cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Screening effects in secondary electron production by equal velocity H + , H + 2 , He + , He ++ ions

Abstract Electron spectra produced by equal velocity (0.75 MeV/amu) H + , H + 2 , He + and He ++ ions are shown. Screening effects are observed for He + ions but not for H + 2 . He ++ cross sections scale like Z 2 = 4 when compared to H + cross sections.
Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Ammonia over V2O5/TiO2, V2O5/TiO2/SiO2, and V2O5−WO3/TiO2 Catalysts: Effect of Vanadia Content on the Activation Energy

A systematic variation of the V2O5 content of the title catalysts reveals a dependence of the activation energy of the selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide by ammonia on the surface concen...
DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) Induced Delay of Blowfly Landing and Oviposition Rates on Treated Pig Carrion (Sus scrofa L.)

: The question of whether the insect repellent N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) affected fly attraction, oviposition, and larval development was investigated; in part, to determine whether the common habit of wearing DEET as a repellent could affect the rate of human decomposition. Experiments using pig surrogates of human decedents were carried out in a rural environment. Dead piglets were sprayed with DEET, and fly behavior, colonization levels, and maggot development were compared with those in nonsprayed controls. Piglets treated with DEET experienced significant delays in fly visitation and oviposition and delayed appearance of each larval instar, as well as reduced total larval numbers (p < 0.01 for all variables), with subsequently reduced decomposition (p < 0.05). Such changes in fly behavior and larval population development would significantly impact the estimation of the period following the death from entomological evidence in decedents wearing DEET at the time of their death.
Balance of turbulence energy in the region of jet-flow establishment

To complete a previous investigation reported earlier and carried out in an air jet issuing from a 1·0ft. diameter nozzle into still air, additional measurements were made of one-point triple-velocity and two-point double-velocity correlations and the spatial mean gradients of the axial turbulent velocities. The one-point pressure/axial-velocity correlation term was evaluated by using piezo-electric ceramic elements in conjunction with total- and static-pressure probes. For the measurement of spatial mean gradients of the axial-velocity fluctuation, special probes with two parallel wires were constructed. The axial scale of turbulence was found to be almost twice as large as the other two scales. The tangential scale was the smallest. All terms of the integral and differential forms of the turbulence energy equation were evaluated throughout the region and the results are given in dimensionless form.
Persistently Obese Youth Interactions Between Parenting Styles and Feeding Practices With Child Temperament

Objective. To assess the interaction of parent and child characteristics with feeding practices and mealtime functioning. Design. Longitudinal, predictive study comparing baseline characteristics with follow-up assessments. Participants. The caregivers of 52 persistently obese youth and 32 nonoverweight comparison youth completed measurements of child temperament, parental feeding practices, parenting styles, and interactions during mealtimes. Results. Adolescents with persistent obesity were significantly more likely to be parented using problematic feeding practices when parents also reported difficult child temperaments. Additionally, adolescents with persistent obesity and difficult temperaments were significantly more likely to have lower levels of positive mealtime interactions. Conclusion. Persistently obese youth are at increased risk for problematic parental feeding practices and mealtime functioning, particularly when youth are described as having difficult temperaments. These results indicate t...
Can the Arctic Council and the Northern Forum find common ground

The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (the forerunner of the Arctic Council) and the Northern Forum are both products of the sea change in Arctic politics occurring in the wake of the end of the Cold War. Both are soft law arrangements and both are lightly institutionalized. Yet these similarities have not provided a basis for collaboration between the Arctic Council (AC) and the Northern Forum (NF). For the most part, the two bodies have behaved like ships passing in the night. This article seeks to explain this lack of collaboration and to evaluate future prospects in this realm. The lack of collaboration is attributable in part to a number of sources of tension or fault lines, including issues relating to core-periphery relations, the concerns of indigenous peoples, divergent constituencies, the Russian connection, and bureaucratic politics and the complexities of political leadership. In part, it stems from ambiguities about the status of the AC and the NF combined with restrictions on the roles these bodies can play. There is little prospect of combining the two bodies into a more comprehensive Arctic regime. But there are opportunities to devise a realistic division of labor and to develop useful coordination mechanisms. The AC, for example, is the appropriate vehicle for efforts to strengthen the voice of the Arctic regarding global issues; the NF is well-suited to dealing with matters of community viability. Ultimately, the two bodies might consider creating a joint working group on sustainable development or organizing occasional joint meetings of the AC's Senior Arctic Officials and the NF's Executive Committee.
Migratory gallstone causing duodenal obstruction.

An 81-year-old man presented with abdominal pain and repeated bilious vomiting for 1 day. He had cholelithiasis for 5 years, documented by CT (A). This was confirmed on the lowest slice of a thoracic CT performed 6 months earlier for an unrelated pulmonary condition (B). Note the migration of the gallstone from the fundus of the gallbladder to the infundibulum. After admission, a CT demonstrated a fluid-filled gallbladder with a small amount of air and the absence of cholelithiasis (C). The duodenum was totally obstructed at the fourth portion by a calcified mass (D). At operation, a single gallstone measuring 5 5 3 cm (E) was present just distal to the ligament of Treitz. It was maneuvered distally, and removed by a proximal enterotomy. Based on the recent experience of others, no attempt was made to remove the gallbladder or close the cholecystoduodenal fistula. Recovery was uneventful. Cholecystoduodenal fistula commonly develops from the pressure and irritation of a large gallstone eroding through the adherent walls of the gallbladder and the adjacent duodenum, allowing the gallstone to enter the gastrointestinal tract and obstruct it. These images, obtained over a 5-year period, document the migration of the gallstone from the fundus of the gallbladder to the infundibulum and, ultimately, into the lumen of the duodenum, documenting the progression of disease. The most common site of intestinal obstruction is at the distal ileum where the lumen normally narrows, but it can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. Because of the size of this gallstone and the natural angulation caused by the attachment of the ligament of Treitz, a high obstruction resulted and accounted for the frequent bilious emesis seen in this patient.
Forbidden minors for wye-delta-wye reducibility

A graph is Y Δ Y reducible if it can be reduced to a single vertex by a sequence of series-parallel reductions and Y Δ Y transformations. The class of Y Δ Y reducible graphs is minor closed. We found a large number of minor minimal Y Δ Y irreducible graphs: a family of 57578 31-edge graphs and another 40-edge graph. It is still an open problem to characterize Y Δ Y reducible graphs in terms of a finite set of forbidden minors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 47: 317–321, 2004
Multi-Tier Ad Hoc Mesh Networks with Radio Forwarding Nodes

This paper investigates a three-tier hierarchical hybrid wireless network designed to provide significant improvements in system capacity and performance relative to conventional "flat" ad hoc and two-tier "hybrid" networking approaches. The analytical results illustrate that in a three-tier hierarchical network with nA access points (AP), nF dual-radio forwarding nodes (FN), and nM mobile nodes (MN), linear scaling of low-tier capacity can be achieved when the low-tier transmission range satisfies rL = O(1/radic(nF)); linear scaling of high-tier capacity can be approached in the scaling regime nA = Omega(radic(nF)) and nA = O(nF/log nF), when the high-tier transmission range satisfies rH = O(1/radic(nA)). The scaling properties of the three-tier hierarchical ad hoc network are studied using ns-2 based system simulation models. In particular, we investigate the impact of relative node densities and traffic pattern on the scalability of the network. The simulation results are consistent with the analysis, and demonstrate that system throughput can be scaled by using the right proportions of FN's and AP's, making it possible to design high-capacity, low-cost mesh networks with a moderate number of radio FN's and only a few wired AP's.
A modified in vitro stripping method to automate the calculation of geometry of corneocytes imaged with fluorescent microscopy: example of moisturizer treatment.

Background/purpose: To develop a modification of the stripping method allowing quick automated processing of corneocyte samples to study human skin conditions. Although the previous scrubbing technique and stripping method can provide sufficient information about human corneocytes, they are either subject to artifacts or involve time-consuming data processing. Methods and Materials: In the first stage, an adhesive tape is used to collect corneocytes as in the regular stripping method. Then, a D-squame skin indicator is used to divide the collected corneocytes into a lesser populated sample, in which more individual corneocytes can be observed with the help of fluorescent microscopy after dye staining. The method was applied to study the change of corneocytes after moisturizer (glycerin) treatment. Results: The modified stripping method described allows the automated processing of the geometrical characteristics of corneocytes. Data for several hundreds of corneocytes can easily be collected. The analysis of glycerin treatment demonstrated a high sensitivity for the method. An average increase of the corneocyte area of 5.1% was found after 9 days of treatment (the accuracy of the method was 0.5%). Conclusion: The method described is suitable for the automated data processing. It allows for the reliable detection of the expansion of the average area of corneocytes after 9 days of daily glycerin treatment.
Glutamate dehydrogenase from Mycoplasma laidlawii.

Mycoplasma laidlawii possesses a single glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) with dual coenzyme specificity [specificity for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (H) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (H)]. A purification procedure is reported which results in an enzyme preparation with a specific activity of 79.5 units/mg and which displays only one significant protein band after gel electrophoresis. This one band was determined, by activity staining, to have all of the GDH nucleotide specificities. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 250,000 ± 10%, and it has a subunit size of about 48,000. The enzyme exhibits measurable activity with aspartate and pyruvate but is inactive with eight other possible substrates. Purine nucleotides do not affect the activity. The K m for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was 1.8 × 10 −4 m. The optimal substrate concentrations and p H optimum for each of the respective GDH activities are also reported. Images
Preservation Effects on Performance of Bituminous over Aggregate Base Pavements in Minnesota

Use of the Minnesota Department of Transportation pavement management data to evaluate the effect of pavement preservation activities on pavement performance is described. Evaluation focuses on bituminous over aggregate base pavements constructed between 1985 and 2005. Pavement data were initially divided into subsets of data: one for pavements with no preservation and the other for pavements that received preservation. The subset that included preservation activities was further subdivided for comparison into those that received thin mill and overlay or thin overlays and those that did not. Data analysis showed that preservation improved pavement performance and that thin overlays and thin mill and overlays were the preservation treatments that provided the greatest performance improvements but were used for the poorest performing pavements.
Conformational Changes in Cell Surface HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Are Triggered by Cooperation between Cell Surface CD4 and Co-receptors

We have continuously measured CD4-induced conformational changes of cell surface-expressed human immunodeficiency virus type-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120-gp41 in situ using 4,4'-dianilino-1, 1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid, a fluorescent probe that binds to hydrophobic groups. CD4-expressing human T cell lines induced significant and rapid conformational changes (<1 min delay) in gp120-gp41 from T cell-tropic strains, and little conformational changes in gp120-gp41 from macrophage-tropic strains, with equivalent levels of envelope expression. Conversely, CD4-expressing human macrophages induced significant and rapid conformational changes in gp120-gp41 from macrophage-tropic strains, and little conformational changes in gp120-gp41 from T cell-tropic strains. Thus, the conformational changes undergone by gp120-gp41, which lead to membrane fusion, are highly cooperative and require both receptor and co-receptor. We used a dye transfer assay to show that neither membrane lipid fusion or fusion pore formation can occur with host cells having different tropism from the envelope.
Purely Analog Fractional Order PI Control Using Discrete Fractional Capacitors (Fractors): Synthesis and Experiments

This paper presents the results of experiments related to analog fractional order PI control of a coupled tank system. A custom circuit board has been built to perform analog PID/FOPID control. Specialized circuit elements called ‘Fractors’ [1] are used to perform fractional order integration/differentiation of the error signals. The design of the board, subsequent experimentation and its comparison to similar digital control techniques have been presented. The benefits of purely analog control when dealing with non-linearities are also discussed. Further, methods of approximating a particular fractional order α* with any number of practically available orders α1 , α2 , ....αn has also been presented. The conclusion of this work examines the need for purely analog control as opposed to widespread digital methods and also lays down definite directions for future work.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Apolipoprotein B synthesis: a square lattice model

We have formulated a random walk model for emerging apolipoprotein B interaction with its translocation channel on the surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum based on the assumption that this interaction is a diffusion-mediated process. From this model, we found that a substantial proportion of mRNA-ribosome complexes was not bound to their translocation channels at any given moment of quasi-steady state. The duration of polypeptide chain elongation was an important determinant of the number of mRNA-ribosome complexes bound to their channels, but it had little net effect on the integrated rate of protein synthesis and translocation. The rates of protein synthesis and translocation for different secretory proteins that were cotranslationally translocated were very similar provided that they had similar mRNA concentration. We conclude that one of the control mechanisms regulating apolipoprotein B production may rely on the properties of translocation channels to determine the fate of newly synthesized apolipoprotein B molecules.
Sustainable development and the local justice framework

What is sustainable development? Why is it an issue? Ideally, what needs to be done ? and Practically, what can be done? are answered by parsing the questions through the local justice framework of the political philosopher and theorist, Jon Elster.
High power AlGaAs/GaAs HBTs and their application to mobile communications systems

This paper addresses the power application of AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) to L-band mobile communications systems. From points of view of circuit and systems design, features of HBT technology are discussed and compared with those of GaAs MESFET technology.
Characterizations of Students and Effective Student Affairs Practice

Undergraduate students have changed over the past 20 years. This chapter traces the evolution of students, reviews effective student affairs responses, and considers practice moving forward.
Boundary Location from an Initial Plan: The Bead Chain Algorithm

A new boundary finding method is described and applied to a problem in morphometric cytology. The method is shown to offer several advantages over existing boundary locating techniques. Some experimental results are presented.
Optimal Replication of Random Claims by Ordinary Integrals with Applications inFinance

By the classical Martingale Representation Theorem, replication of random vectors can be achieved via stochastic integrals or solutions of stochastic differential equations. We introduce a new approach to replication of random vectors via adapted differentiable processes generated by a controlled ordinary differential equation. We found that the solution of this replication problem exists and is not unique. This leads to a new optimal control problem: find a replicating process that is minimal in an integral norm. We found an explicit solution of this problem. Possible applications to portfolio selection problems and to bond pricing models are suggested.
Birth weight, postnatal growth, and risk for high blood pressure at 7 years of age: results from the Collaborative Perinatal Project.

OBJECTIVE. A physiologic predisposition toward hypertension is theorized to result from the combination of intrauterine growth restriction followed by rapid catch-up growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of birth weight and weight gain during childhood on the risk for high blood pressure in childhood and to identify discrete periods of catch-up growth that put children with intrauterine growth restriction at increased risk for the development of high blood pressure later in life. METHODS. The US Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959 –1974) studied 55 908 pregnancies in an observational cohort at 12 medical centers in the United States and followed the offspring through 7 years of age. All white or black children who were born at term and completed the follow-up without kidney or heart disease were included in this posthoc analysis. z scores were calculated for weight at birth, 4 months, 1 year, 4 years, and 7 years on the basis of study means and SD. Changes in z scores were calculated for each interval. RESULTS. Each 1-kg increase in birth weight increased the odds for high systolic blood pressure by 2.19 and high diastolic blood pressure by 1.82 when race and change in weight z scores were also included in the regression model. An increase in weight z score of 1 SD above the previous weight z score increased the odds for high systolic blood pressure at 7 years by 1.65 (birth to 4 months), 1.79 (4 months to 1 year), 1.71 (1– 4 years), and 1.94 (4 –7 years) in the full model. White race increased the odds for high systolic blood pressure by 1.51. CONCLUSIONS. In this large biracial US cohort, infants who were small for gestational age were not at increased risk for high blood pressure at 7 years of age. However, children who crossed weight percentiles upward during early childhood did demonstrate an increased risk.
Alternation of Generations and Experimental Design: A Guided-Inquiry Lab Exploring the Nature of the her1 Developmental Mutant of Ceratopteris richardii (C-Fern)

Inquiry-based labs have been shown to greatly increase student participation and learning within the biological sciences. One challenge is to develop effective lab exercises within the constraints of large introductory labs. We have designed a lab for first-year biology majors to address two primary goals: to provide effective learning of the unique aspects of the plant life cycle and to gain a practical knowledge of experimental design. An additional goal was to engage students regardless of their biology background. In our experience, plant biology, and the plant life cycle in particular, present a pedagogical challenge because of negative student attitudes and lack of experience with this topic. This lab uses the fern Ceratopteris richardii (C-Fern), a model system for teaching and research that is particularly useful for illustrating alternation of generations. This lab does not simply present the stages of the life cycle; it also uses knowledge of alternation of generations as a starting point for characterizing the her1 mutation that affects gametophyte sexual development. Students develop hypotheses, arrive at an appropriate experimental design, and carry out a guided inquiry on the mechanism underlying the her1 mutation. Quantitative assessment of student learning and attitudes demonstrate that this lab achieves the desired goals.
Morphogenesis studies by means of X-rays : III. X-ray induced persistence of a larval character in Drosophila.

A peculiar x-ray induced localized growth inDrosophila imagos is described and provisionally identified as a persistent larval spiracle. The view is expressed that a chromosomal upset changes the cell chemistry in such a way as to make them impervious to normal destruction during metamorphosis.
I Want to Quit A Closer Look at Factors That Contribute to the Turnover Intentions of State Government Employees

In the article, a model was developed to examine turnover intentions and was subsequently tested on state government employees. The findings from this model robustly indicated that quit intentions were lower among satisfied and high-performing employees. Contrary to what was expected, the results also demonstrated that public service motivation was positively associated with employee turnover intentions. On the other hand, participation in decision making, mission-contribution, and a fair reward system were not associated with employee leave intentions. The implications of these findings are thoroughly discussed in the article.
Premixed Combustion Simulations with a Self-Consistent Plasma Model for Initiation

Combustion simulations of H2-O2 ignition are presented here, with a self-consistent plasma fluid model for ignition initiation. The plasma fluid equations for a nanosecond pulsed discharge are solved and coupled with the governing equations of combustion. The discharge operates with the propagation of cathode directed streamer, with radical species produced at streamer heads. These radical species play an important role in the ignition process. The streamer propagation speeds and radical production rates were found to be sensitive to gas temperature and fuel-oxidizer equivalence ratio. The oxygen radical production rates strongly depend on equivalence ratio and subsequently results in faster ignition of leaner mixtures.
Seasonal periods of surface inactivity of the pocket gopher

An ecological study of the pocket gopher ( Thomomys talpoides tenellus Goldman) made during the summer of 1952 in the Jackson Hole region of Wyoming revealed two periods of apparent inactivity of the gophers. One of the periods when no soil was brought to the surface of the ground was noted on the main floor of Jackson Hole (elevation 6,750 feet). This period was three to four weeks in duration, from the second week in August until shortly after the first week in September. Two plots had been previously laid out to measure the amount of soil brought to the surface by the gophers. Observations disclosed that only a very small amount of soil was brought to the surface of these plots during this period compared to the amount of soil in any similar period earlier in the summer. No soil at all was brought …
The chromosomes ofNeurospora crassa

An estimate was made of the number of chromosomes in the presynaptic leptotene stage of the zygote nucleus ofN. crassa. There appeared to be 9 haploid chromosomes, 2 large, 2 medium, 2 small, and 3 very small pairs. A maximum of 155 chromomeres were counted, but this is possibly less than half the ultimate number since all the chromosomes were not completely uncoiled. Six chromosomes were visible in the best anaphase figures discovered, which probably indicates that some of the smaller bodies found in leptophase have shrunken down to invisibility at this stage. At any rate the smaller bodies are probably insignificant genetically.
Rigidity Analysis of A Two Dimensional Micro-positioning Platform Based on Unit Stiffness Matrix Method

Rigidity is an important performance index for fully flexible mechanism design and evaluation,which affects the dynamic performance and positioning precision to a great extent.According to the principle of unit stiffness matrix for mechanics of materials,a flexible mechanism can be divided into units considering its structure characteristics.Taking into account of the complex unit deformations and establishing the displacement and force equilibrium equations,the stiffness matrix can be derived in a form convenient for recursive computation.Using a two dimensional micro-positioning platform as an example,the process is presented about how to compute the stiffness matrix.Results from theoretical analysis and from ANSYS software analysis are very close.
A hierarchical approach to warehouse design

AbstractThe design of large complex systems, such as warehouses, requires multiple experts and analyses as well as methods to organise and integrate their knowledge. While there are many models for optimising individual aspects of warehouses, there is not, today, a comprehensive design methodology that incorporates and supports all of the design decisions and provides a method to effectively integrate the solutions to these subproblems into a complete warehouse system specification. In this research, we propose a hierarchical design decision support methodology based on decomposing the design problem into a set of subproblems and using a formal model of the system to integrate the solutions to these subproblems. The methodology enables a thorough search of the design space and the identification of many candidate designs for consideration by the design decision maker. The hierarchical design methodology is demonstrated with an example of designing a forward pick area.
SUPERANTIGENS AND THEIR ROLE IN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS

The ability of superantigens to activate large numbers of T cells suggests that they may play a role in the course of autoimmune disorders. Data from several animal models of autoimmune disorders including experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and collagen induced arthritis supports this hypothesis. Administration of bacterial superantigens can induce an exacerbation of the autoimmune process in these models, or induce disease de novo in the appropriately immunized animal. Studies of several human disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, Kawasaki disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, and psoriasis lend credence to the concept that bacterial superantigens may play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Nevertheless, in some cases, depending on the timing of administration and the model, superantigens may lead to an amelioration of the autoimmune process. Based on these results in seems logical to conclude that superantigens can have a significant impact on the course of the immune and autoimmune mediated disorders.
Auction-based dispatch algorithms in deregulated power systems

In deregulated power systems, the classic economic dispatch has been replaced with theauction-based dispatch in which both the generating units and loads participate. Instead of constantload demand in the classic economic dispatch, the loads are variables in the new dispatch. As aresult, the conventional economic dispatch algorithms no longer can be applied. In this paper wereformulate the auction-based dispatch into a general minimization problem so that the loads canbe treated as variables similar to the generations. Based on this new reformulation, efficient algorithmsto solve the auction-based dispatch problem are proposed. The first algorithm solves the dispatchproblem in which the objective function contains only quadratic bidding functions. Since someloads might submit linear incremental bidding functions, a second algorithm is developed to handlethe situation where the objective function contains both quadratic and linear incremental biddingfunctions. At the end, we demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithms through examples.
Applying the Empirical Average Cost of Capital: Estimating the Cost of Funds at the Firm and Industry Levels

This paper develops a new measure of the cost of capital, the empirical average cost of capital (EACC), which is consistent with existing methods of calculating the weighted average cost of capital but primarily uses information from the firm’s financial statements and requires fewer and less subjective inputs. Our model combines the regression-based approach of asset pricing models such as the CAPM with the implied cost of capital’s reliance on accounting and market price data. The EACC model is very flexible and can identify the optimal balance between accounting- and market-based data that should be used when estimating the cost of capital for individual firms as well as for industries and larger economic sectors. In addition, the model can be estimated using either time series, cross-sectional, or panel data sets. Estimates of the EACC for 58 U.S. industries are compared to five conventional “textbook” estimates of the weighted average cost of capital currently published by Duff & Phelps. We find the EACC yields forecasts of future net operating profit after taxes that compare favorably to the five published measures of the weighted average cost of capital, as well as the average and median of these measures. We also demonstrate how the EACC method can be used within corporate finance research via a conventional event study that estimates the impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster on BP’s and its industry’s cost of capital. In addition, we show how our EACC method can be applied within an investments context via a conventional asset pricing test that uses our industry EACC estimates to construct Carhart-type long-short portfolios and find that our approach can generate a significant alpha of +38.4 bps per month. Overall, the results suggest the EACC can be an effective complementary method for corporate managers, investors, financial analysts, accountants, regulators, and academics in deriving estimates of a company’s or industry’s cost of capital.
Quantifying the swelling properties of alkali‐silica reaction (ASR) gels as a function of their composition

Synthetic alkali-silica reaction (ASR) gels were produced and tested to investigate the effects of chemical composition (Ca/Si, Na/Si, and K/Si atomic ratios) on the gels’ free swelling strain (eg,fr) and restrained swelling pressure (Prs). The gels were cast into disk-shape molds and exposed to distilled water after curing. Each gel's eg,fr was recorded over a period of 28 days, followed by measuring Prs, defined as the pressure required to fully reverse and eliminate the gel's free swelling under a drained configuration. Regression models were developed linking gels compositions to their swelling properties. The outcomes show that Na/Si and K/Si monotonically increase eg,fr. Increasing Ca/Si up to 0.23 drastically reduces eg,fr; higher Ca/Si has modest effect on free swelling. Prs increases by increasing calcium up to a pessimum Ca/Si level; Prs decreases for higher Ca/Si. The value of (Ca/Si)pess is related to the alkali content of the gel. Prs also increases by increasing the gel's alkali content, while a (Na/Si)pess exists in the range 0.85-0.95. These observations are linked with the roles of alkalis and calcium in modifying the silica gel network.
Discriminative Ability of Elixhauser's Comorbidity Measure is Superior to Other Comorbidity Scores for Inpatient Adverse Outcomes After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Identifying patients at highest risk for a complex perioperative course following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is more important than ever in order to educate patients, optimize outcomes, and to minimize cost and length of stay. There are no known studies comparing the clinically relevant discriminative ability of 3 commonly used comorbidity indices for adverse outcomes following THA: Elixhauser Comorbidity Measure (ECM), the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the modified Frailty Index (mFI). Methods Patients undergoing THA were extracted from the 2013 National Inpatient Sample. The discriminative ability of ECM, CCI, and mFI, as well as the demographic factors age, body mass index, and gender for the occurrence of index admission Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services procedure-specific complication measures, extended length of hospital stay, and discharge to a facility were assessed using the area under the curve analysis from receiver operating characteristic curves. Results ECM outperformed CCI and mFI for the occurrence of all 5 adverse outcomes. Age outperformed gender and obesity for the occurrence of all 5 adverse outcomes. ECM (the best performing comorbidity index) outperformed age (the best performing demographic factor) in discriminative ability for the occurrence of 3 of 5 adverse outcomes. Conclusion The less commonly used ECM outperformed the more often utilized CCI and newer mFI as well as demographic factors in correctly preoperatively identifying patients' probabilities of experiencing an adverse outcome suggesting that wider adoption of ECM should be considered in both identifying likelihoods of adverse patient outcomes and for research purposes in future studies.
Ovarian cancer ascites-activated neutrophils suppress T cell proliferation in a contact-dependent mechanism

Ovarian cancer (OC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Necrosis is a hallmark of advanced cancer and releases DAMPs that activate innate immune responses. It is well known that CD8 + T cells mediate antitumor immunity and immunosuppressive myeloid cells can impair T cell responses. In contrast, there is limited knowledge on the role of activated neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment. In patients with newly diagnosed OC, ~90% of ascites cells were inflammatory (CD45 + ) with varying proportions of neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. Although patient variability existed, neutrophils comprised ~15% of CD45 + cells and the neutrophil:CD8 + T cell ratio was 1:1. In ex vivo studies, cell-free ascites (CFA) attracted normal donor neutrophils (NDN). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are a distinct mode of death, and characterized by extracellular release of DNA, histones, and granular products. We found that CFA induced NDN to generate NETs ex vivo . In co-culture studies, CD3/CD28-stimulated normal donor T cells were incubated with media; purified NDN 1:1; CFA; or NDN + CFA. After 72h, T cell proliferation was measured by [ 3 H] thymidine incorporation. While CFA or NDN alone did not suppress T cell proliferation, CFA-activated NDN completely suppressed proliferation. Suppression did not affect T cell viability or induce apoptosis, and was not reversed by the addition of arginine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine or IL-2. Suppression required T cell contact with NDN. These results support a model in which ascites-activated neutrophils suppress T cell responses, thereby abrogating antitumor immunity. Further studies will identify ascites constituents that activate neutrophils and mechanisms for neutrophil-mediated T cell suppression.
Conductive Polymeric Composites from Short Conductive Fibers

The ability of metals to conduct both electricity and heat is a major reason for their use in many applications. Static buildup on electrical equipment and high-speed machinery is prevented by grounding of metal parts, and heat-generating components are often protected by the dissipation of excess heat through metal conductors. In a similar manner, high-frequency electromagnetic radiation is either prevented from escaping from the equipment or the equipment is shielded from stray radiation by metal shields and covers.
The Evolving Ideal Self

This theory paper synthesizes existing research in the field of management and psychology on the development of an ideal self vision. The construct of the ideal self as an inspirational personal vi...
Dip application of phosphates and marinade mix on shelf life of vacuum-packaged chicken breast fillets

The effects of the dip application of a marinade on the shelf life of refrigerated raw vacuum-packaged broiler breast fillets simulating a retail product were evaluated over a 28-day period (at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) through enumeration of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and total coliforms. Treatment effectively extended shelf life by ca. 14 days (with shelf lives of 28 and 14 days for dipped and control samples, respectively). Coliform growth was inhibited by the treatment, as indicated by counts of 1.6 and 7.4 log CFU/g for dipped and control fillets, respectively, on day 28. Initial coliform counts were similar for both types of fillets on day 0, averaging 2.0 log CFU/g. The data obtained in this study suggest that the dip application of a phosphate-spice marinade prior to the vacuum packaging of raw poultry may be an effective means of extending the shelf life and possibly improving the safety of raw poultry while providing value-added convenience and flavor.
Structure-Function Relationships of the Ectothermic Vertebrate Hemoglobins

The blood plasma of most ectothermic vertebrates carries about 0.6 ml O2/100ml plasma at 1 atm of air. It carries proportionally less oxygen at the lower pressures which occur in a lung, for example. The presence of hemoglobin can increase this oxygen-carrying capacity to about 5 to 25 ml O2/100ml blood (Gordon 1982). This is an appreciable increase in the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to metabolically active tissues and consequently, almost all ectothermic vertebrates use hemoglobins for this purpose. In addition to carrying oxygen, hemoglobins are physiologically important in carrying some carbon dioxide as well as in being the primary organic buffer of blood. In this review, however, we will restrict our considerations of hemoglobin structure-function to oxygen transport.
Social physique anxiety in competitive women athletes

Social physique anxiety (SPA) is the anxiety that people feel when their physique or body is evaluated by others. This research explored the relationships among SPA, type of sport participation, and body size in female athletes. It was hypothesized that elite women athletes would have lower levels of SPA than nonelite athletes and that lightweight women athletes would have lower levels of SPA than heavyweight athletes. In Study 1, one hundred four women rowers participating in the World Indoor Rowing Championships completed the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS; Hart et al., 1989) and a demographic questionnaire. With regard to SPA for female rowers, there were no significant differences involving elite status and weight class. In Study 2, one hundred thirteen women swimmers of various competitive levels (NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, recreational) completed the SPAS and a demographic questionnaire. ANOVA indicated that NCAA Division I swimmers had lower SPA than recreational swimmers and that lightweight swimmers had lower SPA than heavyweight swimmers. The role of specific sport demands as they relate to SPA were discussed.
The relationship between extrinsic motivators and Local Government employee teams’ Performance in Iringa Municipal Council, Tanzania

While it appears clear that the choice at the exposure of government institutions has been extrinsic motivation over intrinsic motivation, there is no sufficient evidence to whether extrinsic motivators contribute to higher performance of the employees in the public sector organizations. This study examined the relationship between extrinsic motivators and the performance of employees in Iringa Municipal Council by administering a structured questionnaire over 130 team supervisors. The findings show that changes in any of the three selected forms of extrinsic motivation namely career development initiatives, improving working and employment conditions, and rewards could affect the performance of employees and their teams. However, career development initiatives and improving working conditions could have a more significant effect on the performance of employees and teams. One important reason is that career development and working and employment conditions improvement arrangements were within the reach of the teams and their supervisors. On the other hand, rewards implementation could not be feasible without endorsement and approval from the central government and the top management of the council.
The myth of apolitical science

"Science is apolitical" is a deeply political statement: One only feels the need to assert something like this in times when it is a hard case to make. That science exists within a political environment and participates in political activities should not be controversial. But it is, especially in the current moment, when it would be (politically) convenient to have something in our present world that felt devoid of politics. Audra Wolfe9s provocative new book, Freedom9s Laboratory, dives into the fascinating history of why asserting the apolitical nature of science became a political priority during another notably politicized period in America9s past: the Cold War.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common form of childhood arthritis and one of the more common chronic childhood illnesses. As the term indicates, the cause is unknown. In fact, JIA is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders that have in common chronic arthritis. Diagnosis requires a combination of data from history, physical examination, and laboratory testing. For the vast majority of patients with JIA, the immunogenetic associations, clinical course, and functional outcome are quite different from adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, approximately 5% to 10% of those with JIA (those classified as polyarthritis rheumatoid factor positive) have a disease that resembles adult-onset RA much more than other types of JIA. The JIA nomenclature has in most instances replaced the older classification for chronic idiopathic arthritis in childhood—juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). The differences and similarities in the two classifications will be discussed below. In fact, this is the first edition in which the term juvenile idiopathic arthritis is being used in the Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases.
Reducing Medication Error Through a Collaborative Committee Structure: An Effort to Implement Change in a Community-Based Health System.

Objectives This article describes a methodology for implementation and sustainment of continuous quality improvement initiatives through committee structures aimed at reducing medication error rates. Methods A committee structure was developed in a collaborative effort to analyze and reduce medication error rates. Interdisciplinary teams comprised of frontline staff met regularly to identify and resolve trending medication safety events and prepare and deliver education for staff. Continuous quality improvement initiatives supported by these committees included technical handling and administration of medication, medication reconciliation, and enhancements to standardized treatment protocols. Data were collected through a voluntary electronic safety event reporting system between March 2013 and March 2016, to evaluate the rate of medication errors and near-misses. Results A retrospective analysis of reported medication errors and near-misses was conducted. The medication error rate significantly declined over the study period as the rate of near-misses conversely increased. Conclusions Initiatives supported by the oversight of collaborative committees were successful in decreasing medication error rates.
Ruth Jackson, MD, 1902–1994

This article commemorates Dr. Ruth Jackson for her contributions to orthopedic surgery and her status as a trailblazer for women in orthopedic surgery, becoming the first female member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. She died on August 28, 1994, at the age of 91.
Application of agent-based modeling and life cycle sustainability assessment to evaluate biorefinery placement

Abstract Biofuels, such as those derived from woody biomass, are being developed as one part of a renewable energy portfolio; however, it remains unclear if they can be sustainably developed. This manuscript demonstrates that the use of agent-based modeling (ABM) and life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) as part of an integrated methodology allows for robust assessment of the possible impacts. A case study of a proposed biorefinery in Ontonagon, Michigan, USA is conducted. In the case study, ABM is used to project the harvest decision making of forest owners and loggers to determine if they were willing to harvest and supply woody biomass to the biorefinery under several different price points. The results from the ABM were used to inform inventory data for projections of environmental impacts, along with projected impacts for economic and social concerns. The results of the case study show that while Ontonagon is a promising site for a biorefinery, the quantity of woody biomass delivered is a concern along with potential impacts to wetlands in the region. Ultimately, this case study suggestions that the integration of ABM and LCSA may be effective the assessment of other biorefineries.
Family Separation as State-Corporate Crime:

Historically, state practices of family separation have been used against disempowered, marginalized, and otherwise “undesirable” groups of people to correct, exterminate, punish, reform, and profi...
The impact of automation and artificial intelligence on worker well-being

Abstract Discourse surrounding the future of work often treats technological substitution of workers as a cause for concern, but complementarity as a good. However, while automation and artificial intelligence may improve productivity or wages for those who remain employed, they may also have mixed or negative impacts on worker well-being. This study considers five hypothetical channels through which automation may impact worker well-being: influencing worker freedom, sense of meaning, cognitive load, external monitoring, and insecurity. We apply a measure of automation risk to a set of 402 occupations to assess whether automation predicts impacts on worker well-being along the dimensions of job satisfaction, stress, health, and insecurity. Findings based on a 2002–2018 dataset from the General Social Survey reveal that workers facing automation risk appear to experience less stress, but also worse health, and minimal or negative impacts on job satisfaction. These impacts are more concentrated on workers facing the highest levels of automation risk. This article encourages new research directions by revealing important heterogeneous effects of technological complementarity. We recommend that firms, policymakers, and researchers not conceive of technological complementarity as a uniform good, and instead direct more attention to mixed well-being impacts of automation and artificial intelligence on workers.