cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation in Surgical Trauma Training

Simulation is an important part of surgical trauma training with continued advancement in techniques and incorporation of these techniques into established education methods. This review details ways in which simulation is used in current surgical trauma training. There have been new developments in specific simulation techniques used in existing training programs. Additionally, there is ongoing development of more advanced simulation utilizing virtual reality training. Simulation is incorporated in surgical trauma training in a variety of ways. It is used for specific surgical techniques, it is included in several national trauma courses, it is used for team training, and it is used to teach communication skills. There are continued advances being made in the area of surgical trauma simulation including the use of virtual reality.
Search for encapsulation of platinum, silver, and gold at the surface of graphite

This work provides a platform to predict metal encapsulation atop the surface of graphite. The authors show a linear scaling between the optimal encapsulation temperature and the metal's cohesive energy; and use density functional theory to validate their experiments.
Why does publicity matter? Power, not deliberation

Why does publicity matter for democratic politics? This article challenges the deliberative view of publicity’s democratic value, making the case that publicity matters because it brings together p...
Acclimation of an algal consortium to sequester nutrients from anaerobic digestate.

Abstract The objective of this research was to investigate the growth, community composition, and digestate treatment performance of a local algae consortium that was adapted to bacteria-pretreated digestate. The approach was to subculture a local consortium on pretreated dairy manure digestate and then municipal wastewater sludge digestate, allowing the community to adapt before assessing its performance. The adapted consortium was then tested for growth and nutrient removal performance on the digestates and compared to the model organism, Chlorella sorokiniana. Dramatic restructuring of the consortium took place when subcultured on the digestates with Scenedesmaceae and Chlorellaceae almost completely replacing Euglena. The consortium was consistently less productive than C. sorokiniana (184 vs. 248 mg/L/d in dairy digestate and 32 vs. 48 mg/L/d in municipal digestate, P
Use of an Alternate Light Source for Tattoo Recognition in the Extended Postmortem Interval

With increasing frequency the art of tattooing is permeating Western culture. In the United States, this rise in popularity has been accompanied by the adoption of more personalized and intricate designs; hence tattoos are becoming increasingly useful as tools for personal identification in medicolegal settings. Although pathological examinations indicate tattoos become more distinct given removal, or slippage, of the epidermal layer and/or following saturation with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, information on the degenerative change of tattoos during the postmortem interval has not been presented. This technical note provides an assessment of tattoo enhancement methods and presents a new method to enable better recognition of tattoos during the postmortem interval. Our results indicate certain tattoos remain visible and identifiable given extensive soft tissue decomposition. The use of an alternative light source proved most useful in illuminating tattoo inks throughout decomposition.
Web-Based Portfolio Assessment: Validation of an Open Source Platform

assessment of educational outcomes through purchased tests is commonplace in the evaluation of individual student ability and of educational programs. Focusing on the assessment of writing performance in a longitudinal study of first-time, full-time students (n = 598), this research describes the design, use, and assessment of an open-source scoring platform. augmenting usability testing, the research design relies on a framework of inter-reader agreement, inter-reader reliability, and coefficients of determination. the open-source, web-based portfolio assessment system yielded rates of agreement, reliability, and determination superior to the traditional paper-based portfolio assessment method. in addition, the system appears to be ideally suited to assess ePortfolios created to showcase student ability in digital environments: agreement range = 70% to 85%; reliability range = κ = .67 (p < .01) to κ = .85 (p < .01); coefficient of determination = R 2 = .95, F(5, 34) = 118.59 (p < .01). this novel and innovative application of an open source platform for outcomes assessment yields the foundation for a sound validity argument, the control of human error, and complete system transparency and flexibility. Future research directions point to the need for the design and assessment of an open-source system designed to capture complex constructs as they emerge in digital environments.
Exposing the secrets of sex determination.

Sex-determining transcription factors recognize their genomic target sites through mechanisms of DNA base-and-shape readout in combination with cooperative binding. Murphy et al. reveal that for one such transcription factor, DMRT1, the DNA sequence-and-shape features of its binding sites determine whether it binds DNA as a dimer, trimer or tetramer; they also characterize protein-DNA contacts that affect gender phenotypes in flies and humans.
Proofs and generalizations of a homomesy conjecture of Propp and Roby

Let G be a group acting on a set X of combinatorial objects, with finite orbits, and consider a statistic ? : X ? C . Propp and Roby defined the triple ( X , G , ? ) to be homomesic if for any orbits O 1 , O 2 , the average value of the statistic ? is the same, that is 1 | O 1 | ? x ? O 1 ? ( x ) = 1 | O 2 | ? y ? O 2 ? ( y ) . In 2013 Propp and Roby conjectured the following instance of homomesy. Let SSY T k ( m × n ) denote the set of semistandard Young tableaux of shape m × n with entries bounded by k . Let S be any set of boxes in the m × n rectangle fixed under 180? rotation. For T ? SSY T k ( m × n ) , define ? S ( T ) to be the sum of the entries of T in the boxes of S . Let { P } be a cyclic group of order k where P acts on SSY T k ( m × n ) by promotion. Then ( SSY T k ( m × n ) , { P } , ? S ) is homomesic.We prove this conjecture, as well as a generalization to cominuscule posets. We also discuss analogous questions for tableaux with strictly increasing rows and columns under the K-promotion of Thomas and Yong, and prove limited results in that direction.
The dependence of current on flow rate in thin-layer electrochemical detectors used in liquid chromatography

Abstract The current at an electrode occupying one wall of a channel or duct depens on many properties of the solute, solution and cell. A knowledge of the exact dependence is important for cell optimization. A consideration of the hydrodynamics likely, to exist in such a channel, and weighing the theoretical and experimental evidence, leads one to believe that the steady-state current in a channel cell depends on the solution velocity to the one-third power. The major factor which may alter this value is the design of the entrance of the cell.
Derepression of Tyrosinase Synthesis in Neurospora by Cycloheximide, Actinomycin D, and Puromycin

Abstract Cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and puromycin inhibit the synthesis de novo of tyrosinase in cultures of Neurospora crassa which have been derepressed by fasting. Under other conditions, or in a mutant which is not derepressed by fasting, these antibiotics derepress the synthesis at low concentrations. Derepressed cultures, after a lag period, produce tyrosinase at an initially exponential rate. These results, taken together with earlier findings, suggest that synthesis of the enzyme is controlled by an unstable repressor protein. A model which accounts for most of the observations that have been made on this system is presented.
Steering of optical beams using true-time delay based on the white cell

We propose a true-time delay approach for steering optical beams over wide angles (approaching /spl plusmn/57/spl deg/), without dispersion or sidelobes. A white cell with reflecting piston actuators provides delays from 1/500 to 3001.
Ceftriaxone reverses ketamine-induced lasting EEG and astrocyte alterations in juvenile mice.

Abstract Background Ketamine, an N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor antagonist, is used as a pediatric anesthetic because of its favorable safety profile. It is also being investigated as an antidepressant. Unfortunately, ketamine causes adverse reactions including hallucinations and is associated with a high prevalence of abuse among adolescents. Although chronic ketamine use has been shown to produce cognitive impairments even years following cessation, little is known about its long-term consequences on adolescents. The beta-lactam ceftriaxone has been shown to attenuate alcohol withdrawal, and alleviate early brain injury and memory impairments following subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, its ability to reverse the effects of adolescent ketamine exposure is not known. Previous data indicate that ketamine causes a reduction in the number of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter Type 2 (EAAT2)-containing astrocytes. Additionally, the beta lactam antibiotic ceftriaxone increased expression of EAAT2. As EAAT2 is a principal mechanism of glutamate clearance from the synapse, the current study tests the hypothesis that ceftriaxone may reverse functional consequences of ketamine exposure. Methods We examined the effects of chronic ketamine in juvenile mice as well as reversal by ceftriaxone using electroencephalography (EEG). Subsequently, we assessed the effects of these treatments on markers of astrocyte proliferation, using Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), and function, as evidenced by EAAT2. Results Juvenile mice exposed to chronic ketamine showed lasting alterations in EEG measurements as well as markers of astrocyte number and function. These alterations were reversed by ceftriaxone. Conclusions Data suggest that ceftriaxone may be able to ameliorate ketamine-induced long-term disturbances in adolescent brains.
Low-temperature characterization of CMOS devices

The low-temperature characterization of the field-dependent mobility, the transient response and the flicker noise in NMOS (n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor) and PMOS (p-channel MOS) devices fabricated in a CMOS (complementary MOS) process are described. It is found that NMOS and PMOS devices exhibit different perpendicular field dependence. Whereas the electron mobility improves with a reduction in temperature all the way down to 5 K, the total mobility increases initially with a decrease in temperature and reaches a peak around 70 K. The transient response in drain current due to the slow formation of the depletion region when the gate voltage is switched into inversion at cryogenic temperatures has been measured experimentally and also simulated using a one-dimensional Poisson solver. The results of low-frequency noise measurements at low temperatures are also reported. >
Gas Phase Reactions of the Cyclic Ethylenehalonium Ions (CH2)2X+ (X = Cl, Br) with Glycine1

The gas phase reactions of glycine with the cyclic ethylenehalonium ions (CH2)2X+ (X = Cl, Br) A in the CI source of a tandem mass spectrometer reveal a rich chemistry. The mechanisms of these reactions were determined by analyzing the unimolecular fragmentation reactions of the product ions. The major products are consistent with alkylation by (CH2)2X+ ions to form a [M + C2H4X]+ adduct ion, in which addition to both nitrogen and oxygen occurs, with the former dominating. Independently generated [H2NCH2CO2CH2CH2X + H]+ ions undergo partial isomerization to form [XCH2CH2NHCH2CO2H + H]+ ions, with isomerization being greatest when X = Br. This, together with the fact that (CH2)2X+ fragment ions are also observed, is consistent with a neighboring-group mechanism whereby a [(CH2)2X+ (H2NCH2CO2H)] ion−molecule complex is formed. The [M + C2H4X]+ adduct ions also lose HX to form [M + C2H3]+ ions, both in the source and under MS/MS conditions. Comparison of the MS/MS spectrum with that of an authentic sample in...
Efficiency, entitlements and deservingness: Perspectives on international distributive justice

ABSTRACT The paper offers a three-fold typology for comparing and assessing arguments about the political economy of international distributive justice. Economists use aggregative criteria, specifying economic fairness as a subset of efficient allocations. The political philosopher suggests moral side constraints to place on distributions, a category that encompasses much recent scholarship, including the Rawls–Nozick debate. The third approach addresses the deservingness of different claimants to resources and issues of fair compensation, often in the context of specifying legal rules. Though these traditions are not uniquely international in focus, it is that aspect that is addressed here, both with respect to theoretical relevance to international affairs and practical applications to international redistribution, including specific arguments such as aid to poor countries and reparations for damages. The attractiveness of each group of arguments depends on the issue at hand and the goals of the propone...
Iterative maximum-likelihood estimators for positively constrained objects

We present a unified approach for constructing iterative restorations of positively constrained objects. Specifically, a set of nonlinear algorithms, one of which is the Richardson–Lucy algorithm, is described for estimating positively constrained objects from data modeled by either Poisson or Gaussian processes. Exponential and monomial functions are used to remap the estimation space and to positively constrain the restorations. This technique also provides a method to accelerate the rate of convergence of known algorithms. Both one- and two-dimensional examples are presented.
The Illusion of Westernisation in Russia and China

Russia and China have similar heritages. They were and remain authoritarian martial police states, deviating substantially from the cultural, institutional, and behavioural requirements of efficient democratic free enterprise. Both modernised without westernising (preserving their authoritarian martial police states), but with conspicuously different results. These disparities are catalogued, analysed and attributed to cultural factors inclining Beijing to pursue a disciplined, value-adding development strategy that is nearly the antithesis of Moscow's reliance on natural resource extraction and rent-seeking. China's relative authoritarian success, and its stellar growth performance vis-a-vis western democracies leave open the question of comparative systems merit. Could some authoritarian martial police states be superior to democratic free enterprise as some scholars are beginning to suggest? Close scrutiny indicates that they cannot; that authoritarian systems are crisis prone, dynamically inferior and welfare diminishing after the advantages of relative backwardness have been exhausted in the long run.
The future of Inuktitut in the face of majority languages: Bilingualism or language shift?

Inuktitut, the Eskimo language spoken in Eastern Canada, is one of the few Canadian indigenous languages with a strong chance of long-term survival because over 90% of Inuit children still learn Inuktitut from birth. In this paper I review existing literature on bilingual Inuit children to explore the prospects for the survival of Inuktitut given the increase in the use of English in these regions. Studies on code mixing and subject realization among simultaneous bilingual children ages 2–4 years show a strong foundation in Inuktitut, regardless of extensive exposure to English in the home. However, three studies of older Inuit children exposed to English through school reveal some stagnation in children's Inuktitut and increasing use of English with age, even in nonschool contexts. I conclude that current choices about language use at the personal, school, and societal levels will determine whether Inuit are able to reach and maintain stable bilingualism, or whether Inuktitut will decline significantly in favor of majority languages.
On the origin of heterogeneity in (preservation) resistance of Bacillus spores: Input for a ‘systems’ analysis approach of bacterial spore outgrowth

Bacterial spores are the ultimate (stress) 'survival capsules'. They allow strains from the Bacillus and Clostridium species to survive harsh environmental conditions. In addition to the decision to enter sporulation the decision to do the reverse (germinate) is also a decisive event after which there is no return. Generally it is observed that the behaviour of spores towards the environment is not homogeneous. In fact in many cases it is even quite heterogeneous, certainly upon subjecting the spores to a thermal stress treatment. Genome information coupled to high resolution single-cell analysis techniques allow us currently to analyse signalling events of individual cells. In the area of food preservation the next challenge is to couple the newly acquired mechanistic data to the physiologically observed heterogeneity in spore behaviour. The current paper will introduce the background of physiological heterogeneity while discussing the molecular processes that likely contribute to the observed heterogeneity in outgrowth. The discussion is set in the framework of contemporary and future needs for single-cell data integration in order to enhance the mechanistic basis of food preservation and spoilage models targeting bacterial spores.
The irrationality of the prison-industrial complex

In order to approach the topic of reentry pragmatically, it is necessary to reject ideological arguments regarding not only crime and punishment but also employ? ment; in particular, the argument that viable employment, hard work in exchange for a living wage, is a gift that not everyone is entitled to receive. None of the ex-inmates writing in this volume speak with any sense of entitlement, nor is there a combative or plaintive tone in any of these essays. The authors are stating in various ways that what is expected of them does not make sense, that there is a slim chance of successful reentry without ex-inmates being able to support themselves through legitimate work. This problem requires attention ahead of all others related to reentry. The prison system in the United States has its origins in a mixture of enlightenment thinking and religious fervor. In the eighteenth century, public punishments such as the pillory were replaced with incarceration. The Quakers developed the penitentiary as a place where the criminal could be reformed through isolation and forced labor and obligatory religious instruction?all of which were supposed to cleanse his soul and make him possibly worthy of reentrance into the community. The idea that the community was involved in the punishment and bore some responsibility for the 'treatment' of the prisoner was kept alive until the 1950s. Growing crime rates in the 1960s, coupled with political reaction to urban 'disorder', made this argument appear suddenly impractical and irrelevant. At the same time, social movements specifically tied to criminal justice issues were reenergized in the 1960s. The movement toward deinstitutionalization was most pronounced and had its furthest reaching effects?particularly in juvenile reforma? tories and insane asylums. The argument was that labels had predictable and inadvertent consequences, including with regard to reentry that needed to be balanced against the need to treat mental illness and punish wrongdoing. Nowadays, the argument that labels and prevents people from living productive lives, thus
Oprelvekin-associated bilateral optic disk edema.

Purpose To report a case of bilateral optic disk edema in a patient taking oprelvekin for radioimmunotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. Design Observational case report. Methods A 38-year-old man with a history of relapsed non-Hodgkins follicular lymphoma complained of bilateral loss of vision following oprelvekin therapy for thrombocytopenia. Results Funduscopic examination demonstrated bilateral optic disk edema with exudates inferotemporal to the right nerve. The results of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbits and lumbar puncture were normal. The disk edema resolved with discontinuation of oprelvekin therapy. Conclusions Oprelvekin therapy may be associated with bilateral optic disk edema. This has been shown to be reversible in a primate model.
Solventless and solid-state reactions as applied to the meteoritic chemistry

Most chemical reactions on asteroids, from which meteors and meteorites originate, are hypothesized to occur primarily in the solid mixtures. Some secondary chemical reactions may have occurred during the periods of the aqueous alteration of the asteroids. A myriad of organic compounds have been isolated from the meteorites, but the chemical pathways by which they were formed are only partially elucidated. In this paper we propose that many meteoritic organic compounds were formed in the solventless and solid-state reactions, which were only recently explored in the conjunction with the green chemistry (environmentally friendly). A typical solventless approach exploits the phenomenon of the mixed melting points. As the solid materials are mixed together, the melting point of the mixture becomes lower than the melting points of its individual components. In some cases the entire mixture may melt upon mixing. The reactions would then occur in a viscous melted state. In the traditional solid-state reactions the solids are mixed together, which allows for the intimate contact of the reactants, but the reaction occurs without melting. Numerous examples of the known solventless and solid-state reactions which are particularly relevant to the meteoritic chemistry are described.
Heat Capacity of Pseudo-Copper below 4.2°K

Heat-capacity measurements have been made on two face-centered-cubic alloys of the type ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{1\ensuremath{-}2x}{\mathrm{Zn}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{x}$ at temperatures below 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K for the values $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.03$ and $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.08$. The heat capacity has been found to obey a law of the type ${C}_{v}=\ensuremath{\gamma}T+(\frac{464.5}{{{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{D}}^{3}}){T}^{3}$ cal/mole (\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K). The Debye characteristic temperature ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{D}$ is nearly the same as that for pure copper. For an alloy having $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.03$, ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{D}$ is approximately 1% higher than ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{D}$ for pure copper. However, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ increases rapidly with increasing $x$, and is approximately 20% higher than the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ for pure copper when $x\ensuremath{\approx}0.03$. The results are found to be incompatible with a rigid-band model approach to alloy theory.
Age-dependent changes in the structure, composition and biophysical properties of a human basement membrane

Basement membranes (BMs) are considered to be uniform, approximately 100 nm-thin extracellular matrix sheets that serve as a substrate for epithelial cells, endothelial cells and myotubes. To find out whether BMs maintain their ultrastructure, protein composition and biophysical properties throughout life the natural aging history of the human inner limiting membranes (ILM) was investigated. The ILM is a BM at the vitreal surface of the retina that connects the retina with the vitreous. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the ILM steadily increases in thickness from 70 nm at fetal stages to several microns at age 90. By the age of 20, the ILM loses its laminated structure to become an amorphous and very irregular extracellular matrix layer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the native, hydrated ILMs are on average 4-fold thicker than the dehydrated ILMs as seen by TEM and that their thickness is prominently determined by its water-binding proteoglycans. The morphological changes are accompanied by age-related changes in the biochemical composition, whereby the relative concentrations of collagen IV and agrin increase, and the concentration of laminin decreases with age. Force-indentation measurements by AFM also showed that ILMs become increasingly stiffer with advancing age. The data suggest that BMs from other human tissues may undergo similar age-related changes.
The interest of trainees in working with seriously mentally ill persons.

Working with persons who have severe and persistent mental illness has generally not been a preferred career track for prospective mental health professionals. Most of the literature has focused on the recruitment of psychiatrists. This paper reports the results of 78 students in Rhode Island representing three allied mental health professions—social work, psychology, and nursing. Significant differences were found in training environments and learning activities, in interests in working with various diagnostic groups, and in rating the relative importance of both client problems as well as interventions strategies. Implications for future academic-mental health linkages are suggested.
Systematic tracking of boundary layer aerosols with laser radar

Abstract Atmospheric aerosols exhibit a high degree of variability in their properties and their spatial and temporal distribution. Mapping atmospheric aerosols is of great importance for monitoring the effects of anthropogenic activities and natural processes upon local air quality, as well as for producing accurate input for radiative transfer models. To help enhance our understanding of radiative, physical, chemical, and dynamic processes in the atmosphere, laser radar is used to provide systematic monitoring of the temporal evolution of the aerosol rich boundary layer. The Micro Pulse Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) System is capable of long-term autonomous mapping of vertical aerosol structure. We present a new automated method for tracking boundary layer height from Micro Pulse Lidar data and show the results of this method for a continuous 16 h study conducted on the east coast of the United States.
The export market for Thai frozen shrimps in the European Union

Thailand’s recent export performance in the EU market for frozen shrimps has improved markedly. Constant market share analysis reveals this improvement to be predominantly the result of competitive advantages in production and marketing. Thailand is able to produce shrimps of high and consistent quality at low costs, under conditions which meet the hygiene and safety standards set by the EU. In addition to competitive advantages, Thailand has benefited from growth in the overall size of the EU export market for frozen shrimps, but has suffered from having only relatively small shares in the important markets of some member States. Market research on consumers’ tastes and preferences could further improve Thailand’s recent export performance.
Neighborhoods, daily activities, and measuring health risks experienced in urban environments.

Studies of place and health often classify a subject’s exposure status according to that which is present in their neighborhood of residence. One’s neighborhood is often proxied by designating it to be an administratively defined unit such as census tract, to make analysis feasible. Although it is understood that residential space and actual lived space may not correspond and therefore exposure misclassification may result, few studies have the opportunity to investigate the implications of this issue concretely. A population-based case-control study that is currently underway provides one such opportunity. Adolescent victims of assault in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and a control sample of adolescents drawn randomly from the community are being enrolled to study how alcohol consumption and time spent nearby alcohol outlets – individual-level and environmental-level risk factors for violence, respectively – over the course of daily activities relate to the likelihood of being assaulted. Data from a rapport-building exercise consist of hand-drawn sketches that subjects drew on street maps when asked to indicate the area considered their neighborhood. The main data consist of self-reported, detailed paths of the routes adolescents traveled from one location to the next over the course of one full day. Having noticed interesting patterns as the data collection phase proceeds, we present here an analysis conducted with the data of 55 control subjects between 15–19 years old. We found that hand-drawn neighborhoods and activity paths did not correspond to census tract boundaries, and time subjects spent in close proximity to alcohol outlets during their daily activities was not correlated with the prevalence of alcohol outlets in the census tract of their residence. This served as a useful example demonstrating how classifying subjects as exposed based solely on the prevalence of the exposure in the geographic area of their residence may misrepresent the exposure that is etiologically meaningful.
How Does It Feel to Be Outperformed by a “Good Winner”? Prize Sharing and Self-Deprecating as Appeasement Strategies

Outperformers sometimes attempt to appease those whom they have outperformed, motivated by concerns about outperformed persons' negative reactions. In this article, two experiments examined the effects of two different appeasement strategies—offering to share the winning prize or self-deprecating—upon outperformed participants. In both studies, participants competed against a confederate on a verbal competition that was rigged so that the confederate always won. After winning, the confederate either (a) offered to share the winning prize, (b) made a self-deprecating comment, (c) said and did nothing (Study 1 control), or (d) made an innocuous comment (Study 2 control). The prize-sharing strategy led participants to report liking the winner more and viewing the winner more positively. However, prize sharing also caused participants to feel less pleased with their own performances. The self-deprecation strategy failed to increase liking, and it caused participants to attribute the winner's performance less ...
Balancing claims for balancing selection.

Natural selection is expected to leave distinctive signatures on patterns of neutral variation that are tightly linked to a site carrying an advantageous mutation. This notion is the basis for molecular population genetics approaches to the analysis of adaptations in the human genome. In principle, this is an attractive prospect; in practice, several complications and challenges make it difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions about natural selection. In this article, we discuss some general issues on the studies detecting the signature of natural selection in light of a recent paper on the prion protein gene (PRNP). This study hypothesized that PRNP evolved under balancing selection as a result of widespread cannibalistic practices.
Chaotic Pulse-Position Baseband Modulation for an Ultra-Wideband Transceiver in CMOS

A CMOS impulse radio transceiver that uses chaotic pulse-position modulation for ultra-wideband (UWB) communications is designed. While the conventional direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) system dither the time delay between impulses by a pseudorandom number generator, chaotic modulation dithering uses a predictable but wideband nonlinear function, resulting in significant improvements in spectral spreading. The nonlinear functions implemented in the transmitter and receiver use a tent map, requiring only a voltage-to-time and time-to-voltage converter. A R-S latch enables the parallel implementation of two consecutive states of the tent map. Due to the predictable nature of the nonlinear mapping functions, receiver synchronization time is achieved in Order (0) time, as opposed to the conventional DSSS correlating receivers. Implemented in a 0.25 μm CMOS technology, the transceiver achieves an average data rate of 25 Mbps and a BER <; 10e-9, while sending 0.4-ns wide UWB baseband impulses.
Discrete event simulation of the post-earthquake restoration process for electric power systems

This paper describes a discrete event simulation model of the post-earthquake restoration process for electric power systems. The model explicitly represents the real-life restoration process, enabling development of geographically disaggregated, quantitative restoration curves with uncertainty bounds, a dynamic map showing the spatial distribution of outages changing over time, and information on how personnel and repair materials are used throughout the process. The new restoration modelling approach is applied to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power electric power system. Simulation results for the 1994 Northridge earthquake indicate that the model is capable of accurately estimating the restoration time and spatial sequence of the recovery process. The model aims to help improve the quantitative restoration time estimates that are required to estimate economic losses due to business interruption caused by power outages, and identify and compare the effectiveness of different ways to improve the restoration process in future earthquakes.
Teachers' punishment histories and their selection of disciplinary strategies

Abstract Preservice teachers' reports (N = 156) of their disciplinary experiences involving punishment within their own families of origin were used to predict subsequent selection of punitive or nonpunitive classroom management strategies. Discriminant function analysis produced a shrunken canonical correlation of .60 between punishment history and strategy selection. The pattern of structure coefficients suggests that authoritarian upbringing is related to subsequent selection of punitive classroom management strategies. Implications for teacher training in classroom management strategies are discussed.
Doppler evaluation of severity of mitral regurgitation: Relation to pulmonary venous blood flow patterns in an animal study☆

Abstract Objectives. This study examined the influence of regurgitant volume on pulmonary venous blood flow patterns in an animal model with quantifiable mitral regurgitation. Background. Systolic pulmonary venous blood flow is influenced by atrial filling and compliance and ventricular output and by the presence of mitral regurgitation. The quantitative severity of the regurgitant volume itself is difficult to judge in clinical examinations. Methods. Six sheep with chronic mitral regurgitation produced by previous operation to create chordal damage were examined. At reoperation the heart was exposed and epicardial echocardiography performed. Pulmonary venous blood flow waveforms were recorded by pulsed Doppler under color flow Doppler guidance using a Vingmed 750 scanner. The pulmonary venous systolic inflow to the left atrium was expressed as a fraction of the total inflow velocity time integral. Flows across the aortic and mitral valves were recorded by electromagnetic flowmeters balanced against each other. Pressures in the left ventricle and left atrium were measured directly with high fidelity manometer-tipped catheters. Preload and afterload were systematically manipulated, resulting in 24 stable hemodynamic states. Results. Simple logarithmic correlation between the regurgitant volume and size of a positive or negative pulmonary venous inflow velocity time integral during systole was good (r = −0.841). By stepwise linear regression analysis with pulmonary venous negative systolic velocity time integral as a dependent variable compared with the regurgitant volume, fractional shortening, left atrial νwave size, systemic vascular resistance and left ventricular systolic pressure, only contributions from νwave size and regurgitant volume (r = 0.80) reached statistical significance in determining pulmonary venous negative systolic flow. Conclusions. Evaluation of systolic pulmonary venous blood flow velocity time integral can give valuable information helpful for estimating the regurgitant volume secondary to mitral regurgitation.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of X70 Pipeline Steel with High H2S Resistance

Anti-H2S X70 pipeline steel was developed. The microstructure of X70 pipeline steel was studied by the analysis of OM, SEM and TEM. The precipitation behavior was discussed. The comprehensive mechanical properties, HIC and SCC performance were systematically studied. The results indicated that the microstructure of the experimental steel was mainly acicular ferrite and granular bainite. The second phase precipitates dispersedly distributed in the matrix. The experimental steel possessed excellent strength, plasticity, low temperature toughness and low yield ratio. And therefore, the X70 pipeline steel in the study is suitable for sour service with the high strength, excellent toughness and low HIC&SSC susceptibility.
Microfluidic device to confine single cardiac myocytes in sub-nanoliter volumes for extracellular pH measurements

We have combined a microfluidic network and miniature thin film pH sensors (40 × 40 µm2) to trap and measure the acidification rates of single cardiomyocytes in a confined extracellular space. The miniature pH sensors were fabricated by electrodeposition of iridium oxide (IrOx) films on planar platinum microelectrodes. The pH electrodes as well as stimulation electrodes were integrated into the device with a 160 picoliter cell trap. Single cardiac cells were trapped in the sensing volume using pressure gradients. Miniature mechanical valves allowed the control of the fluidic flow in the network precisely to eliminate small residual flows. The measurement acidification rate of quiescent cells depended on the Ca2+ concentration of the media and was 6.45 ± 0.4 mpH\min for 0.8 mM Ca2+ (n = 8) and 11.96 ± 1.3 mpH\min for 1.8 mM Ca2+ (n = 9). Multiple cell traps equipped with pH sensors can be arranged on one chip. Such chips could have potential applications in high-content high throughput drug screening efforts.
Integrating participatory elements into an effectiveness evaluation

Abstract This article describes an effectiveness evaluation of an intensive case management intervention coordinated by a non-profit organization in a midsize Midwest City. As an effectiveness evaluation, the primary evaluation question was causal in nature; the key task of the evaluative study was to establish and probe connections between the intervention and positive psychosocial outcomes for youth and families. The evaluation process described in this article differs from most effectiveness evaluations in that participatory evaluation elements were integrated into the evaluation design, so that stakeholders provided practical knowledge to guide study decision-making. Therefore, in this evaluation, stakeholder contributions represent substantive ones that directly shaped the conduct of the effectiveness evaluation. The article employs a first-person evaluator narrative to retrospectively detail the process of involving stakeholders and ends with a discussion of issues relevant to involving stakeholders in an effectiveness evaluation and highlights areas in need of further study.
An algorithm for predicting the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters in agitated reactors

A large number of experimental data points (7374) obtained in our laboratory as well as from the literature, covering wide ranges of reactor geometry (reactor diameter and type, impeller diameter and gas distribution scheme), physicochemical properties (liquid and gas density and molecular weight, liquid viscosity and surface tension, diffusivity) and operating variables (superficial gas velocity, temperature, pressure, m ixing speed, liquid height and mixtures) were used to develop empirical as well as back-propagation neural network (BPNN) correlations in order to predict the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters in gas–liquid agitated reactors (ARs). The empirical and BPNN correlations developed were incorporated in a calculation algorithm for predicting the gas holdup (eG), volumetric mass transfer coefficients ( kLa), Sauter mean bubble diameter (dS), gas–liquid interfacial area ( a) and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient ( kL) in ARs, operating in surface-aeration, gas-inducing and gas-sparging modes. The algorithm was used to predict the effects of liquid viscosity and hydrogen mole fraction in the feed gas (H 2 +N 2) on the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters for the soybean oil hydrogenation process conducted in a large-scale gas-sparging agitated reactor (7000 kg soybean oil capacity). The predictions showed that increasing the liquid-phase viscosity, mimicking the evolution of the hydrogenation of soybean oil in a batch reactor, decreased eG and increased dS, resulting in a decrease of a. The decrease of the gas holdup with increasing the liquid-phase viscosity was related to the increase of gas bubble coalescence in the reactor. Increasing liquid-phase viscosity, however, decreased kL as well as kLa values for both H2 and N2 within the range H2 mole fraction (0–1) used. This kL behavior indicated that the effect of viscosity on kL is more significant than that of dS, since kL was reported to be proportional to dS. The predictions also showed that increasing the H2 mole fraction in the feed to the reactor decreased eG and increased dS, resulting in a decrease of a and an increase of kL as well as kLa for both H2 and N2 within the range of liquid-phase viscosity used (0.0023–0.0047 Pa s). The decrease of the gas holdup with increasing the H2 mole fraction in the feed gas was attributed to the decrease of the density (momentum) of the gas mixture. The increase of kL values with increasing the H2 mole fraction in the feed gas was related to the increase of dS. The predicted kLa values indicated that the mass transfer behavior in the large-scale gas-sparging reactor proposed for soybean oil hydrogenation was controlled by the mass transfer coefficient, kL. Also, under similar conditions, kLa values for H2 in soybean oil when using the gaseous mixture (H2 +N 2) were lower than those obtained for H2 (as a single-component); and kL values for H2 were consistently greater than those of N2 within the ranges of the operating conditions used in the simulation. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Understanding the Personal Goals of Black Male Community College Students: Facilitating Academic and Psychosocial Development

Similar to 4-year institutions, community colleges are struggling to find ways to increase the success rates of racial and ethnic minority students in general and Black males specifically. According to data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS), compared to their male counterparts, Black males have the lowest retention and graduation rates among their peers. Given this, using national data from BPS, this article has investigated the personal goals of Black males in community colleges and provided context for how community college officials can use these goals to facilitate Black male academic and psychosocial development. Indeed, this article is noteworthy as limited research has focused on personal goals for Black males in community college. The article concludes with implications for practice and future research.
Quasi-random migration applied to 3D West Texas CDP data

The quasi-random migration (QM) method is tested on 3D seismic data from West Texas. Results show that the QM images, at 1/4 subsampling of the entire data set, are about the same quality as regularly migrated (RM) images obtained from a regular 1/4 subsampling of the original data. However, it appears that there are fewer artifacts in the QM images than in the regular images. At 1/8 subsampling the QM images have moderately better quality than the corresponding RM images. Previous studies suggested that the QM images should be of much higher quality than the regularly sampled images. Our field test results did not show this to be true because the source and receiver lines were spaced more than 1300 feet apart, and so did not allow for a good quasi-random sampling of the data.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Diagnosing misconceptions: Revealing changing decimal fraction knowledge.

Abstract Conceptual change is a gradual process that occurs as students integrate new information into their existing conceptions. Throughout this process, assessing learning requires measures to diagnose misconceptions and understand how knowledge is changing. We developed three measures of misconceptions to assess students' knowledge early in instruction on decimals that measured the: 1) prevalence of misconception errors based on response patterns, 2) existence of misconceptions in a more abstract context, and 3) strength of misconceptions using confidence ratings. Students ages 9–11 (N = 297) completed the assessment at three time points. These measures revealed that whole number and role of zero misconceptions decreased and fraction misconceptions increased over time. The current measures also differentiated between weaker misconceptions that were changed after brief instruction and strongly held misconceptions. The current measures can create a more complete picture of knowledge than only measuring students' accuracy, providing a window into the conceptual change process.
Foodborne urinary tract infections: a new paradigm for antimicrobial-resistant foodborne illness.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide. Disproportionately affecting women, UTIs exact a substantial public burden each year in terms of direct medical expenses, decreased quality of life, and lost productivity. Increasing antimicrobial resistance among strains of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli challenges successful treatment of UTIs. Community-acquired UTIs were long considered sporadic infections, typically caused by the patients’ native gastrointestinal microbiota; however, the recent recognition of UTI outbreaks with probable foodborne origins has shifted our understanding of UTI epidemiology. Along with this paradigm shift come new opportunities to disrupt the infection process and possibly quell increasing resistance, including the elimination of nontherapeutic antimicrobial use in food-animal production.
Lasing without inversion: a dream come true

Two experiments in which laser oscillation without population inversion was obtained for the first time are reported. Analytical solutions are presented to elucidate the principles of the experiments. Numerical simulations and experimental results in a Rb vapor cell and a Na atomic beam for the gain profile are compared.
ECR ion source development for super-stripped positive ions in accelerator and atomic physics applications

The present generation of electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRIS), operating in the frequency range of 6–18 GHz, can produce fully stripped ions up to Z = 20 and extending to 30–35 + ions for Z = 50–90 [1]. To obtain even higher charges, the next generation of ECR sources may employ superconducting magnets for resonance heating at 28 GHz. This frequency matches gyrotron microwave sources developed for ECR heating in plasma fusion experiments. Higher frequency operation permits, in principle, operation at higher plasma densities, by raising the cutoff limit and there is now evidence that both the peak and average charges extracted from ECR sources scale with the plasma density [2]. In order to further study these issues, a superconducting magnet structure for a variable frequency ECR, the SC-ECR at NSCL, is now under construction [3–5]. In this paper, the background for this line of source development will be reviewed and the design and present status of the SC-ECR will be presented.