cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward unified satellite climatology of aerosol properties.: 3. MODIS versus MISR versus AERONET

We use the full duration of collocated pixel-level MODIS-Terra and MISR aerosol optical thickness (AOT) retrievals and level 2 cloud-screened quality-assured AERONET measurements to evaluate the likely individual MODIS and MISR retrieval accuracies globally over oceans and land. We show that the use of quality-assured MODIS AOTs as opposed to the use of all MODIS AOTs has little effect on the resulting accuracy. The MODIS and MISR relative standard deviations (RSTDs) with respect to AERONET are remarkably stable over the entire measurement record and reveal nearly identical overall AOT performances of MODIS and MISR over the entire suite of AERONET sites. This result is used to evaluate the likely pixel-level MODIS and MISR performances on the global basis with respect to the (unknown) actual AOTs. For this purpose, we use only fully compatible MISR and MODIS aerosol pixels. We conclude that the likely RSTDs for this subset of MODIS and MISR AOTs are ∼73% over land and ∼30% over oceans. The average RSTDs for the combined [AOT(MODIS)+AOT(MISR)]/2 pixel-level product are close to 66% and 27%, respectively, which allows us to recommend this simple blend as a better alternative to the original MODIS and MISR data. These accuracy estimates still do not represent the totality of MISR and quality-assured MODIS pixel-level AOTs since an unaccounted for and potentially significant source of errors is imperfect cloud screening. Furthermore, many collocated pixels for which one of the datasets reports a retrieval, whereas the other one does not may also be problematic.
Instabilities in the SNS

The 2 MW Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) will have a DC beam current of 40 A at extraction, making it one of the worlds most intense accelerators. Coherent instabilities are a major concern and efforts to predict beam behavior are described.
Can High Personal Tax Rates Encourage Entrepreneurial Activity

When the top personal tax rates are above the corporate rate, high income individuals have an incentive to reclassify their earnings as corporate rather than personal income for tax purposes. At least U.S. tax law imposes strict limits on the extent to which employees in publicly traded corporations can engage in such income shifting. However, entrepreneurs setting up new firms can easily reclassify their income for tax purposes. This tax incentive therefore favors entrepreneurial activity. In the United States, these tax incentives were huge during the 1950s and 1960s, though they have been much smaller since then.
The closed-form particular solutions for Laplace and biharmonic operators using a Gaussian function

Abstract Particular solutions play a critical role in solving inhomogeneous problems using boundary methods such as boundary element methods or boundary meshless methods. In this short article, we derive the closed-form particular solutions for the Laplace and biharmonic operators using the Gaussian radial basis function. The derived particular solutions are implemented numerically to solve boundary value problems using the method of particular solutions and the localized method of approximate particular solutions. Two examples in 2D and 3D are given to show the effectiveness of the derived particular solutions.
Quenching of phosphorescence by paramagnetic molecules in rigid media. I

The quenching of perdeuterated naphthalene by paramagnetic ions in solid matrices of ethyl alcohol is observed by us. The results show that the decay curves are not exponential and the decay rate depends on the concentrations of paramagnetic ions. To interpret the experimental data, we assume as with Hoijtink that the interaction between the triplet state molecule and the paramagnetic ion is of the exchange type interaction. Theoretical expressions for decay function, relative yield, mean duration etc., are derived. The theoretical expressions derived correlate the experimental data very well.
Transcriptomic signatures in breast cancer

High throughput DNA microarray technology has been broadly applied to the study of breast cancer to classify molecular subtypes, to predict outcome, survival, response to treatment, and for the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Although results are promising, this technology will not have a full impact on routine clinical practice until there is further standardization of techniques and optimal clinical trial design. Due to substantial disease heterogeneity and the number of genes being analyzed, collaborative, multi-institutional studies are required to accrue enough patients for sufficient statistical power. Newer bioinformatic approaches are being developed to assist with the analysis of this important data.
Um outro mundo (também feminista...) é possível: construindo espaços transnacionais e alternativas globais a partir dos movimentos

Um outro mundo (tambem feminista...) e possivel: transnacionais e alternativas globais a partir dos movimentos
Intermetallic compounds with near Zintl phase behavior: RE2Zn3Ge6 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) grown from liquid indium.

A series of compounds has been discovered while investigating reactions of rare earth, transition metals, and Ge in excess indium. These compounds, RE2Zn3Ge6 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd), are isostructural, crystallizing in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with lattice parameters a = 5.9691(9) A, b = 24.987(4) A, and c = 5.9575(9) A for La2Zn3Ge6, a = 5.9503(5) A, b = 24.761(2) A, and c = 5.9477(5) A for the Ce analogue, a =5.938(2) A, b = 24.708(8) A, and c = 5.936(2) A for Pr2Zn3Ge6, and a = 5.9094(7) A, b = 24.619(3) A, and c = 5.9063(5) A for the Nd analogue. The structure is composed of PbO-like ZnGe layers and ZnGe4 cage layers and is related to the Ce4Zn8Ge11-x structure type. The bonding in the system can be rationalized using the Zintl concept resulting in a material that is expected to be a valence precise semiconductor, although its behavior is more consistent with it being a semimetal, making it an intermediate case. The results of band structure calculations and magnetic measurements of these compo...
Image coding design considerations for cascaded encoding-decoding cycles and image editing: analysis of JPEG 1, JPEG 2000, and JPEG XR / HD Photo

This paper discusses cascaded multiple encoding/decoding cycles and their effect on image quality for lossy image coding designs. Cascaded multiple encoding/decoding is an important operating scenario in professional editing industries. In such scenarios, it is common for a single image to be edited by several people while the image is compressed between editors for transit and archival. In these cases, it is important that decoding followed by re-encoding introduce minimal (or no) distortion across generations. A significant number of potential sources of distortion introduction exist in a cascade of decoding and re-encoding, especially if such processes as conversion between RGB and YUV color representations, 4:2:0 resampling, etc., are considered (and operations like spatial shifting, resizing, and changes of the quantization process or coding format). This paper highlights various aspects of distortion introduced by decoding and re-encoding, and remarks on the impact of these issues in the context of three still-image coding designs: JPEG, JPEG 2000, and JPEG XR. JPEG XR is a draft standard under development in the JPEG committee based on Microsoft technology known as HD Photo. The paper focuses particularly on the JPEG XR technology, and suggests that the design of the draft JPEG XR standard has several quite good characteristics in regard to re-encoding robustness.
Detached eddy simulations for iced airfoils

To improve the predictive ability of the stall behavior for iced airfoils, computations using the detached eddy simulation (DES) approach were conducted. The WIND code with the DES methodology was first validated with a well-documented flow past a circular cylinder. The validation results were in good agreement with the experimental and previous numerical results for the time-averaged aerodynamic forces, as well as for the unsteady flowfield pattern. DES computations were then performed for a series of angles of attack (around the stall angle) fo rN ACA 23012 and natural laminar flow (NLF) 0414 airfoils with a simulated (two-dimensional) ice shape on the upper surface. The spanwise domain for these simulations was scaled based on the expected height of the separation region, consistent with previous blunt-body large eddy simulation and DES. The DES for both iced airfoils provided the maximum lift coefficients and stall angles that were qualitatively consistent with experiments [whereas Reynolds-averaged Navier‐Stokes (RANS) simulations of the same cases failed to provide either such behavior]. However, the DES approach was much more computationally intensive, and even higher grid resolution within the separated flow region is suggested to improve the predictive performance for this technique.
Abstract mathematical molecular biology. II. Some relational consequences of the "one gene-one enzyme" hypothesis.

Following the program outlined in a previous paper (Bull. Math. Biophysics,23, 237–260, 1961), a further abstract study is made of some simple relational systems which possess some properties of living organisms. It is shown that the “one gene-one enzyme” hypothesis leads to the conclusion that either all genes are built of the same chemical building blocks, or that at least all genes have a number of building blocks in common. A consistent relational application of the “one gene-one enzyme” hypothesis leads moreover to the conclusion that replication is not an inherent property of a gene. Rather there must be a set of enzymes which “copy” the genes. The number of enzymes in this set must be less than the number of genes and therefore the activity of those “copying” enzymes cannot be absolutely specific.
Postillumination respiration of maize in relation to oxygen concentration and glycolic Acid metabolism.

Prior illumination in CO(2)-free air enhances a respiration from maize (Zea mays L.) leaves different in onset and duration from the postillumination burst of photorespiration. The course of respiration after brief illumination of attached leaves was measured as CO(2) efflux in darkness into CO(2)-free atmospheres with four O(2) concentrations. The peak of CO(2) efflux following illumination was suppressed by 2.23% O(2), was completely eliminated by 0.04% O(2), and was not stimulated by 40% O(2) compared with air. Compared with air, steady dark respiration was suppressed by 0.04% O(2) but was not affected by 2.23% nor 40% O(2). Excision and subsequent uptake of distilled water through the vascular system nearly eliminated the enhanced respiration.Several metabolites fed to excised leaves through the vascular system during illumination doubled or tripled the respiration of maize in darkness. The sensitivity to 2.23% O(2) of the respiration of glycolic acid in the dark imitated the sensitivity to O(2) of attached leaves.The respiration of glycolic acid was inhibited by alpha-hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonate.While attached leaves and leaves fed glycolic acid both released little CO(2) into CO(2)-free air in bright light, declining illuminance caused a larger and prompter CO(2) efflux from leaves fed glycolic acid than from attached leaves. Leaves fed glycolic acid plus 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethyl urea released more CO(2) into CO(2)-free air in bright light than did controls fed glycolic acid.
A third study on predicting NCLEX success with the HESI Exit Exam.

This was the third annual validity study designed to assess the accuracy of the HESI Exit Exam (E2) in predicting NCLEX success for graduating registered and practical nursing students. As in year I (N = 2,725) and year II (N = 3,752), in year III (N = 6,277), the E2 was highly predictive of NCLEX success for associate degree nursing, bachelor of science nursing, diploma, and practical nursing students. Unlike previous years, in year IIl, monitoring was not a significant factor in the predictive accuracy of the E2. NCLEX success of low-scoring E2 students, first examined in year II, was also examined in year Ill. As in year II, low-scoring E2 students were significantly more (P = .001) likely to fail the licensure examination than high-scoring E2 students, in year Ill, unlike year II, there was no significant difference in the pass rate of low-scoring E2 students who participated in a remediation program and those who did not. The authors recommended that a more definitive definition of remediation be used in future studies and that such studies focus on E2 implementation strategies and their relationship to NCLEX success.
Spatial distribution of rhizodeposits provides built-in water potential gradient in the rhizosphere

Abstract Plant roots alter soil properties at an expensive physiological cost by releasing large quantities of organic carbon (rhizodeposition). The role of rhizodeposits in enhancing beneficial microbial activity and biogeochemical nutrient mobilization is widely appreciated. But the role of rhizodeposits in water uptake has started gaining modest attention only recently. In this study we present a single root model, which demonstrates the possibility for rhizodeposits to create built-in water potential gradient. The conceptual basis for this model rests on three premises: (a) rhizodeposits are distributed in declining profile with distance from the root surface, (b) considerable fraction of rhizodeposits are strongly adhered to soil particles, and (c) rhizodeposits have the ability to retain water. Thus, variable concentration of affixed rhizodeposits results in a gradient of water potential without commensurate decline in water content with proximity to root surface. To corroborate premises (b) and (c), we conducted experiments using synthetic analog of rhizodeposits (Polygalacturonic Acid, PGA) and glass-bead and sand media. Environmental scanning electron microscopy was utilized to show affixation of PGA on glass beads during drying as well as pore-scale enhanced water retention. Macroscopic enhancement of water retention was characterized by dew-point potentiametry. We simulated water uptake by a root at constant potential transpiration rates representing high atmospheric demand and considered three distinct spatial distribution patterns of rhizodeposits as well as a control (without rhizodeposition). The model simulations indicate that the benefit of such variable distribution of exudates is more pronounced when (a) the potential water uptake rate is high or (b) the rhizodeposits are constrained to a narrow volume of rhizosphere soil.
Military Medical Ethics — Physician First, Last, Always

The global war on terror has brought renewed attention to the question of whether physicians in the U.S. military are physicians first, soldiers first, or physician–soldiers. George Annas writes that it is not surprising that wars have produced battlefield situations in which suspending patient-centered medical ethics has seemed reasonable.
Prediction of postoperative astigmatism in cataract surgery

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to predict postoperative astigmatism using refraction, keratometry, and other preoperative information after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 176 eyes of 161 patients undergoing phacoemulsification for visually significant cataract with capsular bag or sulcus IOL fixation at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, Va. Eyes with complications and final-corrected visual acuity of less than 20/60 were excluded. Keratometric and refractive astigmatism were described by Jackson cross-cylinder with-the-rule (J 0 ) and oblique (J 45 ) components. Preoperative predictors of postoperative refractive J 0 and J 45 were determined by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results: The final multivariate model to predict postoperative with-the-rule astigmatism was J 0Postoperative = 0.24 × J 0Preoperative 0.46 × J 0Keratometic − 0.08 (coefficient of determination [r 2 ] = 0.51, all p 45Postoperative = 0.10 × J 45Preoperative + 0.23 × J 45Keratometric + 0.01, (r 2 = 0.05, p = 0.09 for J 45Preoperative and 0.03 for J 45Keratometric ). Temporal clear cornea (as opposed to superior scleral tunnel) incisions, and use of sutures in scleral tunnel incisions, were not predictive of postoperative astigmatism. Interpretation: Postoperative astigmatism can be estimated from preoperative astigmatism using the following weighted average: two-thirds keratometric and one-third refractive astigmatism. Preoperative refraction may predict postoperative astigmatism independent of keratometry because keratometry reflects only the paracentral anterior (not posterior) corneal curvature.
Effect of orchard weed management on catfacing damage to peaches in North Carolina.

Regression analysis on data from a 1981 survey of commercial peach orchards in North Carolina demonstrated a significant correlation between catfacing damage and chemical insect control, weed management, density of winter annuals, orchard size, and geographic location. Cultivar, surrounding edge vegetation, and edge direction showed no correlation with damage. In 1983, two commercial orchards were used to evaluate the impact of weed management on the incidence of catfacing in peaches. A χ2 analysis of data showed amount of fruit damaged by catfacing in herbicide-treated blocks to be significantly less than that of fruit sampled from control blocks.
Site-directed Mutagenesis of the Calcium-binding Site of Blood Coagulation Factor XIIIa

Blood coagulation factor XIIIa is a calcium-dependent enzyme that covalently ligates fibrin molecules during blood coagulation. X-ray crystallography studies identified a major calcium-binding site involving Asp(438), Ala(457), Glu(485), and Glu(490). We mutated two glutamic acid residues (Glu(485) and Glu(490)) and three aspartic acid residues (Asp(472), Asp(476), and Asp(479)) that are in close proximity. Alanine substitution mutants of these residues were constructed, expressed, and purified from Escherichia coli. The K(act) values for calcium ions increased by 3-, 8-, and 21-fold for E485A, E490A, and E485A,E490A, respectively. In addition, susceptibility to proteolysis was increased by 4-, 9-, and 10-fold for E485A, E490A, and E485A,E490A, respectively. Aspartic acids 472, 476, and 479 are not involved directly in calcium binding since the K(act) values were not changed by mutagenesis. However, Asp(476) and Asp(479) are involved in regulating the conformation for exposure of the secondary thrombin cleavage site. This study provides biochemical evidence that Glu(485) and Glu(490) are Ca(2+)-binding ligands that regulate catalysis. The binding of calcium ion to this site protects the molecule from proteolysis. Furthermore, Asp(476) and Asp(479) play a role in modulating calcium-dependent conformational changes that cause factor XIIIa to switch from a protease-sensitive to a protease-resistant molecule.
To Infinity, and Beyond: Uniting the Galaxy of Biological Data

THE DIVERSITY AND COMPLEXITY of biological research data present a number of important challenges to those involved in data management and integration. Sheer volume of data is no longer the most important problem given the continuing drop in cost of computational processing power and storage, and advances in database and indexing technology. Rather, the lack of interoperability between systems and of comparability between data sources present the greatest barriers to knowledge and value extraction.
New approaches to disaster mental health: What did we learn from September 11th?

The present article reviews the approaches taken by various mental health professionals and organizations in helping individuals affected by the World Trade Center attacks of September 11th, 2001. Approaches to distributing information about the psychological effects of the disaster and providing counseling and psychotherapy to those affected are discussed. The author proposes a model based on providing information, in addition to counseling and psychotherapy, which describes the current state of helping those affected by terrorist attacks. Implications of this article for future research and scholarship in this area are also discussed.
Pressure Induced Denaturation in Proteins: Stability and Kinetics

Intricate interplay of temperature and pressure on protein folding leads to interesting phase diagram. In addition, kinetics of pressure induced folding exhibit complex behavior. Here, we propose a simple mesoscopic model, a combination of landscape theory and microscopic details based on polymer physics to investigate this interesting phenomenon. The model is applied to experimental data to understand physical principles of pressure induced denaturation.
P‐81: In‐Situ Spectroscopy of Holographically formed Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Materials for High Performance Reflective Display Applications

We investigate the in-situ formation dynamics of holographically formed polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) reflective display pre-polymer mixtures in an effort to quantify polymer shrinkage during fabrication. Understanding how to control shrinkage will allow for better optimization of the performance of reflective displays.
The coagulation defect inRey's syndrome

Summary A study of the coagulation abnormality was performed in a child with Reye's syndrome. Decreases in the coagulation factors I, II, V, VII, IX, and X were documented. All of these factors are produced by the liver. Routine screening tests performed in a severely ill child with gastrointestinal bleeding may lead to an incorrect diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation instead of hepatic failure as the basis of hemorrhage. The usual clinical signs of hepatic disease are not present in children with this disorder. This could lead to in-appropriate heparin therapy with possibly disastrous consequences.
A group approach to the emotional needs of parents of leukaemic children.

A group for parents was run as part of an outpatient children's leukaemia clinic-The setting up and experience of the group are described and discussed. It is suggested that these parents are dealing with a series of mourning tasks interrupted by the ambiguity of remission phase for an indefinite period. Initially, at diagnosis, they must mourn the loss of the well child in order to accept the chronically ill child and his attendant treatment. Subsequently further mourning will be required if relapse or death occurs. A regime of psychosocial management to aid the process is outlined.
Reduction of Bitterness and Tartness in Grapefruit Juice with Florisil

Treatment of commercial grapefruit juice with Florisil (activated magnesium silicate) simultaneously reduced the content of citric acid and the bitter compounds limonin and naringin. Ascorbic acid concentration and °Brix (total soluble solids) were not altered by the Florisil treatment. Experienced taste panelists were able to differentiate between the nontreated and Florisil-treated juice on the basis of bitterness and tartness (acidity). The panelists indicated a preference for the Florisil-treated juice.
Predictability impacts of airport surface automation

Abstract Past evaluations of airport surface operations automation technologies have focused on capacity utilization, delay mitigation and fuel efficiency impacts. Predictability, while recognized as an important operational performance goal, has received little attention. One reason could be that applicable predictability metrics have not been developed in the context of airport surface operations management. This research fills the gap by proposing metrics for predictability performance evaluation. Using results from a SARDA human-in-the-loop simulation conducted at NASA Ames’ Future Flight Central, we present a comprehensive assessment of the predictability impacts of airport surface automation. A wide range of the impacts is considered, which includes variability in taxi-out time, predictability of take-off time and take-off sequence, entropy of the airfield state, and perceived predictability from users.
Job Discrimination, Market Forces, and the Invisibility Hypothesis

The Invisibility Hypothesis holds that the job skills of disadvantaged workers are not easily discovered by potential new employers, but that promotion enhances visibility and alleviates this problem. Then, at a competitive labor market equilibrium, firms profit by hiding talented disadvantaged workers in low-level jobs. Consequently, those workers are paid less on average and promoted less often than others with the same education and ability. As a result of the inefficient and discriminatory wage and promotion policies, disadvantaged workers experience lower returns to investments in human capital than other workers.
Conflicts of Interest in Publicly-Traded and Closely-Held Corporations: A Comparative and Economic Analysis

Conflicts of interest in corporate law can be addressed by two main alternatives: a requirement of a majority of the minority vote or the imposition of duties of loyalty and fairness. A comparison of Delaware, the UK, Canada, and Israel reveals that while the conflicts of interest problem within publicly-traded corporations receives different treatment in the different jurisdictions — either a fairness rule or a majority of the minority rule — closely-held corporations receive the same treatment of an imposition of duties of loyalty and fairness. This article explains this finding, demonstrating that determining which of these rules is adopted is, in fact, a choice between liability rule protection and property rule protection. This choice depends on the total and relative transaction costs. These costs include both the negotiation costs attendant upon a property rule, as well as the adjudication costs associated with a liability rule. The sum of these costs is influenced by the efficacy of the judicial system and of extralegal mechanisms such as the market for corporate control, the capital market, and the types of investors active in the market. Because the different jurisdictions have different relative costs, due to differences in the economy and the legal systems, publicly-traded corporations are treated differently in each system. However, sometimes conflict of interest situations share the same main characteristics — as with closely-held corporations—leading to the domination of one solution, and thus the same solution is applied for closely-held corporations in the different jurisdictions.
Raman and infrared spectra, conformational stability, andab initio calculations for chloromethyl methyl sulfide

The Raman (3500–20 cm−1) and infrared (3500–40 cm−1) spectra of gaseous and solid chloromethyl methyl sulfide [chloro(methylthio)methane], CICH2SCH3, and the corresponding deuterated molecule, CICD2SCD3, were recorded. Additionally, the Raman spectra of the liquids were recorded from 3500 to 50 cm−1 and qualitative depolarization values were obtained. These data were interpreted on the basis that only the gauche conformer (methyl group gauche to the chlorine atom) is present in all three physical states. A complete vibrational assignment is given for the normal and d5-isotopomer. Ab initio calculations were carried out with the RHF/6–31G* basis set, and also with full electron correlation by the perturbation method to second order (MP2) with the 6–31G* and 6–311+G** basis sets, to obtain the structural parameters, relative conformational stabilities, harmonic force constants, Raman and infrared intensities and fundamental wavenumbers. The fundamental vibrational wavenumbers and barriers to internal rotation which were obtained experimentally are compared with those obtained from the MP2/6–31G* calculation. From the ab initio calculations the gauche conformer is estimated to be more than 10.22 kJ mol−1 more stable than the trans conformer. All of these results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immunogenicity and antigenicity of lymphoid cells treated with neuraminidase.

SIALIC acid residues are the principal constituents on the surface of plasma membranes1 and make the chief contribution to the negative charge of the cell surface2. A number of functional alterations of the cell can be induced by removal of the sialic acid from the surface membrane by neuraminidase3–6.
Competitive synergy through practicing triple bottom line sustainability: Evidence from three hospitality case studies

This study advances the discussion of sustainability within the hospitality literature through the introduction of the concept of triple bottom line (TBL) sustainability and the potential synergistic benefits to competitiveness hospitality firms can achieve from practicing it. TBL sustainability transitions a firm’s attention away from solely focusing on short-term profits to a concentration on the firm’s long-term environmental, social, and economic performance. The study suggests that this transition to practicing TBL sustainability can result in “competitive synergy” for hospitality firms. The term “competitive synergy” is used to describe the phenomenon of when the anticipated benefits (e.g. reduced energy costs) from focusing on sustainability coalesce with the unanticipated benefits (e.g. increased employee job satisfaction) to make hospitality firms more competitive. One interviewee describes this synergy as a “resonant harmonic” because of the multiple benefits gained that were not part of the ori...
Our humility in the face of life's mystery.

We are familiar with great photographs that make powerful statements, that show us important truths about ourselves and the world we live in. But these photographs do not make a statement; they embody a question, an overwhelmingly poignant question about the physical life that we have all been given and which we pass on to our children. The essential question embodied in Camille Solyagua's photographs cannot easily be put into words. But if we are willing to let the images in, we will feel the question, and like all great questions, it will make us quiet and invite us to search for understanding.
Premedication Use Before Nonemergent Intubation in the Newborn Infant.

Objective In 2010, an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical report recommended that except for emergent situations, premedication should be used for all endotracheal intubations in newborns. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the current practice of premedication before elective intubation. Study Design An online, survey-based questionnaire on the practice of premedication before nonemergent intubations was distributed via e-mail to neonatologists who are members of the Perinatal Section of the AAP. Results Although 72% of respondents believed premedication should be used in nonemergent intubations, only 34% of the respondents report frequently premedicating before intubation with significant variation among the neonatal units (46% among level 4 units and 27% in level 3 and 2 units) p = 0.000. About 44% of respondents report having a written protocol or guideline on premedication which significantly correlated with the use of premedication (62% in level 4, 33% in level 3, and 16% in level 2 units), p = 0.000. Conclusion Despite a recent AAP clinical report recommending the use of premedication before nonemergent endotracheal intubation, only one-third of neonatologists report frequent use of premedication and less than half of the institutions have a written protocol on premedication.
Poverty determinants of acute respiratory infections among Mapuche indigenous peoples in Chile's Ninth Region of Araucania, using GIS and spatial statistics to identify health disparities

This research concerns Araucania, often called the Ninth Region, the poorest region of Chile where inequalities are most extreme. Araucania hasn't enjoyed the economic success Chile achieved when the country returned to democracy in 1990. The Ninth Region also has the largest ethnic Mapuche population, located in rural areas and attached to small agricultural properties. Written and oral histories of diseases have been the most frequently used methods to explore the links between an ancestral population's perception of health conditions and their deprived environments. With census data and hospital records, it is now possible to incorporate statistical data about the links between poverty and disease among ethnic communities and compare results with non-Mapuche population. Hospital discharge records from Health Services North N = 24,126 patients, year 2003, and 7 hospitals), Health Services South (N = 81,780 patients and 25 hospitals); CAS-2/Family records (N = 527,539 individuals, 439 neighborhoods, 32 Comunas). Given the over-dispersion of data and the clustered nature of observations, we used the global Moran's I and General G Gettis-Ord procedures to test spatial dependence. These tests confirmed the clusters of disease and the need to use spatial regression within a General Linear Mixed Model perspective. Health outcomes indicate significantly higher morbidity rates for the Mapuche compared to non-Mapuche in both age groups < 5 and 15–44, respectively; for the groups 70–79 and 80 + years of age, this trend is reversed. Mortality rates, however, are higher among Mapuches than non-Mapuches for the entire Ninth Region and for all age groups. Mortality caused by respiratory infections is higher among Mapuches than non-Mapuches in all age-groups. A major finding is the link between poverty and respiratory infections. Poverty is significantly associated with respiratory infections in the population of Chile's Ninth Region. High deprivation areas are associated with poverty, and poverty is a predictor of respiratory infections. Mapuches are at higher risk of deaths caused by respiratory infections in all age groups. Exponential and spherical spatial correlation models were tested to estimate the previous association and were compared with non-spatial Poisson, concluding that significant spatial variability was present in the data.
Blowout of nonpremixed flames: Maximum coaxial air velocities achievable, with and without swirl☆

The present study demonstrates how to optimize parameters in order to maximize the amount of coaxial air that can be provided to a nonpremixed jet flame without causing the flame to blow out. Maximizing the coaxial air velocity is important in the effort to reduce the flame length and the oxides of nitrogen emitted from gas turbines and industrial burners, a majority of which use coaxial air. Previous measurements by the latter two authors have shown that a sixfold reduction in the NO x emission index of a jet flame is possible if sufficient coaxial air can be provided without blowing the flame out. The coaxial air shortens the flame and forces the reaction zone to overlap regions of higher gas velocity, which reduces the residence time for NO x formation. The present work concentrates on demonstrating ways to prevent flame blowout when the following two constraints are imposed: (1) the coaxial air velocities must be sufficient to shorten the flame to a specified length (in order to reduce NO x emissions) and (2) the coaxial air flow rate must be sufficient to complete combustion without the need for ambient air, which is a common practical constraint. The zero swirl case is considered first, and the effects of adding swirl are measured and directly compared. The following were systematically varied: fuel velocity, air velocity, fuel tube diameter, air tube diameter, fuel type, and swirl number. Measurements demonstrate that coaxial air alone (with zero swirl) can cause up to a twofold reduction in flame length. However, the flame is stable only if the velocity-to-diameter ratio of the fuel jet does not exceed a critical value. It is found that the addition of swirl improves the maximum-air blowout limits by as much as a factor of 6. The results identify a strain parameter, based on the ratio of air velocity to air tube diameter (U A/dA), which collapses the blowout curves for ten different conditions (burner size, swirl number) approximately to a single curve. A physical mechanism that explains the swirl flame data is presented. Swirl is believed to be beneficial because it reduces the local velocities, and thus the local strain rates, near the forward stagnation point of the recirculation vortex, where the flame is stabilized.
Optimized fissile and fusile breeding in a laser-fusion fissile-enrichment flux trap blanket

Optimization of fissile and fusile production in the SOLASE-H laser-fusion fissile-enrichment fuel-factory blanket is carried out. The objective is maximizing fissile breeding with the constraints of maintaining self-sufficiency in tritium production, and realistically accounting in the modeling for structural and coolant compositions and configurations imposed by the thermal-hydraulic and mechanical designs. The effect of radial and axial blanket zone thicknesses on fusile and fissile breeding is studied using a procedure which modifies the zones' effective optical thicknesses, rather than the actual three-dimensional geometrical configurations. A tritium yield per source neutron of 1.08 and a Th (n, γ) reaction yield per source neutron of 0.43 can be obtained in such a concept, where ThO2 Zircaloy-clad fuel assemblies for light water reactors (LWRs) are enriched in the233U isotope by irradiating them in a lead flux trap. This corresponds to 0.77 kg/[MW(th)-year] of fissile fuel production, and 1.94 years of irradiation in the fusion reactor to attain an average 3 w/o fissile enrichment in the fuel assemblies. For a once-through LWR cycle, a support ratio of 2–3 is estimated. However, with fuel recycling, more attractive support ratios of 4–6 may be attainable for a conversion ratio of 0.55, and of 5–8 for a conversion ratio of 0.70. These estimates are lower than those reported, around 20, for related designs.
Social capital as a facilitator of pro-environmental actions in the USA: a preliminary examination of mechanisms

In this article, the mechanisms through which social networks impact individuals' environmentally significant actions are examined through a pilot study. A conceptual model was developed and in-depth interviews were performed with individuals in a North Carolina town in order to understand the mechanisms through which social capital facilitates pro-environmental actions. Individuals with higher social capital were found to act pro-environmentally because they value the collective interest rather than out of self-interest. Social capital was found to play a role in the formation of this valuation mainly through micro-level socialisation processes, particularly by instilling decision-making processes based on values in individuals, which informed individuals then applied to environmentally significant decisions. The results also suggest that the prevalence of the norm of engagement with environmental issues in an individual's social network can be an especially important promoter of pro-environmental action...
Finding Nemo: Finding Your Lost Child in Crowds via Mobile Crowd Sensing

Mobile Crowd Sourcing/Sensing (MCS), as a new paradigm for participatory sensing, is suitable for large-scale hard tasks that are costly, or infeasible with conventional methods. Utilizing the ubiquitousness of "crowds" of sensor-rich smartphones, MCS has enormous potential to truly unleash the power of collaborative locating and searching at a societal scale. In this paper, we target the application of finding and locating the lost child in crowds via MCS. Conventional localization approaches require fixed anchor networks or fingerprinting points as references. It is not effective for locating the child in open and uncontrolled areas. We propose MCS-based collaborative localization via nearby opportunistically connected participators. To obtain sufficient measurements, we utilize one-hop and multi-hop assistants to reach more participators. Semidefinite Programming (SDP) based global optimization approaches are proposed to leverage all the location and ranging measurements in a best-effort way. We conduct extensive experiments and simulations in various scenarios. Compared with other classic algorithms, our proposed approach achieves significant accuracy improvement and could locate the "unlocalizable" child.
Treatment of Bartonella muris Infections with Sulfanilamide

SummarySplenectomized rats infected with Bartonella muris were treated with sulfanilamide in doses of 500 mg per kilo of body weight. A study of 30 rats thus treated showed that the treatment had no detectable effect on Bartonella muris. The toxicity of the sulfanilamide seemed to be a factor contributing to the mortality.
Evaluation of the Root Zone Water Quality Model for Conditions in Central Nebraska

The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) was evaluated for a region that has a long history of irrigated corn (Zea mays L.). Imprecise irrigation and plentiful fertilizer applications have contributed to the buildup of NO 3 -N in ground water, where concentrations often exceed 30 mg L -1 . Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of management practices on corn yield, N uptake, plant biomass, leaf area development, soil water content, and soil N. Field-measured results from 1992 were used to calibrate RZWQM. The model was evaluated by simulating three irrigation levels and five fertilizer rates for 1993 and 1994. The model simulated the soil water pattern satisfactorily during most of the growing season; however, the simulated soil profile water content was lower than field conditions in the spring and fall. Transpiration appears to be excessive when the leaf area index (LAI) is small. Simulated yields exceeded measured values, with the largest errors for small fertilizer applications in 1993 and for large fertilizer applications in 1994. The mean error between measured and modeled yields was 2.9 Mg ha -1 , with a root mean square error (RMSE) equal to 46% of the mean yield for all treatments over the 3 years. Estimates of LAI and aboveground biomass were closer to measured values, with mean errors of 5% for leaf area and 1% for biomass. The relative RMSE for LAI and biomass was 26 and 17%, respectively. The model underestimated aboveground N uptake, with a mean error of 25 kg N ha -1 and a relative RMSE of 41%. While development of the comprehensive RZWQM has been constructive, improvements are still needed. Excessive depletions in the spring and fall overstate storage of off-season precipitation, and this leads to underestimating annual leaching losses. Combining excessive yield predictions with low N uptake estimates exaggerates the N use efficiency. These discrepancies will have a profound effect on the simulated impact of management practices. Leaching losses and yield effects will be understated, which may lead to development of policies that affect producers more severely than the model implies.
Recombination and the fragile X.

We would like to comment on the paper "The role of recombination in the evolvement of the fragile X mutation" by Tamar Schaap recently published in this journal (Schaap 1989). In this paper, Dr. Schaap purported to show that recombination around the fragile X (flaX) locus was more common in the daughters of transmitting males than in phenotypically normal women with a maternally derived fraX chromosome. We consider this study to be flawed in its design and execution, and - in
Effects of single-session repetitive judgments on magnitude estimation scales for lingual vibrotactile sensation

The human tongue, because it is mucosal in nature and housed within the oral cavity, presents a unique set of problems for suprathreshold vibrotactile magnitude scaling. It was hypothesized that the ideal response mode when testing the lingual structure would entail a single set of stimulus-level judgments to be made by a subject so that fatigue effects and overall subject discomfort associated with lingual vibrotactile suprathreshold testing could be reduced. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the possible effects that single-session repetitive judgments would have on lingual vibrotactile magnitude estimation outcome. Twenty subjects (M age = 23.25 years) participated in a single-session magnitude estimation paradigm which required them to make three magnitude estimation judgments at each of nine stimulus intensity levels. The three data runs were statistically analyzed using a multivariate mixed-model analysis of variance. There appeared to be no statistical differences between the three magnitude scaling runs at any of the nine sensation levels, whether they were compared separately or in all possible combinations, when alpha was set at .05. The results are discussed as being supportive of the possibility that a single set of response judgments can be employed in lingual vibrotactile magnitude scaling. Factors associated with the single-response set, such as ability to run more subjects in less time, better assurance of open-ended responses from subjects, and the increased likelihood of subject response spontaneity are also discussed.
Nonexistence of Large Mascons at Mare Marginis and Mare Orientale

The analysis of line-of-sight residual accelerations from Lunar Orbiters 3 and 5 does not show any evidence for large mascons near the lunar limbs. Although unfavorable geometry reduces the acceleration effect due to any mascon near the limb, simulations show that large masses at Mare Orientale and Mare Marginis would produce substantial accelerations, in complete disagreement with the actual Doppler tracking data obtained from a Lunar Orbiter experiment.
On the electron transfer between cytochrome c molecules as observed by nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract Pulsed Fourier transform NMR studies on mixed solutions of the two oxidation states of cytochrome c reveal that the rate of exchange of oxidation states by electron transfer is sensitive to the conformation of the protein molecules. The electron transfer process in vitro is found to arise from binary collisions. At low ionic strengths, the rate is affected by the electrostatic charge on the protein molecules.
Corticotropin-releasing factor mRNA and substance P receptor binding in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, central nucleus of the amygdala, and locus coeruleus of sprague-dawley rats following restraint-induced stress

The central mechanism of stress is poorly understood. This study was designed to examine how corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons, together with substance P (SP) receptors in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN), central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), and locus coeruleus (LC), are affected by stress. Sprague-Dawley rats were restrained for 2 h. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation immediately after the 2-h restraint (the 0-h group) and 4, 24, or 48 h after restraint. Tissue sections were cut and collected on two sets of slides. Tissue sections of the first set were processed for studying CRF mRNA using 33P-labeled 60-mer oligonucleotide probe. Immediately adjacent tissue sections were processed for studying SP receptor-binding capacity using 125I-SP ligand. Quantitative results showed that CRF mRNAs in the PVN were significantly up-regulated at the 4- and 24-h stages, and they seemed not to be regulated by SP receptors. In addition, SP receptors in the CeA were up-regulated at the 24- and 48-h stages, whereas SP receptors were down-regulated in the LC at the same stages. In concert with the literature indicating SP antagonist’s antidepressive effects, up-regulated SP receptors in the CeA might contribute to the development of stress-related depression.