cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Passive Generation of Droplets in Mini and Microchannels

Microfluidic systems generating droplets by oil and aqueous solutions have shown great promise in biochemical and chemical applications, each drop acting as a micro reaction vessel. A popular approach utilizes dual flow of immiscible fluids in microchannels, producing droplets by shear forces at the liquid interfaces. These systems require precise, computer controlled flow, and the resulting drops continue to move, and so are hard to localize. We have developed a unique method to generate an array of precision microdroplets on a plate that does not require careful fluid control and places the drops at specific, predetermined locations. The method utilizes geometric design of a channel to introduce instabilities in a column of water at predetermined locations with predetermined volumes ranging from a few nanoliters to microliters. Droplets form as a result of channel design, not as a result of fluid flow. Different drops can be set up at different locations and volume, then fused together to initiate a reaction. These micro-droplet arrays can be set up by hand in under one minute and can be used for high throughput or combinatorial experiments.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Solid deuterium evaporation in a fusion plasma

The high-speed ballistic injection of a solid spherical pellet of deuterium into a thermonuclear reactor plasma is studied to determine the feasibility of this technique for controlled thermonuclear reactor fuelling. An evaporation wave front is driven into the solid by the ambient particle energy flux which evaporates the surface of the solid. This evaporated pellet material is an ionized plasma the temperature of which is initially of the order of 104 °K. About one half of the input power to the pellet is convected away by the expanding warm plasma cloud. This evaporated plasma cloud then helps shield the pellet surface from the incident reactor electrons. The dynamics of this pellet evaporation, the expanding plasma cloud, and its shielding effect are studied in detail.The trajectory of the pellet and the deposition of the evaporated material are analysed for the case of high-speed injection into a fusion plasma having a density profile which is characteristic of a large reactor. Sufficient pellet penetration can be achieved by this means at relatively small power expenditure, but very-high-voltage particle acceleration is required to achieve the needed input velocity.
Spatial multimodal mean background model for real-time MTI

One of the important tasks in video surveillance is to detect and track targets moving independently in a scene. Most real-time research to date has focused on scenarios from stationary cameras where there is limited movement in the background, such as videos taken at traffic lights or from buildings where there is no background proximal to the background. A more robust method is needed when there are moving background objects such as trees or flags close in the camera or when the camera is moving. In this paper we first introduce a variant of the multimodal mean (MM) background model that we call the spatial multimodal mean (SMM) background model that is better suited for these scenarios while improving the speed of the mixture of Gaussians (MoG) background model. It approximates the multimodal MoG background with the generalization that each pixel has a random spatial distribution. The SMM background model is well suited for real-time nonstationary scenes since it models each pixel with a spatial distribution and the simplifications make it computationally feasible to apply image transformations. We then describe how this can be integrated into a real-time MTI system that does not require the estimation of depth.
Nonequilibrium phonon spectroscopy: A new technique for studying intervalley scattering in semiconductors

We present a new technique for studying intervalley scattering of hot carriers by phonons in direct-band-gap semiconductors. This technique utilizes the nonequilibrium optical-phonon population generated by the relaxation of photoexcited hot carriers as an internal probe of intervalley scattering of hot carriers. As an illustration of this technique the deformation potentials of intervalley electron-phonon interactions in GaAs have been deduced. Our results are in good agreement with values measured by other methods.
Tantalum-Ruthenium diffusion barriers for contacts to SiC

Tantalum-ruthenium diffusion barriers for contacts to SiC were investigated in this work. Stable specific contact resistances of (2 ± 1) x 10-5 Ω cm2 and (4 ± 2) x 10-5 Ω cm2 were measured on p-type 4H SiC for Al/Ni and Ni ohmic contacts, respectively, when they were beneath Ru-rich Ta-Ru barriers aged at 350 °C for 3000 h in air. Annealed Ni ohmic contacts on n-SiC aged at 350 °C in air for 1000 h (the longest time tested) are also very stable. Pull tests revealed greatly improved adhesion between layers in metallization stacks that contained Ta-Ru barriers in place of previously studied Ta-Ru-N barriers. A 5 nm Ta layer inserted between the Ru-rich Ta-Ru barriers and Au was found to further improve the adhesion of the metallization stacks.
Collagen and bone

It has been pointed out by Gross1 that one incentive for studying collagen intensively is the possibility that such knowledge eventually might be applied in the fight against congenital malformations, rheu­ matic diseases and aging. From the point of view of dentistry, chronic destructive periodontal disease should be added to this list. There is little doubt that true understanding and control of periodontal disease will depend in part on the devel­ opment of new knowledge concerning collagen, connective tissue and bone. This review attempts to cite some of the cur­ rent literature concerning these tissues.
Error growth in position estimation from noisy relative pose measurements

We examine how the estimation error grows with time when a mobile robot estimates its location from relative pose measurements without global position or orientation sensors. We show that, in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional space, both the bias and the variance of the position estimation error grows at most linearly with time asymptotically. Non-asymptotic bounds on the bias and variance are obtained, which provide insight into the mechanism of error growth. The bias is crucially dependent on the trajectory of the robot. Conclusions on the asymptotic growth rate of the bias continue to hold even with unbiased measurements or error-free translation measurements. Exact formulas for the bias and the variance of the position estimation error are provided for two specific two-dimensional trajectories-straight line and periodic. Experiments with a P3-DX wheeled robot and Monte Carlo simulations are provided to verify the theoretical predictions. A method to reduce the bias is proposed based on the lessons learned.
Anoxia tolerance and freeze tolerance in hatchling turtles.

Freezing survival in hatchling turtles may be limited by ischemic anoxia in frozen tissues and the associated accumulation of lactate and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To determine whether mechanisms for coping with anoxia are also important in freeze tolerance, we examined the association between capacities for freezing survival and anoxia tolerance in hatchlings of seven species of turtles. Tolerance to freezing (−2.5°C) was high in Emydoidea blandingii, Chrysemys picta, Terrapene ornata, and Malaclemys terrapin and low in Graptemys geographica, Chelydra serpentina, and Trachemys scripta. Hatchlings survived in a N2 atmosphere at 4°C for periods ranging from 17 d (M. terrapin) to 50 d (G. geographica), but survival time was not associated with freeze tolerance. Lactate accumulated during both stresses, but plasma levels in frozen/thawed turtles were well below those found in anoxia-exposed animals. Activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase in liver increased markedly with anoxia exposure in most species, but increased with freezing/thawing only in species with low freeze tolerance. Our results suggest that whereas oxygen deprivation occurs during somatic freezing, freeze tolerance is not limited by anoxia tolerance in hatchling turtles.
Epitaxial film silicon solar cells fabricated by hot wire chemical vapor deposition below 750°C

We report the fabrication of film c-Si solar cells on Si wafer templates by hot wire chemical vapor deposition. These devices, grown at glass-compatible temperatures below 750° C, demonstrate open-circuit voltages greater than 500 mV and efficiencies above 5%. Analysis of the device characteristics and quantum efficiency provides important information about the epitaxial c-Si absorber material quality as a function of growth temperature.
Effects of Nebulization Time and Pressure on Lipid Microtubule Suspension and Aerosol

Lipid microtubules have been suggested as possible drug delivery vehicles in aerosol therapy applications. In our previous work it was shown that tubules of respirable size were aerosolizable from a standard Collison-type air-jet nebulizer. In this work, the effects of nebulization time and pressure on lipid tubules of 1, 2-bis(10, 12-tricosadiynoyl)- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8 , 9PC) are examined. Tubules were formed in a 55 percent ethanol:water solution, centrifuged and washed to remove the alcohol, aerosolized at 10, 20, or 30 psi pressure for 60 min using a 3-jet Collison air jet nebulizer, and sampled into an API Aerosizer time-of-flight analyzer at 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min nebulization time. Aliquots of tubule suspension were withdrawn from the nebulizer reservoir at the same intervals for length distribution evaluation by light microscopy. Aerosol was also sampled over the 60-min period using a Stober spiral duct centrifuge and the deposited particles optically sized and counted to p...
Thermochemical Investigations of Associated Solutions: 5. Calculation of Solute-Solvent Equilibrium Constants from Solubility in Mixtures Containing Two Complexing Solvents

Abstract Solubilities are reported for carbazole in binary dibutyl ether plus 1-chlorohexane mixtures at 25°C. Results of these measurements are compared with solution models developed for solubility in systems containing specific solute-solvent interactions. A simple stoichiometric complexation model based on a 1:1 carbazole:dibutyl ether complex could describe the measured solubility to within an average absolute deviation of 1.7%. The calculated equilibrium constant, though, was about one-half of values previously determined from carbazole solubilities in several binary dibutyl ether plus alkane mixtures. A more sophisticated solution model, derived by assuming both 1:1 carbazole: dibutyl ether and carbazole:chlorohexane complexes, could describe the solubilities to within 2.4%. This latter model enables the carbazolechlorohexane association constant to be calculated from experimental carbazole solubilities and a priori knowledge of the carbazole-dibutyl ether equilibrium constant.
EVOLVING NEEDS FOR AN IMPROBED ENGINEERING DESIGN EDUCATION

Numerous discussions have taken place in recent years in Canada between industry and academia on the need for more input on engineering design education. Typically, industry representatives have indicated satisfaction with the level of basic science education and problem solving capability in existing baccalaureate engineering degree programs. The most dissatisfaction has focused on the “soft” skills of interpersonal relationships, communications skills and a dearth of skill levels in software designs tools (CAD, CAM, CAE).
A visualization environment for supercomputing-based applications in computational mechanics

The authors characterize a visualization environment that has been designed and prototyped for a large community of scientists and engineers, with an emphasis in supercomputing-based computational mechanics. The proposed environment makes use of a visualization server concept to provide effective, interactive visualization to the user's desktop. Benefits of using the visualization server approach are discussed. Some thoughts regarding desirable features for visualization server hardware architectures are also addressed. A brief discussion of the software environment is included. The authors summarize certain observations which they have made regarding the implementation of such visualization environments.
Telomerase enzyme activation and human cell immortalization

Activity of telomerase, the enzyme that synthesizes the telomere ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes, is repressed in most normal human somatic cells but induced in most human cancers. Normal human cells that lack telomerase activity progressively lose telomere sequences. In contrast, most immortalized cell lines and malignant human tumors appear to maintain constant telomere length via telomerase activity. Telomerase is composed of at least two subunits, an RNA subunit that templates telomere synthesis, and a catalytic protein subunit. The gene encoding the catalytic protein subunit of telomerase has recently been identified, first in yeast and ciliates and then in humans. This catalytic subunit belongs to the reverse transcriptase family. Studies of telomerase subunits further define a role for telomerase in the control of mammalian cell lifespan. The expression of the human telomerase catalytic subunit gene, hTERT, is induced in immortalized cells and primary tumors. When hTERT is ectopically expressed in hitherto telomerase-negative cells, telomerase enzyme activity appears, and an extended lifespan has been observed in some cells. In contrast, disruption of the mouse telomerase RNA subunit gene, mTERC, results in a delayed failure of cell proliferation. Telomerase activity therefore appears to be necessary for the prolonged survival of mammalian cells.
Hydrogen Fluoride–Antimony(V) Fluoride

(HF) [7664-39-3] FH (MW 20.01) InChI = 1S/FH/h1H InChIKey = KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (SbF5) [7783-70-2] F5Sb (MW 216.75) InChI = 1S/5FH.Sb/h5*1H;/q;;;;;+5/p-5 InChIKey = VBVBHWZYQGJZLR-UHFFFAOYSA-I (HSbF6) [16950-06-4] F6HSb (MW 236.76) (strong liquid superacid system, used as a catalyst for Friedel–Crafts reactions, isomerization, polymerization, and other acid-related chemistry; efficient for preparation of carbocations and onium ions and their salts1) Alternate Name: fluoroantimonic acid; hexafluoroantimonic acid. Physical Data: HF, bp −19.5 °C; SbF5, bp 149.5 °C. Form Supplied in: HF, gas; SbF5, viscous liquid. Both are commercially available. Preparative Methods: HF/SbF5 is prepared by mixing required amounts of freshly distilled Hydrogen Fluoride and Antimony(V) Fluoride at low temperature.2 The reaction is exothermic and must be carried out with careful temperature control. The reagent can also be prepared in situ in the reaction flask. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: HF/SbF5 is extremely corrosive, toxic, and moisture sensitive. It fumes when exposed to air; thus it should be stored under anhydrous conditions in a Teflon bottle and handled with gloves in a well-ventilated fume hood.
DETERMINATION OF MASS TRANSPORT PARAMETERS FOR FIXED-BED ADSORBERS

An innovative technique has been developed for determination of external (“film”) and internal (“intraparticle”) mass transport parameters associated with uptake of solutes by porous solids in fixed-bed adsorbers. These parameters are required for predictive modeling of the dynamics of such systems as activated carbon columns and ion exchange beds. Current methods for evaluation of film transfer coefficients and effective intraparticle diffusivities involve correlation procedures and separate batch-reactor measurements of adsorption rates, respectively. These methods frequently introduce and compound significant errors in subsequent predictive modeling Tor full-scale process design. The present work develops a method by which, on the basis of the characteristics of breakthrough curves measured in specially designed micro-columns, more accurate and reliable simultaneous determinations of both film transfer coefficients and effective surface diffusivities can be done. Verification of the procedure is demons...
Improvement on chip-level electrothermal simulator-ILLIADS-T

In this paper, improvements on the previously developed chip-level electrothermal simulator, ILLIADS-T, are presented. The improved version (ILLIADS-T2) enhances the efficiency during uncoupled electrothermal simulations by taking advantage of the potential latency of circuit blocks. The generalized variable-grid system for numerically simulating heat flow in composite materials is also developed and presented.
Ribonucleic acid polymerase activity in Sendai virions and nucleocapsid.

Abstract After dissociation of purified Sendai virus with the neutral detergent Nonidet P-40 and 2-mercaptoethanol, it catalyzed the incorporation of ribonucleoside triphosphates into an acid-insoluble product. The enzyme activity was associated with viral nucleocapsid as well as whole virions. The reaction product was ribonucleic acid (RNA) which annealed specifically with virion RNA. Sedimentation of the 3H-RNA reaction product revealed two components, a 45S component with properties of double-stranded RNA and 4 to 6S component which appeared to be mostly single-stranded RNA.
Wireless services and intelligent vehicle transportation systems

This paper examines the upcoming world of Wireless Services and Intelligent Vehicle Transportation System (IVTS). Recent advances in powerful and miniature computing, and transceiver technology, is enabling more technology to be placed inside a vehicle. The wireless sensors and transceivers onboard individual cars can communicate with other cars, or with the road. The information collected by individual vehicle, as well as those distributed by a central transportation control communication system can help to reduce accidents and time wasted in traffic congestion. This paper describes what exactly an intelligent vehicle highway system is. Furthermore, the pieces of technology needed to make this intelligent vehicle transportation system will be examined. The benefits of deploying this system, such as reduced traffic congestion, increased driving efficiency, and accident avoidance are discussed. Finally, the cost to deploy such project is analyzed and compared to the potential savings gained from reduced accidents, and fewer peoples' time wasted in traffic gridlock. The paper concludes with issues and challenges that need to be resolved in order to have a fully functional IVTS.
Basin-scale reconstruction of the geological context of human settlement: an example from the lower Mississippi Valley, USA

Abstract Large river valleys integrate hydroclimatic change differently than smaller ones. Whereas sedimentary deposits in smaller valleys serve to record temporally short-lived and/or low-amplitude hydrological and geomorphic responses, larger valleys are relatively insensitive to changes at these scales. However, because of their size, larger valleys archive sedimentary records of longer-term, geographically extensive flooding and climate-related landscape evolution. Recent work in the Upper Tensas Basin of the lower Mississippi River Valley, USA, demonstrates the utility of analyzing sediments from a large, geomorphically and fluvially complex river basin as a proxy for significant climatic and landscape changes and their relation to human history. A ∼6000 year sedimentary archive is used to explore the interplay between climate change, landscape evolution, and human responses to changing environmental parameters. Once the Mississippi River basin stabilized following glacial retreat and deceleration of sea-level rise, the history of the river and its inhabitants was dominated by long periods of landscape stability punctuated by episodes of significant landform alteration. Modifications of the landscape are correlated with intervals of rapid climate change recorded in globally distributed multiproxy data sets. Periods of significant landscape instability and fluvial re-adjustment are recorded for the periods ca 4800–3800, 3000–2500, and 1000–800 cal BP. These punctuations in the history of the lower Mississippi Valley are related to periods of major cultural transformation and suggest climate change plays a significant role in the long-term history of human occupation in this river valley. This research demonstrates how geoarcheology can provide information on human–environmental relationships and long-term landscape histories at temporal and spatial scales relevant to understanding cultural responses to climate change.
Figures of merit for system path time estimation

A model to help in the evaluation of various technologies for large systems is presented. The space modeled is considered to be made up of a number of VLSI chips sufficient to comprise a CPU and cache arranged on a single planar package. The inputs consist of technology constraints and system design parameters. From these, a number of design characteristics are computed based on formulas derived from relationships observed in previous generations of large systems, and a system path-time figure of merit is then calculated. With some additional simplifying assumptions, several technology figures of merit can be derived. These include a measure of circuit density in circuits/ns/sup 2/, a generalized power-delay-cooling figure of merit, and a technology figure of merit involving the ratio of circuit delay to circuits/ns/sup 2/. The relationship of these to several existing chip and package technology figures of merit is also discussed. >
A semi-empirical sea-spectrum model for scattering coefficient estimation

A semi-empirical sea-spectrum model is proposed to be used in a two-scale radar sea scatter model to obtain estimates of radar backscatter over the frequency bands L to Ku , the incidence angular range 20\deg-65\deg , the azimuth angular range 0\deg-180\deg from the wind direction and wind speed range 3.5-30 m/s at 19.5 m above the mean sea level. It is shown that the theoretical estimates obtained are consistent with the existing measurements.
p53 Regulation Goes Live—Mdm2 and MdmX Co-Star: Lessons Learned from Mouse Modeling

Classically, p53 is considered to be an overarching tumor suppressor gene, important in its role as a transcription factor for a number of genes critical for cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and senescence. More recently, the scope of p53 function has been further broadened, with evidence emerging that supports essential roles for p53 in reproduction and metabolism. The homologous proteins Mdm2 and MdmX function as the primary negative regulators of p53 stability and activity. Canonically, Mdm2 is thought to regulate p53 through 2 mechanisms: 1) through directly binding the p53 transactivation domain, suppressing p53 activity, and 2) through functioning as an E3 ubiquitin ligase capable of ubiquitinating p53, targeting it for nuclear export and degradation. MdmX similarly functions to bind the p53 transactivation domain; however, it is not characterized to harbor any intrinsic E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Despite extensive study, the advent of a number of mouse models has brought to light the necessity of studying the p53 pathway at physiological levels and emphasized the major differences that can exist between in vitro and in vivo analysis. While many questions remain, a focus on the use of in vivo models in p53 study is providing a clearer view of how this pathway is regulated, with a newfound emphasis on the role of the Mdm2:MdmX heterodimer, and with that a better understanding of how this pathway could be better manipulated for therapeutic gains.
Odontogenic and Non-odontogenic Pain

It is important for the clinician to recognize basic terminology associated with the peripheral nervous system and the biology of pain. This chapter describes the significance of allodynia, hyperalgesia, and central and peripheral sensitization. These terms are important because clinicians rely on clinical tests to evaluate the status of the pulp and periapical tissues. Hyperalgesia, allodynia, and central and peripheral sensitization are important findings during the diagnostic process.
SNP-SNP Interactions between dNTP Supply Enzymes and Mismatch DNA Repair in Breast Cancer

The dNTP supply system genes RRM1, DCTD, TYMS, TK1 and DCK balance dNTP pools to avoid incorrect insertions of bases (i.e. DNA mismatches) and the DNA mismatch repair system genes MLH1 and MSH2 are involved in removing such mismatches. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of interactions between these two systems, since greater mismatch production rates are expected to be more detrimental in cells that also have compromised mismatch removal rates. This conjecture was explored here specifically with respect to the development of breast cancer. More than 2400 breast cancer cases and controls are included in the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility (CGEMS) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset. For each of these individuals, a total of 99 SNPs (69 dNTP supply SNPs and 30 mismatch repair SNPs) and 2070 SNP-SNP interactions between these two groups were evaluated for their effect on breast cancer using logistic regression to compute odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Of these, 12 SNPs had found statistically significant associations with breast cancer individually (Four of them to decrease risk and eight of them to increase risk) and 697 of 2070 two-way interactions were significant associated with the risk of breast cancer. Thus, our study suggests that mismatches contribute to the formation of breast cancer.
The Social Mobility of the Haratine and the Re‐Working of Bourdieu's Habitus on the Saharan Frontier, Morocco

In this article, I examine the practical relevance of Bourdieu's notion of Habitus in understanding the relationship between the acquisition of land and the transformation of political and social relations of subordination in the stratified communities of southern Morocco. First, I claim that the acquisition of land by the Haratine, a subordinate and low-status ethnic group, means more than just a simple economic transaction, and land serves as the very basis for changing the political relations of subordination. Second, I argue that the Haratine strategy of land acquisition was made possible by the intervention of the central state in the local power structure during and after the French colonial period. When these transformations were coupled with labor possibilities made available by national and transnational migration, the market game was opened to the Haratine, who could draw on the accumulation to improve their political and social standing. This also meant that the autonomy of the local community was lost forever, and the traditional nobility of Berbers and Arabs was no longer able to exclude the subalterns by extra-economic or legal means. [Arabs, Berbers, Bourdieu, Habitus, Haratine, Morocco]
A coherent fiber-optic link with optical-domain down-conversion and digital demodulation

Frequency down-conversion is an essential element of radar signal processing. Classical electronic down-conversion using heterodyne mixing, however, introduces unavoidable non-linearities resulting in inter-modulation distortion and conversion loss. In this paper we describe a hybrid optical/digital downconversion technique that is free of distortion and conversion loss. Experimental results are presented showing proof-of-concept operation limited to the dynamic range of the A/Ds that were available for the experiment. The ultimate goal is to attain an SFDR of 150 dB-Hz2/3 or higher across an instantaneous bandwidth of 1 GHz for a microwave carrier up to 100 GHz.
A Proposed Allocation of Distributable Net Income to the Separate Shares of a Trust or Estate that Eliminates Inequities Under the Regulations Upon the Receipt of Tax-Exempt Interest, Upon Express Distributions of Income in Respect of a Decedent, or Upon Discretionary Distributions of Principal

This article proposes an allocation of distributable net income (DNI) to the separate shares of a trust or estate to replace the regulations' existing allocation, which produces the following inequities. First, by excluding tax-exempt interest from the allocation of DNI to the separate shares of trust or estate, the regulations artificially decrease the taxable income of the trust or estate and artificially increase the taxable income of the separate shares of the trust or estate. Second, by allocating the DNI attributable to income in respect of a decedent (IRD) pro rata to the separate shares that could potentially be funded with such IRD, the regulations produce two inequities: (1) a distribution of IRD other than to a separate share artificially decreases the non-separate share recipient of IRD's taxable income and artificially increases the separate shares' taxable income, and (2) an express distribution of IRD or a non-pro rata distribution of principal artificially decreases the taxable income of any recipient of either such distribution and artificially increases the taxable income of any person who is not such a recipient. This article's proposed allocation prevents the foregoing inequities and should replace the existing allocation in the regulations.
Stuart Hall: Re-reading Cultural Identity, Diaspora, and Film

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on Stuart Hall's interdisciplinary theoretical work on race, class, and representation in 1980s Britain and his engagement with the wider arts and film culture. In this postcolonial and postwar period of U.K. history, Hall's theoretical work on emerging cultural identity, his role as public intellectual and connotative presence on the TV screen, and frequent interventions into public debate helped shape and advance the development of emerging Black identity in Britain. This article explores the ways in which Hall's work accomplished these things from the 1980s through the development of cultural theory, while also raising key questions on the role of film art in the formation and articulation of Black diaspora identity. There is further inquiry into the role of experimental and conventional forms of cinematic language for the development and expression of emerging identity in 1980s Britain, and the role of public and private funding for the development of Black British cinema....
Mathematical Foundations for Mathematics

(1971). Mathematical Foundations for Mathematics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 463-487.
Laboratory measurements of contact nucleation by mineral dusts, bacteria, and soluble salts

We present results from experiments that emulate atmospheric ice nucleation by aerosols. We have refined experimental techniques to improve measurements of ice forming nuclei in the contact mode. Our results show that atmospherically relevant dusts such as kaolinite, feldspar, rhyolitic ash, and Arizona Test Dust have efficiencies in the contact mode that are higher than the immersion mode. Experiments with bacteria show that biological material has the potential to contribute significantly to ice concentrations, but has large variability. By choosing a soluble compound as an ice nucleus, we are able to place bounds on the timescale for contact freezing and estimate the nucleation time from impact to be 10−9 seconds. Finally, we conclude that the contact mode can increase nucleation rates in two ways: by the creation of a triple-phase line with an insoluble nucleus, or by the collision event.
Counseling Veterans Applying for Service Connection Status for Mental Health Conditions.

Veterans with mental health conditions that were either caused or aggravated by their military service are eligible to receive service-connected disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The process of applying for service connection status is complex, and it is not surprising that veterans frequently develop beliefs about service connection that may not be accurate and that could interfere with treatment. The authors describe some of these beliefs and offer suggestions to clinicians for addressing them. Veterans may believe that their clinician is directly involved in service connection determination or that therapy notes will determine the outcome of the claim. Veterans may not understand the basis for award of service connection and may interpret rejection of their claim as reflecting disrespect for their service or degree of distress. The authors argue that discussing these beliefs with veterans might enhance therapy by demonstrating familiarity with an important aspect of veterans’...
David Oliver: Reducing delays in hospitals

I’ve written before about rising demand for acute care in the United Kingdom, insufficient capacity in community services, delayed transfers of care, and the comparatively low number and high occupancy of hospital beds.1 2 3 4 But hospitals shouldn’t default to blaming other services. Some of the major variation in bed occupancy among hospitals might be explained by what happens there—our internal processes and delays.5 6 7 > Hospitals shouldn’t default to blaming other services Here are some suggestions on how we might tackle the problems, but I’m hardly alone in making …
Neurohormonal activation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) develops when cardiac output falls as a result of cardiac injury. The most well-recognized of the compensatory homeostatic responses to a fall in cardiac output are activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). In the short term, these 'neurohormonal' systems induce a number of changes in the heart, kidneys, and vasculature that are designed to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis. However, with chronic activation, these responses result in haemodynamic stress and exert deleterious effects on the heart and the circulation. Neurohormonal activation is now known to be one of the most important mechanisms underlying the progression of heart failure, and therapeutic antagonism of neurohormonal systems has become the cornerstone of contemporary pharmacotherapy for heart failure. In this Review, we discuss the effects of neurohormonal activation in HFrEF and highlight the mechanisms by which these systems contribute to disease progression.
Plato in the Academy

The failures of the Socratic method and the reasons for those failures may or may not have been what consciously motivated Plato to establish the Academy in about 387. He, like Gorgias’s student Isocrates only three years before, may have been responding to the abhorrent condition of education in Athens, described by Isocrates in Against the Sophists: If all who are engaged in the profession of education were willing to state the facts instead of making greater promises than they can possibly fulfil, they would not be in such bad repute with the lay-public.As it is, however, the teachers who do not scruple to vaunt their powers with utter disregard of the truth have created the impression that those who choose a life of careless indolence are better advised than those who devote themselves to serious study.(291.1,Norlin tr.)
A novel technique of needle setting for curvilinear endobronchial ultrasound: Improved efficiency with no cost.

Background:Standard instructions for biopsy using the convex curvilinear endobronchial ultrasound scope include visualization and adjustment of the sheath housing the biopsy needle before every pun...
Public provision of postsecondary education for transition-age youth with mental health conditions.

OBJECTIVE We examine the role of state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies (SVRA) in providing postsecondary education support to transition-age youth with and without mental health conditions (MHC) to provide insights into who receives such supports and the association between the receipt of postsecondary education support and successful VR exits. METHOD We used data from SVRA administrative records (fiscal years 2002 through 2013) for a secondary analytical approach that relied on descriptive and regression methods, resulting in the identification of 436,883 VR youth clients who applied from 2002 to 2004. Linear regression models examined the relationships between youth demographic and service characteristics and each of 4 binary outcomes derived from the administrative records: (1) receipt of VR services, (2) receipt of college support (conditional on receiving services), (3) receipt of vocational training support (conditional on receiving services), and (4) exiting with employment. RESULTS SVRAs had a wide range in the provision of postsecondary education support to clients with MHC, from almost none receiving such supports to more than half. VR youth clients with MHC were less likely than those without MHC to have received any VR services or college support. Receipt of postsecondary education support was positively associated with being employed at the time of VR exit, and the associations for those with MHC were not statistically different from those without MHC. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE SVRAs have the potential to play a large role in the provision of postsecondary education support. Although those who received postsecondary education support were more likely to be employed at the time of VR exit, the provision of that support came at a cost-the high financial costs of that type of support relative to other services offered by SVRAs, as well as the opportunity cost of the client's time. (PsycINFO Database Record
Boosting the Availability of Trade Finance: A Priority in the Current Crisis?

Economists disagree on the role trade finance played in the recent collapse in world trade. In contrast, policy makers seem to have reached a consensus. In a nutshell, their reasoning is that trade finance is the lifeline of international trade. The decline in trade is larger than what would be expected given the drop in global output. So part of the fall in trade reflects a shortage of trade finance, which could amplify and extend the plunge in trade and make the current crisis worse. Hence, boosting the availability of trade finance has to be part of the international response to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the claims underpinning this storyline and highlight the uncertainties on the role trade finance played in the current crisis. An updated version of this article was published as "Why Boosting the Availability of Trade Finance Became a Priority during the 2008-09 Crisis," Chapter 14 of J.P. Chauffour and M. Malouche (eds) "Trade Finance during the Great Trade Collapse" Washington, DC: World Bank, 2011
Dermatology and the Oesophagus

Diseases of the oesophagus can occur in association with skin diseases. Even though these conditions are rare, identification of this association is important. Skin manifestation of gastrointestinal disease is easy to recognise and facilitates the diagnosis of these conditions. An awareness of oesophageal disease in association with dermatological disease helps in early recognition and management of gastrointestinal disease. The involvement of the oesophagus is usually immune mediated as a result of infection. Immune-mediated disease mainly involves the mucosa followed by muscular layer and rarely causes vasculitis. Diagnosis of mucosal disease is confirmed principally with oesophagoscopy and that of muscular involvement with manometry. The characteristic features seen in various conditions are described further. Management of the primary condition is the mainstay of treatment, and specific management of various conditions is outlined.
Effects of Fetal Programming on Metabolic Syndrome

The concept of developmental origins of health and disease conveys the notion that the exposure to an unfavorable environment during pregnancy and lactation programs changes in fetal or neonatal metabolism, which in turn increases the risks of developing diseases in adult life. The evidence for fetal programming for metabolic diseases derives from a large number of epidemiological and animal observations. Several nutritional interventions and exposures during diverse phases of pregnancy and lactation in rodents and humans, respectively, are associated with fetal and neonatal programming for metabolic syndrome. In this chapter, we revisit epidemiological studies and experimental models providing evidence for the fetal programming associated with the development of metabolic diseases.
Seeing and Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners

Through a four-part discussion, this essay advocates for seeing the characteristics and special needs of gifted students with disabilities and using best practices to support their learning. Part 1...
Neurolinguistic processing when the brain matures without language.

Abstract The extent to which development of the brain language system is modulated by the temporal onset of linguistic experience relative to post-natal brain maturation is unknown. This crucial question cannot be investigated with the hearing population because spoken language is ubiquitous in the environment of newborns. Deafness blocks infants' language experience in a spoken form, and in a signed form when it is absent from the environment. Using anatomically constrained magnetoencephalography, aMEG, we neuroimaged lexico-semantic processing in a deaf adult whose linguistic experience began in young adulthood. Despite using language for 30 years after initially learning it, this individual exhibited limited neural response in the perisylvian language areas to signed words during the 300–400 ms temporal window, suggesting that the brain language system requires linguistic experience during brain growth to achieve functionality. The present case study primarily exhibited neural activations in response to signed words in dorsolateral superior parietal and occipital areas bilaterally, replicating the neural patterns exhibited by two previously case studies who matured without language until early adolescence (Ferjan Ramirez N, Leonard MK, Torres C, Hatrak M, Halgren E, Mayberry RI. 2014). The dorsal pathway appears to assume the task of processing words when the brain matures without experiencing the form-meaning network of a language.
Police corruption: preventing misconduct and maintaining integrity

Initially, I was worried by the dated nature of this book; however, for reasons I will explain within this review, Prenzler’s Police Corruption is timeless. Moreover, the information presented in t...
Getting Comfortable with Discomfort: Preparing Counselor Trainees to Broach Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Factors with Clients during Counseling.

Counselors’ considerations of racial and cultural factors in the lives and experiences of clients enhances counseling outcomes. Acknowledgement of cultural factors enhances counselor credibility, client satisfaction, and the depth of client disclosure. This article opens with an overview of the Continuum of Broaching Behavior (Day-Vines et al. 2007), continues with a case illustration that enumerates categories along the continuum, provides empirical support for the continuum, and closes with a set of instructional strategies for counselor educators to infuse within a multicultural counseling course.
Increasing manufacturing flexibility through battery management of automated guided vehicles

Flexibility of a system that uses automated guided vehicles (AGVs) is explored.Improving manufacturing flexibility through battery management of AGVs is proposed.Productivity increases if the duration of battery charging is reduced for the AGVs.Proposed mechanism is quite effective to improve productivity in the short-run. Purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of increasing manufacturing capacities in the short run through battery management of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The paper investigates how the duration of battery charging for AGVs can be varied to increase flexibility of a manufacturing system. The key concept is that a lead acid battery, the most widely used battery type for AGVs, receives most of its charge during the initial phase (time) of charging as opposed to the later phase. Consequently, more productive hours can be obtained from the AGVs by reducing the duration of each charging occurrence (i.e., by recharging the batteries to less than full capacity). In this approach, an AGV needs to be recharged more frequently, but the total productive hours available from the AGVs can increase. Simulation models were developed to investigate the effect of this approach. Results show that productivity of a manufacturing system increases significantly through this approach. This approach can be quite helpful for a firm if AGVs are the bottleneck in its manufacturing plant and the firm needs to have a significant improvement of its productivity in the short-run. Also, this approach does not require a firm to make a large investment to add more AGVs to its facility.
A Review of Methods Used in the Treatment of Abusing Parents

Individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, transactional analysis, behavior therapy, humanistic-behavioral group therapy, and multiple family therapy can all be used in the treatment of child-a...
Comparison of Direct Perioperative Costs in Treatment of Unstable Distal Radial Fractures: Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Versus Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning.

BACKGROUND As the United States transitions to value-based insurance, bundled payments, and capitated models, it is paramount to understand health-care costs and resource utilization. The financial implications of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a volar locking plate for management of unstable distal radial fractures have not been established. We aimed to elucidate cost differences between ORIF and closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). Our hypothesis was that ORIF has greater direct perioperative costs than CRPP but that the costs equilibrate over time. METHODS We reviewed financial data for 40 patients prospectively enrolled and randomized to undergo CRPP or ORIF for treatment of a closed, displaced, unstable distal radial fracture. Clinical and functional outcomes, hospital-associated direct perioperative costs, postoperative care and therapy costs, and costs for additional procedures were compared. Cost data were stratified into perioperative, 90-day, and 1-year periods, and were reported utilizing cost ratios (CRs) relative to the CRPP cohort. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-square and independent-samples t tests with an alpha level of <0.05. RESULTS Seventeen patients underwent CRPP and 23 underwent ORIF with a volar plate. Patients who underwent ORIF incurred greater 90-day (CR = 2.03/1.0, p < 0.001) and 1-year (CR = 1.60/1.0, p < 0.001) direct costs than those who underwent CRPP. The differential was greatest in the immediate perioperative period and gradually decreased over time. Operating room fees (CR = 1.7/1.0, p < 0.001), operating room implants, anesthesia (CR = 1.8/1.0, p < 0.001), and total perioperative costs (CR = 2.7/1.0, p < 0.001) were significantly greater in the ORIF cohort. Rehabilitation and cast technician costs were comparable (CR = 0.9/1.0 [ORIF/CRPP], p = 0.69). At 1 year, the CR for all costs of decreased to 1.6/1.0 (ORIF/CRPP, p < 0.001). Compared with the CRPP cohort, the ORIF cohort demonstrated significantly better functional outcomes at 6, 9, and 12 weeks and similar outcomes at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS ORIF for a displaced, unstable distal radial fracture incurred greater direct costs than CRPP. Although implant costs for ORIF provided the greatest cost differential, additional procedures and higher clinic costs in the CRPP cohort narrowed the 90-day and 1-year cost gaps. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Economic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.