cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning to Become a Scholar-Practitioner through Research Experiences.

Guided by transformative learning theory, this autoethnography chronicles eight graduate students’ participation in a year-long collaborative research project and their journey toward revolutionizi...
Research on Intelligent and Auxiliary Formulating Dispatching Plan Method for Large-scale Power Grids

the power system dispatching plan directly serves the power system and provides necessary means for the safe and economic operation of the power system. Practice has proved that the design and formulation of daily dispatching plan of power system is an important part of power system design, which must be paid attention to and done well. With the increasing scale and complexity of Chinese power grid, the formulation of power grid dispatching plans is inefficient and inaccurate, sometimes blindly. In this paper, the problem is studied, and a quasi-steady-state simulation intelligent assistant method for Power Grid Dispatching Planning is proposed. The dispatching plan makers can first make a rough dispatching schedule, and then use this method to track the trend from the first dispatching plan point to the next plan point one by one, and the operation information of each component can be displayed in the power grid in real time. The dispatching and operating personnel of the power grid can fully understand the characteristics of the corresponding dispatching plan point as well as transition between points and points, so as to help makers to perfect power network dispatching plan in an all-round way and develop a shorter time scale scheduling plan. This method can approximately simulate the real power flow fluctuation. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the simulation calculation of some year national interconnection data. Based on Power System Analysis Synthesis Program (PSASP), the method proposed in this paper is implemented, and the detailed design of intelligent checking power grid dispatching plan using this method is presented.
Rip It Up: The Specialty Records Story; Rip It Up: The Specialty Story; Specialty Records—Greatest Hits; Rock ‘N’ Roll Fever: The Wildest from Specialty

Art Rupe celebrated his 102nd birthday on 5 September 2019. He probably took a few minutes to thumb through Billy Vera’s new book – Rip It Up: The Specialty Records Story – before opening his gifts...
Instructional patterns for the teaching and learning of argumentative writing in high school English language arts classrooms

Argumentative writing has long been considered an essential skill for disciplinary learning. For researchers and curriculum developers to develop ecologically valid instructional approaches to argumentative writing, a pivotal prerequisite is the understanding of how teachers use various instructional methods in tandem to teach different argumentative components. This exploratory study identified instructional patterns for the teaching and learning of argumentative writing by observing 187 English language arts class sessions taught by 31 highly regarded high school English language arts teachers (529 students; 40% of the students were males). Multidimensional scaling identified three instructional patterns that vary in the level of teacher centeredness and dialogic interaction. These instructional patterns may reflect the occurrence of explicit teaching, dialogic learning, and in-class writing that was sometimes accompanied with teacher conferencing or coaching. Common across all of these practices was the teaching of claim and evidence. Warranting, counterargument, and response to counterargument, which are more complex forms of argumentation, tended to be taught by instructional practices involving low- to mid-level teacher centeredness and high-level dialogic interaction (e.g., small grouping, discussion). Overall, our findings highlight the gaps between what researchers suggest as effective approaches to teaching argumentative writing and how argumentative writing is currently taught in classrooms.
Finite Element Analysis of the Septal Cartilage L-Strut

Importance: Septoplasty is one of the most commonly performed operations in the head and neck. However, the reasons for septoplasty failure and the additional stress of performing a chondrotomy on the septal cartilage are not well understood. Design, Setting, and Participants: A finite element model of the nasal septum was created using a microcomputed tomography scan of the nasoseptal complex that was reconstructed into a three-dimensional model in silico. Testing included four common chondrotomy designs: traditional L-strut, double-cornered chondrotomy (DCC), curved L-strut, and the C-curve. Tip displacement was applied in a vector parallel to the caudal strut to simulate nasal tip palpation. Main Outcomes and Measures: With finite element analysis, the maximum principal stress (MPS), von Mises stress (VMS), harvested cartilage volume, and surface area were recorded. Results: The highest MPS for the L-strut, DCC, curved L-strut, and C-curve was identified at the corner of the chondrotomy. The MPS at the corner of the chondrotomy was reduced 44% when comparing the C-curve with the traditional L-strut. The VMS patterns showed compressive stress along the caudal septum in all models, but at the corner, the stresses were highest in the chondrotomies designed with sharp-angled corners. The VMS showed a 76% decrease when comparing the C-curve with the traditional L-strut. The stress across the anterior septal angle is also higher in models with sharp-angled corners. Cartilage harvest volumetric and surface area assessments did not show meaningful differences between shapes. Conclusions and Relevance: The highest area of stress is near the transition of the dorsal to caudal septum in all models. Stresses are relatively higher in chondrotomy shapes that contain sharp-angled corners. The relative reduction in MPS and VMS utilizing a C-curve instead of an L-strut may decrease the likelihood that the septum will deform or fail in this region. The volume and surface area of the C-curve are similar to that of the L-strut technique. Avoiding sharp-angled corners reduces the stresses at the corner of the chondrotomy and across the anterior septal angle. Using a C-curve may be an improved septoplasty design.
Successful Rapid Desensitization to Micafungin in a Pediatric Patient

Introduction: Echinocandin antifungal medications including micafungin are being used more commonly in the treatment of invasive fungal infections in both pediatric and adult patients. Micafungin i...
Highly Fluorinated Ionic Liquid Films as Nanometer-Thick Media Lubricants for Hard Disk Drives

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising candidates for the next-generation nanometer-thick lubricants in hard disc drives (HDDs) because of their excellent physiochemical properties and low monolayer (ML...
Basic Concepts of Associative Programming

This chapter introduces many concepts essential to understanding SITDAC programming and the remaining chapters of this book. Chapter 1 explained that bit-serial SIMD computers share many properties with SITDAC associative computers. As a result, they also share many programming techniques. However, since SIMD computers are not widely known, this chapter will discuss several basic concepts that facilitate the programming of associative and SIMD computers. The first concept is SIMD parallelism; section 2.1 describes the execution of conditional statements. Section 2.2, on flow of control, describes more complex conditional-execution sequences. The classroom model described in section 2.3 describes a design aid based on a familiar situation: Many associative-programming situations can be directly mapped onto a teacher as the sequential control and students as individual associative cells.
Non-destructive characterization of fibre-matrix adhesion in composites by vibration damping

Adhesion at the fibre-matrix interface in fibre-reinforced composites plays an important role in controlling the mechanical properties and overall performance of composites. Among the many available tests applicable to the composite interfaces, the vibration damping technique has the advantages of being non-destructive as well as highly sensitive. An optical system was set up to measure the damping tangent delta of a cantilever beam, and the damping data in glass fibre-reinforced epoxy-resin composites were correlated with transverse tensile strength which are also a qualitative measurement of adhesion at the fibre-matrix interface. Four different composite systems containing three different glass fibre surface treatments were tested and compared. Our experimental results showed an inverse relationship between damping contributed by the interface and composite transverse tensile strength.
The Judicial Role in Professional Regulation

This Foreword introduces a collection of writings that challenge how courts fulfill their responsibility to oversee the practice of law, including judges’ own conduct. Largely as a matter of happenstance rather than forethought, regulatory power—e.g., licensing, rulemaking, professional discipline, trial sanctioning, class action oversight—is divided among federal and state judiciaries and individual trial judges. From the perspective of the bar, to whom the least regulation may seem best, the disaggregation of regulatory authority among different judicial bodies and judges may be welcome, since the division of power among different courts and judges serves as a check on overregulation and abuse. But the results may also include discordant regulatory approaches, overreliance on bar associations, and the failure to use regulatory power to salutary ends. The writings alert us to the risk that judges will use their considerable regulatory power to serve lawyers’ interests or their own interests, but they also underscore judges’ ability to use their power for the public good, including in innovative ways. The writings call for reconsidering received traditions and settled practices—including by reconsidering the bar exam, federal district courts’ separate admission processes, or methods for setting legal fees in class actions. The pieces also call for reconsidering courts’ processes for adopting professional conduct rules, for interpreting the rules, and for deciding whether and how to discipline lawyers for violating the rules.
Nano Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) as a Reliable, Durable, and Environment-Friendly Alternative to Diminishing Fly Ash

Fly ash is widely used in the cement industry to improve the performance and durability of concrete. The future availability of fly ash, however, is a concern, as most countries are inclining towards renewable energy sources as opposed to fossil fuels. Additional concerns have been raised regarding the impact of strict environmental regulations on fly ash quality and variability. This paper, therefore, evaluates if nano calcium carbonate (nano CaCO3) can be used as an alternative to fly ash. This paper presents comprehensive testing results (fresh, hardened, and durability) for OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement) and PLC (Portland Limestone Cement) concretes with 1% nano CaCO3 and compares them to those for concretes with fly ash (both Class F and C). Compared to concretes with fly ash, OPC and PLC with nano CaCO3 presented improved testing results in most cases, including later age strength, permeability, and scaling resistance. As nanotechnology in concrete is a relatively new topic, more research on the efficient use of nanotechnology, such as for proper dispersion of nano CaCO3 in the concrete, has potential to offer increased benefits. Further, nano CaCO3 is environmentally and economically viable, as it has the potential to be produced within the cement plant while utilizing waste CO2 and generating economic revenue to the industry. Thus, nano CaCO3 has the potential to serve as an alternative to fly ash in all beneficial aspects-economic, environmental, and technical.
Daily Vinegar Ingestion Improves Depression Scores and Alters the Metabolome in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Daily vinegar ingestion has been linked to improved glycemic control, but recent data suggest a separate unexplored role for vinegar in mental health. Utilizing a placebo-controlled, parallel arm study design, this 4-week trial examined the impact of daily vinegar ingestion on mood states and urinary metabolites in healthy college students. Participants were randomized to the vinegar group (VIN: n = 14; 1.5 g acetic acid/day as liquid vinegar) or the control group (CON: n = 11; 0.015 g acetic acid/day as a pill) with no change to customary diet or physical activity. At baseline and at study week four, participants completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) questionnaires and provided a first-morning urine sample for targeted metabolomics analyses. The change in both POMS depression scores and CES-D scores differed significantly between groups favoring improved affect in the VIN versus CON participants after four weeks. Metabolomics analyses pre and post-intervention suggested metabolite alterations associated with vinegar ingestion that are consistent for improved mood, including enzymatic dysfunction in the hexosamine pathway as well as significant increases in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. These data warrant continued investigation of vinegar as a possible agent to improve mood state.
Escherichia coli chemotaxis is information limited

Organisms acquire and use information from their environment to guide their behaviour. However, it is unclear whether this information quantitatively limits their performance at behavioural tasks. Here we relate information to the ability of Escherichia coli to navigate up chemical gradients, the behaviour known as chemotaxis. First, we derive a theoretical limit on the speed with which cells climb gradients, given the rate at which they acquire information. Next, we measure cells’ gradient-climbing speeds and the rate of information acquisition by their chemotaxis signalling pathway. We find that E. coli cells make behavioural decisions with much less than the one bit required to determine whether they are swimming up the gradient. Some of this information is irrelevant to gradient climbing, and some is lost in communication to behaviour. Despite these limitations, E. coli cells climb gradients at speeds within a factor of two of the theoretical bound. Thus, information can limit the performance of an organism, and sensory–motor pathways may have evolved to efficiently use information acquired from the environment. Information theory sets an upper limit on the ability of bacteria to navigate up chemical gradients. Experiments reveal that cells do so at speeds within a factor of two of the limit, suggesting they are selected to efficiently use information.
Evaluating Voice and Data Link Air Traffic Control Communications for General Aviation

This study examined effects of data link and voice air traffic control commands on pilot recall and execution. Instrument-rated pilots (N = 26) were tested on both a series of data link command tasks and a series of voice command tasks. The researchers predicted that participants would have a significant difference in overall errors in pilot recall and execution in the data link ATC command condition as compared to the voice ATC command condition. Also predicted was that there would be a greater gap in errors in pilot recall and execution at the ATC command blocks that contained higher parameters of ATC instructions. Results indicate that pilots had significantly fewer errors in recall and execution in the data link condition compared to the voice condition at the moderate and high load ATC command levels. There was little or no difference in errors in pilot recall and execution in the data link condition compared to the voice condition at the low load ATC command levels.
The Revolution against Affirmative Action in California: Racism, Economics, and Proposition 209

We consider two possible explanations-economic anxiety and racial division for the appeal of Proposition 209 to California voters during the 1996 election. Voter support for this proposition has been attributed to racial differences in opinion and to economic anxiety caused by poor economic conditions in the state and the perceived threat that affirmative action presented in school admissions or the workplace. Because the presidential candidates campaigned on and debated the merits of affirmative action policy during this election, we incorporate this endogeneity into our analysis. We develop two competing hypotheses to explain voter behavior: (1) if voters are blaming affirmative action for the state's economic conditions, then voters who believe that California's economic condition is poor or who perceive that their personal financial situation is worse will be more likely to support Proposition 209; and (2) if voters are, instead, divided along more traditional racial lines on the merits of affirmative action (winners versus losers), then whites, males, Republicans, and conservatives will be more likely to support Proposition 209, and other ethnic group members, females, Democrats, and liberals will be more likely to oppose Proposition 209. To test these hypotheses, we analyze voter exit poll data from the 1996 California election. We utilize a two-stage logit model to allow for the endogeneity of candidate endorsements. We find support for the second of our two hypotheses. These findings cause us to conclude that racial division fueled by a fear of arbitrary exclusion prompted voter support for Proposition 209.
Mineralogical Applications of Crystal Field Theory: Crystal chemistry of transition metal-bearing minerals

A great deal has been written about the crystal-field model for first-row transition metal cations in the distorted octahedra of olivines. – – Its predictions are useful for – – rationalizing the intra- and inter-crystalline cation partitioning . G. E. Brown Jr, Rev. Mineral , 5 (2nd edn), 333 (1982) Introduction The crystal chemistry of many transition metal compounds, including several minerals, display unusual periodic features which can be elegantly explained by crystal field theory. These features relate to the sizes of cations, distortions of coordination sites and distributions of transition elements within the crystal structures. This chapter discusses interatomic distances in transition metal-bearing minerals, origins and consequences of distortions of cation coordination sites, and factors influencing site occupancies and cation ordering of transition metals in oxide and silicate structures, which include crystal field stabilization energies Interatomic distances in transition metal compounds One property of a transition metal ion that is particularly sensitive to crystal field interactions is the ionic radius and its influence on interatomic distances in a crystal structure. Within a row of elements in the periodic table in which cations possess completely filled or efficiently screened inner orbitals, there should be a decrease of interatomic distances with increasing atomic number for cations possessing the same valence. The ionic radii of trivalent cations of the lanthanide series for example, plotted in fig. 6.1, show a relatively smooth contraction from lanthanum to lutecium.
The Betrayal of McMahon

There is controversy over awarding punitive damages by arbitration in securities disputes. Securities disputes are unique because the vast majority of such disputes are filed at Self Regulatory Organizations (“SROs”) which are subject to SEC oversight. However, other securities disputes are filed at the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), which is not subject to SEC oversight. As a result differing rules evolved for SRO arbitrations than those applicable at the AAA. No SRO rule directly authorized punitive damages but section 31(d) of the Uniform Code of Arbitration prohibits limiting the ability of arbitrators to make any award. Whereas a AAA rule specifically provided that arbitrators may award any remedy or relief which the arbitrators deem just and equitable. Predictably, the turmoil over punitive damages continued in the courts. The Ruder Committee Report proposed the imposition of a cap on punitive damages of $750,000. Even if the SEC approved the rigid cap rule in a filing by the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”), the question arises where is the legislative authorization to deprive an investor of relief otherwise available in court? The Supreme Court through McMahon gave an investor the ability to obtain in arbitration whatever relief was available in court, which the Ruder Report’s cap rule clearly violates. The rigid cap rule must be rejected in view of the fact that it bears no reasonable relationship to compensatory damages, its unilateral imposition by an SRO subjects it to questionable validity, it is strongly opposed by the public, it is not imposed at the AAA or at the other SRO arbitration forums, it violates Section 31 of the Uniform Code of Arbitration, it buttresses the argument that the pre-dispute arbitration agreement has become an unenforceable contract of adhesion, it rekindles public distrust of the SRO arbitration process, it violates the spirit under which McMahon was decided, and there are less objectionable ways to solve the securities industry’s fears of a runaway punitive award.
Fixed-Order Multi-Model Estimation and Control

In certain applications modeling uncertainty can be represented by a finite number of plant models. This paper considers the problems of determining a feedback controller or estimator that optimizes an H 2 performance criterion involving a collection of plant models. The approach is based upon fixed-structure optimization in which the estimator or controller order are fixed prior to the development of optimality conditions. The question of maximal controller order is also investigated.
Fish behavioral types and their ecological consequences

Fish have proven to be model organisms for the study of animal personalities, and a rich literature documents consistent interindividual behavioral differences in a variety of species. However, rel...
Pinpointing pseurotins from a marine-derived Aspergillus as tools for chemical genetics using a synthetic lethality yeast screen

A new compound of mixed polyketide synthase–nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS/NRPS) origin, 11-O-methylpseurotin A (1), was identified from a marine-derived Aspergillus fumigatus. Bioassay-guided fractionation using a yeast halo assay with wild-type and cell cycle-related mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in the isolation of 1, which selectively inhibited a Hof1 deletion strain. Techniques including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, optical rotation, J-based analysis, and biosynthetic parallels were used in the elucidation of the planar structure and absolute configuration of 1. A related known compound, pseurotin A (2), was also isolated and found to be inactive in the yeast screen.
A comparison of the creep behavior of saline ice and frozen saline Ottawa sand at −8°C

Abstract The creep behavior of saline ice (prepared in the laboratory by liquid phase sintering) and frozen saline Ottawa sand has been examined in tests performed at constant load in unconfined compression. The range of stress over which the tests were conducted was 0.345 to 1.034 MPa. In both materials, the salinity of the ice-brine mixture was 32 ppt NaCl. The saline ice was found to be quite plastic and to deform to strains in excess of 25% without failing. The Ottawa sand, on the other hand, was observed to enter into tertiary creep at strains of about 2% and then abruptly fail. Despite these differences, the creep behavior at small strains (
Bipolar pharmacotherapy and suicidal behavior Part 2. The impact of antidepressants

Abstract Antidepressant-induced mania and cycle acceleration is a potential risk in bipolar patients. Another serious risk of antidepressants, that of increasing suicidal behavior, has been identified in some affectively ill populations. However, there is a dearth of knowledge about the effects of antidepressants on suicidal behavior specifically in bipolar patients. Methods Retrospective chart review of 405 veterans with bipolar disorder followed for a mean of three years, with month by month systematic assessment of current pharmacotherapy and suicide completion, attempt or hospitalization for suicidality. Chi-squared comparison of (log) rates of suicidal events during mood stabilizer monotherapy, antidepressant monotherapy, and combination of mood stabilizer and antidepressant. Results Suicidal behavior event rates (per 100 patient years) were greatest during treatment with antidepressant monotherapy (25.92), least during mood stabilizer monotherapy (3.48), and intermediate during mood stabilizer + antidepressant combination treatment (9.75). These differences were statistically significant. Limitations In a clinical setting, antidepressants may have been prescribed because patients were deemed at greater risk of suicidality. Conclusions During treatment with antidepressants (even when coupled with mood stabilizers), patients with bipolar disorder have significantly higher rates of non-lethal suicidal behavior compared to those on mood stabilizers without antidepressants, and thus require careful monitoring.
Clustering of Snort alerts to identify patterns and reduce analyst workload

Pattern-matching intrusion detection system (IDS) tools such as Snort are known to generate an extremely large number of alerts. To address this problem, we present a greedy aggregation algorithm that efficiently reduces multiple alerts by grouping the raw output of IDS tools into ‘meta-alerts’ that contain common information. In contrast to the current thrust of alert aggregation efforts, our approach does not require developing elaborate semantic structures for capturing information, nor creating and maintaining an external database containing information on attack vectors, network topologies, and cause-and-effect relationships. We apply our method to 30 days of Snort alerts, grouped by hour, and observe that we can reduce the number of analyst-visible Snort alerts by up to 99.5%, with an average reduction of approximately 83.2%.
Postflight guidance accuracy analysis of Atlas

Atlas/Centaur/Surveyor flights guidance accuracy, discussing postflight analysis of injection errors due to hardware, software and propulsion system
Research on the Control Strategy of DFIG Grid Side Converter under Unbalanced Grid Voltage Conditions

This paper studies on the electromagnetic transient model of doubly-fed wind turbine grid-side converter under the imbalanced grid condition. And on this basis, the paper analysis the impact of doubly-fed converter when grid voltage asymmetric drop. It puts forward a dual PLL and dual current control combination of doubly-fed converter grid side control strategy. This strategy achieves grid voltage positive and negative sequence fast separation when asymmetric grid voltage drop occur, achieves the active output power secondary fluctuate suppression under the imbalanced grid voltage condition, avoids DC voltage rise at the fault moment and also achieves converter reactive power support under the imbalanced grid fault. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control strategy is correct and with the application value of engineering
Analytic functions of bounded mean oscillation and the Bloch space

In this paper we show that the closure of the space BMOA of analytic functions of bounded mean oscillation in the Bloch spaceB is the image P(U) of space of all continuous functions on the maximal ideal space ofH ∞ under the Bergman projection P. It is proved that the radial growth of functions in P(U) is slower than the iterated logarithm studied by Makarov. So some geometric conditions are given for functions in P(U), which we can easily use to construct many Bloch functions not in P(U).
Conformational Stabilization Of G-quadruplex DNA By Metalloporphyrins

Formation and stabilization of the human telomeric G-quadruplexed DNA in vitro has been found to inhibit the enzyme telomerase, which is overactivated in tumor cells. Quadruplex interacting agents (QIAs), ligands that bind and stabilize the human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA, have been recognized as potential chemotherapeutic agents. Porphyrins are promising QIAs with the additional versatility of central metal-ion chelation. In the present study we have investigated the effects of various metal ions (Co (III), Cr (III), and Mn (II)) bound to the base porphyrin mesoporphyrin IX (MPIX) on the overall binding selectivity and specificity with the G-quadruplex conformation, using fluorescence, absorbance and circular dichoism spectroscopies. Our data suggests that all three metal-porphyrin derivatives exhibit high binding selectivity for G-quadruplex over double-stranded DNA, and appear to promote a conformational switch from antiparallel to parallel quadruplex conformation. Changes in the metalloporphyrin absorption spectra on binding with the G-quadruplex DNA suggests intercalating, groove binding or external stacking interactions. In addition, melting curve data reveal that all three metalloporphyin derivatives can stabilize the G-quadruplexed DNA over N-methyl mesoporphyrin IX (NMM), with a central methyl group instead of a metal ion, in the order: NMM < Co(III) MPIX < Mn(II) MPIX < Cr(III) MPIX. Consequences of our studies for design of potential new QIAs will be discussed.
Monte Carlo study of a method for lunar (surface) analysis based on spectroscopy of gamma rays following 14-MeV pulsed-neutron bombardment☆

Abstract In an investigation of the feasibility of analyzing the surface of the moon by gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques, Monte Carlo calculations were performed to estimate the spectral intensities of neutron-induced photons leaking from the moon surface during various time intervals following a burst of 14-MeV neutrons onto the surface. Four sets of calculations were done, all based on the lunar surface composition corresponding to an average composition of chondritic meteorites given by Urey and Craig, with varying amounts of carbon and hydrogen (or deuterium) added. The four spectra for the time interval 0–10 −6 s following the burst are all essentially the same, clearly showing the inelastic de-excitation gamma rays from O, Si, Mg, and Fe and also from C when that element was present. The spectra for later time intervals (10 −6 −10 −5 s; 10 −5 −10 −4 s, and 10 −4 −10 −3 s) are predominantly capture spectra dominated by iron capture gamma lines at 6.0 and 7.63 MeV and by the 2.23-MeV hydrogen capture gamma line when hydrogen was present. An examination of all the spectra indicates that, providing proper calibrations are made, the abundances of the various isotopes present on the lunar surface can be determined by gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques.
Co-carbonization of 9-chloroborafluorene and pitch; synthesis of B/C materials

This paper is a continuation of our research efforts in the development of boron containing carbon (BC) materials. The chemistry is based on the co-carbonization reaction between 9-chloroborafluorene precursor and FCC decant oil pitch. By adding small amounts of 9-chloroborafluorene, the yield of low temperature anisotropic carbon from the commercial pitch was dramatically improved. This simple and effective method results in a broad range of BC materials. In addition, the co-carbonization reaction provides direct evidence of boron-enhanced graphitization and the effect of boron content on crystal growth. In general, the graphitization temperature of pitch can be lowered by several hundred degrees by incorporating small amounts of boron precursor, and a large crystal size with low d-spacing, similar to Sp-1 graphite, is obtained at 2300 °C.
Proof of a conjecture of Sarwate and Pursley regarding pairs of binary m-sequences

Binary m-sequences are maximal length sequences generated by shift registers of length m, that are employed in navigation, radar, and spread-spectrum communications systems, because of their crosscorrelation properties. It is well known that given a pair of distinct m-sequences, the crosscorrelation function must take on at least three values. The article considers crosscorrelation functions that take on exactly three values, and where these values are preferred in that they are small. The main result is a proof of a conjecture made by Sarwate and Pursley in 1980, that if m/spl equiv/0 (mod 4) then there are no preferred pairs of binary m-sequences. The proof makes essential use of a deep theorem of McEliece (1971) that restricts the possible weights that can occur in a binary cyclic code. >
Polymer/clay aerogel‐based glass fabric laminates

Laminates of polymer/clay aerogels and glass fabric sheets were prepared with varying epoxy adhesion application levels. A poly(amide-imide) and an epoxy (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether/2,6-diaminopyridine) were chosen as the two “foam core” polymers; both single-layered and double-layered glass fiber laminates were investigated. The adhesion between polymer clay aerogels and glass fibers was quantified using the T-peel method. The peel strength properties were found to increase as adhesive loading increased up to an optimal value, after which peel strength declines. Flexural and compressive testing of the laminates was also performed as a way of measuring mechanical strength. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Triple tandem catalyst mixtures for the synthesis of polyethylenes with varying structures.

Tandem catalysis in a single medium presents challenges and opportunities for creating novel synthetic protocols. Thus far, only two homogeneous catalysts have been used in tandem. Herein, we report that it is possible to coordinate the action of three well-defined homogeneous catalysts to produce a wide range of branched polyethylenes from a single monomer. Thus, {[(η5-C5Me4)SiMe2(η1-NCMe3)]TiMe}{MeB(C6F5)3} (1), [(C6H5)2PC6H4C(OB(C6F5)3)O-κ2P,O]Ni(η3-CH2C6H5) (2), and {(H3C)C[N(C6H5)]C[O-B(C6F5)3][N(C6H5)]-κ2N,N}Ni(η3-CH2C6H5) (3) react with ethylene to produce branched polyethylene with structures that cannot be obtained using a single- or a two-component catalyst combination. The properties of the polyethylene depend on the ratio of the three catalysts. High-throughput screening techniques proved essential for optimizing reaction conditions and for probing how the catalyst composition influences the polymer properties.
Ruler vs. the Apple II/FIRST system analysis of analog signals in classical conditioning

In our judgment, the Apple II/FIRST system (Scandrett & Gormezano, 1980) is an efficient and versatile system for experimental control and data acquisition in classical conditioning experiments. However, these attributes would be of limited value if the system did not extract measures from our analog signals with a high degree of correspondence with our ruler measurement procedures. Accordingly, we determined the system’s validity in extracting measures of CR occurrence and CR latency in three conditioning experiments. Pearson productmoment correlation coefficients indicated a very satisfactory degree of agreement on measurements made by the Apple II/FIRST system and ruler. Moreover, intraclass correlations and analysis of variance procedures applied to percent CRs and CR latency revealed several small, but divergent, differences between ruler and computer measurement of CR latency across the three experiments. However, subsequent analyses of variance revealed that the number and pattern of significant sources of variation for ruler or computer measurements were virtually identical. Accordingly, we have concluded that our system can successfully replace our traditional method of ruler measurement.
Systematic absorption of L- and D-phenylalanine across the rat nasal mucosa

Abstract Nasal absorption of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) and D-phenylalanine (D-Phe) have been investigated in rats using an in vivo absorption technique. L-Phe was effectively absorbed into systematic circulation with peak plasma level at 45 min after nasal administration. The absolute nasal bioavailability was calculated to be 96.3% when 5 mg/kg dose was given to fasted rats. The absolute bioavailability declined to 66.8% when 12.5 mg/kg of L-Phe was given intranasally while the time to reach peak concentration remained at 45 min. The results substantiated previous in situ data that, despite its high polarity, L-Phe was transported across the rat nasal mucosa into blood stream by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) carrier. The carrier showed partial saturation at higher doses. On the other hand, when 5 mg/kg of D-Phe was given intranasally, slow and incomplete absorption was observed resulting in a peak time of 60 min and an absolute bioavailability of only 35.2%, suggesting specificity of the carrier for natural L-amino acids.
Acid Sensitivity of Glycolysis in Normal and Proton-permeable Cells of Streptococcus mutans GS-5

Gramicidin, an ionophoric antibiotic which enhances proton permeability of cell membranes, was found to increase the acid sensitivity of glycolysis by intact cells of Streptococcus mutans GS-5, to inhibit uptake of 2-deoxyglucose at pH values of 5.5 or less, and to cause a decrease in the intracellular levels of early intermediates of glycolysis. The inhibitory effects of the antibiotic on glycolysis at low pH values were related to inhibition of sugar uptake via the phosphotransferase system.
Immune overload: Parental attitudes toward combination and single antigen vaccines

Parental concerns have led to a recent decline in immunization coverage, resulting in outbreaks of diseases that were once under control in the US. As the CDC vaccination schedule continues to increase in complexity, the number of required injections per office visit increases as well. Some parents perceive that there is trauma associated with the administration of multiple injections, and research shows that having multiple vaccines due in a single visit is associated with delays and lower immunization rates. Combination vaccines make vaccination more efficient by incorporating the antigens of several different diseases into a single injection, but many parents worry that they may overload the child's developing immune system and leave him or her susceptible to secondary infections. This literature review synthesizes current evidence regarding the parental fear of vaccine-induced immune system overload and the fear of vaccine-associated trauma, in an attempt to understand the scope and nature of these fears. Despite the wealth of knowledge about each of these fears individually, it is still unknown which is of greater concern and how this affects parental decision-making.
The role of the thyroid in skin-shedding in the shovel-nosed snake, Chionactis occipitalis

Abstract The effects of thyroidectomy and of administration of thyroxine on the sloughing cycle have been investigated in the snake, Chionactis occipitalis . Thyroidectomy increases the frequency of sloughing whereas the injection of thyroxine (8 μg on alternate days) prevents sloughing in both intact and thyroidectomized animals. Histological study of skin biopsy samples shows that after thyroidectomy, the resting phase of the sloughing cycle is greatly reduced in length; it is the only phase seen in thyroxine-treated animals.
A Hospital Archives … What's It All About?

Establishing a hospital archives can be a daunting, though exciting project, with many positive outcomes. The description of archives, in general, and the distinctions of a hospital archives, specifically, are presented. The initial steps which need to be considered when developing a hospital archives are detailed using the Maine Medical Center Archives as an example.
The impact of racially disproportionate outcomes on public policy: The U.S. Senate and the death penalty

Abstract The implementation of particular public policies may infringe upon important civil rights of citizens. This article explores the relationship between the racially disproportionate effects of the death penalty and a subsequent attempt in the U.S. Senate to provide racial justice protection. While the most important explanatory factors of a senator's behavior are their political philosophy and the state homicide rate the findings also indicate that racially disproportionate outcomes under capital punishment in the senator's state are negatively associated with the probability that the senator will support racial justice protection. We discuss the importance of these findings.
Microspheres Prepared with PLGA Blends for Delivery of Dexamethasone for Implantable Medical Devices

Purpose To develop and characterize microspheres using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) blends (PLGA5050 (25 KD) and PLGA6535 (70 KD)) for dexamethasone delivery to prevent foreign body response to implantable biosensors.
Determination of the electric field intensity and space charge density versus height prior to triggered lightning

[1] We infer the vertical profiles of space charge density and electric field intensity above ground by comparing modeling and measurements of the ground-level electric field changes caused by elevating grounded lightning-triggering wires. The ground-level electric fields at distances of 60 m and 350 m were measured during six wire launches that resulted in triggered lightning. The wires were launched when ground-level electric fields ranged from 3.2 to 7.6 kV m−1 and the triggering heights ranged from 123 to 304 m. From wire launch time to lightning initiation time, the ground-level electric field reduction at 60 m ranged from 2.2 to 3.4 kV m−1, with little ground-level electric field reduction being observed at 350 m. We observed that the triggering heights were inversely proportional to the ground-level electric field when the wires were launched. Our Poisson equation solver simulates the ground-level electric field changes as the grounded wires extend in assumed vertically varying profiles of space charge density and electric field intensity. Our model reproduces the measured ground-level electric field changes when the assumed space charge density decays exponentially with altitude, with ground-level charge densities between 1.5 and 7 nC m−3, space charge exponential decay height constants ranging from 67 to 200 m, and uniform electric field intensities far above the space charge layer ranging from 20 to 60 kV m−1. Our model predicts typical charge densities on the wires of some tens of μC m−1 with milliampere-range currents flowing into the wires from ground to supply the wire charge.
Abiotic/Biotic Coupling in the Rhizosphere: A Reactive Transport Modeling Analysis☆

A new generation of models is needed to adequately simulate patterns of soil biogeochemical cycling in response changing global environmental drivers. For example, predicting the influence of climate change on soil organic matter storage and stability requires models capable of addressing complex biotic/abiotic interactions of rhizosphere and weathering processes. Reactive transport modeling provides a powerful framework simulating these interactions and the resulting influence on soil physical and chemical characteristics. Incorporation of organic reactions in an existing reactive transport model framework has yielded novel insights into soil weathering and development but much more work is required to adequately capture root and microbial dynamics in the rhizosphere. This endeavor provides many advantages over traditional soil biogeochemical models but also many challenges.
Recent advances in asynchronous design methodologies

This tutorial surveys recent advances in asynchronous design methodologies. Whenever possible, actual design examples are used to present the methods. Three primary topics are discussed: (1) asynchronous controllers, (2) asynchronous datapaths, and (3) asynchronous systems. For asynchronous controllers, basic design styles and tools are presented. For asynchronous datapaths, basic issues in timed vs. self-timed, matched delay vs. completion sensing, and power vs. performance tradeoff are discussed. For asynchronous systems, recently fabricated system design examples in processors, coprocessors, and DSP's are described.
Designing a Culturally Appropriate Visually Enhanced Low-Text Mobile Health App Promoting Physical Activity for Latinos A Qualitative Study

Rapid proliferation of smartphone ownership and use among Latinos offers a unique opportunity to employ innovative visually enhanced low-text (VELT) mobile health applications (mHealth app) to promote health behavior change for Latinos at risk for lifestyle-related diseases. Using focus groups and in-depth interviews with 16 promotores and 5 health care providers recruited from California clinics, this qualitative study explored perceptions of visuals for a VELT mHealth app promoting physical activity (PA) and limiting sedentary behavior (SB) for Latinos. In this Phase 1 study, participants endorsed visuals portraying PA guidelines and recommended visuals depicting family and socially oriented PA. Overall, participants supported a VELT mHealth app as an alternative to text-based education. Findings will inform the future Phase 2 study development of a culturally appropriate VELT mHealth app to promote PA for Latinos, improve health literacy, and provide an alternative to traditional clinic text-based health education materials.
Isolation and Characteristics of a Ureolytic Strain of Selenomonas ruminantium

Abstract A ureolytic strain (strain D) of Selenomonas ruminantium was isolated from rumen fluid in numbers of 2 × 10 7 per ml or more. Isolation was expedited by a chemically defined culture medium containing urea as the main source of nitrogen. Morphologically similar anaerobic ureolytic strains as well as other ureolytic types were isolated on several occasions, but results were erratic. Studies on the nutrition of strain D showed that it could utilize ammonia, nitrate, urea, and a number of amino acids and purines as sole sources of nitrogen, and it requires one or more B-vitamins for rapid growth in glucose-containing defined media but does not require volatile acids. None of five previously described strains of S. ruminantium utilized either urea or nitrate, although two of these reduce nitrate to nitrite. When strain D was grown in medium containing a small amount of urea and nitrate, diauxic growth occurred, suggesting that urea was used before nitrate and that the system involved in reduction of nitrate to ammonia is repressed by urea or ammonia. Preliminary studies on urease production by strain D indicate that it is strongly repressed by ammonia and may be induced by urea. Urease production was also repressed by inclusion of high urea in the growth medium and was increased after ammonia became very low in a medium containing a growth-limiting concentration of ammonia-nitrogen.
Selection of a Nicotiana plumbaginifolia universal hybridizer and its use in intergeneric somatic hybrid formation

A Nicotiana plumbaginifolia cell strain carrying a positive (dominant) trait, resistance to azetidine-2-carboxylate (A2C), was selected in strain NX1 which lacked nitrate reductase activity (a negative or recessive trait). This universal hybridizer strain, denoted NXAr, was fused with dextran to a Daucus carota strain, PR, which carried glyphosate (GLP) resistance. A large number of hybrids were selected in a medium with NO 3 - as the sole nitrogen source and A2C as inhibitor, conditions which prevent the growth of both parents. When the selected colonies were then tested for GLP resistance, 93% carried this trait. In addition the hybrid nature was indicated by additive chromosome numbers, both A2C and GLP resistance in suspension cultures, intermediate nitrate reductase activity and the presence of banding patterns for three isozymes which match those of the parents. Southern hybridization analysis using an enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) probe, pMON 6145, also showed the presence of the gene from both parents in the hybrid strains based on restriction length polymorphisms. The PR strain contains increased levels of EPSPS which confers GLPr due to gene amplification. Since the universal hybridizer can be used as a fusion partner with any wild-type line many protoplast fusion studies can be carried out easily.