cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined sodium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide pretreatment of post-biogas digestion dairy manure fiber for cost effective cellulosic bioethanol production

The current higher manufacturing cost of biofuels production from lignocellulosics hinders the commercial process development. Although many approaches for reducing the manufacturing cost of cellulosic biofuels may be considered, the use of less expensive feedstocks may represent the largest impact. In the present study, we investigated the use of a low cost feedstock: post-biogas digestion dairy manure fiber. We used an innovative pretreatment procedure that combines dilute sodium hydroxide with supplementary aqueous ammonia, with the goal of releasing fermentable sugar for ethanol fermentation. Post-biogas digestion manure fiber were found to contain 41.1% total carbohydrates, 29.4% lignin, 13.7% ash, and 11.7% extractives on dry basis. Chemical treatment were applied using varying amounts of NaOH and NH3 (2-10% loadings of each alkali on dry solids) at mild conditions of 100°C for 5 min, which led to a reduction in lignin of 16-40%. Increasing treatment severity conditions to 121°C for 60 min improved delignification to 17-67%, but also solubilized significant amounts of the carbohydrates. A modified severity parameter model was used to determine the delignification efficiency of manure fiber during alkaline pretreatment. The linear model well predicted the experimental values of fiber delignification for all pretreatment methods (R2 > 0.94). Enzymatic digestion of the treated fibers attained 15-50% saccharification for the low severity treatment, whereas the high severity treatment achieved up to 2-fold higher saccharification. Pretreatment with NaOH alone at a variety of concentrations and temperatures provide low delignification levels of only 5 − 21% and low saccharification yields of 3 − 8%, whereas pretreatment with the combination of NaOH and NH3 improved delignification levels and saccharification yields 2–3.5 higher than pretreatment with NH3 alone. Additionally, the combined NaOH and NH3 pretreatment led to noticeable changes in fiber morphology as determined by SEM and CrI measurements. We show that combined alkaline treatment by NaOH and NH3 improves the delignification and enzymatic digestibility of anaerobically digested manure fibers. Although pretreatment leads to acceptable saccharification for this low-cost feedstock, the high chemical consumption costs of the process likely will require recovery and reuse of the treatment chemicals, prior to this process being economically feasibility.
Capgras Syndrome Variant in an 8½-year-Old Boy

An 8½-year-old boy with Capgras syndrome is described. The patient firmly believed he had been replaced by a double. There was no evidence of organicity and the patient's symptoms subsided following hospitalization and psychotherapy.
Characterizing 3-Chloro-p-Toluidine Hydrochloride on Rough-Hulled Rice and Ethyl-Cellulose-Coated Rice Baits using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Methods are developed to extract and quantitate the avicide 3-chloro-p-toluidine hydrochloride (CPT HCl) from rough-hulled rice and ethyl-cellulose-coated rice baits using high-performance liquid chromatography. The mobile phase used in the ethyl-cellulose-coated rice matrix method is an acetonitrile(ACN)-phosphate buffer (60:40) at pH 8, and the rough-hulled rice matrix method uses an CAN-phosphate (70:30) buffer at pH 2. Increased retention time is observed for CPT HCl at the higher pH. The two methods have been useful in characterizing different bait formulations in an ongoing pesticide formulation improvement program.
Characterization of Random Process Variations Using Ultralow-Power, High-Sensitivity, Bias-Free Sub-Threshold Process Sensor

We propose a novel ultralow-power, high-sensitivity, bias-free sub-threshold process variation sensor for monitoring the random variations in the threshold voltage. The proposed sensor characterizes the threshold voltage mismatch between closely spaced, supposedly identical transistors using the exponential current-voltage relationship of sub-threshold operation. The sensitivity of the proposed sensor is 2.3× better than the previous sensor reported in the literature which utilizes above-threshold operation. To further improve the sensitivity of the proposed sensor, an amplifier stage working in the sub-threshold region is designed. This enables 4× additional increase in sensitivity. A test-chip containing an array of 128 PMOS and 128 NMOS devices has been fabricated in 65-nm bulk CMOS process technology. A total of 28 dies across the wafer have been fully characterized and the random threshold voltage variations are reported here.
Molecular insights into α2 adrenergic receptor function: clinical implications

Efferent signaling from the sympathetic nervous system integrates myriad vital functions. Modulation of sympathetic neuron signaling occurs in part by feedback inhibition of neurotransmitter release, mediated largely via α2a and/or α2c adrenergic receptors (α2a&c ARs). This review will describe an overview of our current understanding of α2a&c AR biology, clinical implications of these findings, and the possible clinical importance of genetic variants of α2a&c ARs.
Attitudes toward the management of nonindustrial private forest land

Management of the nation's forests has been widely criticized. Such criticisms stem, in part, from the widely held belief that owners and managers of nonindustrial private forests (NIPFs) have a vested economic interest in the resource not shared by the general public. As a result, previous studies of NIPF management have assumed that landowners differ from the general public and hold utilitarian‐oriented values toward the natural environment. Data collected in Pennsylvania, a state with one of the largest acreages of NIPFs, challenge this commonly held belief. This article presents evidence of common concerns held by NIPF landowners and the general public with respect to their attitudes toward forests and forest management policies. Moreover, these findings reveal that sociodemographic characteristics, use of the forest, and ownership status have little influence on attitudes toward management.
Evaluation of drug loading, pharmacokinetic behavior, and toxicity of a cisplatin-containing hydrogel nanoparticle

Cisplatin is a cytotoxic drug used as a first-line therapy for a wide variety of cancers. However, significant renal and neurological toxicities limit its clinical use. It has been documented that drug toxicities can be mitigated through nanoparticle formulation, while simultaneously increasing tumor accumulation through the enhanced permeation and retention effect. Circulation persistence is a key characteristic for exploiting this effect, and to that end we have developed long-circulating, PEGylated, polymeric hydrogels using the Particle Replication In Non-wetting Templates (PRINT®) platform and complexed cisplatin into the particles (PRINT-Platin). Sustained release was demonstrated, and drug loading correlated to surface PEG density. A PEG Mushroom conformation showed the best compromise between particle pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and drug loading (16wt.%). While the PK profile of PEG Brush was superior, the loading was poor (2wt.%). Conversely, the drug loading in non-PEGylated particles was better (20wt.%), but the PK was not desirable. We also showed comparable cytotoxicity to cisplatin in several cancer cell lines (non-small cell lung, A549; ovarian, SKOV-3; breast, MDA-MB-468) and a higher MTD in mice (10mg/kg versus 5mg/kg). The pharmacokinetic profiles of drug in plasma, tumor, and kidney indicate improved exposure in the blood and tumor accumulation, with concurrent renal protection, when cisplatin was formulated in a nanoparticle. PK parameters were markedly improved: a 16.4-times higher area-under-the-curve (AUC), a reduction in clearance (CL) by a factor of 11.2, and a 4.20-times increase in the volume of distribution (Vd). Additionally, non-small cell lung and ovarian tumor AUC was at least twice that of cisplatin in both models. These findings suggest the potential for PRINT-Platin to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity compared to current cisplatin therapies.
Fullerene grafted amine‐containing polymers

We have covalently attached fullerenes to amine containing flexible hydrocarbon polymers such as amino-ethylene propylene terpolymer (EPDM-amine) to obtain novel fullerene functionalized polymers. These materials are soluble in solvents such as heptane or tetrahydrofuran (THF), in which the fullerene is essentially insoluble. The reaction of the fullerene and polymer was followed by infra-red spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) scans of EPDM-amine and Fullerene reacted EPDM-amine show that the fullerene grafted polymer is thermoxidatively more stable than the original polymer. Furthermore, the fullerene grafted polymer could be reacted further with primary-tertiary diamines to obtain novel polymers in which the fullerene acts as a bridging group for attaching polar functional groups to nonpolar hydrocarbon polymers.
Inappropriate Continuation of Stress Ulcer Prophylactic Therapy After Discharge

Background:Medications for stress ulcer prophylaxis are appropriately started in critically ill patients with risks for developing stress ulcers. It is unknown whether these drugs are discontinued once the risk factors are removed.Objective:TO assess the duration of stress ulcer prophylactic therapy in critically ill patients.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted at a multidisciplinary, 24 bed medical/surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary referral medical center. Three hundred ninety-four patients fulfilled eligibility criteria during the study period of July 1, 2005, through September 30, 2005. Patients were considered to be appropriately discharged from the hospital on gastric acid suppressants it they met any of the following criteria: continued mechanical ventilation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peplic ulcer disease, history of gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding within the past year, prescribed medications used for stress ulcer prophylaxis prior ...
The Reliability of Student Ratings of Master Teacher Behaviors

Faculty members (N = 39) from two universities had their lectures recorded. From these videos, we selected 5-min vignettes centered on eight dimensions of the Teacher Behavior Checklist. Undergradu...
The knob & switch computer: A computer architecture simulator for introductory computer science

The Knob & Switch Computer is a computer architecture simulator designed to teach beginning students the basics of computer organization. It differs from existing simulators in two significant ways: (1) it incorporates cognitive hooks in the form of knobs and switches that encourage exploration and discovery on the part of the student; and (2) it can be presented one component at a time, starting with a simple interactive data path and building incrementally to a full-featured stored program machine. Both of these features make it possible to engage beginning students and effectively convey an understanding of how computers work. The Knob & Switch Computer simulator can also motivate the study of other computing topics such as data representation, assembly language programming, and RISC vs. CISC architectures. In addition to describing the Knob & Switch Computer, we discuss experiences using the simulator in breadth-based introductory courses both at Dickinson College and Creighton University.
Controlled evaporative assembly of polymers from confined solutions

INTRODUCTION In the process of drying, nonvolatile solutes (e.g., polymers, proteins, viruses, bacteria, DNA, microspheres, nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes, etc.) contained within a sessile droplet (i.e., unconstrained liquid) readily assemble into a diverse range of intriguing oneor two-dimensional structures, possessing dimensions of a few hundred submicrons and beyond. It is, in principle, a nonequilibrium process. Two main characteristic patterns are often observed: ‘‘coffee rings’’ and irregular network structures (i.e., Benard cells). A ‘‘coffee ring’’ forms when, in the absence of natural convection and surface tension gradients, the contact line of an evaporating drop becomes pinned. This ensures that liquid evaporating from the edge is replenished by liquid from the interior, so the outward flow carries the nonvolatile dispersions to the edge. The evaporation flux varies spatially, with the highest flux observed at the edge of drop. A subset of the ‘‘coffee rings’’ phenomenon is the formation of concentric rings by repeated microscopic pinning and depinning events (i.e., ‘‘stick-slip’’ motion) of the three-phase contact line, that is, the competition between the friction force and surface tension of the solution. However, random concentric rings are generally formed. Moreover, based on Navier-Stokes equations with a lubrication approximation, the bulk of current theoretical work has centered on understanding a single ring formation using either analytical or numerical methods. By contrast, only a few elegant theoretical studies have focused, either analytically or numerically, on the formation of periodic multirings (i.e., concentric rings) during droplet evaporation on a substrate. A gradient of temperature normal to the droplet surface due to solvent evaporation can induce a Marangoni-Benard convection (i.e., closed-loop circular convection), which results in irregular Benard cells caused by the upward flow of lower, warmer liquid. The spatial variation of evaporative flux and possible convection mean, however, that these nonequilibrium, dissipative structures (e.g., ‘‘coffee rings,’’ cellular structures, fingering instabilities, etc.) are often irregular and stochastically organized.
Navigating non-positivity in neighbourhood studies: an analysis of collective efficacy and violence

Background In multilevel studies, strong correlations of neighbourhood exposures with individual and neighbourhood confounders may generate problems with non-positivity (ie, inferences that are ‘off-support’). The authors used propensity restriction and matching to (1) assess the utility of propensity restriction to ensure analyses are ‘on-support’ and (2) examine the relation between collective efficacy and violence in a previously unstudied city. Methods Associations between neighbourhood collective efficacy and violent victimisation were estimated in data from New York City in 2005 (n=4000) using marginal models and propensity matching. Results In marginal models adjusted for individual confounders and limited to observations ‘on-support’, under conditions of high collective efficacy, the estimated prevalence of violent victimisation was 3.5/100, while under conditions of low collective efficacy, it was 7.5/100, resulting in a difference of 4.0/100 (95% CI 2.6 to 5.8). In propensity-matched analysis, the comparable difference was 4.0/100 (95% CI 2.1 to 5.9). In analyses adjusted for individual and neighbourhood confounders and limited to observations ’on-support’, the difference in violent victimisation associated with collective efficacy was 3.1/100 (95% CI 1.2 to 5.2) in marginal models and 2.4/100 (95% CI 0.2 to 4.5) in propensity-matched analysis. Analyses without support restrictions produced surprisingly similar results. Conclusions Under conditions of high collective efficacy, there was about half the prevalence of violence compared with low collective efficacy. The results contribute to a growing body of evidence that suggests collective efficacy may shape violence, and illustrate how careful techniques can be used to disentangle exposures from highly correlated confounders without relying on model extrapolation.
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS PHASE I GPS USER EQUIPMENT

This paper emphasizes the importance of the manufacturer's reaching a proper balance between utility (capacity of equipment to satisfy performance requirements) and affordability (life--cycle cost to the user). The approach used is to produce in sufficient quantity to reduce cost. The demand for quantity is created by designing the equipment so that it will solve problems for large numbers of users. Where different configurations of the some basic equipment are needed, cost can be kept to a minimum by maximum use of common modules. This philosophy is illustrated by a box-by-box description of the three user equipment sets that Texas Instruments is developing for the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System: the High Dynamic User Equipment, Missile-Borne Receiver Set, and Manpack/Vehicular User Equipment.
Synaptic complexes formed by functionally defined primary afferent units with fine myelinated fibers

The individual fine myelinated fibers of cutaneous mechanical nociceptors and “D-hair” receptors were identified by electrophysiological recording with micropipette electrodes in cats and monkeys. Their intraspinal terminations were labeled by iontophoresing horseradish peroxidase intracellularly and subsequent diaminobenzidine histochemistry. These terminations were examined with light and electron microscopy to determine the nature and organization of their synaptic contacts. Myelinated fibers of the mechanical nociceptors became unmyelinated before exhibiting many enlargements that made multiple synaptic contacts in the marginal zone (lamina I) and lamina V. Pre-or postsynaptic contacts were found only on enlargements. In the marginal zone of the cat, enlargements made simple axodendritic contacts or were scalloped, central terminals in glomeruli. In glomeruli, myelinated mechanical nociceptor enlargements were presynaptic to several dendritic appendages and postsynaptic to two different types of profiles. One type was interpreted as a presynaptic axon terminal, the other as a presynaptic, vesicle-containing, dendritic appendage. In lamina V of the cat the nociceptor synaptic complexes were similar, but simpler, and only axonal profiles were found to be presynaptic to them. In the monkey marginal zone and deep nucleus proprius, myelinated nociceptor terminations formed the central element of glomeruli, which consisted of postsynaptic dendritic appendages and presynaptic axon terminals. D-hair axons terminated in large numbers of enlargements in the nucleusproprius (laminae III and IV) and inner substantia gelatinosa (lamina III). Their large rounded enlargements formed the central terminals in glomeruli and were presynaptic to both ordinary and vesicle-containing dendritic appendages; the presynaptic dendritic profiles also often contacted each other. Profiles interpreted as axonal in origin were the only terminals presynaptic to the primary ending within the D-hair glomeruli. The results suggest that transfer of primary afferent information occurs only at enlargements of the primary fiber and that each primary fiber enters into more than one kind of synaptic arrangement. They also point out that synaptic glomeruli are common to functionally different types of primary afferent fibers and that the internal organization of glomeruli varies with the kind of primary fiber and the locus of the complex.
Multirate process scheduling and synchronization in distributed signal processors

Multirate signal processing requires different segments of a signal processing graph to be executed at different rates. Graph segments executed in each distributed processing element of a distributed signal processor must be scheduled to avoid excessive peaks and valleys in computation loading. Also, graph segment scheduling in pipelined distributed processing elements, performing different parts of the same problem, must be synchronized. When application control code and parameter tables for individual distributed processing elements can be developed relatively autonomously, and when control interaction between distributed processing elements is minimized, programming complexity is reduced. This decomposition of large system processing requirements makes the use of high order, graph based languages more feasible. Scheduling and synchronizing signal processing tasks using high order language graph specification has been studied extensively in recent years 2,3,4,5. This paper describes a method and algorithms for scheduling graph segments within distributed processing elements, load smoothing within distributed processing elements, and distributed processing element synchronization for multirate signal processing problems. The criterion employed for all scheduling, load smoothing and synchronization is a modulo processing interval count. The information required to schedule each multirate graph segment is represented in a single high order language statement containing a vector of nine parameters which are generated at compile time.
Use of soybean hulls with or without corn by-product protein sources in feedlot backgrounding diets

on d 28 and 52 compared with steers on corn-origin protein diets, indicating potentially greater protein degradability. Compared with H-DCGF steers, H-DDGS steers had greater (P 0.10) overall. The H-DCGF steers had greater (P 0.10). Based on performance and blood metabolites, SBH with or without corn by-products can be a substitute for DRC and SBM in feedlot backgrounding diets.
Ubiquitous Myocardial Extensions into the Pulmonary Artery Demonstrated by Integrated Intracardiac Echocardiography and Electroanatomic Mapping: Changing the Paradigm of Idiopathic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Arrhythmias

Background— Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias of left bundle branch block inferior axis morphology are usually localized to the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), presumably below the pulmonic valve (PV). However, the PV location is usually not confirmed by direct visualization. Methods and Results— Intracardiac echocardiography was used to visualize and tag the PV annulus, which was then integrated with 3-dimensional voltage maps of the RVOT. Distances were measured from the furthest extent of myocardial signal (bipolar voltage ≥1.5 mV) to the PV annulus. This was performed in 24 control patients and 24 prospective patients with RVOT arrhythmias. Myocardial signal beyond the PV was found in 92% of controls and 88% of RVOT arrhythmia patients ( P =1.000). Average myocardial extension was further on the septal side than on the free wall side for control patients (5.6 mm; interquartile range [IQR], 3.6–7.7, versus 1.7 mm; IQR (−)0.1 to (+)4.0; P =0.002) and RVOT arrhythmia patients (5.7 mm; IQR, 2.7–7.7, versus 1.4 mm; IQR, (−)0.8 to (+)4.8; P =0.004). Eleven (46%) RVOT arrhythmia foci were localized beyond the valve in the pulmonary artery (median 8.2 mm above PV; IQR, 6.6–10.3 mm); these locations were confirmed as supravalvular by direct intracardiac echocardiography visualization. Conclusions— Myocardial voltage extension into the pulmonary artery in humans is ubiquitous and can be demonstrated in vivo using 3-dimensional integrated intracardiac echocardiography to localize the PV. These extensions frequently serve as origins of presumed RVOT arrhythmias; intracardiac echocardiography localization of the PV allows reclassification of these as pulmonary arterial arrhythmias.
STIMULATION OF INSULIN RELEASE BY CORICOTROPIN.

Corticotropin has been shown to exert numerous extra-adrenal metabolic effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Among the more prominent of these effects are the mobilization of free fatty acids, the depression of the blood sugar and the production of ketosis. The present study was an investigation of the mechanism of the hypoglycemic action and its relationship to the ketosis. Corticotropin- induced hypoglycemia did not occur in alloxan-diabetic mice maintained at normal blood sugar levels with insulin treatment. Thus, an intact pancreas appeared to be necessary for the hypoglycemic action. Utilizing a radioimmunoassay, it was possible to demonstrate that corticotropin administration results in a 5- to 10-fold rise in plasma insulin levels. This rise in plasma insulin was accompanied by a decrease in the blood sugar and a rise in the blood ketones. Simultaneous administration of D-mannoheptulose with the corticotropin partially blocked the rise in plasma insulin levels, suggesting that the rise was ...
Changes in Personality and Learning Styles for First Year Medical Students

Sixty-five students (62% response rate) completed the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience Personality Inventory-Revised and Grasha-Reichmann Student Learning Styles Scale at the beginning and end of their first year of medical school. Paired t-tests showed significant differences for 2 of 5 personality scales and 5 of 6 learning styles scales.
On the Nature of Dialogic Identity Work

This paper seeks to supplement the theory that identity work incorporates a dialogic process by focusing on how such processes can proceed. The research question is: how do people's identities beco...
Factors influencing naproxen metabolite interference in total bilirubin assays.

Abstract Background The factors influencing naproxen metabolite O-desmethylnaproxen (ODMN) positive interference in diazo-based Jendrassik and Grof (JG) total bilirubin (Tbil) assays and lack of interference in direct bilirubin (Dbil) assays have not been resolved. The objective of this study was to understand the conditions causing this interference pattern. Methods Pooled normal and ultra-filtered plasma samples spiked with ODMN and naproxen were measured on the Beckman Coulter DxC and AU instruments. Absorbance spectra were obtained for ODMN mixed with Dbil reagent at original and adjusted pH. Absorbance spectra were also obtained for ODMN and bilirubin samples mixed with Tbil assay reagents. Results ODMN produces a positive interference in the DxC JG Tbil assays, but not the AU Tbil or Dbil assays or the DxC Dbil assay. Neutralizing the acidic pH of AU and DxC Dbil reagents allows ODMN to react with diazo salts. ODMN samples mixed with DxC and AU Tbil reagents produce broad peaks from 450 to 560 nm and 400 to 540 nm, respectively. The DxC JG Tbil assay monitors a change in absorbance at 520 nm close to peak absorbance wavelength of diazo-reacted ODMN, whereas the AU Tbil assay monitors a change in absorbance at 570/660 nm, beyond the peak absorbance wavelengths of diazo-reacted ODMN. Conclusion The acidic pH of diazo-based Dbil assay reagents inhibits the reaction of ODMN with diazo salts. The AU JG Tbil assay is a reliable method to measure Tbil in the setting of naproxen overdose.
Touch Football at Wichita State

(1974). Touch Football at Wichita State. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 45, No. 8, pp. 79-80.
Cultural geographies: an introduction

This book promises “an overview of key approaches … and an introduction to some key case studies” in order “to encourage you to think critically and creatively about cultural geographies … ” (p. xi...
A Computational and Experimental Investigation of Flow over an Inflatable Wing

Inflatable wings provide a compact alternative for aircraft that need to fit into small volumes before deployment, such as backpack unmanned aircraft or rocket-delivered air vehicles. The naturally undulating airfoil surface created by the inflation chambers may also provide an opportunity for flow control, as early wind tunnel tests indicated that separation over these airfoils was reduced compared to their smooth counterparts. Subsequent efforts to replicate these advantages computationally have proven ambiguous— while under certain conditions the inflatable airfoil may improve the lift-to-drag characteristics of the wing, in other conditions the inflatable profile appears detrimental. Further, these results have not been satisfactorily compared to experiments to confirm their validity. To attempt to address this, a series of PIV measurements has been taken for both a bumpy and smooth NACA 4318 airfoil at varying Reynolds number and angle of attack. This data is compared to CFD simulations in order to validate the models and gain further insight in to the flow physics. The combined computational/experimental analysis will allow for a better determination of the performance penalty or benefit that occurs due to the bumpy surface. Select three-dimensional simulations will also be used to further illuminate the effects of the bumpy surface on the aerodynamics.
Servperf versus Servqual: Reconciling Performance-Based and Perceptions-Minus-Expectations Measurement of Service Quality:

The authors respond to concerns raised by Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry (1994) about the relative efficacy of performance-based and perceptions-minus-expectations measures of service quality. Th...
AUTOMATED FITTING OF X-RAY POWDER DIFFRACTION PATTERNS FROM INTERSTRATIFIED PHYLLOSILICATES

NEWMOD®, developed by R.C. Reynolds, Jr., has been an important tool for evaluating quantitatively X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns from interstratified clay minerals for more than 20 years. However, a significant drawback to the NEWMOD® approach is that analyses are done by forward simulation, making results sensitive to user input and starting-model assumptions. In the present study, a reverse-fitting procedure was implemented in a new program, FITMOD, which automatically minimizes the differences between experimental and simulated XRD patterns. The differences are minimized by varying model parameters (such as Reichweite, crystal-size distribution, cation content, type of disorder, etc.) using the downhill simplex method. The downhill simplex method is a non-linear optimization technique for determining minima of functions. This method does not require calculation of the derivatives of the functions being minimized, an important consideration with many of the parameters in NEWMOD- type simulations. Instead, the downhill simplex method calculates pseudo-derivatives by evaluating sufficient points to define a derivative for each independent variable. The performance of FITMOD was evaluated by fitting a series of synthetic XRD patterns generated by NEWMOD+, yielding agreement factors, Rwp, of <0.3%. As long as the correct interstratified system was specified (e.g. illite-smectite), excellent fits were obtained irrespective of the starting parameters for the simulations. FITMOD was also tested using experimental XRD patterns, which gave very good fits, in agreement with previously published results. The optimization routine yields good fits for both synthetic and experimental XRD profiles in a reasonable time, with the possibility of varying all important structural parameters. FITMOD automatically provides optimum fits to experimental XRD data without operator bias, and fitting efficiency and accuracy were, therefore, significantly improved.
An Airborne Balloon Launch System (ABLS): Heritage, Concepts and Applications

[Abstract] An air launch balloon system provides an opportunity for observations on a global basis with greatest immediacy. Operating altitudes of 60,000 – 70,000 ft allow the ALBS to take advantage of the relatively low wind speeds in this layer of the atmosphere. When prevailing winds move the asset out of the theatre of operations, a new balloon asset can be launched to maintain coverage. In order to provide complete global coverage, an ABLS can be launched from areas where a ground launch is not possible. If an urgent need for a balloon system in a certain area is identified, an ABLS can be deployed to launch in hours. The ABLS provides total flexibility in selecting the time and place where a balloon system is deployed in support of operational areas. The Offboard Balloon Jammer System (OBJS) was developed by SwRI for the Joint Electronic Warfare Center (JEWC) of Kelly Air Force Base. The requirements for the OBJS called for a 150-lb electronics payload to float at 27,000 ft. for six hours after an airborne launch. The OBJS was integrated and complete testing of the system was performed at SwRI. A very successful free-flight airborne and inflation test of the OBJS system was conducted from Holloman AFB, New Mexico in October of 1993. Since that time, additional work has been conducted in support of planetary ballooning technology development. Descriptions of prior studies, development efforts, potential applications, testing and the current state of the art will be presented.
Neurolysis: A Novel Approach To Treat Metastatic Pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal system. The incidence of pheochromocytoma is approximately 2 to 8 per 1,000,000 individuals. Frankel F in 1886, first described Paragangliomas (PGLs) as extra-adrenal chromaffin cell tumors. Common extra-adrenal sites of tumor include bone, lungs, abdominal organs and lymph nodes. 15% to 35% of paragangliomas have been described to be malignant. Donelly et al, has attributed pain to be the most common symptom of cancer in over 80% of patients. Of which bone metastases is the most common cause of cancer-related pain. Robert E. Coleman found 30% of cancer patients postmortem to have evidence of metastatic bone disease. Intractable pain is often neuropathic in origin, arising from tumor invasion of nerve roots, plexuses or peripheral nerves. Bone metastases (BM) predispose patients to acute and chronic sequelaes such as immobilization, loss of independence, reduced quality of life and functionality. Cancer pain is particularly challenging to treat due to its progressive, multifocal, and complex disease process that is often debilitating. Interventional treatments can broadly be classified into either neuromodulatory or neuroablative. Neuromodulation is the alteration of pain pathways either by medication or stimulation. Neuroabalation is the interruption of the pain pathway by chemical or thermal modalities. We report on a patient with metastatic pheochromocytoma who presented with incapacitating hip pain who was treated with neurolysis.
Enforcing Nuclear Non-Proliferation—The Role of Verification

Nuclear non-proliferation verification should be framed as a multiple negative in connection with deterring and detecting States’ nuclear activities so as to impel States to neither develop nor otherwise acquire disallowed weapons. Accordingly, international authorities must have legal authority to determine whether non-proliferation obligations are satisfied, to resolve doubts about compliance, and in the rare case to coercively enforce such obligations. Ultimately, verification necessarily entails an elevation of legal authority to judge a State’s behaviour from self-appointed State political and military elites to technical elites within the United Nations or other international organizations, thereby strengthening global governance in the cause of peace and security. The international community must know what States are doing with and about nuclear and other weapons, and this superior interest must trump the strategic interests of any particular State. This chapter first asserts that the core imperative of verification must be to enable detection of violations of non-proliferation obligations, and it frames the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in verifying compliance with States’ mutual commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. It then addresses two controversies associated with nuclear non-proliferation verification, respectively: the scope of States’ legal obligation to allow the IAEA to resolve doubts about compliance, and the Security Council’s authority to impose sanctions for non-compliance with nuclear non-proliferation obligations pursuant to recent international law decisions. The author concludes that the IAEA is fully mandated to verify not only the correctness but also the completeness of a State’s reports, and the Security Council has unreviewable authority to enforce international obligations in the maintenance of peace and security.
Stability of deoxynivalenol in heat-treated foods.

The effects of high-temperature and -pressure processing of foods spiked with deoxynivalenol (DON) were examined. In extruded corn grits, extruded dry dog food, and autoclaved moist dog food, there were no significant reductions (P < 0.05) in DON after processing. Autoclaved cream-style corn showed a reduction in DON of only 12%. Overall, DON was stabile to the high temperature and pressure processes tested. The use of an α-amylase in the extraction method for analysis by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) improved the recovery of DON from the spiked extruded and autoclaved products by as much as 26% over the standard ELISA method.
The geological relationships between Sardinia and Calabria during Alpine and Hercynian times

What were the geological relations between Calabria and Sardinia before the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea? It would be premature to reach a definitive conclusion, so we consider (without reaching any conclusions) four major open questions that bear on the original geologic relationships between Sardinia and Calabria, and that are closely interconnected: (1) Was Calabria a single terrane during post-Hercynian time (Mesozoic and Cenozoic), or is it a composite terrane formed by Cenozoic collision of two subterranes, northern and southern? (2) What has the history of subduction under Calabria been? One interpretation envisions an early «Alpine», east-dipping subduction followed by a later «Apennine», west-dipping subduction; an alternative view is that only west-dipping subduction has occurred. (3) Is there a recognizable match between the Hercynian and Mesozoic geology of Sardinia and of Calabria? The Hercynian evolution of Sardinia is now generally understood, although with some open questions. That of Calabria is still poorly known, which makes it hard at this point to use a match of the Hercynian patterns to constrain a pre-Tyrrhenian terrane reconstruction, but the character of Mesozoic carbonate sequences may provide an additional constraint. (4) How was Calabria extended during its rifting away from Sardinia?
Enjoyment fosters media use frequency and determines its relational outcomes

Previous work has begun to incorporate psychological constructs into our understanding of media multiplexity (i.e., use of multiple media in a single interpersonal relationship). Following this approach, this investigation examined how a user's enjoyment of a communication medium might both predict medium use frequency and alter the extent to which closeness is an outcome of such use. Results supported this model across six popular interpersonal communication media (voice telephone, text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, video chat, and social networking sites) in relationships with extended family members. Specifically, at low levels of medium enjoyment, use of a medium was not associated with relational closeness. Practically, these results suggest that communicating via an unsatisfying medium may not foster relational closeness; theoretically, these results argue for including psychological processes to strengthen MMT as a theory of interpersonal media choice. We used conditional process analysis to study medium enjoyment in extended families.Enjoyment of a medium predicted medium use frequency in extended families.Medium use frequency positively predicts relational closeness.Medium enjoyment moderates the effect media use has on relational closeness.
Asymmetric wave transmission in a diatomic acoustic/elastic metamaterial

Asymmetric acoustic/elastic wave transmission has recently been realized using nonlinearity, wave diffraction, or bias effects, but always at the cost of frequency distortion, direction shift, large volumes, or external energy. Based on the self-coupling of dual resonators, we propose a linear diatomic metamaterial, consisting of several small-sized unit cells, to realize large asymmetric wave transmission in low frequency domain (below 1 kHz). The asymmetric transmission mechanism is theoretically investigated, and numerically verified by both mass-spring and continuum models. This passive system does not require any frequency conversion or external energy, and the asymmetric transmission band can be theoretically predicted and mathematically controlled, which extends the design concept of unidirectional transmission devices.
Reactions of Dichlorocarbene With Non-Olefinic Substrates

The reactions of dichlorocarbene with a variety of olefinic and acetylenic substrates have been discussed in Chap. 2. We wish now to turn our attention to the reactions of this species with a number of other substrates which either are non-olefinic or contain double bonds which do not constitute the major reactive function. The substrates considered here are alcohols, imines, amines, amides, thioethers, and hydrocarbons. With the exception of the latter, all of these species appear to react by initial coordination of the electrophilic carbene with a Lewis basic site. Subsequent reactions attributable to differences in the basic function or involvement with other reactive sites lead to differences in the chemistry of each substrate, and each is therefore considered separately.
Raising new questions and restoring our focus on authentic student learning

To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science.—Albert EinsteinTo answer the question posed in t...
Nonhost resistance: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal causes DNA damage prior to the induction of PR genes and disease resistance in pea tissue

Abstract The defense gene activations that provide non-host disease resistance in plants are signaled by various elicitors. A number of the fungal-derived signal such as chitosan and DNase are uniquely able to promote transcription through direct effects on the DNA of pea chromatin at sites of defense gene transcription. Other biological signals are contained within the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and make substantial changes in DNA in other tissues. The current research probes the ROS elicitor concentrations and the conditions within pea endocarp nuclear material temporally associated with the activation of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. Within 10 min, ROS accumulate in response to a bean pathogen Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli (Fsph) to levels 4-fold those elicited by the pea pathogen Fusarium solani f.sp. pisi (Fspi). Application of Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) (HP) increases DNA fragmentation and activates the PR genes ( DRR206, defensin, PR10, and PR1b ) within 50 min and changes the nuclear diameters of the pea host cells in 3 h. Increased levels of the phytoalexin, pisatin and the growth suppression of the pea pathogen, Fspi, were observed within 24 h after H 2 O 2 treatment to the endocarp. Our results suggest that H 2 O 2 contributes to the induction of the defense response in pea endocarp tissue, which is likely mediated by activation of DNA damage responses.
CHAPTER 13 – Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Abstract Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common form of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The exact electroanatomic circuit responsible for AVNRT remains elusive. Current evidence suggests that dual atrioventricular nodal (AVN) pathway physiology constitutes the substrate for AVN reentry. The different atrial inputs to the AVN, rather than functional longitudinal dissociation within the compact AVN, represent the fast and slow pathways involved in the reentrant circuit. AVNRT can manifest in different forms depending on the anatomic substrate forming the anterograde and retrograde pathways incorporated in the reentry circuit. Traditionally, AVNRT has been classified into “typical” or “atypical” forms. Typical AVNRT (anterograde slow-retrograde fast) accounts for 90% of AVNRTs. Atypical AVNRT variants are traditionally subclassified as either fast-slow or slow-slow types. Maintenance of AVNRT is dependent on AVN conduction; hence, maneuvers or drugs that slow AVN conduction and prolong AVN refractoriness are used to terminate the tachycardia. For chronic management of AVNRT, pharmacological therapy and catheter ablation can be considered. Long-term pharmacological therapy (including beta blockers and calcium channel blockers) can be effective in 30% to 60% of patients. On the other hand, catheter ablation is associated with higher efficacy (>95%) and low incidence of complications and therefore has become the preferred initial therapeutic approach. The slow pathway is the target of ablation for all variants of AVNRT. Initially, the rightward inferior AVN extension is targeted. Then, the leftward inferior AVN extension is targeted if needed.
Improvement in mismatch negativity generation during d-serine treatment in schizophrenia: Correlation with symptoms.

Abstract Background Deficits in N -methyl- d -aspartate-type (NMDAR) function contribute to symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. The efficacy of NMDAR agonists in the treatment of persistent symptoms of schizophrenia has been variable, potentially reflecting limitations in functional target engagement. We recently demonstrated significant improvement in auditory mismatch negativity (MMN) with once-weekly treatment with d -serine, a naturally occurring NMDAR glycine-site agonist. This study investigates effects of continuous (daily) NMDAR agonists in schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. Methods Primary analysis was on MMN after double-blind crossover (60 mg/kg/d, n = 16, 6 weeks) treatment with d -serine/placebo. Secondary measures included clinical symptoms, neurocognition, and the effects of open-label (30–120 mg/kg/d, n = 21) d -serine and bitopertin/placebo (10 mg, n = 29), a glycine transport inhibitor. Results Double-blind d -serine treatment led to significant improvement in MMN frequency ( p = 0.001, d = 2.3) generation and clinical symptoms ( p = 0.023, d = 0.80). MMN frequency correlated significantly with change in symptoms (r = − 0.63, p = 0.002) following co-variation for treatment type. d -Serine treatment led to a significant, large effect size increase vs. placebo in evoked α-power in response to standards ( p = 0.036, d = 0.81), appearing to normalize evoked α power relative to previous findings with controls. While similar results were seen with open-label d -serine, no significant effects of bitopertin were observed for symptoms or MMN. Conclusions These findings represent the first randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study with 60 mg/kg d -serine in schizophrenia, and are consistent with meta-analyses showing significant effects of d -serine in schizophrenia. Results overall support suggest that MMN may have negative, as well as positive, predictive value in predicting efficacy of novel compounds. Clinical trials registration Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT00322023 /NCT00817336 ( d -serine); NCT01116830 (bitopertin).