cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of inflatable membrane structures

Inflatable structures are effective in space applications, as they are weight, volume and cost competitive. For certain space applications, higher gains are obtained for the antennas by increasing their size. Higher gains often result in increased data throughput. These and other advantages lead to inflatable structures being considered increasingly for building large space structures. However, large inflatable structures are prone to surface errors arising from environmental factors, among others. The degradation in the performance may be reduced by active and passive control of the shape of the antennas by using appropriate sensors. In this context, piezoelectric films are used for the active and passive control. In this paper, we discuss both experimental and numerical approaches exploring piezoelectric film. In order to explore the applications of piezoelectric films, a circular diaphragm is subjected to varying pressures and displacements are measured using laser instrumentation. The effects of applying voltage on the shape of the piezoelectric film subjected to pressurization are studied. The piezoelectric film is modeled as a large displacement/large rotation geometrically nonlinear membrane undergoing small strains. This paper presents experience gained in modeling the piezoelectric film subjected to both thermal and pressure loads. The numerical results are presented in the form of graphs. The response is studied for applied steady-state temperatures for various pressurization levels. Certain thermo-structural instabilities were encountered in the modeling and the paper presents procedures used in circumventing such instabilities for the piezoelectric type of thin inflatable membranes.
New target results from the FNAL antiproton source

Nickel and compressed rhenium powder targets have been installed in the FNAL antiproton source target station. Ni was chosen for its high melting point energy and resistance to stress wave fractures. As well, compressed powdered rhenium segments were constrained by a thin-wall Ti jacket to insure resistance to stress fractures. The p~ yield of these new targets is compared with that of copper-the previous standard production target. The target depletion characteristics of nickel and rhenium for a beam intensity of 1.6/spl times/10/sup 12/ protons per pulse are also presented. >
The prevalence of mitochondrial mutations associated with aminoglycoside‐induced sensorineural hearing loss in an NICU population

Several mitochondrial DNA variants increase risk for developing sensorineural hearing loss following exposure to aminoglycoside antibiotics, a particular concern in the premature infant population, as many of these babies spend time in neonatal intensive care units and are treated with aminoglycosides. To determine the relative prevalence of five mitochondrial DNA variants in the 12S rRNA gene, MT-RNR1, we genotyped 703 neonatal intensive care unit patients and 1,473 individuals from the general Iowa population. We found that the aggregate frequency of these variants (∼1.8%) was comparable between populations. Although no hearing loss was detected by newborn hearing screens in the at-risk patients, these neonatal intensive care unit graduates have an increased life-time risk for developing aminoglycoside-induced deafness.
SDS: Distributed Spatial-Temporal Similarity Data Storage in Wireless Sensor Networks

Since centralized data storage and search schemes often lead to high overhead and latency, distributed data centric storage becomes a preferable approach in large-scale WSNs. However, most of existing methods lack optimization for spatial- temporal search and similarity search for multi-attribute data. Some methods are optimized under circumstances where nodes are equipped with locating systems (e.g., GPS) which consumes high energy. This paper proposes a distributed spatial-temporal similarity data storage scheme (SDS). It disseminates event data in such a way that the distance between WSN neighborhoods represents the similarity of data stored in them. In addition, SDS carpooling routing algorithm efficiently routes messages without the aid of a locating system. SDS provides efficient spatial- temporal and similarity data searching service. Experimental results show that SDS yields significant improvements on the efficiency of data querying compared with existing approaches.
Iddq testing for high performance CMOS-the next ten years

CMOS scaling affects the subthreshold current per IC, and it directly impacts the utility of Iddq testing for CMOS devices. Continued IC manufacturing refinements enable a factor of /spl radic/2 reduction in line widths every three years. This in conjunction with an increase in chip size makes it possible to increase the number of transistors per IC by a factor between two and three. This trend in CMOS technology is expected to continue over at least the next ten years. The scaling of devices affects numerous device parameters, one being the subthreshold current commonly known as the leakage current. Assuming defect size scales with technology, it will be explained why it will become increasingly difficult to differentiate good and defective devices based upon an Iddq test methodology.
The impact of resource partitioning on SMT processors

Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) increases processor throughput by multiplexing resources among several threads. Despite the commercial availability of SMT processors, several aspects of this resource sharing are not well understood. For example, academic SMT studies typically assume that resources are shared dynamically, while industrial designs tend to divide resources statically among threads. This study seeks to quantify the performance impact of resource partitioning policies in SMT machines, focusing on the execution portion of the pipeline. We find that for storage resources, such as the instruction queue and reorder buffer, statically allocating an equal portion to each thread provides good performance, in part by avoiding starvation. The enforced fairness provided by this partitioning obviates sophisticated fetch policies to a large extent. SMT's potential ability to allocate storage resources dynamically across threads does not appear to be of significant benefit. In contrast, static division of issue bandwidth has a negative impact on throughput. SMT's ability to multiplex bursty execution streams dynamically onto shared function units contributes to its overall throughput. Finally, we apply these insights to SMT support in clustered architectures. Assigning threads to separate clusters eliminates intercluster communication; however, in some circumstances, the resulting partitioning of issue bandwidth cancels out the performance benefit of eliminating communication.
A technique for designing liquid-tunable RF lenses

A reconfigurable wireless system can dynamically adapt its characteristics to account for any variation in its environment. For example, adaptive beam forming networks can be used to enhance the received signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a wireless link and maintain a desired link capacity or the radiation pattern of a vehicular satellite communication antenna can be adaptively changed to maintain a wireless link while on the move. While the underlying ideas of such systems are relatively simple and intuitive, their widespread commercial use is hampered by the complexity and high cost of their hardware implementation. Efficient implementation of such systems requires the use of truly reconfigurable antenna apertures, filters, and associated radio frequency (RF) circuitry. While recent advancements in several technological areas have solved some of these problems, efficient and ultra-low-cost implementation of reconfigurable antenna apertures and electronically steered arrays, accessible to a broad range of users, is still an unsolved problem. Currently, such antenna apertures are only in use in the most expensive commercial or military systems, as their cost and complexity is prohibitively high for use in typical commercial wireless communication systems. Consequently, innovative methods are needed to enable the design of ultra-low cost, antenna apertures with beam steering capability.
Nonlinear Pushover Analysis of Bridge Columns Supported on Full-Moment Connection CISS Piles on Clays

This paper summarizes results from a static pushover analysis on the inelastic response of bridge columns supported on pile groups and consisting of full moment connection cast-in-place steel shell...
An Approximate Simulation Approach to Symbolic Control

This paper introduces a methodology for the symbolic control of nonlinear systems based on an approximate notion of simulation relation. This notion generalizes existing exact notions of simulation and is completely characterized in terms of known stabilizability concepts. Equipped with this notion we show how, under certain stabilizability assumptions, we can construct finite or symbolic models for nonlinear control systems. Synthesizing controllers for the original control system can then be done by using supervisory control techniques on the finite models and by refining the resulting finite controllers to hybrid controllers enforcing the specification on the original continuous control system. The proposed design methodology can be seen as a correct-by-design way of obtaining both the feedback control laws as well as the control software responsible for deciding which law is executed and when.
Another Look At Evaluating Aptitude-Achievement Discrepancies in the Diagnosis of Learning Disabilities

Congressional vagueness in the definition of learning disability has resulted in numerous statistical definitions based on achievement-ability test differences. Previous statistical research has helped to clarify the issues and to eliminate some inadequate models. This paper examines three models still considered useful to this point. The models are the prediction model, true score regression model, and prescore partialling model. Results of the analysis conducted here 'provide support for the regression model as the simplest to use and most efficient statistically.
Coping with Uncertainty in Unit Price Contracting

Unbalancing of Unit Price Proposals is widely used to improve cash flows and the competitiveness of a tender. Such practices can alter a contractor's risk favorably or otherwise. This paper is concerned with selecting unit prices which achieve a balance between maximizing the present worth of profit and minimizing potential contractor loss due to quantity misestimates. A quadratic programming model is devised to determine optimal unit prices and an example illustrates features of implementation.
Performance of Solution Modules

ELLPACK has three sets of general purpose modules for solving linear algebraic systems: Band Elimination Modules BAND GE LINPACK BAND BAND GE NO PIVOTING LINPACK SPD BAND ENVELOPE LDLT ENVELOPE LDU
Nature of the En = 1.24 MeV state in 12Be

I suggest that a new state (Phys. Rev. C 90, 024309 (2014)) observed in 12Be, with a neutron decay energy of 1243keV, is likely to be $ 2^{+}$ , rather than the previously suggested ( $ 2^{-}$ , ( $ 1^{-}$ )). Primary p-wave decay is then to the first excited state of 11Be, but a possible d-wave g.s. branch could be as large as about 10%.
Atrial natriuretic peptide reverses angiotensin-induced venoconstriction in dogs.

To determine whether atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can reverse angiotensin (ANG II)-induced venoconstriction, ANP was infused (0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) in the presence of ANG II-induced hypertension in six ganglion-blocked dogs. ANG II was initially administered to increase mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) 50% above control. ANG II did not change heart rate or left ventricular rate of pressure development (LV dP/dt) but increased total peripheral vascular resistance (TPVR) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP) increased, whereas cardiac output and venous compliance decreased. Unstressed vascular volume did not change, but central blood volume increased. ANP infusion during ANG II-induced hypertension resulted in a decrease in MAP, but TPVR did not change. There were no changes in heart rate or LV dP/dt. ANP decreased cardiac output further. LVEDP returned to base line with ANP. ANP also decreased MCFP and normalized venous compliance. There was no significant change in total blood volume, but central blood volume decreased. In summary, ANP can reverse the venoconstriction but not the arterial vasoconstriction produced by ANG II. The decrease in MAP was due to a decrease in cardiac output that resulted from venodilatation and aggravation of the preload-afterload mismatch produced by ANG II alone. Because TPVR did not change when MAP fell, we conclude that the interaction between ANG II and ANP occurs primarily in the venous circulation.
Nanoporous Titania Gas Sensing Films Prepared in a Premixed Stagnation Flame

We examine the conductometric CO sensing of TiO2 nanoparticle films prepared with a recently developed flame technique. Porous films of crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles were grown directly on interdigitated electrodes by repeatedly translating electrodes over a premixed stagnation flame doped with titanium tetraisopropoxide as the titanium precursor. Flame-deposited electrodes with particle diameter around 9 nm show enhanced sensitivity to CO by up to an order of magnitude compared to sensing films prepared using a commercial TiO2 powder with the particle diameter around 25 nm. A gas-surface model is used to examine chemical kinetic and equilibrium behaviors and explain the sensor responses. The analysis shows that the nature of the gas-surface reactions is similar between these films. The desirable feature of flame-deposited sensing film is attributed to the smaller particle size which provides a greater surface area and a more electrically sensitive conduit.
Analysis of Cavitating High Speed Liquid Flow Through a Converging-Diverging Nozzle

Cavitation is an important and common phenomena in fluid flow in which a fluid becomes two-phase through pressure variation. In devices such as valves, orifices, and metering devices, as well as loss of coolant situations in power plants, cavitation can be of interest due to erosion, energy efficiency, safety, and other concerns.It is possible for a cavitating flow to become sonic, accelerating and imposing additional energy losses that would not have occurred had the flow remained below the speed of sound. Models of this aspect of two-phase flow have not been fully explored and often have only been developed for the case of constant area.In the present paper, the homogeneous equilibrium model is developed by applying the integral forms of the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy equations to a control volume of variable cross-sectional area with adiabatic walls. The developed model is then applied to experimental data with R-134a as the fluid of interest for an instrumented converging-diverging nozzle for which mass flow, pressure, and temperature are measured.Applying the model to the experimental data yields interesting results in both the relationship between velocity and void fraction and in the predicted shear stresses down the length of the nozzle. The model predicts negative shear stresses near the nozzle’s throat an order of magnitude higher than those seen elsewhere in the nozzle. For this reason, the homogeneous model is likely not sufficient to accurately describe this variant of cavitating flow.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
G196(P) Residual Small Bowel Length Predicts Raised D-Lactate When Screening For Bacterial Overgrowth in Children with Intestinal Failure

Aims Small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) may cause non specific symptoms in children with intestinal failure (parenteral nutrition (PN) >28days). Rapid detection of raised serum D-lactate (DL) may be a clinically useful non invasive marker of SBBO. We present the first large cohort of DL in a tertiary referral centre, in patients with current or recent intestinal failure (IF) with new symptoms suggestive of SBBO. Methods Retrospective review over a 3 year period (01/01/2009 to 31/12/2011) of Patients with IF (0–18 years) and suspected SBBO was done. Demographics, aetiology of IF, symptoms, recent radiology and treatment were recorded. In those with short bowel syndrome, length of remaining small bowel was expressed as percentage of expected small bowel length appropriate for age (SBL) using a published formula. Raised DL was identified as >20µmol/L and recurrence as DL >20µmol/L at least 4 weeks apart and with standard treatment (rehydration, withholding or alteration of feeds, bicarbonate and/or antibiotics). Results Out of total cohort of 209, 49 patients (28 males; age range 0.16–13.07 and mean 4.76 years) were screened for DL. Aetiology for IF was bowel resection due to congenital malformation (17), necrotising enterocolitis (15), dysmotility (6) and enteropathy (11). 25/49 had raised DL and 24/49 did not have raised DL. There was no statistically significant difference in risk factors for raised DL comparing age, bowel resection, absence of ileo-caecal valve, abnormalities on barium study and use of proton pump inhibitors. SBL was significantly shorter (p = 0.001) in raised DL group (median 29.6%; range 11.4–100) than in group without (median 100%; range 19.10–100). Patients with Conclusion Children with IF due to
Pulmonary Silicatosis: A Case Diagnosed by Needle-aspiration Biopsy and Energy-dispersive X-ray Analysis

The diagnosis of silicatosis was made by observing birefringent crystals in needle-aspiration biopsy specimens of bilateral basilar pulmonary masses in a clay worker, initially suspected of having metastatic neoplasm. Subsequently the crystals were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, which gave supportive evidence for their silicate composition. This experience indicates that needle-aspiration biopsy in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis may be used in the diagnosis of benign pulmonary diseases, especially those of the inhalational fibrogenic variety.
Role of Animal Models in the Study of Human Genetic Polycystic Kidney Disease

Study on animal models plays important role in understanding the molecular basis underlying the human genetic diseases. Dozens of animal models for human polycystic kidney disease (PKD) have been established and provided insightful information in better understanding of PKD in either pre-genomic or post-genomic time. Here we highlight studies of genetic animal models for PKD that brought novel insights on understanding the pathogenesis of PKD
Importance of Science and Technology Advances for Steady Grain Safety in China

Challenges to current grain safety in our country ware analyzed in this article , including grain production decline, inadequate grain yield for needs, inadeq uate grain reserves; unstable and inadequate grain supplies; from home and forei gn source grain market fluctuation, violently raising of price grain. It was cl arified fundamental strategy of nafional grain safety; prodece domestie as prima ry and appropriate grain import from foreign countries as supplementary. depen ding on science and technology advances is an inevitable choice for achieving st eady grain safety in our country. Strategic measures were also provided for impr oving science and technology level as measures for increasing grain yield.
Injectable ECM scaffolds for cardiac repair

Injectable biomaterials have been developed as potential minimally invasive therapies for treating myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure. Christman et al. first showed that the injection of a biomaterial alone into rat myocardium can improve cardiac function after MI (Christman et al. Tissue Eng 10:403-409, 2004). More recently, hydrogel forms of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) materials have shown substantial promise. Here we present the methods for fabricating an injectable cardiac specific ECM biomaterial shown to already have positive outcomes in small and large animal models for cardiac repair (Singelyn et al. Biomaterials 30:5409-5416, 2009; Singelyn et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 59:751-763, 2012; Seif-Naraghi et al. Sci Transl Med 5:173ra25, 2013). Also covered are the methods for the injection of a biomaterial into rat myocardium using a surgical approach through the diaphragm. Although the methods shown here are for injection of an acellular biomaterial, cells or other therapeutics could also be added to the injection for testing other regenerative medicine strategies.
Psychiatric Emergencies in Children and Adolescents

According to recent estimates, at least 30% of the visits currently being made to hospital emergency rooms involve patients under the age of 18 years.1 One such survey has shown that emergency room visits for minors increased by 127% from 1958 to 1968 compared to a less than 50% increase in overall services for the same period.2 In the last decade, teenagers accounted for approximately 15% of all general hospital psychiatric emergencies. Although there is a corresponding trend toward increased drug dependence and abuse, adolescent emergencies comprise all diagnostic categories.3,4
Conclusion: Diasporic Citizenship

The study of the Haitian diaspora in the United States opens up public policy issues pertaining to different forms of citizenship practices experienced by the immigrants. Diasporic citizenship, because it is appropriated by the immigrants, has policy implications for both the sending and the receiving state. Although immigrants have always had relations with their homelands in one form or another, it seems as if these have taken on new meanings that impinge on the cohesion of the nation-state. The Haitian American case, because it displays structural features found in other diasporas, leads us to ponder the practice of different types of citizenship in the United States. This issue of citizenship forms is not new, and the experience of today’s immigrants allows us an opportunity to recast it in light of the recognition of the nation’s multicultural diversity.
Cohort effects in verbal memory function and practice effects: a population-based study.

Background: In many developed countries, cognitive functioning (as measured by neuropsychological tests) appears to be improving over time in the population at large, in parallel with the declining age-specific incidence of dementia. Here, we investigated cohort effects in the age-associated trajectories of verbal memory function in older adults. We sought to determine whether they varied by decade of birth and, if so, whether the change would be explained by increasing educational attainment. Methods: Pooling data from two prospective US population-based studies between 1987 and 2015, we identified four birth cohorts born 1902–1911, 1912–1921, 1922–1931, and 1932–1943. Among these cohorts, we compared age-associated trajectories both of performance and of practice effects on immediate and delayed recall of a 10-item Word List. We used mixed effects models, first including birth cohorts and cohort X age interaction terms, and then controlling for education and education X age interaction. Results: We observed significant cohort effects in performance (baseline and age-associated trajectories) in both immediate recall and delayed recall, with function improving between the earliest- and latest-born cohorts. For both tests, we also observed cohort effects on practice effects with the highest levels in the latest-born cohorts. Including education in the models did not attenuate these effects. Conclusions: In this longitudinal population study, across four decade-long birth cohorts, there were significant improvements in test performance and practice effects in verbal memory tests, not explained by education. Whether this reflects declining disease incidence or other secular trends awaits further investigation.
Problems in Selection of Design Parameters Affecting Manipulator Performance

The design and development of manipulators pose difficult cost/performance trade-offs. Through its background and experience General Electric has developed a product line of Man-Mate® Industrial Manipulators. However, the published state of knowledge of manipulator performance is not broad or deep enough to provide a ready means for the designer to prescribe design parameters for a new or a special purpose manipulator, such as proposed for the NASA Space Shuttle.
Paramagnetic Resonance of Cobalt(II) Trispyrazolylmethanes and Counterion Association.

Paramagnetic resonance studies (EPR, ESEEM, ENDOR, and NMR) of a series of cobalt(II) bis-trispyrazolylmethane tetrafluoroborates are presented. The complexes studied include the parent, unsubstituted ligand (Tpm), two pyrazole-substituted derivatives (4Me and 3,5-diMe), and tris(1-pyrazolyl)ethane (Tpe), which includes a methyl group on the apical carbon atom. NMR and ENDOR establish the magnitude of 1H hyperfine couplings, while ESEEM provides information on the coordinated 14N. The data show that the pyrazole 3-position is more electron rich in the Tpm analogues, that the geometry about the apical atom influences the magnetic resonance, and that apical atom geometry appears more fixed in Tpm than in Tp. NMR and ENDOR establish that the BF4– counterion remains associated in fluid solution. In the case of the Tpm3,5Me complex, it appears to associate in solution, in the same position it occupies in the X-ray structure.
Equipment Utilization Enhancement in Photolithography Area Through a Dynamic System Control Using Multi-Fidelity Simulation Optimization With Big Data Technique

Photolithographic (Photo) plays a key role in semiconductor manufacturing because of its importance to advanced process shrinking. Even with a small improvement in its operational efficiency, the cost competitiveness in production can be enhanced as a result of the huge amount of share capital cost. However, it is difficult to stabilize the throughput rhythm of Fabs, while keeping a high equipment utilization for Photo. In the light of Industry 4.0 and big data, a huge potential of maintaining a desired system performance by (near) real-time dynamic system control is highly anticipated. But it also poses challenges to intelligently handling mass data acquisition and allocating computing resources. This research aims to maximize the equipment utilization in Photo by an efficient multi-model simulation optimization approach with big data techniques in the era of Industry 4.0. dynamic Photo configurator and abnormality detector are the two critical units in our proposed system framework; the former can make a quick decision to optimize the system configuration while receiving the adjustment request from the latter. The results from an empirical study show the practical viability of proposed approach that the capacity loss in Photo has been effectively improved.
Factor VIIa interaction with EPCR modulates the hemostatic effect of rFVIIa in hemophilia therapy: Mode of its action.

Recent studies established that clotting factor VIIa (FVIIa) binds endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR). It has been speculated that FVIIa interaction with EPCR might augment the hemostatic effect of recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa) in therapeutic conditions. The present study is carried out to investigate the mechanism by which FVIIa interaction with EPCR contributes to the hemostatic effect of rFVIIa in hemophilia therapy. Active-site inhibited FVIIa, which is capable of binding to EPCR but has no ability to activate factor X, reduced the concentration of rFVIIa required to correct the bleeding following the saphenous vein injury in mouse hemophilia model systems. Higher doses of rFVIIa were required to restore hemostasis in EPCR-overexpressing hemophilia mice compared with hemophilia mice expressing normal levels of EPCR. Administration of FVIII antibody induced only mild hemophilic bleeding in EPCR-deficient mice, which was corrected completely with a low dose of rFVIIa. Administration of therapeutic concentrations of rFVIIa increased plasma protein C levels in EPCR-overexpressing mice, indicating the displacement of protein C from EPCR by rFVIIa. EPCR levels did not significantly alter the bioavailability of rFVIIa in plasma. Overall, our data indicate that EPCR levels influence the hemostatic effect of rFVIIa in treating hemophilia. Our present findings suggest that FVIIa displacement of anticoagulant protein C from EPCR that results in downregulation of activated protein C generation and not the direct effect of EPCR-FVIIa on factor X activation is the mechanism by which FVIIa interaction with EPCR contributes to the hemostatic effect of rFVIIa in hemophilia therapy.
Accounting for photodegradation dramatically improves prediction of carbon losses in dryland systems

Traditional models of decomposition fail to capture litter mass loss patterns in dryland systems. This shortcoming has stimulated research into alternative drivers of decomposition, including photodegradation. Here, we use aboveground litter decomposition data for dryland (arid) sites from the Long-term Intersite Decomposition Experiment Team data set to test hypotheses (models) about the mechanisms and impacts of photodegradation. Incorporating photodegradation into a traditional biotic decomposition model substantially improved model predictions for mass loss at these dryland sites, especially after four years. The best model accounted for the effects of solar radiation via photodegradation loss from the intermediate cellulosic and lignin pools and direct inhibition of microbial decomposition. Despite the concurrent impacts of photodegradation and inhibition on mass loss, the best photodegradation model increased mass loss by an average of 12% per year compared to the biotic-only decomposition model. The best model also allowed soil infiltration into litterbags to reduce photodegradation and inhibition of microbial decomposition by shading litter from solar radiation. Our modeling results did not entirely support the popular hypothesis that initial lignin content increases the effects of photodegradation on litter mass loss; surprisingly, higher initial lignin content decreased the rate of cellulosic photodegradation. Importantly, our results suggest that mass loss rates due to photodegradation may be comparable to biotic decomposition rates: Mass loss due to photodegradation alone resulted in litter mass losses of 6–15% per year, while mass loss due to biotic decomposition ranged from 20% per year during early-stage decomposition to 3% per year during late-stage decomposition. Overall, failing to account for the impacts of solar radiation on litter mass loss under-predicted long-term litter mass loss by approximately 26%. Thus, not including photodegradation in dryland decomposition models likely results in large underestimations of carbon loss from dryland systems.
Dining on Dissolution: Restaurants, the Middle Class, and the Creation of the Family Dinner in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America

Urban American dining habits underwent extraordinary transformation in the antebellum period. Most importantly, the new trend of dining out in restaurants steadily infringed upon the domestic circl...
The effect of death education on attitudes of hospital nurses toward care of the dying.

Purpose/objectives To determine the effect of death education on attitudes and behavioral intentions of experienced nurses who care for hospitalized terminally ill adults and their families and to determine the influence of death education on nurses' self-perceptions regarding supervision or peer review of their behavior toward dying patients and their families. Design Experimental. Setting Adult medical-surgical units in an urban teaching hospital. Sample Self-selected sample (n = 28) of registered nurses randomly assigned into experimental (n = 14) and control (n = 14) groups. Methods Both groups completed Waltman's questionnaire Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and Behavioral intentions of Nurses Toward Care of Dying Patients and their Families, using a pretest/post-test format. The experimental group also received an educational intervention consisting of three two-hour didactic/experiential classes; the control group received no intervention. Main research variables Death education and nurses' attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions toward care of dying patients and their families. Findings The researcher detected no significant difference in attitude between the two groups. The educational intervention had a significant positive effect on subjective norms. No significance was detected in overall analysis of behavioral intentions. Conclusions Death education had no effect on the attitudes or behavioral intentions of RNs toward care of dying patients and their families. The educational program did have a significant positive effect on nurses' perceptions of how others might perceive their behavior toward dying patients and their families. Implications for nursing practice Death education for nurses, especially in areas of communication with patients and families, potentially may affect terminal care. The significant influence on subjective norms suggests a need to expand death education to include all healthcare personnel.
Impact of the ozone monitoring instrument row anomaly on the long-term record of aerosol products

Abstract. Since about three years after the launch the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on the EOS-Aura satellite, the sensor's viewing capability has been affected by what is believed to be an internal obstruction that has reduced OMI's spatial coverage. It currently affects about half of the instrument's 60 viewing positions. In this work we carry out an analysis to assess the effect of the reduced spatial coverage on the monthly average values of retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD), single scattering albedo (SSA) and the UV Aerosol Index (UVAI) using the 2005–2007 three-year period prior to the onset of the row anomaly. Regional monthly average values calculated using viewing positions 1 through 30 were compared to similarly obtained values using positions 31 through 60, with the expectation of finding close agreement between the two calculations. As expected, mean monthly values of AOD and SSA obtained with these two scattering-angle dependent subsets of OMI observations agreed over regions where carbonaceous or sulphate aerosol particles are the predominant aerosol type. However, over arid regions, where desert dust is the main aerosol type, significant differences between the two sets of calculated regional mean values of AOD were observed. As it turned out, the difference in retrieved desert dust AOD between the scattering-angle dependent observation subsets was due to the incorrect representation of desert dust scattering phase function. A sensitivity analysis using radiative transfer calculations demonstrated that the source of the observed AOD bias was the spherical shape assumption of desert dust particles. A similar analysis in terms of UVAI yielded large differences in the monthly mean values for the two sets of calculations over cloudy regions. On the contrary, in arid regions with minimum cloud presence, the resulting UVAI monthly average values for the two sets of observations were in very close agreement. The discrepancy under cloudy conditions was found to be caused by the parameterization of clouds as opaque Lambertian reflectors. When properly accounting for cloud scattering effects using Mie theory, the observed UVAI angular bias was significantly reduced. The analysis discussed here has uncovered important algorithmic deficiencies associated with the model representation of the angular dependence of scattering effects of desert dust aerosols and cloud droplets. The resulting improvements in the handling of desert dust and cloud scattering have been incorporated in an improved version of the OMAERUV algorithm.
Novel approach to network function development

This article considers a novel approach to network function development. Transmitting speed and amount of data in the networks are exponentially increasing, which makes middle-boxes to be less efficient due to cost, deployment, inflexibility, scalability and other issues. Network function virtualization technology, on the other hand, was proposed to solve this problem by moving hardware functionality to be developed as a software and deployed to commodity hardware. However, this approach brought several new problems: slow speed of network functions' development, lower performance compared to the middle-boxes, virtual machines scaling and deployment issues. Our approach presents a framework for rapid development of performant, scalable virtualized network functions.
Magnesium administration after experimental traumatic brain injury improves decision-making skills.

Abstract After sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a person’s ability to make daily decisions can be affected. Simple tasks such as, deciding what to wear are no longer effortless choices, but are instead difficult decisions. This study explored the use of a discrimination task with a magnesium treatment in order to examine how decision-making skills are affected after TBI and if the treatment helped to attenuate cognitive and motor impairments. Thirty-one male rats were separated into MAG/TBI, VEH/TBI, or VEH/Sham groups. Pre-TBI, rats were trained to dig in the sand for a reinforcer. After establishment of consistent digging behavior rats received a bilateral frontal cortex injury. Rats received either an i.p. injection of 2 mmol/kg magnesium chloride or control at 4, 24, 72 h post-surgery. Dig task testing began 7 days post-injury, lasting for 4 weeks. The discriminations included two scent pairings; basil (baited) versus coffee then the reversal and then cocoa (baited) versus cumin then the reversal. The results indicated that the magnesium treatment was successful at attenuating cognitive and motor deficits after TBI. The results also indicated that the dig task is a sufficient operant conditioning task in the assessment of frontal functioning after TBI.
FINDING CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF UBIQUITIOUS SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

The objective of this paper is to identify the critical success factors and to examine their relationship with the benefits of ubiquitous supply chain management (USCM) adoption. To achieve it, this research firstly selected the critical success factors and the benefit issues related to the adoption of USCM through the literature review, case analysis and interview. Second, after collecting the survey data, we empirically investigated the relationship between critical success factors and USCM adoption benefits. Data analysis showed that the adoption of USCM was significantly associated to management factors such as USCM planning, management support, relationship management, new USCM model, process management and risk management. In addition, there was significant association to technical factors such as USCM system infrastructure, USCM technology application, efficient USCM use, USCM network foundation, enacted technology acceptance and USCM development plan. On the basis of research findings, this paper proposes a model of USCM adoption, which is a guideline helping one find the academic foundation for further studies and a practical insight of USCM adoption and ubiquitous computing applications.
Email Usability for Blind Users

It is estimated that there are nearly 45 million worldwide who are blind with no residual vision (WHO, 2009). When one considers the unemployment statistics of between 70 to 75% for working-age blind individuals in the United States (NFB, 2007) and 75% for blind and visually impaired individuals in the United Kingdom (RNIB, 2008), the usability of email becomes a major concern due to its intersection with many vocational responsibilities. As studies have shown that email frustrations waste the time of all users (Williams and Williams, 2006), the difficulties relating to usability issues combined with the required use of email in the workplace may be creating a workplace barrier for blind users. Blind users face many challenges and obstacles when using computers at home and in the workplace, including difficulties in accessing websites and using corporate software. Email usability challenges for blind users have not been studied in detail, so gaining a better understanding of any problems that exist can lead to improvements in email software interfaces. To help understand the challenges faced, a web-based survey on email usage by blind users was developed in late 2008 and administered by the researchers in early 2009.
Methods of Deciding Overhaul or Replacement

A Large portion of a construction company’s capital is often invested in its equipment spread, whether it owns one machine or several hundred. This important investment can be managed instinctively, and some successful contractors have used this approach. Generally, however, management by instinct does not produce good results. Sound management practices are needed to ensure the best return on equipment investment.
Performance & Energy Tradeoffs for Dependent Distributed Applications Under System-wide Power Caps

Large scale parallel machines are subject to system-wide power budgets (or caps). As these machines grow in capacity, they can concurrently execute dependent applications that were previously processed serially. Such application coupling saves IO and time as the applications now communicate at runtime instead of through disk. Such coupled applications are predicted to be a major workload for future exascale supercomputers; e.g., scientific simulations will execute concurrently with in situ analysis. While support for system-wide power caps has been widely studied, prior work does not consider the impact on coupled applications. We study techniques for maximizing coupled application performance under a system-wide power cap and implement them on a 26-node cluster. We compare to SLURM, a state-of-the-art job scheduler that considers power, but not coupling. The proposed techniques increase mean performance over SLURM by 7-14%. Unlike existing approaches, the proposed techniques also recognize when it is not possible to increase performance and, instead, reduce energy, achieving 18% energy reduction for a 5% performance loss. Finally, the dynamic techniques are resilient to tail behavior and system noise, improving performance in noisy environments by 30-36%.
Curved Spacetime (Gravity) Tells Mass (Energy) How to Move

Consider the fall of the apple that, by legend, hit Newton on the head. Instead of using this to introduce Newton’s law of gravity, we will discuss the point of view that the fall of the apple was caused by a minuscule curvature of spacetime in the region surrounding Newton and the apple tree. We will calculate this curvature using concepts and equations entirely appropriate for students in an introductory physics course. The result introduces the idea that if gravity curves spacetime, perhaps curved spacetime can ripple in such a way as to create a gravitational wave that tells us what happened to two black holes 1.3 billion years ago.
Influence of novobiocin on the induction kinetics of β-galactosidase in Escherichiacoli☆

Abstract Novobiocin (0.05 μg/ml) reduced the growth rate of cultures of Escherichia coli strain DK6 by about a factor of 2. The lag in appearance of β-galactosidase-forming capacity was extended from 50 sec to 85 sec by the drug. This appeared to be the result of a reduced rate of nascent mRNA elongation.
A pathway from 3D to 2D.

Two-dimensional cobalt oxide and cobalt nickel oxide sheets, with thicknesses around one nanometre, can form spontaneously from the transformation of three-dimensional nanocrystals in a solution-phase synthesis.
Drosophila melanogaster as a Model System for Human Glioblastomas.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant adult brain tumor. Genomic amplifications, activating mutations, and overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such as EGFR, and genes in core RTK signaling transduction pathways such as PI3K are common in GBM. However, efforts to target these pathways have been largely unsuccessful in the clinic, and the median survival of GBM patients remains poor at 14–15 months. Therefore, to improve patient outcomes, there must be a concerted effort to elucidate the underlying biology involved in GBM tumorigenesis. Drosophila melanogaster has been a highly effective model for furthering our understanding of GBM tumorigenesis due to a number of experimental advantages it has over traditional mouse models. For example, there exists extensive cellular and genetic homology between humans and Drosophila, and 75% of genes associated with human disease have functional fly orthologs. To take advantage of these traits, we developed a Drosophila GBM model with constitutively active variants of EGFR and PI3K that effectively recapitulated key aspects of GBM disease. Researchers have utilized this model in forward genetic screens and have expanded on its functionality to make a number of important discoveries regarding requirements for key components in GBM tumorigenesis, including genes and pathways involved in extracellular matrix signaling, glycolytic metabolism, invasion/migration, stem cell fate and differentiation, and asymmetric cell division. Drosophila will continue to reveal novel biological pathways and mechanisms involved in gliomagenesis, and this knowledge may contribute to the development of effective treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Polyamory, Monogamy, and American Dreams: The Stories We Tell about Poly Lives and the Cultural Production of Inequality

This book introduces "the poly gaze" as a cultural tool to examine how representations of polyamory and poly lives reflect or challenge cultural hegemonies of race, class, gender, and nation. What role does monogamy play in American Identity, the American dream, and U.S. exceptionalism? How do the stories we tell about intimate relationships do cultural and ideological work to maintain and legitimize social inequalities along the lines of race, ethnicity, nation, religion, class, gender and sexuality? How might the introduction of polyamory or consensually non-monogamous relationships in the stories we tell about intimacy confound, disrupt or shift the meaning of what constitutes a good, American life? These are the questions that Mimi Schippers focuses on in this original and engaging study. As she develops the poly gaze, Schippers argues for a sociologically informed and cultivated lens with which anyone, regardless of their experiences with polyamory or consensual non-monogamy, can read culture, media images, and texts against hegemony. This will be a key text for researchers and students in Gender Studies, Queer Studies, Cultural Studies, Critical Race Studies, Media Studies, American Studies and Sociology. This book is accessible and indispensable reading for undergraduate student and postgraduates wanting to gain greater understanding of debates around the key concept of heteronormativity.