cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A spinel ferrite/hercynite water-splitting redox cycle

Abstract Cobalt ferrites are deposited on Al2O3 substrates via atomic layer deposition, and the efficacy of using these in a ferrite water splitting redox cycle to produce H2 is studied. Experimental results are coupled with thermodynamic modeling, and results indicate that CoFe2O4 deposited on Al2O3 is capable of being reduced at lower temperatures than CoFe2O4 (200–300 °C) due to a reaction between the ferrite and substrate to form FeAl2O4. Although the reaction of FeAl2O4 and H2O is not as thermodynamically favorable as that of FeO and H2O, it is shown to be capable of splitting H2O to produce H2 if non-equilibrium conditions are maintained. Significant quantities of H2 are produced at reduction temperatures of only 1200 °C, whereas, CoFe2O4 produced little or no H2 until reduction temperatures of 1400 °C. CoFe2O4/Al2O3 was capable of being cycled at 1200 °C reduction/ 1000 °C oxidation with no obvious deactivation.
Phosphorimetric Detection of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Solid-Phase Extraction Membranes

Solid-surface room-temperature phosphorimetry (SS-RTP) has been employed for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed on solid-phase extraction (SPE) membranes. Three types of membranes commercially available were tested as solid substrates for phosphorescence emission. The effects of humidity and oxygen quenching were studied on SPEC membranes. Calibration curves with linear dynamic ranges varying from two to three orders of magnitude were obtained in the presence of 0.05 M sodium dodecyl sulfate and 0.1 M TlNO3. The relative standard deviations of measurements varied between 5 and 10%. The absolute limits of detection were estimated at the ng to sub-ng level. On the basis of the performance of SPE membranes as solid substrates, the potential application of SPE-RTP for the analysis of PAHs is discussed.
ATAR, a novel tumor necrosis factor receptor family member, signals through TRAF2 and TRAF5.

Members of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family signal largely through interactions with death domain proteins and TRAF proteins. Here we report the identification of a novel TNFR family member ATAR. Human and mouse ATAR contain 283 and 276 amino acids, respectively, making them the shortest known members of the TNFR superfamily. The receptor is expressed mainly in spleen, thymus, bone marrow, lung, and small intestine. The intracellular domains of human and mouse ATAR share only 25% identity, yet both interact with TRAF5 and TRAF2. This TRAF interaction domain resides at the C-terminal 20 amino acids. Like most other TRAF-interacting receptors, overexpression of ATAR activates the transcription factor NF-κB. Co-expression of ATAR with TRAF5, but not TRAF2, results in synergistic activation of NF-κB, suggesting potentially different roles for TRAF2 and TRAF5 in post-receptor signaling.
Self-excited vibrations induced by dry friction, part 2: Stability and limit-cycle analysis

Abstract Some mechanical systems have frictional joints where one surface slides on another with dry friction. Under certain conditions, the steady state sliding motion becomes unstable. The instability leads to the occurrence of stable limit-cycle type self-excited vibrations. This study is concerned with the analysis of the experimental results, reported in a companion paper, dealing with the instability of the steady state sliding motion and the resulting self-excited vibrations. The conditions which cause the steady state sliding motion to become unstable are investigated with a linear stability theory. A parametric study is conducted to assess the influence of the system parameters on the stability of the steady state sliding motion. The method of triple-input describing functions is used with a non-linear model to analyze the resulting self-excited vibrations.
Theoretical analysis of optical fiber laser amplifiers and oscillators

Using the formalism of mode overlap, a theoretical analysis of optically pumped fiber laser amplifiers and oscillators is developed. The concept of normalized overlap coefficients is introduced to account for the effects of the transverse structure of the interacting signal and pump modes on the device characteristics. Simple and accurate closed-form expressions are derived for the gain of fiber amplifiers and the threshold and energy conversion efficiency of fiber laser oscillators in terms of the fiber and laser material parameters and the pump and signal modes. When applied to step-index Nd:YAG fiber lasers, this study predicts optimum fundamental mode oscillation in fibers with a V number of 5-25 with submilliwatt thresholds and nearly quantum-limited conversion efficiencies.
A survey of some network reliability analysis and synthesis results

The purpose of this article is to introduce several results concerning the analysis and synthesis of reliable or invulnerable networks. First, the notion of signed reliability domination of systems is described and some applications to reliability analysis are reviewed. Then the analysis problem is considered and a brief summary of the difficulty of calculating various reliability measures is presented. Some relevant concepts in the synthesis of a most reliable network are studied. The article concludes with an introduction to a non-probabilistic approach to evaluate the vulnerability of a network. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Evidence from Tropical Raindrop Spectra of the Origin of Rain from Stratiform versus Convective Clouds

Abstract An analysis of temporal variations in gamma parameters of raindrop spectra is presented utilizing surface-based observations from the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Couple Ocean-Atmosphere Experiment. An observed dramatic change in the N0 parameter, found to occur during rainfall events with little change in rainfall rate, is suggestive of a transition from rain of convective origin to rain originating from the stratiform portion of tropical systems. An empirical stratiform-convective classification method based on N0 and R (rainfall rate) is presented. Properties of the drop size spectra from the stratiform classification are consistent with micro-physical processes occurring within an aggregation/melting layer aloft, which produces more large raindrops and fewer small to medium size raindrops than rain from the convective classification, at the same rainfall rate. The occurrence of precipitation was found to be 74% (stratiform) and 26% (convective), but total rainfall, on the other hand, was ...
Polyethylene moderated 3He neutron detectors

Abstract Two high-efficiency neutron detectors which consist of arrays of 3He proportional counters imbedded in polyethylene moderators were investigated. One of these, a modified “long counter” containing five 3He counters, has an intrinsic efficiency of (11.5±0.5)% over the neutron energy range from 25 keV to ⪆ 4 MeV . The second detector contains thirteen 3He proportional counters imbedded in two large-area (3100 cm2) polyethylene slabs which are positioned in tandem. By appropriately arranging the counter slabs and sheets of neutron absorbing and moderating materials, the slab detector may be operated either as a flat-response detector with an intrinsic efficiency of ≈ 18% or in an “energy-discrimination” configuration to provide coarse neutron energy-spectrum information.
Hypothesis memory in concept learning

Abstract A theory of concept learning which assumes that subjects use a wholist strategy and short-term memory in solving problems is proposed and tested. The subjects behave in accordance with the all-strategies-at-once strategy selection theory on trials on which they make a correct response but try to use short-term memory on error trials to avoid completely restarting the focusing process. The theory is tested by examining its ability to describe the way subjects restrict their choice of a hypothesis on blank trials after receiving a limited amount of information about problem solution.
ISSUES AND MISCONCEPTIONS IN PRISONER LITIGATION: A CRITICAL VIEW*

In the past quarter-century, the number of suits filed by prisoners in federal courts has substantially increased. Critics have borrowed metaphors from ballistics or pathologv to describe this increase as an “epidemic” of “legal pollution” or an “explosion.” The causes of this “hyperlexis,” or excessive litigation, are often attributed to prisoners' attempts to retry their cases once they have lost, or to some psychological attribute of plaintiffs who view litigation as a means of striking back at their keepers. This paper examines several common conceptions of prisoner litigation. National ling data from federal district courts are used to assess the merits of each. The data provide little support for many of the conceptions of and explanations for prisoner suits. It is suggested that prisoners' use of courts may be a form of social resistance to conditions for which there is no other legitimate avenue for relief:
Configuration space model of tightly coordinated two robot manipulators operating in 3-dimensional workspace

Since the configuration space (C-space) model has been successfully used in studies of automatic off-line collision-free path planning, optimal trajectory planning, and optimal control of a single robot, there are attempts to apply the C-space model to the study of a tightly coordinated two robot manipulator (TCTR) system. A fundamental assumption used in the C-space model for a single robot is that any continuous trajectory planned in the C-space can be uniquely mapped to a continuous trajectory in the world space. However, this assumption cannot be satisfied when the C-space model is applied to a TCTR. Therefore, applying the C-space model to a TCTR in the past was based on additional heuristic constraints that prevent the utilization of full ability of the TCTR. This paper presents a method to define and decompose systematically the C-space of a TCTR so that the aforementioned assumption can be satisfied without sacrificing the ability of the TCTR. By using the C-space decomposition method, the methodologies for a single robot arm and a TCTR can be unified, which means that the control and planning methods developed for a single robot can be systematically extended for a TCTR. >
Linear Feedback Control of Boundary Layer Using Electromagnetic Microtiles

This paper presents a system-theory approach to control of a two-dimensional turbulent flow of saltwater on a flat plate using Lorentz forces produced by microtiles of small magnets and electrodes. Beginning with the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations of motion, a finite, dimensional, linear state variable, approximate model is obtained using Galerkin’s procedure. Based on this model, linear feedback control laws are obtained to achieve stabilization of the perturbed flow to the base flow. It is shown that spatially distributed longitudinal or surface-normal forces stabilize the flow perturbations. However, for lower wave numbers, longitudinal forces are more effective because surface-normal forces require larger electrode voltages for the same response characteristics. Simulation results are presented to show how stabilization is accomplished in the closed-loop system.
Liquid Chromatographic Separation with Electrochemical Detection of the Phenylthiohydantoin and Methylthiohydantoin Derivatives of Amino Acids

Abstract Phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) and methylthiohydantoin (MTH) derivatives of the common amino acids were examined for electroactivity on platinum and gold electrodes. All of the derivatives could be electrocatalytically oxidized at both electrodes. Constant-potential and pulsed-potential amperometry were examined for detection of thiohydantoins following reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Amperometric detection at a fixed potential of 1,2 V vs. SCE resulted in detection limits of less than 10 pmol for lysine and glycine derivatives (50-ul injection). Use of a gradient elution program with a C-18 reversed-phase column allowed separation of nearly all common amino acids as MTH derivatives.
Simulation of a positive column discharge with a one-dimensional radial radiation transport coupled particle-in-cell model

A one-dimensional radial slice of an Ar positive column discharge is simulated with a radiation transport coupled particle-in-cell model. The discharge is maintained by an axial current in the positive column which induces a self-consistent axial electric field. Power balance and radiation efficiency are investigated for variations of axial driving current Iz, gas pressure p, and radius R. The parameter regimes are from 0.1 to 1 cm for radius, 1 mTorr to 20 Torr for gas pressure, from 4 to 14 eV for electron temperature, from 1015 to 1017 m−3 for peak plasma density, and from 0.15 to 50 mA for axial current. The radiation efficiency is related to the product of the pressure and the radius, pR; it is restricted by the large wall loss for small pR and by the collisional quenching of the radiative state for large pR. The optimal value is about pR=1 Torr cm for this parameter regime.
Changing the Shape and Location of Pavement Load Transfer Devices

Load transfer is an important aspect of portland cement concrete joint design. To date, aggregate interlock and round steel dowels have been used to accomplish load transfer. Research was done to examine the use of steel dowels of alternative shapes to provide load transfer. A field research project in Iowa has used two elliptical bars of different sizes at three spacings and numbers of bars per joint. Test sections included bars across the entire joint and sections using bars only in the wheelpaths. The impact of cut, fill, and transition sections was also factored into the experimental design. This paper documents the construction of the project, testing that is being done, and the initial results of the work.
Fine-tuning targeted therapy of CML.

In this issue of Blood , Muller and colleagues correlate clinical outcome on dasatinib with baseline BCR-ABL kinase domain mutation status, providing a framework for incorporation of BCR-ABL genotype in choosing the optimal second-line kinase inhibitor therapy in imatinib-resistant patients.[1][1]
Isolation of 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci for slimy sculpin ( Cottus cognatus )

Our research on slimy sculpins (Cottus cognatus), a benthic, freshwater fish, requires highly polymorphic genetic markers, and microsatellite loci developed for other Cottus species were insufficient for our needs. We therefore developed 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci from C. cognatus libraries enriched for tri- and tetranucleotide repeats. These loci had 2–22 alleles and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.36 to 0.86 in a sample of 47 individuals from one population. There was no evidence of linkage disequilibrium; however, one locus had a putative null allele. Twelve loci also worked for mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi) but only eight were polymorphic in a sample of seven individuals.
Small Town and Rural Economic Development: A Case Studies Approach . Edited by Peter V. Schaeffer and Scott Loveridge. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2000. Pp. xvi, 293. $62.50.

Economic development is for many communities and policy makers a familiar and worthy goal, but sadly, it can also be an elusive goal. Familiar, because the standard by which many policy makers and their advisors are evaluated is their ability to attract industries and firms, to create jobs, and otherwise to expand the capacity and economic base of a community. Elusive, because not only are no two communities identical, but also because the outcomes of specific policies and actions can be difficult to predict with certainty. The collected case studies in this book offer more than 30 examples of programs and policies enacted in the pursuit of economic progress across various small towns and rural communities.
The Significance of Ecological Methodology of Affordance-Based Design

A variety of research approaches have emerged after the concept of Gibson's affordance was introduced in design field, for example, the relationship approach in design research and the approach of cognitive science research after Norman. The significance of affordance-based design for methodology forming ecological design theory is discussed in this article. The significances are to surmount defects resulting from function-oriented design theory and to pave the ecological approach to design theory with directness and embodiment combining perception with activities.
Enhancement of human amniotic cell growth by ficoll-paque gradient fractionation

Ficoll-Paque isopycnic centrifugation was used as a preparative procdure for amniotic fluid (AF) cells prior to tissue culture. This technique serves to reduce contaminating erythrocytes and also enhances cell growth or mitotic indices. The technique described in this report yields three subfractions designatedaas a turbid interphase layer (F-2), a middle cell layer (F-3), and a bottom pellet (F-4). The middle cell layer (F-3) demonstrated better cell growth and higher mitotic index than any of the other fractions or control unfractionated amniotic fluid cells. The use of Ficoll-Paque isopycnic preparative centrifugation of amniotic fluid cells is a valuable adjunct in cell culture for cytogenetic analysis. This may be especially true when amniotic fluid contains large numbers of erythrocytes.
William R. Markesbery, MD

> “Of courage undaunted, possessing firmness and perseverance…, careful as a father of those committed to his charge, yet steady in the maintenance of order and discipline, … honest, … of sound understanding and a fidelity to truth so scrupulous that whatever he should report would be as certain as if seen by ourselves …” > > Thomas Jefferson on Meriwether Lewis (1) William R. Markesbery, MD. Portrait by Mr Lee P. Thomas William R. (Bill) Markesbery was born in Florence, KY, on September 30, 1932, and died in Lexington, KY, on January 30, 2010. Although finishing not far from where he started, during his 77 years, this gentleman scientist's accomplishments, generosity, and decency touched many around the globe. One of Bill's heroes was Meriwether Lewis, and this quotation from President Jefferson describing Captain Lewis seems particularly apt in also describing Bill. After his education at Florence High School, Bill completed his undergraduate degree in Business and Economics at the University of Kentucky (UK). Bill next served in …
The association between tooth loss and the self-reported intake of selected CVD-related nutrients and foods among US women.

Hung H-C, Colditz G, Joshipura KJ. The association between tooth loss and the self-reported intake of selected CVD-related nutrients and foods among US women. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2005; 33: 167-73. � Blackwell Munksgaard, 2005 Abstract - Objectives: Many studies have reported associations between oral health and cardiovascular diseases; poor nutritional status due to impaired dentition status has been suggested as a mediator. Our objective is to evaluate the associations between tooth loss and the self-reported consumption of fruits and vegetables and selected CVD-related nutrients. Methods: A total of 83,104 US women who completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in 1990 and 1994 and reported number of natural teeth in 1992, were included in a cross- sectional analysis relating dietary intake to number of natural teeth. A longitudinal analysis was also conducted to evaluate whether tooth loss in 1990- 1992 was associated with change in diet between 1990 and 1994. Results: After adjusting for age, total calorie intake, smoking and physical activity, edentulous women appeared to have dietary intake associated with increased risk for CVD, including significantly higher intake of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and vitamin B12, and lower intake of polyunsaturated fat, fiber, carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, vegetables, fruits, and fruits excluding juices compared with women with 25-32 teeth. In the longitudinal analyses, women who lost more teeth were more likely to change their diet in ways that would potentially increase risk for development of CVD. They also tended to avoid hard foods, such as raw carrot, fresh apple or pear. Conclusions: Women with fewer teeth have unhealthier diets such as decreased intake of fruits and vegetables, which could increase CVD risk. Diet may partially explain associations between oral health and cardiovascular disease.
The GPA-dependent, spherostomatocytosis mutant AE1 E758K induces GPA-independent, endogenous cation transport in amphibian oocytes

The previously undescribed heterozygous missense mutation E758K was discovered in the human AE1/SLC4A1/band 3 gene in two unrelated patients with well-compensated hereditary spherostomatocytic anemia (HSt). Oocyte surface expression of AE1 E758K, in contrast to that of wild-type AE1, required coexpressed glycophorin A (GPA). The mutant polypeptide exhibited, in parallel, strong GPA dependence of DIDS-sensitive 36Cl− influx, trans-anion-dependent 36Cl− efflux, and Cl−/HCO3− exchange activities at near wild-type levels. AE1 E758K expression was also associated with GPA-dependent increases of DIDS-sensitive pH-independent SO42− uptake and oxalate uptake with altered pH dependence. In marked contrast, the bumetanide- and ouabain-insensitive 86Rb+ influx associated with AE1 E758K expression was largely GPA-independent in Xenopus oocytes and completely GPA-independent in Ambystoma oocytes. AE1 E758K-associated currents in Xenopus oocytes also exhibited little or no GPA dependence. 86Rb+ influx was higher but inward cation current was lower in oocytes expressing AE1 E758K than previously reported in oocytes expressing the AE1 HSt mutants S731P and H734R. The pharmacological inhibition profile of AE1 E758K-associated 36Cl− influx differed from that of AE1 E758K-associated 86Rb+ influx, as well as from that of wild-type AE1-mediated Cl− transport. Thus AE1 E758K-expressing oocytes displayed GPA-dependent surface polypeptide expression and anion transport, accompanied by substantially GPA-independent, pharmacologically distinct Rb+ flux and by small, GPA-independent currents. The data strongly suggest that most of the increased cation transport associated with the novel HSt mutant AE1 E758K reflects activation of endogenous oocyte cation permeability pathways, rather than cation translocation through the mutant polypeptide.
Physical model simulations of brain injury in the primate

Abstract Diffuse brain injuries resulting from non-impact rotational acceleration are investigated with the aid of physical models of the skull-brain structure. These models provide a unique insight into the relationship between the kinematics of head motion and the associated deformation of the surrogate brain material. Human and baboon skulls filled with optically transparent surrogate brain tissue are subjected to lateral rotations like those shown to produce diffuse injury to the deep white matter in the brain of the baboon. High-speed cinematography captures the deformations of the grids embedded within the surrogate brain tissue during the applied load. The overall deformation pattern is compared to the pathological portrait of diffuse brain injury as determined from animal studies and autopsy reports. Shear strain and pathology spatial distributions mirror each other. Load levels and resulting surrogate brain tissue deformations are related from one species to the other. Increased primate brain mass magnified the strain amplified without significantly altering the spatial distribution. An empirically-derived value for a critical shear strain associated with the onset of severe diffuse axonal injury in primates is determined, assuming constitutive similarity between baboon and human brain tissue. The primate skull physical model data and the critical shear strain associated with the threshold for severe diffuse axonal injury were used to scale data obtained from previous studies to man, and thus derive a diffuse axonal injury tolerance for rotational acceleration for humans.
Plasticity in the Olfactory System: Lessons for the Neurobiology of Memory:

We are rapidly advancing toward an understanding of the molecular events underlying odor transduction, mechanisms of spatiotemporal central odor processing, and neural correlates of olfactory perception and cognition. A thread running through each of these broad components that define olfaction appears to be their dynamic nature. How odors are processed, at both the behavioral and neural level, is heavily dependent on past experience, current environmental context, and internal state. The neural plasticity that allows this dynamic processing is expressed nearly ubiquitously in the olfactory pathway, from olfactory receptor neurons to the higher-order cortex, and includes mechanisms ranging from changes in membrane excitability to changes in synaptic efficacy to neurogenesis and apoptosis. This review will describe recent findings regarding plasticity in the mammalian olfactory system that are believed to have general relevance for understanding the neurobiology of memory.
ORC for low temperature power generation with low GWP refrigerants

This article presents and discusses the use of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants in low temperature Organic Rankine Cycle for power generation using waste heat. The performance has been compared at low waste heat temperatures to current refrigerants and low GWP ones. In this article, energy and exergy analyses have been also presented and compared for the behaviour of the different refrigerants in question. Results showed that the use of low GWP refrigerants results in reduction of waste heat recovery efficiency with more exergy destruction compared to higher GWP working fluids.
Pacemaker-Induced Endocardial Friction Rub

Two patients had a typical sounding cardiac friction rub after placement of a temporary transvenous pacemaker. Absence of myocardial perforation was documented in one patient during thoracotomy for placement of an epicardial electrode and in the other with an electrogram recorded from the pacemaker as it was being withdrawn. The rubs disappeared during pacemaker removal. These cases are believed to represent endocardial friction rubs resulting from contact of the pacing wire with the endocardium.
Mediation of serotonin-induced analgesia by the 5HT2 receptor in the pentobarbital anesthetized mouse model

Abstract Serotonin can induce analgesia when injected directly into the brain, but analgesia after peripheral administration has been more difficult to show. The pentobarbital anesthetized mouse (PAM) model, developed to alleviate some of the problems involved in the measurement of tail flick latency, was used to assess the action of peripherally administered serotonin. Mice were anesthetized with about 65 mg/kg of sodium pentobarbital IP and their tail flick latencies measured while they were in stage III anesthesia. In these anesthetized mice, IP serotonin induced a significant analgesia that was much more robust than that found in awake mice. The analgesic effect was dose-dependent from 0.25 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg but was not blocked by the antiopiate naltrexone. Of several psychotropic agents tested, only amitriptyline, mianserin and trazodone had significant effects on analgesia in the PAM model. The analgesic effect of serotonin was reproduced by the 5HT 2 agonist DOI and totally blocked by the 5HT 2 antagonist NPP. These results show the utility of the PAM model in studying nonopiate analgesia and suggest that the analgesic action of serotonin is mediated primarily through the 5HT 2 receptor.
MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND ADAPTIVE COPING AMONG SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA

The current study examined mental health symptomology, substance use, and adaptive coping among 416 social work students following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Among participants, 47% scored at or above the clinical level for depression, with 6% of students showing clinical PTSD-like symptoms, and 16.9% reporting substance use. Two thirds (66.9%) employed 8 of the 10 adaptive coping responses. Negative cognitive and emotional reactions to the hurricanes correlated positively with mental health symptomology and 7 of the 10 adaptive coping responses. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, it is critical to provide students with education, information, and close supervision to address issues around impairment and vulnerability and to maximize resilience.
Price reform and welfare: a transition model with queuing

We develop a general equilibrium model of an exchange economy with relative price distortions, where markets for consumption goods are cleared by resource-wasting queues. In general, greater distortions in relative prices lead to lower social welfare. We show, however, that in some cases a free market equilibrium may not exist if subsistence needs for commodities such as food are sufficiently high. In such an instance, removing price distortions will actually lower aggregate welfare.
Method for assembling and expressing multiple genes in the nucleus of microalgae

The green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a model organism used in the study of photosynthesis and biotechnological research. Despite its importance, a complete set of genetic tools has yet to be developed. Here, we report the development of a new method for constructing a multi-gene pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and integrating the assembled pathway into the nuclear genome of C. reinhardtii. To demonstrate the use of this method, we assembled and functionally expressed up to three reporter proteins (Ble, AphVIII, and GFP) simultaneously in the nucleus of C. reinhardtii. This new molecular tool should aid efforts to engineer microalgae for biofuel and biopharmaceutical production.
Religious Involvement and Volunteering: Implications for Civil Society

This paper examines the role of congregations in civil society by examining the relationship between religious involvement and volunteering. We draw on a survey and interviews with respondents from upstate Neu York to analyze a set of inter-related questions: how does congregational involvement lead people into volunteering and influence the meaning of volunteer activity How do church members choose a volunteer site What role do congregations play in generating civic engagement and social capital? We find no liberal/conservative differences either in the likelihood of volunteering or in choosing between secular and religious volunteer opportunities. Rather, we find that social networks and impressions of organizational identity draw people into volunteering and into particular organizations, and that there is a competition between congregations and other civic groups for members' time. We conclude that congregations foster both loose and strong connections to civic life for members at different stages of the life course.
Motion in Cardiovascular Radiography

The minute has given way to the second as an expression of radiographic exposure duration. It is predicted that the millisecond will be the term of the future. Arterial blood velocity exceeds 50 cm. per second. In cardiovascular radiography, especially angiocardiography, maximum detail cannot be achieved unless the x-ray exposure is short enough to "stop" rapid movement. Practical experience indicates that exposures of 3 milliseconds' duration offer an economic alternative to high speed, serial angiocardiography. A method of achieving such exposures consists of a grid-controlled, hightension, switch tube operated in series with the diagnostic x-ray tube.
Parallel and Pipeline Processing for Block Cipher Algorithms on a Network-on-Chip

The computational performance of Network-on-Chip (NoC) and Multi-Processor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) for implementing cryptographic block ciphers can be improved by exploiting parallel and pipeline execution. In this paper, we present a parallel and pipeline processing method for block cipher algorithms: Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple-DES Algorithm (TDEA), and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) based on pure software implementation on an NoC. The algorithms are decomposed into task loops, functions, and data flow for parallel and pipeline execution. The tasks are allocated by the proposed mapping strategy to each Processing Element (PE) which consists of a 32-bit Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) core, internal memory, router, and Network Interface (NI) to communicate between PEs.The proposed approach is simulated by using Networked Processor Array (NePA), the cycle-accurate SystemC and Hardware Description Language (HDL) model platform. We show that our method has the advantage of flexibility as compared to previous implementations of cryptographic algorithms based on hardware and software co-design or traditional hardwired ASIC design. In addition, the simulation result presents that the parallel and pipeline processing approach for software block ciphers can be implemented on various NoC platforms which have different complexities and constraints.
Vista rail network simulation

Vista is a quick-running rail network simulation software package. It allows rail analysts to assess, predict and identify improvements to rail operations as well as design new rail and signalling systems. Vista calculates train performance based on: (1) specified physical characteristics of the trains and the track; (2) train routing; and (3) train control system and junction management algorithms. It can also evaluate the effect of random and fixed failures on rail operations. It produces tabular and graphical output reports that compile rail system and train statistics. Vista is user-friendly. It has a menu-driven interface for specifying inputs and viewing outputs as well as run-time animated graphics that permit the user to instantly see simulated train operations. Vista runs on a 486 or Pentium-based PC in Microsoft Windows 3.1. It is written in C++ using state-of the-art object-oriented design. Vista simulation runs take seconds to minutes depending on the complexity of the network, signalling system, and the number of trains. >
Insufficient Evidence of Purported Lunar Effect on Pollination in Ephedra

It has been suggested that the timing of pollination in Ephedra foeminea coincides with the full moon in July. The implication is that the plant can detect the full moon through light or gravity and that this trait is an evolutionary adaptation that aids the navigation by pollinating insects. Here we show that there are insufficient data to make such a claim, and we predict that pollinations of E. foeminea do not in general coincide with the full moon.
Detection of colon cancer by continuous-wave terahertz polarization imaging technique

We demonstrate a reflective, continuous-wave terahertz (THz) imaging system to acquire ex vivo images of fresh human colonic excisions. Reflection measurements of 5-mm-thick sections of colorectal tissues were obtained using a polarization-specific detection technique. Two- dimensional THz reflection images of both normal and can- cerous colon tissues with a spatial resolution of 0.6 mm were acquired using an optically pumped far-infrared molecular gas laser. Good contrast has been observed between normal and tumorous tissues at 584 GHz frequency. The resulting THz reflection images compared with the tissue histology showed a correlation between cancerous region and increased reflection. We hypothesize that the imaging sys- tem and polarization techniques are capable of registering reflectance differences between cancerous and normal colon. However, further investigations are necessary to completely understand the source mechanism behind the contrast and confirm the hypothesis; if true, it likely repre- sents the first continuous-wave THz reflection imaging tech- nique to show sufficient contrast to identify colon tumor margins. Also, it may represent a significant step forward in clinical endoscopic application of THz technology to aid in in vivo colorectal cancer screening. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. (DOI: 10.1117/1 .JBO.18.9.090504)
Ontology-based time information representation of vaccine adverse events in VAERS for temporal analysis.

Background The U.S. FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) provides a valuable data source for post-vaccination adverse event analyses. The structured data in the system has been widely used, but the information in the write-up narratives is rarely included in these kinds of analyses. In fact, the unstructured nature of the narratives makes the data embedded in them difficult to be used for any further studies.
Economic Globalization and Women's Employment: The Case of Manufacturing in Mexico

Sociological research has been generally critical of the effects of economic globalization on developing countries. However, greater worldwide economic integration may have created new employment o...
Low complexity error concealment scheme for intra-frames in H.264/AVC

In this paper, we propose a low complexity spatial error concealment method for H.264/AVC coded video sequences. The proposed prediction modes error concealment (PMEC) scheme exploits the Intra prediction mode information from the coded bit-stream to provide an improved concealment performance by taking into account the edge considerations. The proposed scheme gives an improved performance in terms of both the PSNR and structural similarity quality index while having a reduced computational complexity relative to the existing schemes.
Solution to the problem of instability in banded Toeplitz solvers

The author presents a numerically stable approach to solving banded Toeplitz systems of n linear equations. The algorithm is fast in that it requires only O(nq) operations, where q is the bandwidth of the matrix. An earlier version of the banded Toeplitz algorithm presented in the literature suffers from numerical instability. The author solves the instability problem by developing numerically stable alternatives to the back substitution process. These new algorithms have roughly the same number of calculations as simple back substitution, O(nq), and therefore can be used effectively in place of back substitution. The stabilization procedures described have been used to find accurate solutions to systems of order several thousand. >
The Principle of Convergence in Wartime Negotiations

If war results from disagreement about relative strength, then it ends when opponents learn enough about each other. Learning occurs when information is revealed by strategically manipulable negotiation behavior and nonmanipulable battlefield outcomes. I present a model of simultaneous bargaining and fighting where both players can make offers and asymmetric information exists about the distribution of power. In the Markov perfect sequential equilibrium, making and rejecting offers has informational value that outweighs the one provided by the battlefield. However, states use both sources of information to learn and settle before military victory. The Principle of Convergence posits that warfare ceases to be useful when it loses its informational content and that belief in defeat (victory) is not necessary to terminate (initiate) hostilities. Thus, the standard puzzle in international relations that seeks to account for prewar optimism on both sides may not be that relevant.
PLC standard programming languages: IEC 1131-3

Today, if programmable controllers from more than one vendor are used, more than one method of programming and troubleshooting have to be learned. If a programming standard provided greater uniformity between programmable controllers, one could reuse work and potentially reduce the amount of retraining. Yet the problem for the would-be developer of standards is this: how to offer relevance to today's market and still afford migration to future technologies. IEC 1131-3-the international standard for programmable controller languages-has achieved this by applying modern software engineering principles to the best existing practices and, at the same time, providing for "extensibility", i.e. further enhancements by vendors. The author describes the development and benefits of IEC 1131-3.
Endoscopic assessment of the oesophageal features of eosinophilic oesophagitis: validation of a novel classification and grading system

Objective Abnormalities are commonly identified during endoscopy in eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). There is no standardised classification to describe these features. This study aimed to evaluate the interobserver agreement of a grading system for the oesophageal features of EoE. Method The proposed system incorporated the grading of four major oesophageal features (rings, furrows, exudates, oedema) and the presence of additional features of narrow calibre oesophagus, feline oesophagus, stricture and crepe paper oesophagus. Endoscopic videos from 25 patients with EoE and controls were reviewed by 21 gastroenterologists. Interobserver agreement was assessed by estimating multi-rater κ and the proportion of pairwise agreement. Results Using the original grading system, agreement for rings, furrows and exudates was moderate (κ=0.38–0.46, 56–65% agreement) but poor for oedema (κ=0.23, 51% agreement). Identification of narrow calibre oesophagus had fair agreement (κ=0.30, 74% agreement) while feline oesophagus had poor agreement (κ=0.15, 68% agreement). After collapsing the severity grading for oedema and furrows and eliminating poorly performing features of feline oesophagus and narrow calibre oesophagus, a modified grading system demonstrated good agreement for the four major features of EoE (κ=0.40–0.54, 71–81% agreement) and additional features of stricture and crepe paper oesophagus (κ=0.52 and 0.58, 79% and 92% agreement). Conclusions The proposed system for endoscopically-identified oesophageal features of EoE defines common nomenclature and severity scores for the assessment of EoE disease activity. The system has good interobserver agreement among practising and academic gastroenterologists.
Locomotory Advantages to Flapping Out of Phase

The interactions between two fish swimming side by side are examined. An inviscid fluid model is employed to argue that flapping out of phase can lead to locomotory advantages for both fish. Two effects are examined: (a) the effect of the cooperation between the wakes of the two fish in increasing their forward swimming velocities and (b) the effect of the coupling between the lateral oscillations of the fish and the circu- lations around their bodies in enhancing their forward swimming motion. The models are stripped to their simplest level in order to highlight these effects.
The Effects of Fuel and Air Mixtures in Non-Premixed Combustion for a Bluff-Body Flame

The bluff-body stabilized flame is used in a numerical study of the non-premixed flames. This paper shows numerical investigations on the effects of hydrogen compositions and nonflammable diluent mixtures on the combustion and NO emission characteristics of syngas non-premixed flames for a bluff-body burner. The assessment of turbulent non-premixed combustion modeling techniques is presented and discussed. The simulations study the predictive capabilities of five turbulence models and are compared with the experiments of Correa and Gulati [1] for a non-premixed flame of 27.5%CO/32.3%H2/40.2%N2 and air. The Realizable k-e and the Reynolds Stress (RSM) models were found to perform the best. Based on this, a numerical study to assess the effects of hydrogen component on syngas non-premixed combustion was performed. As a result, hydrogen addition caused the radial velocity and strain rate to decrease, which was important for mixing to decrease NO. Also, the effectiveness of nonflammable diluent mixtures, including N2, CO2 and H2O, were characterized in terms of the ability to reduce NO emission in syngas non-premixed flames. Results indicated that CO2 was the most effective diluent to reduce NO emission and H2O was more effective than N2. CO2 diluent produced low levels of OH radical, which makes CO2 the most effective diluent. Although H2O increased OH radicals, it was still effective to decrease the thermal NO because of its high specific heat.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Comparative Effects of Moni-, Di-, and Triphosphorylated Nucleosides on Amphibian Morphogenesis

Experiments previously reported (Ambellan, 1955) established the fact that short-term treatment of Rana pipiens blastulae with solutions of mononucleotides under specific conditions resulted in accelerated formation of neural tubes: at 18° C. they were about 4 hours ahead of controls. As briefly mentioned in the previous paper, slight overdoses or excessive periods of treatment resulted in visible side-reactions affecting other aspects of development in conjunction with the precocious neural tube formation. A comparison of the different effects that result from overdoses of adenosinemonophosphate (AMP-3), adenosinediphosphate (ADP), adenosinetriphosphate (ATP), and other compounds that differ from each other only in the number of phosphate bonds may throw some light on the biochemical nature of the morphogenetic processes differentially affected by these substances and is the subject of this paper. A homogeneous population of dejellied embryos was selected and groups raised each in about 15 ml. of solution in covered Stender dishes in a constant temperature water-bath at about 18° C.
Applied Informatics for Health IT Managers

The Health Informatics program at UAB, an early exemplar of an applied health informatics program with a focus on health IT managers, has been able to address the changing needs or the seeming “moving target” of requisite skills needed in the healthcare IT industry. In this chapter, we examine some of the key factors and influences that led to the increasing importance of information technology in healthcare and the concomitant need for individuals with a background in health informatics to oversee the use of those systems. We discuss the development of the health informatics program at UAB, the path our own program has taken over the years and some “lessons learned” along the way.
Privacy-preserving GWAS analysis on federated genomic datasets

The biomedical community benefits from the increasing availability of genomic data to support meaningful scientific research, e.g., Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). However, high quality GWAS usually requires a large amount of samples, which can grow beyond the capability of a single institution. Federated genomic data analysis holds the promise of enabling cross-institution collaboration for effective GWAS, but it raises concerns about patient privacy and medical information confidentiality (as data are being exchanged across institutional boundaries), which becomes an inhibiting factor for the practical use. We present a privacy-preserving GWAS framework on federated genomic datasets. Our method is to layer the GWAS computations on top of secure multi-party computation (MPC) systems. This approach allows two parties in a distributed system to mutually perform secure GWAS computations, but without exposing their private data outside. We demonstrate our technique by implementing a framework for minor allele frequency counting and χ2 statistics calculation, one of typical computations used in GWAS. For efficient prototyping, we use a state-of-the-art MPC framework, i.e., Portable Circuit Format (PCF) [1]. Our experimental results show promise in realizing both efficient and secure cross-institution GWAS computations.