cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An approach for characterizing the distribution of shrubland ecosystem components as continuous fields as part of NLCD

Characterizing and quantifying distributions of shrubland ecosystem components is one of the major challenges for monitoring shrubland vegetation cover change across the United States. A new approach has been developed to quantify shrubland components as fractional products within National Land Cover Database (NLCD). This approach uses remote sensing data and regression tree models to estimate the fractional cover of shrubland ecosystem components. The approach consists of three major steps: field data collection, high resolution estimates of shrubland ecosystem components using WorldView-2 imagery, and coarse resolution estimates of these components across larger areas using Landsat imagery. This research seeks to explore this method to quantify shrubland ecosystem components as continuous fields in regions that contain wide-ranging shrubland ecosystems. Fractional cover of four shrubland ecosystem components, including bare ground, herbaceous, litter, and shrub, as well as shrub heights, were delineated in three ecological regions in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Results show that estimates for most components have relatively small normalized root mean square errors and significant correlations with validation data in both Arizona and Texas. The distribution patterns of shrub height also show relatively high accuracies in these two areas. The fractional cover estimates of shrubland components, except for litter, are not well represented in the Florida site. The research results suggest that this method provides good potential to effectively characterize shrubland ecosystem conditions over perennial shrubland although it is less effective in transitional shrubland. The fractional cover of shrub components as continuous elements could offer valuable information to quantify biomass and help improve thematic land cover classification in arid and semiarid areas.
Analytic methods for design of wave cycles for wave rotor core engines

A procedure to design a preliminary wave rotor cycle for any application is presented. To complete a cycle with heat addition there are two separate but related design steps that must be followed. The 'wave' boundary conditions determine the allowable amount of heat added in any case and the ensuing wave pattern requires certain pressure discharge conditions to allow the process to be made cyclic. This procedure, when applied, gives a first estimate of the cycle performance and the necessary information for the next step in the design process, namely the application of a characteristic based or other appropriate detailed one dimensional wave calculation that locates the proper porting around the periphery of the wave rotor. Four examples of the design procedure are given to demonstrate its utility and generality. These examples also illustrate the large gains in performance that could be realized with the use of wave rotor enhanced propulsion cycles.
Civilization and Monsters: Spirits of Modernity in Meiji Japan

Monsters, ghosts, the supernatural, the fantastic, the mysterious. These are not usually considered the "stuff" of modernism. More often they are regarded as inconsequential to the study of the modern, or, at best, seen as representative of traditional beliefs that are overcome and left behind in the transformation toward modernity. In Civilisation and Monsters Gerald Figal asserts that discourse on the fantastic was at the heart of the historical configuration of Japanese modernity - that the representation of the magical and mysterious played an integral part in the production of modernity beginning in Meiji Japan (1868-1912). After discussing the role of the fantastic in everyday Japan at the eve of the Meiji period, 46igal draws new connections between folklorists, writers, educators, state ideologues, and policymakers, all of whom crossed paths in a contest over supernatural terrain. He shows the ways in which a determined Meiji state was engaged in a battle to suppress, denigrate, manipulate, or reincorporate folk belief as part of an effort toward the consolidation of a modern national culture. Modern medicine and education, functioning as a means for the state to exercise its power, redefined folk practices as a source of evil. Diverse local spirits were supplanted by a new Japanese Spirit, embodied by the newly constituted emperor, the supernatural source of the nation's strength. The monsters of folklore were identified, catalogued, and characterised according to a new regime of modern reason. But whether engaged to support state power and forge a national citizenry or to critique the arbitrary nature of that power, the fantastic, as Figal maintains, is the constant condition of Japanese modernity in all its contradictions. Furthermore, he argues, modernity in general is born of fantasy in ways that have scarcely been recognised. Bringing unexplored and provocative new ideas to the Japan specialist, Civilisation and Monsters will also appeal to readers concerned with issues of modernity in general.
Optical manipulation of metal-silica hybrid nanoparticles

Metallic nanoparticles are known to experience enhanced optical trap strengths compared to dielectric particles due to the increased optical volume, or polarizability. In our experience, larger metallic particles (~micron) are not easily trapped because momentum effects due to reflection become significant. Hybrid particles comprised of both metal and dielectric materials can circumvent this limitation while still utilizing a larger polarizability. Heterogeneous nanosystems were fabricated by embedding/coating silica nanoparticles with gold or silver in varying amounts and distributions. These compound particles were manipulated via optical tweezers, and their trapping characteristics quantitatively and qualitatively compared to homogeneous particles of comparable size. The parameters explored include the dependence of the trapping force on the percentage of loading of gold, the size of the embedded colloids, and the distribution of metal within the surrounding matrix or on its surface.
Strontium isotope stratigraphy and geochemistry of the late Neogene ocean

A curve describing the variation of the strontium isotopic composition of seawater for the late Neogene (9 to 2 Ma) was constructed from 87Sr/86Sr analyses of marine carbonate in five Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) sites: 502, 519, 588, 590, and 593. The strontium isotopic composition of the oceans increased between 9 and 2 Ma with several changes in slope. From 9 to 5.5 Ma, 87Sr/86Sr values were nearly constant at ∼ 0.708925. Between 5.5 and 4.5 Ma, 87Sr/86Sr ratios increased monotonically at a rate of ∼ 1 × 10−4 per million years. The steep slope during this interval provides the potential for high resolution strontium isotope stratigraphy across the Miocene/Pliocene boundary. The rate of change of 87Sr/86Sr decreases to near zero again during the interval 4.5–2.5 Ma, and ratios average 0.709025. The relatively rapid increase of 87Sr/86Sr between 5.5 and 4.5 Ma must be related to changes in the flux or average 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the major inputs of Sr to the oceans. Quantitative modelling of these inputs suggests that the increase was most probably caused by an increase in the dissolved riverine flux of strontium to the oceans, an increase in the average 87Sr/86Sr composition of river water, or some combination of these parameters. Modelling of this period as a transient-state requires a pulse-like increase in the input of87Sr to the oceans between 5.5 and 4.5 Ma. Alternatively, the 5.5–4.5 Ma period can be modelled as a simple transition from one steady-state to another if the oceanic residence time of strontium was eight times less than the currently accepted value of 4 Ma. During the time interval of steep 87Sr/86Sr increase, other geochemical and sedimentologic changes also occur including an increase in sediment accumulation rates, a drop in the calcite compensation depth (CCD), and a decrease in the δ13C of dissolved bicarbonate (i.e., “carbon shift”). The simplest mechanism to explain 87Sr/86Sr variation and these related geochemical changes is to invoke an increase in the dissolved chemical fluxes carried by rivers to the oceans. This, in turn, implies increased chemical denudation rates of the continents and shelves during the late Neogene. The increase in chemical weathering rates is attributed to increased exposure of the continents by eustatic regression, intensified glacial/interglacial cycles, and accelerated rates of global tectonism beginning at 5.5 Ma during the latest Miocene.
Experimental evolution and phenotypic plasticity of hindlimb bones in high-activity house mice

Studies of rodents have shown that both forced and voluntary chronic exercise cause increased hindlimb bone diameter, mass, and strength. Among species of mammals, "cursoriality" is generally associated with longer limbs as well as relative lengthening of distal limb segments, resulting in an increased metatarsal/femur (MT/F) ratio. Indeed, we show that phylogenetic analyses of previously published data indicate a positive correlation between body mass-corrected home range area and both hindlimb length and MT/F in a sample of 19 species of Carnivora, although only the former is statistically significant in a multiple regression. Therefore, we used an experimental evolution approach to test for possible adaptive changes (in response to selective breeding and/or chronic exercise) in hindlimb bones of four replicate lines of house mice bred for high voluntary wheel running (S lines) for 21 generations and in four nonselected control (C) lines. We examined femur, tibiafibula, and longest metatarsal of males housed either with or without wheel access for 2 months beginning at 25-28 days of age. As expected from previous studies, mice from S lines ran more than C (primarily because the former ran faster) and were smaller in body size (both mass and length). Wheel access reduced body mass (but not length) of both S and C mice. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that body mass was a statistically significant predictor of all bone measures except MT/F ratio; therefore, all results reported are from ANCOVAs. Bone lengths were not significantly affected by either linetype (S vs. C) or wheel access. However, with body mass as a covariate, S mice had significantly thicker femora and tibiafibulae, and wheel access also significantly increased diameters. Mice from S lines also had heavier feet than C, and wheel access increased both foot and tibiafibula mass. Thus, the directions of evolutionary and phenotypic adaptation are generally consistent. Additionally, S-line individuals with the mini-muscle phenotype (homozygous for a Mendelian recessive allele that halves hindlimb muscle mass [Garland et al., 2002, Evolution 56:1,267-1,275]) exhibited significantly longer and thinner femora and tibiafibulae, with no difference in bone masses. Two results were considered surprising. First, no differences were found in the MT/F ratio (the classic indicator of cursoriality). Second, we did not find a significant interaction between linetype and wheel access for any trait, despite the higher running rate of S mice.
Detection of anthrax simulants with microcalorimetric spectroscopy: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus spores

Recent advances in the development of ultrasensitive micromechanical thermal detectors have led to the advent of novel subfemtojoule microcalorimetric spectroscopy (CalSpec). On the basis of principles of photothermal IR spectroscopy combined with efficient thermomechanical transduction, CalSpec provides acquisition of vibrational spectra of microscopic samples and absorbates. We use CalSpec as a method of identifying nanogram quantities of biological micro-organisms. Our studies focus on Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus spores as simulants for Bacillus anthracis spores. Using CalSpec, we measured IR spectra of B. subtilis and B. cereus spores present on surfaces in nanogram quantities (approximately 100–1000 spores). The spectra acquired in the wavelength range of 690–4000 cm-1 (2.5–14.5 μm) contain information-rich vibrational signatures that reflect the different ratios of biochemical makeup of the micro-organisms. The distinctive features in the spectra obtained for the two types of micro-organism can be used to distinguish between the spores of the Bacillus family. As compared with conventional IR and Fourier-transform IR microscopic spectroscopy techniques, the advantages of the present technique include significantly improved sensitivity (at least a full order of magnitude), absence of expensive IR detectors, and excellent potential for miniaturization.
1.2.2 A Risk‐Driven Process Decision Table to Guide System Development Rigor

The Incremental Commitment Model (ICM) organizes systems engineering and acquisition processes in ways that better accommodate the different strengths and difficulties of hardware, software, and human factors engineering approaches. As with other models trying to address a wide variety of situations, its general form is rather complex. However, its risk-driven nature has enabled us to determine a set of twelve common risk patterns and organize them into a decision table that can help new projects converge on a process that fits well with their particular process drivers. For each of the twelve special cases, the decision table provides top-level guidelines for tailoring the key activities of the ICM, along with suggested lengths between each internal system build and each external system increment delivery. This paper elaborates on each of the twelve cases and provides examples of their use.
Clinical significance, pathogenesis, and management of postprandial hyperglycemia.

It is well established that strict glycemic control (hemoglobin A 1c 140 mg/dL [>7.8 mmol/L]) in the face of normal fasting plasma glucose ( 1c (
Ultrasonic visualization of norplant® subdermal contraceptive devices

Abstract This article describes the first use of ultrasound in locating in vivo NORPLANT® subdermal contraceptive implants. Providing low dose, continuous contraception for women, the NORPLANT® system utilizes Silastic tubing filled with levonorgestrel. The progestin-filled tubing is not radiopaque. Anticipating the large scale use of NORPLANT® subdermal implants, the potential, but rare problem of difficult localization of an implant is recognized. The feasibility of using ultrasound for the painless and safe localization of NORPLANT® rods and capsules is demonstrated.
Acoustical Measurement of Nonlinear Internal Waves Using the Inverted Echo Sounder

The performance of pressure sensor‐equipped inverted echo sounders for monitoring nonlinear internal waves is examined. The inverted echo sounder measures the round-trip acoustic travel time from the sea floor to the sea surface andthus acquiresverticallyintegratedinformationon the thermal structure,from which the first baroclinic mode of thermocline motion may be inferred. This application of the technology differs from previous uses in that the wave period (;30 min) is short, requiring a more rapid transmission rate and a different approach to the analysis. Sources of error affecting instrument performance include tidal effects, barotropic adjustment to internal waves, ambient acoustic noise, and sea surface roughness. The latter two effects are explored with a simulation that includes surface wave reconstruction, acoustic scattering based on the Kirchhoff approximation, wind-generated noise, sound propagation, and the instrument’s signal processing circuitry. Bias is introduced as a function of wind speed, but the simulation provides a basis for bias correction. The assumption that the waves do not significantly affect the mean stratification allows for a focus on the dynamic response. Model calculations are compared with observations in the South China Sea by using nearby temperature measurements to provide a test of instrument performance. After applying corrections for ambient noise and surface roughness effects, the inverted echo sounder exhibits an RMS variability of approximately 4 m in the estimated depth of the eigenfunction maximum in the wind speed range 0 # U10 # 10 m s 21 . This uncertainty may be compared with isopycnal excursions for nonlinear internal waves of 100 m, showing that the observational approach is effective for measurements of nonlinear internal waves in this environment.
Büchner und Butler: Das Pferde-Narrativ in den Woyzeck-Entwürfen und die Handlungsfähigkeit des postsouveränen Subjekts

This article's analysis of the horse- imagery in Georg Buchner's play Woyzeck pursues the question whether the title character is predominantly a subject of social determination or autonomous agency. First, Woyzeck's supervisor associates him with a horse. This association is a process of naming, a performative speech act that constructs Woyzeck as a horse and justifi es his exploitation. While the standard interpretations stop here, this article argues that Woyzeck subsequently takes up this role of the horse himself so that it becomes a part of his own agency. This newly constructed agency allows him to develop a sense of responsibility for his son (whom he carries like a horse) and to escape the authority of his supervisors (arguing that he is driven by nature as a horse is). These later actions presuppose the naming by his supervisors as a horse, but transcend their original intention. Woyzeck takes up the semantic alternatives in the word "horse" to subvert the original call of the authorities. In this sense, and within the framework of Judith Butler's study Excitable Speech , the agency of the subject is both dependent on the call from outside and yet beyond it in the irreducible polyvalence of language.
Peel strength of uncrosslinked styrene-butadiene rubber adhered to polyester film

Testpieces consisting of a fabric-backed styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR 1502) layer bonded directly to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film were T-peel tested at various rates, R , and temperatures. Peel energies were superposed toformmastercurves using shift factors, a T , in accord with the universal WLF equation. When peeled at intermediate reduced rates, Ra T , failure was cohesive within the SBR 1502, while at sufficiently high or low Ra T interfacial separation between the rubber and PET occurred. These results markedly contrast with those found by Gent and Petrich using similar testpieces with another type of rubber, SBR 1513. They found cohesive failure at sufficiently low Ra T and interfacial failure when Ra T was high. The different behavior of the two elastomers is attributed to stronger interfacial attraction with SBR 1513 and its lower strength. General considerations governing the locus of failure during peel adhesion testing are discussed.
A Computational Study of the Correlations between Structure and Dynamics in Free and Surface-Immobilized Single Polymer Chains

The correlations between structure and dynamics in free and surface-immobilized polymers were investigated via Langevin dynamics simulations of a free-jointed homopolymer. A detailed analysis was performed for a polymer in free solution and a polymer attached to a surface. The cases of repulsive and attractive surfaces, as well as poor and good solvents, were considered. The analysis focuses on properties that are particularly relevant to single molecule measurements, namely: (1) the distribution of end-to-end distance, (2) the correlations between the conformational structure and the time scale of its motion, (3) the correlations, at equilibrium, between the end-to-end distance and its displacement, and (4) the correlation between the initial coil conformation and the collapse pathway into the globular state. The differences and similarities between this model and a previously considered model of a protein, with two-state folding kinetics and a well-defined native state, are also discussed.
Multiple neural systems controlling food intake and body weight.

Discovery of the leptin receptor and its downstream peptidergic pathways has reconfirmed the crucial role of the hypothalamus in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Strategically located in the midst of the mammalian neuraxis, the hypothalamus receives at least three distinct types of relevant information via direct or indirect neural connections as well as hormone receptors and substrate sensors bestowed on hypothalamic neurons. First, the medial and to a lesser extent the lateral hypothalamus receive a rich mix of information pertaining to the internal state of relative energy repletion/depletion. Second, specific hypothalamic nuclei receive information about the behavioral state, such as diurnal clock, physical activity-level, reproductive cycle, developmental stage, as well as imminent (e.g. fight and flight) and chronic (e.g. infection) stressors, that can potentially impact on short-term availability of fuels and long-term energy balance. Third, the hypothalamus, particularly its lateral aspects, receives information from areas in the forebrain involved in the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of sensory representations of the external food space and internal food experience, as well as from the executive forebrain involved in behavior selection and initiation. In addition, rich intrahypothalamic connections facilitate further distribution of incoming information to various hypothalamic nuclei. On the other hand, the hypothalamus has widespread neural projections to the same cortical areas it receives inputs, and many hypothalamic neurons are one synapse away from most endocrine systems and from both sympathetic and parasympathetic effector organs involved in the flux, storage, mobilization, and utilization of fuels. It is argued that processing within cortico-limbic areas and communication with hypothalamic areas are particularly important in human food intake control that is more and more guided by cognitive rather than metabolic aspects in the obesigenic environment of affluent societies. A distributed neural network for the control of food intake and energy balance consisting of a central processor and several parallel processing loops is hypothesized. Detailed neurochemical, anatomical, and functional analysis of reciprocal connections of the numerous peptidergic neuron populations in the hypothalamus with extrahypothalamic brain areas will be necessary to better understand what hypothalamus, forebrain, and brainstem tell each other and who is in charge under specific conditions of internal and external nutrient availability.
Contact allergy: Predictive testing in man

Predictive tests are of value in forecasting the response of a population to a sensitizer; diagnostic testing is used to determine what substances may actually be producing dermatologic problems. Skin sensitization predictive and diagnostic data for the eleven most frequently encountered skin sensitizers in Western Europe, Canada and the United States are reviewed. These compounds include two drugs (benzocaine and neomycin), two cosmetic ingredients (p-phenylenediamine and balsam of Peru), four preservatives (formaldehyde, ethylenediamine, parabens and mercurials) and three ingredients of wearing apparel (nickel, chromium and thiram). Many of the data were collected by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group and the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group on tests with 1,200 and 4,825 dermatologic patients, respectively; the remainder were obtained by individual investigators with smaller groups of subjects. The data obtained by various investigators are discussed in relation 10 the factors which affect the extent and degree of sensitization which they can cause.
Oxidized cholesterol bilayers. Dependence of electrical properties on degree of oxidation and aging.

Abstract Black lipid membranes made from oxidized cholesterol were examined for their specific resistance, capacitance, and physical stability, as a function of cholesterol oxidation time and of age. Membranes formed from cholesterol oxidized in n -octane were not physically stable even after 7 h of oxidation unless they were aged for at least a month. Membranes formed from cholesterol oxidized in decane and tetradecane (1 : 1) were stable immediately after 2—6 h of oxidation. Oxidation times outside this range produced unstable membranes. After 1 month storage, membranes from cholesterol solutions oxidized in decane and tetradecane from 0.75–3 h were stable. After 11 months, only the 0.75 oxidation time produced stable membranes. Storage in nitrogen retarded the aging process. After initial forming of the membrane, total membrane area and capacity increased and then stabilized, although specific capacity and resistance did not change, indicating inherent stability in the bilayer's intrinsic electrical properties. Bilayers formed soon after cholesterol oxidation had membrane capacity which ranged from 0.42 to 0.55μF/cm 2 . Specific membrane resistance ranged initially from 2 · 10 6 to 37 · 10 6 ω/cm 2 in 0.2 M NaCl with lower resistances in the more oxidized membranes. With aging, membrane capacity decreased gradually over 11 months to values approaching 0.1 μF/cm 2 indicating membrane thickening. Membrane resistance ordinarily decreases with storage time. The rate of these changes with age is dependent on the extent of initial cholesterol oxidation and subsequent oxidation, with long term stability best in the least oxidized membranes.
Big moves to improve the quality of teacher education in China

Purpose – This article aims to describe and discuss four major innovations to improve the quality of teacher education including preparation programs and professional development programs in recent years in China. The four major innovations include establishing the National Curriculum Standards for Teacher Education (NCSTE) and the National Teacher Certification Examination; implementing the “double development plan” to reform clinical practice; launching the “National Training Plan” to develop in‐service teachers; and consolidating the career ladder for teachers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a review of the government documents and current literature.Findings – The author argues that the four major innovations reflect the central trends to reform teacher education both in China and the USA – increased standards and accreditation, more clinical experiences in preparation, increased use of technology in teacher professional development, and more accountability and incentive for ...
Comprehensive morphology and non-separable wavelet edge protection image fusion algorithm

In view of this situation that image fusion algorithm of separable wavelet is unable to retain the fusion image edge information effectively, taking the advantage of non-separable wavelet transformation and morphology merit, an image fusion algorithm that emphasizing edge preserving is proposed. Under the non-separable wavelet decomposed frame, this algorithm uses the fusion rules that combine morphological edge detection maximum value and the variance weighting analysis for the high frequency component, use local energy weighting method to carry on the fusion for the low frequency component. Finally through an inverse transformation of non-separable wavelet reconstructs fusion image. The experimental results indicate that, the fusion image obtained by the proposed algorithm can better reappear the edge information of the image, fuse the mutual complement information between the images organically, maximum reflect the characteristic information of source images, provide strong support for the future information analysis and extraction capacity of the images.
Nonlinear distortions in the current modulation of non-self-pulsing and weakly self-pulsing GaAs/GaAlAs injection lasers

Abstract Nonlinear distortion characteristics of GaAs/GaAlAs injection lasers under analog current modulation were experimentally investigated. In non-self-pulsing lasers, relaxation oscillation (R.O.) plays a heavy role in generating harmonic distortions, in good agreement with theory. Additional distortions generated by microwave mixing in weakly self-pulsing lasers make such lasers unacceptable for wideband analog transmissions unless suitable negative feedback is applied. With such measure taken, both fundamental and the harmonic responses of a self-pulsing laser is indistinguishable from that of a laser with no R.O. resonance.
Bacterial Surface Association of Heat-labile Enterotoxin through Lipopolysaccharide after Secretion via the General Secretory Pathway

Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) is an important virulence factor expressed by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The route of LT secretion through the outer membrane and the cellular and extracellular localization of secreted LT were examined. Using a fluorescently labeled receptor, LT was found to be specifically secreted onto the surface of wild type enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The main terminal branch of the general secretory pathway (GSP) was necessary and sufficient to localize LT to the bacterial surface in a K-12 strain. LT is a heteromeric toxin, and we determined that its cell surface localization was mediated by the its B subunit independent of an intact G(M1) ganglioside binding site and that LT binds lipopolysaccharide and G(M1) concurrently. The majority of LT secreted into the culture supernatant by the GSP in E. coli associated with vesicles. Only a mutation in hns, not overexpression of the GSP or LT, caused an increase in vesicle yield, supporting a specific vesicle formation machinery regulated by the nucleoid-associated protein HNS. We propose a model in which LT is secreted by the GSP across the outer membrane, secreted LT binds lipopolysaccharide via a G(M1)-independent binding region on its B subunit, and LT on the surface of released outer membrane vesicles interacts with host cell receptors, leading to intoxication. These data explain a novel mechanism of vesicle-mediated receptor-dependent delivery of a bacterial toxin into a host cell.
Effects of Counterion Mobility, Surface Morphology, and Charge Screening on the Electron-Transfer Rates of Porphyrin Monolayers

The standard electron-transfer rate constants (k0) for the oxidation of porphyrin monolayers are reported for a number of solvent/electrolyte systems and electroactive surfaces. The goal is to explain the inverse correlation between the electron-transfer rates and the porphyrin surface concentration (Roth et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 8639−8648). Each porphyrin is a zinc chelate and contains three meso-mesityl groups and a benzyl alcohol or benzyl thiol for surface attachment. The solvent/electrolyte systems include (i) the organic solvent propylene carbonate containing electrolytes with a common cation and anions of different size/mobility (PF6-, ClO4-, and Cl-) and (ii) neat ionic liquids with a common cation and anions of different size/mobility [(CF3SO2)2N- and (NC)2N-]. The substrates include Si(100), Au(111), and TiN. The k0 values observed using electrolytes with PF6-, ClO4-, and (CF3SO2)2N- counterions are similar to one another, whereas those observed using electrolytes Cl- and (NC)2N- coun...
Resistance analysis for enhanced wastewater membrane filtration

Abstract This study investigated enhancement techniques for synthetic wastewater filtration in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) at mixed liquor suspended solids concentrations (MLSS) of 12–18 g/L. Air sparging (AS), backflushing (BF) and a combined application of both (AS + BF) were applied to increase permeate flux compared to the conventional application (NON). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) measurements of cake thickness served for evaluating cleaning effectiveness and as input data for some of the model calculations. AS + BF showed the lowest overall resistance, and thus the highest permeate yield, for about 2 weeks of observation. The contribution of fouling resistance, cake resistance and membrane resistance to the overall resistance was evaluated, based on experimental data. Air sparging significantly lowered cake thickness and consequently cake resistance. The experimental cake resistance and the model resistances were compared. A model based on the measured cake thickness and literature values for the specific surface area proved most successful. Finally, a relationship between the backflush resistance and the permeate flow resistance was observed.
Potential Impact of Clean Air Act Regulations on Nitrogen Fate and Transport in the Neuse River Basin: a Modeling Investigation Using CMAQ and SWAT

There has been extensive analysis of Clean Air Act Amendment (CAAA) regulation impacts to changes in atmospheric nitrogen deposition; however, few studies have focused on watershed nitrogen transfer particularly regarding long-term predictions. In this study, we investigated impacts of CAAA NOx emissions on the fate and transport of nitrogen for two watersheds in the Neuse River Basin. We applied the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) using simulated deposition rates from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Two scenarios were investigated: one that considered CAAA emission controls in CMAQ simulation (with) and a second that did not (without). By 2020, results showed a 70 % drop in nitrogen discharge for the Little River watershed and a 50 % drop for the Nahunta watershed from 1990 levels under the with-CAAA scenario. Denitrification and plant nitrogen uptake played important roles in nitrogen discharge from each watershed. Nitrogen watershed response time to a change in atmospheric nitrogen deposition was 4 years for Nahunta and 2 years for Little River. We attribute these differences in nitrogen response time to contrasts in agricultural land use and diversity of crop types. Soybean, hay, and corn land covers had comparatively longer response times to changes in atmospheric deposition. The studied watersheds demonstrate relatively large nitrogen retention: ≥80 % of all delivered nitrogen.
The Prolongation of Inhibition in Brain-Damaged Patients

Summary The present study is an extension of an earlier investigation concerned with the time course of altered responsiveness in cerebrally damaged and normal patients to successively presented auditory stimuli. When presented with two stimuli which were separated by one, three and five seconds, the intact individuals tended to judge them as equal or to overestimate the intensity of the second tone. In contrast, the neurologically damaged patients tended to underestimate the intensity of the second tone, a tendency which diminished as the time interval between tones increased. These findings were interpreted as suggesting that an alteration in the recovery course of excitability occurs as a consequence of brain damage, and is reflected in the slow return towards baseline responsiveness shown by the cerebrally damaged patients. One hypothesis which was advanced to account for this alteration in excitability pattern, and which was tested in the present study, was that the basic mechanisms of arousal and inhibition are the same in both the normal and brain-damaged subjects, but that the latency period for recovery is increased following cerebral damage. This interpretation was suggested by the fact that the braindamaged subjects' total time curve for restored responsiveness was parallel to but significantly lower than that shown in the one to three second curve of the control group. Extrapolation of the brain-damaged subjects' recovery curve suggested that when nine seconds separated the two stimuli, the brain-damaged patients should perform as did the control subjects when three seconds separated the stimuli. The time intervals between successive stimuli, therefore, were extended to seven, eight and nine seconds in order to determine whether the cerebrally damaged patients would in fact come to perform as predicted. Twenty left hemiplegic and twenty age and sex matched control patients were utilized to test the hypothesis. The results confirmed the hypothesis and are consistent with the conclusion that the persistent underestimation of the intensity of the second of two successively presented auditory stimuli by cerebrally damaged patients was the product of a marked increase in the latency period required for a return to normal levels of responsiveness after stimulation in such patients. It was suggested that the prolongation of inhibition shown by the brain-damaged patients may be caused by alterations in the recovery properties of the reticulo-cortical system, or by changes in the decay rate or spread of inhibition of a local excitation-inhibition system, or by changes in the chain of chemical reactions which are required for the recovery of normal excitability patterns. Thus, there may be multiple mechanisms which are differentially disturbed by damage to different parts of the nervous system but which contribute to the occurrence of the same behavioral defect. The findings point strongly to the conclusion that a reduction in the elasticity of the neural response system is one major consequence of cerebral injury.
Parapithecus grangeri of the African Oligocene: an archaic catarrhine without lower incisors

Two species of Parapithecus, primitive catarrhines from the Oligocene of Egypt, show a unique dental adaptation among higher primates. This feature, loss of adult lower incisors resulting in an adult dental formula of I ?/0 C 1/1 P 3/3 M 3/3, was hinted at by earlier fragmentary specimens and confirmed by a more complete jaw of P. grangeri found in October 1985. Apparently only one pair of lower deciduous incisors erupt but are lost in adults. Incisor reduction excludes Parapithecus from direct ancestry of any later primates, but the related and contemporary genus Apidium retains two pairs of lower incisors (both deciduous and permanent) and is not so excluded. Newly discovered skeletal differences emphasize the early divergence of the parapithecids and their contemporaries, the early hominoid family, Propliopithecidae.
Min, Max, and Sum

This paper provides characterization theorems for preferences that can be represented by the minimum, the maximum, and the sum of components, or combinations of these forms. It contains a discussion of applications to social choice.
The problem of nonstoichiometry in the chemical preparation of high-Tc superconducting ceramics

Abstract The inherent difficulties in preparing a single-phase oxide material from a system wherein the problem of oxygen nonstoichiometry is resident, as in the case of the high- T c superconducting ceramics, are indicated. In particular, it is shown that thermochemical analyrical studies must accompany phase-diagram studies in order to make an investigation of the phase-equilibrium behavior of such a system complete. The conditions pertaining to oxygen stoichiometry control in the preparation of the copper oxide-based superconductors are described.
Accelerating spatially non-uniform update for sparse target recovery in fluorescence molecular tomography by ordered subsets and momentum methods

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is a significant preclinical imaging modality that has been actively studied in the past two decades. However, it remains a challenging task to obtain fast and accurate reconstruction of fluorescent probe distribution in small animals due to the large computational burden and the ill-posed nature of the inverse problem. We have recently studied a non-uniform multiplicative updating algorithm, and obtained some further speed gain with the ordered subsets (OS) method. However, increasing the number of OS leads to larger approximation errors and the speed gain from larger number of OS is marginal. In this paper, we propose to further enhance the convergence speed by incorporating the first order momentum method that uses previous iterations to achieve a quadratic convergence rate. Using cubic phantom experiment, we have shown that the proposed method indeed leads to a much faster convergence.
A Comparison of Etomidate and Methohexital Anesthesia for Electroconvulsive Therapy

AbstractEighteen patients undergoing a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) alternately received methohexital and etomidate anesthesia. No difference could be found in seizure duration between the two anesthetics. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests in eight patients revealed no abnormality after repeated injections of etomidate. We find that etomidate anesthesia, although safe for ECT, offers no benefit over methohexital in lengthening seizure duration.
Glycoprotein profiling by electrospray mass spectrometry

This work compares several different methods of site-specific analysis of glycoproteins using electrospray mass spectrometry. The glycoprotein, oLHα (ovine luteinizing hormone, α-subunit) was chosen as an appropriate example protein for these studies because of its biological relevance and extreme microheterogeneity. More than 20 unique glycoforms were detected for this glycoprotein at the Asn56 site of oLHα. The carbohydrates present at this site affect receptor binding affinity, so understanding the great variety in the composition of these carbohydrates is important in studying ligand binding interactions. MS data was acquired on a quadrupole ion trap, a triple quadrupole, and a quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer, and carbohydrate composition at the Asn56 site of oLHα was determined using these instruments. Additionally, neutral loss and precursor ion scanning modes were also used to identify the glycoforms present, and these techniques were compared to the standard MS data. Of the three instruments compared in the study, the qTOF mass spectrometer achieved the lowest sample consumption, but all three instruments were useful in profiling the glycopeptide composition.
Chips to Hits: microarray and microfluidic technologies for high-throughput analysis and drug discovery

Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Tel.: +1 617 253 3638; Fax: +1 617 258 8827; alik@mit.eduExpert Rev. Mol. Diagn.
The integration of 3D carbon Dielectrophoresis on a rotating platform

We present the integration of a novel Dielectrophoresis (DEP)-assisted filter on a compact disc (CD)-like centrifugal platform. Carbon-electrode Dielectrophoresis (CarbonDEP) refers to the use of carbon surfaces as electrodes to induce DEP. The system utilizes 3D carbon electrodes as a DEP active filter to trap particles of interest in a solution. Compared to traditional DEP devices that employ planar metal electrodes, the 3D carbon electrode structure allows for superior filter throughput. By placing 3D carbon electrodes on a rotating disk, we reduce the footprint of the typical DEP system by eliminating bulky precision pumps and fluidic interconnects. To demonstrate the system setup as an efficient filtering mechanism we separated latex particles from a mix of latex and yeast cells at flow rates up to 40 ul/min.
Intensity of Registered Nurse Participation in Nursing Home Decision Making

In this study of data obtained from nursing home administrators and directors of nursing, we found that intensity of registered nurses' (RNs') participation in nursing home decision making varied with decision content and decision level. The primary decision activity in which RNs participated was raising the issue. The decision activity in which they participated least was choosing the alternative. The primary mechanism for RN involvement was through informal meetings. Patterns of participation varied across nursing homes and were important in explaining the extent to which RNs influence decision outcomes. RN influence over the final choice was explained by their involvement in the decision activity of raising the issue and by their involvement through informal meetings.
Developing a Program for College Students with Learning Disabilities: The Process of Change.

We continue to encourage our readers to submit articles for this section of Intervention, which focuses on a specific school, clinic, camp, or individual concerned with special or remedial education.–-GW
Altered ventricular repolarization in central sympathetic dysfunction associated with spinal cord injury.

Abstract Complete injury to the cervical spinal cord results in total disruption of central sympathetic outflow. Although ventricular repolarization can be significantly influenced by disorders of autonomic function, the effects of cervical sympathectomy are unknown. Therefore, 40 subjects with complete chronic spinal cord injury were prospectively divided into 2 groups, half with total disruption of central sympathetic outflow (level of injury C 5 to C 8 ) known as the high level injury group, and half with nearly intact sympathetic innervation (T 10 to l 1 ) serving as controls. The completeness of autonomic dysfunction was verified by the cold presser response. ST-segment analysis of the resting surface electrocardiogram revealed multilead ST elevation in the high level injury group, with maximum ST height significantly higher than the control group (131 ± 21 [standard error] vs 47 ± 8 μV; p = 0.0005). Unlike the control subjects, maximal arm ergometry exercise in the high level injury subjects failed to decrease ST-segment height (δST = −3 ± 6 vs −43 ± 14 μV in controls; p = 0.02). This difference persisted even after matching for exercise capacity. However, during exogenous stimulation with the sympathomimetic amine isoproterenol, ST-segment height in the high level injury group markedly decreased (mean δST = −84 ± 26 vs −17 ± 18 μV in controls; p = 0.04). Thus, central sympathetic dysfunction regularly results in multilead ST-segment elevation that decreases to or below isoelectric baseline during low dose isoproterenol infusion. Unlike normal subjects and individuals with normal variant ST-segment elevation, ST height is not altered by exercise. These findings document that ST-segment height in man is greatly influenced by central sympathetic nervous activity both at baseline and during physiologic and pharmacologic stress.
Vesiculobullous eruption from intense pulsed light treatment.

Background Intense pulsed light (IPL) systems emit noncoherent, polychromatic light and are increasingly used for various dermatologic indications. Although generally regarded as safe therapy, IPL is not without risk. Objective We report a 21-year-old woman who experienced a severe blistering eruption after IPL treatment by a nonphysician. Materials and Methods Case report. Results The patient reported a 10-year history of persistent redness on her medial and lateral cheeks. She had tried no previous oral or topical therapies. She was diagnosed with rosacea and was treated with IPL. The following day, intense vesiculation and bullae formation occurred, progressing to dramatic facial edema by day 3 and eschar formation by day 5. Ten weeks later, prominent erythema with papularity remained on both cheeks and the lateral neck, with textural change and reticulated dyschromia. She continued to recover 20 weeks after treatment. Conclusion This case most likely represents high-fluence photothermal tissue injury induced by the laser-like qualities of the IPL source, with resulting acantholysis leading to formation of vesicobullae in the context of an uncertain primary diagnosis. This case highlights the potential hazards of IPL therapy and raises questions regarding appropriate use of this medical technology. BRIAN R. SPERBER, MD, PhD, HOBART W. WALLING, MD, PhD, CHRISTOPHER J. ARPEY, MD, AND DUANE C. WHITAKER, MD, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS.
Presence of silicon in developing cotton fibers

Abstract Silicon is a necessary element in the development of sane plants. Its presence is known to affect the elongation of jute (Corhorus capsularis) fibers. The concentration of silicon in developing cotton fiber (Gossypium hirsutum L. and Gossypium barbadense L. ) is high during the elongation phase of fiber development and decreases as the fiber matures. Thus, silicon concentration may have an effect on the development of the cotton fiber.