binding by ABP in blood.
Manometric determination of CO2 combined with scintillation counting of C-14☆

Abstract A procedure is described for rapid transfer to scintillation vials of 14CO2 evolved by reactions in the mechanically shaken manometric chamber of Van Slyke and Neill. Results are given with amounts of CO2 ranging from 2 to 1000 μmoles, and with Hyamine and phenylethylamine to absorb CO2 in the vials.
The Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Prescription Opioid Adherence Among Older Adults With Chronic Pain.

Purpose To test the effect of office-based motivational interviewing (MI) on prescription opioid adherence in older adults with chronic pain. Design and Methods Pre- and post-design was used. Thirty chronic pain patients participated in a 4-week MI in two outpatient settings. Findings Participants demonstrated a significantly reduced risk of prescription opioid misuse, decreased substance use, increased self-efficacy, increased motivation to change, and decreased depression at both the post-test and 1-month follow-up. Practice Implication MI can be effectively delivered in outpatient settings for older adults who are at risk for opioid misuse. Clinicians could incorporate MI techniques to enhance prescription opioid adherence.
MCD: Mesh Closure Detection for Localized Load Balancing in Scientific Applications

Parallel and distributed computing has been adapted to many scientific applications for aggregate computational power and memory capacity. To utilize resources efficiently and speed up application execution, tasks are split and dispatched across multiple computing elements. The ideal case is that all subtasks can finish roughly at the same time. However, this is not always achievable due to different and dynamic computing resources, workloads, and networks. Dynamic load balancing is in demand. This paper proposed a Mesh Closure Detection (MCD) scheme to speed up data/task partitioning process, narrow down the repartitioning space, and reduce the overhead of load balancing. Both data repartitioning and load balancing are accomplished locally. Without the requirement of global control, MCD can be adapted to decentralized systems, such as Peer-to-Peer systems to conduct multiple local loadbalancing events in different regions concurrently. Formal analyses are provided for its correctness. MCD is also applied to a real application, Relativistic Particle Transport simulation, to demonstrate its effectivenessand efficiency.
Efficient XML-Based Grid Middleware Design for Multi-Core Processors

Chip multi-processors (CMPs), commonly referred to as multi-core processors, are being widely adopted for deployment as part of the grid infrastructure. In CMPs, multiple cores can independently execute different threads. This change in computer architecture requires corresponding design modifications in programming paradigms, including grid middleware tools, to harness the opportunities presented by multi- core processors. Simple and naive implementations of grid middleware on multi-core systems can severely impact performance. The goal of developing an optimized multi-threaded grid middleware for emerging multi-core processors will be realized only if researchers and developers have access to an in-depth analysis of the impact of several low level microarchitectural parameters on performance. None of the current grid simulators and emulators provides feedback at the micro-architectural level. We have designed an emulation framework, Multi-core Grid (McGrid), to analyze and provide insightful feedback on the performance limitations, bottlenecks, and optimization opportunities for grid middleware on multi-core systems.
Contrast enhancement and background suppression of chemosensor array patterns with the KIII model

Inspired by the ability of the olfactory bulb to enhance the contrast between odor representations, we propose a new hebbian learning rule that is able to increase the separability of odor patterns from gas sensor arrays. The proposed learning rule employs a hebbian term to build associations within odors and an anti-hebbian term to reduce correlated activity across odors. In addition to increasing the separability of patterns, the new learning rule can also achieve odor background suppression when combined with a habituation term. These two functions are demonstrated on Freeman’s KIII, a neurodynamics model of the olfactory system. The system is first characterized on synthetic data, and also validated on experimental data from an array of chemical sensors exposed to organic solvents. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The collective endorsement of James Meredith: Initiating a leader identity construction process

DeRue and Ashford (2010) proposed a social process of leadership identity construction, asserting that leadership identity is co-constructed by way of claims and grants of leader and follower identities. In addition, these authors suggested that the collective endorsement of the broader social context might serve as a catalyst to initiate the leader identity construction process. As a result, they called for qualitative studies to further develop this idea. During archival research of James Meredith’s historic integration of the University of Mississippi, we discovered evidence to support and extend their theoretical arguments. Accordingly, we interpret the archival evidence of support and opposition of Meredith’s defiant integration to contrast the leader identity construction processes of Meredith with his contemporary antagonist, former Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett. We use this analysis to illustrate how the distinctive social context broadly recognized the key element of defiance and collectively...
The fine structure of the interhemal membrane of the rat chorioallantoic placenta during prolonged pregnancy.

In placentas from viable rat fetuses which surgically had been retained beyond term in lactating animals for as long as four days, the fine structue of much of the interhemal membrane was quite like that of full-term placentas. Moreover, contrary to what has been reported previously (Jollie, 1964a), in retained placentas which were autopsied at term there were few changes in the four cytoplasmic layers of the membrane which could be interpreted as degenerative. With prolongation of the placenta beyond normal delivery the number of pericytes which were associated with the allantoic endothelium increased; the basal lamina separating the endothelium from trophoblast III progressively became more focally split; and the apposed plasma membranes between this latter layer and trophoblast II appeared to dissociate. Trophoblast II became regionally divided in its cytoplasmic organization, its more superficial zone becoming highly infolded and/or vacuolar. As a consequence, the intertrophoblastic space between layers I and II became more extensive and complex. Within this space, a flocculent material appeared; and there was ultrastructural evidence of massive pinocytosis from the space by trophoblast II. With increased prolongation of gestation, a variety of lysosome-like inclusions appeared within this layer of the membrane.
Translating Social Psychology for the Scientist-Practitioner Counseling Psychologist

The articles included in this special issue have presented a balance of reviewing and synthesizing the literatures, translating what has been learned into guidance relevant to practice, and addressing future directions. This summary article briefly highlights some of the new contributions of the four topical articles and concludes that considerable work remains, particularly for counseling psychology, to continue to enhance the integration of these fields.
Structural basis for stereoselectivity in the (R)- and (S)-hydroxypropylthioethanesulfonate dehydrogenases.

Epoxide metabolism in Xanthobacter autotrophicus Py2 results in the conversion of epoxypropane to acetoacetate. Epoxide metabolism is initiated by the nucleophilic addition of coenzyme M to the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of epoxypropane which forms the respective enantiomers of 2-hydroxypropyl-coenyme M. The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of 2-hydroxypropyl coenzyme are oxidized to the achiral product 2-ketopropyl-CoM by two stereoselective dehydrogenases. The dehydrogenases catalyzing these reactions, termed (R)-hydroxypropyl-coenzyme M dehydrogenase (R-HPCDH) and (S)-hydroxypropyl-coenzyme M dehydrogenase (S-HPCDH), are NAD+-dependent enzymes belonging to the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family of enzymes. In this study, the crystal structure of R-HPCDH cocrystallized in the presence of (S)-hydroxypropyl-coenzyme M has been determined using X-ray diffraction methods and refined to 1.8 A resolution. The structure of R-HPCDH is tetrameric and stabilized by the interaction of the terminal carboxylates...
Advances in optical fiber-based Faraday Rotation Diagnostics

In the past two years, we have used optical fiber-based Faraday Rotation Diagnostics (FRDs) to measure pulsed currents on several dozen capacitively driven and explosively driven pulsed power experiments. We have made simplifications to the necessary hardware for quadrature-encoded polarization analysis, including development of an all-fiber analysis scheme. We have developed a numerical model that is useful for predicting and quantifying deviations from the ideal diagnostic response. We have developed a method of analyzing quadrature-encoded FRD data that is simple to perform and offers numerous advantages over several existing methods. When comparison has been possible, we have seen good agreement with our FRDs and other current sensors.
Ultrafast DNA analysis by capillary electrophoresis/laser-induced fluorescence detection

The limits of ultrafast DNA analysis by CE were determined by investigating the influence of the effective capillary length and the electric field strength on the analysis time for a given peak resolution (10 bp). In accordance with theory, the use of a fast ramp power supply for narrow plug electrokinetic injection was found to be essential to minimize the extra column effects on peak dispersion. Two major column dispersion factors, longitudinal diffusion and thermal dispersion, were determined experimentally, as well as the influence of the electric field strength on the electrophoretic mobilities and diffusion coefficients of DNA. It was found that higher field strengths can be applied with lower thermal dispersion than predicted by classical CE models. This was attributed to the faster mass transport in the radial direction due to field-induced DNA orientation. Short capillaries (approximately 3-7 cm effective length) and moderate to high electric field strengths (approximately 600-800 V/cm) were used to perform a series of fast DNA separations. The dsDNA fragment standards phiX174/HaeIII and pBR322/HaeIII were separated within 30 s. The possibility for fast mutation detection was demonstrated using constant denaturant capillary electrophoresis (CDCE) for the analysis of a single base mutation in mitochondrial DNA in 72 s. The potential for fast DNA sequencing was illustrated by separating 300 ssDNA fragments within 180 s.
A Study of Edge-On Galaxies with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys. I. Initial Results

We present the initial results of a Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys snapshot survey of 16 nearby, edge-on, late-type galaxies covering a range in distance from 2 to 19 Mpc. The images of these galaxies show significant resolved stellar populations. We derive F606W and F814W photometry for more than 1.2 million stars and present color-magnitude diagrams that show a mixture of young, intermediate, and old stars in each galaxy. In one of the fields we serendipitously detect stars from the Large Magellanic Cloud. We also identify a candidate young dwarf galaxy lying ~2 kpc above the plane of NGC 4631. For the nearest six galaxies, we derive tip of the red giant branch distances and demonstrate that these galaxies fall on the K-band Tully-Fisher relation established in clusters. From the color of the red giant branch, we also find evidence that these galaxies possess a metal-poor thick-disk or halo population.
A mathematical formulation of DNA computation

DNA computation is to use DNA molecules for information storing and processing. The task is accomplished by encoding and interpreting DNA molecules in suspended solutions before and after the complementary binding reactions. DNA computation is attractive, due to its fast parallel information processing, remarkable energy efficiency, and high storing capacity. Challenges currently faced by DNA computation are: 1) lack of theoretical computational models for applications and 2) high error rate for implementation. This paper attempts to address these problems from mathematical modeling and genetic coding aspects. The first part of this paper presents a mathematical formulation of DNA computation. The model may serve as a theoretical framework for DNA computation. In the second part, a genetic code based DNA computation approach is presented to reduce error rate for implementation, which has been a major concern for DNA computation. The method provides a promising alternative to reduce error rate for DNA computation
Marine sediment toxicity identification evaluation methods for the anionic metals arsenic and chromium

Marine sediments accumulate a variety of contaminants and, in some cases, demonstrate toxicity because of this contamination. Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) methods provide tools for identifying the toxic chemicals causing sediment toxicity. Currently, whole-sediment TIE methods are not available for anionic metals like arsenic and chromium. In the present paper, we describe two new anion-exchange resins used in the development of whole-sediment TIE methods for arsenic and chromium. Resins were shown to reduce whole-sediment toxicity and overlying water concentrations of the anionic metals. Sediment toxicity, expressed as the median lethal concentration, was reduced by a factor of two to a factor of nearly six between amended sediment treatments containing resin and those without resin. Aqueous concentrations of arsenic and chromium in the toxicity exposures decreased to less than the detection limits or to concentrations much lower than those measured in treatments without resin. Interference studies indicated that the anion-exchange resins had no significant effect on concentrations of the representativepesticide endosulfan and minimal effects on concentrations of ammonia. However, the anion-exchange resins did significantly reduce the concentrations of a selection of cationic metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). These data demonstrate the utility of anion-exchange resins for determining the contribution of arsenic and chromium to whole-sediment toxicity. The present results also indicate the importance of using TIE methods in a formal TIE structure to ensure that results are not misinterpreted. These methods should be useful in the performance of marine whole-sediment TIEs.
Enhanced backscattering from a rough dielectric film on a reflecting substrate

We carry out computer simulations of the scattering of a beam of light with p or s polarization from a transparent dielectric film (BaSO4) on a perfectly conducting substrate. The dielectric–vacuum interface is assumed to be a random grating; the dielectric–conductor interface is assumed to be planar. It is found that for incident light of either polarization the angular dependence of the incoherent contribution to the mean intensity of the scattered light has a well-defined peak when the scattering angle corresponds to the retroreflection direction (enhanced backscattering). The existence of enhanced backscattering of p-polarized light in this geometry contrasts with its absence in the scattering of p-polarized light from a random grating on a semi-infinite dielectric medium that is characterized by the same roughness parameters and index of refraction. The enhanced backscattering that is observed in the scattering of s-polarized light from a random grating on a semi-infinite dielectric medium is stronger when the scattering takes place from the structure studied. For both polarizations the enhancement is most pronounced when the distance of the perfectly conducting substrate from the mean dielectric–vacuum interface is several (2–10) times the distance of the focusing plane of the rough interface from the mean interface.
How do social dominance and social information influence reproduction and the brain

How does living in a social environment influence the brain? In particular, we ask the following questions: How do animals perceive and use social information? How does the perception of social information influence the reproductive system? Where is this represented in the brain? We present a model system in which these questions can be addressed, focusing on the brain's role in integrating information. In the social fish, Astatotilapia burtoni (Haplochromis), the relationship between social status and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH1) has been well established. Change in status results in numerous changes in the physiology of A. burtoni at every level of organization. Social status can regulate reproduction via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. GnRH1 is used by the brain to signal the pituitary about reproductive state so reproductive control depends on regulation of this signaling peptide. In this fish, social dominance is tightly coupled to fertility. Here, we have exploited this link to understand the regulatory systems from circulating hormones, brain volume to gene expression.
Right ventricular myxoma obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract.

A12-year-old previously healthy girl developed syncope when walking at school. When she was seen in the emergency department, her heart rate was 115 bpm, the precordial impulse was active, and a thrill was palpated. Third and fourth heart sounds were heard. A grade 4/6 systolic ejection murmur was heard at the …
Photochemical processing of semiconductors: New applications for visible and ultraviolet lasers

A wide variety of semiconductor and metal films have recently been grown, doped, or etched by laser photochemical processes. While still early in its development, laser-driven processing of semiconductor devices appears promising as a supplement to existing processing techniques and particularly in the fabrication of III-V compound and custom devices. A discussion of film growth and etching shows that the laser is capable of performing all of the basic processing steps required in device fabrication without the need for photolithographic techniques. The boundaries of the field are set only by the number of semiconductor and metal-containing compounds having reasonable vapor pressure (~1 torr) at several hundred degrees centigrade or less.
The Effect of a Delta Function Sextupole Field on Phase Space Trajectories

It is generally accepted that the region of phase space inside the separatrix is covered by noninter secting invariant curves. In this paper, computer studies of a lumped element sextupole field show the existence of "islands of stability" inside the separatrix. The unperturbed tune determines the number of islands and the size and shape of the real stable region.
Decentralized supervisory control: a new architecture with a dynamic decision fusion rule

We consider a decentralized control architecture for discrete-event systems where local supervisors are allowed to change dynamically the manner in which their local decisions are combined globally. This is done by changing the default decisions regarding the enablement of common controllable events. In previous work, this default was fixed a priori and remained constant throughout the operation of the system. We show that under dynamic decision fusion rules, a larger class of languages can be achieved as compared with architectures with static fusion rules. A dynamic version of the notion of co-observability appears in the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of supervisors in the new architecture. The dynamic co-observability relaxes (static) co-observability. The existence of a set of local dynamic default decision rules that ensures dynamic co-observability can be decided in polynomial time.
SIMS and MALDI MS imaging of the spinal cord.

The application of mass spectrometry to imaging, or MS imaging (MSI), allows for the direct investigation of tissue sections to identify biological compounds and determine their spatial distribution. We present an approach to MSI that combines secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and MALDI MS for the imaging and analysis of rat spinal cord sections, thereby enhancing the chemical coverage obtained from an MSI experiment. The spinal cord is organized into discrete, anatomically defined areas that include motor and sensory networks composed of chemically diverse cells. The MSI data presented here reveal the spatial distribution of multiple phospholipids, proteins, and neuropeptides obtained within single, 20-μm sections of rat spinal cord. Analyte identities are initially determined by primary mass match and confirmed in follow-up experiments using LC MS/MS from extracts of adjacent spinal cord sections. Additionally, a regional analysis of differentially localized signals serves to rapidly screen compounds of varying intensities across multiple spinal regions. These MSI analyses reveal new insights into the chemical architecture of the spinal cord and set the stage for future imaging studies of the chemical changes induced by pain, anesthesia, and drug tolerance.
High-throughput solution processing of large-scale graphene

The electronic properties of graphene, such as high charge carrier concentrations and mobilities, make it a promising candidate for next-generation nanoelectronic devices. In particular, electrons and holes can undergo ballistic transport on the sub-micrometre scale in graphene and do not suffer from the scale limitations of current MOSFET technologies. However, it is still difficult to produce single-layer samples of graphene and bulk processing has not yet been achieved, despite strenuous efforts to develop a scalable production method. Here, we report a versatile solution-based process for the large-scale production of single-layer chemically converted graphene over the entire area of a silicon/SiO(2) wafer. By dispersing graphite oxide paper in pure hydrazine we were able to remove oxygen functionalities and restore the planar geometry of the single sheets. The chemically converted graphene sheets that were produced have the largest area reported to date (up to 20 x 40 microm), making them far easier to process. Field-effect devices have been fabricated by conventional photolithography, displaying currents that are three orders of magnitude higher than previously reported for chemically produced graphene. The size of these sheets enables a wide range of characterization techniques, including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, to be performed on the same specimen.
The Partially Opened Door: Limitations on Economic Change in China in the 1860s

The economic impact of the West on China has long been a subject of debate among students of Chinese history. Despite numerous books and articles, however, a consensus has yet to emerge. Part of the reason for this, I believe, is that the more analytical contributions to the debate have been too sweeping in their historical coverage, while those with a more limited time perspective have been insufficiently rigorous in their analysis. The aim of this paper is to renew this debate, but to do so by a method that will, hopefully, avoid the pitfalls of the past. Specifically, I intend to employ an explicitly theoretical framework to examine the facts of a particular period—the 1860s. This decade is especially important since it immediately followed the expanded opening of China by the Treaty of Tientsin in 1860. The analytical framework employed—economic theory—is applicable to any period in modern Chinese history, but as the data examined are drawn mostly from the 1860s, my conclusions, strictly speaking, are applicable only to that decade. For reasons discussed below, however, I strongly believe these conclusions to be applicable to the entire period from 1860 to 1895.
Resource-Use and Partial-Budget Analysis of a Transition to Reduced-Input and Organic Practices and Direct Marketing: A Student-Farm Case Study

The Berea College student farm undertook a transition to alternative practices in an effort to improve the sustainability of its operations, which included an expansion of organic crop production, a transition to reduced-input cattle and hog production, and a shift toward local marketing and sales, particularly of value-added products. The changes, developed and planned by students, staff and faculty in 2007, were implemented in 2008–2009 and fully in place by 2010. The plan required a reduction in livestock herd sizes, creating less dependence on purchased off-farm inputs, such as livestock feedstuffs and fertilizers for growing animal feed-crops. Third-party certifications, including USDA Certified Organic and Animal Welfare Approved, facilitated access to price premiums and new markets. Selling more meat and fewer live animals resulted in financial gains for the livestock enterprises, but the greatest returns were generated through organic horticultural production. Questions remain about the environmental, social, and animal-welfare trade-offs from the transition, but it clearly resulted in financial improvements and reduced dependence on off-farm inputs. This paper quantitatively documents the effects of the initiatives and illustrates the interdependencies among the changes to the whole-farm system.
THE EVIDENCE FROM FLUID INCLUSIONS FOR ORE FORMING PROCESS IN HAOJIAHE SANDSTONE-TYPE COPPER DEPOSIT,CENTRAL YUNNAN PROVINCE

The study and comparison of fluid inclusions with different texture,structure and mineralization intensities in the Haojiahe copper deposit in Yunnan Province revealed that their formation is closely related to the evolution of ore-forming fluids in different rock forming and ore forming stages.Three stages of ore-forming fluid are recorded during the formation of copper deposit.First is the rock-forming period(Th-homogeneous temperature:84 ℃～162 ℃),second is the main reworked period(Th:145 ℃～227 ℃) and the last is the secondary reworked period(Th:129 ℃～177 ℃).The salinity(NaCl) of fluid inclusions of these three stages ranges from 4% to 10%,the gaseous phase of fluid inclusions were mainly composed of H2O,and the minor compositions contained CH4 and CO2.Ore source bed and some lean ore bodies of this sandstone-type copper deposit formed by the evolution of fluid during the rock-forming period,at the place of highly mineralization degree can even form disseminated or lamellar ores.Reworking mineralization fluid was the further evolution on the base of the rock-forming period fluid,which formed the final ore body controlled by structure and some banded or vein rich ores.
Targeting the Androgen Receptor: Remaining questions and future directions.

Advanced strategies to target the androgen receptor (AR) in castration-resistant prostate cancer are now the standard of care. As regulatory approvals of abiraterone and enzalutamide disseminate worldwide, a growing number of patients are in a position to benefit from these two medications that are well tolerated, reduce the likelihood of disease progression, and prolong survival. But much work remains if we are to leverage the full clinical benefit from the addition of these and related therapies in the clinic. The state of that science, and exactly how that leverage is likely to take place, is the topic of this special edition of Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. With this series of articles we address the next generation of questions, highlight work being done to answer them, and suggest the direction the field is likely to go. Are enzalutamide and abiraterone the end of the AR targeting story or just the beginning? Most likely the latter. This is the topic covered in the article Novel and nextgeneration androgen receptor-directed therapies for prostate cancer: Beyond abiraterone and enzalutamide by Drs. Bambury and Rathkopf. This article highlights the next generation of novel AR targeted drugs, their pharmacologic and biologic differences, and their development strategies. A second article, Targeting the androgen receptor in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer: A review, by
Semen Abnormalities in Artificial Insemination Donor Candidates

AbstractWe screened 43 healthy adult male medical students as potential anonymous donors for the artificial insemination program at our university. Of the candidates 10 had varicoceles (5 bilaterally). Over-all, 34 men (79 per cent) had inadequate semen analyses by 1 or more criteria. Of the men with varicoceles 80 per cent also had abnormal findings. Three abnormalities were discovered most frequently in the semen of men with a normal physical examination and 5 deficiencies were found in those with a varicocele. Problems with semen quality were more common than those of sperm numbers.
Preterm birth in North Carolina.

Decreasing infant mortality is closely linked to decreasing preterm births. Unfortunately, the rate of preterm births in North Carolina and in the United States, after declining in the 1980s, has been rising again for the past several years. The goal of this commentary is to examine North Carolina data related to both preterm births per se and to those factors that have been associated with preterm birth. At times, low-birth weight (LBW) rates will be used in this paper when preterm data are not available. While both rates follow similar patterns, readers should recognize that LBW refers to the birth of infants weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces), while preterm births are those before 37 weeks gestation. Some of the data reported here (smoking and intimate partner violence, for example) are based on self-report by women who are pregnant or delivering; such self-reporting may result in underestimation of the true rate of the outcome or exposure reported. Preterm births may be medically indicated because of the health of the mother or fetus, may follow preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes, or may be the result of spontaneous onset of labor. The antecedents of preterm birth are multifactoral and vary from one birth to another. Thus, the reasons for increasing rates of preterm birth are not clear. Two factors have been identified in both national and North Carolina data as potentially contributory: increasing maternal age and an increasing number of multiple gestation births. 1,2
A quantitative LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of cocaine and its metabolites in whole blood.

As new metabolic pathways of cocaine were recently identified, a high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously determine cocaine and nine cocaine-related metabolites in whole blood samples. One-step solid phase extraction was used to extract all of the ten compounds and corresponding internal standards from blood samples. All compounds and internal standards extracted were separated on an Atlantis T3 (100A, 3μm, 2.1mm×150mm I.D) column and detected in positive ion and high sensitivity mode with multiple reaction monitoring. This method was validated for its sensitivity, linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. All of the ten compounds were quantifiable ranging from the lower limit of quantification (LLOQs) of ∼10nM (1.9-3.2ng/ml) to ∼1000nM (190-320ng/ml) without any interfering substance. Accuracy and precision were determined, and both of them were within the acceptance criteria of the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines. The recovery was above 66.7% for all compounds. Stability tests demonstrated the stability of compounds under different storage conditions in whole blood samples. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study with co-administration of cocaine and alcohol in rats.
Validating OSCE performance: The impact of general intelligence

Abstract Purpose To investigate the relationship between medical students’ eductive ability as measured by the advanced version of the Raven׳s Progressive Matrices (RPM) test, reproductive ability as measured by performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step I, and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) performance. Method Thirty-two third-year medical students took the Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM) online, which consists of two parts: (1) a practice set of 12 items, and (2) 36 items which become progressively more difficult as the test proceeds. Several models representing different causal structures are tested and compared. Results Comparison of the different structural models revealed that eductive reasoning ability better predicted OSCE performance than reproductive ability. Discussion The relationship between APM and OSCE performance indicates that more in-depth research in domain-general abilities is important.
The terrain of intermediary organizations’ professional development offerings

In the current educational policy context, the call for accountability has intensified efforts to raise the capacity of educators. As professional development (PD) is increasingly leveraged to improve student outcomes, state and district administrators seek ways to provide affordable and effective opportunities for educator growth. Intermediary organizations, such as Regional Centers (RCs), have taken on the task of providing PD. In this qualitative study of three RCs, we discuss the nature of their PD commodities across a northeastern state. Our analysis of RCs’ PD offerings revealed patterns in their approaches to PD. In their attempts to serve the needs of districts, each RC focused on teachers as their target audience, yet there was much variability in the format and content of sessions. A relatively small number of sessions reflected best practices asserted by research. These findings have important implications for the role of intermediary organizations as policy actors and for state and dis...
Cultural Fragmentation as a Barrier to Interagency Collaboration: A Qualitative Examination of Texas Law Enforcement Officers’ Perceptions:

Public management scholars have long speculated on the importance of interagency collaboration among public agencies in the delivery of public services. This study examines barriers to public inter...
Assessing the age of animal bones and ivories by Raman spectroscopy

A fast, convenient way to determine the age of bones and ivories is important both in forensics and for classifying art objects in collections of art experts, restorers, art galleries and museums. Knowing the age of elephant tusks is also essential because there are many date-specific regulations of ivory trade. Radiocarbon dating is the standard method used to determine the age of organic materials, but it is expensive, time consuming, and damages the sample in the process. Raman spectroscopy is sensitive to rotational and vibrational molecular transitions, and also intermolecular vibrations. Therefore, it can provide information about sample make up, such as proteins and minerals, as well as detect spectral signatures associated with structural changes in molecules. Since Raman spectroscopy identifies the molecular bonds present in a sample, it is often used to determine its chemical composition. Bones and ivories contain two primary components: collagen and bioapatite. As the protein collagen deteriorates with time, its Raman signal decreases. The ratio of collagen-to-bioapatite peaks, therefore, is smaller in the older samples compared to the younger ones, providing a basis for sample dating. We employed Raman spectroscopy to non-destructively determine the age of several elephant tusk fragments. We have also used it to identify ivory imitations made of vegetable and plastic materials. Such materials have entirely different chemical composition, and their spectra are easily distinguished from those of bone and ivory. Peak fitting was employed to determine collagen and bioapatite components.
“We can stop work, but then nothing gets done.” Factors that support and hinder a workforce to discontinue work for safety

Abstract Workers have a legal obligation not to perform unsafe work. In many organisations this obligation is supported by an explicit authority to discontinue work or to stop the work of others if the conditions of work are unsafe. The supporting document is often called an ‘Authority to Stop an Unsafe Task.’ However, when conducting work at the sharp operational end of the organisation, stopping work for safety might be challenging at times. A better understanding is required about the stopping of work and the application of an ‘Authority to Stop.’ The aim of this research is to identify some of the factors that support and hinder a workforce to effectively stop work when a task is deemed unsafe. 10 focus groups were conducted with workers of various roles in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry. The findings outline reasons to stop, challenges and supporting factors of stopping, as well as ways of stopping. The results indicate that the stopping of an unsafe task does not solely hinge on the willingness of individual workers to stop, but also depends on contextual factors surrounding the stop work decision.
Food and Interrelation in Continental Thought: A Deconstruction and Topology

ABSTRACTContinental theorists have been increasingly drawn towards elements of the everyday – food, sex, exercise, and so forth – as sites of ethical and epistemological analysis and modification. These analyses have generally been seen separately through the lens of phenomenological, critical, or experimental methods. Despite this division, this paper argues, in line with the work of Bruno Latour, that the analysis of food reveals a complex interplay between the social, political, personal, and experimental dimensions of food. Food should thus be seen as ecological and intermodal, as a complex site of interchange between multiple forms of activity and knowing. This explains both food’s potential for appropriation by multiple projects, but problematizes any single method for analyzing the politics, pleasure or culture surrounding food.
In vitro production of monoclonal antibodies to cultured embryonic chick limb mesenchyme.

A simple, rapid protocol for the in vitro production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize native antigens in cultured chick limb mesenchyme during chondrogenic differentiation is described. Murine lymphocytes were stimulated by direct exposure to methanol-fixed micromass cultures of limb mesenchyme derived from the distal tip of stage 25 chick limb buds. Initial immunohistochemical characterization of two antibodies (DIDI and DIIA5) produced by this method showed preferential localization of reactivity with antigens in developing cartilage nodules during chondrogenesis in cultured chick limb mesenchyme. This study demonstrates the utility of in vitroimmunization of lymphocytes for the production of MAbs to native antigens expressed by differentiating embryonic limb cells in culture. Immunohistochemical data provided by DIDI and DIIA5 suggest that antigens bearing these epitopes may be important in early morphogenetic events during limb skeletal development.
Application of biofuel impurities and effect on the hot corrosion of yttria-stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coatings

Abstract The contaminants found in biofuels include alkali and alkaline metals along with sulfur, phosphorus and silicon oxides. Furthermore, while calcium‑magnesium‑aluminum silicates (CMAS) are typically ingested as particulate in middle-east theaters, the impurity list in biofuels includes the necessary elements to form CMAS without exposure to any environment. This is significant as CMAS is particularly destructive for operating temperatures above its melting temperature (~1250 °C), particularly affecting the lifetime of 7 wt%Y2O3-ZrO2 (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In the work reported currently, solutions containing the individual and unreacted constituents of CMAS were prepared and sprayed onto either air plasma sprayed (APS) or electron beam physically deposited (EB-PVD) TBCs and subsequently subjected to dynamic heating up to 1400 °C, simulating the deposit and thermal conditions of the biofuel impurities during combustion. Microstructure analysis revealed that the individual constituents of CMAS accelerated degradation of the TBCs compared to the same samples heated without impurities.
Insect Neurobiology: Optical Illusions at the Cellular Level.

The reverse-phi illusion has been one key to understanding the use of correlation for motion perception in humans and many other animals. A new study finds the source of this illusion at the cellular level in fruit flies.
Benchmarking Standards of Incident Reporting in College and University Outdoor Programs.

Literature on best practices for reporting incidents in college and university outdoor programming is limited. This study explored benchmarking standards for incident reporting in college outdoor programs. The researchers accomplished this by examining how outdoor program directors record incidents and near misses, constraints to recording, overall performance perceptions, and their recording preferences. The researchers found that programs that use database reporting systems are less constrained and have a higher perception of success than those without such systems. They also found that 26% of programs do not record near misses at all. Further findings and recommendations for recording incidents and near misses are discussed. Subscribe to JOREL