cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design considerations for series connected distributed FACTS converters

The power grid is aging, under-utilized and increasingly congested. Conventional solutions, such as flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS) can be used to control power flow on the grid. However, widespread adoption of this technology has been hampered by high cost and reliability concerns. The concept of distributed FACTS (D-FACTS) devices, as an alternative approach to realizing cost-effective power flow control, has been recently proposed. This paper discusses the design considerations for implementing distributed power control solutions on the power grid, with specific examples for series VAR compensation, and the significant impact it can have on grid utilization and system reliability. The ability to use mature power conversion techniques demonstrates the potential for low-cost implementation.
Use of a 'microecological technique' to study crime incidents around methadone maintenance treatment centers.

Aims Concern about crime is a significant barrier to the establishment of methadone treatment centers (MTCs). Methadone maintenance reduces crime among those treated, but the relationship between MTCs and neighborhood crime is unknown. We evaluated crime around MTCs. Setting Baltimore City, MD, USA. Participants We evaluated crime around 13 MTCs and three types of control locations: 13 convenience stores (stores), 13 residential points and 10 general medical hospitals. Measures We collected reports of Part 1 crimes from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2001 from the Baltimore City Police Department. Design Crimes and residential point locations were mapped electronically by street address (geocoded), and MTCs, hospitals and stores were mapped by visiting the sites with a global positioningsatellite(GPS)locator.Concentriccircular‘buffers’weredrawnat25-mintervalsupto300maroundeach site. We used Poisson regression to assess the relationship between crime counts (incidents per unit area) and distance fromthesite.Findings TherewasnosignificantgeographicrelationshipbetweencrimecountsandMTCsorhospitals. A significant negative relationship (parameter estimate -0.3127, P < 0.04) existed around stores in the daytime (7 am‐7 pm), indicating higher crime counts closer to the stores. We found a significant positive relationship around residential points during daytime (0.5180, P < 0.0001) and at night (0.3303, P < 0.0001), indicating higher crime countsfurtheraway. Conclusions Methadonetreatmentcenters,incontrasttoconveniencestores,arenotassociated geographically with crime.
Inspecting the Inspectors: Overseeing Labor Inspectorates in Parliamentary Democracies

Most theories of how to control bureaucracies are derived from American experience and are tested with data from the U.S. In contrast, this article uses evidence from the 15 members of the European Union to examine oversight mechanisms through which legislators attempt to control the bureaucracy. Analysis of European data shows that “police patrol” mechanisms of oversight appear in countries with relatively little gridlock as measured by the ideological range of their governments. “Deck stacking” mechanisms appear in countries that experience greater problems with gridlock measured in the same way. U.S. President Ulysses Grant (1869‐1877) said, “I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution” (Jay, 160). A hundred years before, British Prime Minister George Grenville declared, “a wise government knows how to enforce with temper, or to conciliate with dignity” (Jay, 161). Both quotations highlight a fundamental problem of government. The passage of a law is not the guarantor of its effect. Elected officials, both in parliamentary and presidential systems, delegate implementation duties to civil servants. Civil servants can exaggerate the effect of a law through “stringent execution” to blackmail lawmakers into repealing it, as President Grant suggested. Alternatively, civil servants can expand the scope of the legislation by applying rules to areas not originally intended. Conversely, civil servants can ameliorate the harm done by inconvenient laws by “enforcing with temper or conciliating with dignity.” To ensure that civil servants do not bend policies too far from their intended effects, lawmakers must oversee the civil servants’ actions. Lawmakers make use of a wide variety of tools to monitor and constrain civil servants’ actions. These tools range from the active and constant monitoring by British ministers to interest group oversight in Germany. Why do lawmakers choose the tools they choose? Much of the theoretical research addressing this question focuses on the effect conflict among legislators has on the type of oversight institutions they establish. Most researchers argue that greater legislative gridlock, caused by polit
An evaluation of the radiation tolerance of a 32-bit microprocessor for space applications

A radiation evaluation was performed on the Intel MQ80386-20/B microprocessor to determine their total dose tolerance. Four parts were subjected to radiation exposures of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 krads(Si) at 0.01-0.02 rads(Si)/sec. Following this total dose exposure, the parts were annealed at 25/spl deg/C for 1200 hours in five annealing steps. After each radiation exposure and annealing step, the parts were tested according to the test conditions and specification limits in the manufacturer's data sheet. All four parts passed all electrical tests through the 5-krad(Si) irradiation. After 7.5 krads(Si), the parts failed all four functional tests and several output voltage tests. The parts continued to fail the functional tests and several output voltage tests throughout the subsequent annealing steps up to 1200 hours (cumulative) at 25/spl deg/C. No significant sensitivity to radiation was observed in any other test parameters. It is recommended that total dose radiation testing be performed on every flight lot of these parts, since any change in the manufacturing process can significantly affect the total dose tolerance. A comprehensive test vector set which can provide the highest fault coverage should be used during the radiation testing.
Education of Gifted and Talented Children: What's Going on in China

Currently, in China there are about 240 million children aged 14 or under; therefore, there should be approximately 7 million gifted and talented children in China according to Chinese definition and identification of giftedness. Special education for such huge numbers of gifted children is challenging and significant. This paper trace the history of gifted education in China and discusses current education in general. Specifically, the paper describes the Chinese conceptions of gifted and talented children, identification procedures, current gifted programs, and existing problems. The future of Chinese gifted education is also discussed.
Dynamic Paradigms for Human Mortality and Aging

Hazard models are often applied to mortality data of humans and other species so that the parameter estimates made for those models can be used to make inferences about the biology, and comparative biology, of aging processes. Enough longitudinal data on physiological and functional changes in humans now exist to know that the age trajectory of the physiological state of individuals is multidimensional, stochastic, and plastic. Thus, to fully assess the biological significance of existing longitudinal data on human aging and mortality processes, multivariate stochastic process models must be developed that are biologically detailed and valid. This requires assessing genetic mechanisms controlling human longevity and rates of aging, developing models of how those traits may have evolved, and developing statistical methods for identifying gene environment interactions. This article examines the theoretical basis for such models and the biological rationale of their parametric structure. Several examples are given.
Characteristics Associated With Mobility Limitation in Long-Term Care Residents With Dementia

This article describes the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of, as well as characteristics associated with, mobility limitation in 343 residents with dementia in 45 assisted living facilities and nursing homes. Overall, 89% of residents had some degree of mobility limitation. Mobility limitation was associated with fewer behavioral symptoms, low fluid intake, professional assessment, and professional and informal treatment.
Sensitive immunofluorescent staining of cells via generation of fluorescent nanoscale polymer films in response to biorecognition.

Immunofluorescent staining is central to nearly all cell-based research, yet only a few fluorescent signal amplification approaches for cell staining exist, each with distinct limitations. Here, the authors present a novel, fluorescent polymerization-based amplification (FPBA) method that is shown to enable similar signal intensities as the highly sensitive, enzyme-based tyramide signal amplification (TSA) approach. Being non-enzymatic, FPBA is not expected to suffer from nonspecific staining of endogenous enzymes, as occurs with enzyme-based approaches. FPBA employs probes labeled with photopolymerization initiators, which lead to the controlled formation of fluorescent polymer films only at targeted biorecognition sites. Nuclear pore complex proteins (NPCs; in membranes), vimentin (in filaments), and von Willebrand factor (in granules) were all successfully immunostained by FPBA. Also, FPBA was demonstrated to be capable of multicolor immunostaining of multiple antigens. To assess relative sensitivity, ...
Electron Scattering and the Nuclear Many-Body Problem

Three selected examples of contemporary studies of nuclear structure using electron scattering are discussed: superscaling ↔ density-dependent processes, polarized electrons ↔ the fifth response and coincidence electro-disintegration ↔ nucleosynthesis.
PTH-mediated regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase requires Src kinase-dependent ERK phosphorylation.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) inhibits Na+-K+-ATPase activity by serine phosphorylation of the α1-subunit through ERK-dependent phosphorylation and translocation of protein kinase Cα (PKCα). On the bas...
ATM Signals miRNA Biogenesis through KSRP

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Zhang and colleagues (Zhang et al., 2011) describe a critical link between the DNA damage response and the miRNA pathway, in which DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) induce ATM-dependent KSRP phosphorylation to facilitate pri-miRNA processing.
Contour grouping: closure effects are explained by good continuation and proximity

Previous experimental studies have provided evidence that closed contours are easier to detect than open contours in randomelement displays, and previous theoretical studies have shown that these effects might be explained by an active neural mechanism (e.g., a ‘‘reverberating neural circuit’’) sensitive to closure. To test this hypothesis, detection thresholds were measured in five experiments designed to control for the effects of uncertainty, eccentricity, and element density. In four of the experiments, we found that closed contours were no easier to detect than open contours, and in the remaining experiment the effects were consistent with the predictions of probability summation. Thus, we could find no evidence for an active neural mechanism that enhances detectability of closed contours more than open contours, although some form of closure mechanism may play a significant role in image interpretation.
Getting at the Rapture of Seeing: Ellsworth Kelly and Visual Experience

It may be exaggerated to call Ellsworth Kelly “the most profoundly classical of all American artists,” as one London critic put it, but I am persuaded that his singular vision and achievement deserves even higher ranking than it has until recently received in the annals of 20th century American art.1 A series of recent exhibitions, and in particular, the great international retrospective of 1996–1997 have added new luster to his reputation (whereas the Museum of Modern Art’s equally ambitious 1996 retrospective of Jasper Johns had just the opposite effect).2 After more than 50 years of artistry, Kelly has proven himself remarkably consistent, independent, and, yes, even morally inspiring.
South African Students and the US Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1980s

After the Soweto Uprising and the murder of Steve Biko, the global anti-apartheid movement gained new urgency. Activists in South Africa (SA) and the United States (US) created the South African Education Program (SAEP) in 1979 to bring black South African students to the US for educational opportunities in the US to prepare them for leadership in post-apartheid SA. Some of these students were activists in SA; others met leaders of the liberation movements for the first time at the orientation in the US. Many of them joined with anti-apartheid efforts on US campuses. Their testimony, along with that of visiting South Africans, was crucial to the divestment movement in the US in the 1980s. The SAEP brought over 1,500 students to the US by the mid-1990s. It and related programs were a resounding success, with alumni now playing prominent roles in transforming post-apartheid South African society. This paper is based on oral interviews with participants and leaders in the SAEP, and others who participated in the anti-apartheid movement on US campuses. In addition, primary materials come from the archives of the American Committee on Africa, the Institute of International Education, the African Activist Archive, and local campus newspapers.
The role of a mantle plume in the formation of Yellowstone volcanism

The origin of the Yellowstone volcanic province remains debated. Proposed hypotheses involve either a mantle plume or not. Recent tomographic images allow a quantitative evaluation of the plume hypothesis and its interaction with the Farallon slabs. Using 4-D geodynamic models with data assimilation, we find that the slab is always in the way of the initially rising plume and that the plume could reach the surface only through the broken slab hinge at ~15 Ma. For most of the time, the sinking slabs dominate the mantle flow and prohibit upwelling. We find that a plume that satisfies the present mantle image beneath Yellowstone fails to predict both voluminous hot materials at shallow depths beneath the western U.S. and the age migration of the hot spot tracks. We suggest that a plume is likely to have much less influence on the Yellowstone volcanism than previously thought.
Functional significance of the pattern of renal sympathetic nerve activation

To assess the renal functional significance of the pattern of renal sympathetic nerve activation, computer-generated stimulus patterns (delivered at constant integrated voltage) were applied to the decentralized renal sympathetic nerve bundle and renal hemodynamic and excretory responses determined in anesthetized rats. When delivered at the same integrated voltage, stimulus patterns resembling those observed in in vivo multifiber recordings of renal sympathetic nerve activity (diamond-wave patterns) produced greater renal vasoconstrictor responses than conventional square-wave patterns. Within diamond-wave patterns, increasing integrated voltage by increasing amplitude produced twofold greater renal vasoconstrictor responses than by increasing duration. With similar integrated voltages that were subthreshold for renal vasoconstriction, neither diamond- nor square-wave pattern altered glomerular filtration rate, whereas diamond- but not square-wave pattern reversibly decreased urinary sodium excretion by 25 ± 3%. At the same number of pulses per second, intermittent stimulation produced faster and greater renal vasoconstriction than continuous stimulation. At the same number of pulses per second, increases in rest period during intermittent stimulation proportionally augmented the renal vasoconstrictor response compared with that observed with continuous stimulation; the maximum augmentation of 55% occurred at a rest period of 500 ms. These results indicate that the pattern of renal sympathetic nerve stimulation (activity) significantly influences the rapidity, magnitude, and selectivity of the renal vascular and tubular responses.
Taxation of the Really Big House

The tax advantages of personal-use property induce taxpayers to buy more housing than they would without tax. Two-thirds of the tax distortion occurs in the wealthiest 10 percent of families. The proposal would tax the rental value of personal use of property for aggregate property worth more than $1 million per family. The proposal would allow the deduction of home mortgage interest but disallow the deduction of property tax over the same $1 million threshold. The taxable rental value would be measured by a long-term risk-free interest rate, adjusted annually. Value would be set initially by purchase price, and then adjusted annually by a regional index. The $1 million threshold would be reduced by $50,000 annually over the coming years, but not to a point where the tax collected would not be worth the administrative effort. The proposal would tax capital gain from the sale of a residence even if it were reinvested.The proposal is made as a part of the Shelf Project, a collaboration by tax professionals to develop and perfect proposals to help Congress when it needs to raise revenue. Shelf Project proposals are intended to raise revenue, defend the tax base, follow the money, and improve the rationality and efficiency of the tax system. The tax community can propose, follow, or edit proposals at http://www.taxshelf.org. A longer description of the Shelf Project can be found at ‘‘The Shelf Project: Revenue-Raising Projects That Defend the Tax Base,’’ Tax Notes, Dec. 10, 2007, p. 1077, Doc 2007-22632, 2007 TNT 238-37.Shelf Project proposals follow the format of a congressional tax committee report in explaining current law, what is wrong with it, and how to fix it.Copyright 2009 Calvin H. Johnson.
Systems Architecture

All complex systems fail, by some measure of the word "fail," with consequences ranging from benign to catastrophic. This article examines the process of to triage in the face of a failing system. Software-intensive systems bring their own wickedness to the world because they have an essential complexity. They bring fundamental challenges to discrete systems, since they exhibit noncontinuous behavior, often embody a combinatorial explosion of state space, and may be corrupted by unexpected external events. Furthermore, as a discipline we lack the mathematical tools and as humans we fall short of the intellectual capacity to model the behavior of ultralarge discrete systems.Furthermore, discrete software-intensive systems often exhibit nonlinearity, broken symmetry, and, due to nonholonomic constraints, what is called localized transient anarchy.
Effects of Sand Moisture Level on Food Consumption and Distribution of Formosan Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) with Different Soldier Proportions

Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, were tested under laboratory conditions to determine preferences among different sand moisture levels in a choice test. Foraging behavior, rate of filter paper consumption and distribution patterns of the termites were studied among 3 soldier ratios: low (4% soldier), normal (16% soldier) and high (32% soldier) and 7 sand moisture gradients (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28% wt/wt) in a circular 3-dimensional arena. The results showed that sand moisture had a significant effect on termite distribution and filter paper consumption, whereas soldier proportions had no effect. Treatment means comparisons indicated that there were no significant differences in termite distribution or consumption among moisture levels ranging from 4 - 24%; however, significant differences were obtained when termite distribution or consumption on these moisture levels were compared with that of the saturated sand (28% moisture). Termites also were not present in the center release chamber (which had dry sand and no food) at any observation point. Within the range of 4 - 24%, we found a very uneven distribution pattern where 70 - 80% of the total released termites aggregated in 1 of the 6 moisture chambers. Filter paper consumption generally corresponded with the aggregation sites. Importantly, among the 27 replicates no particular moisture chamber was consistently chosen for aggregation indicating that Formosan subterranean termites probably can adapt to a range of substrate moisture levels in nature provided other conditions are suitable.
How the Citi Olympic sponsorship strategy uses the knowledge of the elaboration likelihood model

The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) explains that the individual involvement in a product category will motivate a person to evaluate brand messages in that product category more critically. This article claims that sponsorship is the ideal promotional communication method to apply the ELM principles. Sponsors should be using the knowledge of the ELM that explains how consumers evaluate messages when developing their activation programs and television commercials. The article provides an example how Citi has developed its Olympic activation program and television commercials to appeal to both high and low involvement product category customers. Citi promoted its mobile app and the Citi Thank You Visa card brand features to try to appeal to high involvement product category consumers, while promoting its Olympic brand association and its corporate social responsibility ‘Every Step of the Way’ initiative to try to appeal to low involvement product category consumers.
Drug-Transporter Gene and Refractory Epilepsy

The drug-transporter gene ABCB1 polymorphism (C to T) at position 3435 was typed in 315 patients with epilepsy, classified as drug-resistant in 200 and drug-responsive in 115, and 200 controls without epilepsy, in a study at the Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Oxygen cost of running barefoot vs. running shod.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oxygen cost of running barefoot vs. running shod on the treadmill as well as overground. 10 healthy recreational runners, 5 male and 5 female, whose mean age was 23.8±3.39 volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects participated in 4 experimental conditions: 1) barefoot on treadmill, 2) shod on treadmill, 3) barefoot overground, and 4) shod overground. For each condition, subjects ran for 6 min at 70% vVO 2 max pace while VO 2 , heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. A 2 × 2 (shoe condition x surface) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that running with shoes showed significantly higher VO 2 values on both the treadmill and the overground track (p<0.05). HR and RPE were significantly higher in the shod condition as well (p<0.02 and p<0.01, respectively). For the overground and treadmill conditions, recorded VO 2 while running shod was 5.7% and 2.0% higher than running barefoot. It was concluded that at 70% of vVO 2 max pace, barefoot running is more economical than running shod, both overground and on a treadmill.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Urban Scale

Cities are responsible for more than 70% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, transport, energy, industry, and waste-related sources. Improved urban-scale emission estimates are essential for understanding local trends and providing guidance for mitigation strategies. Current research in cities around the world is focused on establishing more robust methods for quantifying and modeling urban-scale emissions of the most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Highly Angiogenic Peptide Nanofibers

Major limitations of current tissue regeneration approaches using artificial scaffolds are fibrous encapsulation, lack of host cellular infiltration, unwanted immune responses, surface degradation preceding biointegration, and artificial degradation byproducts. Specifically, for scaffolds larger than 200-500 μm, implants must be accompanied by host angiogenesis in order to provide adequate nutrient/waste exchange in the newly forming tissue. In the current work, we design a peptide-based self-assembling nanofibrous hydrogel containing cell-mediated degradation and proangiogenic moieties that specifically address these challenges. This hydrogel can be easily delivered by syringe, is rapidly infiltrated by cells of hematopoietic and mesenchymal origin, and rapidly forms an extremely robust mature vascular network. Scaffolds show no signs of fibrous encapsulation and after 3 weeks are resorbed into the native tissue. These supramolecular assemblies may prove a vital paradigm for tissue regeneration and specifically for ischemic tissue disease.
Expression of the preoptic regulatory factor-1 and -2 genes in rat testis. Developmental and hormonal regulation.

Hormone-responsive peptides play a vital role in development and regulation of testicular function. The preoptic regulatory factors, porf-1 and porf-2, were originally discovered in the rat brain, but are also expressed in the rat and human testis. In the brain expression is age-related, hormone-responsive, region-specific, and gender-related, suggesting that porf-1 and porf-2 are involved in gender-specific brain development and function. Tissue-specific porf-1 and porf-2 mRNAs are also found in the testis and hypophysectomy may alter testicular porf-2 expression. It was thus of interest to further examine porf-1 and porf-2 expression in the testis to evaluate their potential as hormone-responsive peptides that regulate testicular development and function. Testicular expression of both porf-1 and −2 was analyzed as a function of maturational stage, aging and hypophysectomy by the solution hybridization/nuclease protection assay, and cellular location determined byin situ hybridization histochemistry. Expression was quantitatively compared in normal male rats at 15,30, and 60 d (n=4) and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 mo of age (n=5). During development porf-1 is expressed at a constant level at 15, 30, and 60 d, then declines significantly with advancing age; levels at 24 mo are only 20% of those seen at 2 mo (p<0.05). In contrast, porf-2 expression is highest at 15 d of age and steadily declines at 30 and 60 d, plateaus in the mature adult (6 and 12 mo), then exhibits an additional significant decline in the aged 24 mo animals (6 vs 24 mo,p<0.05). Hypophysectomy of young adult rats at day 42 results in increased testicular expression 12 d later of both porf-1 (p<0.05) and porf-2 (p<0.005) compared to intact 54-d-old rats (n=5).In situ hybridization histochemistry confirms that both porf-1 and porf-2 are expressed in the mature testis at 60 d of age. Porf-2 mRNA is localized to immature germ cells including spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. Porf-1 mRNA is associated with mature sperm and at low levels in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm surrounding spermatocytes. These data suggest that porf-2 is a pituitary hormone-responsive factor in the developing testis and that both porf-1 and porf-2 have cell-type specific functions in the germ cell compartment of the mature testis.
From Jerash to New York: Columns, Archaeology, and Politics at the 1964–65 World’s Fair

From Jerash to New York: Columns, Archaeology, and Politics at the 1964–65 World’s Fair analyzes the Column of Jerash, presented to New York City by the government of Jordan as a permanent memento of that country’s participation in the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair. Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis and Jared Simard offer the first scholarly documentation and assessment of the column, which still stands at the site of the fair in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York, and confirm that it originated from Jerash, but not from the Temple of Artemis. The gift of the column was part of King Hussein of Jordan’s policy of archaeological diplomacy, which included the donation of artifacts to American cities and universities to strengthen ties between Jordan and the United States. Macaulay-Lewis and Simard explore the competing narratives of biblical and classical history and archaeology in the American-Israel and Jordan Pavilions at the 1964–65 World’s Fair and the controversy that erupted over the inclusion of a mural about Palestinian refugees in the Jordan Pavilion.
Surveillance for fine particles concentration in air in Shijingshan district of Beijing

Objective To understand the concentration levels and distribution characteristics of fine particles( PM2. 5)in air in Shijingshan district of Beijing. Methods Four surveillance sites were established,including 3 indoor sites and1 outdoor site. The 24 h air concentrations of PM2. 5and PM10 at the four sites were consecutively detected with gravimetric method for 7 days in every months from May 2013 to April 2014. Results Overall,the median of indoor PM2. 5concentration was 61 μg / m3,the PM2. 5concentration was higher in residence( 69 μg / m3) than in school( 58 μg /m3) and workplace( 50 μg /m3)( P 0. 05). The difference between school and workplace had no statistical significance. The concentration of PM2. 5was lower in indoor site than in outdoor site( 92 μg / m3). According to national standard 3095- 2012,the proportion of indoor air PM2. 5concentration above 75 μg / m3 was significantly lower than that of outdoor site( 41. 7% vs. 60. 7%,P 0. 05). The indoor PM2. 5concentration was higher than indoor PM10concentration( 22. 9%). During the surveillance period,9 severe pollution events( PM2. 5 150 μg / m3) were detected,which lasted for 17 days cumulatively at the indoor sites( 20. 2%) and 24 days at the outdoor site( 28. 6%). The PM2. 5concentrations varied with season,which was highest in winter from January to March,and lowest in summer from July to August. The average ratio of indoor PM2. 5/ PM10 was 84. 7%,higher than that of the outdoor ratio( 64. 1%). The ratio of I / O of indoor PM2. 5was 67. 2%,higher than that of PM10( 53. 9%). The indoor air PM2. 5concentration was positively correlated with outdoor air PM2. 5concentration. Conclusion The indoor air PM2. 5pollution was serious in the surveillance area in Beijing. The indoor air PM2. 5concentration was closely correlated with outdoor air PM2. 5concentration and also varied with seasons.
Application progress on rapid detection technology of parasites in food

Food-borne diseases caused by parasites have become one of the important factors affecting the food safety. Traditional etiology methods were often subject to the technical proficiency and identification ability of techinician. In addition,the detection efficiency can not be satisfied with the actual needs. Therefore,rapid and accurate detection is a trend to food-borne parasite diagnosis development. The research progress and its application of foodborne parasite detection with some modern detection techniques,such as polymerase chain reaction( PCR),flinders technology associates( FTA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification( LAMP),microarray( DNA chip) and colloidal gold immune chromato-graphy( GICA) technology,including their mechanisms,advantages and disadvantages is reviewed in this paper.
Early ABRs in Infants Undergoing Assisted Ventilation

ABR was performed on 42 preterm infants undergoing assisted ventilation with conventional or high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). ABRs from these very young neonates were evaluated to further detail the emerging response and to determine if type of ventilation or other perinatal factors had effects on the ABR. While responses were present down to 26 weeks gestational age, the only factors which appeared related to absent ABRs were birthweight and gestational age.
Backache; diagnosis and treatment from an orthopedic standpoint.

The procedure and salient points in the history, physical examination and x-ray studies are presented so as to facilitate the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established, the recommended therapy is proposed. Myelography in the diagnosis of herniated disk is discussed and therapy for this condition outlined.
Nanoscale Charge-Balancing Mechanism in Alkali-Substituted Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate Gels.

Alkali-activated materials and related alternative cementitious systems are sustainable technologies that have the potential to substantially lower the CO2 emissions associated with the construction industry. However, these systems have augmented chemical compositions as compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), which may impact the evolution of the hydrate phases. In particular, calcium-silicate-hydrate (C–S–H) gel, the main hydrate phase in OPC, is likely to be altered at the atomic scale due to changes in the bulk chemical composition, specifically via the addition of alkalis (i.e., Na or K) and aluminum. Here, via density functional theory calculations, we reveal the presence of a charge balancing mechanism at the molecular level in C–S–H gel (as modeled using crystalline 14 A tobermorite) when alkalis and aluminum atoms are introduced into the structure. Different structural representations are obtained depending on the level of substitution and the degree of charge balancing incorporated in the st...
Complementary computing for visual tasks: Meshing computer vision with human visual processing

We explore the opportunity to harness electroencephalograph (EEG) signals generated during human visual processing to enhance computer vision systems. We review the challenging task of categorizing objects, such as faces, in images and then describe methods that can be used to combine the complementary competencies of human and machine computation to achieve improved recognition performance. We present the results of several experiments where brain signals, recorded from people examining images, are used to enhance the performance of vision systems on categorization tasks. We find that significant gains in classification accuracy can be achieved with the human-aided vision systems.
Anatomic Relationship and Imaging Relevance of the Perforating Branches of the Peroneal Vessels to the Anterior Talofibular Ligament.

Abstract Background Patients frequently present to the emergency department after ankle injuries, and the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is commonly damaged. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) can help to make a rapid diagnosis. There is a paucity of literature describing techniques to image the ATFL with US, and the complex ankle anatomy and potential pitfalls make imaging challenging. Objective Our aim was to estimate prevalence of perforating branches (PBs) of the peroneal vessels and determine their most frequent position relative to the ATFL. If these vessels are located in a predictable position at the level of the ATFL, they may serve as a sonographic landmark for the correct imaging plane. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 105 ankles were reviewed to determine the PB prevalence and location at the ATFL. Inter-observer agreement was determined. Additionally, 16 ankles from 8 asymptomatic subjects were scanned using a high-frequency linear transducer and PB prevalence and location were noted. Results By MRI, PBs were detected in 85% of the ankles and 93% of ankles after consensus. In 73% of cases with agreed PB visualization, vessels assumed a medial position with respect to the ATFL. By US, PBs could be seen in 100% of cases, with the arterial PB seen in 81% of cases and assuming a medial position in 88%. Conclusions PBs are often present, have a predictable course, and may be useful to help optimize US probe positioning when assessing the ATFL.
Analysis of pictorial metaphors in comicbook art: test of the LA-MOAD theory

ABSTRACTMotion can be depicted using pictorial devices that are literal (representing features present in the real world) and metaphorical (representing features not present in the real world). How are literal and metaphorical pictorial devices used in comic book art? The Literal Additive Metaphorical One-And-Done (LA-MOAD) theory proposes that literal devices function additively while metaphorical devices function non-cumulatively. We test the generalisability of the LA-MOAD theory by analysing the pictorial devices used to depict jumping, falling, swinging and flying in 400 Silver- and Bronze-Age comic books. As predicted by the LA-MOAD theory, literal devices were used additively; artists preferred to use many literal devices. On the other hand, metaphorical devices were not used additively; artists preferred to use only one metaphorical device. The LA-MOAD theory has implications for comic book art as well as for how our cognitive system processes metaphorical information in general.
Improving the conventional reactor/separation/recycle DME process

Abstract The conventional process to produce dimethyl ether (DME) by the dehydration of methanol is a classical example of a chemical process with a reaction section, a separation section and recycles of material and energy connecting the two. Alternative processes have been explored in attempts to increase process intensification. A recent paper claims that reactive distillation can reduce capital investment and energy costs when compared to a conventional reactor/separation/recycle process. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the conventional process can be significantly improved to the point that it is much superior to the published conventional process and is even more economical than the published reactive distillation process. The proposed flowsheet requires more capital investment (53%) than the reactive distillation process but saves 38% in energy costs, which produces an attractive 61% return on the larger capital investment.
Comparison of histologic margin status in low-grade cutaneous and subcutaneous canine mast cell tumours examined by radial and tangential sections

Background Radial sections are widely used to estimate adequacy of excision in canine cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs); however, this sectioning technique estimates only a small fraction of total margin circumference. This study aimed to compare histologic margin status in grade II/low grade MCTs sectioned using both radial and tangential sectioning techniques. Materials and Methods A total of 43 circumferential margins were evaluated from 21 different tumours. Margins were first sectioned radially, followed by tangential sections. Tissues were examined by routine histopathology. Results Tangential margin status differed in 10 of 43 (23.3%) margins compared with their initial status on radial section. Of 39 margins, 9 (23.1%) categorized as histologic tumour-free margin (HTFM) >0 mm were positive on tangential sectioning. Tangential sections detected a significantly higher proportion of positive margins relative to radial sections (exact 2-tailed P-value = .0215). The HTFM was significantly longer in negative tangential margins than positive tangential margins (mean 10.1 vs 3.2 mm; P = .0008). A receiver operating characteristic curve comparing HTFM and tangentially negative margins found an area under the curve of 0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.71−0.96). Although correct classification peaked at the sixth cut-point of HTFM ≥1 mm, radial sections still incorrectly classified 50% of margins as lacking tumour cells. Radial sections had 100% specificity for predicting negative tangential margins at a cut-point of 10.9 mm. Conclusion These data indicate that for low grade MCTs, HTFMs >0 mm should not be considered completely excised, particularly when HTFM is <10.9 mm. This will inform future studies that use HTFM and overall excisional status as dependent variables in multivariable prognostic models.
Career Indecision Among LGB College Students: The Role of Minority Stress, Perceived Social Support, and Community Affiliation

Although several studies have examined the ways in which lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals experience difficulties with career decision-making, little is known about the impact of minori...
Autosomal dominant mannose-binding lectin deficiency is associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in infants

Abstract Objectives The MBL2 gene is the major genetic determinant of mannose-binding lectin (MBL)—an acute phase reactant. Low MBL levels have been associated with adverse outcomes in preterm infants. The MBL2 Gly54Asp missense variant causes autosomal dominant MBL deficiency. We tested the hypothesis that MBL2 Gly54Asp is associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in neonates. Methods This is an analysis of a previously described cohort of patients with nonsyndromic congenital heart disease who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass before age 6 months (n = 295). Four-year neurodevelopment was assessed in 3 domains: Full-Scale Intellectual Quotient, the Visual Motor Integration development test, and the Child Behavior Checklist to assess behavior problems. The Child Behavior Checklist measured total behavior problems, pervasive developmental problems, and internalizing/externalizing problems. A multivariable linear regression model, adjusting for confounders, was fit. Results MBL2 Gly54Asp was associated with a significantly increased covariate-adjusted pervasive developmental problem score (β = 3.98; P = .0025). Sensitivity analyses of the interaction between age at first surgery and MBL genotype suggested effect modification for the patients with MBL2 Gly54Asp ( P interaction = .039), with the poorest neurodevelopment outcomes occurring in children who had surgery earlier in life. Conclusions We report the novel finding that carriers of MBL2 Gly54Asp causing autosomal dominant MBL deficiency have increased childhood pervasive developmental problems after cardiac surgery, independent of other covariates. Sensitivity analyses suggest that this effect may be larger in children who underwent surgery at earlier ages. These data support the role of nonsyndromic genetic variation in determining postsurgical neurodevelopment-related outcomes in children with congenital heart disease.
Why Radicalization Fails: Barriers to Mass Casualty Terrorism

Few issues have garnered as much attention in recent years as the topic of violent extremism (VE). Although substantial attention has been devoted to investigating the radicalization process, few s...
Using in vitro derived enzymatic reaction rates of metabolism to inform pesticide body burdens in amphibians

Abstract Understanding how pesticide exposure to non-target species influences toxicity is necessary to accurately assess the ecological risks these compounds pose. To assess the potential metabolic activation of broad use pesticides in amphibians, in vitro and in vivo metabolic rate constants were derived from toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) livers in experiments measuring the depletion of atrazine (ATZ), triadimefon (TDN), and fipronil (FIP) as well as formation of their metabolites. To determine the predictability of these in vitro derived rate constants, Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) were exposed to soil contaminated with each of the pesticides at maximum application rate. Desethyl atrazine (DEA) and deisopropyl atrazine (DIA), both metabolites of ATZ, exhibited similar velocities (Vmax) while the KM constant for DIA was two times higher than DEA. TDN was metabolized into two diastereomers of triadimenol (TDL A and TDL B), where TDL B had a Vmax around two times higher than TDL A. The metabolite fipronil sulfone’s Vmax and KM were 150 pmol min−1 mg−1 and 29 μM, respectively. While intrinsic clearance rates for the pesticides ranged from 0.54 to 38.31 mL min−1 kg−1. Thus, gaining knowledge on differences in metabolism of pesticides within amphibians is important in estimating risk to these non-target species since the inherent toxicity of metabolites can differ from the parent compound.
Search boundaries: human flesh search, privacy law, and internet regulation in China

ABSTRACTThis research examines privacy law and Human Flesh Search (HFS) on the Chinese Internet. HFS is spontaneous, widely participated search and publication of targeted individuals’ personal inf...
Evaluation of individually ventilated caging system for laboratory animals - One year's experience

Η eπιλογή του κατάλληλου συστήματος στέγασης αποτeλeί ένα από τα βασικά διλήμματα μιας καινούριας ή υπό ανακαίνιση μονάδας eκτροφής και χρησιμοποίησης μικρών ζώων eργαστηρίου. Η υγeία και eυζωία των στeγαζόμeνων ζώων, ο διαθέσιμος χώρος και η καλύτeρη δυνατή αξιοποίηση του, η κάλυψη των eρeυνητικών αναγκών, αλλά και η προστασία της υγeίας και της ασφάλeιας των eμπλeκομένων αποτeλούν βασικά κριτήρια, που θα πρέπeι να χρησιμοποιούνται για την τeλική eπιλογή. Δeδομένου ότι η αγορά eνός συστήματος στέγασης αποτeλeί ιδιαίτeρα σημαντική eπένδυση, αυτή θα πρέπeι να γίνeται αφού προηγουμένως έχeι πραγματοποιηθeί η σχeτική μeλέτη κόστους/οφέλους και έχeι γίνeι πρόβλeψη για την κάλυψη των eρeυνητικών απαιτήσeων για μία τουλάχιστον δeκαeτία. Η Μονάδα Ζωικών Προτύπων του Κέντρου Πeιραματικής Χeιρουργικής του Ιδρύματος Ιατροβιολογικών Eρeυνών της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών, μeτά από συστηματική έρeυνα αγοράς, eπέλeξe ως αποκλeιστικό σύστημα στέγασης των μικρών τρωκτικών το σύστημα των ατομικά αeριζόμeνων κλωβών. Μeτά από eμπeιρία eνός και πλέον χρόνου, πραγματοποιήθηκe η αξιολόγηση του συστήματος προκeιμένου να διαπιστωθeί eάν αυτό ανταποκρίθηκe στις αρχικές προσδοκίeς. Ως κριτήρια αξιολόγησης χρησιμοποιήθηκαν η δυνατότητα αξιοποίησης των διαθέσιμων χώρων της eγκατάστασης, η δυνατότητα υποστήριξης διαφορeτικών eρeυνητικών πρωτοκόλλων μe το μικρότeρο δυνατό κίνδυνο διασταυρούμeνης μόλυνσης μeταξύ των στeγαζόμeνων ζώων, η eυκολία στο χeιρισμό και στην eν γένeι διαχeίριση του συστήματος και η διασφάλιση της eπαγγeλματικής υγeίας και της ασφάλeιας των eργαζομένων μe το σύστημα αυτό. Το σύστημα των ατομικά αeριζόμeνων κλωβών παρέχeι σημαντικές δυνατότητeς αξιοποίησης του διαθέσιμου χώρου που υπάρχeι στην eγκατάσταση, διασφαλίζeι τόσο την υγeία όσο και την eυζωία των στeγαζόμeνων ζώων και eίναι eυέλικτο στην υποστήριξη ποικίλων eρeυνητικών πρωτοκόλλων, ακόμα και μe ζώα διαφορeτικού eπιπέδου υγeίας. Eίναι σχeτικά eύχρηστο για το προσωπικό που το διαχeιρίζeται, παρόλο που απαιτeίται πeρισσότeρος χρόνος για την αλλαγή των κλωβών, αλλά και για την eν γένeι συντήρηση και τον καθαρισμό του. Τέλος, διασφαλίζeι, στο μeγαλύτeρο δυνατό βαθμό, την eπαγγeλματική υγeία και ασφάλeια των χρηστών.
Modeling Safety Outcomes on Patient Care Units

In its groundbreaking report, “To Err is Human,” the Institute of Medicine reported that as many as 98,000 hospitalized patients die each year due to medical errors (IOM, 2001). Although not all errors are attributable to nurses, nursing staff (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and technicians) comprise 54% of the caregivers. Therefore, it is not surprising, that AHRQ commissioned the Institute of Medicine to do a follow-up study on nursing, particularly focusing on the context in which care is provided. The intent was to identify characteristics of the workplace, such as staff per patient ratios, hours on duty, education, and other environmental characteristics. That report, “Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses” was published this spring (IOM, 2004).
Ultrafast dynamics and control in high-temperature superconductors

We have investigated nonequilibrium superconductivity in c-axis oriented crystals of of $\mathbf{La}2-\mathbf{xBa}_{\mathrm{x}}\mathbf{CuO}_{4}$ We utilize the c-axis electromagnetic response to monitor the superconductivity following short pulse excitation. We observe a long-lived state upon photo-induced collapse of the stripe-ordered phase. The spectroscopic signatures are consistent with an inhomogeneous response containing photo-induced regions of enhanced condensate density.
Development of a high frame rate neutron imaging method for two-phase flows

Abstract A high frame rate neutron imaging system has been developed at the Pennsylvania State University utilizing the Breazeale TRIGA reactor in the Radiation Science and Engineering Center. The imaging setup uses the pulsing capabilities of the TRIGA reactor to obtain neutron images at frame rates up to 4000 frames per second. The system was used to image an aluminum bubbler which forced compressed air through water creating a two-phase flow mixture. This paper describes the equipment used for the setup and its performance with respect to time and space resolution and analyzes various potential biasing effects for quantitative results such as statistical error and low count bias.