cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrogel-encapsulated soil: A tool to measure contaminant attenuation in situ

After intervals of groundwater immersion, polyacrylamide hydrogel-encapsulated solid specimens were retrieved, assayed non-destructively for uranium and other elements using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and replaced in groundwater for continued reaction. Desorption dynamics of uranium from contaminated soils and other solids, when moved to uncontaminated groundwater, were fit to a general two-component kinetic retention model with slow-release and fast-release fractions of the total uranium. In a group of Oak Ridge soils with varying ambient uranium contamination (169-1360 mg/kg), the uranium fraction retained under long-term in situ kinetic behavior was strongly correlated (r2 = 0.89) with the residual uranium retained after laboratory sequential extraction of water-soluble and cation-exchangeable fractions of the same soils. To illustrate how potential remedial techniques can be compared to natural attenuation, thermal stabilization of one soil increased the size of its long-term retained fraction from 50 to 88% of the total uranium and increased the in situ retention half-life of the long-term retained fraction from 990 to 40,000 days. Hydrogel encapsulation presents a novel and powerful general method to observe many water-solids interactions in situ for a variety of aqueous media besides groundwater, with a variety of non-destructive analytical methods, and with a variety of solids besides contaminated soil.
Endothelin produces systemic vasodilation independent of the state of consciousness.

Abstract The effects of endothelin, ET-1, on pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics were studied in the open chest dog and changes in systemic arterial pressure in dogs under conscious and anesthetized states were compared. Rapid intravenous (IV) bolus injections of ET-1, 100–1,000 nanograms/kg, significantly decreased systemic arterial pressure, and significantly decreased systemic vascular resistance whereas left atrial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were not altered. Reductions in systemic arterial pressure in response to bolus injection of ET-1, 100 and 300 nanograms/kg IV, during conscious state and during anesthesia were similar, respectively. The present data suggest that ET-1 dilates the systemic vascular bed independent of the animal's state of consciousness. The present data also suggest that when compared to the systemic vascular bed, the pulmonary vascular bed is less responsive to bolus administration of ET-1.
Work and Family Balance in Hospitality Management

Abstract The author discusses how and why hospitality and human resource educators need to create work and family curriculum so that graduates have the awareness and the tools needed to manage a 21st century workforce.
Long-term course of surgically induced astigmatism

We performed an analysis of surgically induced astigmatism in 229 cases of extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation. The average length of follow-up for patients in this study was 34.4 months (2.87 years). We found that surgically induced astigmatism continued to change for at least three years after surgery. The preoperative astigmatism was found to have only minimal effect on the postoperative astigmatism if the corneal curvature was controlled with keratometry at the time of surgery. The optimal amount of with-the-rule astigmatism at three to five weeks postoperatively was found to be 0.75 diopter to 1.25 diopters for one surgeon and surgical technique.
Radiochemical observations on manganese nodules from three sedimentary environments in the north Pacific

Abstract Decay-series isotopes were measured on manganese nodules from three sedimentary environments, characterized by substrates of red clay (R), siliceous ooze (S) and hemipelagic clay (H). Growth rates of nodules are shown to be site dependent: 1–2 mm/Myr at site R, 3–8 mm/Myr at sites S, and 20–50 mm/ Myr at site H. Correlation between growth rate and the parameter Mn/Fe2 suggests that regional diagenetic variations control the compositions and growth rates of the nodules. The frequency of nodule turnover and the period of their growth are assessed from the “top” vs. “bottom” distributions of several nuclides. Based on the 230Th, 231Pa and 226Ra data, turnover times of 103 to 105 years are estimated and they vary with relative size and shape of the specimens at a given site. The presence of unsupported 210Pb and 228Th in the top surfaces but not in the bottom surfaces of the surface nodules suggests active growth during the last decades or years, despite their old ages. The data also indicate that turnover rates are not more frequent than once every several years or decades. The 230Th-226Ra, 226Ra-210Pb and 232Th-228Th disequilibrium relationships in the nodules allow the migratory behavior of 226Ra, 222Rn and 228Ra and their fluxes to be deduced: thus radium leaves the top sides but enters the bottom sides of the surface nodules at sites R and S. At site R there is a net loss of radium to the sea; the opposite is true at site S. Surface nodules at site H trap radium from both sides, probably due to more intense diagenetic input of radium from sediment pore water. The effective diffusivities of 226Ra in nodules vary from 3 × 10 −12 to 8 × 10 −14 cm2/s, dependent on the textural variation of the nodule material, which crudely reflects the growth rate and hence sedimentary environment. 222Rn diffuses out of nodules from all sides, with an effective diffusivity of ca. (2–6) × 10 −8 cm 2 /s . At all sites nodules serve as a more effective source of 222Rn to sea water than their adjacent sediments. The outward flux of 222Rn from nodules relative to that from adjacent sediments tends to be higher in more reduced environments, an effect caused by the fact that Mn-rich nodules from more reduced environment act as a more efficient trap for 226Ra.
Epidemiology of viral hepatitis: an overview

Abstract Nearly all human viral hepatitis is caused by five hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D (delta) and E. An overview of the epidemiology and current measures for preventing transmission of these viruses are discussed.
N-Propargyl-substituted aromatic polyamides: preparation and thermal crosslinking

Abstract A series of high molecular weight aromatic polyamide copolymers derived from 4,4′-bis(methylamino)-diphenylmethane, 4,4′-bis(propargylamino)diphenylmethane and isophthaloyl dichloride was prepared as potential candidates for use as matrix resins in Kevlar(R) fibre composites. These polyamides, which contain pendant propargyl groups, underwent facile crosslinking at 280°C as evidenced by dramatic increases in their glass transition temperatures (Tg) and accompanying loss of solubility. Other attempts to effect crosslinking by exposure to ultraviolet light, electron beam or gamma radiation were unsuccessful.
Brownian motion and random walk perturbed at extrema

Let b t be Brownian motion. We show there is a unique adapted process x t which satisfies dx t = db t except when x t is at a maximum or a minimum, when it receives a push, the magnitudes and directions of the pushes being the parameters of the process. For some ranges of the parameters this is already known. We show that if a random walk close to b t is perturbed properly, its paths are close to those of x t .
Growing repertoire of AraC/XylS activators.

The AraC/XylS family of transcription activator proteins is defined by a 100-amino-acid region of sequence similarity ([15][1]) that forms an independently folding domain containing two helix-turn-helix (HTH) DNA binding motifs. A recent database search ( ) ([35][2]) by the
Aberrant Hepatic Expression of PPARγ2 Stimulates Hepatic Lipogenesis in a Mouse Model of Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, and Hepatic Steatosis

Insulin-resistant apoB/BATless mice have hypertriglyceridemia because of increased assembly and secretion of very low density apolipoprotein B (apoB) and triglycerides compared with mice expressing only apoB (Siri, P., Candela, N., Ko, C., Zhang, Y., Eusufzai, S., Ginsberg, H. N., and Huang, L. S. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 46064-46072). Despite increased very low density lipoprotein secretion, apoB/BATless mice have fatty livers. We found that hepatic mRNA levels of key lipogenic enzymes, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty-acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 were increased in apoB/BATless mice compared with levels in apoB mice, suggesting increased lipogenesis in apoB/BATless mice. This was confirmed by determining incorporation of tritiated water into fatty acids. Neither the hepatic mRNA of the lipogenic transcription factor, SREBP-1c (sterol-response element-binding protein 1c), nor the nuclear levels of the mature form of SREBP-1 protein were elevated in apoB/BATless mice. By contrast, hepatic levels of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor 2 (PPARgamma2) mRNA and protein were specifically increased in apoB/BATless mice, as were hepatic mRNA levels of two targets of PPARgamma, CD36 and aP2. Treatment of apoB/BATless mice for 4 weeks with intraperitoneal injections of a PPARgamma antisense oligonucleotide resulted in dramatic reductions of both PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2 mRNA, PPARgamma2 protein, and mRNA levels of fatty-acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. These changes were associated with decreased hepatic de novo lipogenesis and hepatic triglyceride concentrations. We conclude that hepatic steatosis in apoB/BATless mice is associated with elevated rates of hepatic lipogenesis that are linked directly to increased hepatic expression of PPARgamma2. The mechanism whereby hepatic Ppargamma2 gene expression is increased and how PPARgamma2 stimulates lipogenesis is under investigation.
Computer‐based approach to material and process selection

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a perspective of computer‐aided material and process selection (MPS) software tools for product development purpose and present a practical approach for manufacturers and other decision makers involved in MPS.Design/methodology/approach – A multi‐criteria deductive approach for MPS is applied to a case study by taking into account the technical performances and environmental constraints. A resource‐based cost modeling is also deployed to examine the implication of selected material and process on overall product cost.Findings – The paper demonstrates the capabilities and shortcoming of existing computerized MPS software tools in assisting product managers and designers for handling the growing volume of material/process data.Research limitations/implications – Applying computer‐aided MPS approach to complex shape products with multiple features is not a straightforward task and requires further development in existing MPS software tools.Practical implicati...
Effect of non-stoichiometry on the protonic and oxygen-ionic conductivity of Sr2(ScNb)O6: a complex perovskite

Abstract The compound Sr 2 (Sc 1+ x Nb 1− x )O 6− x has the ABO 3 perovskite structure. It becomes non-stoichiometric by changing the ratio of Sc 3+ to Nb 5+ ions, i.e. by varying x . For x >0, this compound is an oxygen ionic conductor, but it becomes an excellent protonic conductor, with activation energy 0.63 eV, after pretreatment in water vapor. The protonic conductivity is shown to vary proportionately to x , characteristic of Stage II (unassociated) behavior. In the case of samples with x ≤0, the compound does not take up hydrogen, and, in fact, remains an oxygen ionic conductor even though the oxygen-vacancy concentration is suppressed in the case of negative x . There is no evidence for conduction by electronic defects or by A- or B-site vacancies.
Characterization of low-dimensional dynamics in the crayfish caudal photoreceptor

ATTEMPTS to detect and characterize chaos in biological systems are of considerable interest, especially in medical science, where successful demonstrations may lead to new diagnostic tools and therapies1. Unfortunately, conventional methods for identifying chaos often yield equivocal results when applied to biological data2–8, which are usually heavily contaminated with noise. For such applications, a new technique1 based on the detection of unstable periodic orbits holds promise. Infinite sets of unstable periodic orbits underlie chaos in dissipative systems4,9; accordingly, the new method searches a time series only for rare events8 characteristic of these unstable orbits10, rather than analysing the structure of the series as a whole. Here we demonstrate the efficacy of the method when applied to the dynamics of the crayfish caudal photoreceptor (subject to stimuli representative of the animal's natural habitat). Our findings confirm the existence of low-dimensional dynamics in the system, and strongly suggest the existence of deterministic chaos. More importantly, these results demonstrate the power of methods based on the detection of unstable periodic orbits for identifying low-dimensional dynamics—and, in particular, chaos—in biological systems.
Measuring Sexual Harassment in the Military: The Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ—DoD)

The harassment of women in the military is receiving increased attention from both policymakers and the popular media. Stimulated originally by the Navy's Tailhook episode in 1991, and more recentl...
Mental health of Asian Indians: Relevant issues and community implications

The current body of research on Asian–American mental health issues has not sufficiently addressed the needs of Asian Indians. Demographically and historically this group is distinct from other Asian immigrant groups. This article examines how the unique aspects of Asian Indian culture may differentially impinge on mental health issues such as acculturation, rates of psychopathology, and manifestation of psychiatric symptoms. The ramifications of these factors for the construction of community mental health models for these groups are also addressed. Recommendations and hypotheses for future research in this area are suggested.
Maritime interregional interaction in Micronesia: Deciphering multi-group contacts and exchange systems through time

Abstract Recent theoretical perspectives focusing on interregional interaction can help explain the evolution of western Micronesian societies. Data from ethnohistoric accounts, oral traditions, and more recently, archaeological investigations, document the interactions between culturally and linguistically distinct island groups in the northwest tropical Pacific. Here, I look at the nature and emergence of these interaction networks between the islands of Yap and Palau in the Western Caroline Islands of Micronesia and the implications they had for transforming indigenous lifeways, exchange systems, and sociopolitics. In particular, I discuss a major facet of these interaction spheres—the Yapese quarrying of their famous stone “money” disks in the Palauan archipelago.
Clay‐catalyzed reactions of olefins. III. Kinetics of polymerization of styrene

The polymerization of styrene in the presence of acid clay catalysts has been reported previously. The kinetics were studied in solution at 0°C. by a dilatometric method relating monomer concentration to volume and heat of reaction. An approximately linear rate law was derived which fit the data over a 100-fold range of concentration. The integrated rate equation is: The equilibrium constant KM for monomer absorption was found to be 863 ± 70 cc./mole and the propagation constant kp was found to be 191 ± 14 cc./mole/sec. An Arrhenius plot is in accord with the equation k′p = Ae−7.7/RT with an activation energy 7.7 ± 1.5 kcal. and an Arrhenius factor of 3.39 × 108 cc./mole/sec. The effect of added inhibitor I was interpreted qualitatively on the basis of an exact rate equation which in differential form is: The factor KI[I]/[I0] was estimated from the equation: and found to be negligible at 0.1M monomer concentration and consistent with experiment. An explanation for low values of kp in the presence of added inhibitor was proposed based upon the exact rate law.
The relationship between leisure theory and recreation practice

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between leisure theory and recreation practice, using a cognitive approach. Seventeen male and 3 female public leisure service managers took part in the investigation. A pile‐sort technique was used to ascertain the structure of the conceptual domain consisting of the Accreditation Standards of the National Recreation and Park Association (1991). The pile‐sort data were used to generate hierarchical clustering (HC) and multidimensional scaling (MDS) solutions. Both the HC and the MDS solutions indicated that these practitioners associate leisure theory and philosophy primarily with the programming process and that this area of knowledge is used most by mid‐level managers and front‐line staff. This investigation demonstrated a relationship between leisure theory and recreation practice for these practitioners and that researchers and practitioners may hold different meanings for the concepts of leisure theory and philosophy. Implications for future ...
Modeling the observed center-surround summation in macaque visual area V1

The mechanisms of center-surround summation, the process by which visual cortical neurons integrate the inputs from the classical receptive field and the non-classical surround, are poorly understood. We constructed a set of 32 representative center-surround stimuli using a repertoire of four bar types, and recorded the responses of 83 neurons from visual area V1 in two awake, fixating monkeys to each of the stimuli. We then studied, for each cell individually, the extent to which the observed responses of the cell to center-surround stimuli could be accounted for by a linear regression model of center-surround summation. The model hypothesized that the response of a given cell to a given center-surround stimulus is a weighted linear sum of its responses to the four bar types. This model accurately predicted the observed responses to the center-surround stimuli for about two-thirds of V1 cells (56/83, 67%). The ability of the model to predict the observed responses of the cells was not attributable to overfitting or other modeling artifacts, a lack of surround modulation, or a lack of response modulation across different center-surround stimuli. Furthermore, for many cells, the model was able to predict the cell's responses to novel stimuli, indicating that the model captured the center-surround summation behavior of these cells adequately. Together, our results indicate that this simple bottom-up summation mechanism can account for many important center-surround phenomena in V1, including surround inhibition or facilitation, and selectivity for popout or collinear stimuli.
Self-Replication of Transthyretin Amyloid Aggregates from Native Tetramers in vitro

The conversion of proteins from their native conformations into amyloid aggregates with their beta -sheet enriched structures is associated with an increasing number of pathological conditions including neurodegenerative disease and systemic amyloidosis. Transthyretin (TTR) is a soluble human plasma protein that is linked to both senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) and familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) in humans. In vitro experiments have indicated that TTR amyloid aggregation requires the dissociation of the native TTR tetramer into a non-native monomer state. However, typical in-vitro experiments require the use of non-physiological, acidic solution conditions. This raises the question whether the mechanisms observed for TTR amyloid formation under harsh in-vitro conditions match those active in vivo.We have previously reported that lysozyme oligomers and curvilinear fibrils were capable of prion-like self-replication from native monomers near physiological solution conditions. We therefore investigated whether TTR amyloid oligomers and their curvilinear fibrils were capable of similar self-replication from their native tetrameric counterparts in vitro. We induced the formation of TTR oligomers and curvilinear fibrils during transient thermal denaturation in physiological saline. The morphologies and tinctorial characteristics of the resulting aggregates match those for TTR oligomers and curvilinear fibrils obtained by in vitro growth from acidic solutions. After mechanical separation of these aggregates, they were seeded into solutions of native TTR tetramers at physiological conditions (pH, temperature, ionic strength). Light scattering and thioflavin T responses indicated that TTR oligomers and their curvilinear fibrils, similar to our prior observations with lysozyme, induced conversion of the native TTR tetramers into amyloids. Our observations suggest that amyloid oligomers of different proteins have the capability for autocatalytic self-replication from their native counterparts, thereby resembling the behavior of prion proteins.
Understanding fraud in the accounting environment

Looks at fraud and crime in the accounting world. States that beside the conflict approach there are also the ecological theory, cultural transmission theory, and anomie (normlessness or lack of regulation), which can explain deviant behaviour. Gives a framework for fraud in accounting, listing the six points where corporate fraud, white‐collar crime, fraudulent financial reporting and audit failures most often occur. Conclusions given are that greater concern is being shown for business ethics — particularly in the USA.
Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica: A Rare Large Airway Disorder

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disorder of the large airways characterized by the development of submucosal cartilaginous and bony nodules. The nodules involve the anterior and lateral walls and typically spare the posterior membranous wall. The clinical presentation of TO is variable and ranges from incidental diagnosis in asymptomatic patients during workup or management for unrelated medical problems, to devastating disease with central airway obstruction. Bronchoscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosing this condition. Radiographic studies play an important role in suggesting the diagnosis of TO and in the follow-up of this condition. The treatment of TO is usually symptomatic. with emphasis on the management and prevention of recurrent respiratory infections. Bronchoscopic or surgical treatment is usually reserved for symptomatic patients with severe airway narrowing and airflow obstruction.
Anterior Cingulate Neurons Represent Errors and Preparatory Attention within the Same Behavioral Sequence

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been implicated in both preparatory attention (i.e., selecting behaviorally relevant stimuli) and in detecting errors. We recorded from the rat ACC and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which is functionally homologous to the primate dorsolateral PFC, during an attention task. The three-choice serial reaction time task requires a rat to orient toward and divide attention between three brief (300 ms duration) light stimuli presented in random order across nose poke holes in an operant chamber. In both the ACC and mPFC, we found that neural activity was related to the level of preparatory (precue) attention and subsequent correct or incorrect choice, in that the magnitude of the single units' response to the cue was lower on incorrect trials and was not different than baseline on unattended trials. This preparatory neural activity consisted of both excitatory and inhibitory phasic responses. The number of units responding to the cue was similarly graded, in that fewer units exhibited phasic responses to the cue on incorrect and unattended trials, compared with correct trials. Although preparatory activity was found in both the ACC and mPFC, activity after incorrect nose pokes, which may be related to error detection, were only observed in the ACC. Thus, during the same behavioral sequence, the ACC encodes both error-related events and preparatory attention, whereas the mPFC only participates in preparatory attention. The finding of substantial inhibitory activity during the preparatory period suggests a critical role for inhibition of pyramidal cells in PFC-mediated cognitive functions.
Generation and function of human regulatory CD8+ T cells induced by a humanized OKT3 monoclonal antibody hOKT3γ1(Ala-Ala)

Recent studies with a humanized anti-CD3 antibody in clinical trials suggested that this drug can induce regulatory CD8+ T cells. In this review, we discuss how these regulatory human CD8+ cells can be generated and the possible molecular tools they may use to inhibit immune responses. We compare our data on CD8+ regulatory cells induced by anti-CD3 stimulation with those reported in other experimental systems to identify both common and unique features of these cells.
Asymmetric cascaded converter for solar PV applications

Solar photovoltaic energy systems have received increasing attention during the last years due mainly to the cost reduction of solar panels and the availability of power converters specifically designed for these applications. Small scale photovoltaic plants have been installed to fed houses and small business whether connected to the grid or stand-alone. In the latter case, the converter must provide a high quality output voltage even with non-linear loads. In this paper the design and control scheme of an asymmetric cascaded converter for small scale PV applications is shown. The converter proposed is based on a main stage which provides the active power to the load and a secondary stage that generates the reactive power compensation. It is shown that this asymmetric converter can work with higher voltage ratios than previously published asymmetric converters and can generate high quality output voltages for both linear and non-linear three-phase loads. The proposed converter is analysed and design guidelines are given. Results that shown the performance of the converter and its control system are presented.
H1N1, globalization and the epidemiology of inequality

This paper examines the lessons learned from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in relation to wider work on globalization and the epidemiology of inequality. The media attention and economic resources diverted to the threats posed by H1N1 were significant inequalities themselves when contrasted with weaker responses to more lethal threats posed by other diseases associated with global inequality. However, the multiple inequalities revealed by H1N1 itself in 2009 still provide important insights into the future of global health in the context of market-led globalization. These lessons relate to at least four main forms of inequality: (1) inequalities in blame for the outbreak in the media; (2) inequalities in risk management; (3) inequalities in access to medicines; and (4) inequalities encoded in the actual emergence of new flu viruses.
FERROMAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTRA OF METALLIC SUPERLATTICES

Calcul des spectres de resonance ferromagnetique de couches metalliques formees de films minces d'aimantations alternees et observation experimentale des spectres de huit couches alternees de Ni et Fe de 86 A d'epaisseur
Pumping-induced ebullition: a unified and simplified method for measuring multiple dissolved gases.

The incorporation of multiple dissolved gas measurements in biogeochemical studies remains a difficult and expensive challenge. Incompatibilities in collection, handling, and storage procedures gen...
Benchmarking a leadership model for the green economy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine benchmarking leadership theories in order to build a new leadership model for the green economy.Design/methodology/approach – The collection and critical analysis of secondary data from relevant publications were used to evaluate the feasibility of a new leadership model in the green economy. Analysis of organizational and leadership theories has been utilized in order to benchmark future successful efforts.Findings – The paper found five key issues: there is little research in how the green economy will impact contemporary organizations' strategy, structure, and culture; new theories may need to be developed to assist organizations in developing the right kind of leadership for the green economy; the creation of green jobs may infuse organizations with more emphasis on values and leadership competency; the over dependence on technology to create jobs and sustain society's quality of life carries unintended consequences; and agrarian leadership may offer o...
Meaningfulness and presentation method in paired-associate learning

In a 2 × 2 factorial design, S s learned either high or low meaningful (M) stimuli and responses under either the recall or the anticipation method of paired-associate presentation. Presentation method interacted significantly with M such that performance on the low M materials was better under the recall method, but when high M items were learned performance was superior under the anticipation procedure.
The ΔS = 2 matrix element for K0−K̄0 mixing

Abstract We use SU(3) and PACAC to relate the ΔS = 2 matrix element M = 〈 K 0 | d γ μ (1 + γ 5 )s d γ μ (1 + γ 5 )s| K 0 〉 to experimental information on the ΔI = 3 2 contribution to K → 2π. Our results is M = 0.10 m K 4 which is about 33% of the vacuum insertion value.
SiO2 surface defect centers studied by AES

A theoretical model is proposed on how a Si dangling bond associated with an oxygen vacancy on a SiO2 surface (Es′ center) should be observed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The Auger electron distribution NA(E) for the L23VV transition band is calculated for a stoichiometric SiO2 surface, and for a SiOx surface containing Si-(e−O3) coordinations. The latter is characterized by an additional L23VD transition band, where D is the energy level of the unpaired electron e−. The theoretical NA(E) spectra are compared with experimental N(E) spectra for a pristine, and for an electron radiation damaged quartz surface. Agreement with the theoretical model is obtained if D is assumed to lie ≈2 eV below the conduction band edge. This result shows that AES is uniquely useful in revealing the absolute energy level of localized, occupied surface defect states. As the L23VD transition band (main peak at 86 eV) cannot unambiguously be distinguished from a SiSi4 coordination L23VV spectrum (main peak at 88 eV), supporting evidence is presented as to why we exclude a SiSi4 coordination for our particular experimental example. Application of the Si-(e−O3) model to the interpretation of SiO2Si interface Auger spectra is also discussed.
Venous Thromboembolism Following Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: A Current Concepts Review of Incidence, Prophylaxis, and Preoperative Risk Assessment

The purpose of this review was to compile existing knowledge regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE) after arthroscopic knee surgery (AKS). We reviewed the reported incidence, published prophylaxis guidelines, randomized controlled trials (RCT) of prophylaxis, and current prophylaxis practice patterns. In this context we then considered the most appropriate VTE risk assessment model for patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. The existing body of literature regarding VTE and AKS reports a wide range of incidence, often utilizing primary outcome measures with unclear clinical significance: asymptomatic and distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Published prophylaxis guidelines provide limited practical guidance and it is unclear how to translate the results of RCTs to clinical practice, as many of the VTE prevented by routine prophylaxis are asymptomatic or distal DVT. Literature regarding actual implementation of pharmacologic prophylaxis following AKS suggests that no consensus exists. Patients undergoing knee arthroscopy would be best managed with the individual model of VTE risk assessment rather than the group model that is applied to hip and knee arthroplasty patients.
The involvement of fungi in the breakdown of sulphited strawberries

Between 8000 and 9000 tons of strawberries are used annually for jam manufacture in the UK, c. 65 % of which are stored in sulphite liquor (6 % SO2+lime, c. pH 3.0). Sporadic cases of disintegration of sulphited strawberries have been observed increasingly in recent years. In laboratory experiments breakdown of whole berries in sulphite liquor was achieved by including berries partly rotted with Mucor mucedo, Rhizopus sexualis or R. stolonifer, 1.5-2.5 % infected material causing complete breakdown of all of the berries. The inclusion of up to 25 % berries infected with Botrytis cinerea caused no softening of the berries. The addition of culture filtrates to whole fruit in sulphite liquor confirmed observations with the above fungi but also showed that pectolytic enzymes from Aureobasidium pullulans and Trichosporon pullulans could cause breakdown. The incidence of spoilage fungi on commercially harvested fruit indicated that M. mucedo and R. sexualis were the main cause of breakdown, but that A. pullulans increased tenfold on fruit stored at 15 °C overnight before sulphiting. Results from commercially harvested fruit (cv. Cambridge Favourite) in 1975 and 1976 showed that: (I) fruit should be sulphited as soon as possible after harvest, since the storage of harvested fruit prior to sulphiting may give a poorer quality product; (2) there is little difference in breakdown of fruit from plants treated with the pre-harvest fungicides, Elvaron, Mildothane, or Daconil, and (3) fruit grown in different areas of the UK shows varying amounts of breakdown. This may be due to differences in the infection level of Phycomycetes and contamination by other pectolytic fungi or inherent differences in the susceptibility of the fruit to enzyme attack.
Theoretical Study of the Remarkably Diverse Linkages in Lignin

Lignin in plant cell walls is a potential renewable source of biofuels, chemicals, and value-added products. It consists of various aryl ethers, irregularly connected by a variety of linkages creating a complex structural network; hence, it is difficult to identify selective bond breaking events. In this study, we predict dissociation tendencies of a diverse set of lignin linkages encompassing 65 lignin model compounds using the density functional theoretical (DFT) approach. The chosen 65 lignin model compounds represent the most prevalent carbon–oxygen (ether) and carbon–carbon (C–C) bond linkages. Results from our systematic study identify the weakest and strongest linkages connecting arene rings in different classes of lignin model compounds. Also, the dissociating linkages can have different adjacent substituents, such as the methoxy group on the arene ring and hydrocarbon, methyl, and hydroxyl group substitutions on aliphatic carbon atoms. These substituents affect the ease of dissociation of lignin ...
Digital pulse-width modulation controller based on fully table look-up for system-on-a-chip applications

Design and implementation of a fully table look-up digital pulse-width modulation (DPWM) controller for high-frequency DC-DC buck conversion is presented. The controller comprises a 1 bit analogue comparator, a digital error process unit and a fully table look-up multi-phase DPWM. The interface of analogue-to-digital conversion is performed with the analogue comparator. Moreover, the proposed programmable memory is based on the table look-up multi-phase approach for the functions of the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) compensation, which alleviates the penalty of using large chip-area multipliers. As a result, the approach is very suitable for system-on-a-chip (SOC) implementation. A prototype test chip is realised to validate the mechanism of the proposed architecture.
PEG-Farnesylthiosalicylate Conjugate as a Nanomicellar Carrier for Delivery of Paclitaxel

S-trans, trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) is a synthetic small molecule that acts as a potent and especially nontoxic Ras antagonist. It inhibits both oncogenically activated Ras and growth factor receptor-mediated Ras activation, resulting in the inhibition of Ras-dependent tumor growth. In this work, an FTS conjugate with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through a labile ester linkage, PEG5K-FTS2(L), was developed. PEG5K-FTS2 conjugate readily forms micelles in aqueous solutions with a critical micelle concentration of 0.68 μM, and hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel (PTX) could be effectively loaded into these particles. Both drug-free and PTX-loaded micelles were spherical in shape with a uniform size of 20–30 nm. The release of PTX from PTX-loaded PEG5K-FTS2 micelles was significantly slower than that from Taxol formulation. In vitro cytotoxicity studies with several tumor cell lines showed that PEG5K-FTS2(L) was comparable to FTS in antitumor activity. Western immunoblotting showed that total Ras ...
God Must Remain Mysterious: Heidegger, a Strange Sort of Theologian

Transcendence is understood as man’s way of going beyond his finite state towards the divine, to God. But is it possible to talk of a brand of transcendence that brushes aside the contours of infinity or divinity? Or can transcendence happen in the mere plane of humanity less a God? This paper, by presenting Heidegger’s thoughts on transcendence and God, argues that Heidegger takes transcendence in the context of finitude. Instead of setting a place for a God in man’s efforts to reach out to the Divine, Heidegger sees nothing else but man – the Dasein – himself as the sole performer in this histrionics of transcendence. In transcendence, Dasein is called by Heidegger to go beyond the limits of being towards the nearness of Being. To Heidegger, transcendence is a finite move of Dasein from his ontic concerns up to the auspices of the ontological, the appropriation of Being. As Dasein transcends, he needs the concernful assistance of God for him to hopefully attain the goal of his movement, i.e., to be the inquirer and the shepherd of Being. Transcendence, therefore, for Heidegger, is Dasein’s conquest of the ontological difference - the variance between being and Being. However, in this conquest Heidegger is not heading towards a degodization of God. Key words – Heidegger, theologian, transcendence, dasein
Wt1a, Foxc1a, and the Notch mediator Rbpj physically interact and regulate the formation of podocytes in zebrafish

Podocytes help form the glomerular blood filtration barrier in the kidney and their injury or loss leads to renal disease. The Wilms' tumor suppressor-1 (Wt1) and the FoxC1/2 transcription factors, as well as Notch signaling, have been implicated as important regulators of podocyte fate. It is not known whether these factors work in parallel or sequentially on different gene targets, or as higher-order transcriptional complexes on common genes. Here, we use the zebrafish to demonstrate that embryos treated with morpholinos against wt1a, foxc1a, or the Notch transcriptional mediator rbpj develop fewer podocytes, as determined by wt1b, hey1 and nephrin expression, while embryos deficient in any two of these factors completely lack podocytes. From GST-pull-downs and co-immunoprecipitation experiments we show that Wt1a, Foxc1a, and Rbpj can physically interact with each other, whereas only Rbpj binds to the Notch intracellular domain (NICD). In transactivation assays, combinations of Wt1, FoxC1/2, and NICD synergistically induce the Hey1 promoter, and have additive or repressive effects on the Podocalyxin promoter, depending on dosage. Taken together, these data suggest that Wt1, FoxC1/2, and Notch signaling converge on common target genes where they physically interact to regulate a podocyte-specific gene program. These findings further our understanding of the transcriptional circuitry responsible for podocyte formation and differentiation during kidney development.
On analysis and capacity estimation of TDMA/FDMA systems with interference adaptation dynamic channel allocation

It has been shown by simulation results that the interference adaptation dynamic channel allocation (IA-DCA) strategy is a promising channel allocation method in TDMA/FDMA systems. However, theoretical analysis of IA-DCA has not been thoroughly studied in the literature. The main difficulty is how to represent the interference in the IA-DCA environment. In this paper, the computation of both downlink and uplink co-channel interference in the IA-DCA environment is investigated. A framework for the analysis of 2-way balanced IA-DCA schemes is proposed. An asymptotic upper performance bound for the IA-DCA strategy is derived. The bound is used to estimate the maximum capacity enhancement the IA-DCA method can provide over the fixed channel allocation. Both a deterministic propagation model and a lognormal shadowing model are considered.
Evaluating the medical literature part II: Statistical analysis

We have attempted to provide sufficient information to enable the reader to verify that the investigator has used an appropriate statistical test for the evaluation of his study data. We have not discussed the actual calculation of the tests presented. With the wide availability of computers and programmable calculators, it is safe to assume that the investigator has performed the necessary mathematics accurately. Instead of assessing the accuracy of these calculations, the reader should verify that the correct statistical test was chosen in the first place. The astute reader may be surprised at how frequently an incorrect test is used. Merely achieving statistical significance does not characterize the author's data as clinically important. Neither does it, in and of itself, prove one agent superior to another nor prove a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables. When appropriately interpreted, however, statistical analysis can be a very useful and powerful tool in helping to arrive at the "truth."
Sediment pulses in mountain rivers: 1. Experiments

[1] Sediment often enters rivers in discrete pulses associated with landslides and debris flows. This is particularly so in the case of mountain streams. The topographic disturbance created on the bed of a stream by a single pulse must be gradually eliminated if the river is to maintain its morphological integrity. Two mechanisms for elimination have been identified: translation and dispersion. According to the first of these, the topographic high translates downstream. According to the second of these, it gradually diffuses away. In any given river both mechanisms may operate. This paper is devoted to a description of three controlled experiments on sediment pulses designed to model conditions in mountain streams. Each of the experiments began from the same mobile-bed equilibrium with a set rate and grain size distribution of sediment feed. In one experiment the median size of the pulse material was nearly identical to that of the feed sediment. In the other two the pulse material differed in grain size distribution from the feed sediment, being coarser in one case and finer in the other case. In all cases the mode of pulse deformation was found to be predominantly dispersive, a result that constitutes the main conclusion of this paper. The pulses resulted in a notable but transient elevation of sediment transport rate immediately downstream. When the pulse was coarser than the ambient sediment, the bed downstream remained armored, and a migrating delta formed in the backwater upstream. When the pulse was finer than the ambient sediment, translation was observed in addition to dispersion. The presence of the finer material notably elevated the transport of ambient coarse material on the bed downstream. In part 2 [Cui et al., 2003], the experimental results are used to test a numerical model.
Explosive to effusive transition during the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century (Novarupta 1912, Alaska)

Silicic volcanic eruptions commonly show abrupt shifts between powerful and dangerous (Plinian) explosive episodes and gentle effusion of lava. Whether the onset of magma permeability and ensuing gas loss controls these transitions has been a subject of debate. We measured porosities and permeabilities in samples from the A.D. 1912 eruption of Novarupta volcano, Alaska, and analyzed them within the context of a well-constrained eruptive sequence that encompasses sustained explosive and effusive activity. For the explosive samples, we find that the degree of vesicle interconnectivity, measured as the ratio of connected to total porosity, decreases with phenocryst content and with increasing eruption intensity. Permeabilities of explosive samples show a weak dependence on porosity. Dome samples are not significantly different in permeability, but are of lower porosity, which together with abundant flattened vesicles is consistent with bubble collapse by permeable outgassing. Quantitative analysis indicates that outgassing alone was insufficient to affect the transition to effusive activity. Rather, the change from explosive to effusive activity was probably a consequence of high versus low magma ascent rates.
Semantics and Structure: A Comparison between Monolingual and Bilingual Subjects.

Summary Twenty English-speaking monolinguals and 20 French-American bilinguals were given 11 words to encode in order to obtain certain measures of codability: latency, reaction time, number of words, number of syllables, and interpersonal agreement. In addition, the semantic differential was administered in order to obtain an indication of meaning intensity. Although the classical coding measures correlated with each other in expected directions for both groups, intensity of meaning was inversely correlated with the coding measures only for the monolingual group. For the bilinguals, intensity was directly related to the coding measures. The results imply that although coding measures do hold up between groups, they may mean different things. Words that have intense meaning for bilinguals may be those that elicit a host of associations; while for monolinguals, the most semantically intense words elicit few associations.
An Optimization Problem Related to Minkowski’s Successive Minima

The purpose of this paper is to establish an inequality connecting the lattice point enumerator of a 0-symmetric convex body with its successive minima. To this end, we introduce an optimization problem whose solution refines former methods, thus producing a better upper bound. In particular, we show that an analogue of Minkowski’s second theorem on successive minima with the volume replaced by lattice point enumerator is true up to an exponential factor, whose base is approximately 1.64.
Ethnic preference for the arts: the role of the social experience as attendance motivation

This paper addresses the issue of the level of ethnic group attendance at the arts, with a special emphasis on African American attendance at classical music concerts. Current attendance data will be examined to determine if there is a difference in attendance rates when the traditional determiners for attendance — education and income — are similar. The paper proposes that the lower rates of attendance for ethnic groups may not be the result of differences in levels of education or income, but are the result of these groups having their own values and tastes that affect the benefits that they desire from attendance. To explore this proposed theory, the results of a survey of an arts event successful in attracting an ethnic audience will be analysed to see if it can provide insight as to whether ethnic audiences have unique attendance motivation. This is important to marketing as these benefits must be included in the artistic event and promoted to the potential ethnic audience. Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications
A Document Analysis System for Supporting Electronic Voting Research

As a result of well-publicized security concerns with direct recording electronic (DRE) voting, there is a growing call for systems that employ some form of paper artifact to provide a verifiable physical record of a voter's choices. In this paper, we present a system we are developing to support a multi-institution, cross-disciplinary research project examining issues that arise when paper ballots are used in elections. We survey the motivating factors behind our work, discuss the special constraints raised in processing ballots as opposed to more general document images, and describe the current status of our system.