cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food Insecurity and Academic Disruption Among College Students

Food insecurity is a growing problem among college students, but little is known about how it is related to academic outcomes. We analyze broad demographics of food insecurity at one institution an...
Development and validation of a heart failure with preserved ejection fraction cohort using electronic medical records.

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) comprises nearly half of prevalent HF, yet is challenging to curate in a large database of electronic medical records (EMR) since it requires both accurate HF diagnosis and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) values to be consistently ≥50%. We used the national Veterans Affairs EMR to curate a cohort of HFpEF patients from 2002 to 2014. EF values were extracted from clinical documents utilizing natural language processing and an iterative approach was used to refine the algorithm for verification of clinical HFpEF. The final algorithm utilized the following inclusion criteria: any International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) code of HF (428.xx); all recorded EF ≥50%; and either B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or aminoterminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) values recorded OR diuretic use within one month of diagnosis of HF. Validation of the algorithm was performed by 3 independent reviewers doing manual chart review of 100 HFpEF cases and 100 controls. We established a HFpEF cohort of 80,248 patients (out of a total 1,155,376 patients with the ICD-9 diagnosis of HF). Mean age was 72 years; 96% were males and 12% were African-Americans. Validation analysis of the HFpEF algorithm had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 96%, positive predictive value of 96%, and a negative predictive value of 87% to identify HFpEF cases. We developed a sensitive, highly specific algorithm for detecting HFpEF in a large national database. This approach may be applicable to other large EMR databases to identify HFpEF patients.
Indicators of social performance in the heartland of the United States

Challenges to social development in the United States provide a fruitful arena to explore performance issues of the socio-economic system within the context of sustainable development. This exploration is urgent, as research reveals increasing inequality and a widening gap between the rich and the poor in American society.
Mechanisms of Individual Discrimination in Hamsters

The capacity to discriminate between individuals has been demonstrated in a variety of animal species (see Halpin, 1980, for a recent review). Among mammals, the cues that have been studied most frequently as sources of individually distinct information have been olfactory; for example, mice, rats, gerbils, dogs, wolves and mongooses all have been shown to be capable of discriminating between the odors of different individuals of the same species (Bowers and Alexander, 1967; Carr et al., 1970; Halpin, 1976; Brown and Johnston, this volume; Rasa, 1973). In most of these studies it is the capacity to discriminate between individuals that has been demonstrated, either in a discrimination learning task or in an habituation-dishabituation paradigm. Neither of these tasks demonstrate that animals actually use individual discrimination in their normal social interactions. The habituation paradigm is preferable in this regard, since the animals tested in this type of task do spontaneously notice and pay attention to differences in the odors of individuals (e.g., see Brown and Johnston, this volume). One situation in which functional use of individual discrimination has been repeatedly demonstrated among mammals is the recognition of young in a variety of ungulates, in which both odors and vocalizations have been shown to be important (Klopfer and Gamble, 1967; Espmark, 1971).
DRIVING A GASEOUS NUCLEAR SPIRAL INSIDE THE INNER LINDBLAD RESONANCE

We model grand-design two-arm spiral structure, recently detected in a number of disc galaxies in the near infrared. We explain the observed continuity between the nuclear and kpc-scale spiral structures and the low arm–interarm contrast, using density-wave theory. We find that nuclear spiral arms form within a range of central mass concentrations and sound speeds in the gas and investigate the allowed parameter space.
Nurture: Notifying Users at the Right Time Using Reinforcement Learning

User interaction is an essential part of many mobile devices such as smartphones and wrist bands. Only by interacting with the user can these devices deliver services, enable proper configurations, and learn user preferences. Push notifications are the primary method used to attract user attention in modern devices. However, these notifications can be ineffective and even irritating if they prompt the user at an inappropriate time. The discontent is exacerbated by the large number of applications that target limited user attention. We propose a reinforcement learning-based personalization technique, called Nurture, which automatically identifies the appropriate time to send notifications for a given user context. Through simulations with the crowd-sourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk, we show that our approach successfully learns user preferences and significantly improves the rate of notification responses.
Resurrection of a Global, Metagenomically Defined Microvirus

Abstract The Gokushovirinae (family Microviridae) are a group of single-stranded, circular DNA bacteriophages that have been detected in metagenomic datasets from every ecosystem on the planet. Despite their abundance, little is known about their biology or their bacterial hosts: isolates are exceedingly rare, known only from a very small number of obligate intracellular bacteria. By synthesizing circularized phage genomes from prophages embedded in diverse enteric bacteria, we produced viable gokushovirus phage particles that could reliably infect E. coli, thereby allowing experimental analysis of its life cycle and growth characteristics. Revived phages integrate into host genomes by hijacking a phylogenetically conserved chromosome-dimer resolution system, in a manner reminiscent of cholera phage CTX. Sequence motifs required for lysogeny are detectable in other metagenomically defined gokushoviruses, but we show that even partial motifs enable phages to persist in a state of pseudolysogeny by continuously producing viral progeny inside hosts without leading to collapse of their host culture. This ability to employ multiple, disparate survival strategies is likely key to the long-term persistence and global distribution of Gokushovirinae. The capacity to harness gokushoviruses as an experimentally tractable model system thus substantially changes our knowledge of the nature and biology of these ubiquitous phages.
1 O 2 determined from the measured PDT dose and 3 O 2 predicts long-term response to Photofrin-mediated PDT

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) that employs the photochemical interaction of light, photosensitizer and oxygen is an established modality for the treatment of cancer. However, dosimetry for PDT is becoming increasingly complex due to the heterogeneous photosensitizer uptake by the tumor, and complicated relationship between the tissue oxygenation ([3O2]), interstitial light distribution, photosensitizer photobleaching and PDT effect. As a result, experts argue that the failure to realize PDT's true potential is, at least partly due to the complexity of the dosimetry problem. In this study, we examine the efficacy of singlet oxygen explicit dosimetry (SOED) based on the measurements of the interstitial light fluence rate distribution, changes of [3O2] and photosensitizer concentration during Photofrin-mediated PDT to predict long-term control rates of radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumors. We further show how variation in tissue [3O2] between animals induces variation in the treatment response for the same PDT protocol. PDT was performed with 5mg/kg Photofrin (a drug-light interval of 24 hours), in-air fluence rates (air) of 50 and 75 mW/cm2 and in-air fluences from 225 to 540 J/cm2. The tumor regrowth was tracked for 90 days after the treatment and Kaplan-Meier analyses for local control rate were performed based on a tumor volume ≤100 mm3 for the two dosimetry quantities of PDT dose and SOED. Based on the results, SOED allowed for reduced subject variation and improved treatment evaluation as compared to the PDT dose.
Religion, Reform and Modernity in the Eighteenth Century: Thomas Secker and the Church of England

The eighteenth century has long divided critical opinion. Some contend that it witnessed the birth of the modern world, while others counter that England remained an ancient regime confessional state. This book takes issue with both positions, arguing that the former overstate the newness of the age and largely misdiagnose the causes of change, while the latter rightly point to the persistence of more traditional modes of thought and behaviour, but downplay the era's fundamental uncertainty and misplace the reasons for and the timeline of its passage. The overwhelming catalyst for change is here seen to be war, rather than long-term social and economic changes. Archbishop Thomas Secker (1693-1768), the Cranmer or Laud of his age, and the hitherto neglected church reforms he spearheaded, form the particular focus of the book; this is the first full archivally-based study of a crucial but frequently ignored figure. Robert G. Ingram is Assistant Professor at the Department of History, Ohio University.
An Audience Analysis of Inner City Black Businesspeople

ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to describe the perceptual, demographic, and psychological characteristics of black businesspeople in the inner-city community of Buffalo, New York, in order to assist commercial and investment bankers in the formulation of advertising and loan strategies. Of 380 questionnaires distributed to the target population, 104 were returned. Analysis of data attempted to gauge the relationship of the audience (the businesspeople) to the communicator (the banks), the relationship of the audience to the subject and to the purpose of the message, the basic beliefs and attitudes of the audience, and the characteristics of the audience. Although guidelines for communicating with the black business audience were suggested on the basis of this investigation, the economic realities of a tight money market discouraged their implementation. (KS)
Propensity score analysis of the prognostic value of genomic assays for breast cancer in diverse populations using the National Cancer Data Base

BACKGROUND Genomic assays such as Oncotype Dx (ODX) and MammaPrint are used for risk-adapted treatment decisions among patients with early breast cancer. However, to the authors' knowledge, concordance between genomic assays is modest. Using real-world data, the authors performed a comparative analysis of ODX and MammaPrint. METHODS A cohort of women diagnosed with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who received ODX or MammaPrint was established using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) for 2010 through 2016. Using the propensity score matching method, 2 groups of patients with similar clinical and demographic characteristics were defined: one group received ODX and the other received MammaPrint. The authors examined the association between use of the ODX or MammaPrint assays and overall survival using Cox models. RESULTS Of the 451,693 eligible patients, approximately 45.3% received ODX and 1.8% received MammaPrint testing. The use of ODX increased from 36.1% in 2010 to 49.9% in 2016, whereas use of MammaPrint increased from 0.5% in 2010 to 3.3% in 2016. The authors matched 5042 patients who received ODX with 5042 patients who received MammaPrint. The 5-year risks of death for the MammaPrint low-risk group and the ODX low-risk group were 3.4% and 4.7%, respectively. The prognostic value of MammaPrint was similar to that of ODX; the C-index was 0.614 (95% confidence interval, 0.572-0.657) for MammaPrint and 0.581 (95% confidence interval, 0.530-0.631) for ODX. There was a difference in the performance of the ODX assay observed across racial and/or ethnic groups (P < .001), with a slightly better performance noted among white compared with African American and Hispanic individuals. CONCLUSIONS Both the ODX and MammaPrint tests are good at identifying low-risk individuals who could be spared chemotherapy. The suboptimal performance of ODX in ethnic minority individuals deserves further investigation.
Platelet-conditioned media induces an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype through EP4.

BACKGROUND Platelets are increasingly recognized as immune cells. As such, they are commonly seen to induce and perpetuate inflammation; however, anti-inflammatory activities are increasingly attributed to them. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition. Similar to other inflammatory conditions, the resolution of atherosclerosis requires a shift in macrophages to an M2 phenotype, enhancing their efferocytosis and cholesterol efflux capabilities. OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of platelets on macrophage phenotype. METHODS In several in vitro models employing murine (RAW264.7 and bone marrow-derived macrophages) and human (THP-1 and monocyte-derived macrophages) cells, we exposed macrophages to media in which non-agonized human platelets were cultured for 60 minutes (platelet-conditioned media [PCM]) and assessed the impact on macrophage phenotype and function. RESULTS Across models, we demonstrated that PCM from healthy humans induced a pro-resolving phenotype in macrophages. This was independent of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), the prototypical pathway for M2 macrophage polarization. Stimulation of the EP4 receptor on macrophages by prostaglandin E2 present in PCM, is at least partially responsible for altered gene expression and associated function of the macrophages-specifically reduced peroxynitrite production, increased efferocytosis and cholesterol efflux capacity, and increased production of pro-resolving lipid mediators (ie, 15R-LXA4 ). CONCLUSIONS Platelet-conditioned media induces an anti-inflammatory, pro-resolving phenotype in macrophages. Our findings suggest that therapies targeting hemostatic properties of platelets, while not influencing pro-resolving, immune-related activities, could be beneficial for the treatment of atherothrombotic disease.
The effects of wall heat fluxes and tube diameters on laminar heat transfer rates to supercritical CO2

Abstract Nusselt number (Nu) correlations associated with constant property fluids have been deemed to be invalid when quantifying heat transfer rates to supercritical CO2 (sCO2) in the vicinity of its pseudocritical temperature (TPC). For laminar sCO2 flow, under constant heat flux conditions, previous studies have demonstrated a sudden deterioration in heat transfer near TPC, followed by a recovery phase where Nu approaches a value greater than 4.36 (associated with fully developed flow conditions for constant property fluids). Through numerical simulations of sCO2 heat transfer in horizontal circular tubes of diameters (D) from 0.2 mm to 2 mm, subject to constant wall heat fluxes (Q) in the range 0.25 – 25 kW/m2 and for inlet Reynolds (Re) numbers of 40, 100 and 400, this study demonstrates for the first time that the extent of the heat transfer deterioration and its subsequent recovery is critically dependent on the magnitude of the imposed heat flux. However, the Nu variations were independent of inlet Re across the different simulation scenarios as long as the product QD was held constant. Therefore, a modified Nu correlation in terms of thermophysical properties evaluated at both the bulk (TBULK) and wall temperatures (TWALL) is proposed to represent the observed variations.
The extreme ultraviolet explorer mission

Abstract The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer ( EUVE ) mission, currently scheduled for launch in September 1991, is described. The primary purpose of the mission is to survey the celestial sphere for astronomical sources of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. The survey will be accomplished with the use of three EUV telescopes, each sensitive to a different segment of the EUV band. A fourth telescope will perform a high sensitivity search of a limited sample of the sky in the shortest wavelength bands. The all-sky survey will be carried out in the first six months of the mission and will be made in four bands, or colors, λλ70–180 A, 170–250 A, 400–600 A, and 500–700 A. The second phase of the mission, conducted entirely by Guest Observers selected by NASA, will be devoted to spectroscopic observations of EUV sources. The performance of the instrument components is described. The mirrors meet the requirements of the mission, with the best mirror having a full width half energy spread of 4″ and a surface finish of 20 A. Prototype thin film bandpass filters have been flown on the Space Shuttle and their performance optimized. Prototype detectors have been developed which have 1680 × 1680 pixel imaging capability (RMS) and up to 80% quantum efficiency. A newly invented, high efficiency grazing incidence spectrometer using variable line-space gratings will provide spectral data with ∼1 A resolution. An end-to-end model of the mission, from a stellar source to the resulting scientific data, has been constructed. Hypothetical data from astronomical sources have been processed through this model and are shown.
A Scandal from Within

This chapter further examines the scandal caused by Jennie Tuttle and how The Household members responded to it. It also suggests a definition of the true sympneumatic act and the reasons behind its practice.
Asthma Among Adults and Children by Urban-Rural Classification Scheme, United States, 2016-2018.

Objectives Although data on the prevalence of current asthma among adults and children are available at national, regional, and state levels, such data are limited at the substate level (eg, urban-rural classification and county). We examined the prevalence of current asthma in adults and children across 6 levels of urban-rural classification in each state. Methods We estimated current asthma prevalence among adults for urban-rural categories in the 50 states and the District of Columbia and among children for urban-rural categories in 27 states by analyzing 2016-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data. We used the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics 6-level urban-rural classification scheme to define urban-rural status of counties. Results During 2016-2018, the current asthma prevalence among US adults in medium metropolitan (9.5%), small metropolitan (9.5%), micropolitan (10.0%), and noncore (9.6%) areas was higher than the asthma prevalence in large central metropolitan (8.6%) and large fringe metropolitan (8.7%) areas. Current asthma prevalence in adults differed significantly among the 6 levels of urban-rural categories in 19 states. In addition, the prevalence of current asthma in adults was significantly higher in the Northeast (9.9%) than in the South (8.7%) and the West (8.8%). The current asthma prevalence in children differed significantly by urban-rural categories in 7 of 27 states. For these 7 states, the prevalence of asthma in children was higher in large central metropolitan areas than in micropolitan or noncore areas, except for Oregon, in which the prevalence in the large central metropolitan area was the lowest. Conclusions Knowledge about county-level current asthma prevalence in adults and children may aid state and local policy makers and public health officers in establishing effective asthma control programs and targeted resource allocation.
A selective review of prenatal exercise guidelines since the 1950s until present: Written for women, health care professionals, and female athletes

Abstract Background Traditional society values have long-held the notion that the pregnant woman is construed as a risk to her growing fetus and is solely responsible for controlling this risk to ensure a healthy pregnancy. It is hard to ignore the participation of pregnant women in sport and exercise today, especially in high-level sports and popular fitness programs such as CrossFit™. This challenges both traditional and modern prenatal exercise guidelines from health care professionals and governing health agencies. The guidelines and perceived limitations of prenatal exercise have drastically evolved since the 1950s. Aim The goal of this paper is to bring awareness to the idea that much of the information regarding exercise safety during pregnancy is hypersensitive and dated, and the earlier guidelines had no scientific rigor. Research is needed on the upper limits of exercise intensity and exercise frequency, as well as their potential risks (if any) on the woman or fetus. Discussion Pregnant women are physically capable of much more than what was once thought. There is still disagreement about the types of exercise deemed appropriate, the stage at which exercise should begin and cease, the frequency of exercise sessions, as well as the optimal level of intensity during prenatal exercise. Conclusion Research is needed to determine the upper limits of exercise frequency and intensity for pregnant women who are already trained. Healthy women and female athletes can usually maintain their regular training regime once they become pregnant.
Refinement of Primary and Eutectic Silicon Particles in Hypereutectic Al-Si Alloys Using an Applied Electric Potential

The effects of applied electric current on the cast microstructure of hypoeutectic Al-13 wt.% Si and Al-20 wt.% Si alloys have been investigated. This involved, with a constant voltage power supply, an application of an electric current density of about 500 mA/cm2 of melt surface area to laboratory-size ingots during solidification in a metal mold. In general, the applied electric current refined the cast microstructure of the hypereutectic Al-Si alloys. Specifically, the electric current did not modify the eutectic silicon particle, but changed the size distribution of the primary silicon particles by increasing the population of comparatively smaller size particles. The extent of the observed cast microstructure refinement was less than the reported effects of applied electric current in the technical literature and is significantly less than the effects of the traditional refinement obtained by addition of strontium and phosphorus to the molten metal prior to casting.
Ursodeoxycholic acid and long-term survival in primary biliary cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: At the population level, a detailed picture of the nature of adenocarcinoma at the distal esophagus and esophagogastric junction under modern treatment is lacking. We evaluated the fate of these patients and the results of various types of therapeutic procedures using unselected population-based data. METHODS: Primary data on patients with these adenocarcinomas in two health care districts in Finland were retrieved from the Finnish Cancer Registry. The fate of all 402 patients treated between 1990 and 1998 in 23 units was analyzed. RESULTS: The 5-yr survival rate of these patients was 12.5%. Median survival was 36.5 days (0 days-68.1 months) with best supportive care (18.9%), 116.5 days (0 days-59.5 months) with palliative (33.8%), mainly either endoscopic or oncological treatment, 211 days (113 days-26.6 months) with exploratory surgery (4.7%), and 17.6 months (0-101.1) after esophageal resection (42.5%). The 5-yr and 8-yr survival rates in this unselected material after esophageal resection including 8.8% operative mortality were 29.0% and 26.0%. The best chance for cure and long-term survival came from esophagectomy with 2-field lymphadenectomy compared to less extensive operations (50.0% vs 23.2% survival at 5 yrs, p = 0.005). Between these groups no statistically significant difference (p = 0.4) existed in pathological TNM stages or in the distribution of node-negative tumors (47.6% vs 41.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Although overall prognosis for adenocarcinoma near the esophagogastric junction is poor, a substantial percentage of patients eligible for major surgery achieve long-term survival.
Museum object as document: Using Buckland's information concepts to understand museum experiences

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to understand the meaning of museum objects from an information perspective. Links are made from Buckland's conceptual information framework as a semiotic to museum object as “document” and finally to user experience of these museum “documents”. The aim is to provide a new lens through which museum studies researchers can understand museum objects and for LIS researchers to accept museum objects as another form of document to be studied.Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual and comparative analysis of Buckland's information typology as a semiotic. Outcome of analysis forms a model of understanding the museum object as a “document” that is accessed by users on a continuum of experience.Findings – Michael Buckland's information typology is insightful and useful for a broad understanding of what all heritage institutions have in common: the physical object. Buckland helps us see the museum as an information system, the museum object as a document, and the multidi...
Magneto-inertial fusion research in the united states: A promising prospect

Most fusion research has focused on magnetic confinement fusion with densities of ∼1014 ions/cm3 and confinement times of >10 s, or pulsed inertial confinement fusion (ICF) with densities ∼1025 ion/cm3 with confinement times <1 ns. Some concepts have been proposed to achieve thermonuclear fusion in between these two extremes, typically through the addition of strong magnetic fields in a pulsed confinement system. One such approach being studied in the United States is Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) [1]. MagLIF targets may be capable of large, pulsed fusion yields at densities roughly two orders of magnitude lower than traditional ICF, which could be easier to achieve than the typical radial fuel convergence required of ICF implosions.
Whole School Improvement and Restructuring as Prevention and Promotion: Lessons from STEP and the Project on High Performance Learning Communities.

Abstract We describe two research-tested approaches, the School Transitional Environment Project and its successor, the Project on High Performance Learning Communities, that have contributed to building a developmentally based design for comprehensive school improvement called the High Performance Learning Communities Model. The model seeks to modify the ecology of schools and schooling in order to build the principles of prevention and promotion into “whole school” change. Findings from a series of studies are presented that show that whole school change efforts, when implemented comprehensively and with appropriate intensity and fidelity, may powerfully influence the prevention of socioemotional, behavioral, and academic difficulties, as well as promotion of the acquisition of the full range of developmental competencies necessary for life success, well-being, and resilience.
The relationship of prolonged labor to fetal mortality.

c REAT strides have been made in recent years in the handling of major obstetrical problems. Chemotherapy and antibiotics have virtually eliminated puerperal sepsis. Readily available blood has reduced greatly the morbidity and mortality from hemorrhage, and careful prenatal observation and early treatment have lowered both the incidence and the mortality rate from eclampsia. The development. of accurate methods of x-ray pelvimetry has made it possible to improve the treatment of dystocia due to pelvic contracture. Our ignorance of uterine physiology, however, has prevented similar improvement in the handling of dystocia associated with ineffectual labor. This ignorance is well illustrated by the variety of terms by whieh this complication is known. Regardless of whether we speak of uterine inertia, uterine atony, cervical dystocia, or prolonged labor, the underlying difficulties are now recognized t,o be due to dysrhythmic uterine contractions alone or combined with dilatory cervical progression. Treatment has varied from watchful expectancy to operative interference and stimulation, often culminating in a combination of all three. Several reports from large teaching clinics have appeared in the last few years dealing chiefly with the treatment of uterine inertia with intravenous Pitocin or Pituitrin. The general policy of the Boston Ilying-in Hospital concerning the use of pituit,ary extracts has recently been outlined.’ However, with the exception of the work of Douglas and Stander,2 there has been minimal recent investigation of the causes of fetal death associated with prolonged labor. It seemed worth while, therefore, to review the records of the Boston Lyingin Hospital in this respect, and at t.he same time to attempt a correlation of antopsy findings with various rlinical ccvents. Such an investigation involved analysis of all premat~urc and term infant autopsies, and these will be considered briefly. A discussion of Ihe felal mortality in caws of ~n~~longed labor will t,hen be undertaken. Material
Chapter 29 Communicating Ecological Knowledge to Students and the Public

Theme The effective conservation and management of our natural resources depends upon education and communication. The theme of the National Park Service Interpretation and Education Division is “connecting people to parks.” This theme centers on creating unique and powerful learning experiences that increase understanding and inspire personal values. Recent technological and internet advances have allowed scientists to communicate complex and dynamic ecological processes more easily and to broader audiences than ever before. Our applied, interdisciplinary approach for communicating ecological knowledge links science, management, and policy through a visualization‐based integration of climate, landscape, animal data, and humanity in the central Yellowstone ecosystem. We developed visualization products that enable students and the public to explore and understand ecological patterns and relationships in Yellowstone National Park. By integrating these visualization products with innovative pedagogy and web technology, we hope to engage and excite a broader audience in the ecological research and natural resource management issues of the central Yellowstone ecosystem. We illustrate this approach by presenting a diverse set of educational and outreach products, including: (1) a simple, web‐based “Data Mapper” visualization tool; (2) an undergraduate education module; (3) a series of informal education “Virtual Interpretive Trail” visualizations; (4) a variety of data mapping and analysis services; and (5) a decision‐support tool for resource managers.
Impact of pollution on the optical properties of trans‐Pacific East Asian dust from satellite and ground‐based measurements

We investigate changes in the optical properties of a large dust plume originating from East Asian deserts during its transport over the northwestern Pacific Ocean in March 2013. The study makes use of observational products from two sensors in the NASA A-Train satellite constellation, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization. Forward trajectory clustering analysis and satellite observations show that dust initiating from the Taklimakan and Gobi deserts experienced thorough mixing with industrial pollution aerosols shortly after leaving the source region and were lofted by a strong midlatitude weather system to more than 4 km in height. The dust plume accompanied the weather system and reached the east coast of the North American continent within 7–10 days. The dust aerosols became spectrally absorptive during transport due to mixing with other aerosol types such as soot. Furthermore, a decrease in the depolarization ratio suggests that the complexities in aerosol particle morphologies were reduced during transport over the ocean. More than half of the dust aerosol layers surviving the trans-Pacific transport were polluted and exhibited different optical properties and radiative effects from those of pure dust.
The production and emission of nitrous oxide from headwater streams in the Midwestern United States

The emission of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from streams draining agricultural landscapes is estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to constitute a globally significant source of this gas to the atmosphere, although there is considerable uncertainty in the magnitude of this source. We measured N 2 O emission rates and potential controlling variables in 12 headwater streams draining a predominantly agricultural basin on glacial terrain in southwestern Michigan. The study sites were nearly always supersaturated with N 2 O and emission rates ranged from -8.9 to 266.8 μg N 2 O -Nm -2 h -1 with an overall mean of 35.2 μg N 2 O-N m -2 h -1 . Stream water NO 3 - concentrations best-predicted N 2 O emission rates. Although streams and agricultural soils in the basin had similar areal emission rates, emissions from streams were equivalent to 6% of the anthropogenic emissions from soils because of the vastly greater surface area of soils. We found that the default value of the N 2 O emission factor for streams and groundwater as defined by the IPCC (EF5-g) was similar to the value observed in this study lending support to the recent downward revision to EF5-g. However, the EF5-g spanned four orders of magnitude across our study sites suggesting that the IPCC's methodology of applying one emission factor to all streams may be inappropriate.
Electrical Stimulation of the Horizontal Limb of the Diagonal Band of Broca Modulates Population EPSPs in Piriform Cortex

Electrical stimulation of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca modulates population EPSPs in piriform cortex. Electrical stimulation of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca (HDB) was coupled with recording of evoked potentials in the piriform cortex. Stimulation of the HDB caused an enhancement of the late, disynaptic component of the evoked potential elicited by stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract but caused a suppression of the synaptic potential elicited by stimulation of the posterior piriform cortex. The muscarinic antagonist scopolamine blocked both effects of HDB stimulation. The enhancement of disynaptic potentials could be due to cholinergic depolarization of pyramidal cells, whereas the suppression of potentials evoked by posterior piriform stimulation could be due to presynaptic inhibition of intrinsic fiber synaptic transmission by acetylcholine.
Fractal and topological characterization of branching patterns on the fracture surface of cross-linked dimethacrylate resins

The branching patterns formed as a result of crack growth in dimethacrylate resins below their glass transition temperatures looked similar to fractal trees. The skeletons of the patterns were analysed numerically for their topological and geometrical properties. The number of branches, N i , mean branch lengths, N i , and branch angles of a particular order, defined according to the Strahler and inverted Weibel schemes, followed exponential scaling behaviour: N i ∼ (R b )−i and L i ∼ (R l ) i . Using the relationship for the fractal dimension D=In R B /In R L , a value of D=1.4 was obtained for the fracture pattern. Fractal behaviour was also examined by the box-counting method which indicated a power-law dependence of the mass on the box size with fractal dimension exponent D=1.4 in the case of the fracture pattern. However, the mass-shell method for both the fracture pattern and the fractal trees gave an exponential increase of mass with distance from the origin, rather than the power-law behaviour expected for fractals. This was attributed to the fact that branches of different sizes were distributed in restricted regions of space closer to the periphery, rather than uniformly over the whole pattern.
Ferric Ion Complexes of a DOPA-Containing Adhesive Protein from Mytilus edulis

Iron(III) binding to the DOPA-containing Mytilus edulis adhesive protein (Mefp1) has been studied by spectrophotometric titrations, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and resonance Raman spectroscopies. At pH 7.0, two different forms of the iron−protein complex exist: one purple (λmax = 548 nm) and one pink (λmax = 500 nm). The pink form is favored at high DOPA:Fe ratios and the purple at low DOPA:Fe ratios. Resonance Raman spectroscopy of both forms demonstrates that the chromophores are ferric catecholate complexes. EPR spectra of both forms of the protein measured at the same iron concentration reveal a g ≈ 4.3 resonance of approximately 4 times the intensity in the spectrum of the pink complex compared with that of the purple form. On the basis of the collective evidence obtained here, a model for the purple form of the ferric Mefp1 involving bis(catecholato) coordination of ferric ions with most of the iron(III) complexed as EPR-silent μ-oxo- or μ-hydroxo-bridged binuclear clusters is suggested....
Wave Propagation in Piezoelectric Layered Media with Some Applications

In this article we introduce a systematic methodology to investigate wave propagation in piezoelectric layered media. It is based on a matrix formalism and the con cept of the surface impedance tensor which relates the components of particle displace ment and the normal component of the electric displacement along a surface to the electric potential and the components of traction acting along the same surface. Once the surface impedance tensor for a single layer is calculated, a simple recursive algorithm allows the evaluation of the surface impedance tensor for any number of layers. As an example, the surface impedance tensor is used to find the dispersion curves for a bilaminated piezoelec tric plate. Also the dispersion curves for the subsonic interfacial waves when the plate is in contact with a nonconducting acoustic fluid is investigated. Floquet theory is also ap plied to study wave propagation when the layered medium is periodic.
Design and Phantom-based Validation of a Bimodal Ultrasound- Photoacoustic Imaging System for Spectral Detection of Optical Biomarkers

The construction of photoacoustic tomography (PAT) systems that combine tunable laser sources and ultrasound systems for bimodal imaging and spectroscopic applications such as oximetry presents novel challenges to the biophotonics researcher. We address some of the design issues, including system synchronization, cross-platform integration, and image reconstruction algorithms, and present techniques for device performance validation. Our system comprises a pulsed Nd:YAG laser-pumped optical parametric oscillator for near-infrared tunability and a research-grade ultrasound acquisition system compatible with multiple clinical transducers to enable wide variation in operating parameters. Considerations such as pulse energy variability, ultrasound transducer properties, and spectral energy compensation, and their impact on measurements are presented. Spectral imaging was performed on tissue-simulating phantoms made of a custom polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastisol gel designed to mimic both the optical properties (absorption, scattering) and acoustic properties (sound velocity, attenuation) of human breast tissue. Phantoms contained fluid channels at various depths which were injected with either oxyhemoglobin or organic dye solutions as absorptive targets. Spectral analysis of these solutions was performed for channel depths from 0.5 to 3 cm and at radiant exposures up to the ANSI maximum permissible exposure. Recovered photoacoustic spectra are compared with absorption spectra measured using spectrophotometry. Results provide insight into the influence of factors that impact the quality of spectroscopic measurements and reconstructed images in ultrasound-PAT systems.
The effect of catalysis on wood-gasification tar composition

Abstract Catalysts have been used in wood steam-gasification to increase the rate of gasification, modify product gas composition and to decompose tar byproduct to gas. This paper describes the use of catalytic materials both in the steam-gasification reactor and in a secondary gas treatment bed. The catalysts, potassium carbonate and a supported nickel metal catalyst, are shown to have large effects on the amount of byproduct tar formation but also to have a significant effect on the byproduct tar composition. Four cases are compared, uncatalyzed steam-gasification, potassium-catalyzed steam-gasification, potassium-catalyzed steam-gasification followed by a nickel metal tar decomposition bed and uncatalyzed steam-gasification followed by a nickel metal tar decomposition bed. Product gas in each case was scrubbed in methylene chloride and the scrubbing solution was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The changes in tar composition are attributed to preferential cracking of different functional groups. The alkali was found to have a more generalized effect while the nickel appeared to be more specific for deoxygenation with reduced activity toward decomposition of aromatic hydrocarbons.
A review of: “Organic Molecular Solids Properties and Applications”, edited by William Jones, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1997; ISBN 0–8493–9428–7; xiv + 426 pages; $145.00.

(2000). A review of: “Organic Molecular Solids Properties and Applications”, edited by William Jones, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1997; ISBN 0–8493–9428–7; xiv + 426 pages; $145.00. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals: Vol. 348, No. 1, pp. 345-346.
Ordering of Single Conjugated Polymers in a Nematic Liquid Crystal Host

We describe molecule-by-molecule observations, using single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, of the ordering of the components in a nematic phase formed by a binary mixture of short and long rods. A stiff conjugated polymer, MEH−PPV (poly[2-methoxy-5-((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]), present at very low concentrations in a binary nematic−nematic phase with the mesogen 5CB (4-n-pentyl-4‘-cyanobiphenyl) is investigated. We observe near-perfect orientational order of the stiff, rodlike conjugated polymers translating through a planar nematic phase. This represents striking experimental evidence for the predicted enhanced alignment of long rods in the nematic phase of a binary mixture of rods.
The EU: From Civilian Power to Military Power?

Toward a European Army: A Military Power in the Making? By Trevor C. Salmon, Alistair J. K. Shepherd. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2003. 239 pp., $49.95 (ISBN: 1-58826-236-7). In international relations theory, few academics—especially in the United States—have incorporated the European Community (EC) or European Union (EU) into their analyses of military power or security concerns. In the past, they had no need to do so. In matters of defense, Western Europe was seen as part of the NATO alliance. Within the NATO alliance, academics may have dealt with stressed relations between the United States and Western Europe, but few factored in the European Union itself as a security actor on the international stage. Issues of integration taking place within the Community were dealt with independently of and separately from security and defense issues taking place within the European theater. The European Community–European Union was a civilian power. As a result, a dichotomy between security and integration studies developed. Therefore, much of the existing literature on the European Security and Defense Policy focuses on traditional security analysis. Using a traditional security perspective, the European initiative seems unwise for several reasons. First, it compromises the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—a cheap, effective, and proven defense alliance. Second, it may well push the United …
Detection of a major conformational change in transfer ribonucleic acid by laser light scattering

The diffusion constants of Escherichia coli transfer ribonucleic acid and phenylalanine-specific tRNA from yeast have been determined under a variety of solution conditions using the technique of laser light scattering. The results reveal that a major change occurs in the conformation of tRNA when the ionic strength is reduced from 0·2 m to 0·1 m in the presence of 1·0 m m -magnesium at pH 7·2 and 20°C. The diffusion constant of the low salt conformer is greater by 11%, indicating that it is significantly more compact than the high salt form. A ‘block and hinge’ model is proposed to explain the conformational change. The results also reveal that a readily reversible association of bulk tRNA occurs in 10 m m -magnesium at high ionic strength at 20°C with an association constant of about 103 m −1. The association constant is similar to that reported by others for the formation of dimers between tRNAs with complementary anticodons under similar conditions. The surface charge of unfractionated E. coli tRNA has been estimated from the diffusive virial coefficients. In 1 m m -MgCl2 the average charge per tRNA is ten electrons, while at 10 m m -MgCl2 there are eight electrons per molecule.
The Aftercare Support Program: An Emerging Group Intervention for Transition-Aged Youth

The unique challenges faced by transition-aged youth have received considerable attention in the literature, but few developments for aftercare support interventions have followed. The Aftercare Support Program (ASP) is a group-based intervention designed for such youth. ASP was developed as a zero budget, low-intensity intervention delivered by volunteers from a local college/university and youth-serving agencies to encourage transition-aged youth to pursue postsecondary education and vocational training by utilizing existing community resources and services. The underlying theoretical concepts are derived from solution-focused brief therapy and a strengths-perspective in social work. Case vignettes, including feedback from participants and lessons learned are offered, along with implications for the ASP model and other aftercare support models for transition-aged youth at a time when public and private funds for such programs are limited.
Philosophy on the Ground: An Appreciation of a “Spirit Master”

This essay is an appreciation of Melvin Pollner’s distinctive sociological approach to topics that are usually associated with philosophy. Pollner’s dissertation and early writings took up the theme of “mundane reason,” which he defined as an incorrigible presumption of a real world that is implicit in everyday conduct. Pollner addressed mundane reason, and the reciprocal idea of “reality disjunctures”—momentary divergences between perceptual accounts of the “same” mundane reality—by describing routine exchanges in traffic court and confrontations between doctors and patients in psychiatric settings. Pollner’s work anticipated current enthusiasms for developing novel “ontologies” in social and cultural studies of science, medicine, and other subjects. Although he did attempt to locate metaphysics in the midst of everyday experience, this essay suggests that his “philosophy on the ground” radically transformed philosophical ontology into an original and imaginative way to investigate constitutive activities.
Mass spectrometric characterization of polyhedral oligosilsesquioxanes and heterosilsesquioxanes

Silsesquioxanes constitute a diverse range of Si-O frameworks with a wide variety of intriguing possibilities as models for catalysis. These topologically interesting molecules are formed by the hydrolytic condensation of trifunctional organosilanes. Heterosilsesquioxanes are formally derived by substitution of a main-group, transition-metal, or f-element atom for one or more Si atoms in a silsesquioxane. A number of silsesquioxanes and their metal-containing derivatives, metallasilsesquioxanes (Si-O-M), were characterized using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and turbo ion-spray (TISP) mass spectrometry. The use of n-hexane or n-hexane/ethanol (90:10, v/v) allowed the techniques to be utilized to characterize a large number of complexes. In some cases addition of trace amounts of ammonium acetate, sodium chloride, or sodium acetate to the ethanolic portion of the solvent allowed the detection of [M + NH4]+ or [M + Na]+ ions. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.