cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development of verbal communicative skills in children.

Publisher Summary By acquiring the words and grammars of their native languages, children learns how to communicate information, needs, and feelings more effectively. Communication is a multidimensional phenomenon reflecting many developmental accomplishments. Even simple conversations might involve social perspective taking, knowledge of linguistic forms and conventions, perceptual and cognitive analysis of the topic, memory for prior utterances, attention to the physical and social context, and the ability to process these features simultaneously in order to fulfill social goals. This chapter reviews the early contributions of Piaget and Vygotsky, that characterizes the communication of young children as “egocentric” or “private,” that is, neither socialized nor adapted to the audience. Both theorists failed to deal explicitly with the diverse motivations behind the communication of children, focusing instead on a single form of early speech and its function in social interaction. Their concern for the influence of social context on the communication of children was also limited. Neither theorist considered in detail how children control their communicative efforts, select skills appropriate in given communicative settings, and evaluate the success of those skills for accomplishing social goals. The chapter concludes by proposing a new framework for interpreting communicative development that integrates and extends aspects of several recent approaches. In this framework, developmental changes are proposed in the goals children bring to communicative tasks, in the plans they adopt for achieving these goals, and in the means available for implementing these plans.
Does stenting of severe renal artery stenosis improve outcomes compared with medical therapy alone

Added to drug therapy, it can modestly improve blood pressure control, but has no significant effect on outcomes.
Application of Repetitive Control for Restoration of Periodic Signals Distorted by Nonlinear Measurement Devices

A restoration methodology is developed that removes distortion introduced by linear and nonlinear measurement devices. The method, which is based on a learning control algorithm, is restricted for use on signals that are periodic. The developed technique is demonstrated on a high voltage nonlinear instrument transformer used to measure harmonics in power systems. Simulation results show that the method is stable, robust with respect to modeling errors and additive noise, and converges very quickly.
Calibrating Sensitivity Analyses to Observed Covariates in Observational Studies

Summary In medical sciences, statistical analyses based on observational studies are common phenomena. One peril of drawing inferences about the effect of a treatment on subjects using observational studies is the lack of randomized assignment of subjects to the treatment. After adjusting for measured pretreatment covariates, perhaps by matching, a sensitivity analysis examines the impact of an unobserved covariate, u, in an observational study. One type of sensitivity analysis uses two sensitivity parameters to measure the degree of departure of an observational study from randomized assignment. One sensitivity parameter relates u to treatment and the other relates u to response. For subject matter experts, it may be difficult to specify plausible ranges of values for the sensitivity parameters on their absolute scales. We propose an approach that calibrates the values of the sensitivity parameters to the observed covariates and is more interpretable to subject matter experts. We will illustrate our method using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey regarding the relationship between cigarette smoking and blood lead levels.
Isolation of vitamin B12-binding proteins using affinity chromatography. I. Preparation and properties of vitamin B12-sepharose.

Abstract A method of affinity chromatography which is a potent tool for isolation of the trace vitamin B12 binding proteins has been developed. The affinity ligand was prepared by partial acid hydrolysis (0.4 n HCl, 64 hours, room temperature) of the amide groups of the unsubstituted propionamide side chains of the corrin ring of vitamin B12. The resultant mixture of mono-, di-, and tricarboxylic vitamin B12 derivatives was separated by chromatography on QAE-Sephadex. The monocarboxyl derivatives of vitamin B12 were coupled covalently to the free amino group of 3,3'-diaminodipropylamine-substituted Sepharose using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl-aminopropyl)-carbodiimide, thereby regenerating native vitamin B12 stably coupled to Sepharose (yield = 0.7 µmole of vitamin B12 per ml of packed Sepharose). The vitamin B12-Sepharose bound the vitamin B12 binding proteins (g90%) of human granulocytes, human plasma, human gastric juice, an extract of hog gastric mucosa, and a partially purified preparation of human transcobalamin II prepared from Cohn Fraction III of human plasma. The capacity of the vitamin B12 Sepharose to bind vitamin B12 binding proteins was at least 22% of the total vitamin B12 bound to Sepharose assuming 1 mole of vitamin B12 is bound per mole of vitamin B12 binding protein.
The Growth of Occupational Health Psychology

Since its origins in the early twentieth century, occupational health psychology has transformed into an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary fields focused on promoting healthy workers and healthy organizations. Through this period of growth, many theories were developed that have guided much of the research in identifying environmental and psychosocial risk factors for negative health outcomes in the workplace. A central focus has been placed on stress and its adverse effects on outcomes, such as productivity, job satisfaction, and employee health. Additionally, stress management interventions have become the mainstay for successful preventative occupational health programs. National organizations have also emerged to help support researchers in the development and implementation of workplace interventions. Overall, the field has made great strides and is primed for further investigation into such topics as the bidirectional relationships between organizational health and employee health, the reciprocal influence of other life roles on work stress, and the broader dissemination of practices that have demonstrated effectiveness in occupational health settings.
Tongue-tied: Imperialism and Second Language Education in the United States

This article responds to a conspicuous blind spot in scholarship and commentary on language education policy in the United States. This oversight obtains as much in theoretical terms as in errant readings of the historical record of language education policy and practice. To illuminate this blind spot, I structure the article in four parts. I begin by reviewing the resource debate over language education policy. Second, I contribute to that debate by way of the classical Marxist theory of imperialism and elaborate its social, ideological and linguistic dynamics. Third, I explore this theoretical position by contrasting two key moments in the history of U.S. second language policy and practice. Finally, I maintain that despite the focus on historical contexts, this analysis implicates a fundamental re-orientation of contemporary language education policy scholarship and advocacy if either is to contribute in deed to a more multilingual and just society.
Synergistic Antiproliferative Effects of γ-Tocotrienol and Statin Treatment on Mammary Tumor Cells

Statins are potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase and display anticancer activity, but their clinical use is limited by their high-dose toxicity. Similarly, γ-tocotrienol, an isoform of vitamin E, also reduces HMGCoA reductase activity and displays potent anticancer activity. Studies were conducted to determine if combined low dose treatment of γ-tocotrienol with individual statins resulted in a synergistic antiproliferative effect on neoplastic mouse +SA mammary epithelial cells. Treatment with 3–4 μM γ-tocotrienol or 2–8 μM simvastatin, lovastatin or mevastatin alone resulted in a significant decrease, whereas treatment with 10–100 μM pravastatin had no effect on +SA cell growth. However, combined treatment of subeffective doses (0.25 or 10 μM) of individual statins with 0.25–2.0 μM γ-tocotrienol resulted in a dose-responsive synergistic inhibition in +SA cell proliferation. Additional studies showed that treatment with subeffective doses of individual statins or γ-tocotrienol alone had no effect, whereas combined treatment of these compounds resulted in a relatively large decrease in intracellular levels of phosphorylated (activated) MAPK, JNK, p38, and Akt. These findings strongly suggest that combined low dose treatment of γ-tocotrienol with individual statins may have potential value in the treatment of breast cancer without causing myotoxicity that is associated with high dose statin treatment.
Dissociation pathways of sulfur dioxide clusters and mixed sulfur dioxide-water clusters

Abstract A reflectron-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (RTOFMS) coupled with a femtosecond multiphoton ionization technique is used to study the combined metastable and collision-induced dissociation of sulfur dioxide clusters and mixed sulfur dioxide-water clusters. From the dissociation patterns, the general structural arrangement of the clusters is clearly identified: (SO2)m·+ clusters have a SO2·+ core solvated by SO2 molecules; [SO(SO2)n]·+ and [S(SO2)n+1]·+ have a structure of SO·+ · (SO2)n and (SO)2·+ · (SO2)n, respectively. For [HSO2(SO2)]+ clusters, the ion core is HSO2+. H3SO3+ appears to have two isomeric structures: one HSO2+ · H2O, the other H3O+ · SO2.
Complementation between two temperaturesensitive mammalian cell mutants, each defective in the G1 phase of the cell cycle

Two mammalian temperature-sensitive (ts) G1cell cycle mutants of different species origin (Syrian hamster and mouse) have been tested for complementation using somatic cell hybrid analysis. All hamster-mouse hybrid clones tested were found to exhibit normal growth properties at the restrictive temperature, while neither mutant alone was capable of normal growth at this temperature. The two mutant lines therefore complement for growth in a somatic cell hybrid and most likely represent ts lesions in different cellular functions specific to the G1 phase of the cell cycle.
Structure of the metastable state in ion-irradiated magnesio-aluminate spinel

Abstract We have studied the structural changes in MgAl2O4 and MgO·3A12O3 spinel single crystals following 400 keV Xe2+ irradiation at 100 K to a dose of 1 × 1016 ions cm−2. The radiation-damaged layer was observed using cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. The first-order Bragg reflections decreased in intensity with increasing damage dose and eventually disappeared, indicating a transformation to a metastable crystalline state. Further irradiation resulted in amorphization of the damaged layer. Considering the well known radiation resistance of spinel, these results suggest that the transformation to the metastable state could be an important step in the amorphization process. We have examined various models for the structure of the metastable phase by calculating the diffraction patterns and comparing them to the electron diffraction observations. Our results indicate that a fcc oxygen lattice with cation interstitials provides the best explanation for the observed structural changes.
Dynamic Effective Charge of a Finite Linear Chain

A formalism for calculating the dynamic effective charge induced on the atoms of a homopolar crystal by the presence of a surface is presented in the framework of the tight-binding approximation. The method is applied to a one-dimensional chain of two-electron atoms for the purposes of illustration and identification of the critical model parameters. The wave function of the chain is constructed from a linear combination of $s$-like and $p$-like atomic orbitals. In the infinite chain, symmetry requires the dynamic effective charge of each atom to vanish. The presence of the free ends in the finite chain, however, induces dynamic effective charges on the atoms which decay in magnitude with increasing distance from the ends. It is found that the important model parameters are the energy band gap and the hopping integral between $s$ and $p$ states centered on adjacent sites. The dependence of the dynamic effective charge on these two parameters is presented.
The scope of denial in Russian negative sentences

Abstract Despite the fact that the place of the negative particle in Russian sentences serves to indicate the intended scope of denial, certain ambiguities as inevitable because the terminal boundary of the denied segment cannot be marked, and because the negative particle marks not only the denied segment but also elements that are neither denied nor presupposed. The body of the paper is devoted to ambiguities resulting from the latter distinction and to its substantiation, and in the conclusions it is suggested that in order to account for the place of the negative particle in Russian sentences it is necessary to distinguish elements that are neither denied nor presupposed in underlying representations. The analysis throws light on the meaning of negative sentences in other languages as well.
Fermentability of corn–lablab bean mixtures from different planting densities

Abstract This study was conducted to determine silage fiber characteristics and fermentation profiles of corn ( Zea mays L.) grown in mixture with lablab bean [ Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] at different planting densities. The experiment was conducted in two environments in 2005. ‘Rongai’ lablab bean and corn were intercropped at eight different planting densities; 20/80, 40/0, 40/40, 40/80, 60/0, 60/40, 60/80, and 80/80 thousand corn/lablab bean plants/ha. Corn in monoculture or in mixture with bean was harvested between 1/2 and 3/4 milk line. Two 1-L glass jar mini-silos per treatment per replicate plot were filled at a density of 500 g/L, eight jars per treatment per location, and stored for 40 days at room temperature (∼22 °C). At the time of ensiling a 500-g fresh sub-sample was also taken for dry matter (DM) and initial characterization of the corn and corn–bean mixtures. Each silo was analyzed for fiber characteristics, pH, and fermentation products. Silage crude protein (CP) concentration was on average 17.5% (86.4 g/kg DM) greater in the mixture than monoculture corn (73.5 g/kg DM). The in vitro true digestible DM (IVTDDM) concentrations in the mixtures were on average 4.6% less (796 g/kg DM) than that of monoculture corn (834 g/kg DM), but neutral detergent fiber digestibility was not different between monoculture corn and corn–lablab mixtures (P>0.05). Lactate concentration was 21.2% higher in the corn–lablab bean mixtures (60.5 g/kg DM) than monoculture corn (49.9 g/kg DM). The contribution of the lablab bean to the mixture increased as corn planting density decreased. Thus the maximum benefits to increased CP occurred in the mixtures with the lowest corn planting densities, but those mixtures also had the greatest reductions in IVTDDM. However all treatments fermented well in spite of significant (P
Changes in chemical processes in soils caused by acid precipitation

In the absence of SO infin4 sup= and NO inf3 su− in precipitation, the pH of precipitation is primarily a function of CO2−20 equilibria. Soil CO2 and organic acids, acquired during descent through soil profiles, augment the dissolving capacity of the solutions which initially may have a pH of 4 or lower. The recent man-related increase of H2SO4 and HNO3 in rainfall results in a significant lowering of pH in incident precipitation and an increase in corrosiveness of soil solutions. H2SO4 and HNO3 may contribute some Eh buffering capacity. Particularly susceptible to these changes are clay minerals and redox sensitive elements such as Fe, Mn, Ni, and Co. The overall chemical weathering trends associated with increased acidity of rainfall will be de-stabilization and eventual solution of clay minerals (and the loss of their cation exchange capacity), increased rates of chemical denudation, and solution of illuvial Fe and Al oxides and hydroxides. The latter results in the loss of the adsorbed and coprecipitated metal trace elements associated with these highly reactive phases. The general result in soils developed on non-carbonate substrates is a tendency toward extensive podsolization, with associated decrease in clay minerals, loss of cation exchange capacity, and decrease in fertility.
Species Turnover Rates on Islands: Dependence on Census Interval

Measurements of species turnover in island bird communities demonstrate two trends with increasing census interval t: (i) Apparent turnover rates T decrease greatly with t, and (ii) the coefficient of variation of T decreases asymptotically to a constant value. These effects are predicted by a statistical model whose parameters are the immigration and extinction probabilities of each species. Available bird censuses at intervals of decades underestimate turnover rates by about an order of magnitude.
Interrelationships of somatic cell count, mastitis, and milk yield in a low somatic cell count herd.

In a high yielding low SCC herd, changes in milk yield associated with SCC and occurrence of clinical mastitis and differences in SCC with parity, clinical mastitis, and DIM were investigated. Milk yield data were obtained at every milking, and SCC was measured once every 48 h in 117 cows during the first 119 d postpartum. Effects of SCC and clinical mastitis on cumulative milk yield in the first 119 d postpartum were evaluated with least squares linear regression. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes in SCC. The SCC was highest at lactation onset, and cows with clinical mastitis had significantly higher SCC. During the 10 d prior to onset of clinical mastitis, SCC was higher in affected cows than in matched unaffected controls and surged just prior to diagnosis. During the 10-d period following a mastitis treatment, SCC differences between treated and control cows remained significant but became smaller with time and returned to the premastitis differences. Occurrence of clinical mastitis was associated with 5% milk yield loss. Cows with mean SCC > 245,000 cells/ml over the 119 d showed 6.2% yield loss compared with cows with SCC 245,000 cells/ml) because a greater percentage of cows (26%) had clinical mastitis than elevated SCC (12.5%).
Beyond Barbie and Mortal Kombat: new perspectives on girls and games

The number of women and girl gamers has risen considerably in the last ten years. Women are now the majority of casual gamers; girl players participate in large numbers in virtual worlds, and professional all female teams are successful in competitions. Despite this, gender disparities remain in gaming. Women may be warriors in World of Warcraft, but they are also scantily clad "booth babes" whose sex appeal is used to promote games at trade shows. Player-generated content has revolutionized gaming, but few games marketed to girls allow "modding". Women may be into gaming but few venture into industry. In this talk, I'll examine the experiences of girl and women players in gaming communities; the need for different perspectives in game design; and concerns related to emerging serious games - games meant not only to entertain but also to educate, persuade, or change behavior. My goal is to look beyond the differences and to learn how we can design games that offer motivating, challenging, and enriching contexts for play to a more diverse population of players.
Arousal and Identity: Thoughts on Neurofeedback in Treatment of Developmental Trauma

Abstract This article addresses the issue of arousal in developmental trauma. The article suggests that emotional disturbance can be seen as a disruption in rhythmic regulation. The author presents a treatment approach that emphasizes training the regulation of emotional arousal and discusses the impact of this approach on identity in this population. The major affect of concern is fear, and the primary goal of neurofeedback is seen as the reduction of fear and reactivity. The article attempts to elucidate the clinical challenges confronted when this is accomplished.
On farm assessment of tillage impact on soil carbon and associated soil quality parameters

No-tillage (NT) farming offers innumerable benefits to soil and water conservation, however, its potential to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) and related soil properties varies widely. Thus, the impact of long-term (>4 yr) NT-based cropping systems on SOC sequestration and selected soil physical and chemical parameters were assessed across soils within five Major land Resource Areas (MLRAs: 99 and 111 in Michigan; 124 and 139 in Ohio; and 127 in Pennsylvania) in eastern U.S.A. Soil samples were collected from paired fields of NT and plow tillage (PT) based cropping systems and an adjacent woodlot (WL). The SOC concentration, bulk density (ρb), texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil N, coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) C and N, and nitrate N (NO3-N) concentrations were determined. Conversion from NT to PT practice increased surface soil pH from 5.97, 6.56 and 6.02 to 6.62, 6.91 and 7.09 under MLRAs 127, 111 and 99, respectively. NT soils had higher SOC concentration soils by 30, 50 and 67% over PT soils at 0–5 cm depth under MLRAs 99, 111 and 127, respectively. Considering the whole soil profile SOC, WL had higher SOC pool than NT and PT practices under MLRAs 99, 111 and 124, however, there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) between NT and PT practices across five soils. Almost the same trend was observed in the case of depthwise soil N content. NT soil had higher N content than PT soils by 27, 44 and 54% under MLRAs 99, 127 and 111, respectively. However, whole soil profile N content of NT soil was significantly higher by 12% than PT soil under MLRA 99. Concentrations of CPOM associated C and N of NT soil was higher than PT soil under MLRAs 99, 111 and 127 at 0–5 soil depth. These results indicated that impact of tillage on soil C and associated soil quality parameters is confined within specific soil types.
Michel's Transport Medium as an Alternative to Liquid Nitrogen for PCR Analysis of Skin Biopsy Specimens.

Formalin fixation and paraffin embedding are standard procedures for histopathological diagnosis and allow long-term archiving of tissue specimens. The cross-linking properties of formalin cause fragmentation of nucleic acids and reduce the sensitivity of PCR analysis. Michel's medium is a well-established transport medium used by dermatologists for biopsy transport to maintain tissue-fixed immunoreactants prior to direct immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Here we report that Michel's medium also allows short-term preservation of DNA for PCR analysis and permits amplification of amplicons larger than 1 kb. Therefore, Michel's medium appears to be a reserve medium for performing PCR when no other samples are available. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Concept Analysis: Sexual Decision‐Making in Adolescence

TOPIC. Adolescent sexual decision-making. PURPOSE. This papers aims to clarify and explore the topic of adolescent decision-making regarding sexual activity. SOURCES. Published literature. CONCLUSIONS. Adolescent decision-making regarding the initiation or continuation of sexual activity is influenced by desire for intimacy, perceived relationship safety, problem-solving ability, cognitive ability, family and peer relationships, and concern regarding pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection.
New structural insights from Raman spectroscopy of proteins and their assemblies.

Protein structure and stability are sensitive to and dependent on the local interactions of amino acid side chains. A diverse and important type of side-chain interaction is the hydrogen bond. Although numerous hydrogen bonds are resolved in protein 3-dimensional structures, those of the cysteine sulfhydryl group (S-H) are elusive to high-resolution X-ray and NMR methods. However, the nature and strength of sulfhydryl hydrogen bonds (S-H* * *X) are amenable to investigation by Raman spectroscopy. The power of the Raman method for characterizing S-H* * *X interactions is illustrated by resolving the Raman S-H stretching band for each of the eight cysteines per 666-residue subunit in the trimeric tailspike of icosahedral bacteriophage P22. The Raman sulfhydryl signatures of the wild-type tailspike and eight single-site cysteine to serine mutants reveal a heretofore unrecognized diversity of S-H hydrogen bonds in a native protein. The use of Raman spectroscopy to identify the non-hydrogen-bonded state of the tyrosine phenoxyl group is also described. This unusual and unexpected state occurs for all tyrosines in the assembled capsids of filamentous viruses Ff and Pf1. The Raman spectral signature of the non-hydrogen-bonded tyrosine phenoxyl, which is characterized by an extraordinary Raman Fermi doublet intensity ratio (I850/I830 = 6.7), extends and refines the existing correlation for hydrogen-bonded tyrosines. Finally, a novel Raman signature for tryptophan in the Pf3 filamentous virus is identified, which is proposed as diagnostic of "cation-pi interaction" involving the guanidinium group of Arg 37 as a cation donor and the indolyl ring of Trp 38 as a pi-electron acceptor. These studies demonstrate the power of Raman spectroscopy for investigating the interactions of key side chains in native protein assemblies.
‘THEY KNOW HIM BY HIS VOICE’: NEWMAN ON THE IMAGINATION, CHRISTOLOGY, AND THE THEOLOGY OF RELIGIONS

Newman's gift to Catholic theology is the gift of ‘wisdom’: an ability to discern the shape of the whole, not by way of ‘generalized laws or metaphysical conjectures’ but through the ‘concrete’ and ‘living’ soil of the religious imagination. Newman's elemental trust in the religious sensibilities of non-Christians and the revelatory roots of ‘natural religion’ proceeds from his view of the religious imagination as the experiential, pre-verbal, and pre-conceptual realm of contact between God and human persons always and everywhere. Above all Newman recognizes the salvific character of a life of personal holiness. In this respect the life of Christ exemplifies continuity and not radical interruption with countless human beings outside our usual ken who quietly lead lives of sacramental holiness. Bringing Newman into dialogue with contemporary theologians such as Jacques Dupuis, Roger Haight, Terrence Merrigan, and Thomas Merton, the author proposes four lessons for a theology of religions cast ‘under the light of Wisdom’.
Conjunctive item response theory kernels

Conjunctive item response models are introduced such that (a) sufficient statistics for latent traits are not necessarily additive in item scores; (b) items are not necessarily locally independent; and (c) existing compensatory (additive) item response models including the binomial, Rasch, logistic, and general locally independent model are special cases. Simple estimates and hypothesis tests for conjunctive models are introduced and evaluated as well. Conjunctive models are also identified with cognitive models that assume the existence of several individually necessary component processes for a global ability. It is concluded that conjunctive models and methods may show promise for constructing improved tests and uncovering conjunctive cognitive structure. It is also concluded that conjunctive item response theory may help to clarify the relationships between local dependence, multidimensionality, and item response function form.
The TeraPaths Testbed: Exploring End-to-End Network QoS

The TeraPaths project at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) investigates the combination of DiffServ-based LAN QoS with WAN MPLS tunnels in creating end-to-end (host-to-host) virtual paths with bandwidth guarantees. These virtual paths prioritize, protect, and throttle network flows in accordance with site agreements and user requests, and prevent the disruptive effects that conventional network flows can cause in one another. This paper focuses on the TeraPaths testbed, a collection of end-site subnets connected through high-performance WANs, serving the research and software development needs of the TeraPaths project. The testbed is rapidly evolving towards a multiple end-site infrastructure, dedicated to QoS networking research, and it offers unique opportunities for experimentation with minimal or no impact on regular, production networking operations.
A Two-Region Model for Gradient Modification of Salt-Gradient Solar Ponds by Radial Injection

A combined experimental and numerical study was conducted to support the development of a new gradient maintenance technique for salt-gradient solar ponds. Two numerical models were developed and verified by laboratory experiments. The first is an axisymmetric (near-field) model which determines mixing and entrainment in the near-field of the injecting diffuser by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum, energy, and salt. The model assumes variable properties and uses a simple turbulence model based on the mixing length hypothesis to account for the turbulence effects. A series of experimental measurements were conducted in the laboratory for the initial adjustment of the turbulence model and verification of the code. The second model is a one-dimensional far-field model which determines the change of the salt distribution in the pond gradient zone as a result of injection by coupling the near-field injection conditions to the pond geometry. This is implemented by distributing the volume fluxes obtained at the domain boundary of the near-field model, to the gradient layers of the same densities. The numerical predictions obtained by the two-region model was found to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.
A New Millimeter-Wave Broadband Retrodirective Antenna Array

This paper reported a broadband 8times16 retro-directive array for millimeter-wave applications. The array element is a proximity-coupled dual-ring antenna with a bandwidth of 33.7% (31-42.8 GHz). The antenna is used to build a 4times4 retrodirective array as a sub-array. Then the sub-arrays are assembled to form an 8times16 array. The design method of the arrays and the measured performances from 32 GHz to 40 GHz are presented.
Optimizing RF Output for Cooled RF Ablation

Cooled RF ablation catheters increase lesion size and facilitate ablation compared to standard RF ablation catheters. Cooling the ablation electrode increases the disparity between tissue temperature and electrode temperature, making use of temperature for guiding power application during ablation of less certain value. Appropriate energy titration is important, however, to produce large lesions, while avoiding overheating of tissue with steam formation leading to "pops." In addition to power, the rate of irrigant flow can be controlled. Electrode-tissue contact and orientation and the cooling effect of blood flow around the electrode and within the tissue are not as easily adjusted and also influence tissue heating. In addition to electrode temperature, a decrease in impedance, bubble formation detected by intracardiac ultrasound, and evidence of tissue heating from an effect on recorded electrograms or the arrhythmia can be used to guide ablation energy. Guidelines for adjusting power delivery and avoiding "pops" and coagulum formation are suggested.
Electronic structure and properties of transition metal-benzene complexes.

A comprehensive theoretical study of the geometries, energetics, and electronic structure of neutral and charged 3d transition metal atoms (M) interacting with benzene molecules (Bz) is carried out using density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation potential. The variation of the metal-benzene distances, dissociation energies, ionization potentials, electron affinities, and spin multiplicities across the 3d series in MBz complexes differs qualitatively from those in M(Bz) 2. For example, the stability of Cr(Bz)2 is enhanced over that of CrBz by almost a factor of 30. On the other hand, the magnetic moment of Cr(Bz)2 is completely quenched although CrBz has the highest magnetic moment, namely 6IB ,i n the 3d metal-benzene series. In multidecker complexes involving V2(Bz)3 and Fe2(Bz)3, the metal atoms are found to couple antiferromagnetically. In addition, their dissociation energies and ionization potentials are reduced from those in corresponding M(Bz)2 complexes. All of these results agree well with available experimental data and demonstrate the important role the organic support can play on the properties of metal atoms/clusters.
Professors' communication styles: How they influence male and female seminar participants

Abstract Interactions involving a single group of students and two professors were examined. Results indicated the female professor's structured style encouraged students to fill in the “slots” left open to them. She achieved gender parity by monitoring students' contributions. The male professor's confronting style encouraged students to initiate topics and challenge ideas. Although men held the floor longer, women also participated more frequently in his seminar. Three of the four top contributors in both settings were women, a proportion identical to the female/male ratio. Findings emphasized the importance of examining individual's styles rather than simply counting male and female contributions.
Recovery, recrystallization, grain growth and phase stability of a family of FCC-structured multi-component equiatomic solid solution alloys

Abstract The equiatomic high-entropy alloy FeNiCoCrMn is known to crystallize as a single phase with the face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure. To better understand this quinary solid solution alloy, we investigate various binary, ternary and quaternary alloys made from its constituent elements. Our goals are twofold: ( i ) to investigate which of these lower order systems also form solid solution alloys consisting of a single FCC phase, and ( ii ) to characterize their phase stability and recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth behaviors. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electron images showed that three of the five possible quaternaries (FeNiCoCr, FeNiCoMn and NiCoCrMn), five of the ten possible ternaries (FeNiCo, FeNiCr, FeNiMn, NiCoCr, and NiCoMn), and two of the ten possible binaries (FeNi and NiCo) were single-phase FCC solid solutions in the cast and homogenized condition, whereas the others either had different crystal structures or were multi-phase. The single-phase FCC quaternary, FeNiCoCr, along with its equiatomic ternary and binary subsidiaries, were selected for further investigations of phase stability and the thermomechanical processing needed to obtain equiaxed grain structures. Only four of these subsidiary alloys—two binaries (FeNi and NiCo) and two ternaries (FeNiCo and NiCoCr)—were found to be single-phase FCC after rolling at room temperature followed by annealing for 1 h at temperatures of 300–1100 °C. Pure Ni, which is FCC and one of the constituents of the quinary high-entropy alloy (FeNiCoCrMn), was also investigated for comparison with the higher order alloys. Among the materials investigated after thermomechanical processing (FeNiCoCr, FeNiCo, NiCoCr, FeNi, NiCo, and Ni), FeNiCo and Ni showed abnormal grain growth at relatively low annealing temperatures, while the other four showed normal grain growth behavior. The grain growth exponents for all five of the equiatomic alloys were found to be ∼0.25 (compared to ∼0.5 for unalloyed Ni), suggesting that solute drag may control grain growth in the alloys. For all five alloys, as well as for pure Ni, microhardness increases as the grain size decreases in a Hall-Petch type way. The ternary alloy NiCoCr was the hardest of the alloys investigated in this study, even when compared to the quaternary FeNiCoCr alloy. This suggests that solute hardening in equiatomic alloys depends not just on the number of alloying elements but also their type.
Epistemic Circularity Squared? Skepticism about Common Sense

Epistemic circularity occurs when a subject forms the belief that a faculty F is reliable through the use of F. Although this is often thought to be vicious, externalist theories generally don't rule it out. For some philosophers, this is a reason to reject externalism. However, Michael Bergmann defends externalism by drawing on the tradition of common sense in two ways. First, he concedes that epistemically circular beliefs cannot answer a subject's doubts about her cognitive faculties. But, he argues, subjects don't have such doubts, so epistemically circular beliefs are rarely called upon to play this role. Second, following Thomas Reid, Bergmann argues that we have noninferential, though epistemically circular, knowledge that our faculties are reliable. I argue, however, that Bergmann's view is undermined by doubts a subject should have and that there is no plausible explanation for how we can have noninferential knowledge that our faculties are reliable.
A Practical Guide to the Management of HCV Infection Following Liver Transplantation

Hepatitis C-associated liver failure is the most common indication for liver transplantation, with virological recurrence near ubiquitous. Approximately 30% of HCV-infected recipients will die or lose their allograft or develop cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C recurrence by the fifth postoperative year, with the proportion increasing with duration of follow-up. Strategies for minimizing the frequency of severe HCV recurrence include avoidance of older donors, early diagnosis/treatment of CMV and minimization of immunosuppression, particularly T-cell depleting therapies and pulsed corticosteroid treatment of acute cellular rejection. Patients should be offered treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin before LT if MELD </= 17 or as soon as histological evidence of recurrence of HCV is apparent post-LT. Because of the high frequency of hemotoxicity and renal insufficiency, ribavirin should be dosed according to renal function.
Beyond ‘Latino New Urbanism’: advocating ethnurbanisms

This paper discusses the notion of Latino New Urbanism (LNU) and reflects on the significance of ethnic-based reformulations of urban practices and living preferences in Los Angeles and the potential these have for the transformation of policy making and development practices in the region and beyond. Can LNU truly avoid the pitfalls of New Urbanism and represent a new way of conceiving urbanism – one that is explicit and inclusive in its ways of recognizing and addressing ethnoracial and class diversity? Can LNU instead be intentionally or unintentionally used to mask some structural social problems that Latina/os face in the US? All of this poses questions related to the assessment of LNU in the context of tensions between structure vs. agency, diluting vs. celebrating ethnoracial differences, and oppressive vs. liberating urban design and community-building practices. Based on those considerations, I offer an alternate notion of multiple and evolving ethnurbanisms.
Attention grounding: a new approach to in-vehicle information system implementation

Driven by an expected $15–100 billion market, the race to produce in-vehicle information system (IVIS) functions has begun. Although IVIS functions may increase productivity, satisfaction and safety, they may also undermine safety and annoy drivers. Developing IVIS design strategies that minimize driver distraction is a critical challenge in developing successful IVIS functions. Several approaches have been developed to address this challenge. Interference mitigation has been the historical approach to IVIS research. More recently, workload management has emerged as an approach that may mitigate distraction by monitoring and managing the varying demands of driving and IVIS interaction. This paper presents attention grounding as a novel approach that complements previous efforts. Attention grounding uses the concepts of collaborative communication, grounding and dynamical systems theory to address the shortcomings of current approaches. IVIS interaction is considered a collaborative process that is support...
STEM Integration with informatics

The current generation of students operates in a mode of constant stimulation. Immediate relevance is the overriding determinant of their interest in a particular topic. As such, teaching fundamentals to this generation solely for the sake of a better future understanding of advanced concepts becomes an uphill battle. Whether it be ABCs, multiplication tables, or laws of science, standalone foundational knowledge carries with it no immediate benefit and is therefore of little interest to this generation. Informatics, however, is by its very nature an interdisciplinary and domain-relevant field. Informatics makes it possible to teach foundational concepts in context, most notably in a context relevant to high school students. We introduce the concept of teenformatics and describe how we can leverage informatics to build interest in the STEM disciplines and to show students the relevance of STEM in their lives.
The de‐marketing of smokeless tobacco for harm reduction

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine the confusion and misperceptions regarding the actual risk involved in smokeless tobacco use as an alternative nicotine delivery option for inveterate smokers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper cites published research and current government guidelines to demonstrate misinformation on the part of some in the public health community.Findings – The paper finds that smokeless tobacco is substantially safer than smoking and is a viable choice to increase smoking cessation for those unwilling or unable to quit.Practical implications – The public is entitled to know the facts about nicotine and the truth about the actual risk levels involved in consuming various forms of tobacco.Originality/value – Consumers are capable of making an informed choice for themselves regarding the risks of using smokeless tobacco if the truth is communicated to them.
Genetic variation in the human brain dopamine system influences motor learning and its modulation by L-Dopa

Dopamine is important to learning and plasticity. Dopaminergic drugs are the focus of many therapies targeting the motor system, where high inter-individual differences in response are common. The current study examined the hypothesis that genetic variation in the dopamine system is associated with significant differences in motor learning, brain plasticity, and the effects of the dopamine precursor L-Dopa. Skilled motor learning and motor cortex plasticity were assessed using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design in 50 healthy adults during two study weeks, one with placebo and one with L-Dopa. The influence of five polymorphisms with established effects on dopamine neurotransmission was summed using a gene score, with higher scores corresponding to higher dopaminergic neurotransmission. Secondary hypotheses examined each polymorphism individually. While training on placebo, higher gene scores were associated with greater motor learning (p = .03). The effect of L-Dopa on learning varied with the gene score (gene score*drug interaction, p = .008): participants with lower gene scores, and thus lower endogenous dopaminergic neurotransmission, showed the largest learning improvement with L-Dopa relative to placebo (p<.0001), while L-Dopa had a detrimental effect in participants with higher gene scores (p = .01). Motor cortex plasticity, assessed via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), also showed a gene score*drug interaction (p = .02). Individually, DRD2/ANKK1 genotype was significantly associated with motor learning (p = .02) and its modulation by L-Dopa (p<.0001), but not with any TMS measures. However, none of the individual polymorphisms explained the full constellation of findings associated with the gene score. These results suggest that genetic variation in the dopamine system influences learning and its modulation by L-Dopa. A polygene score explains differences in L-Dopa effects on learning and plasticity most robustly, thus identifying distinct biological phenotypes with respect to L-Dopa effects on learning and plasticity. These findings may have clinical applications in post-stroke rehabilitation or the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Relaxation time of electron-phonon systems☆

Abstract A new definition is proposed for the electronic relaxation time of electron-phonon systems. This is the relaxation time measured in electrical resistivity, or in the Drude contribution to the optical dielectric function. The proposed expression reduced to Baym's result at zero frequency and to the Ron and Tzoar result at high frequency. The present result has the advantage that it is valid over the entire range of frequencies of interest.
Auger stimulated ion desorption of negative ions via K-capture radioactive decay.

We report on Auger stimulated ion desorption via Coulomb explosion from surface self-assembled alkylthiol and fluorocarbon molecular layers, triggered by K -capture decay of an imbedded radioactive {sup 55}Fe atom. The charge state of the ejecta is determined by charge exchange in binary atomic collisions in bulk and electron tunneling outside the solid, as well as by fragmentation of electronically excited molecules or molecular fragments. We describe the first nonbeam experiments documenting positive and abundant negative ion desorption due solely to core electron excitation after radioactive decay.
On a transport theorem for moving interface

Abstract A transport theorem for a moving interface within a non-fixed region Ω, ⊂ R 3 is derived.
A dynamic view of law

Sally Falk Moore. Law as Process: An Anthropological Approach. London, Henley and Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1978. vi + 270 pp. $15.00, cloth.
Patagium and Some Spumellarian (Radiolaria) Genera: ABSTRACT

Patagium is a unique structure found in some spumellarian Radiolaria and has been considered to be a diagnostic criterion at the generic level in the generally accepted scheme of classification. A continuous variation in degree of preservation and (or) developmental stages of this structure from complete to absent has been found in genera such as Hymeniastrum-Dictyastrum and Euchitonia-Rhoparastrum from northeast Pacific Ocean bottom sediments. The study of a rich radiolarian fauna in core samples from Java, Mindanao, and Mariana trenches reveals similar features and indicates that such a complete sequence of variation is neither a rare phenomenon nor biogeographically significant. The taxonomic value of Patagium, therefore, needs critical reconsideration. The degree of development or preservation of Patagium found in a specimen seems to be unrelated to radiolarian ontogeny, although its real significance can not now be determined. Fragments of the diatom Ethmodiscus rex (Wallich) Hendey also are found abundantly and consistently in the middle and lower parts of the Mindanao trench subsurface section, whereas only a few sporadic occurrences are found in the Java and Mariana trench samples. End_of_Article - Last_Page 623------------
The full fuel cycle of CO2 capture and disposal 3. Afforestation, and environmental impacts

Abstract This paper reports on the assessment and valuation of the environmental impacts arising from the full fuel cycles of three fossil fuelled power plants equipped with CO 2 capture and disposal facilities. The first of these is a Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) plant featuring CO 2 separation and disposal to a disused gas well. The second is an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant featuring CO 2 separation and disposal to the deep ocean. The third case is a pulverised fuel plant with flue gas desulphurisation (PF+FGD) with CO 2 capture by a managed forest at a site remote from the power plant. A wide variety of impacts have been assessed at local, regional and global scales. They include accidents affecting workers and the public, the effects of atmospheric emissions on health and buildings and the impacts of global warming. Issues associated with management of the forest designed to capture CO 2 from the PF plant and assessment of the associated costs are also described.