cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study of a molten carbonate fuel cell combined heat, hydrogen and power system: End-use application

To address the problem of fossil fuel usage and high greenhouse gas emissions at the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus, using of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources can lower energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Biogas, produced by anaerobic digestion of wastewater, organic waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste, and animal by-products is a potential source of renewable energy. In this work, we have discussed the design of CHHP system for the campus using local resources. An energy flow and resource availability study is performed to identify the type and source of feedstock required to continuously run the fuel cell system at peak capacity. Following the resource assessment study, the team selects FuelCell Energy DFC1500™ unit as a molten carbonate fuel cell. The CHHP system provides electricity to power the university campus, thermal energy for heating the anaerobic digester, and hydrogen for transportation, back-up power and other needs. In conclusion, the CHHP system will be able to reduce fossil fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions at the university campus.
Chemistry journal articles: An interdisciplinary approach to move analysis with pedagogical aims

Abstract This article highlights aspects of an interdisciplinary (chemistry–applied linguistics) English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course- and materials-development project. The project was aimed at raising genre awareness among chemistry students and faculty, in addition to improving students’ disciplinary reading and writing. As part of the project, full-length chemistry journal articles were analyzed. We describe select results of this analysis and the prominent role played by chemists in the process. Emphasis is placed on the organizational structure of chemistry journal articles, focusing on the Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion (A-IMRDC) sections. Two predominant organizational patterns emerged from our analyses, specifically A-IMR[DC] and A-IM[R(DC)], with brackets signifying sections merged under one major heading. Move-analysis findings are converted into easy-to-interpret instructional tools labeled “move structures akin to flow charts” for two target audiences (chemistry students and faculty). The rhetorical structure of the chemistry journal article is then compared to journal articles published in biochemistry, an overlapping discipline. The article concludes with pedagogical implications and suggestions for ESP professionals engaged in genre analysis.
Antibiofouling, sustained antibiotic release by Si nanowire templates.

Loading or filling nanostructures with antibiotics can be one of the relevant approaches for obtaining a controlled drug release rate. Vertically aligned silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays with 10−40 nm diameter wires having 1−3 μm in length obtained by the electroless etching (EE) technique are used in this study as novel nanostructures for mediating drug delivery. Here we report controlled antibiotic activity and sustained bioavailability from SiNW arrays and also show microstructural manipulations for a tunable release rate. As well, we have demonstrated biodegradability of SiNWs in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution. Strikingly suppressed cell and protein adhesion was observed on our SiNW surface, which indicates a reduced probability for biofouling and drug release impediments. Such antibiotic release from the nanowire-structured surface can provide more reliable antibiotic protection at a targeted implantation or biosensor site.
A molecular dynamics simulation study of relaxation processes in the dynamical fast component of miscible polymer blends

Molecular dynamics simulations of model miscible polymer blends consisting of 1,4-polybutadiene (PBD) (slow component) and PBD chains with reduced or eliminated dihedral barriers (fast component) have been performed in order to study the influence of blending on segmental relaxation processes in the fast component. We find that blending with a slow (high glass transition temperature, or Tg) component significantly increases the separation between the α- and β-relaxations of the fast (low Tg) component, which may be unresolvable or nearly unresolvable in the pure melt. The α-relaxation of the fast component is strongly influenced by blending, moving to longer relaxation times with increasing concentration of the slow component. In contrast, the relaxation time of the β-process of the fast component is only weakly influenced by blending. We speculate that this separation of relaxations processes in the fast component with blending can explain segmental relaxation behavior observed in dielectric and NMR rela...
A joint frequency and DOA estimation algorithm with diagonal load

We have developed a novel method for joint frequency and 2D angle estimation of incoming signals upon a circular array over a very wide frequency band (2–18 GHz)[1]. This paper presents the algorithm with diagonal load for robust performance with improved accuracy and resolution. A temporal domain ESPRIT frequency estimation algorithm was extended for azimuth and elevation angles estimation. These direction estimation results are automatically paired with frequency. The algorithm provides non-ambiguous, high resolution and accuracy in both frequency and direction of arrival estimation over the frequency range. The DOA estimation resolution was analyzed for two signals with different frequency. The estimation accuracy vs. signal to noise ratio (SNR) and array was studied. The frequency estimation accuracy was compared with the standard FFT method. The DOA estimation accuracy and resolution were compared with the original MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC)[2] DOA estimation results. The proposed technique can be used for wireless communication applications and wireless sensor networks and it can also be used for RF emitter detection and tracking. The system is consistent with the Air Force's layered sensing architecture concept.1 2
Communicative Grammar Teaching: A Problem for and a Message from International Teaching Assistants.

Grammar teaching within the context of the communicative approach is an issue for the entire foreign language teaching profession. International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) find this topic particularly vexing because of their normally strong grammatically oriented language learning backgrounds. Qualitative data obtained from Teaching Assistant (TA) surveys, interviews, journal entries, and videotape critiques were analyzed to discover the specific concerns of ITAs about grammar and how these concerns influence the identified ITA problems of language, cross-cultural communication, and pedagogy. A thematic summary of the data and pedagogical implications for TA and ITA training are presented and serve as a call to ITA trainers for clearer instructions about grammar teaching.
Stratigraphy of the Colorado Creek mammoth locality, Alaska

Abstract The Colorado Creek mammoth locality in west-central Alaska contains the remains of two mammoths that were scavenged by carnivores. Sedimentologic interpretations of the reworked eolian deposits surrounding the bones, supplemented by 10 radiocarbon dates, indicate that the lower and upper mammoths died and were buried within separate, but superimposed, thaw gullies about 23,000 and 16,000 yr ago, respectively. From our results, we propose a polycyclic taphonomic model for thaw gullies governed largely by slope aspect, rather than regional climate, and in which mixing between faunal horizons is more likely than not. Variations in the rate of silt influx and the position of the permafrost table provide a paleoclimatic proxy record that can be correlated to other records in eastern Beringia.
Predictors of successful palliation of compression fractures with vertebral augmentation: single-center experience of 525 cases.

Purpose To determine the effectiveness of vertebral augmentation in relieving pain, differences in pain relief outcomes based on procedure type were investigated. Variables that potentially influence outcomes were identified. Materials and Methods A database of 525 cases (740 levels) treated for compression fractures with vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, or S1-level sacroplasty was compiled. Average age was 75 years ± 12, and 72.4% of patients were female. Variables evaluated included age, sex, fracture etiology, procedure type, vertebral level treated, number of levels treated per procedure, and technical approach. Outcomes were assessed by a binary system of "responders" (ie, patients with improvement/resolution of pain) versus "non-responders" (ie, those with no change/worsening of pain) and with a four-level pain scale (1, pain resolution; 2, pain improvement; 3, no change; 4, worse pain) retrospectively applied from medical records. Univariate and multivariate analyses determined outcomes. Results Four-hundred and sixty-seven patients (89%) showed a response to treatment: 40% had pain resolution and 49% had pain improvement. Multivariate analysis showed that women and older patients had greater odds of being responders (odds ratios [ORs], 0.56 and 0.98, respectively; P = .016 and P = .048, respectively). Patients without cancer (OR, 1.60; P = .012) and women (OR, 2.05; P = .0002) were more likely to experience pain resolution. Increasing numbers of levels treated per case were associated with decreased odds of pain resolution (OR, 0.69; P = .0081). Sex and number of levels treated were independently predictive of pain scale outcomes (ORs, 2.0 and 0.71, respectively; P = .0003 and P = .015). Conclusions Vertebral augmentation procedures provide pain relief for a majority of patients regardless of underlying fracture etiology. There was no difference in pain outcomes among procedure types. Age and sex may be predictive of pain outcomes.
Side-looking image formation with a maneuvering vehicle-mounted antenna array

Researchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) designed and fabricated the Synchronous Impulse REconstruction (SIRE) radar system in an effort to address fundamental questions about the utilization of low frequency, ultrawideband (UWB) radar. The SIRE system includes a receive array comprising 16 receive channels, and it is capable of operating in either a forward-looking or a side-looking mode. When operated in side-looking mode, it is capable of producing high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The SAR imaging algorithms, however, initially operated under the assumption that the vehicle followed a nearly linear trajectory throughout the data collection. Under this assumption, the introduction of vehicle path nonlinearities distorted the processed SAR imagery. In an effort to mitigate these effects, we first incorporated segmentation routines to eliminate highly non-linear portions of the path. We then enhanced the image formation algorithm, enabling it to process data collected from a non-linear vehicle trajectory. We describe the incorporated segmentation approaches and compare the imagery created before and after their incorporation. Next, we describe the modified image formation algorithm and present examples of output imagery produced by it. Finally, we compare imagery produced by the initial segmentation algorithm to imagery produced by the modified image-formation algorithm, highlighting the effects of segmentation parameter variation on the final SAR image.
Increased 15-HPETE production decreases prostacyclin synthase activity during oxidant stress in aortic endothelial cells

Selenium (Se) is an integral component of glutathione peroxidase and is able to detoxify peroxides that can affect arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, thereby influencing eicosanoid biosynthesis. This study investigated the effects of oxidant stress, a consequence of Se deficiency, on eicosanoid formation and important key enzyme expression in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Bovine aortic endothelial cells cultured in Se-deficient media and stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha or H2O2 produced significantly less prostacyclin (PGI(2)) and more 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE), and thromboxane than Se-supplemented BAEC. Additionally, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting determined that the mRNA and protein levels of the eicosanoid forming enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), and PGI synthase were not significantly changed. The addition of 15-HPETE to Se-supplemented BAEC inhibited the production of PGI(2) suggesting that the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides during Se-deficiency may be the underlying factor in the altered eicosanoid production during Se deficiency. Furthermore, inhibition of COX and addition of PGH(2) to Se-deficient or Se-supplemented BAEC still resulted in lower PGI(2) formation by Se-deficient cells. Together, these results suggest that Se deficiency modifies eicosanoid production by affecting the activity of key enzymes, particularly PGI synthase, rather than their transcription or translation.
Image restoration for space invariant pointspread functions

We show how to apply a truncated eigensystem expansion in the solution of image restoration problems for the case of space invariant point spread functions. The solution is obtained directly from the system of linear equations, which result from the discretization of the Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. Fast Fourier transform techniques are used in obtaining this solution. A procedure is devised to estimate the rank of the coefficient matrix that gives a best or near best solution. It is demonstrated that this algorithm compares favorably with other existing methods. Numerical results using spatially separable point spread functions are given.
Comparison of Real and Idealized Cetacean Flippers

When a phenomenon in nature is mimicked for practical applications, it is often done so in an idealized fashion, such as representing the shape found in nature with convenient, piece-wise smooth mathematical functions. The aim of idealization is to capture the advantageous features of the natural phenomenon without having to exactly replicate it, and it is often assumed that the idealization process does in fact capture the relevant geometry. We explored the consequences of the idealization process by creating exact scale models of cetacean flippers using CT scans, creating corresponding idealized versions and then determining the hydrodynamic characteristics of the models via water tunnel testing. We found that the majority of the idealized models did not exhibit fluid dynamic properties that were drastically different from those of the real models, although multiple consequences resulting from the idealization process were evident. Drag performance was significantly improved by idealization. Overall, idealization is an excellent way to capture the relevant effects of a phenomenon found in nature, which spares the researcher from having to painstakingly create exact models, although we have found that there are situations where idealization may have unintended consequences such as one model that exhibited a decrease in lift performance.
STRIDE: A Highly Maneuverable and Non-Tethered Water Strider Robot

Recently, a few water strider robots that mimic the static and dynamic key characteristics of the insect water striders have been reported in the literature. These robots either lacked mobility or was tethered to an external source of power. Using the recent findings on the supporting legs of these robots creating repulsive surface tension based lift forces, a heavier yet highly maneuverable and non-tethered water strider robot, called STRIDE, is proposed in this paper. STRIDE uses two miniature DC motors and a lithium-polymer battery that are connected to the driving circuit on-board. Optimal leg shape is manufactured by bending 0.33 mm diameter stainless steel wires with a Teflonreg coating. This 6.13 gr non-tethered robot with twelve supporting legs demonstrated a linear motion of 8.7 cm/s and a rotational motion of 0.8 rad/s. STRIDE would have potential applications in continuous water quality monitoring on lakes, dams, and other water sources and in entertainment and education in the near future.
In Vivo Radiocarpal Kinematics and the Dart Thrower's Motion

Background: Wrist motion is dependent on the complex articulations of the scaphoid and lunate at the radiocarpal joint. However, much of what is known about the radiocarpal joint is limited to the anatomically defined motions of flexion, extension, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the three-dimensional in vivo kinematics of the scaphoid and lunate throughout the entire range of wrist motion, with special focus on the dart thrower's wrist motion, from radial extension to ulnar flexion. Methods: The three-dimensional kinematics of the capitate, scaphoid, and lunate were calculated from serial computed tomography scans of both wrists of fourteen healthy male subjects (average age, 25.6 years; range, twenty-two to thirty-four years) and fourteen healthy female subjects (average age, 23.6 years; range, twenty-one to twenty-eight years), which yielded data on a total of 504 distinct wrist positions. Results: The scaphoid and lunate primarily flexed or extended in all directions of wrist motion, and their rotation varied linearly with the direction of wrist motion (R2 = 0.90 and 0.82, respectively). Scaphoid and lunate motion was significantly less along the path of the dart thrower's motion than in any other direction of wrist motion (p < 0.01 for both carpal bones). The scaphoid and lunate translated radially (2 to 4 mm) when extended, but they did not translate appreciably when flexed. Conclusions: The dart thrower's path defined the transition between flexion and extension rotation of the scaphoid and lunate, and it identified wrist positions at which scaphoid and lunate motion approached zero. These findings indicate that this path of wrist motion confers a unique degree of radiocarpal stability and suggests that this direction, rather than the anatomical directions of wrist flexion-extension and radioulnar deviation, is the primary functional direction of the radiocarpal joint. Clinical Relevance: The goal of reconstructive surgery for the treatment of injuries involving the scaphoid, the lunate, or their interosseous ligaments is to maximize healing, stability, and postoperative range of motion. Our in vivo findings suggest that specific rehabilitation protocols employing the dart thrower's motion could be designed to limit radiocarpal motion while providing the benefits of maintaining wrist motion.
Ultrasonic nebulization-assisted layer-by-layer assembly for spray coating of multilayered, multicomponent, bioactive nanostructures

In this study, we describe a new technique for creating dense, stable, nanolayer coatings on solid substrates using ultrasonic nebulization. Nebulization-assisted layer-by-layer assembly (LbL) is a modification to the well-characterized LbL assembly method. The conventional method of producing electrostatically assembled multilayer films through sequential substrate dipping was compared to the nebulization method, and the resultant film characteristics were investigated. Varied coatings can be generated according to the alterations in deposition parameters, with the most influential being nebulizer distance and time. In addition to employment of polyelectrolytes (PEs), the nebulization method has been extrapolated to generate assemblies containing nanoparticles and a model drug, dexamethasone. It is shown that in comparison with conventional LbL, similar bilayers’ layering thicknesses can be achieved within a much smaller timeframe. Furthermore, PEs and more complex protein and nanoparticle assemblies can be incorporated to influence the surface topography and functionality. The potential to expeditiously assemble multicomponent films has far-reaching implications in many focus areas.
Swarm Based Fuzzy Clustering with Partition Validity

Swarm based approaches to clustering have been shown to be able to skip local extrema by doing a form of global search. We previously reported on the use of a swarm based approach using artificial ants to do fuzzy clustering by optimizing the fuzzy c-means (FCM) criterion. FCM requires that one choose the number of cluster centers (c). In the event that the user of the algorithm is unsure of the number of cluster centers, they can try several different choices and evaluate them with a cluster validity metric. In this work, we use a fuzzy cluster validity metric proposed by Xie and Beni as the criterion for evaluating a partition produced by swarm based clustering. Interestingly, when provided with more clusters than exist in the data our ant-based approach produces a partition with empty clusters and/or very lightly populated clusters. We used two data sets, Iris and an artificially generated data set, to show that optimizing a cluster validity metric with a swarm based approach can effectively provide an indication of how many clusters there are in the data
Passive immunization with antiserum to a nontoxic alpha-toxin mutant from Staphylococcus aureus is protective in a murine model

A nonhemolytic, nonlethal variant of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin constructed via oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis and containing a single amino acid substitution (H-35 to L) was used to immunize a rabbit. The resulting antiserum was cross-reactive with wild-type alpha-toxin and neutralized its hemolytic activity in vitro. Passive immunization of mice with rabbit antiserum conferred protection against lethal challenge with wild-type alpha-toxin and against acute lethal challenge with a high-alpha-toxin -producing S. aureus strain. H35L alpha-toxin may be useful as a protective immunogen in S. aureus vaccine studies.
Trade, urbanism, and agricultural expansion: Buddhist monastic institutions and the state in the Early Historic western Deccan

Abstract The western Deccan is well‐known for its spectacular rock‐cut Buddhist architecture and its extensive Buddhist monastic complexes. Many of these structures were cut during the Satavahana period, the first large‐scale state polity in western India. In order to understand how Buddhist monastic institutions were integrated into the social, political, and economic organization of this period, it is necessary to begin to consider how production and distribution of produce and craft goods were structured and how both Buddhist monastic institutions and political authorities were involved in these patterns. Specifically, I examine the hypothesized link between Buddhism, trade, and state formation and suggest that no simple causal relationship can be discerned.
Larval experience and latent effects—metamorphosis is not a new beginning

For many years ecologists have documented the remarkable within-species variation inherent in natural systems-for example, variability in juvenile growth rates, mortality rates, fecundities, time to reproductive maturity, the outcomes of competitive interactions, and tolerance to pollutants. Over the past 20 years, it has become increasingly apparent that at least some of this variation may reflect differences in embryonic or larval experiences. Such experiences may include delayed metamorphosis, short term starvation, short term salinity stress, or exposure to sublethal concentrations of pollutants or sublethal levels of ultra violet irradiation. Latent effects-effects that have their origins in early development but that are first exhibited in juveniles or adults-have now been documented among gastropods, bivalves, echinoderms, polychaetes, crustaceans, bryozoans, urochordates, and vertebrates. The extent to which latent effects alter ecological outcomes in natural populations in the field, and the mechanisms through which they are mediated are largely unexplored.
Combined Laser Doppler Velocimetry and Cross-Wire Anemometry Analysis for Supersonic Turbulent Flow

A synergistic laser Doppler velocimetry and multiple overheat cross-film anemometry analysis was developed to allow for direct measurements of the mean and turbulent flow properties in a supersonic turbulent flow. The present technique facilitated, for thin-layer, nonreacting flows, the measurement of the Reynolds (time) and Favre (mass-weighted time) averaged turbulent shear stress, heat flux, and apparent mass flux, without the usual ad hoc assumption of negligible static pressure fluctuations. The mean velocity, mass flux, and density were also acquired. The directly measured mean flow and turbulence results, in a Mach 2.8 wall boundary layer (Re θ = 1.12 x 10 4 ), were found to compare very well with numerical predictions based on the k-w two-equation (for the Favre approach) and the compressible apparent mass mixing length extension algebraic (for the Reynolds approach) turbulence models.
Semantics of a real-time language

The authors describe the semantics of the real-time language PSDL, which was designed for prototyping real-time systems. They focus on the aspects of the language relating to hard real-time constraints, scheduling, and functional behavior. They present the aspects of PSDL that simplify the description of real-time constraints and clarify the relationships between periodic and data-driven operators and the interactions between timing and control constraints in a language that combines these features. >
Design of a multifunctional anthropomorphic prosthetic hand with extrinsic actuation

This paper presents an anthropomorphic prototype hand prosthesis that is intended for use with a multiple channel myoelectric interface. The hand contains 16 joints, which are differentially driven by a set of five independent actuators. The hand prototype was designed with the minimum number of independent actuators required to provide a set of eight canonical hand postures. This paper describes the design of the prosthesis prototype, demonstrates the hand in the desired eight canonical postures, and experimentally characterizes the force and speed capability of the device. A video is included in the supplemental material that also illustrates the functionality and performance of the hand.
Preventing SQL injection attacks in stored procedures

An SQL injection attack targets interactive Web applications that employ database services. These applications accept user inputs and use them to form SQL statements at runtime. During an SQL injection attack, an attacker might provide malicious SQL query segments as user input which could result in a different database request. By using SQL injection attacks, an attacker could thus obtain and/or modify confidential/sensitive information. An attacker could even use a SQL injection vulnerability as a rudimentary IP/Port scanner of the internal corporate network. Several papers in literature have proposed ways to prevent SQL injection attacks in the application layer by examining dynamic SQL query semantics at runtime. However, very little emphasis is laid on securing stored procedures in the database layer which could also suffer from SQL injection attacks. Some papers in literature even refer to stored procedures as a remedy against SQL injection attacks. As stored procedures reside on the database front, the methods proposed by them cannot be applied to secure stored procedures themselves. In this paper, we propose a novel technique to defend against the attacks targeted at stored procedures. This technique combines static application code analysis with runtime validation to eliminate the occurrence of such attacks. In the static part, we design a stored procedure parser, and for any SQL statement which depends on user inputs, we use this parser to instrument the necessary statements in order to compare the original SQL statement structure to that including user inputs. The deployment of this technique can be automated and used on a need-only basis. We also provide a preliminary evaluation of the results of the technique proposed, as performed on several stored procedures in the SQL Server 2005 database.
Why Trust Matters: Declining Political Trust and the Demise of American Liberalism

Why Trust Matters: Declining Political Trust and the Demise of American Liberalism. By Marc J. Hetherington. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004. 208p. $35.00.Fifteen years after the signing of the Social Security Act, this already broad government program was expanded. With the amendments of 1950, an additional 10 million additional people were covered, including some of the poorest—domestic and agricultural workers. By using the payroll tax to support Social Security payments, citizens saw the program as one to which they contributed and from which they should receive. Even in very different times 55 years later, Americans continued to support this approach to public pensions. Despite comparatively low levels of trust in government and decades of antitax and antigovernment movement successes, President George W. Bush's efforts to privatize Social Security fell flat.
Bionomina , a forum for the discussion of nomenclatural and terminological issues in biology

Science is an encounter between reality and language. It is based on objects and facts, apprehended through observation and experimentation, and on descriptive, predictive and explanatory concepts, models and theories, expressed through language. Accurate, unambiguous and universal communication is crucial for science to operate and develop. As well stated by clear-sighted scientists and historians of science like Ernst Mayr, an important, although often underrated, ground of disagreement, or of false agreement, among scientists, is the terminology they use. Not rarely, different colleagues or schools of thought erroneously think they disagree (or agree), simply because they use different terms for the same concept, or the same term for different concepts. Therefore scientific terms, i.e., simple words, play a crucial role in the scientific activity. This is particularly true of biology, particularly of the fields that deal with the comparative and
Assessing Spirituality Through Personal Goals: Implications for Research on Religion and Subjective Well-Being

This article is concerned with the conceptual and methodological issues in the measurement of personal goals, with special emphasis on assessing spiritual and religious content in goals. The research literature on personal goals and subjective well-being is reviewed and synthesized. A comparison of several popular goal units in the research literature is included. Goal content and goal conflict have been reliably associated with well-being in past research. Spiritual or religious content in personal goals emerges as having an especially strong influence on well-being, and recent research on spiritual personal strivings and well-being is summarized. One of the primary purposes of the article is to consider conceptual and methodological challenges in the measurement of spirituality through personal goals. The advantages of a combined idiographic-nomothetic approach to measuring spirituality through purposive behavior are enumerated. A personal goals approach to studying spiritual motivation can make an important contribution to understanding how religiosity affects well-being, thus expanding religion's role in quality of life research.
Microbial treatment of soil to remove pentachlorophenol.

Abstract Direct inoculation of bacteria capable of degrading pentachlorophenol (PCP) into PCP-contaminated soil was investigated as a prophylactic measure to reduce the hazards of runoffs when spills occur or when wooden poles freshly treated with PCP-containing preservatives are located near streams and lakes. In laboratory tests at 30°C, the direct addition of 106 PCP-utilizing Arthrobacter cells per g of dry soil reduced the half-life of the pesticide from 2 weeks to <1 day. Soil inoculation also was shown to be an effective way to increase the PCP disappearance rate in a test conducted in an outdoor shed.
Stone Armor Damage Initiation and Progression Based on the Maximum Wave Momentum Flux

Abstract The armor layer on the sea side of a rubble structure must be designed to protect against incident waves during storms. Formulas for armor stability and damage progression have been developed and are widely used for practical applications. However, none of the formulas accounts for the water depth at the toe of the structure explicitly. An alternative approach based on the maximum wave momentum flux at the toe of the structure is proposed in this article. Equations for sizing stable armor stone for constant incident waves and water level are proposed and calibrated using available data. Equations are also developed for determining damage progression in a life-cycle analysis involving varying wave and water level characteristics. The developed equations are calibrated using the damage progression tests conducted previously by the authors and verified using an additional 10 tests conducted for this article.
Incorporating Culture Into Sustainable Development: A Cultural Sustainability Index Framework for Green Buildings

Integrating culture into sustainable development (SD) has been an ongoing research topic, but has not yet been of interest to the green building community. Existing green building programs, including standards, certification and auditing schemes, focus on technical assessment. By assuming that a building is a cultural resource, which reflects the past and shapes the future of a society, we added cultural sustainability for green buildings by recognizing the three roles of cultural SD proposed by COST Action Cultural Sustainability: (1) ‘culture in SD’ – a fourth dimension to be safeguarded; (2) ‘culture for SD’– a mediating and balancing factor for other dimensions; and (3) ‘culture as SD’ – an essential foundation to achieve SD. We proposed cultural sustainability criteria and indicators as a framework to be adopted by green building communities through an in-depth review of the relevant indicator systems, ecosystem services, sustainable regional/urban planning and existing green building programs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Time resolved fluorescence imaging in diffuse media

We discuss the application of time domain fluorescence techniques to the recovery of targets embedded in several cm thick biological tissue. Considering the general time domain problem first, a singular value analysis is used to study the optimal use of multiple frequency components extracted from time domain data. Furthermore, a computationally efficient algorithm is presented to tomographically reconstruct fluorophore locations using their decay amplitudes and validated using phantom experiments. The reconstruction algorithm presented here has wide applicability for non-invasive, diagnostic fluorescence imaging in small animals and other biological systems, given that fluorescence lifetime is a sensitive indicator of local tissue environment and elementary interactions at the molecular level.
Motion of a sphere in the presence of a plane interface.Part 2. An exact solution in bipolar co-ordinates

A general solution for Stokes’ equation in bipolar co-ordinates is derived, and then applied to the arbitrary motion of a sphere in the presence of a plane fluid/fluid interface. The drag force and hydrodynamic torque on the sphere are then calculated for four specific motions of the sphere; namely, translation perpendicular and parallel to the interface and rotation about an axis which is perpendicular and parallel, respectively, to the interface. The most significant result of the present work is the comparison between these numerically exact solutions and the approximate solutions from part 1. The latter can be generalized to a variety of particle shapes, and it is thus important to assess their accuracy for this case of spherical particles where an exact solution can be obtained. In addition to comparisons with the approximate solutions, we also examine the predicted changes in the velocity, pressure and vorticity fields due to the presence of the plane interface. One particularly interesting feature of the solutions is the fact that the direction of rotation of a freely suspended sphere moving parallel to the interface can either be the same as for a sphere rolling along the interface (as might be intuitively expected), or opposite depending upon the location of the sphere centre and the ratio of viscosities for the two fluids.
alpha-helix formation: discontinuous molecular dynamics on an intermediate-resolution protein model.

An intermediate-resolution model of small, homogeneous peptides is introduced, and discontinuous molecular dynamics simulation is applied to study secondary structure formation. Physically, each model residue consists of a detailed three-bead backbone and a simplified single-bead side-chain. Excluded volume and hydrogen bond interactions are constructed with discontinuous (i.e., hard-sphere and square-well) potentials. Simulation results show that the backbone motion of the model is limited to realistic regions of Φ–Ψ conformational space. Model polyalanine chains undergo a locally cooperative transition to form α-helices that are stabilized by backbone hydrogen bonding, while model polyglycine chains tend to adopt nonhelical structures. When side-chain size is increased beyond a critical diameter, steric interactions prevent formation of long α-helices. These trends in helicity as a function of residue type have been well documented by experimental, theoretical, and simulation studies and demonstrate the ability of the intermediate-resolution model developed in this work to accurately mimic realistic peptide behavior. The efficient algorithm used permits observation of the complete helix–coil transition within 15 min on a single-processor workstation, suggesting that simulations of very long times are possible with this model. Proteins 2001;44:344–360. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Does this patient really want treatment? Factors associated with baseline and evolving readiness for change among hospitalized substance using adults interested in treatment

Little is known about motivation for treatment and readiness for change during an acute medical event. We present data from a cohort of 353 actively substance abusing adults assessed at baseline and every three days during their hospital admission for readiness to change substance use behaviors (URICA), self-reported motivations for substance abuse treatment, and pain and withdrawal symptoms. Factors independently associated with being in a higher (i.e., contemplation or action) stage of change included female sex (AOR=2.33; 95% CI: 1.42, 3.81), being on probation or parole (AOR=2.55; 95% CI: 1.32, 4.93), bipolar disorder (AOR 2.60; 95% CI: 1.20, 5.63), believing they would get sick again if drug use continued (AOR=2.24; 95% CI: 1.36, 3.70), being "tired of using" (AOR=2.91; 95% CI: 1.21, 6.96) and family concerns (AOR=1.78; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.96). During their hospitalization 43.6% increased from precontemplation or contemplation to a higher stage or remained in the action stage. Believing one would get sick again if substance use continued (AOR=2.42; 95% CI: 1.07, 5.48), physical health concerns (AOR=5.28; 95% CI: 1.36, 20.44) and citing "tired of using" as a primary motivator (AOR=2.88; 95% CI: 1.10, 7.54) were independently associated with increased stage of change.
Smooth curves linked to thick curves

In this paper we construct smooth irreducible space curves which link geometrically by surfaces of minimal degree containing to curves of generic embedding dimension three. This produces interesting behavior with respect to both and . The curves link to smooth connected curves by surfaces of low degree but cannot link to smooth connected curves by surfaces of high degree. The curves give counterexamples to a conjecture of Martin-Deschamps and Perrin.
Isolated vocal tremor as a focal phenotype of essential tremor: a retrospective case review.

Essential tremor (ET) is a common condition associated with significant physical and psychosocial disability. “Classic” ET is a clinical syndrome of action tremor in the upper limbs and less commonly the head, jaw, voice, trunk, or lower limbs. Current diagnostic criteria for ET exclude isolated vocal tremor (IVT). Failure to recognize IVT as a form of ET may contribute to misdiagnosis and missed opportunities for treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of cases referred for voice disturbance. Patients with a primary diagnosis of vocal tremor were included while those with a diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia where excluded. 19 cases of vocal tremor were identified, of which 17 patients (89%) were female. The average age of vocal symptom onset was 64 (SD 8.0) and patients had been symptomatic an average of 6 years (SD 4) at their initial visit. 8 patients had IVT while 11 also had evidence of subtle head or limb tremor. 8 patients (42%) had a family history of ET, with vocal tremor specifically identified in 5 of those cases (26%). 11 patients (58%) noted transient tremor improvement after alcohol consumption. Primidone and propranolol were the most common medications prescribed to these patients prior to consultation. 7 patients were given a trial of 1 gm of sodium oxybate in the office as part of a clinical trial, with at least mild improvement in vocal tremor noted by qualitative assessment. ET may present as vocal tremor with little or no associated limb tremor. It may be a more common manifestation of ET in women. A family history of tremor and improvement in tremor after consuming alcohol can often be elicited on history. We propose that IVT may be part of the spectrum of ET.
A New Arrangement for the Ortho-Para Conversion of Liquid Hydrogen in the Large CEL-NBS Liquefier

The tremendous increase in efficiency of the iron hydroxide catalyst described in the preceding paper (A-3) made it extremely attractive for use in the large CEL-NBS hydrogen liquefier s. The 30% chromic oxide gel used for catalyzing the ortho-para conversion of hydrogen in the liquefier s has proven reasonably satisfactory except that to obtain 95% para liquid at full plant capacity 50 liters or more of the catalyst is required. This amount fills a considerable portion of the liquid reservoir and has large heat capacity which appreciably prolongs the time required to cool the liqurfier on start-up. The liter or so of the new catalyst estimated for accomplishing the same degree of conversion would have a negligible heat capacity.
Antipredator devices in larvae of the Chrysomelidae: a unified synthesis for defensive eclecticism

In terms of the number of species, beetles have emerged as the arthropodous order par excellence. In particular, the family Chrysomelidae, along with the curculionids, has been recognized as the most abundant of the beetle families. Conservatively speaking, it has been estimated that there are 50,000–70,000 species of flea beetles (Arnett, 1968; Jolivet, 1988). The evolutionary success of the Chrysomelidae notwithstanding, it seems appropriate to ask what are the factors associated with the coleopterous para-mountcy of the species in this family. In the following brief analysis, an effort has been made to explore the dominance of the Chrysomelidae in terms of the significance of larval defenses, a property that clearly determines the critical ability of these insects to mature and reproduce. Hopefully, the extraordinary defensive capabilities of flea beetle larvae will become manifest as their versatile abilities to blunt predatory confrontations are explored.
Inhibition and inactivation of Salmonella typhimurium biofilms from polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces by essential oils and phenolic constituent carvacrol

Persistence of Salmonella biofilms within food processing environments is an important source of Salmonella contamination in the food chain. In this study, essential oils of thyme and oregano and their antimicrobial phenolic constituent carvacrol were evaluated for their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and inactivate preformed Salmonella biofilms. A crystal violet staining assay and CFU measurements were utilized to quantify biofilm cell mass, with evaluating factors such as strain variation, essential oil type, their concentrations, exposure time, as well as biofilm formation surface. Of the three Salmonella strains, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 23564 and Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 19585 produced stronger biofilms than Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028. Biofilm formation by different Salmonella strains was 1.5- to 2-fold higher at 22°C than at 30 or 37°C. The presence of nonbiocidal concentrations of thyme oil, oregano oil, and phenolic carvacrol at 0.006 to 0.012% suppressed Salmonella spp. biofilm formation 2- to 4-fold, but could not completely eliminate biofilm formation. There was high correlation in terms of biofilm inactivation, as determined by the crystal violet-stained optical density (at a 562-nm wavelength) readings and the viable CFU counts. Reduction of biofilm cell mass was dependent on antimicrobial concentration. A minimum concentration of 0.05 to 0.1% of these antimicrobial agents was needed to reduce a 7-log CFU biofilm mass to a nondetectable level on both polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces within 1 h of exposure time.
High-Accuracy Simulations of Robust LCO Control Using Synthetic Jet Actuators

In the follow-up study to Ref. [1], we investigate a benchmark case of a robust nonlinear control of gustinduced limit-cycle oscillations (LCO) of an elastically-mounted transitional airfoil using synthetic-jet actuators (SJA) embedded in the airfoil design of a small-size unmanned air vehicle (UAV). The robust controller is particularly advantageous for high levels of uncertainty and nonlinearity present both in the UAV unsteady flight-path environment and the actuator’s response. In the adopted numerical procedure, the actuator is modeled through imposing a fluctuating-velocity boundary condition directly on the airfoil surface for conducting high-accuracy viscous analysis of SJA-based airfoil LCO control governed by the developed robust regulation law. The numerical studies conducted for selected SJA excitation parameters examine the thresholds of the actuator’s control authority to produce the desirable impact.
First Demonstration of Thermally-Poled Electro-Optically Tunable Fiber Bragg Gratings

There is a growing need for all-fiber active devices for WDM and OTDM applications. For example, mode-locked all-fiber laser sources whose bandwidths are centered at specific WDM channel wavelengths in the 1.55 µm ITU grid are highly desirable for hybrid WDM/OTDM systems [1].
Single-chip, receiver/clock recovery circuit at 375 Mbit/s

In computer applications of fiber optics the key requirements are data rate, packaging density, and low cost; transmission distance is of relatively low importance.1 Integration of the link electronic functions onto easily manufactured 1C chips is an important step toward these goals. We describe an optical receiver and phaselock loop clock recovery circuit implemented at 375 Mbit/s on a single chip representing a fourfold improvement in data rate over previous work2 (using the same process technology). The design techniques necessary to minimize injection locking of the oscillators at high speed are critical and described herein.