cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamin-related protein 1 as a therapeutic target in cardiac arrest

Despite improvements in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality, defibrillation technologies, and implementation of therapeutic hypothermia, less than 10 % of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims survive to hospital discharge. New resuscitation therapies have been slow to develop, in part, because the pathophysiologic mechanisms critical for resuscitation are not understood. During cardiac arrest, systemic cessation of blood flow results in whole body ischemia. CPR and the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), both result in immediate reperfusion injury of the heart that is characterized by severe contractile dysfunction. Unlike diseases of localized ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury (myocardial infarction and stroke), global IR injury of organs results in profound organ dysfunction with far shorter ischemic times. The two most commonly injured organs following cardiac arrest resuscitation, the heart and brain, are critically dependent on mitochondrial function. New insights into mitochondrial dynamics and the role of the mitochondrial fission protein Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in apoptosis have made targeting these mechanisms attractive for IR therapy. In animal models, inhibiting Drp1 following IR injury or cardiac arrest confers protection to both the heart and brain. In this review, the relationship of the major mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 to ischemic changes in the heart and its targeting as a new therapeutic target following cardiac arrest are discussed.
Doppler Acoustic Sounding: Application to Dispersion Modeling

The use of acoustics to study atmospheric properties is well-established. A review of atmospheric effects on acoustic signals can be found in Thomson (1975) and the history of acoustic sounder development is given by Gaynor (1982). However, the use of Doppler acoustic sounders in air pollution applications, as pointed out by Gaynor (1982), has gained acceptance only very recently. Doppler acoustic sounders with proven reliability have become commercially available only in the past decade and, even now, only a limited number of units are routinely being used to collect wind data.
Recent United States Experiences in Evaluation Research with Implications for Latin America

This chapter is intended to define and illustrate “evaluation” and to describe some lessons that have been learned over the last ten years by persons conducting evaluation research in the United States. Our hope is that these lessons will prove useful for those who commission or conduct evaluations of nutrition-related projects in lesser developed countries, especially Latin America. The lessons are relevant to: a. Deciding which projects are or are not worth evaluating; b. Determining who should ask the evaluation questions; c. Deciding who should conduct the evaluations; d. Determining whether random assignment to treatments is possible and where it is not possible; e. Ascertaining which qua si-experimental or nonexperimental designs can be implemented; f. Deciding upon the measures of project or program impact; g. Measuring the extent to which a promised treatment has actually been delivered; h. Ascertaining the extent to which the findings from evaluating a single project or program can be generalized to other settings, times, service providers, and service recipients; and i. Determining the relative emphasis to be given to “summative” and “formative” goals.
The Theory of Two-Photon-Induced Fluorescence Anisotropy

Fluorescence anisotropy (photoselection) techniques have played an important role in elucidating the nature of excited electronic states in polyatomic molecules and their rotational dynamics for many years. In the classic experiments single photons of linearly polarized light are absorbed by a randomly oriented sample, creating a partially oriented (photoselected) ensemble of excited molecules. In the usual electric dipole mechanism the probability of absorption goes as the square of the projection of the molecule’s transition dipole vector onto the polarization direction of the light. The average orientation is revealed by the polarization (anisotropy) of the subsequently emitted photons, provided there is little molecular rotation prior to emission of the second photon. The rate of loss of the anisotropy is directly related to the rotational diffusion rate during the excitedstate lifetime. The widespread availability of high rep-rate picosecond pulsed lasers has made two-photon excitation (TPE) more accessible in recent years, and with it a desire to exploit the fluorescence anisotropy created from TPE. 17) However, it is fair to say that most spectroscopists today are not very familiar with the twophoton absorption process. It is the purpose of this chapter to present a formal theory of steady-state anisotropy of fluorescence produced by TPE and to review some of the major differences between oneand two-photon spectroscopy and how they translate into differences in the anisotropy of the fluorescence. The scope of this chapter is limited to a subspace of the elegant treatment of general three-photon processes by McClain, wherein only the case of two identical photons absorbed (one-color case) followed by fluorescence (at
Social Skills Training: Should We Raze, Remodel, or Rebuild?.

The degree to which children and youth establish and maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers is the defining feature of social competence. Difficulties in social c...
High power-density thermoacoustic sound projectors

Design, fabrication, and performance of large size and high power-density encapsulated thermoacoustic sound projectors driven by short pulses will be presented. The analysis of enhanced energy conversion efficiency using proper signal processing and low-dimensional thermodynamics will be given. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research and Army Research Office.]
The mechanics of scaling-up multichannel scaffold technology for clinical nerve repair

Abstract Peripheral nerve injury remains a large clinical problem, with challenges to the successful translation of nerve repair devices. One promising technology is the multichannel scaffold, a conduit incorporating arrays of linear microchannels, which has high open lumen volume to guide regenerating nerves toward distal targets. To maximize open lumen volume, and scale-up scaffolds for translation, this study explored how mechanical properties were affected by 1) material choice (poly(lactide co-glycolide) (PLGA) and poly(caprolactone) (PCL)), 2) microstructure (porous and non-porous), and 3) channel architecture (200 µm and 300 µm diameter). After testing in transverse compression and bending, it was noted that introduction of porosity and increasing microchannel diameter increased scaffold compliance from 0.05 ± 0.1–2.75 ± 0.8 mm/N. Porosity also increased flexibility and eliminated kinking, which could potentially damage regenerating nerves. Material choice determined both scaffold deformation and mechanics. Porous PLGA scaffolds were stiffer than porous PCL, with greater deformation. Having demonstrated stability and flexibility, porous PCL multichannel scaffolds were scaled from 1.5 mm to 10 mm in diameter, a range applicable to the clinic. Even at 10 mm in diameter, the linear structure, high open lumen volume and compliance were retained. This demonstrates significant progress towards translation and brings multichannel technology closer to the clinic.
Kinetic Simulations of Magnetic Reconnection in Partially Ionized Plasmas.

Fast magnetic reconnection occurs in nearly all natural and laboratory plasmas and rapidly releases stored magnetic energy. Although commonly studied in fully ionized plasmas, if and when fast reconnection can occur in partially ionized plasmas, such as the interstellar medium or solar chromosphere, is not well understood. This Letter presents the first fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of partially ionized reconnection and demonstrates that fast reconnection can occur in partially ionized systems. In the simulations, the transition to fast reconnection occurs when the current sheet width thins below the ion-inertial length in contrast to previous analytic predictions. The peak reconnection rate is $\ensuremath{\ge}0.08$ when normalized to the bulk Alfv\'en speed (including both ion and neutral mass), consistent with previous experimental results. However, when the bulk Alfv\'en speed falls below the neutral sound speed, the rate becomes system size dependent. The normalized inflow velocity is ionization fraction dependent, which is shown to be a result of neutral momentum transport. A model for the inflow is developed which agrees well with the simulation results.
Food Commodity Consumption Data and New Tools used by US EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs

The US EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) conducts its dietary assessments for pesticides by combining data on pesticide concentrations on food commodities (e.g., apples) with data on consump...
Contrasts in Presidential Campaign Commercials of 2000

This article examines television advertising used during the 2000 presidential campaign. Based on interviews with the advertising creators and on repeated viewings by the author and his graduate and undergraduate students, it describes, analyzes, and evaluates the ads. The study reveals massive spending, totaling $240 million, with party spending superceding candidate spending, Bush outspending Gore, and differences in when and where ads were placed. Bush using fewer ads had primarily positive ads showing he was a different kind of Republican. Ads on his behalf by the Republican National Committee were mostly negative. In contrast, Gore and the Democratic National Committee aired many more ads and many state-specific ads. His ads were mostly comparative and negative. Third-party-candidate ads, although innovatively humorous, were not a factor in 2000, whereas political action committee ads were more dominant.
Twenty Years of the Commercial Internet, Part 1

This column reflects on the events surrounding Netscape's initial public offering and draws some lessons, particularly the idea of "innovation from the edges."
Urban Education as Racialized State Violence: What is the Role of Higher Education?

This address was given as the plenary presentation to the 24th Annual Conference of the Coalition for Urban and Metropolitan Universities, Chicago, Illinois, October 23, 2018.
Linear Panel Data Analysis in Nonprofit Studies: Embracing the Potential of Longitudinal Data

The growing availability of data in the nonprofit sector necessitates a better sophistication of methods from both scholars and practitioners. Linear panel data analysis, with its advantage in addr...
A two-step process for the synthesis of sweetening syrup from aqueous lactose

Abstract Dairy industry continues to struggle in finding new uses for lactose. In this work, a two-step process was developed for the synthesis of sweetening syrup from aqueous lactose. The process consisted of enzymatic hydrolysis (β-galactosidase) followed by catalytic isomerization over tin in the framework of dealuminated beta zeolite (Sn/deAlβ). The enzymatic hydrolysis was studied within a wide range of enzyme concentration (1–6%), lactose concentration (5–45%), and hydrolysis time (1–24 h). Under optimized conditions of the enzymatic hydrolysis, 95.77 ± 0.67% of lactose was converted into glucose and galactose after 1 h of hydrolysis. In the second step, the hydrolysed lactose was catalytically isomerized at 100 °C for 2 h in the presence of Sn/deAlβ containing different Sn loading ratios (2–8 wt%). The prepared catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, FTIR, CO2-TPD, and TEM. The highest isomerization yield of glucose and galactose to produce fructose and d -tagatose (29.8 ± 0.5 and 25.5 ± 0.5%, respectively) was obtained with 6% of Sn/deAlβ. The overall process converted 99.9% of lactose into a sweetening syrup principally made of glucose (24%), galactose (13%), fructose (14%), and d -Tagatose (12%). Importantly, this work highlights the production of a sweetening syrup from aqueous lactose by applying a two-step process.
Ion exchange selectivity in clay is controlled by nanoscale chemical-mechanical coupling

Ion exchange in nanoporous clay-rich media plays an integral role in water, nutrient, and contaminant storage and transport. In montmorillonite (MMT), a common clay mineral in soils, sediments, and muds, the swelling and collapse of clay particles through the addition or removal of discrete molecular layers of water alters cation exchange selectivities in a poorly understood way. Here, we show that ion exchange is coupled to the dynamic delamination and restacking of clay layers, which creates a feedback between the hydration state of the exchanging cation and the composition of the clay interlayer. Particles with different hydration states are distinct phases with unique binding selectivities. Surprisingly, equilibrium achieved through thermal fluctuations in cation concentration and hydration state leads to the exchange of both ions and individual MMT layers between particles, a process we image directly with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy at cryogenic conditions (cryo-TEM). We introduce an exchange model that accounts for the binding selectivities of different phases, which is likely applicable to many charged colloidal or macromolecular systems in which the structural conformation is correlated with the activities of water and counterions within spatially confined compartments.
Differences in ambulatory care fragmentation between cancer survivors and noncancer controls

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic conditions are treated by many providers, which can increase the risk of communication gaps across providers and potential harm to patients. However, to the authors' knowledge, the extent of fragmented care among this population is unknown. In the current study, the authors sought to determine whether cancer survivors have more fragmented care than noncancer controls and to quantify the extent of fragmentation. METHODS Data from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study linked to Medicare claims were used. The authors included beneficiaries with continuous Part A and B coverage for 12 months at the time of their baseline REGARDS survey. The primary outcome of the current study was claims-based fragmentation over 12 months, which was calculated using the reversed Bice-Boxerman Index so a higher score reflected greater fragmentation. Unadjusted differences in fragmentation were compared between cancer survivors and controls. Beta regression models were used to estimate associations between cancer status and fragmentation, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS The authors included 4922 participants aged ≥65 years at baseline. Of these patients, approximately 21% were cancer survivors. Survivors had a median of 11 visits (interquartile range, 7-15 visits) with 5 providers compared with controls, who had a median of 9 visits (interquartile range, 6-14 visits) with 4 providers (P < .0001). Cancer survivors had significantly more fragmented care compared with controls (median reversed Bice-Boxerman Index, 0.80 vs 0.76; P < .0001). After adjusting for confounders, cancer survivors had an increased odds of having fragmented care (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02-1.14). CONCLUSIONS Care fragmentation is more prevalent among cancer survivors compared with those without a history of cancer. Future studies should examine whether fragmentation puts survivors at risk of worse outcomes.
Transcervical Foley Balloon Plus Vaginal Misoprostol versus Vaginal Misoprostol Alone for Cervical Ripening in Nulliparous Obese Women: A Multicenter, Randomized, Comparative-Effectiveness Trial.

Objective Nulliparous obese women are at increased risk of labor induction and cesarean delivery (CD). We sought to determine whether the combination of a transvaginal Foley balloon plus misoprostol prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is superior to misoprostol alone in reducing the risk for CD. Study Design We undertook a multicenter, open-label, comparative-effectiveness randomized clinical trial of nulliparous obese women with unfavorable cervix (Bishop's score ≤ 6) undergoing labor induction from January 2016 to June 2018 at three tertiary centers. Those at 6, further management was deferred to treating physicians. Primary outcome was the rate of CD. Secondary maternal outcomes included duration of induction-to-delivery interval, occurrence of tachysystole, clinical chorioamnionitis, need for operative vaginal delivery, as well as a composite of maternal morbidity (postpartum endometritis, surgical-site infection, venous thromboembolism, need for transfusion, intensive care unit admission, and maternal death). Secondary neonatal outcomes included need for neonatal intensive care unit admission, transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration syndrome, culture-proven sepsis, neonatal seizures, and a composite of neonatal morbidity (Apgar's score ≤7 at 5 minutes, umbilical artery cord pH ≤7.10, birth injury, perinatal death). With the rate of CD rate being 53% at Children's Memorial Herman Hospital among nulliparous obese women who underwent induction of labor at ≥32 weeks and met our inclusion criteria; 250 women (125 women per group) were required to answer the study question. All analyses were by intention to treat. Results Of the 236 women randomized, 113 (48%) were allocated to group 1 (combined Foley and PGE1) and 123 (52%) to group 2 (PGE1 alone). The rate of CD was similar between the groups (45 vs. 43%, p = 0.84, relative risk [RR]: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.75–1.42). There was no difference in the occurrence of tachysystole that resulted in fetal heart rate abnormalities between the groups (8.8 vs. 16.2%, p = 0.09, RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.27–1.11). The total duration of the induction-to-delivery interval was also similar between the groups (24.8 ± 13.8 vs. 24.5 ± 14.0 hours, p = 0.87) regardless of the mode of delivery. No differences were seen in the indications for CD and secondary maternal or neonatal outcomes. Conclusion In this trial of nulliparous obese women undergoing labor induction, cervical ripening with combined Foley balloon and PGE1 resulted in similar CD rates than ripening with vaginal PGE1 alone. Key Points
Assessing the demand response capacity of U.S. drinking water treatment plants

Abstract This study assesses the spatio-temporal electricity consumption and demand response (DR) capacity of U.S. drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). We account for the installed unit processes at each plant, the electricity intensity of each unit process, the compatibility of a unit process with DR participation, and the approximate volume of water treated at each DWTP during different months of the year. We then perform a parametric analysis to calculate the shiftable load from DWTPs as a function of the length of the load curtailment period ( T C ), the ratio of the maximum treatment capacity to the peak-day demands of DWTPs ( r max ), and the time of the year. The results of the parametric analysis suggest that the total DR capacity of U.S. DWTPs in 2018 varied between 140 MW and 610 MW as a function of T C , r max and time of the year. We also find that the total electricity use by DWTPs has increased 25% from 2013 to 2018, largely due to the rapidly increasing adoption rate of reverse osmosis processes. These results indicate that DWTPs provide only minimal DR capacity in most locations in the U.S, but that further electrification of the drinking water treatment sector may significantly increase this DR capacity in critical geographic locations during peak summer months.
Local food prices and the purchasing power of SNAP benefits

Abstract While the nominal value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is fixed across states (except for Hawaii and Alaska), variation in food prices across the U.S. is dramatic. We provide new evidence describing geographic variation in the purchasing power of SNAP benefits, measured by the extent to which SNAP-recipient households are able to afford the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food plan on which legislated SNAP benefit levels are based. For more than one-quarter of SNAP households, SNAP benefits are too low to cover the cost of the TFP at the primary stores where they report shopping. SNAP purchasing power increases somewhat as we assume households can travel farther to shop and increases much more with the assumed ability to identify and travel to the lowest-cost store in a given area. It is unlikely, however, that SNAP households are sufficiently informed and mobile to shop at the lowest-cost store in a large (e.g., 10 to 20-mile) geographic area. We demonstrate that aggregate dollar shortfalls for SNAP households who cannot afford the TFP could be completely eliminated by redistributing from households in low-cost areas to those in high-cost areas, e.g., by indexing SNAP benefits to local food prices.
Total Ionizing Dose Responses of 22-nm FDSOI and 14-nm Bulk FinFET Charge-Trap Transistors

Total-ionizing-dose (TID) effects are investigated for 22-nm fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) and 14-nm bulk FinFET charge-trap memory transistors. Electron trapping in the gate dielectric establishes the programmed memory state for both silicon on insulator (SOI) and bulk devices. To first order, ionizing radiation does not interact strongly with programing-induced charges in the gate dielectric for either device type. Hole trapping in the buried oxide dominates the TID response of the 22-nm FDSOI devices. The 14-nm bulk devices with two fins and total effective fin widths of 150 nm are minimally affected by TID, but the subthreshold leakage of devices with 40 fins and total effective fin widths of $3~\mu \text{m}$ increases with increasing TID. When devices are programmed or reprogrammed after irradiation, significant increases in subthreshold slope are observed due to the generation of interface traps, border traps, and/or charge lateral nonuniformities.
Querying Quarries: Stone Extraction Practices and Socioeconomic Organization in Three Sub-Regions of the Maya Lowlands

Stone raw material in the past was often extracted, processed, and used by different individuals. The relationships among these practices make quarries important spaces for understanding how econom...
Optimizing Ice Thermal Storage to Reduce Energy Cost

Thermal energy storage includes a number of technologies that store thermal energy in energy storage tanks for later use. These applications include the production of ice or chilled water at night which is then used to cool the building during the day. Unfortunately, thermal storage may not provide the expected load shifting or the cost saving if not designed or operated properly. This research discusses the optimal design of ice thermal storage (ITS) and its impact on energy consumption, demand, and total energy cost. The emphasis on the use of ITS as an effort to reduce energy costs lies within transferring the time of most energy consumption from on-peak to off-peak periods. Multiple variables go into the equation of finding the optimal use of ITS, and they are all judged with the final objective of minimizing monthly energy costs. This research discusses the optimal design of ITS and its impact on energy consumption, demand, and total energy cost. A tool for optimal design of ice storage is developed, considering variables such as chiller and ice storage sizes along with ice charge and discharge times. Detailed simulation studies using a real office building located near Orlando, FL including the utility rate structure are presented. The study considers the effect of the ITS on the chiller performance and the associated energy cost and demonstrates the cost saving achieved from optimal ice storage design. A whole building energy simulation model is used to generate the hourly cooling load for both the design day and the entire year. Other collected variables such as condenser entering water temperature, chilled water leaving temperature, outdoor air dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures are used as inputs to a chiller model based on DOE-2 chiller model to determine the associated cooling energy use. The results show a significant cost energy saving can be obtained by optimal ice storage design through using the tool proposed in this chapter.
Aerodynamics as a subway design parameter

A parametric sensitivity study has been performed on the system operational energy requirement in order to guide subway design strategy. Aerodynamics can play a dominant or trivial role, depending upon the system characteristics. Optimization of the aerodynamic parameters may not minimize the total operational energy. Isolation of the station box from the tunnel and reduction of the inertial power requirements pay the largest dividends in terms of the operational energy requirement.
Improving Accessibility of Virtual Worlds by Automatic Object Labeling

User generated virtual worlds, such as Second Life, typically lack accurate metadata for their virtual world objects. This is a significant problem for blind users who rely on textual descriptions in order to access virtual worlds using synthetic speech. In this paper, we consider the problem of automatic object labeling to improve accessibility of virtual worlds for users with disabilities. Taking advantage of the primitivebased representation of virtual world objects in Second Life, we present an approach that leverages histogram-based geometric object representations, machine learning and crowdsourcing to accurately label virtual world objects at a large scale. We report excellent classification results using seven challenging object classes.
D5.2 - Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Sensors of THz field

The THz field quantum dot sensors (T-sensors) made of graphene and carbon nanotubes have a very low detecting power, tiny dimensions, and they are tunable dynamically. The sensors simultaneously measure the THz field intensity, polarization, and spectrum. The graphene and carbon nanotube sensors exploit a change in the intrinsic transport properties of the quantum dot under influence of the photon-assisted resonant tunneling.
Aspect Oriented Architectures

The ICDE 2.0 environment needs to meet certain performance requirements for API data retrievals. To try and guarantee this performance level, the actual behavior of an ICDE implementation needs to be monitored. Performance monitoring allows remedial actions to be taken by the development team if the required performance level is not met.
Infrastructure: the Social Value of Shared Resources (Introduction)

Infrastructure resources are at the center of many contentious public policy debates, ranging from what to do about our crumbling roads and bridges, to whether and how to protect of our natural environment, to patent law reform, to electromagnetic spectrum allocation, to providing universal health care, to energy policy, to network neutrality regulation and the future of the Internet. The list could go on and on. Although the policy arenas may seem unrelated, all of them are, to some extent, the same. Each involves a battle to control infrastructure resources, set the terms and conditions under which the public gets access, and determine how the infrastructure and various infrastructure-dependent systems evolve over time.The battle is joined in each of these areas, with some groups arguing strongly for recourse to private property solutions and other groups arguing strongly that such an approach would be fatal. These groups draw on a broader intellectual debate about the merits of private control over (or open access to) various types of resources. The intellectual debate takes place in a number of fields, including law, economics, and political science. On the private control side, there is robust economic theory in support of private ordering via markets with minimal government involvement. By contrast, on the open access side, there is a frequent call for protecting the “commons,” but the theoretical support for this call is underdeveloped from an economics perspective.This book advances strong economic arguments for managing and sustaining infrastructure resources as commons. Economics has become the methodology of choice for many scholars and policymakers in these areas. The book offers a rigorous economic challenge to the prevailing wisdom, which focuses primarily on problems associated with ensuring adequate supply. This book explores a set of questions that, once asked, seem obvious: what drives the demand side of the equation, and how should demand-side drivers affect public policy? Demand for infrastructure resources involves a range of important considerations that bear on the optimal design of a regime for infrastructure management. The book identifies resource valuation and attendant management problems that recur across many different fields and many different resource types, and it develops a functional economic approach to understanding and analyzing these problems and potential solutions.
Understanding and managing variation: three different perspectives

Presentation Managing variation is essential to quality improvement. Quality improvement is primarily concerned with two types of variation – common-cause variation and specialcause variation. Common-cause variation is random variation present in stable healthcare processes. Special-cause variation is an unpredictable deviation resulting from a cause that is not an intrinsic part of a process. By careful and systematic measurement, it is easier to detect changes that are not random variation. The approach to managing variation depends on the priorities and perspectives of the improvement leader and the intended generalizability of the results of the improvement effort. Clinical researchers, healthcare managers, and individual patients each have different goals, time horizons, and methodological approaches to managing variation; however, in all cases, the research question should drive study design, data collection, and evaluation. To advance the field of quality improvement, greater understanding of these perspectives and methodologies is needed [1].
Unified power quality conditioner for distribution system without reference calculations

Power quality is an important measure of the performance of electric power system. The main concerns include voltage quality and the current quality. The voltage may contain amplitude errors, harmonics, phase unbalance, sag/dips, swells, flicks, impulses and interrupt/outage. As for the current quality is concerned, harmonics, reactive component, unbalance, excessive neutral/zero-sequence current are the main issues. This paper proposes a unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) with one cycle control (OCC) to deal with most of the problems identified above as a whole. The proposed OCC-UPQC consists of a serial three-phase three-leg and a parallel three-phase four-leg converter. The OCC-UPQC has the advantages of no reference calculation that results in simplicity, vector operation for reduced losses, modular approach with the flexibility to work in both three-wire or four-wire systems, in addition to the inherent features of fast transient response, high precision, constant switching frequency, etc. The principle of the proposed UPQC is provided in details. The performances of both voltage and current quality improvement are verified to be excellent with experiment results.
A Boundary Integral Method for Steady Unsaturated Flow in Nonhomogeneous Media

A boundary integral equation method for steady unsaturated flow in non-homogeneous porous media is presented. Steady unsaturated flow in porous media is described by the steady form of the so-called Richards equation, a highly nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation. By applying a Kirchhoff transformation and employing an exponential model for the relation between capillary pressure and hydraulic conductivity, the flow equation is rendered linear in each subdomain of a piece-wise homogeneous material. Unfortunately, the transformation results in nonlinear conditions along material interfaces, giving rise to a jump in the potential along these boundaries. An algorithm developed to solve the nonhomogeneous flow problem is described and verified by comparison to analytical and numerical solutions. The code is applied to examine the moisture distribution in a layered porous medium due to infiltration from a strip source, a model for infiltration from shallow ponds and washes in arid regions.
Comparison of radiography and ultrasonography for diagnosing small-intestinal mechanical obstruction in vomiting dogs.

A cross-sectional study was performed on acutely vomiting dogs to compare the accuracy of radiography and ultrasonography for the diagnosis of small-intestinal mechanical obstruction and to describe several radiographic and ultrasonographic signs to identify their contribution to the final diagnosis. The sample population consisted of 82 adult dogs and small-intestinal obstruction by foreign body was confirmed in 27/82 (33%) dogs by surgery or necropsy. Radiography produced a definitive result (obstructed or not obstructed) in 58/82 (70%) of dogs; ultrasonography produced a definitive result in 80/82 (97%) of dogs. On radiographs, a diagnosis of obstruction was based on detection of segmental small-intestinal dilatation, plication, or detection of a foreign body. Approximately 30% (8/27) of obstructed dogs did not have radiographic signs of segmental small-intestinal dilatation, of which 50% (4/8) were due to linear foreign bodies. The ultrasonographic diagnosis of small-intestinal obstruction was based on detection of an obstructive lesion, sonographic signs of plication or segmental, small-intestinal dilatation. The ultrasonographic presence or absence of moderate-to-severe intestinal diameter enlargement (due to lumen dilatation) of the jejunum (>1.5 cm) was a useful discriminatory finding and, when present, should prompt a thorough search for a cause of small-intestinal obstruction. In conclusion, both abdominal radiography and abdominal ultrasonography are accurate for diagnosing small-intestinal obstruction in vomiting dogs and either may be used depending on availability and examiner choice. Abdominal ultrasonography had greater accuracy, fewer equivocal results and provided greater diagnostic confidence compared with radiography.
Effects of gamma radiolysis on waste package components

Short-term experiments which studied the effect of gamma radiation on the waste package components of a basaltic repository were completed. Experimental parameters were similar to those expected during the saturated post-closure period of the repository, i.e., a temperature of 200/sup 0/C and a hydrostatic pressure greater than or equal to 70 bar. The waste package components included low carbon steel pressure vessels, synthetic ground water formulation (GR4), CH/sub 4/, basalt or packing, and low carbon steel coupons. It was found that gamma radiation at a dose rate of 10/sup 4/ rad/h for a duration of one and two months increased the H/sub 2/ yield in all tests. Increases in the organic carbon yield, the sulfate ion concentration, and the corrosion rate of the coupon were observed in some of the tests. These latter results varied with the combination of waste package components included in the tests. Evidence for the quench effect was observed in tests which included basalt.
Internalization of OspA in rsCD14 complex and aggregated forms

Although the spirochetal protein OspA is capable of stimulating immune cells in a CD14- and TLR2-dependent manner, little is known about how TLR2 receptor complex ligands, such as OspA, are handled by the cell once delivered. We examine here the internalization of the fluorescently derivatized forms of both the full length OspA lipoprotein delivered as a recombinant soluble CD14 (rsCD14) complex and the corresponding lipohexapeptide given to the cells as an aggregate. Both forms of OspA are internalized in a similar manner to acetylated low density lipoprotein (AcLDL), a scavenger receptor ligand. Acetylated low density lipoprotein is capable of competing for internalization with OspA even when OspA is delivered as a rsCD14 complex. We observe co-localization of OspA with lysosomes but not with the Golgi complex. These phenomena are similar between RAW264.7 macrophages and endothelial cells but change drastically when the cells are deprived of serum. Upon serum starvation, OspA shows some localization to the Golgi apparatus whereas the lipohexapeptide remains on the cell surface. Inhibition of internalization of OspA via treatment with cytochalasin D or of the lipohexapeptide via serum starvation does not interfere with TNF induction activity, consistent with signalling from the cell surface.
Metalloenediynes: Ligand Field Control of Thermal Bergman Cyclization Reactions

We report the preparation and thermal reactivities of unique Cu(I) and Cu(II) metalloenediyne complexes of the flexible 1,8-bis(pyridine-3-oxy)oct-4-ene-2,6-diyne ligand (bpod, 1). The thermal reactivities of these metalloenediynes are intimately modulated by metal oxidation state. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we demonstrate that the [Cu(bpod)2]+ complex (2) undergoes Bergman cyclization at 203 °C, whereas the Cu(II) analogue (3) is substantially more reactive and cyclizes at 121 °C. Similar results are also observed for mixed ligand [Cu(bpod)(pyridine)2]+/2+ analogues 4 (194 °C) and 5 (116 °C), suggesting that both complexes of a given oxidation state have comparable structures. The Cu(bpod)Cl2 compound (6) exhibits a cyclization temperature (152 °C) midway between the those of Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes, which can be explained by the propensity for cis-CuN2Cl2 structures to exhibit dihedral angle distortion. The oxidation-state-dependent thermal reactivity is unprecedented and reflects...
Reconditioning: Automatic Power Optimization of QDI Circuits

This paper introduces reconditioning: a novel systematic technique for reducing unnecessary switching activity of asynchronous gate-level net lists, which involves the optimal reordering of conditional communication and logic primitives. Our technique is applicable to asynchronous circuits with handshaking protocols that encode data and control together, in particular, QDI and 1-of-N handshaking circuits. Both an optimal integer linear program (ILP) and a fast heuristic algorithm are presented. We show that our ILP is feasible for moderate size circuits and our heuristic algorithm scales to much larger circuits, completing in seconds on circuits with tens of thousands of gates. Our experimental results shows power improvement highly depends on the structure of the circuit but can often be above 40% with typically less than 5% area overhead.
International Developments in Higher Education: New Perspectives on Nonuniversities.

The conceptual basis for this article is that the global nature of the world of nations demands greater attention to international studies in courses required for advanced education degrees offered by U.S. universities and colleges. In keeping with this thesis, the purposes of this article are (a) to describe and compare higher education structures among the nations of the world sponsoring nonuniversity systems (e.g., U.S. community junior colleges and Japan's junior colleges); (b) to identify new nonuniversity systems (e.g., technicums in Russia and the German fachhochschulen concept in Eastern Europe); and (c) to recommend techniques to restructure courses required for the EdD and PhD in education.
Point and column aerosol radiative closure during ACE 1: Effects of particle shape and size

[1] We used data collected during the First Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE 1) to study point and column aerosol radiative closure over the remote ocean. To test point closure, total and hemispheric backscattering coefficients calculated with a Mie single-scattering model were compared with measurements made by ship and aircraft at three wavelengths (400, 550, and 700 nm). On the ship, assuming spherical particles, calculated total scattering was usually within 10% of measurements (closure obtained in >80% of the cases) but calculated backscattering was usually 15–25% lower than measurements (closure obtained in 80% of the cases). On the aircraft, however, calculated scattering and backscattering were usually lower than measurements by 20–45% regardless of assumed particle shape (closure obtained in <50% of the cases), likely owing to differences in the aerosol inlet penetration efficiencies to each instrument or unidentified uncertainties in the measured number size distributions or scattering coefficients. To test column closure, aerosol extinction profiles calculated from in situ observations (below 5.5 km) and satellite observations (above 5.5 km) were vertically integrated, and the resulting aerosol optical depth was compared with measurements made on the ship during two clear-sky days at three wavelengths (500, 778, and 862 nm). Calculated spectral optical depths were usually within 25% of measurements (closure obtained at one or more wavelengths on both days), and agreement at longer wavelengths was improved when satellite measurements were spectrally scaled using in situ model results. On both days, large sea salt particles produced a spectrally neutral aerosol optical depth in the marine boundary layer whereas smaller ammonium sulfate particles contributed to greater optical depth at shorter wavelengths in the overlying upper atmosphere.
Lightning strikes to an airplane in a thunderstorm

The analysis of radar echoes from lightning at the moments of strikes to the NASA Langley Research Center's F-106B instrumented airplane proves that the airplane itself triggers the lightning, rather than intercepting naturally occurring flashes. In 1982 the UHF band radar at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Wallops Flight Facility was used to guide the F 106B through the upper regions of thunderstorms so that the airplane might be struck by lightning. The UHF band radar data was analyzed to determine the nature and characteristics of direct lightning strikes to the airplane, and the airborne data was used to document the environmental con ditions favorable for such strikes The echo characteristics of the strikes were similar to those of intracloud flashes, and indicated that most of the time the airplane was part of the lighting channel. The probability of a direct strike to the F-106B during storm penetrations (PDS) is defined here as the ratio of the number of direct strikes to the airplane to the total number of flashes occurring in the radar resolution volume containing the airplane Correlations between the PDS and the intensity of rain, the intensity of turbulence, the ambient temperature, and the lightning flash rate in the storms penetrated were obtained The correlations indicated that the highest risk for the F-106B to be struck by lightning during penetrations in the upper regions of thun derstorms occurred under the following conditions: 1) ambient temperatures of -40 C and colder; 2) negligible to light precipitation; 3) negligible to light turbulence; and 4) lightning flash rates of < 10 per minute
Intracellular pH reduction prevents excitotoxic and ischemic neuronal death by inhibiting NADPH oxidase

Sustained activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) -type glutamate receptors leads to excitotoxic neuronal death in stroke, brain trauma, and neurodegenerative disorders. Superoxide production by NADPH oxidase is a requisite event in the process leading from NMDA receptor activation to excitotoxic death. NADPH oxidase generates intracellular H(+) along with extracellular superoxide, and the intracellular H(+) must be released or neutralized to permit continued NADPH oxidase function. In cultured neurons, NMDA-induced superoxide production and neuronal death were prevented by intracellular acidification by as little as 0.2 pH units, induced by either lowered medium pH or by inhibiting Na(+)/H(+) exchange. In mouse brain, superoxide production induced by NMDA injections or ischemia-reperfusion was likewise prevented by inhibiting Na(+)/H(+) exchange and by reduced expression of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger-1 (NHE1). Neuronal intracellular pH and neuronal Na(+)/H(+) exchange are thus potent regulators of excitotoxic superoxide production. These findings identify a mechanism by which cell metabolism can influence coupling between NMDA receptor activation and superoxide production.
Use of Oral Anticoagulants in Older Patients

Recently published American and British guidelines have comprehensively reviewed the indications for long term anticoagulation. The best evidence currently available supports the use of long term oral anticoagulants in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), venous thromboembolic disease, ischaemic heart disease, mural thrombi, and mechanical heart valves. Selected patients with valvular heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease may also benefit from the use of these drugs. When no specific contraindications are present, elderly patients with either paroxysmal or persistent NVAF should be considered candidates for treatment with anticoagulants. Pooled analyses of the results from 9 randomised trials demonstrate that warfarin significantly reduces the risk of ischaemic stroke in patients with NVAF, particularly those in a 'high risk' category defined by the presence of additional clinical or echocardiographic risk factors. Long term anticoagulation does not appear to be justified in patients with NVAF considered to be at 'low risk' for stroke. Because the prevalence of NVAF and most other cardiovascular conditions increases with advancing age, many elderly patients will be candidates for thromboprophylaxis. The potential benefit of long term anticoagulation must be carefully weighed against the risk of serious haemorrhage in such patients. Bleeding complications with anticoagulant drugs appear to occur more frequently in older patients than in younger individuals. Advanced age (>75 years), intensity of anticoagulation [International Normalised Ratio (INR) >4.0], history of cerebral vascular disease (recent or remote), and concomitant use of drugs that interfere with haemostasis [aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] are among the most important variables in determining an individual's risk for major bleeding with anticoagulants. Older patients often display increased sensitivity to the effects of warfarin, both in the early induction phase and during the long term maintenance phase of therapy. Conditions such as congestive heart failure, malignancy, malnutrition, diarrhoea and unsuspected vitamin K deficiency, enhance the prothrombin time response. The decision to interrupt anticoagulant therapy before elective surgery in elderly patients should evaluate the thrombotic risk of such a manoeuvre versus the risk of bleeding if anticoagulants are continued. In non-surgical patients, excessively elevated INRs without associated haemorrhage can usually be managed by simply witholding one or several doses of warfarin. If more rapid reversal is needed, small doses of phytomenadione (vitamin K1) can be administered safely without overcorrection or the development of vitamin K-induced warfarin resistance.