cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using repetition priming to improve oral reading in phonological text alexia

In Phonological Text Alexia (PhTA), pseudoword reading is poor, as is functor and affix reading in text. Reading of real words in isolation remains well preserved (Friedman, 1996). The syndrome may result from the phonological representations of functors being activated incompletely or at reduced speed. An alternate explanation is that while functors/affixes are activated normally, their activation levels decay at a pathologically rapid rate. If activation is either incomplete/slowed or if it decays rapidly, single functor reading should be unaffected, while functor reading in text would be impeded by interference from surrounding words. PhTA patients would therefore benefit from therapies that strengthen or prolong functor activation. One such technique that provides an immediate and transitory boost to word activation levels is repetition priming (Dean and Young, 1996). We hypothesized that repetition priming could be utilized to strengthen and/or maintain activation of functors during text reading. We created a treatment program to train a strategy, ‘Sentence Building’, in which the patient learns to read sentences by building them in steps. The repetition of the words as the sentences are built is predicted to help speed and maintain activation of the words on subsequent steps. We predict improved accuracy when the patient applies the mastered strategy to novel sentences.
Work in progress — Design and assessment of an asynchronous on-line graduate Statistics course

Since 1985, the University of Virginia has offered a graduate course Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists. A similar course has been offered at Virginia Commonwealth University. Both are essential components in Virginia's Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program — a distance learning initiative involving universities, industry and government partners. This course has two distinct audiences — full time students in-residence at UVA, and those who attend classes through CGEP while maintaining full-time jobs. In this paper, we review the results of the first offering of this course in an asynchronous on-line mode. All lectures were recorded in Camtasia and coordinated with PowerPoint slides (available as PDFs). Student reactions were assessed through surveys and anonymous feedback, as well as comments and e-mails. The level of acceptance of the on-line lectures was surprising. Most students reported high levels of satisfaction with the quality of the material, mode of delivery, flexibility and convenience.
Safety and efficacy of everolimus-eluting stents versus paclitaxel-eluting stents in a diabetic population.

Objectives This study aimed to analyze the use of everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in an unrestricted diabetic population and to compare the performance of these two drug-eluting stents. Background EES have demonstrated superiority in efficacy when compared to PES in a general population. However, it is controversial whether this superiority holds true in a diabetic population. Methods From March 2004 to May 2010, 968 patients with consecutive diabetes who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and implantation of an EES (n = 388) or PES (n = 580) at our institution. In-hospital, 1-month, 6-month, and 1-year clinical outcomes were analyzed and compared. Correlates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were identified. Results Baseline clinical characteristics were similar between stent types except for more family history of coronary artery disease in the PES group and more insulin-dependent diabetes and unstable angina at initial diagnosis in the EES group. The PES group had higher number of lesions treated, longer stents used, and a higher proportion of intravascular ultrasound and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor use. The EES group had more type C and distal lesions. There was higher target lesion revascularization (TLR)-MACE in the PES group (3.3% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.03) as well as a higher rate of stent thrombosis (ST) (8 patients vs. 0 in the EES group, P = 0.03). ST continued to be higher in the PES group at 6 and 12 months and mortality was higher at 12 months in the PES group (9.4% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.02). After adjustment, no significant differences were found between stent types on Cox regression analysis for hazard ratios at 1-year follow-up of TLR-MACE. Conclusions In a diabetic population undergoing PCI, the use of an EES compared to PES was associated with lower rates of stent thrombosis; but after adjustment the composite TLR-MACE at 1 year was similar between both stents. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Seismic wave propagation in coal seams: finite element modelling and field tests

In–seam seismic (ISS) refers to methods which utilise artificially generated channel waves trapped in coal seam to locate geologic disturbances and mine voids. It is one of the basic geophysical methods for underground survey. The advantage of ISS is that seismic energy is better preserved in coal seams and seismic waves can travel and be detected over much larger distances in comparison with body waves which radiate three–dimensionally. It is also convenient and reasonable to set up a two–dimensional model to study the wave propagation characteristics. Using a commercial finite element method (FEM) modelling software, both transmission and reflection tests were simulated. Field experiments of the ISS technology have been carried out at underground coal mines. The results demonstrated that two–dimensional FEM modelling appears to be a satisfactory approach for ISS simulation, and if used properly, ISS technology can successfully detect mine voids and geologic discontinuities.
A meta-analysis comparing buprenorphine to methadone for treatment of opiate dependence.

Background. The unique pharmacological properties of buprenorphine may make it a useful maintenance therapy for opiate addiction. This meta-analysis considers the effectiveness of buprenorphine relative to methadone. Methods. A systematic literature search identified five randomized clinical trials comparing buprenorphine to methadone. Data from these trials were obtained. Retention in treatment was analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards regression. Urinalyses for opiates were studied with analysis of variance and a common method of handling missing values. A meta-analysis was used to combine these results. Results. Subjects who received 8-12 mg/day buprenorphine had 1.26 times the relative risk of discontinuing treatment (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.57) and 8.3% more positive urinalyses (95% confidence interval 2.7-14%) than subjects receiving 50-80 mg/day methadone. Buprenophrine was more effective than 20-35 mg/day methadone. There was substantial variation in outcomes in the different trials. Conclusions. The variation between trials may be due to differences in dose levels, patient exclusion criteria and provision of psychosocial treatment. The difference in the effectiveness of buprenorphine and methadone may be statistically significant, but the differences are small compared to the wide variance in outcomes achieved in different methadone treatment programs. Further research is needed to determine if buprenorphine treatment is more effective than methadone in particular settings or in particular subgroups of patients.
A low inductance capacitor technology

The authors have demonstrated the ability to make a novel type of multilayer ceramic capacitor that combines thick-film and thin-film processing techniques to produce a part with extremely low inductance, low resistance, and high capacitance in a reliable structure. This capacitor can be used to minimize the Delta-I noise that can trigger the erroneous switching of circuits in a computer. The capacitor is designed to reduce the inductance of the system. It is concluded that the development of this technology will allow the continued development of faster computer systems. >
Interest Rate Surprises and Stock Prices

This paper examines the impact of unexpected changes in the federal funds target on stock prices from 1988 to 2001. Measures of interest rate surprises are constructed from survey data and changes in the 3-month T-bill yield. I find that surprises associated with decreases in the target cause stock prices to rise significantly. Surprises associated with increases in the target increase stock market volatility on the announcement day, with volatility reverting to pre-surprise levels on the day after the announcement. This volatility pattern is only evident since 1994. An implication is that concerns about immediate disclosure causing persistent and heightened stock market volatility might be misplaced.
Retiree Health Benefits

Some 80% of elderly Medicare beneficiaries have private supplemental insurance. Approximately 50% of these have some form of medigap of privately purchased coverage. Those holding private coverage tend to be younger, more highly educated, and white. Women are more likely to hold medigap type plans, and men are more likely to have employment related coverage. The extent of multiple coverage is relatively rare. One estimate puts multiple coverage at about 20% of those with private supplemental coverage. Contrary to conventional wisdom, those with multiple coverage are not the very old and poorly educated. Rather, they tend to be younger and more highly educated. Also, women are more likely to have both employer-sponsored and medigap coverage, maybe because of the uncertainty about whether a wife will continue to have employer-sponsored post-retirement coverage after her husband has died. Medigap-type health insurance is heavy on first dollar coverage; the Medicare deductibles and copayments are covered. Provisions of OBRA 1990 will homogenize this coverage even more. Employer-sponsored health benefits are common. Some 8.4 million elderly Medicare beneficiaries have employer-sponsored coverage. A large but undetermined number of early retirees also have coverage. These recipients have generally been the workers in very large firms. However, the future will not look like the past. Two thirds of current workers are promised health benefits upon retirement. The benefits provided under these plans are both broad and deep. The nature of benefit coordination between these plans and Medicare can reduce the size of the apparent benefits. The carve-out method of coordination is the most common and can result in sizable out-of-pocket payments by the beneficiary. However, it is not obvious that employer-sponsored plans have been designed to exploit this opportunity. There is little information on the conditions under which a worker is vested for health benefits. The sketchy evidence that does exist suggests that a worker must retire from the firm and have had time in service about equal to that required for the firm's pension plan. Firms apparently can change their retiree benefit plans if they have explicitly retained the right to do so. There are sound economic reasons to suggest that many firms would honor their commitments, even in the absence of legal requirements. Supplemental retiree coverage leads to additional use of health services, particularly by those in poorer health and particularly by those with plans that feature first-dollar coverage. The increased use of services as a result of supplemental coverage also increases Medicare's costs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Population Consequences of Life History Phenomena

The part of Cole’s article included here outlines the relationship of Thompson’s work (1931, paper 20 above) to stable population theory. Omitted sections discuss the relationships between the rate of increase, numbers and spacing of offspring, and age structure, with their implications for species survival.
Prenatal exposure to nitrosatable drugs, vitamin C, and risk of selected birth defects

BACKGROUND Nitrosatable drugs, such as secondary or tertiary amines and amides react with nitrite in an acidic environment to form N-nitroso compounds, teratogens in animal models. Vitamin C is a known nitrosation inhibitor. METHODS Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, we assessed nitrosatable drug exposure and vitamin C intake during the first trimester among 11,606 case-mothers of infants with oral clefts, limb deficiencies (LDs), or congenital heart defects and 6807 control-mothers of infants without major birth defects during 1997–2005. Daily intake of vitamin C was estimated from maternal interviews that elicited information about supplement use and dietary intake. RESULTS With no reported use of nitrosatable drugs as the referent group, a lower odds ratio (OR) was observed for transverse LDs among births to mothers exposed to secondary amine drugs and daily vitamin C supplementation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83–1.8) compared with women taking these drugs and no supplementation (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–4.6). The OR for longitudinal LDs associated with secondary amine exposure was lower with daily dietary vitamin C intake ≥85 mg (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 0.68–2.0) compared with <85 mg (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–3.1). Daily vitamin C supplementation in combination with higher dietary vitamin C intake reduced associations between nitrosatable drug exposures and limb deficiencies and atrial septal defects not otherwise specified. CONCLUSION Prenatal dietary and vitamin C supplement intake may diminish the association between nitrosatable drug exposure during pregnancy and selected birth defects. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 97:515-531, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identifying high risk N-k contingencies for online security assessment

It is impractical to analyze all of the possible contingencies in a large-scale interconnected power network. Therefore, a standard approach is to analyze only a subset of the contingencies. The normal method of selecting this subset is via use of the so-called N-1 rule. This paper goes a step further by proposing a new method of forming a contingency list, based on substation configuration obtained from topology processing data and probability analysis of protection system failures. This method is particularly suited for online security assessment. Protection system failures assessed include stuck breakers and failure to operate. The method is described via application to a single substation, verified using the IEEE-RTS96, and illustrated using topology data from a large utilities EMS.
On higher rates of stress and deformation

Abstract A variety of definitions of stress rate have been proposed in the literature on mechanics of continua [see, for instance, prager (1961)]. Recent work by prager (1960), sedov (1960), Naghdi and Wainwright (1961) and Masur (1961), has shown that the oldest of these definitions, which is due to Jaumann (1905), possesses certain advantages. In the present paper this definition is extended to the higher rates of stress and deformation and compared to the definitions of these rates that were suggested by Cotter and Rivlin (1955).
End-stage liver disease without hemochromatosis associated with elevated hepatic iron index

Abstract Background/Aims: The utility of standard diagnostic tests for hereditary hemochromatosis in end-stage liver disease is unknown. A homozygous mutation (Cys 282 Tyr) has been identified in most patients with hereditary hemochromatosis. We examined whether serum iron studies and hepatic iron measurement distinguish end-stage liver disease patients with Cys 282 Tyr-associated hereditary hemochromatosis. Methods: Serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and ferritin were measured in 106 cirrhotic patients prior to liver transplantation. Hepatic iron concentration and hepatic iron index were measured from explant liver tissue. Genotyping was performed on explant liver tissue in patients with an elevated hepatic iron index (>1.9). Results: Thirty-three of 106 (31%) patients had elevated serum iron studies suggestive of hereditary hemochromatosis. Only four of 33 (12%) had a mean hepatic iron index >1.9, and none of the four patients was homozygous for Cys 282 Tyr. All four had liver disease due to hepatitis C and/or alcohol. Conclusions: (i) Serum transferrin saturation and hepatic iron index lack specificity for hereditary hemochromatosis in end-stage liver disease. (ii) Genotyping for Cys 282 Tyr may provide the best method to identify hereditary hemochromatosis in the setting of end-stage liver disease.
Motion estimation from image and inertial measurements

Robust motion estimation from image measurements would be an enabling technology for Mars rover, micro air vehicle, and search and rescue robot navigation; modeling complex environments from video; and other applications. While algorithms exist for estimating six degree of freedom motion from image measurements, motion from image measurements suffers from inherent problems. These include sensitivity to incorrect or insufficient image feature tracking; sensitivity to camera modeling and calibration errors; and long-term drift in scenarios with missing observations, i.e., where image features enter and leave the field of view. The integration of image and inertial measurements is an attractive solution to some of these problems. Among other advantages, adding inertial measurements to image-based motion estimation can reduce the sensitivity to incorrect image feature tracking and camera modeling errors. On the other hand, image measurements can be exploited to reduce the drift that results from integrating noisy inertial measurements, and allows the additional unknowns needed to interpret inertial measurements, such as the gravity direction and magnitude, to be estimated. This work has developed both batch and recursive algorithms for estimating camera motion, sparse scene structure, and other unknowns from image, gyro, and accelerometer measurements. A large suite of experiments uses these algorithms to investigate the accuracy, convergence, and sensitivity of motion from image and inertial measurements. Among other results, these experiments show that the correct sensor motion can be recovered even in some cases where estimates from image or inertial estimates alone are grossly wrong, and explore the relative advantages of image and inertial measurements and of omnidirectional images for motion estimation. To eliminate gross errors and reduce drift in motion estimates from real image sequences, this work has also developed a new robust image feature tracker that exploits the rigid scene assumption and eliminates the heuristics required by previous trackers for handling large motions, detecting mistracking, and extracting features. A proof of concept system is also presented that exploits this tracker to estimate six degree of freedom motion from long image sequences, and limits drift in the estimates by recognizing previously visited locations.
Distinct cellular factors regulate the c-myb promoter through its E2F element.

Most E2F-driven promoters are transiently activated around the G1/S transition. Although the promoter for the c-myb proto-oncogene harbors an E2F element, it is induced early in G1 following entry into the cell cycle. Furthermore, this promoter remains active throughout subsequent cell cycles. Since E2F sites function as repressor elements during G1 (due to the association of pRb with E2F factors), we investigated whether the E2F element in the c-myb promoter is regulated differently than E2F elements in promoters that are repressed during G1. By gel shift analysis, the E2F element from the c-myb promoter was found to form a unique complex, referred to as E2Fmyb-sp, which was not observed with E2F elements from several other promoters. Antibodies to DP-1, E2F1 to -5, p107, or pRb failed to either supershift or block E2Fmyb-sp complex formation. Methylation interference experiments indicate that the DNA contact residues for the E2Fmyb-sp complex are distinct from but overlapping with residues required for the binding of E2F proteins. In addition to the identification of E2Fmyb-sp, we have found that SP-1 binds to the c-myb E2F element. Functional studies revealed that E2Fmyb-sp and/or SP-1 are required to achieve full activation of the c-myb promoter in different cell types and to maintain elevated expression of the c-myb promoter during G1 in NIH 3T3 cells. These studies demonstrate that E2F elements can be regulated differently through the binding of unique sets of proteins.
Exploring lung function with hyperpolarized 129Xe nuclear magnetic resonance

With the use of polarization-transfer pulse sequences and hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR, gas exchange in the lung can be measured quantitatively. However, harnessing the inherently high sensitivity of this technique as a tool for exploring lung function requires a fundamental understanding of the xenon gas-exchange and diffusion processes in the lung, and how these may differ between healthy and pathological conditions. Toward this goal, we employed NMR spectroscopy and imaging techniques in animal models to investigate the dependence of the relative xenon gas exchange rate on the inflation level of the lung and the tissue density. The spectroscopic results indicate that gas exchange occurs on a time scale of milliseconds, with an average effective diffusion constant of about 3.3 × 10−6cm2/s in the lung parenchyma. Polarization-transfer imaging pulse sequences, which were optimized based on the spectroscopic results, detected regionally increased gas-exchange rates in the lung, indicative of increased tissue density secondary to gravitational compression. By exploiting the gas-exchange process in the lung to encode physiologic parameters, these methods may be extended to noninvasive regional assessments of lung-tissue density and the alveolar surface-to-volume ratio, and allow lung pathology to be detected at an earlier stage than is currently possible. Magn Reson Med 51:676–687, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Robust Medical Data Delivery for Wireless Pervasive Healthcare

The use of wireless sensor networks as a means for providing remote healthcare provides a unique opportunity to reduce the healthcare cost through more efficient use of clinical resources and earlier detection of medical conditions. Despite the initial promising results, there remain significant obstacles to apply this technology to the practical medical care context. In this paper, we investigate one of the critical issues - how to assure the timely and reliable delivery of life-critical medical data in the pervasive patient monitoring networks.In this paper, our study is based on the remote health monitoring system {\em CareNet}~\cite{bodynets08-jiang-carenet} which is built on top of a two-tier wireless sensor networks. In particular, we present an integrated admission control and routing solution to ensure the quality of admitted sensor delivery services. Using an optimization-based approach, our solution can maximally utilize the scarce wireless resource and satisfy the monitoring service requirements from the most number of patients. The novelty of our approach come from its patient activity awareness, which is used to provide more accurate estimation of the network capacity and worst-case assurance of the service quality under all patient movement scenarios. Extensive experiment and simulation results are presented to validate our proposed solution.
The influence of arterial insufficiency and venous congestion on composite graft survival

A rabbit auricular amputation model was used to study the relative effects of arterial insufficiency (AI) and venous congestion (VC) on composite graft survival. The percentage of graft survival was significantly greater for the AI group (45.8%) than for the VC group (15.9%) 2 weeks postoperatively. The percentage of graft survival at 3 weeks for the VC, AI, and noligation groups were not statistically different. All three groups were statistically different from the control group, which had both the central artery and vein ligated. The VC group also exhibited significantly more graft edema, as measured by maximal graft thickness, than the other three groups. The impact of AI and VC on composite graft survival is investigated and discussed. These results suggest that venous congestion is more detrimental to early graft survival than arterial insufficiency.
Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

I read with interest the experience from the Cleveland Clinic with laparoscopic ventral hernia repair [2]. They reported a 17% recurrence at a mean follow-up period of 30months and emphasized the importance of long-term follow-up evaluation. I am not surprised by their high recurrence rate. In a prospective randomized study of open mesh ventral hernia repair, the 3-year recurrence was 24% [1]. The patients had an underlay polypropylene mesh placed so that at least 2 to 4 cm of mesh overlapped the edge of the fascia. This is very similar to the overlap recommended for laparoscopic repair [2]. It is only logical that the recurrence rates will be similar. The authors acknowledge that the Rives-StoppaWantz repair is considered by many to be the gold standard for large ventral hernias. The authors quote a 14.5% recurrence rate for the Rives-Stoppa-Wantz repair. I do not know where this figure was obtained, but it is misleading because most surgeons using the RivesStoppa-Wantz technique report a recurrence rate considerably lower than 10%. The authors dismiss the idea of using the Rives-Stoppa-Wantz repair because of the significant dissection and wound complications. In my opinion, a 17% recurrence rate at 30months is too high. I am curious as to what the authors consider an acceptable recurrence rate for laparoscopic repair? In addition, the authors report a 50% recurrence for patients who had to undergo conversion to an open repair. An inlay technique was used. Why do the authors not use a Rives-Stoppa-Wantz repair when they must convert to an open procedure? Laparoscopic repair for ventral hernias has been accepted rapidly because of earlier hospital discharge. However, laparoscopic hernia repair is a flawed technique for large incisional hernias. Maybe our efforts would be better expended finding treatments that allow earlier discharge of patients after a Rives-Stoppa-Wantz repair.
Neuroimaging and sleep medicine

In sleep medicine, patients with sleep disorders are evaluated and treated. The primary assessment tool of the field has traditionally been polysomnography. While polysomnography has been helpful in the evaluation of some sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder, it has been less helpful in others, such as the insomnias, or sleep disorders secondary to mental disorders. These disorders are presumed to stem from some alteration in brain function that disrupts sleep. The development of functional neuroimaging methods provides a means to understand brain function in patients with sleep disorders in a manner not accessible to polysomnography. This paper summarizes functional neuroimaging findings during healthy sleep, then, reviews available studies in sleep disorders patients, and studies addressing the pharmacology of sleep and sleep disorders. Areas in which functional neuroimaging methods may be helpful in sleep medicine, and in which future development is advised, include: (1) clarification of pathophysiology; (2) aid in differential diagnosis; (3) assessment of treatment response; (4) guiding new drug development; and (5) monitoring treatment response.
Modernism and the narrative of nation in jfk

The debate over Oliver Stone’s JFK has been framed to date largely within the discourse of historiography, with greatest attention being paid to issues concerning the limits of fact and fiction, and the erosion of the presumed boundry between documentary and imaginative reconstruction.2 Defenders of the film have usually argued from a deeply theoretical position, pointing out the permeable nature of the border between factual discourse and imaginative reconstruction, as well as the protean quality of even the most substantial documentary record of the past.3 In this essay, I wish to shift the angle of approach to the film in order to consider another set of questions, revolving chiefly around the tension between the film’s formal innovations and its explicit aim to articulate a narrative of national cohesion. The film’s fragmentary form, I argue, can be revealingly seen as an expression of a national narrative in disorder and disarray, its collage-like narrative structure reflecting the disruption of the evolutionary or historical narrative that gives continuity to national identity.
The Bias of American Federalism: The Limits of Welfare-State Development in the Progressive Era

Welfare state programs developed later in the United States than in other nations. Today, American programs are less widely accessible, less uniform, and often less generous than programs abroad. Explanations for this relative conservatism usually focus on the lack of a socialist movement or a socialist ideological tradition in the United States. Yet during the Progressive Era, when the gap between the American and European welfare states widened significantly enough for contemporaries to acknowledge it, the forces for social reform had never been stronger in the United States. In many ways these forces resembled those in England, which at the time was laying the foundations for a model welfare state.
0044 White house campus sexual assault task force update

Statement of purpose Sexual Violence is a significant problem in the United States. Nearly 1 in 5 women (19.3%) and 1 in 59 men (1.7%) in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives. In a study of undergraduate women, 19% experienced attempted or completed sexual assault since entering college. As part of the White House initiative to prevent campus sexual assault, CDC will convene a panel of experts (e.g., sexual violence prevention practitioners and college and university staff and leadership) in early 2015 to identify emerging, promising practices to prevent sexual assault on campus and make recommendations. Methods/Approach CDC will share updates on activities related to the White House Campus Sexual Assault Task Force, highlight CDC’s work to prevent campus sexual assault, and offer experiences from states and universities working on this issue. The CDC presenters will cover the background, epidemiology, potential interventions, and tools and resources to support rape prevention on campus. Partners (sexual violence prevention practitioners or university partners) will discuss efforts implemented at universities and future directions for campus sexual assault prevention. The session will include time for discussion with panellists/presenters to hear more about experiences and efforts by universities and CDC. Results Session attendees will learn about emerging, promising practices to prevent sexual assault on campuses and how those can be incorporated into their violence prevention programs. Conclusions Emerging strategies can be used to address the issue of campus sexual assault. By understanding the best available evidence, universities and other partners can collaborate to prevent sexual assault. Significance and contribution to the field Universities and their partners across the country are working to address and prevent campus sexual assault. This presentation will provide information on the best available evidence regarding strategies and practices to prevent sexual assault and help the broader injury prevention audience better understand the issue and potential steps to address it.
Impact of Fuel Composition on Blow Off and Flashback in Swirl Stabilized Lean Premixed Combustion

Co firing of natural gas with renewable fuels such as hydrogen can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and meet other sustainability considerations. At the same time, adding hydrogen to natural gas alters combustion properties, such as burning speeds, heating values, flammability limits, and chemical characteristics. It is important to identify how combustion stability relates to fuel mixture composition in industrial gas turbines and burners and correlate such behavior to fuel properties or operating conditions. Ultimately, it is desired to predict and prevent operability issues when designing a fuel flexible gas turbine combustor. Fuel interchangeability is used to describe the ability of a substitute fuel composition to replace a baseline fuel without significantly altering performance and operation. Any substitute fuel, while maintaining the same heating load as the baseline fuel, must also provide stable combustion with low pollutant emissions. Interchangeability indices try to predict the impact of fuel composition on lean blowoff and flashback. Correlations for operability limits have been reported, though results are more consistent for blowoff compared to flashback. Yet, even for blowoff, some disagreement regarding fuel composition effects are evident. In the present work, promising correlations and parameters for lean blow off and flashback in a swirl stabilized lean premixed combustor are evaluated. Measurements are conducted for fuel compositions ranging from pure natural gas to pure hydrogen under different levels of preheat and air flow rates. The results are used to evaluate the ability of existing approaches to predict blowoff and flashback. The results show that, while a Damkohler number approach for blowoff is promising, important considerations are required in applying the method. For flashback, the quench constant parameter suggested for combustion induced vortex breakdown was applied and found to have limited success for predicting flashback in the present configuration.© 2013 ASME
Experimental Validation of Control Designs for Low-Loss Active Magnetic Bearings

This paper ofiers experimental validation of several recently developed nonlinear control laws, derived from the theory of integrator backstepping, control Lyapunov functions (CLF), and dissipativity, by implementing them on a spacecraft reaction wheel that is suspended by a low-loss active magnetic bearing (AMB). The electromagnets of the AMB are constrained by a generalized complementary ∞ux constraint (GCFC). This constraint allows one to operate the AMB with a large bias ∞ux, to obtain a desired bearing stifiness and force slew-rate, or with a very small (or even zero) bias ∞ux for low-loss AMB operation. Experimental evidence is provided to illustrate the role of the ∞ux bias in the control design and highlight the singularity issues associated with zero- and very low-bias AMB operation. Speciflcally, the tradeofi between bearing stifiness, power consumption, and power dissipation as a function of the bias is verifled. Also, it is experimentally shown that the singularity issues present in the standard nonlinear backstepping control laws can be destabilizing in zero bias, and moreover, the newly developed CLF and passivity-based control laws efiectively eliminate the zero-bias singularity issues.
Prevalence of HIV,Syphilis,HBV and HCV among 262 Drug Users with Methadone Maintenance Treatment in Yancheng City

[Objective] To investigate the prevalence of HIV,syphilis,HBV and HCV among drug users at methadone maintenance treatment(MMT) clinics in Yancheng City,and provide scientific evidence for the development of appropriate prevention and control measures. [Methods]A total of 262 blood samples were taken from these drug users to detect anti-HIV,Treponema pallidum(TP) antibodies,HBsAg and anti-HCV;treponema pallidum particle agglutination(TPPA) assay was carried out on the positive samples of TP antibody,then,respectively rapid plasma regain(RPR) assay was conducted on the positive ones.The results were analyzed. [Results]Positive samples of anti-HIV was not detected among 262 cases;the positive rates of TP,HBV and HCV among the drug users were 19.47%(51/262),11.45%(30/262)and 58.02%(152/262)respectively,15 samples(29.41%)among the patients with syphilis were positive with RPR,the specimens titer was 1∶1~1∶32.The double positive patients of TP +HBV,TP+HCV and HBV + HCV were 2(0.76 %),39(14.89 %) and 17(6.49 %) respectively. [Conclusion]The infection rates of TP,HBV and HCV are high among drug users at MMT clinics in Yancheng City.It is necessary to strengthen the integrated control of drug users.
Determination of aflatoxins B_1,B_2,G_1,G_2 in food by UPLC

Objective: A simple and rapid method for determination of aflatoxin B1,B2,G1 and G2 content in food by UPLC were developed.Methods: After extraction with MeOH-H2O,the extracts of food homogenization was loaded on the IAC for purification and determined by UPLC.Results: The recoveries of samples were in the range of 75.0%~90.4%,the RSD was below 5%.The limit of quantification for aflatoxin B1 was 0.2 μg/kg,the limit of quantification for aflatoxin B2 was 0.2 μg/kg,the limit of quantification for aflatoxin G1 was 0.4 μg/kg,the limit of quantification for aflatoxin G2 was 0.2 μg/kg.Conclusion: Determination of aflatoxins B1,B2,G1and G2 content in food by immune affinity column was a rapid,simple and exact method.
A Mobile Data Gathering Framework for Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks with Vehicle Movement Costs and Capacity Constraints

Several recent works have studied mobile vehicle scheduling to recharge sensor nodes via wireless energy transfer technologies. Unfortunately, most of them overlooked important factors of the vehicles’ moving energy consumption and limited recharging capacity, which may lead to problematic schedules or even stranded vehicles. In this paper, we consider the recharge scheduling problem under such important constraints. To balance energy consumption and latency, we employ one dedicated data gathering vehicle and multiple charging vehicles. We first organize sensors into clusters for easy data collection, and obtain theoretical bounds on latency. Then we establish a mathematical model for the relationship between energy consumption and replenishment, and obtain the minimum number of charging vehicles needed. We formulate the scheduling into a Profitable Traveling Salesmen Problem that maximizes profit - the amount of replenished energy less the cost of vehicle movements, and prove it is NP-hard. We devise and compare two algorithms: a greedy one that maximizes the profit at each step; an adaptive one that partitions the network and forms Capacitated Minimum Spanning Trees per partition. Through extensive evaluations, we find that the adaptive algorithm can keep the number of nonfunctional nodes at zero. It also reduces transient energy depletion by 30-50 percent and saves 10-20 percent energy. Comparisons with other common data gathering methods show that we can save 30 percent energy and reduce latency by two orders of magnitude.
Light of the Sun

Ultimate Power The Sun is the source of all of our power. Its radiation energizes our planet, warms the ground and sea, lights our days, strengthens our bodies, and sustains life on the Earth. Green leaves of growing plants absorb sunlight, giving them the energy to decompose atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbon and gaseous oxygen. The oxygen is liberated back into the atmosphere, where we breathe it, and the carbon is deposited in plants. When we burn the wood of a tree, the carbon reunites with atmospheric oxygen. Long-dead, compressed plants provide the petroleum, coal, and natural gas that energize the lights of our house and power the vehicles we drive while also increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The Sun's warmth is the source of our weather and the arbiter of our climate, producing the winds and cycling the water from sea to clouds and rain. Hydroelectric power plants are energized by water running back to the sea. Wind power also is driven by the Sun. Uneven solar heating of different parts of the Earth produces the winds, which blow from hot to cold regions. The Earth glides through space at exactly the right distance from the Sun for life to thrive on our planet’s surface, whereas other planets in the solar system freeze or fry:We sit in the “comfort zone.” Any closer and the oceans would boil away, as on Venus; farther out, the ground would be a frozen wasteland, resembling Mars, which is now in a global ice age. We receive exactly the right amount of energy from the Sun to keep most of our water in liquid form, which is a requirement for life as we know it. Turn off the Sun’s powerhouse and in only a few months, we would all be under ice.
Premature Infants Treated with Furosemide have Increased Urinary Calcium and Unchanged Urinary Citrate Excretion Compared to Controls

Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is a frequent complication in very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g) infants who are treated with furosemide (F) for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Since most infants treated with F become hypercalciuric, yet only half develop NC, factors other than calcium excretion must contribute to the development of this disorder. We postulate that citrate excretion which appears to be under developmental control, may be one of these factors.
Capturing Complete Spatial Context in Satellite Observations of Greenhouse Gases

Scientific consensus from a 2015 pre-Decadal Survey workshop highlighted the essential need for a wide-swath (mapping) low earth orbit (LEO) instrument delivering carbon dioxide (CO_2), methane (CH_4), and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements with global coverage. OCO-2 pioneered space-based CO_2 remote sensing, but lacks the CH_4, CO and mapping capabilities required for an improved understanding of the global carbon cycle. The Carbon Balance Observatory (CARBO) advances key technologies to enable high-performance, cost-effective solutions for a space-based carbon-climate observing system. CARBO is a compact, modular, 15-30° field of view spectrometer that delivers high-precision CO_2, CH_4, CO and solar induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data with weekly global coverage from LEO. CARBO employs innovative immersion grating technologies to achieve diffraction-limited performance with OCO-like spatial (2x2 km^2) and spectral (λ/Δλ ≈ 20,000) resolution in a package that is >50% smaller, lighter and more cost-effective. CARBO delivers a 25- to 50-fold increase in spatial coverage compared to OCO-2 with no loss of detection sensitivity. Individual CARBO modules weigh < 20 kg, opening diverse new space-based platform opportunities.
Enzymic ω-oxidation: Stoichiometry of the ω-oxidation of fatty acids

Abstract The stoichiometry of the ω-oxidation of fatty acids catalyzed by the inducible enzyme system of Pseudomonas oleovorans was determined. Assay methods are described for the polarographic measurement of oxygen uptake and the spectrophotometric measurement of DPNH oxidation. The development of these assay methods for the ω-hydroxylase has permitted the determination of the stoichiometry of the ω-hydroxylation of fatty acids. The reaction is a mixed function oxidation and the following equation is sufficient to describe the stoichiometry of the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme system: DPNH + H+ + laurate + O2 → DPN+ + H2O + ω-hydroxylaurate.
Experimenting with concepts from modular product design and multi-objective optimization to benefit people living in poverty

Abstract Every discipline has its own specific knowledge that has been accumulated and refined over time. In the aerospace industry, for example, the domain knowledge of multidisciplinary optimization has grown and matured. The same has happened with domain knowledge related to modularity in the consumer product design industry. Knowledge from these domains has carried over to other domains such as automotive, medical, and defense, and has enabled advances in these disciplines. One domain that has been underserved by the advanced engineering methodologies coming from other disciplines is the domain of design for the developing world. Exploring the use of engineering domain knowledge to alleviate poverty is a valuable study that will open opportunities to use engineering to benefit resource poor individuals. This paper explores the domain knowledge of modularity and multi-objective optimization and applies it to the domain of design for the developing world by introducing the concept of collaborative products to assist the resource poor individuals. Can knowledge from one domain be used in a new domain, and if so, what would it look like? In this paper, a general methodology is presented, followed by a simple example to illustrate the design of a collaborative product for the developing world. The paper suggests that by using domain knowledge from a non-related domain paired with the method presented, products can be designed and optimized for collaborative performance with potential to both generate new income and save money for the end customers.
Immunohistochemistry in the workup of prostate biopsies: Frequency, variation and appropriateness of use among pathologists practicing at an academic center.

Abstract Objectives We studied the frequency, inter-pathologist variation, appropriateness and utility of immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on prostate biopsies (PB) to determine the significance of foci of suspicious glands/atypical small acinar proliferations (ASAP). Methods We calculated the rate of IHC use and diagnostic rate of ASAP and adenocarcinoma in PB from 01/01/2008 to 06/30/2015 for individual pathologists working in a tertiary academic institution, and correlated them with the pathologists' experience, subspecialization and PB volume with the aim of determining the interpathologist variation and appropriateness of use of IHC according to recently published recommendations, and the usefulness of IHC to resolve foci of ASAP as either benign or adenocarcinoma. Results IHC was used in 966/2652 (36.4%, 95% CI 33.4–39.4%) PB cases and 1915 of 16,359 (11.7%, 95% CI 11.2%–12.2%) of PB blocks and allowed definitive diagnosis of either benign or malignant in 75.8% (95% CI 73.9–77.7%) of blocks. By pathologist, IHC use rates varied more than twofold (22.8–50.5%); higher use was found for pathologists with genitourinary pathology specialization, higher PB volume and more experience, and correlated with higher rates of both ASAP and adenocarcinoma diagnoses. The use of IHC stains was considered appropriate in 822/966 (85.1%, 95% CI 82.9–87.4%) cases. Conclusions Despite the fact that the use of IHC stains was considered useful and deemed appropriate in the majority of cases, it showed wide variation between pathologists, suggesting monitoring of IHC use rates may be useful to standardize its use.
Oxide Microstructural Changes Accompanying Pore Formation During Anodic Oxidation of Aluminum

Abstract Porous anodic oxide formation results from a morphological instability of uniform barrier oxide growth leading to the establishment of pores. To gain insight into this process, evidence for microstructural changes in the oxide accompanying pore initiation in anodic alumina was sought through two types of experiments: potentiodynamic anodizing and stress measurements during dissolution of the anodic films. Cyclic voltammetry during anodizing in sulfuric acid shows that pore formation coincides with the appearance of localized ohmic- conducting regions close to the oxide-solution interface of individual pores. These defects induce large current increases which are apparently responsible for growth of concave scalloped features on the metal-oxide interface at the pore base. It is argued that interface defects are generated by surface forces in the oxide that accompany flow contributing to pore initiation. Stress measurements reveal that pore initiation introduces tensile residual stress into the oxide at the pore base, suggesting the formation of vacancy-type defects in the film. Such defects are explained by increases of local conduction current density due to the concentration of anodizing current in pores. Both sets of experiments reveal that pore formation generates locally defective oxide, which may help explain the phenomenon of burning during high-rate anodizing.
Association of Maternal Obesity With Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Cases of Uterine Rupture.

OBJECTIVE:To describe the risk of adverse outcomes associated with uterine rupture in the setting of maternal obesity.METHODS:This was a retrospective cohort analysis of singleton nonanomalous neonates born after uterine rupture between 34 and 42 weeks of gestation. We derived data from the U.S. Nat