cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mn oxide formation by phototrophs: Spatial and temporal patterns, with evidence of an enzymatic superoxide-mediated pathway

Manganese (Mn) oxide minerals influence the availability of organic carbon, nutrients and metals in the environment. Oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(III/IV) oxides is largely promoted by the direct and indirect activity of microorganisms. Studies of biogenic Mn(II) oxidation have focused on bacteria and fungi, with phototrophic organisms (phototrophs) being generally overlooked. Here, we isolated phototrophs from Mn removal beds in Pennsylvania, USA, including fourteen Chlorophyta (green algae), three Bacillariophyta (diatoms) and one cyanobacterium, all of which consistently formed Mn(III/IV) oxides. Isolates produced cell-specific oxides (coating some cells but not others), diffuse biofilm oxides, and internal diatom-specific Mn-rich nodules. Phototrophic Mn(II) oxidation had been previously attributed to abiotic oxidation mediated by photosynthesis-driven pH increases, but we found a decoupling of Mn oxide formation and pH alteration in several cases. Furthermore, cell-free filtrates of some isolates produced Mn oxides at specific time points, but this activity was not induced by Mn(II). Manganese oxide formation in cell-free filtrates occurred via reaction with the oxygen radical superoxide produced by soluble extracellular proteins. Given the known widespread ability of phototrophs to produce superoxide, the contribution of phototrophs to Mn(II) oxidation in the environment may be greater and more nuanced than previously thought.
Plasma cfDNA in Glioblastoma-Response.

We appreciate the interest in our study from Takayasu and colleagues. They raise important issues which were largely addressed in our article but deserve further discussion. Takayasu and colleagues question whether variants detected in plasma in our study reflect tumor somatic mutations. We explain
Rapid multicontrast brain imaging on a 0.35T MR-linac.

Purpose Magnetic resonance-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) has shown great promise for localization and real-time tumor monitoring. However, to date, quantitative imaging has been limited for low field MRgRT. This work benchmarks quantitative T1, R2*, and Proton Density (PD)mapping in a phantom on a 0.35 T MR-linac and implements a novel acquisition method, STrategically Acquired Gradient Echo (STAGE). To further validate STAGE in a clinical setting, a pilot study was undertaken in a cohort of brain tumor patients to elucidate opportunities for longitudinal functional imaging with an MR-linac in the brain. Methods STAGE (two triple-echo gradient echo (GRE) acquisitions) was optimized for a 0.35T low-field MR-linac. Simulations were performed to choose two flip angles to optimize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and T1-mapping precision. Tradeoffs between SNR, scan time, and spatial resolution for whole-brain coverage were evaluated in healthy volunteers. Data were inputted into a STAGE processing pipeline to yield four qualitative images (T1-weighted, enhanced T1-weighted, proton-density (PD) weighted, and simulated FLuid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (sFLAIR)), and three quantitative datasets (T1, PD, and R2*). A benchmarking ISMRM/NIST phantom consisting of vials with variable NiCl2 and MnCl2 concentrations was scanned using variable flip angles (VFA) (2-60 degrees) and inversion recovery (IR) methods at 0.35 T. STAGE and VFA T1 values of vials were compared to IR T1 values. As measures of agreement with reference values and repeatability, relative error (RE) and coefficient of variability (CV) were calculated, respectively, for quantitative MR values within the phantom vials (spheres). To demonstrate feasibility, longitudinal STAGE data (pretreatment, weekly, and ~ 2 months post-treatment) were acquired in an IRB-approved pilot study of brain tumor cases via the generation of temporal and differential quantitative MRI maps. Results In the phantom, RE of measured VFA T1 and STAGE relative to IR reference values were 7.0 ± 2.5% and 9.5 ± 2.2% respectively. RE for the PD vials was 8.1 ± 6.8% and CV for phantom R2* measurements was 10.1 ± 9.9%. Simulations and volunteer experiments yielded final STAGE parameters of FA = 50°/10°, 1 × 1 × 3 mm3 resolution, TR = 40 ms, TE = 5/20/34 ms in 10 min (64 slices). In the pilot study of brain tumor patients, differential maps for R2* and T1 maps were sensitive to local tumor changes and appeared similar to 3 T follow-up MRI datasets. Conclusion Quantitative T1, R2*, and PD mapping are promising at 0.35 T agreeing well with reference data. STAGE phantom data offer quantitative representations comparable to traditional methods in a fraction of the acquisition time. Initial feasibility of implementing STAGE at 0.35 T in a patient brain tumor cohort suggests that detectable changes can be observed over time. With confirmation in a larger cohort, results may be implemented to identify areas of recurrence and facilitate adaptive radiation therapy.
Empirical likelihood inference for generalized additive partially linear models

Generalized additive partially linear models enjoy the simplicity of GLMs and the flexibility of GAMs because they combine both parametric and nonparametric components. Based on spline-backfitted kernel estimator, we propose empirical likelihood (EL)-based pointwise confidence intervals and simultaneous confidence bands (SCBs) for the nonparametric component functions to make statistical inference. Simulation study strongly supports the asymptotic theory and shows that EL-based SCBs are much easier for implementation and have better performance than Wald-type SCBs. We apply the proposed method to a university retention study and provide SCBs for the effect of the students information.
Reduced mixture model and elastic response of chemically swollen solids: Application to Si oxidation and lithiation

Abstract This paper presents a mixture model for coupled chemo-mechanical response of the general class of fluid-solid systems undergoing chemical reaction and large deformations. It further investigates our earlier works on the mathematical modeling of chemo-mechanical coupling and material evolution across advancing fronts of reactive fluids. A detailed analysis of the stress response of the chemically evolving solid is carried out, taking into account the changes in the reference unstressed configurations of the unreacted and reacted solid. This yields a systematic way to determine the material parameters required for the material constitutive models. The formulation for the fluid constituent is simplified for the case of slow diffusion, which yields a reduced system of governing equations wherein coercivity of the continuum system is inherited by the discrete system. The resulting nonlinear model lends itself to consistent linearization and is implemented in a finite element method. The nonlinear system of coupled equations is solved monolithically using the Newton-Raphson algorithm and quadratic convergence is attained. The method is applied to investigate the bending-dominated response of a silicon wafer during thermal oxidation, and to the problem of cross-section evolution during lithiation of a silicon nanowire.
An evaluation of social media utilization by general surgery programs in the COVID-19 era.

Abstract Background Our study investigates how general surgery residency programs utilized social media to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19. Methods 319 participating general surgery residency programs provided by the Electronic Residency Application Service were analyzed in this study. Associated Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts were assessed to find virtual open houses and externships. Results Of the 319 program, 188 (59%) were found to have a social media presence. A total of 348 social media accounts were found, as some of the programs had separate residency and department accounts. Of all the social media accounts, 112 (32%) of the accounts were created after March 1, 2020. Virtual open houses opportunities were found to be advertised across all platforms. Conclusion Many general surgery programs responded to the physical limitations of COVID-19 pandemic by increasingly utilizing social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual opportunities should be considered as a novel approach for future outreach and recruitment.
Thermally fully developed CNTs suspended nano fluid flow through annular sector duct

Here we simulate hydrodynamically and thermally fully developed carbon nano tubes, (CNTs) suspended nano fluid flow through annular sector duct. Hydrodynamic results are found by using no slip boun...
Intravenous Fluid Bag as a Substitute for Gel Standoff Pad in Musculoskeletal Point-of-care Ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a tool undergoing expanding use in military medicine, including routine inpatient, outpatient, and operational environments. Specific musculoskeletal POCUS examinations require additional equipment in the form of a standoff assist device to maximize image acquisition. These devices may not be readily available to POCUS users in more austere or resource-constrained environments. We devised a study to determine if intravenous fluid bags of various volumes could be substituted for standard standoff devices in musculoskeletal POCUS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sequential images of a soft tissue foreign body model, an interphalangeal joint, and a chest wall were taken using a gel standoff pad or water bath and compared to images acquired using three different sizes of intravenous fluid bags after removing excess air from the bags. Images were de-identified and scored for quality using a visual analog scale. We used a two-factor analysis of variance without replication to analyze the differences in image quality between standoff devices, with a P-value less than.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS We performed 13 POCUS studies and had a group of eight POCUS-trained physicians and physician assistants score these studies, resulting in 104 total quality scores. There was no significant difference in image quality between standoff devices for chest (P-value.280) and hand (P-value 0.947) images. We found a significant difference in image quality between standoff devices for the soft tissue foreign body model (P-value 0.039), favoring larger intravenous fluid bag standoff over standard devices. CONCLUSIONS In the absence of a standard commercial gel standoff device or water bath, intravenous fluid bags of 50, 100, and 250 mL can facilitate quality image acquisition for musculoskeletal POCUS.
Hollow Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilevers with Nanoscale Wall Thicknesses

In atomic force microscopy, the cantilever probe is a critical component whose properties determine the resolution and speed at which images with nanoscale resolution can be obtained. Traditional cantilevers, which have moderate resonant frequencies and high quality factors, have relatively long response times and low bandwidths. In addition, cantilevers can be easily damaged by excessive deformation, and tips can be damaged by wear, requiring them to be replaced frequently. To address these issues, new cantilever probes that have hollow cross-sections and walls of nanoscale thicknesses made of alumina deposited by atomic layer deposition are introduced. It is demonstrated that the probes exhibit spring constants up to ≈100 times lower and bandwidths up to ≈50 times higher in air than their typical solid counterparts, allowing them to react to topography changes more quickly. Moreover, it is shown that the enhanced robustness of the hollow cantilevers enables them to withstand large bending displacements more readily and to be more resistant to tip wear.
Monolayer properties of fatty acids: III. Thermodynamics of mixing

Abstract The thermodynamic properties of mixed fatty acids have been studied in the region of the surface vapor pressure. Using myristic acid as a common component various saturated and unsaturated fatty acid mixtures have been compared with regard to their tendency to be miscible or immiscible. Deviations from expected ideal behavior have allowed estimation of activity coefficients. Measurement of surface heats of vaporization has led to the determination of solubility parameters for each fatty acid. Applying regular solution theory or using activity coefficients allows independent estimation of ΔH i , the partial molar enthalpy of mixing, and the two approaches are in good agreement. Therefore, it is possible to predict mixing tendencies for any combination of fatty acids used in this study.
Safety Testing of Drug Metabolites: A Practical Approach for the Implementation of the MIST Guidance in PKDM

The FDA Safety Testing of Drug Metabolites Guidance and the ICH Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH M3) guidance defined threshholds for metabolite exposure in humans and preclinical species, which (ICH M3) would indicate that preclinical species were exposed adequately to quantitatively significant human metabolites. Proactive, data-driven, best practices were developed by consensus with key development partners. Nontraditional metabolism approaches such as nonradiometric high resolution-mass spectrometry (HR-MS) profiling of plasma metabolites across species were developed to enable timely drug development decision making. Keywords: high resolution mass spectrometry; accelerator mass spectrometry; metabolism; disproportionate metabolite; drug metabolism; drug-related materials; FDA guidance; ICH guidance; circulating/plasma profile; mass defect filter; metabolites in safety testing; safety testing of drug metabolites
Intention to smoke tobacco using a waterpipe among students in a southeastern U.S. College.

Objective: Guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action, this study examined the association of behavioral beliefs, attitudes, normative beliefs, and subjective norms with waterpipe tobacco smoking intention in college students. Design and Sample: A cross-sectional design was used. A Web-based survey was sent to a random sample of 1,000 undergraduate students from a public institution in the southeast to recruit participants. Measures: The Theory of Reasoned Action Waterpipe Questionnaire, a modified version of the Fishbein-Ajzen-Hanson Questionnaire, was used to capture modal constructs of the Theory of Reasoned Action related to waterpipe use. Cronbach's α coefficients for the scales of the Theory of Reasoned Action Waterpipe Questionnaire ranged from .76 to .95. Results: Of the sample (n=223), 13.5% currently smoked a waterpipe and 61% had ever done so. Using multiple regression, attitudes, behavioral beliefs, and subjective norms were associated with intention to smoke a waterpipe in the next 3 months and collectively explained 35% of the variance in intention. The full model, which included all the constructs of the Theory of Reasoned Action, demographic variables, and tobacco use variables, explained 83% of the variance in intention to smoke a waterpipe in the next 3 months. Conclusions: This study provides valuable information that may be used to target students at risk for waterpipe smoking and serves as a starting point in developing theoretically driven interventions to prevent waterpipe smoking.
Human Rights Education: The Third Leg of Post-Conflict/Transitional Justice

Emerging out of the same foment of war and violence that led to the recognition of international human rights, post-conflict or transitional justice represents one of the most important political developments in efforts to advance human civilization to arise during the course of the twentieth century. As more and more countries undergo the trauma of civil war or revolutions against repressive regimes, they and the international community must confront the problems of transforming these situations of violent conflict into healthy, functional democratic states. The guiding principle behind post-conflict or transitional justice is that complying with the demands of justice is a necessary prerequisite to peace and stability. The two terms, post-conflict justice and transitional justice, while often used interchangeably to cover the same basic concerns with justice, reflect developmental changes within the field and slightly varying perspectives on its application. The former, growing out of the Nuremberg trials (though having roots as early as the Treaty of Versaille), initially focused on retributive justice through judicial mechanisms as a means of punishment and prevention arising out of concluded conflicts. Transitional justice emerged in the 1980s in situations where the conflict had not yet been resolved. Instead of focusing upon individual perpetrators, it shifted attention to broader social issues relating to the need for reconciliation and social reconstruction. It supported the development of truth commissions and victim reparations, issues of restorative justice. Along with the possible inclusion of trials, transitional justice embodies those practices that take place after or facilitate the transition from one political regime to another. Contemporary approaches to transitional justice increasingly view the application of judicial mechanisms, truth commissions, and victims' compensation as elements within the total arsenal of transitional justice, each to be applied as appropriate to the specific situation arising in the country in question. Thus, while all three approaches may be appropriate, one or the other may be accorded primary attention, while the others play roles of lesser public import. These approaches, however, fail to appreciate that, even according to their own justifications for action, they remain inadequate to the task assigned. They are necessary but incomplete. In order to achieve the effects desired, transition from a dysfunctional society to a healthy democracy, they must be combined with an effective program of human rights education. This applies whether one looks at the issue through the lens of retributive justice (identified principally with post-conflict judicial mechanism approaches) or restorative justice (associated with transitional justice mechanisms).
Growth Rate and Salinity Profile of First-Year Sea Ice in the High Arctic

This paper describes the growth of sea ice and the salinity profiles observed in Eclipse Sound near Pond Inlet, Baffin Island, Canada, during the winter of 1977–78. A numerical method of calculation has been developed to incorporate the variations in snow conditions and physical properties of ice and snow during the growth season. It is shown that the growth rate can be predicted reasonably well. It is also shown that the vertical salinity profile in the ice towards the end of the season, provides a record of previous climatological conditions. A dependence has been shown between the predicted growth rate and the measured salinity.
An algorithm for determining pattern connectivity and cluster compactness

A cluster-seeking algorithm incorporating graph-theoretical techniques is proposed. First, a totally connected weighted graph representing the set of patterns under consideration is formed. Second, those edges with weight values greater than a prespecified threshold T are removed from the graph. Next, the disjoint subgraphs corresponding to clusters are identified. Finally, the connectivity strength (or weakness) of each pattern is determined for detecting further separability of clusters. It is concluded that the proposed algorithm can be used in a computer-vision-related application where the objects of a scene are represented by clusters. The patterns can be characterized by the horizontal and vertical position of pixels and the corresponding depth (distance from camera). After applying the algorithm, the clusters are identified as the different objects in the scene. >
Narrative, Experience and Class: Nineteenth‐century Social History in Light of the Linguistic Turn

Beginning in the mid-1980s, social historians found their approach and assumptions under attack from scholars interested in cultural theory. Those taking the ‘linguistic turn’ rejected social history’s materialist paradigm, arguing for the primacy of language in the generation of identity and consciousness. By the mid-1990s, this challenge spawned fierce polemics among scholars debating the validity of concepts such as experience and class. In the intervening decade and a half, though, the heat has dissipated and scholars can calmly assess the impact of the critique. Though they disagreed fiercely at the time, many participants in these debates operated along a continuum that allows for the continued relevance of social history and the implementation of the lessons of the linguistic turn. By integrating social history’s concerns and insights drawn from the application of cultural theory, promising new approaches transcend the divisions of the 1990s.
The promise of gene signatures in cancer diagnosis and prognosis

Gene-expression profiling is a relatively new technology that has promise for developing mathematical models that might be useful in predicting diagnoses and prognoses for a number of different cancer types. While the promise of this approach has not yet been realized, there is accumulating evidence that this approach is feasible. Extensive validation of all molecular classifiers with large independent test sets will be necessary prior to clinical application. Keywords: microarray; prognosis; diagnosis; gene profiling; gene signature
Reliability assessment of the rotation algorithm for earthquake damage estimation

A rotation algorithm was developed that computes the slope of permanently deformed columns subjected to earthquake ground motion using micro-electro-mechanical system accelerometers. Previous studies by the authors have shown that the algorithm can provide estimates of the residual displacement in the column, and thus the story drift can be evaluated. The algorithm was validated through applications to columns that deflect in single and double curvature. Information from tests on such columns conducted at various laboratories was used to conduct the study. The optimal number of sensors and their placement on the test columns were determined through a series of numerical analyses. The accuracy of the rotation and displacement estimates is assessed under the assumptions of zero-noise sensors and perfect measurements. In this paper, the effect of measurement error and sensor noise on the predicted rotations and corresponding deformations is studied in order to provide bounds on the accuracy of the rotation a...
Frequency Limits of Bipolar Integrated Circuits

InP HBTs at the 500 nm scaling generation have attained 450 GHz balanced cutoff frequencies and ~4 V breakdown. With such devices, 150 GHz digital circuits (static dividers) have been demonstrated. 175 GHz amplifiers have been demonstrated with slower HBTs. We discuss transistor scaling laws and scaling limits for realizing digital and analog/RF circuits at sub-mm-wave frequencies; the most critical limitations are metal/semiconductor contact resistivities and dissipated power densities. Given present contact performance and thermal design, 230 GHz digital ICs and 300 GHz power amplifiers are feasible today.
Relaxation Methods for Gauge Field Equilibrium Equations

This article gives a pedagogical introduction to relaxation methods for the numerical solution of elliptic partial differential equations, with particular emphasis on treating nonlinear problems with delta-function source terms and axial symmetry, which arise in the context of effective Lagrangian approximations to the dynamics of quantized gauge fields. The authors present a detailed theoretical analysis of three models which are used as numerical examples: the classical Abelian Higgs model (illustrating charge screening), the semiclassical leading logarithm model (illustrating flux confinement within a free boundary or ''bag''), and the axially symmetric Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield monopoles (illustrating the occurrence of p topological quantum numbers in non-Abelian gauge fields). They then proceed to a self-contained introduction to the theory of relaxation methods and allied iterative numerical methods and to the practical aspects of their implementation, with attention to general issues which arise in the three examples. The authors conclude with a brief discussion of details of the numerical solution of the models, presenting sample numerical results.
Characteristics of gravity wave activity and spectra in the upper stratosphere and upper mesosphere at Arecibo during early April 1989

Abstract Twenty-nine hours of Rayleigh/Na lidar observations were obtained on six different nights from 6 to 11 April 1989 during the AIDA-89 Campaign. The lidar data were used to calculate the relative atmospheric density perturbations and their spectra. The average r.m.s. density perturbations for early April at Arecibo are 6.2% in the upper mesosphere (~ 83–103 km) and 1.4% in the upper stratosphere (20–45 km). In the upper mesosphere, the average r.m.s. vertical wind velocity, vertical shear variance of horizontal winds and Richardson number are, respectively, 2.8 m/s [28.5 (m/s)/km]2 and 0.63. In the stratosphere the average shear variance and Ri number are, respectively [7.9 (m/s)/km]2 and 9.7. The temporal frequency spectra of the mesopause region density perturbations exhibit power-law shapes with an average slope of −1.76 and magnitude at ω = 2π (1h) of 1.2 (cycles/s)−1. The vertical wave number spectra also exhibit power-law shapes with average slopes of −2.66 in the upper stratosphere and −3.15 in the upper mesosphere. The magnitudes of the stratospheric spectra were consistently smaller than the mesopause spectra at all wave numbers less than m = 2π/(1 km). At m = 2π (4 km) the density spectra magnitudes were 5–12 times smaller in the upper stratosphere. The observed altitude variations in m-spectra magnitudes are inconsistent with linear instability theory which predicts that density spectra in the saturation regime vary only as N 4 m 3 . The observed spectra appear to be compatible with the recently published non-linear wave-induced diffusion and non-linear wave-induced Doppler spreading theories.
Classical S matrix: Application of the Bessel uniform approximation to a chemical reaction☆

Abstract The Bessel uniform approximation developed by Stine and Marcus is applied to the collinear H + H 2 reaction on Diestler's potential energy surface no. 3 to which we have previously applied other orders of approximation of classical S matrix theory. It appears that an accurate treatment of this system by classical S matrix theory requires interference of real and complex trajectories. Calculations were also performed on two other potential energy surfaces in order to more clearly understand the interrelationships of previous semiclassical and quasiclassical studies of this reaction.
Alterations in coagulatory and fibrinolytic systems following an ultra-marathon.

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine coagulatory and fibrinolytic responses to the Western States Endurance Run (WSER, June 23 to 24, 2012). The WSER is a 161-km (100 mile) trail foot race through the Sierra Nevada Mountains that involves 6,030 m of climb and 7,001 m of descent.
Tandem photocycloaddition-retro-mannich fragmentation of enaminones. A route to spiropyrrolines and the tetracyclic core of koumine.

Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of β-aminoalkylidene malonates gives transiently a cyclobutane which undergoes retro-Mannich fragmentation to a Δ1-pyrroline. The tandem sequence, exemplified in two series based on tryptamine and aminoethyl-1,4-cyclohexadiene, leads to a spiroindolopyrroline skeleton and to the nonindolenine portion of koumine.
FPGA implementation of a Deep Belief Network architecture for character recognition using stochastic computation

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have proven very effective for classification and generative tasks, and are widely adapted in a variety of fields including vision, robotics, speech processing, and more. Specifically, Deep Belief Networks (DBNs), are graphical model constructed of multiple layers of nodes connected as Markov random fields, have been successfully implemented for tackling such tasks. However, because of the numerous connections between nodes in the networks, DBNs suffer a drawback of being computational intensive. In this work, we exploit an alternative approach based on computation on probabilistic unary streams for designing a more efficient deep neural network architecture for classification.
An abuse of risk assessment: how regulatory agencies improperly adopted LNT for cancer risk assessment.

The Genetics Panel of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation (BEAR) recommended the adoption of the linear dose–response model in 1956, abandoning the threshold dose–response for genetic risk assessments. This recommendation was quickly generalized to include somatic cells for cancer risk assessment and later was instrumental in the adoption of linearity for carcinogen risk assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Genetics Panel failed to provide any scientific assessment to support this recommendation and refused to do so when later challenged by other leading scientists. Thus, the linearity model used in cancer risk assessment was based on ideology rather than science and originated with the recommendation of the NAS BEAR Committee Genetics Panel. Historical documentation in support of these conclusions is provided in the transcripts of the Panel meetings and in previously unexamined correspondence among Panel members.
Acute changes in soleus H-reflex facilitation and central motor conduction after targeted physical exercises

Abstract We tested the acute effect of exercises targeted simultaneously at cortical and brainstem circuits on neural transmission through corticobulbar connections. Corticobulbar pathways represent a potential target for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI), which tends to spare brainstem circuits to a greater degree than cortical circuits. To explore this concept, able-bodied volunteers ( n =20) underwent one session each of three exercises targeted at different nervous system components: treadmill walking (spinal locomotor circuits), isolated balance exercise (brainstem and other pathways), and multimodal balance plus skilled hand exercise (hand motor cortex and corticospinal tract). We found that short-interval soleus H-reflex facilitation increased after one session of balance and multimodal exercise by 13.2±4.0% and 8.3±4.7%, and slightly decreased by 1.9±4.4% after treadmill exercise ( p =0.042 on ANOVA across exercise type). Increases in long-interval H-reflex facilitation were not significantly different between exercises. Both balance and multimodal exercise increased central motor conduction velocity by 4.3±2.6% and 4.5±2.8%, whereas velocity decreased by 4.3±2.7% after treadmill exercise ( p =0.045 on ANOVA across exercise type). In conclusion, electrophysiological transmission between the motor cortex and spinal motor neurons in able-bodied subjects increased more following one session of balance exercise than treadmill exercise.
Trojan Pig: Paradoxes of Food Safety Regulation

Standards, including food safety standards, have become a key tool in the governance of the world economy. The current drive to harmonize these standards on a global scale is supposed to reduce technical barriers to trade and create conditions for fair and free trade. However, as the case of the Polish meatpacking industry shows, standards often create new barriers because they are embedded in specific geographies. On the one hand, many harmonized standards favor large-scale multinational capital and bar local small-scale producers. On the other hand, the social legacies of previous economic systems—in this case, state socialism—give small-scale producers tools such as informal markets, personal social ties, and political organizing skills that can be used to create barriers for large multinational competitors.
Randomized study of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery and endoscopy shows similar hemodynamic impact in a porcine model.

Background A previous porcine study showed a significant difference in heart rate and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) and laparoscopy. This study evaluated the hemodynamics during endoscopy, laparoscopy, and transluminal access.
Burning on a vertical fuel surface with finite chemical reaction rate

Abstract The problem of a natural convection, diffusion flame burning on a vertical fuel surface is analyzed. The fuel sample is assumed to be thermally thick and sufficiently small that the flow is laminar. The flame chemistry is approximated by a one-step reaction with Arrhenius kinetics. The analysis also includes the phenomena of gas phase and surface radiation. The boundary layer equations are transformed to a set of ordinary differential equations using a local similarity approximation. Numerical solutions are obtained by a finite difference procedure. Results are presented for a fuel having the properties of PMMA burning in O 2 /N 2 mixtures. For this system, it is found that the effects of gas phase radiation are not significant. The surface burning rate is shown to have a strong dependence on surface radiation, but only a weak dependence on chemical reaction rate. Predicted extinction limits are found to depend on both the chemical reaction rate and the surface heat loss rate. The calculated results are compared with experiments using N 2 and CF 3 Br, which show the same effect of these additives on burning rate, but give different extinction limits. This qualitative behavior is reproduced by the theoretical results when the “chemical effect” of CF 3 Br is modeled by reducing the overall reaction rate.
Comparison of slip angle and non-holonomic constraint vehicle models

Abstract The motion of a simple, two degree of freedom vehicle is analyzed by using both a standard slip angle formulation and a non-holonomic constraint formulation. The two models are compared. It is shown that the model employing the non-holonomic constraint affords greater ease in problem set up and solution while introducing an acceptable error with respect to the slip angle solution.
Water on Salt: An Infrared Study of Adsorbed H2O on NaCl(100) under Ambient Conditions

Using infrared spectroscopy, we were able to determine that water, under ambient conditions, adsorbs onto the surface of NaCl(100) into a liquidlike thin film. Photometric methods allowed coverages to be monitored from near ϑ = 0.1 (0.1 monolayer) to ϑ = 3. The shifting band center of the −OH stretching region suggests changing hydrogen-bonding environments with coverage. In the submonolayer region, water−surface bonds are favored over water−water hydrogen bonds. Thin film coverages near ϑ = 2 produce spectra essentially indistinguishable from that of a saturated salt solution suggesting a liquidlike hydrogen-bonded network. This thin film can be reversibly removed from the NaCl(100) surface. However, at coverages near ϑ = 3, dissolution begins and the salt surface becomes visibly damaged. Isotherms measured at 12 and 24 °C allowed the determination of the isosteric heat of adsorption. This heat of adsorption for coverages near ϑ = 2 is close to that of the heat of condensation of liquid water, again sugg...
Hydrography of the central Atlantic—II waters beneath the Two-Degree Discontinuity

Abstract Measurements made during the GEOSECS (Geochemical Ocean Sections) program in the mixing zone beneath the Two-Degree Discontinuity (TDD) in the western basin of the central Atlantic reveal major breaks in the property-salinity trends at 33°N, 7°S, and 33°S. These fronts divide the western basin sub-TDD mixing zone into two distinct parts. Within each the property-salinity trends are linear and do not vary significantly from station to station. Neither chemical effects nor radioactive decay can be demonstrated. Apparently the residence time of the water is so small that no measurable chemical imprint can develop. On the other hand, the sub-TDD eastern basin waters show 14 C aging and respirative and dissolution effects relative to their western basin counterparts. The rates of silica dissolution and CaCO 3 dissolution obtained are consistent with independent estimates. The observed 226 Ra increase is somewhat smaller than expected suggesting that its input from eastern basin sediments is somewhat lower than the global average.
Application of the semiclassical initial value representation and its linearized approximation to inelastic scattering

Abstract The semiclassical (SC) initial value representation (IVR), and its linearized approximation (LA), have been applied to the well-studied Secrest–Johnson model of colinear He+H 2 ( v i )→He+H 2 ( v f ) vibrationally inelastic scattering. The full SC–IVR treatment describes the quantum interference structure in the vibrational transition probabilities quantitatively, while the LA version does so only very qualitatively. This is consistent with earlier work on time correlation functions which found that the LA was able to describe quantum effects accurately in the short time dynamics, but not quantum coherence effects in the longer time dynamics.
The structure of 2R-(3′S-benzyloxy-5′S-hydroxy-2′R-hydroxymethyl-1′-oxacyclohexan-6′S-yl)-propionic acid-1,5′-lactone, C16H20O5

The title compound is C16H20O5, MW=292.3, orthorhombic,P212121,a=9.741(2),b=29.391(7),c=5.354(1) A from diffractometer measurements,V=1532.8 A3,Z=4,D c =1.267 g cm−3,D o =1.271 g cm−3 (ether/1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane), λ(Mo Kα)=0.71069 A,F(000)=624,μ=1.02 cm−1, crystal dimensions 0.23×0.23×0.40 mm,R=0.049 for 1164 observed reflections. The molecule contains a possibly significant asymmetric ether linkage between the oxacyclohexane ring and the highly anisotropic benzyl ring. The packing consists of zigzagged chains parallel to thea-axis formed by hydrogen bonds. The chains are separated by van der Waals contacts.
Late Quaternary glaciation in the tropics: future research directions

Abstract Glacier snowline depressions in the tropics of 800–1000 m indicate an atmospheric cooling of 5–7°C during the late Pleistocene. Such a temperature depression and the presence of large glaciers in the tropics in the past suggests that on glacial–interglacial time scales the tropics have undergone substantial climatic and hydrologic change. However, uncertainties in the chronology of glaciation, the response of glacial mass balance in the tropics to a variety of climate forcings, and the relation of proxy records in alpine regions to synoptic tropical paleoclimate, limit the full utility of the snowline proxy. Future research in these three areas will provide information on the phasing of climate change in the tropics in comparison to higher latitude regions and the correspondence of tropical glaciation to large-scale changes in precipitation, temperature, and solar radiation.
The Eight ‘S’s of successful strategy execution

Abstract As the business environment becomes more complex and more changeful, the need to reformulate strategy and/or to adjust elements of the existing strategy becomes more frequent. As a result senior executives find themselves confronted with the need to integrate a number of changes in the execution of the new or revised strategy. This dissemination and integration of execution actions is especially difficult across cross-functional activities. The ‘8 “S”s of Strategy Execution’ is a heuristic that enables senior management to more readily enact, monitor, and assess the cross functional execution of strategies, new or revised. The 8 ‘S’s model is a revision of the original McKinsey 7 ‘S’s model. The most significant change comes in the deletion of skills from the McKinsey model and the addition of reSources in its place. Furthermore, Strategic Performance has been added to the model to help focus the strategy execution effort.
Individual environmental concern in the world polity: A multilevel analysis.

Abstract The authors assess the extent to which national-level integration in the world polity influences individual-level concern for the environment. While theoretically-derived propositions about such relationships have a deep history in comparative sociology, they—with few exceptions—remain untested. Consistent with past research, employed national-level measures of world polity integration include the relative presence of environmental international nongovernmental organizations (EINGOs) and the existence of environmental ministries. Results of multilevel analyses of individual-level environmental concern in 37 nations indicate that both forms of world polity integration increase the likelihood of individual-level environmental concern, net of other national-level factors and individual-level characteristics; although we find stronger support for the influence of EINGOs as a key variable indicating world polity connection. The findings provide unique support for world polity theory, suggesting that future research should consider how elements of world polity integration influence other forms of individual attitudes and behaviors. The results also highlight the importance in considering global and transnational factors when assessing the determinants of individual attitudes about the environment.
Closed-loop soft-constrained time-optimal control of flexible space structures

We propose numerically efficient solutions for the openand closed-loop time-optimal soft-constrained control of a linear system representing a large flexible space structure. The open-loop solution is expressed in terms of the controllability Grammian matrix, for which we have obtained a closed-form expression for the undamped system. The qualitative dependence of the control on the initial state and the existence of many solutions satisfying the necessary conditions are shown. A nominal closed-loop control policy is subsequently formulated, but it is shown to be numerically expensive due to the nonuniqueness of extremal solutions. A continuation-based algorithm is proposed to alleviate the computational problem. Finally, the openand closedloop controls are shown to exhibit a saturation property reminiscent of the hard-constrained problem.
Germ theory for ailing corals

Human activities damage coral reef ecosystems. Application of the 'germ theory', proposed more than a century ago for human diseases, could foster action on global environmental ailments such as this.
Clinical Prediction Rules for Identifying Adults at Very Low Risk for Intra-abdominal Injuries After Blunt Trauma

Study objective We derive and validate clinical prediction rules to identify adult patients at very low risk for intra-abdominal injuries after blunt torso trauma. Methods We prospectively enrolled adult patients (≥18 years old) after blunt torso trauma for whom diagnostic testing for intra-abdominal injury was performed. In the derivation phase, we used binary recursive partitioning to create a rule to identify patients with intra-abdominal injury who were undergoing acute intervention (including therapeutic laparotomy or angiographic embolization) and a separate rule for identifying patients with any intra-abdominal injury present. We considered only clinical variables readily available with acceptable interrater reliability. The prediction rules were then prospectively validated in a separate cohort of patients. Results In the derivation phase, we enrolled 3,435 patients, including 311 (9.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.1% to 10.1%) with intra-abdominal injury and 109 (35.0%; 95% CI 29.7% to 40.6%) with intra-abdominal injury requiring acute intervention. In the validation study, we enrolled 1,595 patients, including 143 (9.0%; 95% CI 7.6% to 10.5%) with intra-abdominal injury. The derived rule for patients with intra-abdominal injuries who were undergoing acute intervention consisted of hypotension, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score less than 14, costal margin tenderness, abdominal tenderness, hematuria level greater than or equal to 25 red blood cells/high powered field, and hematocrit level less than 30% and identified all 44 patients in the validation phase with intra-abdominal injury who were undergoing acute intervention (sensitivity 44/44, 100%; 95% CI 93.4% to 100%). The derived rule for the presence of any intra-abdominal injury consisted of GCS score less than 14, costal margin tenderness, abdominal tenderness, femur fracture, hematuria level greater than or equal to 25 red blood cells/high powered field, hematocrit level less than 30%, and abnormal chest radiograph result (pneumothorax or rib fracture). In the validation phase, the rule for any intra-abdominal injury present had the following test performance: sensitivity 137 of 143 (95.8%; 95% CI 91.1% to 98.4%), specificity 434 of 1,452 (29.9%; 95% CI 27.5% to 32.3%), and negative predictive value 434 of 440 (98.6%; 95% CI 97.1% to 99.5%). Conclusion These derived and validated clinical prediction rules can aid physicians in the evaluation of adult patients after blunt torso trauma. Patients without any of these variables are at very low risk for having intra-abdominal injury, particularly intra-abdominal injury requiring acute intervention, and are unlikely to benefit from abdominal computed tomography scanning.
A low-complexity soft-output decoder for polar codes

A widely used soft-output decoder for polar codes is a message-passing algorithm based on belief propagation, which performs well at the cost of high processing and storage requirements. In this paper we propose a low-complexity alternative for soft-output decoding of polar codes that offers comparable performance but with significantly reduced processing and storage requirements. In particular we show that the complexity of the proposed decoder is about 5% of the total complexity of the belief propagation decoder for the dicode channel, while achieving comparable error-rate performance. Furthermore, we show that the proposed decoder requires about 39% of the memory required by the belief propagation decoder for a block length of 32768.
Habitat Design Considerations for Implementing Solar Particle Event Radiation Protection

Radiation protection is an important habitat design consideration for human exploration missions beyond Low Earth Orbit. Fortunately, radiation shelter concepts can effectively reduce astronaut exposure for the relatively low proton energies of solar particle events, enabling moderate duration missions of several months before astronaut exposure (galactic cosmic ray and solar particle event) approaches radiation exposure limits. In order to minimize habitat mass for increasingly challenging missions, design of radiation shelters must minimize dedicated, single-purpose shielding mass by leveraging the design and placement of habitat subsystems, accommodations, and consumables. NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems RadWorks Storm Shelter Team has recently designed and performed radiation analysis on several low dedicated mass shelter concepts for a year-long mission. This paper describes habitat design considerations identified during the study's radiation analysis. These considerations include placement of the shelter within a habitat for improved protection, integration of human factors guidance for sizing shelters, identification of potential opportunities for habitat subsystems to compromise on individual subsystem performances for overall vehicle mass reductions, and pre-configuration of shelter components for reduced deployment times.