cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Interfacial Thermal Resistance of Nanofins

In this study molecular dynamic (MD) simulations are performed to study the interfacial thermal resistance between a nanofin and a working fluid. A (5, 5) carbon nanotube (CNT) of diameter 6.78 A and various lengths are immersed in different fluids in these analyses. For this simulation the total numbers of the fluid molecules, and the breath and the height of the cell are kept constant. In these simulations, the nanotube is placed at the centre of the cell and the matrix molecules surround the nanotube. Periodic boundary conditions are applied in all the directions. So the system under consideration is array of long nanotubes aligned in the horizontal direction. Simulation procedure consists of first minimizing the system. During the minimization the system is allowed to relax. During the simulations, nanotube and water molecules are allowed to move but the cell size remains constant. After minimization, NVT process is performed for 10ps to scale the velocities so that the average temperature of the cell is 300K. After the ensemble is equilibrated to the base temperature of 300K, the temperature of the nanotube is raised to 750K, by scaling the velocities of the carbon atoms. In the next step the system is allowed to relax under constant energy. This is done by performing the NVE equilibration for 10ps. The difference in the temperature of the carbon nanotube and the matrix is then calculated and plotted against the equilibration time. For the all three matrix, the temperature decreases exponentially with time as predicted by various researchers in the literature. From the graphs the interfacial resistance for water, ethyl alcohol and 1-Hexene is found to be 7.76×10-8, 6.76×10-8 and 35.1×10-8 W/m2K. The value of interfacial resistance for water is consistent with results in the literature.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Propagule abundance and richness are equivalent or higher in communities restored with local ecotypes relative to cultivars of dominant species

Question Does population source of dominant species influence propagule abundance and richness for ecological restoration, and are effects consistent across different species pools? Location Illinois, USA. Methods Abundance and richness of ramets, emerged seedlings, seed rain and the soil seed bank were measured in a restoration experiment consisting of a split-plot design with population source of dominant grasses (cultivar vs local ecotype) as the whole-plot factor and sown subordinate species (three unique pools of non-dominant species) as the subplot factor, respectively. Different sown species pools were included to assess whether any observed differences in propagule abundance or richness between the dominant species sources was generalizable across varying interspecific interactions. Results Abundance of emerged ramets was similar between communities sown with cultivar and local ecotypes of the dominant grasses, but differed among sown species pools in prairie restored with cultivars but not with local ecotypes. Number of emerged seedlings also differed among species pools, but only in communities sown with local ecotypes of the dominant grasses. There was also higher seedling emergence in communities sown with local ecotypes relative to cultivars of the dominant grasses in one species pool. Richness of the seed rain was influenced by an interaction between dominant grass population source and sown species pool, resulting from (1) higher richness in prairie restored with local ecotypes than cultivars of the native grasses in one species pool, and (2) differences in richness among species pools that occurred only in prairie restored with the local ecotype grass source. Abundance and richness of the seed bank was not affected by dominant grass population source. Conclusions This study addressed a poorly understood potential effect of using cultivars in ecological restoration, specifically on the abundance and supply of propagules for community assembly. We found no consistent negative effect of dominant grass cultivars on propagule supply. These results suggest that if both local ecotype and cultivar sources are available for restoration, using local ecotypes could result in more seedling germination and richness in the seed rain.
Penetration of household insecticides through different types of textile fabrics

Six different types of fabrics were compared for their ability to protect against human exposure to three different commercial household aerosol insecticides. Fabrics used in this investigation were, 100% cotton, cotton-polyester thermal underwear, cotton-polyester blend (twill), 100% acrylic, 100% wool and artificial silk (rayon). The household insecticides were, Black Flag (Ant and Roach Killer), Raid (Ant and Roach Killer) and Hot Shot (Wasp and Hornet Killer) containing propoxur, permethrin/pyrethrins and chlorpyrifos/allethrins as their active ingredients respectively. A fluorescent tracer, 4-methyl-7-diethyl amino coumarin was mixed with the aerosol (or equivalent aliquot) and sprayed onto cloth squares fitted on Whatman paper patches. The percentage of penetration through the cloth was quantified by the intensity of the fluorescence spectrum of each patch extract and the amount of the tracer recovered was calculated. The extract was concentrated to 1/10th of the volume to measure the content of each of the insecticides by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using electron capture (ECD) and diode array detectors. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the fabrics showed the geometry of the yarn. The results obtained from the fluorescence spectra, SFC and SEM showed that cotton-polyester (twill), cotton, wool and cotton thermal underwear were the least penetrable materials for the aerosols. On the other hand, acrylic and artificial silk (rayon) were the most penetrable cloth types.
Ordered Ternary Alloys by Atomic Layer Epitaxy

We report on the successful growth of GalnP on GaAs substrate by Atomic Layer Epitaxy using organometallic and hydride sources. Growth was achieved by sequential exposure of the substrate to TMGa, PH3, TEIn and PH3. X-ray diffraction showed compositional lattice-matching optimally at 550°C with arbitrary choices of the mole fractions of the precursors in the gas phase. TEM also confirmed the highest ordering at this growth temperature on (100) substrates. Uniformity was excellent using Atomic Layer Epitaxy. Growth on (111)A GaAs substrates produced no evidence of the ordered CuPt phase present on (100) substrates.
S07-03 - Psychopathology of psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and postpartum

Contrary to the previously spread myth, pregnancy does not protect women from either relapses of previously diagnosed psychiatric illness nor development of new ones. Prevalence of psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy is similar to that in the general population, whereas that number significantly increases in the postpartum period. Peripartum has its own uniqueness for both etiology and presentation of different psychopathological conditions. Multiple studies have been published describing affective, anxiety, and psychotic illnesses in peripartum. Specific psychosocial circumstances during that time along with multiple physiological changes occurring in female body in that reproductive period predispose women with and without previous psychiatric histories, to various psychiatric illnesses. Several potential contributing factors for these phenomena have been proposed so far. One of the most frequently studied ones has been the drastic hormonal shift occurring during peripartum that could directly increase the sensitivity for developing mood instability, anxiety and/or psychotic symptoms. Genetic predisposition and previously existing psychiatric disorder especially those occuring during specific reproductive phases significantly increase the risk as well. Presentation of psychiatric illnesses during peripartum has its’ particularities which are essential to understand of in order to provide an appropriate care. Being aware of the potential etiology and risk factors as well as sensitivity to psychopathology of some women in peripartum could greatly improve treatment as well as open up avenues for prevention in this area. Unrecognized and untreated psychiatric illnesses in peripartum have serious consequences.
American contributions to electronics: Coming of age and some more

The rise of a "science-intensive" industry, electronics, illustrates the transition of the United States from a scientifically underdeveloped nation to a world leader in science.
DATA-DRIVEN INDUCTIVE INFERENCE OF FINITE-STATE AUTOMATA

Within the field of structural pattern analysis, algorithms for inference of discrete mathematical models from samples are an important area of research. This paper gives an extensive survey of state-of-the-art methods for data-driven inductive inference of finite-state automata. In addition to providing notationally consistent descriptions of the methods’ fundamental mode of operation, aspects such as sequential learning, advantages and disadvantages, and the extension to stochastic automata are also addressed.
American Dictators: Frank Hague, Nucky Johnson, and the Perfection of the Urban Political Machine Steven Hart. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2013.

American Dictators: Frank Hague, Nucky Johnson, and the Perfection of the Urban Political Machine Steven Hart. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2013.Americans have long been both appalled and fascinated by the political machines that dominated cities across the United States in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some machine bosses, such as William Marcy Tweed and Richard Daley, have become legends. While excoriated by good government reformers, bosses have been romanticized in popular art, ranging from Dashiell Hammett's The Glass Key (1931) to HBO's popular television series Boardwalk Empire (2010). One reason for the ambivalence with which Americans regard the machines is the recognition that, while indisputably corrupt, they provided social services for the urban poor in an era before the advent of the welfare state. As George Washington Plunkitt, the Tammany Hall subboss immortalized in William Riordan's Plunkitt of Tammany Hall: A Series of Very Plain Talks on Very Practical Politics (1905), made very clear, the life of a machine leader was strenuous indeed. On any given day, in addition to plotting electoral strategy with his lieutenants, he would be attending weddings, funerals, and neighborhood fairs, assisting constituents displaced by fires, bailing some out of jail, and fixing others up with jobs. The classic machine politician was the human face of government.Steven Hart, a journalist and freelance writer, provides a highly readable account of two famous New Jersey political bosses in his American Dictators. Enoch L. "Nucky" Johnson was the ruler of Atlantic City from 1911 to 1941. A bon vivant who enjoyed the nightlife of his city and who mixed socially with the celebrated gangsters of his day, Johnson was the original of the character played by Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire. Frank Hague was a rough-hewn Irish politician, who served as mayor of Jersey City from 1917 to 1947. His machine was one of the most disciplined and authoritarian in the nation. Although Johnson was a Republican and Hague was a Democrat, they shared an instinct for power and, on at least one occasion, probably cooperated in electing a governor. Between them, they illustrate the often idiosyncratic nature of "bossism" in America.A key thesis for Hart is that there was no one model for a political machine. Nucky Johnson ran what Hart calls a "top-down" regime; his power was built on his connections to the Republican-dominated state legislature. …
Determinants of the demand for imports of Venezuela

Abstract In this study we use disaggregated annual data to estimate real income and relative price elasticities of demand for imports of Venezuela. After comparing our estimates with those of previous studies, we conclude that (1) Venezuela has made progress in developing domestic substitutes for imports, and (2) the degree of ‘openness’ in Venezuela increased after 1961. We also find evidence that during the period 1974–1979, the increase in the market value of Venezuela's oil reserves led to an increase in all categories of imports.
Calculation of unsteady fan rotor response caused by downstream flow distortions

The present model for fan rotor/support strut airfoil interaction uses a time-marching code for the rotor flow, coupled with a potential flow model for the stator-strut region. Study of the effect of strut design variables indicates that rotor flow disturbance is increased by the primary variables of larger strut thickness and circumferential spacing, while decreasing exponentially with increased rotor-strut separation. The time-marching code predicts local rotor pressure and flow perturbations in response to an unsteady downstream boundary condition.
“IT WAS BONE OF HER BONE, AND FLESH OF HER FLESH, AND SHE HAD KILLED IT”: THREE VERSIONS OF DESTRUCTIVE MATERNITY IN VICTORIAN FICTION

The Victorians, increasingly aware of social injustices and zealous to remedy them, were disturbed by the existence of child abuse and infanticide in their culture and were unusually sensitive to i...
Double-Blind Comparison of Cephacetrile with Cephalothin/Cephaloridine

Under double-blind protocol, a controlled comparison was made between a new cephalosporin, cephacetrile, and cephalothin or cephaloridine. The patient9s primary physician determined the indications for treatment, and the dosage was uniform for each route of administration. Infecting strains of staphylococci and Proteus mirabilis had a lower median inhibitory concentration for cephalothin than cephacetrile; the opposite was true for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species. The average peak serum level 1 h after a dose of 2 g intravenously was 74.9 ± 21 and 21.5 ± 8.7 μg/ml for cephacetrile and cephalothin, respectively; 6 h after the dose, the respective levels were 12.4 ± 4.3 and 3.7 ± 0.9 μg/ml. Renal clearances were similar and the plasma clearance was proportional to the serum levels. In the urine, the concentration of cephacetrile was three times higher than that of cephalothin. Based on a percentage of therapeutic potential, success in the treatment of infections with susceptible organisms was 42 and 44% for the two different drug regimens. Initial bacterial resistance was found in about one-fifth of infections, and concomitant therapy with other drugs was practiced in one-half of the treatment courses. Intravenous use of cephacetrile was discontinued prematurely more often than was use of cephalothin, suggesting less tolerance. Although there was no overt toxicity, more than 75% of patients on either regimen had some form of unwanted response to treatment, the most common being superinfection. From this limited but controlled experience, cephacetrile can be considered comparable to cephalothin in antimicrobial treatment and overall side reactions.
Tertiary Resource Recovery from Waste Polymers via Pyrolysis: Neat and Binary Mixture Reactions of Polypropylene and Polystyrene

Batch pyrolysis of polypropylene, polystyrene, and their binary mixture was carried out at temperatures of 350 and 420 °C. Two different loadings were also studied for neat polypropylene and polystyrene to assess the impact of total pressure, which was also a function of reaction time and temperature. For neat polypropylene pyrolysis, total conversion was an order of magnitude higher at 420 °C than at 350 °C. For neat polystyrene pyrolysis, conversion reached approximately 75% at 350 °C, whereas at 420 °C, the conversion reached a maximum of approximately 90% after 10 min of reaction and decreased to approximately 70% after 180 min. For binary mixture pyrolysis, the overall conversion was higher than the average of the conversions for the two neat cases. The conversion of polystyrene remained the same, but significant enhancement of the polypropylene conversion was observed. These results suggest that the more facile degradation of polystyrene helped to initiate the less reactive polypropylene.
Der unvollkommene Aufbau des Hafniumnitrids und das Bindungsproblem

Hafniumnitrid, HfN, hat eine stochiometrische Zusammensetzung. Gitterkonstante (a25 = 4,5118 ± 0,0001 A) und Dichtebestimmung (d25 = 11,696 ± 0,002 in Vergleich zur Rontgendichte dx = 13,386 g cm−3) deuten auf das Vorhandensein von Lucken (12.63%) in beiden Untergittern des Nitrids hin. Hf ist im Nitrid dreiwertig. Fast der gesamte Stickstoff der Verbindung last sich in NH3 uberfuhren. Die hohe Bildungsenergie, die Gitterenergie, der hohe Schmelzpunkt und die Harte (Pauling) des HfN erlauben auf eine vorwiegende Ionenbindung zu schliesen. Der Stickstoff befindet sich mit N3− und den Elektronen im Gleichgewicht. Als Kation ist Hf3+ (und Zr3+) vorhanden. Dieses Modell erklart alle Eigenschaften des Hafniumnitrids, einschlieslich der metallischen, wie die gute elektrische Leitfahigkeit, magnetische Susceptibilitat, den metallischen Glanz usw. Das Modell steht nicht im Widerspruch zur Gitterkonstante, berechnet aus den Durchmessern der Ionen, nur hat das N-Anion hier den groseren und das Hf3+ den kleineren Durchmesser, im Gegensatz zu den bisherigen Vorstellungen.
Nest architecture of the ant Formica pallidefulva: structure, costs and rules of excavation

The architecture of underground ant nests was studied in the ant Formica pallidefulva. These ants build shallow (30–45 cm deep) nests, which consist of more or less vertical shafts that bear chambers. Shafts are modular units of nest growth; nests are enlarged by adding more shafts or extending previously existing ones. The nests are top-heavy, their volume declining exponentially with depth. The total volume of the nest is strongly correlated with the number of worker occupying the nest (R2 = 0.87). Some of the rules and templates used by workers for nest construction were determined: (a) chambers are formed in the direction of the tunnels leading up to them, (b) the amount of soil excavated per unit time increases with soil temperature and moisture content. The amount of time and energy required to construct a typical nest were approximated using digging ability parameters determined in the lab. We estimate that if a colony was to move twice a year, it would expend around 20% of its energy intake and at least 6% of its worker time on nest excavation.
Uplink Arraying for Solar System Radar and Radio Science

To improve the uplink capability of the Deep Space Network at X-band frequencies near 7.2 GHz and to potentially prepare for retirement of the aging 70-m antennas, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has sponsored two experimental campaigns at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL, Pasadena, CA) and one at Harris Corporation (Palm Bay, FL) to show the feasibility of uplink arraying for deep space communication. These three efforts made significant progress in demonstrating the uplink arraying concept and in advancing our understanding of the associated error budget. These efforts focused primarily on demonstrating the feasibility of uplink arraying for communications applications. Uplink arraying is also useful for applications other than routine communications, mainly solar system radar and radio science. Among topics investigated are features and characteristics such as the array bandwidth, atmospheric calibration, array phase and amplitude stability, array blind pointing, and array delay calibration. No insurmountable obstacles are identified for the application of uplink arraying to noncommunications services. However, additional studies are recommended to minimize risk to radar and radio science services.
Solvation Dynamics and Proton Transfer in Nanoconfined Liquids

Nanoconfined liquids are of interest because of both their fundamental properties and their potential utility in an array of applications. The structure and dynamics of the liquid can be dramatically impacted by the geometrical constraints and the interactions with the interface. Understanding the molecular-level origins of these changes and how they are determined by the characteristics of the confining framework is the subject of ongoing experimental and theoretical studies. The progress and remaining challenges in these efforts are reviewed in the context of solvation dynamics and proton transfer reactions, processes that are strongly affected by nanoscale confinement.
Asymmetrical duty cycle permits zero switching loss in PWM circuits with no conduction loss penalty

Operating a bridge-type PWM (pulse width modulation) switch mode power converter with asymmetrical duty ratios can eliminate switching losses with no increase in conduction loss. This circuit topology combines the best features of resonant (zero switching loss) and switch mode (low conclusion loss) circuits. Design equations are presented for just such a circuit. >
PROJECTION OPERATOR TECHNIQUES IN LAGRANGIAN MECHANICS: SYMMETRICALLY COUPLED OSCILLATORS

We apply projection operator techniques to the computation of the natural frequencies of oscillation for three symmetrically coupled mechanical systems. In each case, the rotation subgroup of the full symmetry group is used to determine the projection operators with the result that the Lagrangian must be expressed in terms of complex-valued coordinates. In the coordinate system obtained from the action of the projection operators upon the original coordinates, the Lagrangian yields equations of motion which are separated to the maximum extent made possible by symmetry considerations.
A 10-Year Assessment of Hemlock Decline in the Catskill Mountain Region of New York State using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Techniques

The hemlock woolly adelgid is a serious pest of Eastern and Carolina hemlock in the eastern United States. Successfully managing the hemlock resource in the region depends on careful monitoring of the spread of this invasive pest and the targeted application of management options such as biological control, chemical, or silvicultural treatments. To inform these management activities and test the applicability of a landscape-scale remote sensing effort to monitor hemlock condition, hyperspectral collections, and concurrent ground-truthing in 2001 and 2012 of hemlock condition were compared with field metrics spanning a 10-yr survey in the Catskills region of New York. Fine twig dieback significantly increased from 9 to 15% and live crown ratio significantly decreased from 67 to 56% in 2001 and 2012, respectively. We found a significant shift from 59% “healthy” hemlock in 2001 to only 16% in 2012. However, this shift from healthy to declining classifications was mostly a shift to decline class 2 “early decline”. These results indicate that while there has been significant increase in decline symptoms as measured in both field and remote sensing assessments, a majority of the declining areas identified in the resulting spatial coverages remain in the “early decline” category and widespread mortality has not yet occurred. While this slow decline across the region stands in contrast to many reports of mortality within 10 yr, the results from this work are in line with other long-term monitoring studies and indicate that armed with the spatial information provided here, continued management strategies can be focused on particular areas to help control the further decline of hemlock in the region.
Early Modern Imperial Governance and the Origins of Canadian Political Culture

For the last three decades, scholars of Canadian political culture have favoured ideological explanations for state formation with the starting point being the American Revolution and Loyalist resettlement in British North America. This article challenges both the ideological bias and the late eighteenth-century chronology through a reassessment of early modern developments in the British imperial state. It shows that many of the institutional features associated with the state in British North America and later Canada—strong executives and weak assemblies, Crown control of land and natural resources, parliamentary funding of colonial development and accommodation of non-British subjects—were all institutionalized in the imperial state before the American Revolution and before the arrival of significant numbers of ethnically British settlers to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Quebec. Ideological discourses in the British North American colonies that became Canada, unlike those that became the United States, traditionally acknowledged the presence of a strong state in its imperial and colonial manifestations. Rather than challenging its legitimacy, as had Americans, British North Americans, whether liberals, republicans or tories, debated the function of the state and the distribution of power within it.
Prisons and Rehabilitation: The Inevitability of Disfavor

It is argued that widespread belief in the rehabilitative failure of prisons is not justified by the evidence. Reasons for persistence of the myth are suggested. It is argued that the belief in rehabilitative failure will continue even if prison reforms are instituted. The only way in which prisons can escape the onus of failure is by abandoning the rehabilitative mission.
Transnational Traders: El Salvador's Women Couriers in Historical Perspective

An estimated one-third to one-half of Salvadorans who carry remittances and goods between El Salvador and the United States are women. Scholars studying these viajeras argue that their work simultaneously represents a break from traditional gender relations confining women to the home and an extension of gender traits that favor women in developing social ties. Although social ties are crucial to the courier trade, this argument ignores antecedents to viajeras' work in El Salvador and suggests that transnationalism pushes women into realms of labor and physical mobility that have been gendered masculine. Using ethnographic methods, I examine the relationship between women's historical work in El Salvador and their current work as viajeras, as well the relationship between viajeras' experiences and those of women transnational traders in other parts of the world. My findings contribute to a small but growing body of research suggesting that instead of merely being excluded from or manipulated by global processes, many women in the Global South have expanded the realm of their activities to help shape variable forms of global capitalism. Studying how they do so sheds light on local mechanisms for combating gender inequality and promoting development.
Can a Newer MR Contrast Agent Be Used to Monitor Disease Progression in Muscular Dystrophy

Schmidt et al (1) showed that MR imaging by using gadofluorine M, a fluorinated macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent, enabled detection of disease progression in a model of muscular dystrophy in mice, whereas a macromolecular contrast agent did not. MR imaging with contrast agents such as gadofluorine M might ultimately be used in patients with muscular dystrophy to monitor disease progression and to assess the effectiveness of newer therapies currently under development.
Cardiac involvement in progressive muscular dystrophy.

Abstract 1.1. Forty-four patients with muscular dystrophy have been described. In general, no relationship between the duration and severity of the skeletal muscular lesions and those of the heart was noted. 2.2. The necropsy data from one of the six patients on whom histological data were available have been described in detail. The similarity of cardiac and skeletal muscle lesions was noteworthy in all our cases. 3.3. Variations in the electrocardiogram suggestive of abnormality were frequent. Tachycardia, abnormalities of the P waves, and tall R waves in V 1 and V 2 occurred frequently. Although no specific pattern was indicative of dystrophic involvement of the heart, patients with progressive muscular dystrophy on whom unusual electrocardiograms have been obtained should be suspected of having dystrophic heart disease. 4.4. In patients on whom the diagnosis of progressive muscular dystrophy (pseudohypertrophic or otherwise) has been made, the etiological diagnosis of "possible dystrophic heart disease" must always be considered. By "dystrophic heart disease" it is inferred that the heart has been pathologically involved by a histological process pathognomonic of the skeletal muscular disease.
Variations in 10 putative uropathogen virulence genes among urinary, faecal and peri-urethral Escherichia coli

A total of 868 isolates was screened from seven different collections of organisms from previous studies – pyelonephritis in children aged 1–24 months; first, second and recurring urinary tract infection (UTI) in women aged 18–39 years; UTI in women aged 40–65 years and peri-urethral and faecal isolates from women aged 18–39 years – for the presence of 10 potential Escherichia coli UTI virulence genes. Previously reported differences between the frequency of these genes in UTI compared with faecal isolates were confirmed and extended. A single virulence signature (strains containing aer, kpsMT, ompT, fim and papG AD) occurred in 29% of the pyelonephritic isolates, but in no more than 11% of the other collections. Peri-urethral isolates were found to have frequencies of these 10 genes that differed from those found for both UTI and faecal isolates.
Transmitting raw GNSS measurements as part of ADS-B: Why, how, and flight test results

Future Aircraft Surveillance Applications System (ASAS) such as conflict detection, final approach and runway occupancy, and airport surface situational awareness methods will benefit from the introduction of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). An alternative ADS-B implementation, which transmits raw measurements from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) instead of aircraft state vectors in the current implementation, was proposed in a previous paper to improve surveillance performance. Advantages of this implementation include 1) increased observability, 2) independence of datum reference, 3) the availability of an intrinsic duality indicator through the estimator's covariance matrix, 4) a guaranteed incorporation of existing correlations in the estimator, 5) optimal weighting of the measurements, and 6) the ability to perform data screening and other integrity methods. This paper summarizes the proposed methodology, discusses the initial flight test results of this alternative ADS-B implementation, and analyzes the performance of this method as a function of various system parameters such as bandwidth and update rate.
Dysphagia Characteristics in Zenker’s Diverticulum

Zenker’s diverticulum (ZD) is an uncommon but highly treatable cause of dysphagia. It is more prevalent in men than in women and typically presents in the seventh and eighth decades of life.1–3 ZD is a pulsion diverticulum through a dehiscence at Killian’s triangle between the oblique and transverse fibers of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor.4 The transverse fibers are also called the cricopharyngeus (CP), which is the primary muscle comprising the upper esophageal sphincter (UES). Dysphagia and regurgitation are the most common symptoms of ZD, with an incidence of 80% to 100% and 57% to 78%, respectively.1–3 The definitive diagnosis of ZD is made with a radiologic study demonstrating the diverticulum in the appropriate location filled with contrast material.2,3,5 ZD is treated surgically, and several techniques have been described.6–8 While surgical treatment of ZD has gained much attention, little has been written about the dysphagia characteristics and endoscopic findings relating to diagnosis and treatment of ZD. Maran et al1 reported 59 patients with ZD and stated that “other than three patients with clinical evidence of pooling of secretions on laryngoscopy, the physical examination contributed little information.” In contrast, Ongkasuwan et al9 reported 23 patients with ZD and found greater pooling of secretions on the left pyriform sinus compared with the right with a sensitivity of 52% and a specificity of 97%. However, both studies were limited in scope and did not report other abnormal endoscopic findings or dysphagia characteristics. Regurgitation, a common symptom of ZD, can be assessed on endoscopic examination. Langmore et al10 first described fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in 1988, but its utility for ZD was not realized until 1998 by Richardson and Bastian.11 They endoscopically visualized regurgitation of swallowed material in the hypopharynx and called the finding postswallow hypopharyngeal reflux (PSHR). They found PSHR to be 85% sensitive and 86% specific for ZD. Limitations, however, included a small sample size, no evaluation of other FEES findings, and no correlation between FEES findings and symptoms or diverticulum size. While imaging is the mainstay of diagnosing ZD, the utility of history, physical examination, and office procedures routinely performed by otolaryngologists, such as FEES and transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE), should not be ignored. A better understanding of how patient symptoms and office endoscopic findings correlate with ZD diagnosis and response to treatment will improve clinical acumen in diagnosis, treatment planning, and preoperative counseling. Thus, this study aims to describe the presenting symptoms and dysphagia characteristics (such as PSHR, aspiration, and pharyngeal weakness) in patients treated for ZD over a 6-year period. We correlate the preoperative findings with intraoperative findings such as diverticulum size and provide insight as to how office-based swallow evaluation assists with management decisions in patients with ZD.
Reflections on women and the law in the USA

The USA has undergone extraordinary changes over the past 35 years with respect to women's access to equality in education, employment and participation in political life. This has come about because of the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation and because of the activities of professional organisations in activating the implementation of these laws and pressing for a wide interpretation of their meaning. The work of social scientists in documenting disparities in women's access to education and employment and the use of such research in developing agendas for social change were central to this process. This article reflects on the early days of the second wave of the women's movement in the USA in the late 1960s, of which I was a part, with a focus on its use of research and the subsequent research that informed political agendas. I explore the context in which the woman's movement was developed and the establishment of rights in the USA, concentrating on women's access to employment, particularly, but not entirely, in the professions.
Relation of left ventricular mass, volume and mass/volume ratio in children with aortic stenosis and/or insufficiency

To determine if symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities relate to left ventricular mass, volume, and mass/volume ratio in children with aortic stenosis and/or insufficiency, we examined 42 patients (aged 11±6 years) with cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiography. Clinical symptoms included exertional chest pain, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, congestive heart failure and syncope. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were defined as the presence of both left ventricular hypertrophy and ST-T wave changes. Left ventricular volumes and mass were measured from echocardiograms using paired orthogonal apical views and biplane Simpson's and truncated ellipsoid models, respectively. The peak and mean pressure gradients across the aortic valve, the aortic valvar area, and the degree of aortic insufficiency were determined using echo/Doppler techniques. Eighteen patients (ages 10±7 years) had pure aortic stenosis (peak gradient 52±29 mm Hg, mean gradient 28±18 mm Hg, and valve area 0.86±.46 cm2/m2). Of these 18, seven had symptoms and seven had an abnormal electrocardiogram. Twenty-four patients (aged 12±6 years) had aortic stenosis and aortic insufficiency (peak gradient 36±18 mm Hg, mean gradient 19±9 mm Hg, 18 with 1−2+ aortic insufficiency and six with 3−4+ aortic insufficiency). Of these 24, 10 had symptoms and 10 had an abnormal electrocardiogram. When symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were compared using an unpaired Student's t-test, symptomatic patients with pure aortic stenosis and combined aortic stenosis and insufficiency had left ventricular hypertrophy and inappropriately increased mass/volume ratios. However, due to differences in left ventricular volume, symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities occurred at a higher mass/ volume ratio in pure aortic stenosis (2.7±0.6) than in combined aortic stenosis and insufficiency (1.7±0.3).
Expression of functional aromatic hydrocarbon receptor and aromatic hydrocarbon nuclear translocator proteins in murine bone marrow stromal cells.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) acting through the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its dimerization partner, the AhR nuclear translocator protein (arnt), elicits numerous toxicological effects including immunosuppression and thymic atrophy. Previous work has shown that TCDD alters bone marrow prothymocyte populations. These effects could be mediated at the lymphocyte level directly and/or through effects on bone marrow stromal cells, a population important in the support of lymphopoiesis. The purpose of this study was to characterize AhR and arnt expression in three murine bone marrow stromal cell lines (S17, M2-10B4, and BMS2) and in primary stromal cell cultures. Immunoblot analysis detected AhR protein in M2-10B4 and BMS2 cells. AhR protein was also detected in the primary cultures. Arnt protein could be detected in all cell cultures. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays detected TCDD-dependent dioxin-responsive element (DRE) binding in all three cell lines. DNA binding was sequence-specific and dependent on AhR, as demonstrated by the addition of unlabeled DRE DNA or of anti-AhR antibody. Results obtained with the primary cultures paralleled those seen with the stromal cell lines. The ED50 for induction of TCDD-dependent DRE binding in M2-10B4 cells was 0.21 nM. TCDD treatment did not induce stromal P4501A1 mRNA expression but did increase P4501B1 mRNA levels in all three cell lines and in the primary cultures. These results indicate that murine bone marrow stromal cells express AhR and arnt proteins. Furthermore, these proteins are functional in terms of their DRE-binding ability and potential to regulate mRNA levels in a gene-specific fashion.
Hashtagging Politics: Transnational Anti-Fracking Movement Twitter Practices:

I examine a 2-week window into an environmental movement trying to gain traction in the public sphere, centered on a transnational day of action calling for a ban on the drilling technology, high-volume hydraulic fracturing, the Global Frackdown. Twitter serves a different purpose for the anti-fracking Global Frackdown movement than other Internet-based communications, most notably email listservs. Findings show that Global Frackdown tweeters engage in framing practices of movement convergence and solidarity, declarative and targeted engagement, prefabricated messaging, and multilingual tweeting. In contrast to Global Frackdown tweeters’ use of the platform for in-the-moment communication, Global Frackdown activists report in in-depth interviews that they place more emphasis on private (i.e., listservs) communication channels for longer term, durable movement building. The episodic, crowdsourced, and often personalized, transnational framing practices of Global Frackdown tweeters support core organizers’ ...
Purification and partial characterization of cellular retinol-binding protein, type two, from human small intestine

Two forms of human cellular retinol-binding protein, type II [hCRBP(II)A and hCRBP(II)B], were purified from the small intestine in a three-step purification procedure. The N-terminal sequence of CRBP(II)A was determined to 36 residues and found to have only a single residue difference when compared with the N-terminal sequence in rat; the amino acid change maintained charge. hCRBP(II)B was blocked at the N-terminus, presumably because of N-acetylation of the initial threonine residue as previously established for CRBP(II)B from rat. This blockage did not affect the binding properties of the protein. The ability of pure hCRBP(II) to bind all-trans-retinol, retinal and retinoic acid was examined by competitive binding assay and compared with the binding specificity of pure human cellular retinol-binding protein (hCRBP). Retinoic acid did not compete with retinol for binding to either protein. Retinal competed with retinol for binding to hCRBP(II) but not to hCRBP, consistent with what was observed for the homologous proteins of rats. Polyclonal antiserum against hCRBP(II)B was produced that recognized both forms of hCRBP(II) in Western blotting and RIA but did not react with hCRBP. Distribution of hCRBP(II) was determined in the jejunum. Higher concentrations of hCRBP(II) were observed in the proximal portion compared with the distal portion. Although concentrations varied in individual intestinal samples, concentrations up to 1% of total mucosal protein were observed in some samples. These results provide tools for further investigation of the role of hCRBP(II) and suggest that previous results from rats, in this important aspect, are relevant to human metabolism of vitamin A.
Frequency domain near-infrared multiwavelength imager design using high-speed, direct analog-to-digital conversion

Frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) has proven to be a reliable method for quantification of tissue absolute optical properties. We present a full-sampling direct analog-to-digital conversion FD-NIR imager. While we developed this instrument with a focus on high-speed optical breast tomographic imaging, the proposed design is suitable for a wide-range of biophotonic applications where fast, accurate quantification of absolute optical properties is needed. Simultaneous dual wavelength operation at 685 and 830 nm is achieved by concurrent 67.5 and 75 MHz frequency modulation of each laser source, respectively, followed by digitization using a high-speed (180 MS/s) 16-bit A/D converter and hybrid FPGA-assisted demodulation. The instrument supports 25 source locations and features 20 concurrently operating detectors. The noise floor of the instrument was measured at <1.4 pW/√Hz, and a dynamic range of 115+ dB, corresponding to nearly six orders of magnitude, has been demonstrated. Titration experiments consisting of 200 different absorption and scattering values were conducted to demonstrate accurate optical property quantification over the entire range of physiologically expected values.
Modulation of Cl- secretion by benzimidazolones. I. Direct activation of a Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channel

We evaluated the effects of the novel benzimidazolone, 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO), on Cl- secretion across T84 monolayers. 1-EBIO stimulated a sustained Cl- secretory response at a half-maximal effective concentration of 490 microM. Charybdotoxin (CTX) inhibited the 1-EBIO-induced short-circuit current (Isc) with an inhibitory constant (Ki) of 3.6 nM, whereas 293B, an inhibitor of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-activated K+ channels, had no effect on the current induced by 1-EBIO. In contrast, CTX failed to inhibit the 293B-sensitive forskolin-induced Isc. The above results suggested that 1-EBIO may be activating the basolateral membrane Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channel (KCa) in these cells. This was further confirmed using nystatin to permeabilize the apical membrane in the presence of a mucosa-to-serosa K+ gradient and determining the effects of 1-EBIO on the basolateral K+ current (IK). Under these conditions, 1-EBIO induced a large increase in IK that was blocked by CTX. In membrane vesicles prepared from T84 cells, 1-EBIO stimulated 86Rb+ uptake in a CTX-sensitive manner; the Ki for inhibition by CTX was 3.5 nM. Similar to our intact monolayer studies, this 86Rb+ uptake was not blocked by 293B. The effects of 1-EBIO on the KCa in T84 cells was determined in excised inside-out patches. 1-EBIO (100 microM) increased the product of the number of channels and the open channel probability from 0.09 +/- 0.03 to 1.17 +/- 0.27 (n = 8); this effect on KCa activity required a minimal level of free Ca2+. Similar to its effect on T84 cells, 1-EBIO stimulated a sustained Cl- secretory current in rat colonic epithelium, which was partially blocked by CTX. Finally, 1-EBIO stimulated a sustained Cl- secretory response in primary cultures of murine tracheal epithelium. We conclude that the benzimidazolone, 1-EBIO, stimulates Cl- secretion in secretory epithelia via the direct activation of a Kca. 1-EBIO is the first pharmacological opener of this important class of epithelial K+ channels to be identified.
Detection Limits for a VUV LIF Erosion Diagnostic for Carbon Grids

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) has shown promise to rapidly measure erosion of molybdenum and titanium thruster grids in situ. Atomic carbon transitions occur in the vacuum-ultraviolet region not readily accessible by commercial lasers. A laser system using anti-Stokes Raman shifting in hydrogen to produce 156.1 nm laser light is currently under development. Characteristics of this laser system will be presented along with the detection limits for carbon atoms in the plume of an ion thruster.
Survival of screw-worm pupae exposed to simulated winter temperatures from selected sites in Texas.

Climates of Mission, San Antonio, and Lubbock, Texas, were simulated in bioclimatic cabinets at Brownsville, Texas, to determine whether the screw-worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), might be increasing its cold-hardiness and extending its distribution beyond the known geographical range. The areas for which climates were simulated are in and adjoining the zone where sterile screw-worm flies were being released to eradicate the insect from the Southwestern United States. The coldest winters were simulated for Mission and San Antonio; the warmest winter was programmed for Lubbock. Test climates for each site were selected from weather data for 15–20 years. Screw-worms survived in the climates simulated for Mission and San Antonio but did not survive beyond the 6th week in the climate simulated for Lubbock.
Detecting Hypoglycemia in Venous Blood: Comparison of Two Neonatal Bedside Glucose Monitors

We evaluated the performance of the One Touch II Hospital in neonatal mode (Lifescan, Militipas, Calif) and Accu-Chek II (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis) in screening for neonatal hypoglycemia. We used blood with low-to-normal glucose concentrations and a wide range of hematocrits to mimic infant blood. Single-donor adult blood was collected in heparinized tubes and allowed to metabolize overnight. Red blood cells were separated and reconstituted with the plasma, normal saline, and 10% dextrose to 5 hematocrits and 6 approximate plasma glucose concentrations. All 30 combinations of hematocrit and glucose concentration were tested. The One Touch II Hospital glucose monitor showed the best accuracy of numeric results (32%–78% vs ll%–54%), precision (pooled standard deviation, 1.4 mg/dL vs 4.6–13.9 mg/dL), and correlation (Pearson’s r, 0.95–0.98 vs 0.82–0.86). Sensitivity and specificity for hypoglycemic glucose levels were statistically similar.
Strategic witnessing in an age of video activism

Witnessing is infused in ethical and legal discourses that operate within the matrix of knowledge, responsibility, and action. Through an analysis of the non-governmental organization WITNESS, this...
How to Improve the English Major's Self-reliant Ability to Learn English Grammar

Grammar is a main component of English teaching.English majors should combine grammar learning with the application of language,thus they can really improve the reading competence and monitor accuracy of their language output.In this thesis,the writer mainly discusses the methods of learning English grammar and encourages the English majors to summarize the useful grammatical rules independently,so as to improve their communicative competence by taking the advantage of the grammatical knowledge.