cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of a formaldehyde photodissociation process for carbon and oxygen isotope separation

The current shortage of 18O has revived interest in using one step UV photodissociation of formaldehyde to enrich 13C, 17O and 18O. The frequency doubled output of the copper laser pumped dye laser system currently in operation at LLNL can be used to drive this dissociation. We use a simple kinetics model and our experience with Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) process design to examine the relative merits of different designs for a formaldehyde photodissociation process. Given values for the molecular photoabsorption cross section, partition function, spectroscopic selectivity, collisional exchange and quenching cross sections (all as parameters), we perform a partial optimization in the space of illuminated area, formaldehyde pressure in each stage, and formaldehyde residence time in each stage. We examine the effect of cascade design (heads and tails staging) on molecule and photon utilization for each of the three isotope separation missions, and look in one case at the system's response to different ratios of laser to formaldehyde costs. Finally, we examine the relative cost of enrichment as a function of isotope and product assay. Emphasis will be as much on the process design methodology, which is general, as on the specific application to formaldehyde.
Synthesis and characterization of the heavy alkaline earth aryloxide congeners

Abstract A series of the heavier alkaline earth (AE) aryloxides were synthesized from the reaction of the metal (AE°) or the ‘AE(ONep)2’ (ONep = neo-pentoxide) precursor with a series of 2,6-di-alkyl phenols (alkyl = methyl (H-DMP), iso-propyl (H-DIP), tert-butyl (H-DBP)). These products were crystallographically characterized as: [(py)3(DMP)Sr(μ-DMP)]2·py (1), [Sr(DIP)2(py)4] (2), [Sr(DBP)2(py)3] (3), [(py)3Ba(μ-DMP)3Ba(DMP)(py)2][Ba[(μ-DMP)3Ba(py)3]2] (4), and [Ba(OAr)2(py)n] where OAr = DIP, n = 4 (5), DBP, n = 3 (6). In some instances AE-oxide alkoxides were crystallographically identified and have been preliminarily identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction. NMR data showed a single set of resonances for 1–6, which argues for monomeric species to exist in solution.
On the generation of dislocations at misfitting particles in a ductile matrix

Abstract The nucleation of a shear dislocation loop from the interface of a misfitting spherical particle in a deformable matrix is considered. The equilibrium shapes and positions of the nucleated dislocation have been calculated. There are two critical levels of misfit. The lower critical level, which is dependent on the particle size, must be reached before nucleation can occur. Above the upper critical level, which is virtually independent of the particle size, nucleation will always occur. Experimental measurements of the critical misfit show that the upper critical level describes the spontaneous generation of dislocations at coherent particles, whereas the lower level describes their generation at incoherent particles. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
Growth and characterization of ZnO thin films on GaN epilayers

Dense ZnO(0001) films formed at 500°C via coalescence of islands grown via metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) either on GaN/AlN/SiC(0001) substrates or on initial, coherent ZnO layers. Conical crystallites formed due to thermal expansion-induced stresses between the ZnO and the substrate. Interfaces between the ZnO films on GaN epilayers exposed either simultaneously to diethylzinc and oxygen or only to diethylzinc at the initiation of growth were sharp and epitaxial. Interfaces formed after the exposure of the GaN to O2 were less coherent, though an interfacial oxide was not observed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Threading dislocations and stacking faults were observed in all films.
Environmental controls on net ecosystem‐level carbon exchange and productivity in a Central American tropical wet forest

Difficulty in balancing the global carbon budget has lead to increased attention on tropical forests, which have been estimated to account for up to one third of global gross primary production. Whether tropical forests are sources, sinks, or neutral with respect to their carbon balance with the atmosphere remains unclear. To address this issue, estimates of net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) were made for 3 years (1998–2000) using the eddy-covariance technique in a tropical wet forest in Costa Rica. Measurements were made from a 42 m tower centred in an old-growth forest. Under unstable conditions, the measurement height was at least twice the estimated zeroplane height from the ground. The canopy at the site is extremely rough; under unstable conditions the median aerodynamic roughness length ranged from 2.4 to 3.6 m. No relationship between NEE and friction velocity (u*) was found using all of the 30-min averages. However, there was a linear relationship between the nighttime NEE and averaged u* (R2 = 0.98). The diurnal pattern of flux was similar to that found in other tropical forests, with mean daytime NEE ca. − 18 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1 and mean nighttime NEE 4.6 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1. However, because ∼ 80% of the nighttime data in this forest were collected during low u* conditions (< 0.2 m s−1), nighttime NEE was likely underestimated. Using an alternative analysis, mean nighttime NEE increased to 7.05 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1. There were interannual differences in NEE, but seasonal differences were not apparent. Irradiance accounted for ∼ 51% of the variation in the daytime fluxes, with temperature and vapour pressure deficit together accounting for another ∼ 20%. Light compensation points ranged from 100 to 207 μmol PPFD m−2 s−1. No was relationship was found between 30-min nighttime NEE and tower-top air temperature. A weak relationship was found between hourly nighttime NEE and canopy air temperature using data averaged hourly over the entire sampling period (Q10 = 1.79, R2 = 0.17). The contribution of below-sensor storage was fairly constant from day to day. Our data indicate that this forest was a slight carbon source in 1998 (0.05 to −1.33 t C ha−1 yr−1), a moderate sink in 1999 (−1.53 to −3.14 t C ha−1 yr−1), and a strong sink in 2000 (−5.97 to −7.92 t C ha−1 yr−1). This trend is interpreted as relating to the dissipation of warm-phase El Nino effects over the course of this study.
Engaged Supervision to Support Recommended Practices for Young Children with Challenging Behavior

Although in the last 20 years much progress has been made on understanding the challenging behaviors of young children and providing effective prevention and intervention, it is not at all certain ...
New solutions for navigating an ocean of data

With more than 90 percent of the world's ocean still unmapped and unexplored, the need for ocean exploration has never been more critical. NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) provides NOAA and the Nation with a unique capability to discover and investigate new ocean areas and phenomena and to conduct the basic research required to capitalize on discoveries. In 2002 NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration (now part of OER) initiated a joint effort with NOAA's Data Centers1 and other partners to form an Integrated Product Team (IPT) for Data Management for the Ocean Exploration Program. The IPT researched and documented a strategic approach, and has since implemented an “End-to-End” (E2E) Information Management System to ensure that the scientific data and value-added data products produced as a result of NOAA's exploration program are appropriately managed. The cornerstone of the E2E System is the Cruise Information Management System, an open source, custom software suite designed to aggregate information collected from OER's expedition planning and operational processes into standard documentation formats (e.g., metadata records). In step with the new sensor suites and technical capacity available aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer (EX), CIMS capabilities are currently being extended to address new data management challenges resulting from the new technologies aboard ship. An important objective is to automate the creation of standard metadata records for a myriad of shipboard sensors with a minimum of human intervention. Other key technical investigations include the transformation of shipboard sensor data collections to open standards formats to enable near-real time data access and automated archival, as well as investigation into the use of a shore-side Data Assembly Center to provide a common framework for data transformation and distribution. The team's approach to systems development, emphasizing collaboration, flexibility, adaptation, and transparency, remains on course to meet future expedition information management needs. The IPT ensures that the information resulting from OER's global, interdisciplinary expeditions is broadly accessible to decision makers, scientists, educators, and the public, and is preserved for perpetuity. OER will not only serve NOAA's present needs, it will undoubtedly bring to light what will become of NOAA's and the Nation's future missions and priorities.
Planar reconfigurable antennas

In this paper it is shown that planar reconfigurable antennas can cover a wide range of designs such as fractal antennas, triangular antennas, monopole, dipoles, log-periodic etc. Some of these designs can also be used to yield tunable electrically small antennas for miniature wireless device applications. In all cases RF MEMS switches are used to achieve reconfigurability and multi-functionality. Some of the challenges that the designer has to face in biasing and integrating switches with the antenna are presented and discussed.
Photoconductivity of Boron Doped A—SiN X:H

The photoconductivity of boron doped a-SiNx:H(x=0.07)has been studied by steady state secondary photocurrent, xerographic photodischarge, the time of flight measurement, and ESR. The dominant carrier of the photocurrent in a-SiNx:H is found to be electron. The μτ product of the electron decreases with increasing doping amount of boron, while that of the hole increases and becomes larger than 10−8cm2/V. From these results it is found that the life time of the hole becomes longer with increasing the amount of doping boron. The intensity of the ESR signal due to the neutral dangling bonds decreases monotonically with doping boron, and this decrease of the neutral dangling bond density is considered to be due to not only change of the occupation statistics, but mainly to the chemical or electrical interaction between boron and nitrogen.
Pacific Coastal Laguna Zope

Recent excavations at Laguna Zope, on the southern Isthmus of Tehuantepec, provide interesting insights into the nature of a regional center in the hinterlands of Monte Alban. The excavation focused on an elite-status area of the site dating to the Terminal Formative period, a time when the Monte Alban polity in the highland Valley of Oaxaca was thought to have embarked on an imperialist campaign to turn former exchange partners into tribute-paying subjects. In contrast to the evidence from some other regions of Oaxaca, there was little to suggest that Laguna Zope was ever subjugated. On the contrary, exchange between Pacific coastal Laguna Zope and Monte Alban seems to have flourished during the Terminal Formative despite the political unrest that apparently interfered with commerce elsewhere in Oaxaca. In maintaining its political independence and resilience as a center for long-distance exchange during this troubled period, Laguna Zope may have capitalized on its relative distance from the Valley of Oaxaca and on a geographic location that afforded it strategic access to other markets.
Dissolved organic macromolecules reduce the uptake of hydrophobic organic contaminants by the gills of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

The effect of the binding of two model hydrophobic organic contaminants, benzo[a]pyrene and 2,2′,5,5′ -tetrachlorobiphenyl, to Aldrich humic acid, a commercially available source of dissolved organic macromolecules (DOM), on the uptake of these contaminants by the gills of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was examined. The efficiency with which trout gills extracted the contaminants from water (with and without DOM present) was measured using a fish metabolic chamber that separated exposure water from water that passed over the gills. Measurements of the contaminant extraction efficiency of trout gills were compared with measurements of contaminant binding to DOM. Contaminants bound to DOM did not diffuse across the gill membrane. Percentage reductions in the concentration of freely dissolved contaminant were equal to percentage reductions in the uptake of the contaminant by the gills. Thus, only the freely dissolved contaminant appears to be available for uptake by fish gills. These correlations between the concentration of freely dissolved contaminant and the fraction of the exposure concentration that is transferred across the gills provide a basis for predicting contaminant dose based on physicochemical measurements of contaminant binding to naturally occurring DOM in the aquatic environment.
NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT CONDITIONS FOR DEADLOCKS IN FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS BASED ON A DIGRAPH MODEL

As typical discrete event systems, flexible manufacturing systems have been extensively studied in such aspects as modeling, control and performance analysis. One important topic in the study of such systems is the deadlock detection, prevention and avoidance. In the past decade, two major modeling formalisms, i.e., Petri nets and digraphs, have been adopted for developing deadlock control policies for flexible manufacturing systems. In this paper, the concepts of slack, knot, order and effective free space of circuits in the digraph are established and used to concisely and precisely quantify the sufficient conditions for a system state to be live. Necessary conditions for this liveness is quantified for a special class of system states – called evaluation states. The significance of the result is that the conditions are true for avoiding both primary deadlocks and impending deadlocks that are arbitrary steps away from a primary one, whereas only second level deadlocks have been studied in the literature. Examples are provided to illustrate the method.
Anterior hippocampal volume is reduced in behaviorally depressed female cynomolgus macaques

Hippocampal (HC) function and morphology have been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Reduced HC volume has been observed in depressed humans, although the effect is not always significant. Studies of functional differentiation of the HC have revealed that the anterior portion is associated with emotional and anxiety-related functioning, and the posterior portion with memory processing. As such, measuring whole HC volume may mask differences seen only in the anterior or posterior HC. We used unbiased stereology to measure whole, anterior, and posterior HC volumes in 12 adult female cynomolgus macaques, half of which exhibited spontaneously occurring depressive behavior defined as a slumped/collapsed body posture with open eyes, and a relative lack of responsivity to environmental stimuli. The two groups were otherwise matched on circulating estradiol, progesterone, and cortisol levels, social status, estimated age, and body weight. Frozen postmortem HC tissue from depressed and nondepressed monkeys was serially sectioned and thionin-stained. According to established neuroanatomical guidelines and with the aid of Neurolucida software (MBF Bioscience), every 10th section throughout the extent of the HC was manually traced and used to reconstruct the 3D models used to determine volumes. Anterior and posterior HC were delineated by the presence or absence of the uncus. No significant differences were found between depressed and nondepressed monkeys for whole or posterior HC volume, although the average HC volume was 4% smaller in depressed than nondepressed monkeys. Anterior HC volumes were significantly smaller (15.4%) in depressed compared to nondepressed monkeys. These results indicate that reduced volume in the anterior HC, an area previously implicated in emotional functioning, may be associated with a depressive phenotype in female cynomolgus macaques.
A Method to Measure Radar Cross Section Parameters of Antennas

A new method to measure radar cross section (RCS) parameters of antennas is presented in this paper. This method relies on an equation derived for the received signal power which is represented as the superposition of structural-mode scattered, antenna-mode scattered, and leakage signals. The method also measures relative phase and provides the effect of the load connected to the antenna. The received signal power equation is solved using minimum mean square error estimation, and the solution is used to obtain structural-mode RCS, antenna-mode RCS, and relative phase of an antenna by applying short, open, and match load cases. A measurement example of RCS parameters of a microstrip patch antenna using a simple experimental setup is presented. The structural-mode RCS, antenna-mode RCS, and relative phase factor cos(phi0) of the antenna, obtained using minimum mean square error estimation solution, are -18.307 dBsm, -20.386 dBsm, and 0.970, respectively. The present method requires less lengthy experimental measurements, while providing results that are more informative and accurate as obtained from previous methods.
A 10-gene phylogeny of Solanum section Herpystichum (Solanaceae) and a comparison of phylogenetic methods.

 Premise of the study: Solanum section Herpystichum is a lineage that comprises both widespread and very narrowly distributed species. This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships of sect. Herpystichum and evaluates several phylogenetic methods for analysis of multiple sequences.  Methods: Sequence data from seven nuclear (ITS, GBSSI, and fi ve COSII) and three plastid ( psbA – trnH , trnT – trnF , and trnS – trnG ) regions were concatenated and analyzed under maximum parsimony and Bayesian criteria. In addition, we used two analytical methods that take into account differences in topologies resulting from the analyses of the individual markers: Bayesian Estimation of Species Trees (BEST) and supertree analysis.  Key results: The monophyletic Solanum sect. Herpystichum was resolved with moderate support in the concatenated maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses and the supertree analysis, and relationships within the section were well-resolved and strongly supported. The BEST topology, however, was poorly resolved. Also, because of how BEST deals with missing sequences, > 25% of our accessions, including two species, had to be excluded from the analyses. Our results indicate a progenitordescendent relationship with two species nested within the widespread S. evolvulifolium .  Conclusions: Analytical methods that consider individual topologies are important for studies based on multiple molecular markers. On the basis of analyses in this study, BEST had the serious shortcoming that taxa with missing sequences must be removed from the analysis or they can produce spurious topologies. Supertree analysis provided a good alternative for our data by allowing the inclusion of all 10 species of sect. Herpystichum .
An Exploration of Recidivism and the Officer Shuffle in Police Sexual Violence

By examining a decade of newspapers accounts in the Midwest, the current study explores the nature of repeat or recidivist police sexual violence (PSV) in comparison to first-time offending in the ...
General signatures of superstring theories.

One of the most general consequences of broad classes of superstring theories is that matter supermultiplets in the four-dimensional low-energy theory should transform as singlets and doublets with canonical electric charges under the electroweak SU(2){times}U(1) group, or as singlets and fundamentals in extended groups. We discuss the generality of these and related results, and point out some indirect experimental scenarios which could exclude this class of models.
Evaluation of Partial-Response Maximum-Likelihood Detection for Phase-Change Optical Data Storage

We describe the application of partial-response (PR) maximum-likelihood (ML) detection in rewritable phase-change optical data storage. The input to this detector, which is simulated in software, is the actual signal (without any equalization), reproduced from reading of the recorded sequence on an optical disk. The detection algorithm involves the extraction of the impulse response from the readout signal, PR equalization, the adjustment of gain and recovery of clock, ML sequence estimation with the Viterbi algorithm, and analysis of PRML performance. With a laser wavelength of 0.69 µm and an objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.6, three linear densities are examined: 0.35 and 0.31 µm/bit without modulation code and 0.2 µm/bit with the (1, 7) modulation code. The equalized signal exhibits good eye patterns, especially at the densities of 0.35 and 0.31 µm/bit. Analyses of noise and bit-error rate indicate that jitter, rather than noise, is the main obstacle to realizing ultrahigh density in phase-change media with PRML detection. We also briefly discuss the problem of the inherent nonlinear effect in phase-change readout.
Monosomy for the X-chromosome is associated with an atherogenic lipid profile.

Context and Objective: Men typically have a more atherogenic lipid profile than women characterized by higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reduced lipid particle size, contributing to a greater risk for coronary disease. To determine whether X-chromosomal gene dosage affects lipid metabolism independent of sex steroid effects, we compared lipid profiles in age- and body mass-matched young women with ovarian failure, differing only in X-chromosome dosage. Design, Setting, and Patients: Women with premature ovarian failure associated with monosomy X or Turner syndrome (TS, n = 118) were compared with women with 46,XX premature ovarian failure (n = 51) in an in-patient clinical research center unit at the National Institutes of Health. These women were normally on estrogen replacement treatment but discontinued the estrogen 2 wk before study. Major Outcomes: Fasting lipid levels and nuclear magnetic resonance lipid particle profiles in the two study groups were the ma...
Identified Employee Surveys: Where Do We Go From Here?

The goal of our focal article was to open up a discussion within our profession on a new trend called identified surveys. We feel that we have achieved this goal with the varied and interesting commentaries. At the same time, we do not feel discussion is enough. We as a profession need to better understand the implications and use of identified surveys. We have an obligation to inform others and to have a point of view on how they should be used, taking into account not just an organizational perspective but the point of view of employees as well.
Food deprivation inhibits estrous behavior in hormone-treated Syrian hamsters despite elevated estradiol levels.

Estradiol and progesterone (P) induce female mammalian reproductive behaviors, which are, in turn, sensitive to food availability. When ovariectomized, steroid-primed hamsters are food deprived for 48 h, estrous behavior is suppressed. While this suppression of estrous behavior may be due to alterations in neural steroid receptor levels, it is also possible that decreased levels of circulating estradiol could be involved in mediating this suppression. Ovariectomized Syrian hamsters given varying doses of estradiol benzoate (EB) and P were tested to determine whether increasing doses of sex steroids would overcome the suppressive effects of food deprivation on estrous behavior. As expected, lordosis duration decreased in food-deprived animals. Increasing the levels of EB, but not P, increased lordosis duration in the food-deprived animals so that animals who were given 20 μg of EB had lordosis durations significantly longer than food-deprived hamsters that received 1.5 μg and 2.5 μg EB. Following an injection of 2.5 μg of EB, food-deprived hamsters actually had higher circulating levels of estradiol than ad libitum-fed animals. Therefore, increasing circulating levels of estradiol can increase lordosis durations in fasted animals; however, the suppression of estrous behavior occurs despite increased circulating estradiol levels in ovariectomized, steroid-treated animals. The most parsimonious explanation for this phenomenon is a deprivation-induced reduction in neural responsiveness to estradiol.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator in high-risk long QT syndrome patients.

ICD in High-Risk LQTS Patients. Introduction: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly being used in high-risk long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients, but there are limited data regarding clinical experience with this therapeutic modality. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of 125 LQTS patients treated with ICDs compared with LQTS patients having similar risk indications who were not treated with ICDs. Methods and Results: Among 125 LQTS patients with ICDs, there were 54 cardiac arrest survivors, 19 patients who had ICDs implanted due to recurrent syncope despite beta-blocker therapy, and 52 patients with ICDs implanted due to other reasons, including syncope and LQTS-related sudden death in a close family member. Patients with cardiac arrest and those with recurrent syncope despite beta-blocker therapy (n = 73) were compared to 161 LQTS patients who had similar indications (89 cardiac arrest and 72 recurrent syncope despite beta-blocker therapy) but did not receive ICDs. Total mortality was the endpoint of the analysis. There was 1 (1.3%) death in 73 ICD patients followed an average of 3 years, whereas there were 26 deaths (16%) in non-ICD patients during mean 8-year follow-up (P = 0.07 from log rank test from Kaplan-Meier curves). Conclusion: ICDs provide an important therapeutic option to prevent sudden arrhythmic death in highrisk LQTS patients. A long-term prospective study is needed to determine the benefit of this therapeutic modality in LQTS patients. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 337-341, April 2003)
Iatrogenic vascular injuries from percutaneous vascular suturing devices

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of injury and the strategies of surgical repair of iatrogenic vascular injuries from a percutaneous vascular suturing device after arterial cannulation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical experience from an academic vascular surgical practice over a 2-year period. The subjects were patients undergoing vascular repair of iatrogenic vascular injury after deployment of a percutaneous vascular suturing device. Interventions were direct repair of arterial injury (with or without device extraction) or arterial thrombectomy and repair. The main outcome variables included patterns of arterial injury, magnitude of arterial repair, limb salvage, hospital stay, and perioperative mortality and morbidity rates. Results: From August 1998 through August 2000, eight patients (4 men, 4 women; median age, 55 years; range, 44-80 years) required vascular operations for complications of percutaneous suturing devices after diagnostic (2) or therapeutic (6) arteriograms through a transfemoral approach. Complications included four pseudoaneurysms (1 infected) due to arterial tear from suture pull through, two entrapped closure devices due to device malfunction, and two arterial thromboses due to narrowing/severe intimal dissection. All patients required operative intervention. Direct suture repair with or without device removal was performed in five patients, arterial debridement with vein patch angioplasty in one patient, and arterial thrombectomy and vein patch angioplasty in two patients. There were no perioperative deaths. The median hospital stay was 5 days (range, 2-33). Limbs were salvaged in all patients with a mean follow-up of 4.8 months (range, 1-13). Conclusions: Although abbreviated postangiography recovery periods and early ambulation have motivated the widespread use of percutaneous suturing devices, the infrequent occurrence of vascular injuries produced by these devices can be significantly more challenging than simple acute pseudoaneurysms or hemorrhage. In addition, thrombotic complications have a small but finite risk of limb loss. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:943-7.)
The Skyrme Model and the Strong Coupling Approximation

We apply the assumptions of the strong-coupling approximation to the Skyrme model. We show that these assumptions imply the results obtained by Adkins, Nappi, and Witten for the spectrum of the model and lead to a simple derivation of quantum-mechanical states with half-odd-integer spin. We present a qualitative description of how the strong-coupling approximation can be used to obtain information on excited states with spin and isospin unequal and also on vibrational excitations.
Optimal Area Profiles for Ideal Single Nozzle Air-Breathing Pulse Detonation Engines

The effects of cross-sectional area variation on idealized Pulse Detonation Engine performance are examined numerically. A quasi-one-dimensional, reacting, numerical code is used as the kernel of an algorithm that iteratively determines the correct sequencing of inlet air, inlet fuel, detonation initiation, and cycle time to achieve a limit cycle with specified fuel fraction, and volumetric purge fraction. The algorithm is exercised on a tube with a cross sectional area profile containing two degrees of freedom: overall exit-to-inlet area ratio, and the distance along the tube at which continuous transition from inlet to exit area begins. These two parameters are varied over three flight conditions (defined by inlet total temperature, inlet total pressure and ambient static pressure) and the performance is compared to a straight tube. It is shown that compared to straight tubes, increases of 20 to 35 percent in specific impulse and specific thrust are obtained with tubes of relatively modest area change. The iterative algorithm is described, and its limitations are noted and discussed. Optimized results are presented showing performance measurements, wave diagrams, and area profiles. Suggestions for future investigation are also discussed.
FIRM: Sampling-based feedback motion-planning under motion uncertainty and imperfect measurements

In this paper we present feedback-based information roadmap (FIRM), a multi-query approach for planning under uncertainty which is a belief-space variant of probabilistic roadmap methods. The crucial feature of FIRM is that the costs associated with the edges are independent of each other, and in this sense it is the first method that generates a graph in belief space that preserves the optimal substructure property. From a practical point of view, FIRM is a robust and reliable planning framework. It is robust since the solution is a feedback and there is no need for expensive replanning. It is reliable because accurate collision probabilities can be computed along the edges. In addition, FIRM is a scalable framework, where the complexity of planning with FIRM is a constant multiplier of the complexity of planning with PRM. In this paper, FIRM is introduced as an abstract framework. As a concrete instantiation of FIRM, we adopt stationary linear quadratic Gaussian (SLQG) controllers as belief stabilizers and introduce the so-called SLQG-FIRM. In SLQG-FIRM we focus on kinematic systems and then extend to dynamical systems by sampling in the equilibrium space. We investigate the performance of SLQG-FIRM in different scenarios.
The effectiveness of defensive driving

• Cite worldwide research & statistics on motor vehicle collisions (number of deaths, injuries and primary cause of road incidences). • Explain the concepts of defensive driving (which was pioneered and developed by the National Safety Council in 1964) • Discuss distracted driving (e.g., use of cell phones or texting while driving) which has joined speeding and alcohol as one of the 3 leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes • Benefits of managing work-related road safety and the need to promote safe driving practices and a positive safety culture at work. • Explain why the adoption and enforcement of traffic laws appears inadequate in many countries (subtopics include excessive speed, seat-belt use, drinking and driving, use of motorcycle helmets, and use of child restraints in a vehicle).
Intragastric glucose but not fructose conditions robust flavor preferences in rats

Prior work indicates that glucose and fructose differ in their postingestive reinforcing effects. The present study investigated this phenomenon by training rats to associate the intake of flavored water with intragastric (IG) infusions of 16% sugar solutions. In experiment 1, rats had one flavor [conditional stimulus (CS)] paired with IG sugar infusions (CS+; e.g., cherry) and another flavor paired with IG water (CS-; e.g., grape) 23 h/day; Chow was available ad libitum. In subsequent choice tests, rats infused with glucose displayed a strong preference (89%) for the CS+ flavor, whereas rats infused with fructose showed only a small and nonreliable CS+ flavor preference (62%). When next trained to associate one flavor (e.g., orange) with IG glucose and another flavor (e.g., strawberry) with IG fructose, rats in both groups developed a significant preference (81%) for the glucose-paired flavor. In experiment 2, food-deprived rats were trained 2 h/day to associate a CS+ flavor with IG sugar and a CS- flavor with IG water infusions. The glucose-reinforced rats displayed a near-total preference (95%) for the CS+ flavor, whereas fructose-reinforced rats showed a much smaller CS+ preference (67%). The preference findings indicate that the postingestive consequences of glucose are much more reinforcing than those of fructose. It appears that food conditioning is mediated by chemospecific actions of nutrients rather than their general satiating or energy repleting effects.
The Geography of Exclusion: Race, Segregation, and Concentrated Poverty

The late 2000s Great Recession brought rising neighborhood poverty in the midst of affluence, and the reemergence of a racial and ethnic “underclass” living in inner-city neighborhoods. Our approach redirects attention to a level of geography–cities, suburbs, and small rural towns–where local political and economic decisions effectively exclude the poor and minority populations. It uses newly released poverty data from the 2005–2009 American Community Survey to provide evidence of changing macro patterns of spatially concentrated poverty. We show that roughly one in four U.S. places had poverty rates exceeding 20 percent in 2005 through 2009, up 31 percent since 2000. Roughly 30 percent of America's poor reside in poor places, and concentrated poverty is especially high among poor African Americans. Overall increases in place-based poverty nonetheless were muted over the decade by declines in concentrated poverty among poor Hispanics (a pattern that reflects spatial diffusion to new destinations). We also show that America's poor were sorted unevenly from place-to-place within local labor markets (i.e., counties); poor-nonpoor segregation rates between places increased from 12.6 to 18.4 between 1990 and the 2005–2009 period. Segregation was especially high among disadvantaged blacks and Hispanics. Our empirical results make a case for more scholarly attention on newly emerging patterns of concentrated poverty at the place level.
Ab initio potential energy surfaces for the I(2P3/2)+O2(a1Δg)⇔I(2P1/2)+O2(X3Σ−g) energy transfer process

Abstract Ab initio electronic structure calculations have been used to investigate the electronic energy transfer process I ( 2 P 3/2 )+ O 2 ( a 1 Δ g )⇔ I ( 2 P 1/2 )+ O 2 ( X 3 Σ − g ) . Potential energy surfaces for all states associated with the reactants and products were obtained using CASSCF and CASPT2 methods, including the effective one-electron spin–orbit Hamiltonian. Surfaces correlating with the above reactants and products were all found to be non-bonding. Shallow Van der Waals minima were predicted at long range. Surface crossings were found at energies below the I ( 2 P 3/2 )+ O 2 ( a 1 Δ g ) asymptote. It is probable that these crossings are responsible for the efficient transfer of electronic energy in this system.
Mast Cells in Allergy and Tumor Disease

In allergy, mast cells (MCs) are known for the notoriously detrimental role they play. MC mediators like histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxane are released during the early phase of an allergic reaction and produce inflammation and local tissue responses. One pervasive roadblock in the effective development of therapeutic immunity to cancer is the fact that tumors create immune privileged sites that are resistant to the development of effective inflammation and effective anti-tumor responses. In this chapter we will present the current knowledge of the inflammatory responses elicited in allergies by IgE and MCs as well as the current knowledge on how the responses of MCs may regulate tumor growth and the immune response to tumors.
Entity resolution in a big data framework

Entity Resolution (ER) concerns identifying logically equivalent pairs of entities that may be syntactically disparate. Although ER is a long-standing problem in the artificial intelligence community, the growth of Linked Open Data, a collection of semi-structured datasets published and inter-connected on the Web, mandates a new approach. The thesis is that building a viable Entity Resolution solution for serving Big Data needs requires simultaneously resolving challenges of automation, heterogeneity, scalability and domain independence. The dissertation aims to build such a system and evaluate it on real-world datasets published already as Linked Open Data.
Effect of atriopeptin on blood flow to cerebrum and choroid plexus

The goal of this study was to determine whether atriopeptin alters blood flow to cerebrum and choroid plexus. In anesthetized rabbits, blood flow (microspheres) to cerebrum and choroid plexus under control conditions was 36 +/- 3 (mean +/- SE) and 573 +/- 78 ml.min-1.100 g-1, respectively. Infusion of atriopeptin (75, 225, 1,150 ng.kg-1.min-1 iv) increased blood flow to choroid plexus by 22 +/- 11, 53 +/- 26, and 51 +/- 13%, respectively. In contrast, blood flow to cerebrum was not altered by atriopeptin, presumably because the blood-brain barrier prevented access to cerebral vascular smooth muscle. Because a major role of atriopeptin may be to modulate responses to angiotensin II, we examined effects of atriopeptin on vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin II in the choroid plexus. Angiotensin II was infused in the presence or absence of atriopeptin (300 ng.kg-1.min-1 iv). Angiotensin II (100 ng.kg-1.min-1 iv) decreased blood flow to choroid plexus by 49 +/- 12% and by 47 +/- 14% during simultaneous infusion of atriopeptin. In summary, atriopeptin 1) increases blood flow to choroid plexus, but not cerebrum, and 2) does not appear to attenuate vasoconstrictor effects of angiotensin II in the choroid plexus.
Local Sensitivity Drives Estimates of Conflicting and Imprecise Forecasts

People often rely on forecasts from multiple experts to make decisions about uncertain events in diverse domains such as health and finance. Research has differentiated between perceptions of confl...
Identifying Optimization Opportunities Within Kernel Execution in GPU Codes

Tuning codes for GPGPU architectures is challenging because few performance tools can pinpoint the exact causes of execution bottlenecks. While profiling applications can reveal execution behavior with a particular architecture, the abundance of collected information can also overwhelm the user. Moreover, performance counters provide cumulative values but does not attribute events to code regions, which makes identifying performance hot spots difficult. This research focuses on characterizing the behavior of GPU application kernels and its performance at the node level by providing a visualization and metrics display that indicates the behavior of the application with respect to the underlying architecture. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques with LAMMPS and LULESH application case studies on a variety of GPU architectures. By sampling instruction mixes for kernel execution runs, we reveal a variety of intrinsic program characteristics relating to computation, memory and control flow.
Processing and Wetting Property of Reactive Graphitic Nanofibers Reinforced Epoxy as Composite Matrix

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber not only has superior mechanical properties, but also is effective for cosmic radiation shielding.But poor interfacial adhesion in UHMWPE fiber/polymer matrix leads to weak composite properties. In this work, processing of a reactive nano-epoxy matrix that can improve this interface adhesion was studied. High-level sonication with series of conditions was used for the treatment of the linkerized graphitic nanofibers. Particle Size Analyzer and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were applied for study of effects on the length and morphology of the nanofibers by the sonication method. Wetting and adhesion properties of UHMWPE fiber with the nano-matrix were examined by contact angle analysis, drop spreading measurements and tensile tests.
Abstract 4285: C-Met signaling supports a stem-like transcriptional program and phenotype in glioblastoma

Neoplastic stem-like cells that efficiently propagate tumor xenograft formation exist in solid cancers including glioblastoma. These cells are considered to be responsible for therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. The nature of these neoplastic stem-like cells and the molecular signaling pathways that support their phenotype are incompletely defined. The receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met and its ligand HGF promote the formation and growth of multiple cancers including the gliomas. We recently found that GBM-derived neurospheres that are enriched in tumor-initiating stem-like cells widely express activated c-Met. Using flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, we found that neurosphere cell subpopulations expressing c-Met at high levels also express high levels of the neuroprogenitor/stem cell markers SoX2 and Nestin in comparison to low c-Met expressing cells. Also, CD133+ cells were found to express up to 10-fold higher levels of c-Met relative to CD133- cells. We hypothesize that c-Met might function to support GBM-derived stem-like cells. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of c-Met activation/inhibition on the growth and gene expression patterns of established human GBM neurosphere cell lines and low passage primary neurospheres derived from GBM xenograft lines. HGF statistically significantly enhanced cell growth rates and neurosphere forming capacity, a biological marker of the stem cell phenotype. Conversely, inhibiting c-Met kinase activity with SU11274 statistically significantly diminished neurosphere formation and depleted cultures of CD133+ cells. C-Met activation by HGF activated MAPK, AKT and Stat3 and induced expression of SoX2, KLF4 and c-Myc, transcription factors that support stem cell phenotypes. Together, these findings establish a link between c-Met expression/function and the neoplastic stem-like molecular fingerprint and phenotype in GBM-derived cells. The findings suggest that c-Met inhibitors may have a role in the development of therapeutic strategies for targeting tumor-initiating stem-like cells in malignant glioma and other solid cancers. Funded by CA129192 (NIH) and the Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4285.
Some differences between two viruses infecting Acholeplasma laidlawii.

Recently I reported the isolation of a virus that infects Acholeplasma laidlawii [1]. This virus produces large plaques, up to 6 mm in diameter, on a lawn of A. laidlawii. This virus, designated Mycoplasmatales virus-laidlawii 1 (MV-L1), is rod shaped (figure 1), about 15 x 90 nm in size, and has rounded ends [2]. We have now isolated a second virus (MVL2 [3], which produces smaller plaques, about 1-2 mm in diameter, on lawns of A. laidlawii (figure 2). This virus is probably spherical with an envelope (figure 3). It is also larger (about 50-120 nm in diameter) than MV-L1. Apart from the differences already mentioned, these two viruses vary greatly in their sensitivity to ether, detergent (Nonidet-P40), and heat. The marked sensitivity of MV-L2 to ether and detergent is taken as further evidence that this virus possesses an envelope. Plaques are produced by both viruses when the lawns of A. laidlawii are incubated at 37 C, but when the lawns are incubated at 22 C only MV-L1 produces plaques. Table 1 summarises some of the main differences that have been found so far between these two
Interviewing, Diagnosis and Therapy

A good interview is much more than an account of a complaint and a perfunctory review of systems. It involves listening “between the lines” and using the other senses and embodies many psychotherapeutic maneuvers. The physician who lacks skill in the technic of interviewing cannot hope to establish satisfactory doctor-patient relationships, and his diagnostic and therapeutic efforts will suffer.
Finite Element Analysis on Thin Wall Ring Part During Laser Rapid Repair

A corresponding 3D parametric finite element models was developed to analyze the stress and deformation of titanium alloy thin-walled ring part for aviation applications during laser rapid repair (LRR).The simulation results show that LRR technology can successfully achieve the repair of thin-wall ring part.The residual stress of the part is lower after LRR.The position that horizontal thin-wall and vertical thin-wall contact has maximum residual stress after completely cooling.Integral deformation of the part is also small finally;the edges of both thin walls have larger deformation than their internal.The stress distribution of cooling stage is similar to that completed cladding.The maximum deformation of the part gradually increases during laser repairing process,while the maximum deformation decreases during cooling after LRR.
Imaging Findings and Pathologic Basis of Bone Infarction

Objective To discuss the imaging features of bone infarction and their pathologic basis.Materials and Methods Radiography, CT and MRI were performed in 14 patients with 29 bone infarctions. The imaging findings were analyzed. Based on the imaging findings, the lesions were classified into acute, subacute and chronic stages. The imaging findings were compared with pathologic results.Results In acute stage, osteoporosis could be seen at metaphysis on plain film and CT scans, which presented as iso-/high-signal on T 1WI and high-signal on T 2WI and was separated from the normal bone marrow with linear T 1 low- signal and T 2 high-signal, reflecting the edema and hemorrhage within the infarction. In subacute stage, the infarction displayed as multiple moth-eaten lytic bony lesions with punctate calcifications on plain film and CT scans. The infarction was manifested as iso- or slight low-signal on T 1WI and iso- or slight high-signal on T 2WI with a low-signal zone around and was separated from the normal marrow with linear T 1 low-signal and T 2 high-signal, reflecting, pathologically, fat necrosis, reactive bone formation, fibrosis and congestive edema. In chronic stage, the lesion was characterized by irregular sclerosis and tortuous calcification on plain film and CT scans, and by low-signal on both T 1WI and T 2WI, indicating the formation of fibrosis and dystrophic calcification due to the replacement of necrotic tissue by granulation and fibrous tissue.Conclusion The imaging manifestations of bone infarction in different stage have corresponding pathologic basis. During acute and subacute stages, MRI is superior to plain film and CT. In chronic stage, the lesion shows certain characteristic signs on plain film, CT or MRI.