cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Legacy effects of prescribed fire season and frequency on soil properties in a Pinus resinosa forest in northern Minnesota

Abstract Prescribed fire is a widely used ecosystem management approach and the vast majority of burns are conducted during the dormant season; however, these burning conditions (and therefore the type and persistence of fire effects) often differ from those of natural or historical fire regimes. Therefore, we leveraged a historical study (conducted 1959–70) with remeasurements in 2015 to evaluate effects of fire season (dormant, summer), frequency (annual, biennial, periodic), and their interaction on soil physical and chemical properties in a red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) forest in northern Minnesota, USA. To protect against across-year differences in sampling and analysis, we used a meta-analysis approach to evaluate treatment effects on soil properties. We also used non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination to investigate legacy (>45 years post-fire) treatment effects. The greatest effects of fire occurred in organic horizons, and decreased with depth. In the short-term, fire decreased organic horizon depths and nitrogen (N) and increased base cations (K, Ca, Mg) and pH in the mineral soil, whereas effects on phosphorus (P) were variable. Prescribed fire treatments had legacy effects on organic horizon and mineral soil properties >45 years post-fire. In general, summer burns decreased nutrient stocks, whereas dormant season burns increased nutrient stocks, and the majority of legacy effects occurred in annual burn treatments, in both seasons. Legacy effects of summer burns decreased organic horizon depths, organic matter, nutrient stocks (N, P, K), and pH, as well as lower (0–15 cm) mineral soil N; whereas, the dormant annual burn increased Ca in the total forest floor and N and P in the upper (15–91 cm) mineral soil. In contrast, the summer annual burn increased P, whereas the dormant annual burn decreased pH in the lower mineral soil. Trends in short- and long-term effect sizes appeared to differ by season of burning and further magnified by increased fire frequency within season. Relative to dormant season burns, summer burns resulted in immediate and long-lasting desirable effects for red pine ecosystems (e.g., decreased forest floor depths and nutrient stocks) without persistent undesirable effects (e.g., increased nutrient stocks or changes in cation exchange capacity, soil texture, and bulk density) in the mineral soil. Our results suggest that summer burns may be a valuable approach to increase the variability in burn schedules representative of historical regional fire regimes in red pine forests, and may help promote soil characteristics that support overall ecosystem health.
Energy audits reveal significant energy savings potential in India`s commercial air-conditioned building sector

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began its Energy Management Consultation and Training (EMCAT) project in India. The EMCAT project began in 1991 as a six-year (1991--1997) project to improve India`s technological and management capabilities for both the supply of energy and its efficient end use. The end-use component of EMCAT aims for efficient energy utilization by industries and other sectors such as the commercial sector. A specific task under the end-use component was to conduct energy surveys/audits in high energy-use sectors, such as air-conditioned (AC) buildings in the commercial sector, and to identify investment opportunities that could improve energy utilization. This article presents results of pre-investment surveys that were conducted at four commercial air-conditioned facilities in 1995. The four facilities included two luxury hotels in New Delhi, and one luxury hotel and a private hospital in Bombay. Energy conservation opportunities (ECOs) were explored in three major energy-using systems in these buildings: air-conditioning, lighting, and steam and domestic hot water systems.
The Art of Collective Identity: How an Art from the Streets Program Fosters a Sense of Community Among the Homeless

The current paper explores the role that identities play in creating and maintaining a sense of community in an organization supporting homeless artists in the South. Couched in the social movements literature on collective identity, this study examines the ways individual identities contribute to an overall collective identity of artists and volunteers within the organization Art from the Streets (AFTS). Relying on organizational materials, face-to-face interviews, and participant observation conducted from August to December 2011, the current research finds that AFTS creates a space where homeless individuals can negotiate the stigmatized identities they experience on the streets and adopt a more empowering identity. In the process, the organization fosters a collective identity among all members. This paper adds to the existing social movements scholarship by examining how an empowering collective identity is formed among members with individual identities that are traditionally considered stigmatized in larger society.
The Physician Payments Sunshine Act: Data Evaluation Regarding Payments to Ophthalmologists

Purpose To review data for ophthalmologists published online from the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. Design Retrospective data review using data acquired from a publicly available electronic database. Methods A database was downloaded from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website under Identified General Payments to Physicians and a primary specialty of ophthalmology. Basic statistical analysis was performed including mean, median, and range of payments for both single payments and per provider. Main Outcome Measures Data summary by category of payment and geographic region and comparison with other surgical subspecialties. Results From August 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, a total of 55 996 individual payments were reported to 9855 ophthalmologists for a total of $10 926 447. The mean amount received in a single payment was $195.13 (range, $0.04–$193 073). The mean amount received per physician identifier (ID) was $1108 (range, $1–$397 849), and the median amount was $112.01. Consulting fees made up the largest percentage of fees. There was not a large difference in payments received by region. The mean payments for the subspecialties of dermatology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and urology ranged from $954 to $6980, and median payments in each field by physician ID ranged from $88 to $173. Conclusions A large amount of data were released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. In ophthalmology, mean and median payments per physician did not vary greatly from other surgical subspecialties. Most single payments were less than $100, and most physicians received less than $500 in total payments. Payments for consulting made up the largest category of spending. How this affects patient perception, patient care, and medical costs warrants further study.
The Ordovician Radiation: Macroevolutionary Crossroads of the Phanerozoic

The Ordovician Radiation although noted for being one of the most important intervals of global diversification of life is less well known for the part it plays in paleoecological behavioral and molecular aspects of the development of life. This chapter seeks to document the features and uniqueness of the Ordovician Radiation with respect to its effects on diversity at all levels and to review the gamut of mechanisms suggested as causes of the Ordovician Radiation.
Overview of the Biological System Under Study

Biophysical chemistry is a method of simplifying and abstracting from the natural biological system. The foundation theory in biophysical chemistry is the study of the interaction of electromagnetic fields with light and matter. This theory is called quantum electrodynamics and unifies the treatment of electrons and electromagnetic fields (see Appendix B). Today, quantum electrodynamics or QED is the best (most accurate) abstraction we have to describe the natural system of chemical interactions in the Universe. It is sufficient to explain all chemical behavior. Therefore the whole of chemistry and biology rests upon its ample foundation stones. Unfortunately as an abstraction, QED is not practical for daily use because it is computationally intractable. We will allude to QED but will not explore it in any great depth in this volume. Instead we will be more concerned with building our chemical biology upon simpler and more accessible abstractions of electronic structure. The most commonly applied abstraction of QED is the Schrodinger equation, which treats the electronic structure as if it were a wave. Again, theoretically such a treatment should allow us to understand chemical biology ab initio (from first principles) but is unfortunately too complex and must itself be replaced by a less complete but more accessible abstraction, molecular orbital theory (MO). Molecular orbital theory is grounded in quantum theory and as a greatly simplified abstraction is very useful in understanding the structure and properties of molecules. Unfortunately as the size of the molecular system being modeled grows, MO theory suffers severe computational constraints and is most useful qualitatively.
Modern Theatre’s Expansion into Reality

Although the tension between the real and the illusion based upon it are at the heart of the theatrical experience, in the final years of the twentieth century and the opening years of the twenty-first, many theatres in Europe and the United States became particularly interested in calling attention to the real in their work. Although Hans-Thies Lehmann in his Postmodern Theatre (2006) devotes a few pages to this phenomenon, as one type of postmodern experimentation, what he designates as “the irruption of the real” he considers only one among many types of postmodern experimentation. I will argue, on the contrary, that it constitutes a major shift in the practical and phenomenological world of theatre, and a turning away from mimesis, which has been at the heart of the theatre ever since Aristotle. English version by Leslie Damasceno.
Bench Scale Experimental Study of Slug Flow Phenomena Using PID Control

Slug flow is a major problem to the structural integrity and production equipment in offshore production platforms. Pressure oscillations due to the alternation of liquid and gas phases in slug flow regime can cause fatigue on the structural components of the platform. Also, the intermittent high flow rates can cause adverse effects on the production equipment.A 28-foot pilot scale model was constructed to simulate the riser on offshore platforms. Three pressure sensors were attached to the model to monitor and record pressures in the riser during operations. A PID control strategy was utilized to regulate the pressure oscillations in the system by use of a linear actuated valve. Similarity between the pressure signals in the pilot scale model is qualitative when compared to actual pressures observed in an offshore riser system. A MATLAB® GUI was designed to allow for manipulation of the valve and allow for instant graphing of data for real time visualization of the pressure signals.Pressure oscillations during slug flow with “no control” vary greatly and result in natural vibrations of the designed system. By pinching down on the choke valve to a designated opening, the back pressure in the riser increased, thereby slowing down the liquid slugs. However, an increase in the magnitude of the higher frequency oscillations can have adverse effects on the system. With the implementation of an active control, such as a linear actuated valve, a better control of back pressure on the riser and reduction in the magnitude of the higher frequency oscillations on the system is achieved.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
The Largest Eigenvalue and Some Hamiltonian Properties of Graphs

In this note, sufficient conditions, based on the largest eigenvalue, are presented for some Hamiltonian properties of graphs.
Effects of feeding combinations of steam-flaked grain sorghum and steam-flaked, high-moisture, or dry-rolled corn on growth performance and carcass characteristics in feedlot cattle

The objective of these two feeding trials was to determine the associative effects of feeding steam-flaked grain sorghum (SFGS) in combination with steam-flaked (SFC), dry-rolled (DRC), or high-moisture (HMC) corn on growth performance and carcass characteristics in feedlot cattle. In Trial 1, 200 yearling heifers were blocked by weight, allotted to 25 pens, and fed one of five finishing diets (77% grain, 15% corn silage, and 8% supplement on a DM basis) for an average of 137 d. The grain combinations were 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 SFC:SFGS, respectively. Treatment had no effect on DMI (P > .05), but ADG, gain efficiency, and final live and hot carcass weights decreased linearly (P .05) by treatment. In Trial 2, 306 yearling steers were blocked by weight, allotted to 30 pens, and fed diets that contained 74.5% grain, 10% corn silage, 7.5% soybean meal, 4% tallow, and 4% supplement (DM basis) for an average of 139 d. The grain and grain combinations were 100% DRC, HMC, SFC, or SFGS and a 67%:33% combination of SFGS: DRC or SFGS:HMC. For steers fed diets containing a single source of grain, those fed SFC gained 7% more live weight and had a 7% higher gain efficiency (P .05) by treatment. We concluded that there were significant benefits (positive associative effects) when SFGS was fed in combination with DRC or HMC, but the effects were smaller when SFGS was fed in combination with SFC.
Nonrandom abnormalities of chromosome 9p in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: association with high-risk clinical features

To assess the frequency and significance of nonrandom abnormalities of chromosome 9p in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we analyzed our experience with 398 consecutive cases with completely banded karyotypes. Forty cases (10%) with abnormalities of 9p were identified: 26 with deletions, nine with unbalanced translocations resulting in the loss of 9p material, and five with apparently balanced reciprocal translocations. As compared with children with ALL lacking 9p abnormalities, these 40 cases were significantly older, had higher initial circulating WBC counts, more "lymphomatous" disease characteristics (including presence of a mediastinal mass in 15%. T-cell phenotype in 26%, splenomegaly greater than 8 cm in 25%), an increased failure rate in the first 2 to 3 years after diagnosis, and a higher incidence of extramedullary relapse. Conversely, lymphomatous ALL cases were twice as likely (19% v 8%) to have an abnormality of chromosome 9p than ALL cases lacking lymphomatous features (P = .01). The finding of an abnormal chromosome 9p, however, was not specific for lymphomatous ALL or T-cell lineage, because most cases were neither lymphomatous nor T-cell, and the overall Kaplan-Meier distribution of treatment failures for abnormal 9p cases was not statistically significantly different from control ALL cases receiving the same treatment who lacked abnormalities of 9p (P = .06, by log-rank test). We conclude that nonrandom abnormalities of chromosome 9p, especially a breakpoint in 9p21-22, occur with increased frequency in childhood ALL in association with some high-risk clinical features. Despite this association, the chromosome anomaly is nonspecific in its syndrome delineation and confers no major adverse consequence on long-term survival of childhood ALL treated with modern therapy. However, due to an apparently increased hazard of involvement of the CNS (eight of 17 failures), it may be inadvisable to lessen the intensity of CNS preventive therapy for this group of patients.
HugBot: A soft robot designed to give human-like hugs

As robots increasingly enter our daily lives, there is a need to understand how to design robots capable of emotional interaction with humans, especially children, due to their sensitivity and vulnerability. For example, robots that provide children with social and emotional support might be more effective at also helping children develop cognitive abilities, rather than designing robots that focus solely on helping children acquire cognitive skill. In this paper, we examine the design of robots that can provide human-like hugs as a particular form of social and emotional support. We first discuss the need to design robots that can interact emotionally with children. Then, we present the development of a shirt augmented with pressure sensors used to collect data on how humans hug each other. Finally, we detail the design of "Hugbot", a soft robot that could use this data to give human-like hugs, and discuss our planned future work on this system.
An orthotopic xenograft model of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its application in elucidating a therapeutic target that inhibits metastasis.

e13536 Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a serious health problem in many parts of the world. Although rare in the United States and Western Europe, it is the leading form of cancer in ...
A Cross-Sectional Study to Understand 3D Facial Differences in a Population of African Americans and Caucasians.

Objective The purpose of this cross-sectional retrospective study was to use three-dimensional surface imaging to determine gender dimorphism and facial morphological changes from adolescence to adulthood in African American and Caucasian populations. Materials and Methods Three-dimensional images were captured and the total sample size included 371 subjects. Images were combined using Rapidform 2006 Plus Pack 2 software to produce a male and female facial average for each population. Comparisons were conducted within the following categories: (1) gender comparison within each race, (2) adult and adolescent comparison within each race, and (3) adult and adolescent comparison between the races. Results Adolescent gender comparisons within each race showed high percentages of similarity. However, adult females in both races showed more prominent periorbital, malar, and nasolabial regions and less prominent lower forehead, nose, and lower face compared with adult males of the same race. African American adult females showed increase in length and width of the face, increased nasal tip projection, and decreased periorbital regions compared with African American adolescent females. Welsh adult females had an increase in the nose and chin projection compared with Welsh adolescent females. Adult males of both races had increase in nose and chin projection, increase in length and width of the face, and decreased periorbital, malar, and nasolabial regions compared with adolescent males of the same race. African American adolescents had a wider alar base, more protrusive lips, and periorbital regions, and less prominent nose and chin compared with the Welsh adolescents. African American adults also had a wider alar base; more protrusive lips and periorbital regions; a broader face; and more retrusive chin, nose, nasolabial region; and lower forehead compared with Welsh adults. Conclusions Few differences were noted between genders within the same racial groups during adolescence. However, changes became more distinct in adulthood. From adolescence to adulthood, facial morphologies were similarly matched within the gender for females; however, there were significant changes for males. Lastly, facial morphology patterns tend to be established early in life.
Effects of Food on Bioavailability of Analgesics; Resulting Dosage and Administration Recommendations.

Objectives To evaluate currently approved analgesics, that is, opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anticonvulsants, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) used as analgesics, for 1) differences in pharmacokinetic parameters under fed vs fasting conditions and 2) factors involved in dosage recommendations in relation to food. Design Systematic review. Results Food effect on the rate, extent of absorption, or shape of concentration-time profile can alter the onset of action, duration of action, or tolerability of a medication. Based on 79 analgesic products reviewed, food effect dosage recommendations depend on whether an analgesic will be dosed on a regular interval around-the-clock vs on an as-needed basis, the shape of concentration-time profile, steady-state concentrations, the type of meals used in the pharmacokinetic study, and drug administration with regard to food in clinical trials. Overall, most opioids do not have food restriction and are taken without regard to food, with the exception of OPANA products and XTAMPZA ER. For many NSAIDs, food does not affect absorption characteristics, with the exception of ZORVOLEX and CELEBREX. Although NSAIDs are commonly to be taken without regard to food, prescribers recommend administering them with food to reduce their propensity for gastrointestinal adverse events. A larger percentage of anticonvulsants and SNRIs used as analgesics are taken with food to improve their tolerability. Of all analgesic products, seven NSAIDs and six opioids lack food effect information, maybe due to their approval before Food and Drug Administration food effect guidance. Conclusions Overall, because food effects could alter the onset and/or duration of pain relief, analgesic medication should be used as per labeled recommendations for proper pain management.
Influence of Sunscreening Agents on Color Stability of Tablets Coated with Certified Dyes III: FD&C Yellow No. 6

The influence of a protective coating of six sunscreening agents (glyceryl p-aminobenzoate, benzocaine, cinoxate, homosalate, n-octyl salicylate, and amyl salicylate) upon the photostability of FD&C Yellow No. 6 used to color coat tablets was studied. The alcohol film, modified sugar-, and film-coating methods were used to apply the sunscreening agents. Tablets were exposed to 1000 foot-candles of light for various times, after which reflectance measurements and visual observations were recorded. FD&C Yellow No. 6 did not follow the Kubelka-Munk equation. The order of relative stability was FD&C Yellow No. 6 greater than erythrosine sodium (FD&C Red No. 3) greater than FD&C Blue No. 1. The greatest protection against fading was afforded by benzocaine.
Separation characteristics of cations and natural organic matter in electrodialysis

Abstract Natural organic matter (NOM) in water can cause the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) when NOM reacts with a disinfectant such as chlorine. Nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) are effective treatment methods to remove NOM. However, the simultaneous presence of both NOM and divalent cations such as Ca2+ can enhance fouling in NF and RO. Therefore, an appropriate pretreatment to remove such cations before NF or RO would delay fouling and perhaps improve water recovery and NOM removal efficiency. Electrodialysis (ED) is potentially an excellent pretreatment method because it separates inorganic ions well using ion exchange membranes (IEMs) but does not separate NOM well because of its size and consequent low diffusivity. This research focused on ion and NOM separation with ED using three different types of commercially available IEM pairs, two different commercially available NOM sources, and six different influents at 500 mg/L total dissolved solids in the presence or absence of both hardness (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and NOM. The target waters of interest in this research were drinking water supplies that require little or no desalination but substantial removal of NOM; after NOM separation in NF or RO, some or all of the ED concentrate can be added to the NF/RO permeate to create the finished water prior to disinfection. The results indicate that ED can effectively separate alkaline earth metal ions without separation of NOM. Cation exchange membranes with high exchange capacity, high selectivity for divalent cations are desirable, and both anion and cation exchange membranes should have low affinity for organic adsorption. The process would work particularly well for NOM with relatively low hydrophobicity, since NOM adsorption to most surfaces increases with hydrophobicity.
Evaluating Test Consequences Based on ESL Students' Perceptions: An Appraisal Analysis.

Ensuring that test-score use brings about socially positive consequences for test-takers is an important aspect of test validation. While many studies use an inductive approach to evaluate test consequences, few studies have implemented Appraisal analysis. To that end, this case study investigated the test consequences of an English reading placement test administered at a large American university. In this study, English as a second language (ESL) students (n=8) who took the placement test and an ESL reading course were interviewed; an Appraisal analysis was conducted to identify the students’ positive and/or negative perceptions toward the placement test and reading course. Using an argument-based approach to validity framework, the findings were treated as evidence to evaluate the test consequences of the placement test. The results showed that, while taking the ESL course helped students gain some valuable academic reading skills, students felt that test anxiety, fatigue, and verbally demanding questions hindered their test performances. Understanding what students experienced while taking the test can help test-developers devise solutions that will improve the test-taking situation for future test-takers. This study also illustrates how an Appraisal analysis of test-takers’ discourses can provide a systematic and fine-grained approach to evaluating positive and/or negative test consequences.
Bridging between Si and Few-Mode Fiber Higher Order Modes

We show a mode converter between silicon and polymer waveguides compatible with few-mode fibers for mode-division multiplexing. We convert 4 TE modes of a silicon waveguide to the TE 11 , TM 11 , TE 21 , TM 21 modes of a polymer waveguide.
High antibody response to two-dose SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccination in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination elicited high immunogenicity in immunocompetent people in the original vaccine trials,1 2 though recent studies have shown blunted immunogenicity in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) after a single dose and case reports of non-response after two doses.3 4 We previously detailed antibody response in patients with RMD following the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and herein report response and factors associated with response to two-dose vaccination in a larger cohort. As previously reported,3 patients aged ≥18 years old with RMD were recruited to participate in this prospective, observational cohort via social media outreach to national RMD organisations between 12 July 2020 and 16 March 2021. Demographics, diagnoses and therapeutic regimens were collected via participant report through the Research Electronic Data Capture tool. One month after dose 2 (D2), participants underwent SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing on the semiquantitative Roche Elecsys anti-SARS-CoV-2 S enzyme immunoassay, which measures total antibody (IgM and IgG) to the SARS-CoV-2 S receptor-binding domain (RBD) protein,5 the target of the mRNA vaccines. Results range from 250 U/mL with a positive response defined as >0.79 U/mL. Associations were evaluated using Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Participants provided informed consent. We studied 404 participants who received two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (online supplemental table 1). The median (IQR) age was 44 (36–57), 96% were female, 9% were non-white, …
Societal, Organizational, Relational and Individual Perceptions of Sexual Violence Against Older Adults and its Prevention: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Background and objectives Older adults are not regarded as sexual and are widely excluded from sexual violence (SV) research, policies, and practice; little is known about SV against older adults and its prevention. Research design and methods An eight-database scoping review explored perceptions of SV against older adults, barriers to and solutions for prevention. Included were peer-reviewed and grey sources published since 2010, supported by primary research, on perceptions of SV in later life and prevention. A thematic analysis was conducted to explore key themes. Results Of 148 potentially relevant sources returned, 95 were fully read after screening titles and abstracts; 19 were critically appraised and 18 were assessed for analysis. Seven overarching themes emerged, surrounding (a) knowledge and awareness, (b) research, (c) policy changes and development, (d) intersectional prejudice, (e) SV being taboo, (f) sociocultural differences, and (g) confusion regarding the definition and nature of SV. Discussion and implications These findings offer relevant considerations for practice, policy and research, which will be further discussed.
Surgical Therapy: Metoidioplasty Technique and Results

Despite a significant amount of time having passed since its inception, female to male sex reassignment surgery remains very challenging and demanding. There are two options for the creation of male-like genitalia in transgender patients – total phalloplasty and metoidioplasty. The former is the procedure that enables creation of a small penis from an enlarged clitoris, with completely preserved tactile and erogenous sensitivity and the goal of enabling voiding in a standing position. It is a procedure of choice for patients for whom penetrating sexual intercourse is not an issue and for whom the most important function is voiding in a standing position, as well as full preservation of sensitivity. The other advantage is avoidance of major surgery with unsightly scars. For some, this is only a temporary solution while “waiting” for better techniques in the future. It is a very complex procedure, largely dependent on clitoral size – it should be sufficiently long and the patient not too obese to provide good results. It is usually carried out simultaneously with removal of the female genitalia and scrotoplasty (and sometimes with bilateral mastectomy) as a single-stage procedure, which is an additional advantage.
Selectivity and Mechanism of Thermal Decomposition of β-diketones on ZnO Powder.

Abstract The thermal chemistry of β-diketones underlies a number of catalytic processes related both to the catalytic reactions yielding commodity chemicals and to the production of supported transition metal catalysts themselves. The mechanisms of decomposition during thermal transformation of three β-diketones, acetylacetone (acacH), 1,1,1-trifluoroacetylacetone (tfacH), and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone (hfacH), were studied on ZnO powder surface using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) computational investigation. The initial O H dissociation leads to the formation of corresponding β-diketonates in all the cases investigated. These diketonates are important surface intermediates that can be generated in a controlled manner in these experiments. The presence on the C CF3 entity determines the preferred thermal decomposition pathways, as the C C bond in this group starts to react with a surface of ZnO around 400 K, followed by immediate decomposition of the resulting CF3 group. Above 600 K, the presence of the CF3-substituent leads to the formation of ketene-like structures observed by vibrational spectroscopy. The reaction mechanisms examined with the help of DFT calculations are correlated with the vibrational signatures of the species produced and with the F-containing species recorded by XPS.
The effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction in developmental mathematics

Colleges and universities are trying alternative instructional approaches to improve the teaching of developmental mathematics with the goal of increasing the number of students who have the skills and knowledge required for college-level math courses and for the twenty-first century workforce. Computers and the internet make possible new methods of delivering instruction so students will have choices of when, where, and how they learn math. The purpose of this study was to compare academic performance of students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course using traditional instruction, traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction, and online distance learning. In addition, gender differences in mathematical performance were also investigated. The quasi-experimental study was conducted in Intermediate Algebra classes at a large, private, eastern university. An analysis of covariance was used to adjust the mean posttest scores for any initial difference in the groups on the pretest. There was no statistically significant difference in the posttest scores of students receiving traditional instruction and traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction. There was a significant difference in the posttest scores of females and males, with females outperforming males in both modes of instruction. Although the original intent of this study was to include a group of students who took the course online, pretest scores for this group excluded them from the analysis. Institutions should offer developmental mathematics courses in a variety of formats, assist students in selecting the mode of instruction that best suits their learning style, and provide professional development in computer-assisted instruction.
A microkernel architecture for constraint programming

This paper presents a microkernel architecture for constraint programming organized around a small number of core functionalities and minimal interfaces. The architecture contrasts with the monolithic nature of many implementations. With this design, variables, domains and constraints all remain external to the microkernel which isolates the propagation logic and event protocols from the modeling constructions. The Objective-CP search blends the control primitives of the host language with search combinators in a completely transparent and fully compositional way, delivering a natural search procedure in which one can use native constructions and tools such as debuggers. Empirical results indicate that the software engineering benefits are not incompatible with runtime efficiency.
Purification and Kinetic Studies of Beef Liver Cytoplasmic Aconitase

Abstract Steady state kinetic analysis has been used to demonstrate the existence of more than one central complex between aconitase and its substrates, and the interconversion of these complexes as a part of the reaction mechanism. Interconversions of this kind are not ordinarily detected by steady state kinetic studies; however, the branched reaction pathway, by which a given product molecule can arise from either of two substrate molecules, predicts different maximum velocities for formation of the product from the two substrates if different central complexes are involved in the two reactions. If only one complex or identical complexes are involved, these maximum velocities will be equal. Michaelis constants were found to be 200 ± 10 µm for citrate, 7.0 ± 0.5 µm for cis-aconitate, and 34 ± 2 µm for threo-ds-isocitrate. The maximum velocities for conversion of a given substrate to a given product (relative to a value of 1.0 for the maximum rate of conversion of citrate to isocitrate) were 1.04 ± 0.07 for the conversion of citrate to aconitate, 1.71 ± 0.12 for isocitrate to aconitate, 1.66 ± 0.12 for isocitrate to citrate, 3.1 ± 0.3 for aconitate to isocitrate, and 3.14 ± 0.24 for aconitate to citrate. These rates indicate that a unique series of central complexes is involved in the interconversion of any two tricarboxylic acids. The fact that the maximum rates of conversion of a given substrate to each of the other products were equal is at present unexplained, and may either be fortuitous or represent some as yet undiscovered characteristic of the actual mechanism. In order to account for all of the observed data, each substrate must combine with the enzyme to give a different central complex, but there may be more central complexes than three.
The Answering Machine Paradox

Whatever disagreements analysts of indexical expressions may have, there is nearly universal agreement that the referents of utterances of ‘I,’ ‘here,’ and ‘now’ are, respectively, the utterer, the place of utterance, and the time of utterance. This seems to lead to the result that utterances of ‘I am here now’ are always true (or, if you like, true at the time of utterance). While they do not express necessary truths — no one is essentially at any particular place at any particular time — it looks like they should necessarily express truths; in this, ‘I am here now’ seems to resemble ‘I exist’. And we are sometimes aware of this sort of vacuity in these utterances; the theoretical result meshes well with our everyday experience.
Short-data-record estimators of the MVDR/NMSE filter

We show that statistical conditional optimization criteria lead to the development of a simple iterative algorithm that starts from the matched filter (or constraint vector of interest) and generates a sequence of filters that converges to the minimum-variance-distortionless-response (MVDR) solution for any positive definite input autocorrelation matrix. When the input autocorrelation matrix is replaced by a conventional sample-average (positive definite) estimate, the algorithm effectively generates a sequence of MVDR filter estimators; the bias converges rapidly to zero and the covariance trace raises slowly and asymptotically to the covariance trace of the familiar sample-matrix-inversion (SMI) estimator. For short-data-records, the early elements of the generated sequence of estimators offer favorable bias/covariance balance and are seen to outperform in mean-square estimation error (constrained-)LMS, RLS-type, and, certainly, SMI estimates.
5‐Formyl‐4‐Phenanthroic Acid

5-Formyl-4-phenanthroic acid product: 5-formyl-4-phenanthroic acid Keywords: ozonolysis; ozonizer and accessories
A physiological approach to drug therapy in dilated cardiomyopathy. Echo-Doppler evaluation of cardiac mechanics, myocardial energetics, and ventriculo-vascular coupling.

Cardiac ultrasound imaging can be used in conjunction with calibrated external pulse recordings to provide detailed information regarding cardiovascular hemodynamics. This review establishes a physiological framework for the echo-Doppler assessment of cardiac mechanics, left ventricular energetics, and ventriculo-systemic vascular coupling in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The section on cardiac mechanics concerns the evaluation of overall cardiac performance and its individual determinants. Particular emphasis is placed upon the use of noninvasive methodology to identify the relative contributions of altered loading conditions and intrinsic myocardial contractility to cardiac performance. The noninvasive evaluation of left ventricular energetics is based oh the physiological premise that myocardial oxygen consumption is a function of three major determinants, i.e., heart rate, contractility, and the integral of left ventricular systolic load (or wall stress). Following a brief discussion of the vascular properties that determine the relationship between pressure and flow in the systemic circulation, noninvasive methods for determination of systemic vascular resistance and arterial compliance are described. At the end of each section, practical clinical applications of these techniques to the evaluation and management of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are presented. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 8, March 1991)
The secretion of chlorine ions in achlorhydric gastric juice. Observations by means of radioactive chlorine.

Chlorine ions, tagged by rendering them radioactive, were observed to pass readily from the blood stream into achlorhydric gastric juice. The relatively slower appearance of such ions in the achlorhydric juice as compared with the speed of passage previously observed when free acid was secreted by the gastric mucosa, would appear to be due to the relatively smaller volume of gastric secretion obtained from a mucosa not capable of secreting free acid.
Environmental determinants of top predator distribution within the dynamic winter pack ice zone of the northern Antarctic Peninsula

Global warming is predicted to reduce the amount of sea ice concentration in polar environments, thus presenting profound changes for populations of seabirds and marine mammals dependent on sea ice. Using data from a shipboard survey during August 2012, I test the hypothesis that relative abundance of seabird and marine mammals reflects environmental variability associated with the dynamic pack ice zone. Using environmental data and observations of sea ice concentration, I quantified an environmental gradient that describes the spatial organization of the dynamic pack ice zone. The relationship of top predators to this environmental gradient revealed three important aspects: (1) an open water and pack ice community is present with some top predator species exhibiting higher abundance associated with moderate sea ice concentration (40–60 %) as opposed to the pack ice edge (10 %), (2) Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) were the most abundant pinniped and they were observed resting on ice floes and foraging within leads and polynyas, and (3) for the most abundant species, spatial regression models indicate that latitude and sea ice concentration (a principal north/south gradient) are the most important environmental determinants. Winter ocean conditions may strongly influence population dynamics of top predators; therefore, information regarding their habitat use during winter is needed for understanding ecosystem dynamics.
On computing high order Galerkin products

Abstract Aliasing errors are known to cause serious problems in spectral method simulation of fluids, magnetohydrodynamics, and other nonlinear problems. Methods for computing aliasing error free products of two functions are well known. Here we present an extension of these methods to products of more than two functions. This solves one problem in implementing the Galerkin spectral method for compressible flows.
Pruning method for a cluster-based neural network

Many radar automatic target detection (ATD) algorithms operate on a set of data statistics or features rather than on the raw radar sensor data. These features are selected based on their ability to separate target data samples from background clutter samples. The ATD algorithms often operate on the features through a set of parameters that must be determined from a set of training data that are statistically similar to the data set to be encountered in practice. The designer usually attempts to minimize the number of features used by the algorithm -- a process commonly referred to as pruning. This not only reduces the computational demands of the algorithm, but it also prevents overspecialization to the samples from the training data set. Thus, the algorithm will perform better on a set of test data samples it has not encountered during training. The Optimal Brain Surgeon (OBS) and Divergence Method provide two different approaches to pruning. We apply the two methods to a set of radar data features to determine a new, reduced set of features. We then evaluate the resulting feature sets and discuss the differences between the two methods.
Oleophobic monolayers. II. Temperature effects and energy of adsorption

Abstract Experimental methods are described for observing the effect of temperature on oleophobic films adsorbed from solution. It was found that a critical temperature ( T w ) existed above which the oleophobic property disappeared. The concentration of the solute ( W ) was found to be proportional to e −U/RT w where T w is in degrees Kelvin. The temperature effects are reported for a number of homologous acids, amines, amides and alcohols dissolved in either cetane or dicyclohexyl. A quantitative kinetic treatment of the observed effects in terms of adsorption-desorption equilibria is given, and this is shown to lead to the observed relation of T w , W and U where U is the energy of adsorption. The relation of U to the nature of the polar group, the aliphatic chain length ( N ) and the solvent are discussed. The observed values of U are shown to be in good agreement with those reported for acids from data on the effect of temperature on the stick-slip boundary friction transition. In the pure molten state these aliphatic compounds (from values of N = 6–8 to N = 26) were found to deposit monolayers on platinum which were also oleophobic. This happened at all temperatures above the melting point until a critical temperature τ was reached. An accurately linear relation between τ and N was found for each homologous series provided very pure compounds were used. The relation of U to the heat of crystallization ( Q ) and to the chain length ( N ) are discussed, and it is concluded that U , like Q , may consist largely of the energy of cohesion due to van der Waals' forces between adjacent methylene groups of the hydrocarbon chains. Estimates are given of the adhesional energy between polar groups and the platinum foil. Calculations based on dipole moment data show that the adhesional energy consists largely of the electrical interaction between the polar group and the metal surface. The relation of these observations and conclusions to fundamental aspects of adsorption from solution, corrosion-inhibition and wear-prevention are discussed.
Polymeric fullerene hydrides. Birch reduction of [60] fullerene polymers from solution-based photopolymerization and free radical polymerization reactions

Fullerene polymers represent a new class of carbon materials for potential hydrogen storage applications. Poly[60]fullerene polymers were obtained by covalently linking [60]fullerene molecules in photochemical reactions. [60]Fullerene polymers were also prepared in free radical reactions of [60]fullerene with radical initiator benzoyl peroxide. The polymeric [60]fullerene materials were hydrogenated under Birch reduction conditions. The hydrides, which contain ≈3.5% (wt/wt) of hydrogen, were characterized by use of gel permeation chromatography, NMR, FT-IR, and elemental analysis. The results are compared with those of monomeric [60]fullerene hydrides.
Room temperature fluorescence from arylmethyl radicals in solution

Abstract We report temperature fluorescence spectra of the triphenylmethyl, diphenylmethyl, and benzyl radicals from two-pulse excitation of the corresponding arylmethyl chloride in methylcyclohexane. For the triphenylmethyl radical, a lowest excited state (D1) lifetime of (4.5±0.5) ns is determined. It is alsodemonstrated that rearrangement of this D1 state to a species of λmax 490 nm competes with its radiative relaxation. These findings are consistent with a thermally activated photochemical process for triphenylmethyl (D1) radicals, as proposed by previous workers.
Predicting ordinal relations

An alternative to multiple regression that is appropriate when the dependent variable is ordinal is suggested. The goal of the system is to predict correctly as many as possible of the binary ordinal relations on the dependent variable. This can be done by treating the problem as one in discriminant analysis by discriminating the pairs of subjects whose ordinal relations are in one direction from those with relations in the other. The bases of prediction can be raw score differences on predictors, their rank differences, or their directions of difference. For each, it is possible to find a system of weights that approximately maximizes discrimination. These turn out to depend on the variables' co-variances, on their rank correlations, and on their tau correlations, respectively. It is also possible to estimate the odds that any given relation is in a particular direction. A solution for the weights that exactly maximizes probability of correct ordinal prediction is available in the case of predicting from directions of difference. An example is given.