cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of ceramic and polymeric nanofiltration membranes for treatment of abandoned coal mine drainage

Abstract Performance of ceramic and polymeric nanofiltration membranes for treatment of abandoned mine drainage from a coal mine was investigated in this study. The increase in permeate recovery improved ionic rejection but reduced the permeability for both membranes. Arsenic was poorly rejected by both membranes with maximum rejection being 33% for the polymeric membrane. Fouling occurred at 75% permeate recovery and was dominated by gypsum scales. Chemical cleaning improved permeability but reduced ionic rejection indicating a slight increase in the effective membrane pore size for both membranes. When feed pH was adjusted to 4, ionic rejection increased for the ceramic membrane and decreased for the polymeric membrane due to impacts on the charge of the active layer. Addition of antiscalant improved ionic rejection for both membranes, especially for arsenic whose rejection improved by at least 141%, but resulted in about 40% decrease in permeability for both membranes and was attributed to the formation of a more complex and gel-like scale. A tighter polymeric nanofiltration membrane achieved >99% rejection of all multivalent ions to meet all drinking water standards except for arsenic, which has to be removed prior to nanofiltration step.
Nephrotoxin exposure and acute kidney injury in critically ill children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery

Though acute kidney injury (AKI) is often multifactorial, investigators are now emphasizing the specific contribution of nephrotoxins. This study examines the epidemiology of nephrotoxin exposure and nephrotoxin-associated AKI among children undergoing congenital heart surgery (CHS). This is a retrospective cohort study of children admitted following CHS between June 1, 2014, and September 30, 2014. Nephrotoxins were defined according to the Nephrotoxic Injury Negated by Just-in-time-Action (NINJA) collaborative; high nephrotoxin exposure was defined as receipt of ≥ 3 nephrotoxins concurrently. AKI was diagnosed according to KDIGO creatinine criteria. Severe AKI was defined as KDIGO stage ≥ 2. Poisson models were used to compute adjusted relative risk (aRR) of high nephrotoxin exposure for AKI. One hundred fifty-four children (median age 20.4 months, IQR 2.3–59.5) were included. One hundred thirty-one (85.1%) received at least one nephrotoxin; 32 (20.8%) received ≥ 3 nephrotoxins. The most commonly administered medications were ketorolac (n = 74, 48.1%), aspirin (n = 62, 40.3%), ibuprofen (n = 51, 33.1%), vancomycin (n = 39, 25.3%), piperacillin/tazobactam (n = 35, 22.7%), and enalapril (n = 14, 9.1%). AKI occurred more commonly in those exposed to ≥ 3 nephrotoxins (62.5 vs. 50.8%); this was not statistically significant after adjusting for confounders (aRR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.9–1.7). Severe AKI was similar between those with and without high nephrotoxin exposure (21.9 vs. 19.7%, p = 0.78). Nephrotoxin use is common following pediatric CHS. While we found no association between high nephrotoxin exposure and AKI, this may be related to the multifactorial nature of AKI in this population. For many common nephrotoxins, less injurious agents exist and nephrotoxin exposure may represent a modifiable risk factor for AKI.
Tropical stratospheric Ozone ChangesFollowing the Eruption of Mount Pinatubo

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 placed a large amount of SO2 in the stratosphere which was converted to sulfuric acid aerosols in 2-3 months after the eruption. These aerosols remained primarily in the tropical stratospheric reservoir (TSR) for the first 6 months or so after the eruption before being largely dispersed to midlatitudes. The large amount of SO2 and aerosols in the TSR was sufficient to cause easily observable changes in stratospheric ozone. There was an initial 2% column increase caused by photooxidation of SO2, followed by a 5% column decrease in the region from the Equator to 10 deg. S in the August-November 1991 period based on total ozone mapping spectrometer (TOMS) data. A comparison of electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) sonde data at Brazzaville (4°s) and Ascension Island (8°s) with the historical pre-Pinatubo stratospheric aerosol and gas experiment II (SAGE II) ozone data showed indicated a 8% column decrease between 16 and 28 km along with a 2% column increase between 28 and 32 km. The decrease from 16 to 28 km is likely due primarily to a combination of aerosol heating and lofting of the associated air mass and aerosol effects on photolysis, with small contributions from heterogeneous chemistry involving the aerosols. The increase above 28 km is primarily due to the removal of NO2 by the aerosols, permitting the photochemical production of ozone to be more efficient. The phase change of the QBO from easterly to westerly was delayed by the rising motion of the aerosols by about 10 months, resulting in about a 10-D.U. decrease of ozone for that period compared to what would have been the case without the delay. In addition, in the middle of 1992, there was another minimum in stratospheric ozone in the Equator-to-10°S region, beyond that expected from QBO effects, which is not explained.
Application: Pesticide Transport in Shallow Groundwater and Environmental Risk Assessment

An analytical model dynamically linked with Monte Carlo simulation software such as ACTS can provide a relatively rapid, cost-effective way to conduct probabilistic analysis of contaminant fate and transport in simplified groundwater systems. This approach was used to evaluate migration of an existing organochlorine pesticide plume in a shallow, unconfined aquifer underlying a barrier island in coastal Georgia, USA (Anderson et al. 2007) Probabilistic analysis provided an estimate of the likelihood that the pesticide plume would reach coastal wetlands 244 m downgradient of the source area. The contaminant plume consists of four isomers of benzene hexachloride (BHC), also known as hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). To analyze this problem, the Analytical Contaminant Transport Analysis System (ACTS) was used to simulate two-dimensional, saturated zone contaminant fate and transport. Deterministic simulations using calibrated, single-value input parameters indicate that the contaminant plume in the barrier island shallow aquifer will not reach the wetlands. Probabilistic analyses consisting of two-stage Monte Carlo simulations using 10,000 realizations and varying eight input parameters indicate that the probability of exceeding the detection limit (0.044 μg/L) of BHC in groundwater at the wetlands boundary increases from 1% to a maximum of 13% during the period from 2005 to 2065. This represents an 87% or greater confidence level that the pesticide plume will not reach downgradient wetlands. Based on this outcome environmental decisions for the contamination at the site can be made more reliably by managers.
On the Value of Bug Reports for Retrieval-Based Bug Localization

Software engineering researchers have been applying tools and techniques from information retrieval (IR) to problems such as bug localization to lower the manual effort required to perform maintenance tasks. The central challenge when using an IR-based tool is the formation of a high-quality query. When performing bug localization, one easily accessible source of query words is the bug report. A recent paper investigated the sufficiency of this source by using a genetic algorithm (GA) to build high quality queries. Unfortunately, the GA in essence "cheats" as it makes use of query performance when evolving a good query. This raises the question, is it feasible to attain similar results without "cheating?" One approach to providing cheat-free queries is to employ automatic summarization. The performance of the resulting summaries calls into question the sufficiency of the bug reports as a source of query words. To better understand the situation, Information Need Analysis (INA) is applied to quantify both how well the GA is performing and, perhaps more importantly, how well a bug report captures the vocabulary needed to perform IR-based bug localization. The results find that summarization shows potential to produce high-quality queries, but it requires more training data. Furthermore, while bug reports provide a useful source of query words, they are rather limited and thus query expansion techniques, perhaps in combination with summarization, will likely produce higher-quality queries.
Role of Patient Beliefs and Expectations in Pain and Disability

A precise diagnosis and analogous treatment are sometimes not the only prerequisites for managing chronic pain. Patients may have associated maladaptive cognitions which make it challenging for physicians to treat their pain. Available evidence shows that patient beliefs, attitudes and expectations can affect outcome and response to treatment. Various tools and models have been developed by researchers to get a better understanding into these aspects of chronic pain and aid in providing a more comprehensive approach.
Estimating Peak-Hour Traffic Profiles for Selection of Appropriate Day-of-Year Signal Timing Plans:

Multiple day-of-year (DOY) signal timing plans (STPs) are developed to deal with day-to-day traffic fluctuations during a particular peak hour. Once the operating intervals of these plans are sched...
Review of Tibetan Pastoralists and Development: Negotiating the Future of Grassland Livelihoods edited by Andreas Gruschke and Ingo Breuer

Gruschke A and Breuer I (eds.) Tibetan Pastoralists and Development: Negotiating the Future of Grassland Livelihoods Wiesbaden, Germany Reichert Verlag, 2017 240 pages, ISBN: 9783954902422
Teaching Android and iOS native mobile app development in a single semester course

Mobile app development is a growing part of modern computer science degree programs. The complexity of learning to program mobile devices and the variety of platforms and tools for building mobile apps make course development especially challenging. In computer science departments with limited resources, it may not be practical to teach multiple courses in mobile app development, so an approach is presented in this paper to teach both Android and iOS development in native Java and Objective-C in a single semester by building parallel example projects to shorten the students' time-to-proficiency in both environments. Sample assignments and a service-learning term project with rubric are provided to assist faculty in developing mobile app programming courses in their institutions.
A simple lattice Monte Carlo simulation to model interfacial and crowded water rearrangements

Abstract A finite, two-dimensional lattice model of liquid water captures the essential nearly four-coordinate hydrogen bonding network, while permitting a simple Metropolis Monte Carlo simulation in conditions ranging from crowded to dilute. This model examines excluded volume perturbations of hydrogen bond switching, avoiding complex topological and chemical heterogeneity of realistic interfaces. Retardation factors (relative to bulk) for switching agree with previous statistical models and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of hydrated proteins. The model enables straightforward spatial mapping of retardation factors that are difficult to measure in atomistic simulations. The spatially-dependent retardation factors decrease exponentially from the interface. Simulating varying degrees of crowding, we do not find any cooperative, collective contributions anticipated from some recent spectroscopic observations suggesting correlated hydrogen bonding rearrangements of confined water. Longer-range cooperative interfacial influences may arise from complex chemical patterning of the surface, or to non-entropic influences such as multi-body interactions or altered hydrogen bond strengths.
Reduction of Inappropriate Antibiotic Use and Improved Outcomes by Implementation of an Algorithm-Based Clinical Guideline for Nonpurulent Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Study objective Clinicians currently do not reliably adhere to antibiotic treatment guidelines, resulting in unnecessary patient exposure to broad-spectrum antimicrobials. Our objective is to determine whether a treatment intervention for the management of nonpurulent skin and soft tissue infections increases clinician adherence and improves patient outcomes. Methods Between January 1 and December 31, 2017, patients presenting to 2 emergency departments (EDs) and who had received a diagnosis of a nonpurulent skin and soft tissue infection were enrolled and assigned to a pre- or postintervention cohort with a treatment intervention implemented on June 1. Primary outcomes were percentage of ED providers following the guidelines and percentage of patients admitted to the hospital. Secondary outcomes were patient self-reported treatment failure and hospital readmission. Results There were 1,360 patients, 665 in the preintervention and 695 in the postintervention cohorts. After algorithm implementation, guideline adherence increased (43.0% versus 55.1%; P Conclusion Among patients with a nonpurulent skin and soft tissue infection, implementing an easy-to-follow treatment algorithm can reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure by increasing clinician guideline adherence while reducing patient treatment failure rates.
Emission spectra of LSO and LYSO crystals excited by UV light, x-ray and γ-ray

Because of their high stopping power (Xo = 1.14 cm RMoiiere = 2.07 cm) and fast (~40 ns) bright (4 times of BGO) scintillation, cerium doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) and cerium doped lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) crystals have attracted a broad interest in the high energy physics community. This paper presents a comparative study on emission spectra measured for large size BGO, lead tungstate (PbWO4) LYSO and LSO samples excited by UV light (photo-luminescence), x-ray (x- luminescence) and gamma-ray (radio-luminescence). A red shift was observed between the x-luminescence and the radio-luminescence versus the surface photo-luminescence, which can be explained by internal absorption. Additional red shift and significant red component was observed in the radio-luminescence spectra measured for LSO samples. This is the only significant difference we observed between the large size LSO and LYSO samples. The origin of these red shifts and the consequence to their light output and applications in the high energy and nuclear physics experiments are elaborated.
Using community pharmacies and team observed structured clinical encounters (TOSCEs) for interprofessional education and training.

Abstract Introduction Collaborative practice improves patient outcomes and is a needed student skill. An interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) program was developed using community pharmacies, clinics, and emergency departments. This study's purpose was to assess student pharmacists' team attitudes and skill development after the IPECP using team observed structured clinical encounters (TOSCEs). Methods Nineteen pairs of fourth-year pharmacy and second-year physician assistant students practiced together in a community pharmacy (two days) and clinic or emergency department (two days). They completed TeamSTEPPS training and two team modules. Assessments included TOSCEs and pre/post attitude surveys. Results Students significantly increased all TOSCE domain skills with pre- to post-mean score (SD) of: team communications 3.0 (0.5) to 4.1 (0.5), collaboration 2.8 (0.6) to 4.0 (0.5), roles and responsibilities 2.4 (0.4) to 3.8 (0.5), patient-centered care 2.8 (0.5) to 4.1 (0.6), conflict management 2.8 (0.5) to 4.1 (0.6), team functioning 2.7 (0.6) to 3.9 (0.6), and global performance 2.8 (0.6) to 4.0 (0.5). Afterwards, students reported positive attitudes about team-based patient care. All students stated the experience increased patient and healthcare professional communication skills and understanding of patient problems, and decreased errors. Most students (84%) agreed team care increased interventions compared to individually provided care. Most students (84%) thought the experience was worthwhile, and 68% agreed the IPECP program should be continued. Conclusions This study supports that IPECP can be conducted in a community pharmacy and clinic or emergency department to improve student team skills as evidenced by documented team skills development during TOSCEs.
2.0–2.2 eV AlGaInP solar cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract We demonstrate 2.0–2.2 eV AlGaInP solar cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy and their performance improvement by rapid thermal annealing (RTA). As grown, these cells exhibit lower performance than their counterparts grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), indicating a high concentration of point defects. RTA improves all aspects of performance, enabling our 2.0 eV cells to match the efficiency of MOVPE-grown cells. RTA also improves the performance of wider-bandgap AlGaInP solar cells, but the magnitude of improvement decreases with %Al/bandgap energy.
Erosion testing and modeling of several non-metallic materials

Abstract Polymer composite materials are finding increased application within industry as traditional metal components are much more costly. Many of these materials are exposed to severe solid particle erosion by sand particles, such as in oil and gas and process industries. Although, many studies have been performed on the erosion of various metals and erosion models exist to predict their erosion behavior, comprehensive studies and models on the erosion of non-metallic materials are not available. This paper aims to examine solid particle erosion of several non-metallic materials and develop and extend erosion models for these non-metallic materials. Dry direct impingement testing was conducted at three particle velocities of 12, 24, and 36 m/s and four impact angles of 15, 30, 60, and 90°. Semi-rounded particles of size 150 μm were used in these experiments. Material types included two thermoplastics, one elastomer, and one fiber-reinforced. Experimental results indicated that these materials yield erosion wear weight loss that was comparable or lower in magnitude to stainless steel. A few existing models for metallic and non-metallic materials were examined to provide a fit to the data. Two of the existing erosion models have been refined to predict erosion wear of non-metallic materials due to solid particle impacts. The models allow variable particle size and velocity, material hardness, and impact angles with the results yielding erosion mass and volume losses of the materials investigated.
TOXICIDADE DE ÓLEO DE NIM PARA PUPAS E ADULTOS DE CHRYSOPERLA EXTERNA (HAGEN) (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE)

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do Nim-I-Go® sobre pupas e adultos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). As concentracoes (%) do Nim-I-Go® utilizadas no experimento com pupas foram as seguintes: 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 5,0; correspondendo a (mg de azadirachtina/L de agua) 5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L e 50 mg/L, respectivamente. No experimento com adultos foram utilizadas as seguintes concentracoes: 0,25; 0,5; 0,75; 1,0 e 2,0; correspondendo a (mg de azadirachtina/L) 2,5 mg/L, 5,0 mg/L, 7,5 mg/L, 10 mg/L e 20 mg/L, respectivamente. Clorpirifos foi utilizado como testemunha negativa (0,48 g i.a./L) nos dois experimentos e agua como testemunha positiva. Os bioensaios foram conduzidos a 25 ± 2 o C, UR de 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 12 horas. As pulverizacoes foram realizadas por meio de torre de Potter com aplicacao de 1,5 ± 0,5 mg de calda quimica/cm2. Avaliaram-se a viabilidade dos ovos, a sobrevivencia de pupas e adultos e o efeito dos inseticidas sobre a capacidade reprodutiva dos individuos. A toxicidade foi calculada em funcao do efeito total (E), conforme metodologia padrao estabelecida pela “IOBC”. Nim-I-Go® nas diversas concentracoes foi inocuo a pupas e adultos do predador. Clorpirifos foi nocivo para pupas e adultos de C. externa.
Increasing Returns to Scale in Carpool Matching: Evidence from Scoop

Systems that depend on matching often exhibit scale economies, whereby increased participation leads to improved performance for all users. This paper examines the presence of such increasing returns to scale in carpool matching. Data from Scoop, a carpooling app, is used to demonstrate this phenomenon across various markets using regression. As the number of requests to carpool in a certain market rises, the share of proposed matches that users accept rises, while the extra distance traveled to accommodate these carpools declines. These relationships hold in four specifications of the regression model, and they suggest there are increasing returns to scale in matching.
The Day the Armchair Broke: A Reply to White

Since 2009, systematic interdisciplinary investigations on the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Lake Huron have documented hunting features, stone tools and debitage, and unique paleoenvironmental data rep...
Encouraging Sustainability Practices through Entity Recognition of Food Items on Social Media

Food waste by end-consumers is a topic that is under-studied although this is an issue that has direct and indirect consequences on greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and health. One reason for food waste in homes in the United States is the perception that food is no longer safe after the stamped date on the product. Targeted outreach to correct these misconceptions could therefore reduce food waste. As large numbers of people publish their daily activities on social media networks, these messages can be automatically analyzed in real-time to identify situations involving specific foods and then respond to these cases with relevant information about food preparation and safety. This work describes a method to recognize mentions of food items on the Twitter social network. Since food items are not a standard entity class in existing entity recognition systems, a dataset of known food items is used to train an entity recognition framework to recognize these items in context. The training data is obtained from tweets that match a known database of keywords describing different foods. The accuracy of the proposed food entity recognition approach is evaluated on a hand-labeled dataset of randomly selected tweets. The method has a precision of 0.96 and a recall of 0.52 (f-score of 0.68) which is comparable to f-score of 0.75 for named-entity-recognition of drug-related terms on Reddit text data. After a specific food is recognized in a tweet, the corresponding information about its preparation and storage can be looked up in the FoodKeeper database of the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service. This message could then be tweeted as a reply to the original tweet.
Exploiting shape, cellular-hitchhiking and antibodies to target nanoparticles to lung endothelium: Synergy between physical, chemical and biological approaches

Abstract Delivery of nanoparticles to target specific tissues remains a challenge due to their rapid removal from circulation by the reticuloendothelial (RES) system. The majority of past research has addressed this issue via chemical modification of nanoparticles in the form of hydrophilic coatings which reduces adsorption of opsonins that trigger RES clearance. Recently, additional approaches have been developed which leverage the natural mechanisms our own circulatory cells use to avoid immune system clearance. One such method, called ‘cellular-hitchhiking’, accomplishes this by non-covalent attachment of nanoparticles to the surface of red blood cells. Concomitantly, approaches that make use of modified nanoparticle geometry, that is rod-shaped nanoparticles, have also been used to avoid immune system clearance and improve tissue targeting. Here, we systematically investigate three approaches and their combinations to improve lung targeting while avoiding RES clearance. Our results show that an approach that combines targeting antibodies (anti-ICAM-1), rod-shaped particles and cellular hitchhiking into one delivery system effectively lowered the accumulated concentration of nanoparticles in RES organs by over two-fold as compared to any other combination or single method, while simultaneously increasing the concentration of accumulated nanoparticles in the lungs from 1.2 to 8.9 fold. The strategy described here offers a novel means that combine chemical, physical and biological approaches to maximize tissue targeting.
Acidic Aroma Constituents of Turkish Tobacco

The acidic constituents of sun-cured Turkish tobacco have been studied. Of the 93 acidic compounds investigated, 10 compounds are new in nature and 18 are new tobacco constituents. The 93 compounds fall mainly into three groups: fatty acids, aromatic acids, and terpenoid acids, which appear to be derived from macrocyclic thunbergane diterpenoids.
Complex transcription from the extrachromosomal DNA encoding mitochondrial functions of Plasmodium yoelii.

Abstract All tested members of genus Plasmodium contain tandemly arrayed, transcribed, extrachromosomal DNA with a unit length of 6.0 kb. This DNA contains two open reading frames with potential to encode cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and cytochrome b (cob) as well as fragments of rRNA genes scattered on both strands. At least 10 discrete RNA molecules transcribed during erythrocytic stages of a rodent malarial parasite, Plasmodium yoelii, were recognized by the 6.0-kb DNA probes. The RNA molecules of 1.4 and 1.1 kb were identified as encoding cox1 and cob, respectively. Primer extension and RNA sequencing were used to locate and characterize 5' ends of these two RNAs, showing that an identical 12-nucleotide sequence, 5'-TATTTTT TGTTT-3', was present at these positions. This sequence may act as a promoter or as an RNA processing signal. A stem-loop structure signifying a possible transcription termination was present at the end of the cox1 open reading frame. At least six discrete RNA molecules of less than 250 nucleotides were recognized by different fractions of the 6.0-kb DNA. The largest of these, 200 nucleotides, was also characterized by primer extension and RNA sequencing. This molecule had a high homology to portions of the large-subunit rRNA domains IV and V. Other, small RNA molecules were recognized by regions of the 6.0-kb DNA that had homology to the highly conserved peptidyltransferase domain of large-subunit rRNA. These results show that the unusual compactly organized mitochondrionlike DNA of malarial parasites is transcribed in a complex pattern.
The association between arthritis and depression is intensified by excessive body weight: Findings from a US national survey, 2005-2012.

Summary Objective Obesity and arthritis are leading chronic conditions, but comorbidity of these conditions and their interaction leading to depression have not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which excess body weight effect-modifies the relationship between arthritis and depressive symptoms. Methods We used the data of 8677 men and 8820 women aged 20 or older, who completed a depression screening and general medical condition interview as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2012. Depression was ascertained using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); a PHQ-9 score of 15 or higher was defined as indicative of depression. Results Arthritis was reported in 26.5% (SE=0.9) of men and 36.9% (SE=1.4) of women. The association between depression and arthritis was not significant among healthy weight women, but significant among overweight and obese women. The prevalence ratios (PRs) of depression among arthritis-free women were 1.00 (reference) for healthy weight, 1.43 (0.85–2.42) for overweight, and 1.99 (1.23–3.23) for obese women. For women with arthritis, the PRs were 1.16 (0.63–2.12) for healthy weight, 3.80 (2.24–6.45) for overweight and 3.73 (2.30–6.05) for obese women. The intensifying effect from excessive body weight on the association between arthritis and depression was less salient among men than women. Conclusions The association between arthritis and depression is intensified significantly by increased body weight, in particular, among women.
Regions of Attraction

In dealing with nonlinear systems whose equilibria are locally stable, it is critically important to have a reliable method for estimating the region of attraction. Developing efficient algorithms for this purpose is not an easy task, particularly when the system is large. One of the main challenges in this context is to keep the overall computation time and the associated memory requirements within acceptable limits. An additional (and equally important) objective is to enlarge the size of the estimate by an appropriate choice of feedback. In the case of large-scale systems, this choice is usually restricted to some form of decentralized control, since state information is available only locally.
Enhancement of CO2 selectivity in a pillared pcu MOM platform through pillar substitution

Pillar substitution in a long-known metal–organic material with saturated metal centres, [Cu(bipy)2(SiF6)]n, has afforded the first crystallographically characterized porous materials based upon TiF62− and SnF62− anions as pillars. Gas adsorption studies revealed similar surface areas and adsorption isotherms but enhanced selectivity towards CO2vs. CH4 and N2.
Use of Distance Learning for Continuing Education of Engineers: Results of an Educational Needs Assessment

A survey was mailed to practicing engineers to determine their interest in distance learning programs and their preferences concerning such programs. The survey included queries regarding availability of computer resources and access to the Internet, preferences for delivery technology, type of educational program of interest, subject areas of interest, and importance of various parameters associated with distance learning programs. Approximately 1,000 surveys were mailed with a response rate of about 15 percent. The survey clearly defined preferences of this population for computer-based delivery technology and programs related to engineering management, computer science and engineering, and mechanical/manufacturing engineering. The information collected will be used to define the content areas, delivery technology, and pedagogical framework of future distance learning courses and programs.
Linking the Acetylcholine Receptor-Channel Agonist-Binding Sites with the Gate

The gating isomerization of neuromuscular acetylcholine receptors links the rearrangements of atoms at two transmitter-binding sites with those at a distant gate region in the pore. To explore the mechanism of this reversible process, we estimated the gating rate and equilibrium constants for receptors with point mutations of α-subunit residues located between the binding sites and the membrane domain (N95, A96, Y127, and I49). The maximum energy change caused by a side-chain substitution at αA96 was huge (∼8.6 kcal/mol, the largest value measured so far for any α-subunit amino acid). A Φ-value analysis suggests that αA96 experiences its change in energy (structure) approximately synchronously with residues αY127 and αI49, but after the agonist molecule and other residues in loop A. Double mutant-cycle experiments show that the energy changes at αA96 are strongly coupled with those of αY127 and αI49. We identify a column of mutation-sensitive residues in the α-subunit that may be a pathway for energy transfer through the extracellular domain in the gating isomerization.
Epidemiologic Considerations in Reporting Herd Somatic Cell Counts

The reporting of herd summaries of individual cow somatic cell counts differs between the nine Dairy Records Processing Centers. The objectives of this paper are to review the present reporting; to compare the methods used to calculate herd somatic cell counts; and to discuss the epidemiologic implications of these methods. Estimates of central tendency and frequency distributions are the most commonly used herd summary statistics for somatic cell counts. Analyses of the frequency distributions are less widely available. Potential uses of herd somatic cell counts are to measure one aspect of herd milk quality; to estimate the prevalence of mastitis; to analyze mastitis patterns within the herd; and to investigate new areas for mastitis control research. Presently, the best available methods for these applications appear to be bulk tank somatic cell counts or weighted arithmetic means for gauging milk quality; frequency distributions for estimating mastitis prevalence; analyses of frequency distributions of mean linear score by lactation and stage of lactation for identifying mastitis patterns within a herd; and frequency distributions or estimated incidence rates, adjusted for differences in age and stage of lactation, for investigating new areas for mastitis control research.
Effect of 3-phenylindole on lipophilic ion and carrier-mediated ion transport across bilayer lipid membranes.

The physical effects of 3-phenylindole, an antimicrobial compound which interacts with phospholipids, on ion transport across phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol bilayers have been investigated using three lipophilic ions and one ion-carrier complex. It was found that 3-phenylindole increased membrane electrical conductance of positively charged membrane probes and decreased electrical conductance of negatively charged probes. The enhancement of conductance detected by nonactin-K+ complex and tetraphenylarsonium+ was several orders of magnitude, whereas the suppression of conductance due to tetraphenylborate− and dipicrylamine− was less than a factor of ten. Presence of 3-phenylindole in aqueous phase slightly decreased adsorption of tetraphenylborate− and dipicrylamine− at the membrane surface. From the voltage dependence of the steady-state conductance it was shown that 3-phenylindole induced kinetic limitation of membrane transport of potassium mediated by nonactin. No such limitation was found in the case of tetraphenylarsonium+ transport. These results are shown to be consistent with the present concept of ion diffusion in membranes and the assumption that 3-phenylindole decreases the electric potential in the membrane interior. The asymmetry of the effect of 3-phenylindole on the magnitude of conductance changes for positively and negatively charged membrane permeable ions is also discussed as a reflection of the discreteness of both the adsorbed 3-phenylindole and lipid dipoles.
Impact of bidirectional translational research on treatment of addiction

Abstract In our years of research, focused on the biology of addictive diseases, we have used a bidirectional translational approach. By making careful observations of persons with specific addictive diseases, we have been able to refine phenotypic definitions of these complex disorders and have also gained information to develop novel animal models that, in part, mimic these diseases. Use of these models in molecular neurobiological, neurochemical, and behavioral studies has yielded findings which provide the basis for further laboratory-based research and for basic clinical research studies. Insights for potential new prevention and intervention approaches to the addictions with novel targets have been forthcoming. Also specific genes, the variants of which may be associated with addictions, or involved in the mechanisms underlying specific addictive diseases, have been identified. Thus, there has been a very positive impact, for our laboratory and numerous others, of the use of bidirectional translational research in many facets pertaining to the addictive diseases, including the treatment of addictive diseases.
Pneumatic vortical flow control at high angles of attack

The injection of thin, high-momentum jets of air into the fuselage forebody boundary layers of the F-18 aircraft is explored numerically as a means of controlling the onset of fuselage vortices and of generating yaw control forces. The study was carried out for an angle of attack of 30 deg with symmetrical and asymmetrical blowing configurations. One-sided blowing results in a strongly asymmetrical flow pattern in the fore portion of the fuselage, leading to a net lateral force.
Tuning the mesopore structure of 3D hexagonal thin films using butanol as a co-solvent

Abstract Distorted 3D hexagonal (space group R-3m) mesoporous titania thin films with high visible-light transparency are produced by introducing a small amount of 1-butanol into sol–gel coating sols containing P123 as the primary pore template. The mesostructure of the titania thin films identified by grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS), transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy has rhombohedral symmetry (space group R-3m) with the [111] direction normal to the substrate. In the absence of butanol at the ratio of P123:titania used, poorly ordered films which may contain 2D or 3D hexagonal domains form, but introducing as little as a 1:10 ratio (by mass) of 1-butanol to P123 (with ethanol as coating solvent) leads to a well-defined 3D hexagonal structure in the resulting films. Simulated GISAXS patterns obtained using the NANODIFT program confirm the assignment of the experimental patterns to this structure. The characterization results indicate that over a 1-butanol:P123 mass ratio of 0.1 to 2, the films are composed of ordered arrays of cage-like cavities, and that in contrast to the hypothesized role of butanol as a swelling agent, the pore size decreases with an increase in the ratio of 1-butanol to P123.
The role of histamine in allergic rhinitis

Studies using nasal provocation followed by nasal lavage have demonstrated that histamine plays an important role in the mediation of allergic rhinitis but not of rhinovirus infection. The response to antigen challenge is often biphasic. During the early response, increases in histamine levels appear to be associated with activation of mast cells. In a subset of persons who exhibit an additional late response, however, the rise in histamine is concomitant with an increase in the number of basophils. Further evidence of the role of histamine in allergic rhinitis has emerged from nasal provocation experiments involving pretreatment with a variety of drugs known to antagonize or affect release of histamine. Nasal provocation with histamine causes sneezing, itching, rhinorrhea, and nasal congestion. Most H1 antihistamines have been found to inhibit sneezing and to lessen the increase in vascular permeability, but they do not affect histamine release. The H1 antihistamine terfenadine, however, inhibits histamine release during the early response; effects on late response remain unknown. Prednisone decreases histamine levels during the late, but not the early, response. One-week pretreatment with topical steroids, on the other hand, affects both the early and the late response.
Astrophysical Limitations on Possible Tensor Contributions to Weak Neutral Current Interactions

We consider the astrophysical implications of, and limits on, possible weak neutral-tensor-current interactions. Such interactions give the neutrino dipole moments that permit it to couple directly to photons. Photons in an astrophysical plasma, with q/sup 2/ not-equal 0, then decay into ..nu..nu-bar pairs. We discuss astrophysical limits, based on a comparison of stellar evolution theory and observations, that can be set on the strength of this modified plasma neutrino-energy loss rate. We find that the best limit is probably set by a comparison of degenerate dwarf cooling times with observations of hot white dwarfs. We deduce that G/subT//G/subF/ approximately-less-than 1/15, where G/subT/ is the coupling constant for neutral tensor currents and G/subF/ is the Fermi coupling constant. (AIP)
Norepinephrine-independent regulation of GRII mRNA in vivo by a tricyclic antidepressant

Desipramine (DMI), a tricyclic antidepressant drug used in the treatment of depression, has been shown to increase steady-state levels of glucocorticoid receptor type II (GRII) mRNA in vitro and in vivo. To determine whether this effect is secondary to norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibition i.e., increases in synaptic NE induced by DMI, GRII mRNA levels were assayed in rat hippocampus following neurotoxic lesioning of NE neurons with DSP4. Chronic DMI treatment significantly increased GRII mRNA levels to the same degree in lesioned and non-lesioned animals. In contrast to DMI, the non-tricyclic antidepressant fluoxetine had no effect on GRII mRNA. These results provide evidence which demonstrates that a tricyclic antidepressant can regulate steady-state mRNA levels in vivo by a mechanism which is independent of its effects on synaptic monoamine levels.
Equilibrium states of a dimer model with angular forces

Several complementary techniques are applied to the study of the orientational transition in a restricted lattice model of rigid linear dimers with finite interactions between contiguous molecules, on the square lattice. The restriction has the effect of forcing the ordered phase to resemble either a smectic or a nematic liquid crystal. It is shown that the symmetry of the equilibrium state is broken for some interactions and that the equilibrium state is unique for others. Thermodynamic analyticity is established for high temperatures.
Moderate Exercise Improves Immunity and Decreases Illness Rates

Moderate exercise training causes favorable perturbations in immunity and a reduction in incidence of upper-respiratory illness (URI). During each bout of moderate exercise, an enhanced recirculati...
Analysis of flight effects on noise radiation from jet flow using a convecting quadrupole model

The effects of flight on noise radiation from convecting quadrupoles in a jet flow are examined. The analysis shows that as flight velocity increases there is a steadily increasing amplification of the sound that is radiated into the forward arc and a large reduction of the sound that is radiated into the rearward arc. The analysis also shows the same trend when there is a reduction in the exhaust velocity with, however, a further rise in amplification in the forward quadrant and a drop in attenuation in the aft quadrant. Finally, it is concluded that there is a transmission effect tending to enhance the sound radiation by a density ratio pf/pj which increases with increasing jet temperature.
Delayed recovery from hyperoxia-induced growth arrest by human airway smooth muscle cells. • 1826

Delayed recovery from hyperoxia-induced growth arrest by human airway smooth muscle cells. • 1826
Impedance measurements using ionic contacts on purified and doped silver bromide crystals

Impedance measurements are made on purified, vacancy-doped and interstitial-doped silver bromide crystals of thicknesses from 0.061 cm to 0.260 cm using constant ionic strength solution contacts at temperatures from 20°C to 35°C. Results characterize the macroscopic transport properties from 316 kHz to 0.01 Hz and at d.c. In all cases the high frequency limit resistive component of the impedance, R∞, is equal to the d.c. resistance R0. This result indicates rapid ion exchange at the surfaces and neither Warburg diffusion nor surface kinetic-limitation of transport. As expected, R∞ is a function of charge carrier concentration, which depends on extrinsic dopant concentration over the temperature range measured. For pure crystals the resistance, R∞, is linearly dependent on crystal thickness, δ, while thickness correlation could not be tested for the doped crystals as dopant level was not uniform. The geometric capacitance for all crystals, Cg, is linear with δ−1. The dimensionless dielectric constant, κ, calculated from Cg and crystal dimentsions, is 13.9±0.7. The electric relaxation time, τel, defined as the product R∞Cg, at 25°C is found to be 50±3 μs for pure crystals, 1 to 4 μs for the Cd2+-doped crystals and 12 to 66 μs for the S2−-doped crystals. Temperature dependance of R∞ allows determination of crystal transport activation energies. For pure and Cd2+-doped crystals a value of 0.33±0.02 eV is found. For the S2+-doped crystals values from 0.48 to 0.28 eV are found. The parameter α, in the non-ideal Cole-Cole representation of impedance plane arcs, is 0.96±0.01 for purified crystals, 0.93±0.03 for Cd2+-doped, and 0.92±0.02 for S2−-doped crystals.
Randomized blinded study of aprotinin infusion post crush liver injury1

Abstract Purpose: We have previously demonstrated a significant decrease in hemoglobin loss and mortality in the pig model for isolated grade IV liver crush injuries when intravenous aprotinin (serine protease inhibitor) was given preinjury. This randomized blinded study examines the effect of postinjury aprotinin infusion on hemoglobin loss and mortality. Methods: Eighteen Yorkshire-Cross 20-kg pigs were randomized to either a postinjury bolus of aprotinin or placebo (lactated Ringer’s) solution. All pigs had general anesthesia. Uniform 5-cm crush injuries were applied to three areas of each liver lobe. The pigs were then phlebotomized to a mean arterial pressure of 25 mm Hg and resuscitated with aprotinin or placebo. Blood pressure, pulse, and temperature were recorded at 15-minute intervals. Serial blood collections for hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets, prothrombin time (PT), and fibrinogen determinations were obtained. Results: Variable Aprotinin Placebo Mortality (%) 77 88 Time to death (minutes) 166 ± 21 115 ± 27 Change hemoglobin, % 50 ± 13 52 ± 8 Change platelets, % 52 ± 9 49 ± 8 Change fibrinogen, % 53 ± 11 69 ± 5 Initial PT (seconds) 13.5 ± 0.2 13.1 ± 0.4 Final PT (seconds) 14.1 ± 0.8 15.5 ± 0.9
National Missile Defense and Deterrence

The current stance of the Bush administration has renewed debate on the implications of national missile defense. While a large part of that debate concerns its technical and economic feasibility, there is also considerable debate concerning the ramifications of national missile defense for international peace and stability. Unfortunately, few studies have analyzed the implications of missile defense through the lens of deterrence theory. Those that have were based on classical deterrence theory, which is plagued by a variety of logical inconsistencies and empirical anomalies. Accordingly, I examine the implications of national missile defense for deterrence from the vantage point of an alternative theory of deterrence, perfect deterrence theory. The results indicate that national missile defense generally enhances the stability of deterrence; the greatest threat missile defense poses is causing dissatisfaction in potential challengers.
On stress aware active area sizing, gate sizing, and repeater insertion

Enormous technical and economic challenges facing technology scaling has rendered strain engineering techniques as the critical enabler of high performance designs in sub-$100$nm geometries. One of these techniques, source/drain (S/D) SiGe, has an interesting property that the mobility of the device is dependent on the size of active area (AA) surrounding it. To exploit this phenomenon for higher performance, a circuit designer needs first order and computationally tractable transistor level models. This paper provides the first AA sizing dependent RC switch level model of a logic gate which can be readily used by circuit designers. We derive the methodology to optimally use AA sizing for some common cells such as NAND, NOR and INV. For the first time, we formulate a convex optimization problem for concurrent AA and gate sizing problem for performance optimization and solve it optimally. We also analytically solve AA sizing aware optimal repeater insertion problem for dealing with the menace of long global interconnects in modern chip design. Experimental results demonstrate that our methodology can reduce inter-chip long global interconnect delay by 9% and inter-module gate delays by 10% with only 11% increase in dynamic power dissipation.