cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of high X-ray conversion efficiency Kr filled gas sources at the National Ignition Facility

We report on the performance of high x-ray fluence Kr K-shell sources that are being developed for high energy density experiments. These targets are 4.1 mm in diameter 4.4 mm tall hollow epoxy tubes having a 40 μm thick wall holding 1.5 atm of Kr gas. For these shots, the National Ignition Facility laser delivered a nominally constant total energy of ≈750 kJ of 351 nm (3ω) light at the three power levels [e.g., ≈120 (low), ≈145 (medium), and ≈210 TW (high)]. The Kr K-shell (Ephoton = 8–20 keV) x-ray radiant intensity and radiant energy (kJ/sr) of these sources were found to increase as a function of laser power but began to plateau at the highest laser power. The Kr K-shell radiant energy increased from ≈1 kJ/sr at ≈120 TW to ≈2 kJ/sr at ≈210 TW. Radiation hydrodynamics simulations predict radiant energies to be always higher than these measurements. The increase in K-shell emission is attributed to its strong dependence on the electron temperature. Electron temperature distributions were inferred from measured Heα and Lyα line emission through the use of a genetic algorithm and Scram modeling. The inferred temperatures from the experiment are 20% to 30% higher than those predicted from modeling.
Trends in Self-Management among Adults with Heart Failure from 2011 to 2016 Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

Introduction Heart failure (HF) affects patients’ quality of life as it progresses. Given the unpredictability of HF pathways and complex medical treatments, self-management of HF is demanding work for patients and family caregivers. Patients with HF, for instance, have to monitor symptoms, adhere to dietary recommendation (e.g., DASH diet) and medication regimens, and maintain regular physical activities; thus, discovering such characteristics in a scientific way is important. This study aims to shed light on changes in health-related characteristics and to investigate the self-management status of adults with HF. Methods This study employed three public datasets provided by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys undertaken between 2011 and 2016 at two-year intervals. The original surveys included a set of questions to measure the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. Among the study cohort, 583 adults (ranging in age from 25 to 80) who self-reported the diagnosis of HF were filtered for this secondary data analysis (n=187 in 2011-2012, n=182 in 2013-2014, n=214 in 2015-2016). The selected variables for this report included as follows: laboratory data measuring physical health status; depression severity using patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9); comorbidities; prescribed medications; dietary intakes; and physical activities. Results The overall mean of the medications subjects were prescribed was 9.16 (SD=3.14). Figure 1 illustrates the heatmap for the patterns of comorbid disease. In dietary quality, the averages of sodium intake in each wave were 3093.45 (SD=1787.51), 3015.44 (SD=1567.25), and 3143.59 (SD=1629.42). While there were no significant differences (F=30.82, p=0.311), these values were higher than the AHA recommendation for maintaining sodium intake (less than 2,000mg/day). There were significant changes in the consumption of low-density lipoprotein (F=3.46, p=.033) and triglycerides (F=5.70, p =.004). The proportions of HF patients with moderate to severe depression were 17.11%, 21.98%, and 15.89% respectively. Lastly, subjects walked or bicycled approximately four days a week. However, the average minutes of sedentary activity a week ranged from 477.80 (SD=727.82) to 546.43 (SD=1150.56). Conclusion Contrary to our expectations, the self-management among HF patients were not improved even if clinical guidelines for HF management had been updated periodically. Findings suggest that strategies and potential resources for improving self-management of HF should be further investigated.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Warning Policies in the Broader Legal Context: Health and Safety Warning Laws and the First Amendment.

Introduction Health and safety warnings are a regular part of the consumer protection landscape. However, the only sugar-sweetened beverage policy passed to date was found unconstitutional under the First Amendment. This paper evaluates sugar-sweetened beverage warning policies in light of existing health and safety warnings on consumer products and the First Amendment. Methods In 2019, using LexisNexis, existing federal, state, and local health and safety warning laws for consumer products were identified. Then, bills proposed and laws passed through July 2019 that required sugar-sweetened beverage warnings were examined. Finally, First Amendment case law related to warning and disclosure requirements was analyzed to identify outstanding questions about the constitutionality of sugar-sweetened beverage warning policies. Results Warnings on consumer products provide key examples of long-established health and safety warning language, rationales for passage, and formatting requirements. Between 2011 and 2019, a total of 9 jurisdictions proposed 28 bills (including 1 law by San Francisco) requiring sugar-sweetened beverage warnings on labels, advertisements, and at point of sale. This analysis highlighted outstanding First Amendment questions on permissible wording and formatting requirements and the need for evidence and rationales that focus on specific health harms of sugar-sweetened beverages. Warnings on labels and at point of sale may pose fewer First Amendment concerns than on advertisements. Conclusions Sugar-sweetened beverage warning policies that mirror health and safety warnings long established as permissible on other consumer products should be considered constitutional; however, evolving First Amendment jurisprudence leaves outstanding questions, especially on the interpretation of controversy, formatting requirements, and levels of required specificity for warning language.
Protein changes in synaptosomes of Huntington's disease knock-in mice are dependent on age and brain region.

Abstract Molecular changes at synapses are thought to underly the deficits in motor and cognitive dysfunction seen in Huntington's disease (HD). Previously we showed in synaptosome preparations age dependent changes in levels of selected proteins examined by western blot assay in the striatum of Q140/Q140 HD mice. To assess if CAG repeat length influenced protein changes at the synapse, we examined synaptosomes from 6-month old heterozygote HD mice with CAG repeat lengths ranging from 50 to 175. Analysis of 19 selected proteins showed that increasing CAG repeat length in huntingtin (HTT) increased the number of affected proteins in HD striatal synaptosomes. Moreover, SDS-soluble total HTT (WT plus mutant HTT) and pThr3 HTT were reduced with increasing CAG repeat length, and there was no pSer421 mutant HTT detected in any HD mice. A LC-MS/MS and bioinfomatics study of synaptosomes from 2 and 6-month old striatum and cortex of Q140/Q7 HD mice showed enrichment of synaptic proteins and an influence of age, gender and brain region on the number of protein changes. HD striatum at 6 months had the most protein changes that included many HTT protein interactors, followed by 2-month old HD striatum, 2-month old HD cortex and 6-month HD cortex. SDS-insoluble mutant HTT was detected in HD striatal synaptosomes consistent with the presence of aggregates. Proteins changed in cortex differed from those in striatum. Pathways affected in HD striatal synaptosomes that were not identified in whole striatal lysates of the same HD mouse model included axon guidance, focal adhesion, neurotrophin signaling, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, endocytosis, and synaptic vesicle cycle. Results suggest that synaptosomes prepared from HD mice are highly informative for monitoring protein changes at the synapse and may be preferred for assessing the effects of experimental therapies on synaptic function in HD.
Viability of slow-roll inflation in light of the non-zero k(min) measured in the cosmic microwave background power spectrum

Slow-roll inflation may simultaneously solve the horizon problem and generate a near scale-free fluctuation spectrum P(k). These two processes are intimately connected via the initiation and durati...
Performance of Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Pavement in Reduction of Motor Vehicles’ Exhaust Gas:

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a widely used photocatalyst that can oxidize motor vehicle exhaust, for example, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide, under the ...
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Systemic Risk

This essay focuses the factors that make ETFs and trading in them unique – at times uniquely risky. Following a deep dive into the microstructure of ETFs, I zoom in on the potential systemic risks associated with ETFs, with a focus on the legal structure and, in particular, the arbitrage channel. Drawing on insights from the literature, this essay posits that the microstructure underlying the arbitrage mechanism inherent to ETFs, rather than the more conventional channel of massive demand redemption alone, can pose systemic risk. Specifically, I argue that the close relationship between the participants involved the management and trading of ETFs, which tend to be global systemically-important banks (G-SIBs), means that stress in the ETF markets can easily spill over into the broader financial system.
Belle2VR: An Interactive Virtual Reality Visualization of GEANT4 Event Histories

Belle2VR is a novel interactive virtual reality visualization of the Belle II detector at KEK and the animation therein of GEANT4-simulated event histories. The user, wearing a VR headset, manipulates a gamepad or hand controller(s) to interact with and interrogate the detailed GEANT4 event history over time, to adjust the visibility and transparency of the particles and detector subsystems, to translate freely in 3D, to zoom in or out, and to control the event-history timeline. In this way, the user explores the world of subatomic physics via electron-positron collision events in the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB colliding-beam facility at KEK in Japan. Developed at Virginia Tech by an interdisciplinary team of researchers in physics, education, and virtual environments, the simulation is intended to be integrated into the undergraduate physics curriculum.
Investigating the impacts of crash prediction models on quantifying safety effectiveness of Adaptive Signal Control Systems

Abstract Introduction: Adaptive Signal Control System (ASCS) can improve both operational and safety benefits at signalized corridors. Methods: This paper develops a series of models accounting for model forms and possible predictors and implements these models in Empirical Bayes (EB) and Fully Bayesian (FB) frameworks for ASCS safety evaluation studies. Different models are validated in terms of the ability to reduce the potential bias and variance of prediction and improve the safety effectiveness estimation accuracy using real-world crash data from non-ASCS sites. This paper then develops the safety effectiveness of ASCS at six different corridors with a total of 65 signalized intersections with the same type of ASCS, in South Carolina. Results: Validation results show that the FB model that accounts for traffic volume, roadway geometric features, year factor, and spatial effects shows the best performance among all models. The study findings reveal that ASCS reduces crash frequencies in the total crash, fatal and injury crash, and angle crash for most of the intersections. The safety effectiveness of ASCS varies with different intersection features (i.e., AADT at major streets, number of legs at an intersection, the number of through lanes on major streets, the number of access points on minor streets, and the speed limit at major streets). Conclusions: ASCS is associated with crash reductions, and its safety effects vary with different intersection features. Practical Applications: The findings of this research encourage more ASCS deployments and provide insights into selecting ASCS deployment sites for reducing crashes considering the variation of the safety effectiveness of ASCS.
Opioid-free multimodal analgesia pathway to decrease opioid utilization after cesarean delivery.

AIM To evaluate an opioid-free multimodal analgesic pathway (MAP) to decrease opioid utilization after cesarean delivery (CD) compared to historic data of our institution prior to using MAP for pain management (pre-MAP). METHODS The MAP was implemented in three phases from September 2018 to August 2019. Patients received 1000 mg intravenous (IV) acetaminophen with 30 mg IV ketorolac at 0 (arrival time at recovery room), 6, 12 and 18 h of postoperative course. On the 2nd and the 3rd postoperative days, patients were monitored for pain every 6 h by Numeric Pain Intensity Scale (0 = no pain to 10 = severe pain) and administered 600 mg oral ibuprofen for a pain score between 0 and 4, 600 mg oral ibuprofen and/or 650 mg oral acetaminophen for a pain score between 5-6, 1000 mg IV acetaminophen and/or 30 mg of IV or intramuscular ketorolac for a pain score between 7 and 10. Five milligrams of oral oxycodone was reserved for rescue if all protocol options were exhausted. Patients were discharged with 600 mg oral ibuprofen without opioid prescription. Likert surveys measuring patient satisfaction of pain control were administered during phase 3. RESULTS Inpatient and outpatient opioid consumption rates were significantly decreased from 45%, 18% to 23.8%, 8.5% after MAP implementation (P-value <0.001). More than 90% of patients reported that their pain was well controlled and willing to request the same regimen for a future CD. CONCLUSION MAP Implementation after CD significantly reduced inpatient and outpatient opioid consumption compared to pre-MAP results while maintaining high patients' satisfaction with pain control.
Added body mass alters plantar shear stresses, postural control, and gait kinetics: Implications for obesity.

Context Obesity is a growing global health concern. The increased body mass and altered mass distribution associated with obesity may be related to increases in plantar shear that putatively leads to physical functional deficits. Therefore, measurement of plantar shear may provide unique insights on the effects of body mass and body distribution on physical function or performance. Purpose 1) To investigate the effects of body mass and distribution on plantar shear. 2) To examine how altered plantar shear influences postural control and gait kinetics. Hypothesis 1) a weighted vest forward distributed (FV) would shift the center of pressure (CoP) location forward during standing compared with a weighted vest evenly distributed (EV), 2) FV would increase plantar shear spreading forces more than EV during standing, 3) FV would increase postural sway during standing while EV would not, and 4) FV would elicit greater compensatory changes during walking than EV. Methods Twenty healthy young males participated in four different tests: 1) static test (for measuring plantar shear and CoP location without acceleration, 2) bilateral-foot standing postural control test, 3) single-foot standing postural test, and 4) walking test. All tests were executed in three different weight conditions: 1) unweighted (NV), 2) EV with 20% added body mass, and 3) FV, also with 20% added body mass. Plantar shear stresses were measured using a pressure/shear device, and several shear and postural control metrics were extracted. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Holms post hoc test were used to compare each metric among the three conditions (α = 0.05). Results FV and EV increased both AP and ML plantar shear forces compared to NV. FV shifted CoP forward in single-foot trials. FV and EV showed decreased CoP range and velocity and increased Time-to-Boundary (TTB) during postural control compared to NV. EV and FV showed increased breaking impulse and propulsive impulse compared to NV. In addition, EV showed even greater impulses than FV. While EV increased ML plantar shear spreading force, FV increased AP plantar shear spreading force during walking. Conclusion Added body mass increases plantar shear spreading forces. Body mass distribution had greater effects during dynamic tasks. In addition, healthy young individuals seem to quickly adapt to external stimuli to control postural stability. However, as this is a first step study, follow-up studies are necessary to further support the clinical role of plantar shear in other populations such as elderly and individuals with obesity or diabetes.
Natural language processing

Abstract Natural language processing (NLP) is a subfield of artificial intelligence that is concerned with the automatic understanding of human language by computers. NLP has seen much success in recent years due to increased computing power and the rise of deep learning, and this success has extended into the domains of biomedical and clinical text. NLP has contributed to tasks such as the discovery of drug interactions, the development of clinical decision support systems, and the facilitation of chart review. Part I of this chapter provides an introduction to NLP, some common tasks in the biomedical domain, and the methods for accomplishing these tasks. Part II gives a survey of recent applications of NLP in cardiovascular medicine.
Maternal respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with a robust inflammatory response at the maternal-fetal interface.

Background: Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the pathophysiology underlying this increased morbidity and its potential effect on the developing fetus is not well understood. Methods: We assessed placental histology, ACE2 expression, and viral and immune dynamics at the term placenta in pregnant women with and without respiratory severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Findings: The majority (13 of 15) of placentas analyzed had no detectable viral RNA. ACE2 was detected by immunohistochemistry in syncytiotrophoblast cells of the normal placenta during early pregnancy but was rarely seen in healthy placentas at full term, suggesting that low ACE2 expression may protect the term placenta from viral infection. Using immortalized cell lines and primary isolated placental cells, we found that cytotrophoblasts, the trophoblast stem cells and precursors to syncytiotrophoblasts, rather than syncytiotrophoblasts or Hofbauer cells, are most vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. To better understand potential immune mechanisms shielding placental cells from infection in vivo, we performed bulk and single-cell transcriptomics analyses and found that the maternal-fetal interface of SARS-CoV-2-infected women exhibited robust immune responses, including increased activation of natural killer (NK) and T cells, increased expression of interferon-related genes, as well as markers associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection in late pregnancy is associated with immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface even in the absence of detectable local viral invasion. Funding: NIH (T32GM007205, F30HD093350, K23MH118999, R01AI157488, U01DA040588) and Fast Grant funding support from Emergent Ventures at the Mercatus Center.
Renewable Energy Siting for the Critical Decade

The strong growth trajectory in renewable energy over the last 15 years has markedly changed the US energy sector. At the start of a new decade, it is timely and important to reassess the legal context for renewable energy development. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and United Nations have stressed that 2020-30 is the critical decade for climate change mitigation. To cut greenhouse gases from the energy sector, the current trajectory for renewables needs not just to continue, but to accelerate substantially. This challenge presents key questions for law and policy: Is the legal context that has supported renewable energy to date sufficient to support accelerated growth in the next decade? If not, what changes are needed? These are the questions explored by this symposium issue. This article considers these questions as they relate to one essential and fraught aspect of this landscape – law and policy for siting renewable energy facilities.
Streamwise inhomogeneity of spectra and vertical coherence of turbulent motions in a finite-size wind farm

In a finite size wind farm turbulence is streamwise inhomogeneous. This paper examines the evolution of large scale motions on the order of 10 turbine rotor diameters influenced by wake-mixing from turbine rows. Using wavelet-based methods, the analysis illustrates that streamwise and vertically coherent length scales grow significantly past the first row of turbines. The first observation is primarily due to turbulence from the superposition of turbine wakes while the latter one is associated with the development of a global energy transfer mechanism (``sweeps'') between the outer layer and the wind turbine region.
Behavioral and physiological responses in felids to exhibit construction.

Despite the growing body of literature examining the welfare of zoo-housed animals, little standardized work has been published on the effect of construction and environmental disruption on the physiology and behavior of affected animals. When Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), embarked on a renovation project for its Kovler Lion House, the opportunity was taken to perform a scientific study of behavioral and physiological markers in the resident felids to determine the effect of construction and environmental disruption. Fecal samples and behavioral observations were collected on four felid species (five individuals) before, during, and after the period of construction. As a group, the average z-score for fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentration increased during construction relative to baseline. Levels remained elevated after construction, but trended toward baseline. All individuals demonstrated a significant decrease in the frequency of pacing and time spent visible during construction. Overall activity levels also showed a significant decrease relative to baseline measures. As zoological institutions continue to recognize the importance of habitat design, construction and renovation become inevitable. It is important to be aware of the potential consequences this can have on animals in the vicinity and to work toward minimizing negative effects. One recommendation is the availability of ample retreat and hiding space for felids during disruption to their environment. Zoo Biol. 33:267–274, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lessons in Ethics, Character, and Leadership from Psalms

It is becoming quite obvious that there has been a serious erosion of moral values in this country which has affected the corporate, academic, and political worlds. Something has to be done or we will continue to face crisis after crisis, possibly even worse than the Great Recession of 2008. There is a growing belief that education – K-12 as well as higher education – has to focus on teaching students values, intellectual virtues, and character education. These values include integrity, conscientiousness, curiosity, determination, resilience, and self-confidence. The authors demonstrate how Psalms with its inspiring and rousing hymns can be used to teach important values to people. This paper examines several of the most powerful statements in Psalms and demonstrates how they provide guidance and inspiration for all, including and especially for those in positions of leadership.This paper is currently under review. For more information contact the authors.
Nonproducing State of Rous Sarcoma Cells: Its Contagiousness in Chicken Cell Cultures

Abstract Nonproducing Rous sarcoma cells of the chicken were capable of transmitting the Rous sarcoma virus genome to neighboring chick embryo fibroblasts. This transfer required close proximity of sarcoma and normal cells and may have been mediated by a subcellular infectious agent which was found to be released from nonproducing cells.
Köhler, Georges Jean Franz (1946–1995)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Kohler, Georges Jean Franz (producing hybridomas); synthesizing myeloma antibodies
The Role of Thalamic Damage in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract There is growing alarm in the United States about an epidemiologically large occurrence of mild traumatic brain injury with serious long lasting consequences. Although conventional imaging has been unable to identify damage capable of explaining its organic origin or discerning patients at risk of developing long-term or permanently disabling neurological impairment, most disease models assume that diffuse axonal injury in white matter must be present but is difficult to resolve. The few histopathological investigations conducted, however, show only limited evidence of such damage, which cannot account for the stereotypical globalized nature of symptoms generally reported in patients. This review examines recent proposals that in addition to white matter, the thalamus may be another important further site of injury. Although its possible role still remains largely under-investigated, evidence from experimental human and animal models, as well as simulational and analytical representations of mild...
Computer-aided design of special purpose systems (local radio telephone networks)

The authors describe a computer program that automates the design of radio telephone networks. The program selects the best locations for the base stations, specifies the design of the base and subscriber stations to minimize the total system cost, and merits the required performance standards. It incorporates complex optimization procedures to select the least costly solution for single- or multiple-base-station installations. The program is capable of working with very nonlinear cost function (discrete cost components), and accounts for propagation irregularities, variable site cost, and hardware implementation detail. The program utilizes one of the most detailed radio propagation models, the Longley-Rice model (which is applicable for a variety of terrain features and climates) for transmission low estimation. It accounts for external (both natural and man-made) and internal noise in the radio channel. User interaction routines make the program easy to use by national planners. >
Patterns and Variation in Benthic Biodiversity in a Large Marine Ecosystem.

While there is a persistent inverse relationship between latitude and species diversity across many taxa and ecosystems, deviations from this norm offer an opportunity to understand the conditions that contribute to large-scale diversity patterns. Marine systems, in particular, provide such an opportunity, as marine diversity does not always follow a strict latitudinal gradient, perhaps because several hypothesized drivers of the latitudinal diversity gradient are uncorrelated in marine systems. We used a large scale public monitoring dataset collected over an eight year period to examine benthic marine faunal biodiversity patterns for the continental shelf (55–183 m depth) and slope habitats (184–1280 m depth) off the US West Coast (47°20′N—32°40′N). We specifically asked whether marine biodiversity followed a strict latitudinal gradient, and if these latitudinal patterns varied across depth, in different benthic substrates, and over ecological time scales. Further, we subdivided our study area into three smaller regions to test whether coast-wide patterns of biodiversity held at regional scales, where local oceanographic processes tend to influence community structure and function. Overall, we found complex patterns of biodiversity on both the coast-wide and regional scales that differed by taxonomic group. Importantly, marine biodiversity was not always highest at low latitudes. We found that latitude, depth, substrate, and year were all important descriptors of fish and invertebrate diversity. Invertebrate richness and taxonomic diversity were highest at high latitudes and in deeper waters. Fish richness also increased with latitude, but exhibited a hump-shaped relationship with depth, increasing with depth up to the continental shelf break, ~200 m depth, and then decreasing in deeper waters. We found relationships between fish taxonomic and functional diversity and latitude, depth, substrate, and time at the regional scale, but not at the coast-wide scale, suggesting that coast-wide patterns can obscure important correlates at smaller scales. Our study provides insight into complex diversity patterns of the deep water soft substrate benthic ecosystems off the US West Coast.
Non-invasive visualization of the complete cardiac conduction system using magnetic resonance microscopy

Background The impulse-conducting system that coordinates the cardiac cycle requires a well-orchestrated interplay of its multiple heterogeneous components for synchronous and reliable contractions [1]. Thus, detailed insight into the anatomy of the conduction system would be of great significance to understand the cardiac performance arising from electro-mechanical activity [2,3]. To date, the techniques most commonly used to study the conduction system are invasive, and use intrinsically destructive procedures. MR imaging has previously used to visualize free-running Purkinje fibers [3,4], but not those in the myocardium, and thus only provide a partial account of the conduction system.
A hierarchical-multiobjective framework for risk management

A broad hierarchical-multiobjective framework is established and utilized to methodologically address the management of risk. United into the framework are the hierarchical character of decision-making, the multiple decision-makers at separate levels within the hierarchy, the multiobjective character of large-scale systems, the quantitative/empirical aspects, and the qualitative/normative/judgmental aspects. The methodological components essentially consist of hierarchical-multiobjective coordination, risk of extreme events, and impact analysis. Examples of applications of the framework are presented. It is concluded that complex and interrelated forces require an analysis of trade-offs between engineering analysis and societal preferences, as in the hierarchical-multiobjective framework, to successfully address inherent risk.
Daylighting in an atrium-type high performance house

Abstract Different lighting strategies for an atrium-type high performance house that was developed for the 2013 Solar Decathlon competition in Datong, China are discussed in this paper. Although daylighting may be abundant in an atrium, with large exposed window surfaces, such design is typically avoided in high-performance houses due to the poorer thermal performance of glazing compared to opaque building envelopes. However, advantages of the atrium design exist in different weather conditions and are investigated in this paper. Insights from a Solar Decathlon 2013 project with a central atrium and a high amount of glasses in the external envelope (80 square meters of glasses) are given. The house was designed considering weather of Datong and Worcester, Massachusetts (US). Simulation results obtained with Radiance and Daysim allow assessing different parameters such as the daylight autonomy index and the useful daylight index. The challenge of visual comfort for a house with such a great quantity of windows is realized considering different parameters related to the visual glare, including the instant and cumulative daylight glare probability indexes. These glare metrics are often inconsistent as the probability of glare was sometimes depending on the selected index. Different chances to have glare issues resulted using different indices. Finally, the influencing factors for blind adjustments in residential buildings are discussed, and according to these factors and to simulation results with several software, the design of the shading systems and their schedules are evaluated.
Using Inexpensive "Find and Circle" Word Search Software in the Study of Chemical Nomenclature

Inexpensive "word search" software that constructs a scrambled two-dimensional letter matrix from a list of words is used to construct puzzles that students may use as practice exerecises when lear...
Multiaxial fatigue: An overview and some approximation models for life estimation

A brief overview of some important issues in multiaxial fatigue and life estimation is presented. These include damage mechanisms and damage quantification parameters, material constitutive response and non-proportional hardening, cycle counting and damage accumulation in variable amplitude loading, and mixed-mode crack growth. It is shown that capturing the correct damage mechanism is essential to develop a proper damage quantification parameter for robust multiaxial fatigue life estimation. Additional cyclic hardening of some materials under non-proportional multiaxial loading and its dependence on the load path as well as material microstructure is also discussed. It is argued that critical plane damage models with both stress and strain terms are most appropriate since they can reflect the material constitutive response under non-proportional loading. Importance of a proper cycle counting method to identify cycles in a variable amplitude load history, and capability of the linear cumulative damage rule to sum damage from the counted cycles are also discussed. As mixed-mode crack growth can constitute a significant portion of the total fatigue life, analysis of crack growth rates and correlations under combined stresses is presented. Several models as well as some simple approximations in capturing the aforementioned effects in multiaxial fatigue life estimations are also described. The approximation models include an estimation model for obtaining material non-proportional cyclic hardening coefficient, and a simple multiaxial fatigue life estimation model for steels based on hardness as the only required material property.
Disrupting The Amazing Race: Education, Exploration, and Exploitation in Reality Television

This article draws on research in the fields of visual culture and critical media literacy to establish a rationale for utilizing popular culture in social studies classroom instruction. One reality television show, CBS's The Amazing Race, introduces viewers to diverse people and places. Although the decision to use this show to support social studies instruction may come from well thought-out pedagogical objectives, this medium could still project a message of “culture-gazing” or ethnocentric representations of the world. The author provides a textual analysis of two seasons of the show to demonstrate how teachers can help students identify and critique oppressive views of the world promoted through reality television. Practical suggestions are offered for reconstructing anti-ethnocentric views of the world after these images have been disrupted.
Interstitial migration of Ar in K halides and Kr in Rb halides by the method of anharmonic-lattice statics

An anharmonically corrected method of lattice statics is used to calculate the formation energies of Ar in K halides and Kr in Rb halides in the body-centered and face-centered interstitial positions. The deformation-dipole model is used for the Coulomb interactions in the host lattice, and the defect-host interactions are the same as used by Norgett and Lidiard. The interstitial migration energies, in electron volts, are 0.167, 0.224, and 0.296 for Ar in KCl, KBr, and KI, respectively, and 0.088, 0.170, and 0.255 for Kr in RbCl, RbBr, and RbI, respectively. These results are compared with those calculated by the lattice-statics method in the harmonic approximation, and those calculated with a direct-space semidiscrete method by Norgett and Lidiard. Anharmonic corrections are found to be extremely important in these systems.
First‐time mothers in home visitation services utilizing child development specialists

Des professionnels du developpement de l'enfant ont ete engages pour effectuer des services de visites a domicile a 156 meres et bebes, de la periode prenatale jusqu'au premier anniversaire des bebes. Comparees a un groupe de controle de meres (107), les meres ayant subi l'intervention ont utilise plus de resources communautaires, avaient des maisons moins dangereuses, avaient des attentes plus appropriees en matiere de developpement, avaient une meilleure comprehension des punitions non corporelles et faisaient etat de comportements plus tolerants et respectueux vis-a-vis de leurs enfants. Les visiteurs a domicile etaient bien eduques, avaient une experience prealable des visites a domicile et etaient supervises. La fidelite au programme et l'efficacite qu'on trouve a utiliser des specialistes du comportement de l'enfant comme visiteurs a domicile sont discutees a la lumiere des resultats positifs de l'experience.
Human plasma fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion to polystyrene

The purpose of this study was to further investigate the role of fibrinogen adsorbed from plasma in mediating platelet adhesion to polymeric biomaterials. Polystyrene was used as a model hydrophobic polymer; i.e., we expected that the role of fibrinogen in platelet adhesion to polystyrene would be representative of other hydrophobic polymers. Platelet adhesion was compared to both the amount and conformation of adsorbed fibrinogen. The strategy was to compare platelet adhesion to surfaces preadsorbed with normal, afibrinogenemic, and fibrinogen-replenished afibrinogenemic plasmas. Platelet adhesion was determined by the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) method, which was found to be closely correlated with adhesion of 111In-labeled platelets. Fibrinogen adsorption from afibrinogenemic plasma to polystyrene (Immulon I(R)) was low and <10 ng/cm2. Platelet adhesion was absent on surfaces preadsorbed with afibrinogenemic plasma when the residual fibrinogen was low enough (<60 microg/mL). Platelet adhesion was restored on polystyrene preadsorbed with fibrinogen-replenished afibrinogenemic plasma. Addition of even small, subnormal concentrations of fibrinogen to afibrinogenemic plasma greatly increased platelet adhesion. In addition, surface-bound fibrinogen's ability to mediate platelet adhesion was different, depending on the plasma concentration from which fibrinogen was adsorbed. These differences correlated with changes in the binding of a monoclonal antibody that binds to the Aalpha chain RGDS (572-575), suggesting alteration in the conformation or orientation of the adsorbed fibrinogen. Platelet adhesion to polystyrene preadsorbed with blood plasma thus appears to be a strongly bivariate function of adsorbed fibrinogen, responsive to both low amounts and altered states of the adsorbed molecule.
Laminar flame speeds and oxidation kinetics of tetrachloromethane

The laminar flame speeds of blends of tetrachloromethane (CCl 4 ) with methane in air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure were experimentally determined using the counterflow twin-flame technique, varying both the amount of CCl 4 in the fuel and the equivalence ratio of the unburned mixture. Flame speeds were measured for stoichiometric mixtures with CCl 4 -to-CH 4 ratios between 0 and 0.429 by volume and for equivalence ratio ranges of 0.7–1.3 and 0.7–1.2 for CCl 4 -to-CH 4 ratios of 0.053 and 0.200, respectively. Comparison between the present experimental results and the previous data of CH 3 Cl-, CH 2 Cl 2 -, and CHCl 3 -CH 4 -air flames demonstrates the dominant influence of the atomic Cl-to-H ratio on the propagation rate of laminar flames with chlorinated methane addition. A detailed kinetic model previously employed for CH 3 Cl, CH 2 Cl 2 , and CHCl 3 combustion was expanded to include additional pathways pertinent to tetrachloromethane combustion. Numerical simulation shows that this model predicts the laminar flame speeds reasonably well. Carbon flux and sensitivity analyses indicate that the oxidation kinetics of CH 4 flames doped with CCl 4 are essentially the same as those doped with other chloromethanes.
The lead content of various plant species as affected by cycle‐lite™ humus 9

Abstract Four rates of Cycle‐Lite™ Humus ranging from zero to 50% of the soil volume were incorporated into a Lakeland loamy sand and a Matapeake silt loam. Selected test species were seeded immediately after incorporation of the humus and after a six month incubation. The Pb content of the top growth of plants grown in soil modified with this product was not elevated even though the humus contained 300 ppm of lead.
Can Country-of-Origin Labeling Succeed as a Marketing Tool for Produce? Lessons from Three Case Studies

This paper draws on the theory of product differentiation in a trade context and uses three case studies to highlight the conditions necessary for a successful geographical-origin branding strategy for farm produce in the United States. In so doing, the U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) scheme as a branding strategy for produce is assessed. The paper argues that the use of geographic identifiers to achieve product differentiation is viable, but any claim that such differentiation will prove useful at the country level for farm produce seems likely to be misplaced. In order to raise prices, a key complement to branding is some restriction on the volume of product going out under the brand name. These restrictions may be accomplished by supply controls, quality controls, or entry barriers, but will not be available to all U.S. products currently hoping to gain from mandatory COOL. Le present article s'appuie sur la theorie de la differenciation des produits dans un contexte commercial et utilise trois etudes de cas pour faire ressortir les conditions necessaires pour reussir une strategie de la marque distinctive selon l'origine geographique des produits agricoles aux Etats-Unis. Nous avons examine le programme etats-unien d'etiquetage du pays d'origine (COOL) comme strategie de la marque distinctive. Le present article soutient que l'utilisation d'identificateurs geographiques pour differencier les produits est viable, mais toute allegation voulant que ce genre de differenciation se revele utile a l'echelle nationale pour les produits agricoles semble inappropriee. Pour hausser les prix, il faudrait, en plus d'utiliser la marque distinctive, imposer certaines restrictions quant au volume de produits emballes sous la marque du fabricant. Ces restrictions peuvent etre imposees par le controle des approvisionnements, le controle de la qualite ou la mise en place de barrieres a l'entree, mais elles ne pourront toucher tous les produits etats-uniens qui esperent actuellement tirer un gain du programme COOL obligatoire.
Trust, but verify: fraud in small businesses

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness about internal fraud in small businesses among small business owners, managers, and consultants. Design/methodology/approach – Recent statistics from international fraud surveys are presented, and the theory of why people commit fraud is described. The most common internal fraud schemes as identified in the international fraud surveys are explained, as well as some of the related red flags and preventative measures. Examples of actual internal frauds perpetrated in small businesses are discussed. Findings – This paper summarizes pertinent facts that repeatedly show small businesses are most vulnerable to fraud and suffer a disproportionate median loss when compared to larger businesses. External audits by Certified Public Accountants cannot be relied upon to detect fraud. Owners, managers, and advisors are strongly encouraged to have knowledge of how fraud can affect their organizations in order to prevent or detect fraud and avoid the devastating ...
Differential effects of morning and evening dosing of nisoldipine ER on circadian blood pressure and heart rate.

The time of administration of once-daily antihypertensive agents may have a significant impact on blood pressure control during awake and sleep periods. Using 24-h ambulatory monitoring, we compared the effects of morning and evening dosing of the long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, nisoldipine extended-release (ER), on circadian blood pressure (BP) and heart rate in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. After completing a 3-week placebo run-in period, 85 patients were randomized to morning versus evening nisoldipine ER treatment at a fixed 20-mg dose. Patients were treated for 4 weeks, followed by crossover to the alternate dosing regimen for 4 additional weeks. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory monitoring was performed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks after randomization. Awake and sleep times were determined by electronic activity recorders (Actigraphy). Similar least-squares (+/-SE) mean changes from baseline in 24-h BP (systolic BP/diastolic BP: -11.9/-7.4 +/- 0.6/0.5 v -11.6/-6.5 +/- 0.6/0.5 mm Hg) and heart rate (1.0/1.7 +/- 0.4/0.4 beats/min) occurred with morning and evening administration, respectively. A significantly greater effect on awake diastolic BP (systolic BP/diastolic BP: -12.6/-8.1 +/- 0.7/0.4 v -11.3/-6.4 +/- 0.7/0.4 mm Hg; P = .16/.01) was observed with morning dosing compared with evening dosing. In addition, small increases in sleep and early morning heart rate were seen with evening compared with morning administration of nisoldipine (sleep, 3.1 +/- 0.4 v 0.4 +/- 0.4 beats/min; P < .001; early morning, 3.5 +/- 0.7 v 0.5 +/- 0.7 beats/min; P = .002). These differential effects on awake BP and sleep heart rate were also observed in patients who had normal (dippers) and elevated (nondippers) BP values during sleep. Appropriate evaluation of the efficacy and safety of long-acting antihypertensive agents is essential when evening administration is being considered. In the present study, the timing of nisoldipine ER administration had no effect on mean changes in BP and heart rate over a 24-h period. However, nisoldipine ER had some differential effects during sleep and awake periods with morning relative to evening dosing.
Effects of Long-Term Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Properties

The use of wastewater for irrigation is increasingly being considered as a technical solution to minimize soil degradation and to restore nutrient contents of soils. This study describes changes in soil and plant nutrient contents after long-term irrigation with wastewater. Application of wastewater increased salinity and decreased pH. Several beneficial changes were observed including an increase in organic matter, N, concentrations of major cations and heavy metals of soils. Wastewater increased N, P, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo and Cd contents of cabbage (Brassica olerecea var. Capitate cv. Yalova-1) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants. In order to avoid undesirable side effects due to salinity and toxic concentrations of metals from the application of wastewater to soil, it is necessary to determine the effects of wastewater concentration in long-term periods.
The development of an oral prodrug, SR-2545, of the 2-nitroimidazole radiosensitizer SR-2508

SR-2508, a 2-nitroimidazole radiosensitizer, is expected to be clinically superior to desmethylmisonidazole or misonidazole because of its lower lipophilicity with subsequent lower drug levels in neural tissue and more rapid plasma elimination. The intravenous route of administration will be optimal but oral drugs may be necessary. Since decreased lipophilicity will decrease oral absorption we have synthesized, and tested in mice, SR-2545, an acetate ester prodrug of SR-2508. In the liver there is complete first pass metabolism to parent drug with no prodrug detectable in the blood. Compared to an equal dose of oral SR-2508, the prodrug yields a more rapid, reproducible, plasma peak with twice the bioavailability, peak plasma concentration and radiosensitization. If oral preparations of SR-2508 are to be used in the clinic the prodrug, SR-2545, is likely to be superior to oral SR-2508.