cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teachers and Learning: the Organisational Perspective

The starting point of this article is that the educational process is usually organised more to suit the convenience of teachers than to maximise learning by students: at worst some teachers simply dispense information and hope it sticks. The author uses the transcript of a four-hour session with the International Teachers Programme to illustrate how business schools as organisations can improve learning by their students. The process of change which he describes includes defining what to keep of the previous system: as he puts it, “the reason I haven't thrown out contact hours and credit hours as teaching measures is that I haven't found anything better to use”.
Effective Methods for Postharvest Intervention in Dairy Processing

Abstract Food safety has become a top priority for regulatory agencies in the United States. Illness and/or death due to contamination of food products with zoonotic pathogens are rare in the United States, but it does occur. Recent outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in the United Kingdom have increased concerns about contamination or transmission of pathogens, from farm animals to consumers. Raw milk contains a number of pathogens and the potential is high for these pathogens to cause disease in consumers if milk is not adequately treated to destroy or reduce the pathogen load. Proper intervention methods during the processing of food products significantly reduce the risks of transmission of infectious agents from the farm to the table. This paper summarizes methods of intervention used by dairy processing plants to improve the safety of dairy products for consumers. Methods include: inactivation by heat (pasteurization and ultra-high temperature), high hydrostatic pressure and mild heat, irradiation, pulsed electric fields, and fermentation. The efficacy of these methods for inactivation of pathogens such as Listeria, Yersinia, Salmonella , enteropathogenic Escherichia coli , bovine leukemia virus, FMDV, and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is consistently high. However, dairy products may potentially be contaminated postprocessing in the dairy plant, and this potential must be considered when assessing the safety of dairy products for human consumption.
Factors influencing sex hormone uptake by rat brain regions. II. Effects of neonatal treatment and hypophysectomy on testosterone uptake

Abstract Levels of radioactivity in various brain structures were measured after intraperitoneal injections of [3H]testosterone into adult male rats (castrated neonatally or in adulthood) and adult ovariectomized female rats (androgenized by neonatal testosterone injection or given control oil injection). (1) Brain structures concentrated radioactivity after [3H]testosterone injections to levels one to two times blood levels. In male rats castrated as adults, highest uptake was found in the pituitary, hypothalamus, preoptic area and septum. (2) The same pattern of uptake across brain structures was seen in the other treatment groups (neonatally castrated males and two group of females). However, neonatal castrates tended to accumulate less testosterone in all brain structures than the other treatment groups, and the pituitary of the adult-castrated male retained significantly more testosterone than in the other treatment groups. (3) Castrated prepuberal male rats showed a similar pattern of uptake across brain regions, compared to adult males, except for particularly high accumulation in the olfactory bulbs and lower accumulation in the brain stem. (4) Hypophysectomized castrated male rats accumulated less testosterone in all brain structures than castrated males with intact pituitaries. The hypophysectomy effect was largest in the preoptic area and septum and, in general, was larger in structures showing higher levels of uptake. (5) The percentage of radioactivity taken up as unchanged testorterone was greatest in the adult-castrated males and least in the neonatally-castrated males. This effect of sex difference and neonatal treatment was latent, and did not appear until after puberty. In all animals, brain regions showing competition effects were equivalent in percentage of unchanged testosterone to brain regions not showing competition effects. In adults, per cent unchanged testosterone was uniformly higher in the brain than in the blood.
An analysis of financial services brand marks

This study analyses brand mark clusters used by companies in the financial services categories of the Fortune 1000. The brand marks are assessed against the normative criteria for effective brand mark design found in the marketing literature. Despite the existence of several well-designed brand mark clusters within the sample, results show a low level of adherence to the normative criteria overall. A low proportion of the brand mark clusters exhibit symbols representative of brand benefits, integrative features such as interactive images, and benefit slogan taglines.
Evaluation of the transverse flexure test method for composite materials

Abstract A preliminary evaluation of the transverse flexure test method was conducted, using unsized AU4 and AS4, and epoxy-sized AS4, carbon fiber/EPON 828 epoxy matrix composite materials. The transverse flexure test yielded significantly higher values of the transverse tensile strength of these unidirectional composites than did the standard transverse tensile test. Furthermore, the transverse flexure test was more sensitive to variations in fiber surface treatment and sizing, indicating its potential as a test for characterization of the tensile strength of the fiber-matrix interfacial bond.
Effect of Castration and hormonal supplementation on cholesterol cholelithiasis in the male hamster

This study examined the effect of castration and dietary hormonal supplementation on cholesterol cholelithiasis in male hamsters. Animals fed a standard lithogenic diet developed cholesterol gallstones (17%) after 6 wk, while castrated hamsters did not form any stones. Addition of a synthetic androgen, methyltestosterone, to the lithogenic diet induced cholelithiasis in castrated animals (50%). The biles of normal and castrated-hormone supplemented hamsters had cholesterol saturation indices of 1.0 and 1.1, respectively, while the bile of the castrated animals remained unsaturated (0.6). The ratio of cholic acid/chenodeoxycholic acid in bile increased after castration, but returned to normal levels following hormonal supplementation. Biliary cholesterol carriers were separated by ultracentrifugation. Animals in the stone-forming groups (normal and castrated-hormone treated) had a significant proportion of their biliary cholesterol in vesicles (44 and 46%, respectively); castrated hamsters had less cholesterol in vesicle form (9%). The molar ratio of cholesterol/phospholipid in vesicles was reduced after castration (0.93 vs. 0.42) and increased by hormonal supplementation (1.89). In conclusion, when compared to normal male hamsters fed a standard lithogenic diet, castration reduced the cholesterol saturation of bile, lowered the vesicular/micellar ratio in bile, and inhibited cholesterol cholelithiasis. Dietary androgen supplementation increased the lithogenicity of bile, resulting in stone formation in castrated animals.
The efficacy of short tandem repeat polymorphisms versus single-nucleotide polymorphisms for resolving population structure

Accurately resolving population structure in a sample is important for both linkage and association studies. In this study we investigated the power of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in detecting population structure in a sample of 286 unrelated individuals. We varied the number of SNPs to determine how many are required to approach the degree of resolution obtained with the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs). In addition, we selected SNPs with varying minor allele frequencies (MAFs) to determine whether low or high frequency SNPs are more efficient in resolving population structure. We conclude that a set of at least 100 evenly spaced SNPs with MAFs of 40–50% is required to resolve population structure in this dataset. If SNPs with lower MAFs are used, then more than 250 SNPs may be required to obtain reliable results.
Interplay between policy and science regarding low-dose antimicrobial use in livestock.

Since the introduction of penicillin in the 1940s, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become an ever-increasing threat to human and animal health (Carlet et al., 2012; ITFAR, 2012). The low-dose antimicrobial use in food-producing animals for production purposes, i.e., disease prevention and growth promotion, has been documented to drive AMR, though the risk to human health from such uses has been a source of a heated debate among stakeholders including industry members, citizen advocacy groups, academics, and public health workers (Davis and Rutkow, 2012). In the United States (US), it remains common practice to use medically-important antibiotics1 for production purposes. Since the 2000s, the European Union (EU) has banned many low-dose antimicrobial uses. The crucial element to the debate has been whether scientific evidence supports similar action in the US. Industrial food animal production advocates, henceforth “industry,” claims that scientific evidence is currently lacking, while other stakeholders argue that a convincing and substantial body of evidence exists to support policy change. The US and the EU have taken vastly different approaches to AMR surveillance and research, and these choices have led to a wide variance in the current policy climate regarding antimicrobial use and AMR. We argue that the EU has prioritized scientific research and surveillance efforts that target uses of antimicrobials in animals. The US has not invested deeply in either research funding or surveillance programs that include such uses. If policy shifts will occur in the US, changes in AMR surveillance and allocation of scientific research funding are required.
Path model of individual-calf risk factors for calfhood morbidity and mortality in New York Holstein herds☆

Abstract A multivariable path model (based on field data) of the interrelationships between individual-calf management practices and calfhood morbidity and mortality was constructed. Data were from 1171 heifer calves who lived greater than 24 h and were kept as replacements on 26 farms in the vicinity of Cornell University between July 1983 and 30 April 1985. Outcomes of interest were the first occurrence of the following clinical signs as diagnosed by farmers on standardized check-off forms: scours/diarrhea within 14 days of birth and from 15 to 90 days of age; dull, listless, droopy ears or off feed within 90 days of birth; cough, runny nose or eyes or trouble breathing within 90 days of birth; death prior to 90 days of age. Risk-factor data were based on information collected on standardized check-off sheets for each individual calf. Place of birth, calving events, colostrum administration and initial housing, as well as any prophylactic or other treatments, were recorded by the person caring for the calf. Logistic regression was used to estimate the path coefficients (i.e. relative risks: RRs). Time ordering of morbidity and mortality variables inherent in the data were used to construct the hypothesized model. Management appeared to affect directly and indirectly (via scours within 14 days of birth, scours from 15 to 90 days of age and dullness) the risk of respiratory illness. Being born in loose housing increased risk of both scours within 14 days of birth and scours from 15 to 90 days of age. Calves tied versus being housed in group pens were at increased risk of scours within 14 days of birth (RR=1.5). Calves of first-calf heifers were at increased risk of respiratory illness (RR=1.5), and calves whose dams were vaccinated against Escherichia coli were at decreased risk of death (RR=0.2). Calves with scours within 14 days of birth, dullness and scours from 15 to 90 days of age were at increased risk of respiratory illness (RR=2.5, 7.7 and 3.1, respectively). Although respiratory illness had the largest direct RR for death, dullness actually had a greater effect on risk of death because of its additional indirect association through respiratory illness (dullness increased risk of respiratory illness which then increased risk of death).
UNSTABLE BLADDER ACTIVITY AND MICTURITION SYMPTOMS IN GIRLS WITH PRIMARY VESICO-URETERIC REFLUX (VUR)

A series of 37 girls with primary VUR underwent urodynamic investigation. Twenty-eight (75%) had idiopathic unstable bladder activity. Disordered bladder control, especially the “urge syndrome”* was common and persisted after urine infection had been eradicated. The following symptoms when occurring regularly at a frequency of once per week or more were significantly associated with instability: These symptoms occurred significantly more often in VUR patients than age matched controls, whom we are now studying urodynamically. Unstable bladder activity frequently generates high intravesical pressures and may have implications for the reflux phenomenon. * De Jonge, G.A.. In Bladder Control and Enuresis (ed. Kolvin, I., MacKeith, R.C. & Meadow, S.R.); Heinemann, London, 1973, pp 66 – 69.
Thianthrene‐containing polyimides with monomer formation via nucleophilic aromatic substitution

Thianthrene-2,3,7,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride was synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of N-phenyle-4,5-dichlorophthalimide with thiobenzamide, thioacetamide, and sodium sulfide. This monomer was then polymerized with aromatic diamines by the con-ventional low temperature technique in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) to yield soluble poly(amic acid)s. Polyimides were obtained by thermal cyclization of the poly(amic acid) films. Polymers obtained formed creasable thin films and had excellent thermal stability in air and nitrogen. The bent thianthrene structure limited crystallization and chain packing, as indicated by x-ray analysis. The amorphous thianthrene-containing polyimides were only soluble in H2SO4. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Proton-proton bremsstrahlung with the tabakin potentials

Abstract p-p-γ cross sections calculated with the Tabakin potentials are found to be in good agreement with experimental mental results at E p = 158 MeV. A discrepancy persists at E p = 50 MeV.
Axisymmetric mixing layer: Influence of the initial and boundary conditions

The mixing layer in the near field of a 12.7-cm-diam circular air jet has been experimentally investigated at a jet speed of 30 m/s. Data have been obtained with a computer-trave rsed hot wire for laminar as well as equilibrium turbulent exit boundary layers, both without and with a large end plate. The integral measures of the mixing layer and their streamwise evolutions show essentially no dependence on the end plane geometry (i.e., exit boundary condition) except for a small A range (x/0e — 500) when initially laminar, but show strong dependence on the initial condition (i.e., laminar vs turbulent). The mean velocity and turbulence intensity profiles and streamwise spectral evolutions indicate that the shear layers have achieved self-preservation. Initially turbulent layers show two stages of linear growth; compared to the initially laminar layers, the growth rate is lower in the first stage but higher in the second stage. The turbulent field achieves self-similarity much later than the mean field when the initial state is turbulent, but essentially together when the initial state is laminar. The virtual origin is upstream of the lip for the initially laminar layers, but downstream for initially turbulent layers. Suprisingly, the present data are in both qualitative and quantitative agreement with plane mixing layer results. The Rex range (up to 10 6) in this study is apparently insufficient to resolve the question of the asymptotic effect of the initial condition of a mixing layer.
A foveal-sparing pattern of cytomegalovirus retinitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Purpose:We describe the clinical course of 12 eyes of 10 patients in whom recurrent cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis exhibited a foveal-sparing pattern. Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the case records and photographic charts of 10 patients (12 eyes) with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), in whom recurrent CMV retinitis exhibited a foveal-sparing pattern within 1500 mm of the foveola. Results:The site of primary retinitis was temporal in 10 eyes of nine patients in whom it was known. The median number of recurrences up to the observation of foveal-sparing retinitis was two (range one to eight), and five patients had active CMV retinitis despite treatment for at least two continuous months. Once established, the median rate of progression in a non-foveal vector was 2.3 times faster than toward the fovea, and the median time to reduction in acuity to < 6/30 (or death) was 11 to 14 weeks. Three eyes of three patients retained 6/30 or better acuity up to death. Foveal CMV retinitis ultimately reduced acuity to < 6/30 in five eyes. Six eyes suffered retinal detachment, involving the fovea in five, and being the primary reason for acuity of < 6/30 in four. Four patients suffered dose-limiting toxicity. Conclusion:Foveal-sparing CMV retinitis arises in patients with recurrent CMV retinitis resistant to treatment (‘clinically resistant’), particularly that which has arisen temporally. Despite its foveolar proximity, and ultimate significant loss of function, the pattern of progression allows for preservation of useful foveal vision for longer periods than would have been expected.
Localization of oxidases

Abstract It has been demonstrated that as the time of homogenization of a whole kidney suspension in a Waring blendor is increased, there is transfer of oxidase activity from the sediment to the supernatant, accompanied by splitting out of the prosthetic group of the enzyme in both fractions. This can be correlated with the observation (3) that increased homogenization results in a loss of mitochondria from the residue. Homogenization of a well-washed kidney cyclophorase suspension results in a transfer of some of the activity from the residue to the supernatant. The distribution of enzyme activity between supernatant and sediment varies with the enzyme and the organ from which it is derived. α-ketoglutaric and succinic oxidases are more active in the residue, whereas malic oxidase and the glycolytic oxidases are more active in the supernatant under the usual conditions for the preparation of cyclophorase. The ratio of lactic oxidase activity in sediment to that in supernatant is greater for heart than for kidney or liver.
Approaches to Goldie: A Field Study of Human Approach Responses to Canine Juvenescence

ABSTRACTApproaches by human passers-by to a Golden Retriever puppy with a human companion were tallied as the puppy aged from ten weeks to 33 weeks. Over this period, approaches were most numerous when the puppy was youngest, with females approaching more than males during the first half of sampling, but equaling male approaches during the second half. Both the number of human approaches and the proportions of males and females were independent of the sex of the puppy's human companion. The results suggest a human, and especially a female, preference for canine juvenescence.
VIRTUAL HAND REPRESENTATIONS TO SUPPORT NATURAL INTERACTION IN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Immersive Computing Technology (ICT) offers designers the unique ability to evaluate human interaction with product design concepts through the use of stereo viewing and 3D position tracking. These technologies provide designers with opportunities to create virtual simulations for numerous different applications. In order to support the immersive experience of a virtual simulation, it is necessary to employ interaction techniques that are appropriately mapped to specific tasks. Numerous methods for interacting in various virtual applications have been developed which use wands, game controllers, and haptic devices. However, if the intent of the simulation is to gather information on how a person would interact in an environment, more natural interaction paradigms are needed. The use of 3D hand models coupled with positiontracked gloves provide for intuitive interactions in virtual environments. This paper presents several methods of representing a virtual hand model in the virtual environment to support natural interaction.
Fasting modulates creatine entry into skeletal muscle in the mouse

[14C]-Creatine entry into skeletal muscle of mice is inhibited by feeding creatine or by fasting. Plasma creatine specific activity after an i.p. injection of [14C]-creatine is decreased by feeding creatine, and increased by fasting. These results indicate that creatine enters muscle via a saturable process that is modulated by fasting.
Prevalence of binge eating disorder, obesity, and depression in a biracial cohort of young adults

This article examined the prevalence of binge eating disorder (BED), obesity, and depressive symptomatology in a biracial, population-based cohort of men and women participating in a longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk factor development. The Revised Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns was used to establish BED status among the 3,948 (55% women, 48% Black) participants (age 28–40 years). Body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) was used to define overweight (BMI>-27.3 in women and ≥27.8 in men). Depressive symptomatology was assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale. Prevalence of BED was 1.5% in the cohort overall, with similar rates among Black women, White women, and White men. Black men had substantially lower BED rates. Depressive symptomatology was markedly higher among individuals with BED. Among overweight participants, BED prevalence (2.9%) was almost double that of the overall cohort. There were no differences in BED rates between overweight Black and White women. Thus, BED was common in the general population, with comparable rates among Black women, White women, and White men, but low rates among Black men. Obesity was associated with substantially higher prevalence of BED. Treatment studies that target obese men and minority women with BED are indicated.
The Enlightenment and Faith Development Theory

The thesis of this essay is that the hard-won structures of rational autonomous consciousness, shaped in the Enlightenment, must be constructed by all persons in modern society. Structural and functional characteristics are described between the Enlightenment and the transition to the Individuative-Reflective Stage of faith development. The author concludes that faith development research itself is an outgrowth of Enlightenment impulses; that there are also parallels between the transition to the Conjunctive stage of faith and a culture-wide struggle toward post-Enlightenment modes of consiousness; and that faith development theory can provide an insight into contemporary regression to Pre-Enlightenment and pre-Individuative modes of faith and consciousness.
Sequential lateral solidification of silicon thin films on low-k dielectrics for low temperature integration

We present the excimer laser crystallization of amorphous silicon on a low dielectric constant (low-k) insulator for very large scale integration monolithic 3D integration and demonstrate that low dielectric constant materials are suitable substrates for 3D integration through laser crystallization of silicon thin films. We crystallized 100 nm amorphous silicon on top of SiO2 and SiCOH (low-k) dielectrics, at different material thicknesses (1 μm, 0.75 μm, and 0.5 μm). The amorphous silicon crystallization on low-k dielectric requires 35% less laser energy than on an SiO2 dielectric. This difference is related to the thermal conductivity of the two materials, in agreement with one dimensional simulations of the crystallization process. We analyzed the morphology of the material through defect-enhanced microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. SEM micrographs show that polycrystalline silicon is characterized by micron-long grains with an average width of 543 nm for the SiO2 sample and...
Decavanadate is responsible for vanadate-induced two-dimensional crystals in sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Two-dimensional protein crystals of the calcium pump protein of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) from fast skeletal muscle were induced using Na3VO3 as first described by Dux and Martonosi. These crystals exhibit repeat rows ∼11 nm apart which contain discrete units with ∼7 nm repeats. Four different methods of sample preparation for electron microscopy, i.e., negative staining, freezedrying, freeze-fracturing, and thin-sectioning electron microscopy, each give complimentary repeat units. The SR-membrane crystals exhibit surface structure by the freeze-drying technique and row-like structures on the normally smooth outer face of normal SR. The formation of the membrane crystals is dependent on the pH and concentration of the vanadate. Only conditions favoring the presence of decavanadate yield crystals. At low concentrations and neutral pH, decavanadate is unstable and with time converts to smaller oligomers and the monomer. The presence of membrane crystals was correlated with the life span of the decavanadate. Membrane crystals were obtained in the SR membrane from fast twitch muscle from light and heavy SR, referable to longitudinal and terminal cisternae as well as from reconstituted SR. Canine cardiac SR did not crystallize under these conditions.
Comparison of the in vitro activities of various parenteral and oral antimicrobial agents against endemic Haemophilus ducreyi

The in vitro susceptibilities to various antimicrobial agents of 100 strains of beta-lactamase-producing Haemophilus ducreyi recently isolated from patients in New Orleans, La., were determined by an agar dilution method. All strains were highly susceptible to ceftizoxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, azithromycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and sparfloxacin. beta-Lactam-beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations were less active, but all strains were susceptible to them. Doxycycline exhibited the poorest activity, and the rate of resistance to doxycycline varied depending on the time after inoculation that the MIC was determined.
Drama at 33,000 Feet: How Innovators, Risk-Takers and Policymakers Created A Market for In-Flight Entertainment

AbstractIn-flight entertainment (IFE), a familiar amenity on long-haul flights, evolved from novel experiments in the early 20th century to a sophisticated 21st-century electronic media service. Its development was neither an economic inevitability nor, as some claim, an exercise in cultural imperialism. Rather, as the present study argues, stakeholders developed a market for in-flight entertainment by responding to economic opportunities and challenges; IFE survives because its socioeconomic benefits outweigh its costs.
Big Data, Big Problems: Emerging Issues in the Ethics of Data Science and Journalism

As big data techniques become widespread in journalism, both as the subject of reporting and as newsgathering tools, the ethics of data science must inform and be informed by media ethics. This article explores emerging problems in ethical research using big data techniques. It does so using the duty-based framework advanced by W.D. Ross, who has significantly influenced both research science and media ethics. A successful framework must provide stability and flexibility. Without stability, ethical precommitments will vanish as technology rapidly shifts costs. Without flexibility, traditional approaches will rapidly become obsolete in the face of technological change. The article concludes that Ross's duty-based approach both provides stability in the face of rapid technological change and flexibility to innovate to achieve the original purpose of basic ethical principles.
Dynamics of Aboveground and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks and Cycling of Available Nitrogen along a Land-use Gradient in Rondônia, Brazil

High rates of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon have the potential to alter the storage and cycling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) across this region. To investigate the impacts of deforestation, we quantified total aboveground biomass (TAGB), aboveground and soil pools of C and N, and soil N availability along a land-use gradient in Rondonia, Brazil, that included standing primary forest, slashed primary and secondary forest, shifting cultivation, and pasture sites. TAGB decreased substantially with increasing land use, ranging from 311 and 399 Mg ha–1 (primary forests) to 63 Mg ha–1 (pasture). Aboveground C and N pools declined in patterns and magnitudes similar to those of TAGB. Unlike aboveground pools, soil C and N concentrations and pools did not show consistent declines in response to land use. Instead, C and N concentrations were strongly related to percent clay content of soils. Concentrations of NO3-N and NH4-N generally increased in soils following slash-and-burn events along the land-use gradient and decreased with increasing land use. Increasing land use resulted in marked declines in NO3-N pools relative to NH4-N pools. Rates of net nitrification and N-mineralization were also generally higher in postfire treatments relative to prefire treatments along the land-use gradient and declined with increasing land use. Results demonstrate the linked responses of aboveground C and N pools and soil N availability to land use in the Brazilian Amazon; steady reductions in aboveground pools along the land-use gradient were accompanied by declines in inorganic soil N pools and transformation rates.
Quantitation of binding, recovery and desalting efficiency of peptides and proteins in solid phase extraction micropipette tips

Micropipette-tip solid phase extraction (SPE) systems are common in proteomic analyses for desalting and concentrating samples for mass spectrometry, removing interferences, and increasing sensitivity. These systems are inexpensive, disposable, and highly efficient. Here, we show micropipette-tip solid phase extraction is a direct sample preparation method for (14)C-accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), removing salts or reagent from labeled macromolecules. We compared loading, recovery and desalting efficiency in commercially available SPE micro-tips using (14)C-labeled peptides and proteins, AMS, and alpha spectrometry ion energy loss quantitation. The polypropylene in the tips was nearly (14)C-free and simultaneously provided low-background carrier for AMS. The silica material did not interfere with the analysis. Alpha spectrometry provided an absolute measurement of desalting efficiency.
Note on the damping of free-surface oscillations due to drainage

It is shown that the draining of liquid from a vertical tank produces a small but positive damping of free-surface oscillations. This conclusion is consistent with the experimental observations of Brooks.
Forward-bias diode parameters, electronic noise, and photoresponse of graphene/silicon Schottky junctions with an interfacial native oxide layer

Metal-semiconductor Schottky junction devices composed of chemical vapor deposition grown monolayer graphene on p-type silicon substrates are fabricated and characterized. Important diode parameters, such as the Schottky barrier height, ideality factor, and series resistance, are extracted from forward bias current-voltage characteristics using a previously established method modified to take into account the interfacial native oxide layer present at the graphene/silicon junction. It is found that the ideality factor can be substantially increased by the presence of the interfacial oxide layer. Furthermore, low frequency noise of graphene/silicon Schottky junctions under both forward and reverse bias is characterized. The noise is found to be 1/f dominated and the shot noise contribution is found to be negligible. The dependence of the 1/f noise on the forward and reverse current is also investigated. Finally, the photoresponse of graphene/silicon Schottky junctions is studied. The devices exhibit a peak ...
Disaster, Inc.: Privatization and Post­Katrina Rebuilding in New Orleans

This paper examines the problems and limitations of the privatization of federal and local disaster recovery policies and services following the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The paper discusses the significance of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in accelerating efforts to devolve and privatize emergency management functions; the reorganization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a service purchaser and arranger; and the efforts by the New Orleans city government to contract out disaster recovery activities to private firms. I situate and explain these three developments in the context of recent trends toward the neoliberalization of state activities, including the privatization and devolution of policy implementation to private firms and non-governmental organizations. On both the federal and local levels, inadequate contract oversight and lack of cost controls provided opportunities for private contractors to siphon public resources and exploit government agencies to further their profiteering interests and accumulation agendas. This article demonstrates how the privatization of emergency management services and policy constitutes a new regulatory project in which the state's role has shifted away from providing aid to disaster victims and toward the management and coordination of services delivered by private contractors.
A Real-Time Worm Outbreak Detection System Using Shared Counters

New networking applications such as Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) require finding the frequently repeated strings in a packet stream for further investigation. The strategy of finding frequently repeated strings within a given time frame of the packet stream has been quite efficient to detect the polymorphic worms. A novel real-time worm outbreak detection system using two-phase hashing is proposed in this paper. We use the concept of shared counters to minimize the memory cost while efficiently sifting through suspicious strings. We have simulated our system for various settings and packet stream sizes. Our system can support line speed of gigabit-rates with negligible false positive and negative.
Directional vegetation index interactions in ASAS imagery

The use of vegetation indices (VIs) for monitoring the Earth's vegetation must not only produce composited, cloud-free imagery but must also consider and adjust for land surface and atmospheric directional effects. In this study, the view angle profiles of various vegetation indices (VI's), along the principal plane to the Sun, were investigated with ASAS imagery, acquired over different land surface cover types at the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in Arizona. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and several soil- and atmospheric-correcting versions of the NDVI were analyzed to examine land surface anisotropic effects for both land cover discrimination and for temporal compositing of the VI. Atmospheric optical depth and soil and vegetation biophysical measurements were simultaneously made. View angle profiles were highly dependent on the VI utilized. Furthermore, view angle profiles of some VI's, such as the NDVI, varied with land cover type, while other VI's, like the SAVI and modified NDVI (MNDVI), yielded similar profiles for all the land cover types studied. The NDVI view angle profiles were sensitive to atmosphere and topography-induced brightness variations while these same variations were minimized with use of the atmospheric resistant and soil-correcting variants of the NDVI, particularly the MNDVI. Hence, the improved, self-correcting VI's facilitated multiangular interpretations, including compositing, by minimizing complex atmospheric-vegetation-soil-angular interactions. >
Shadow Education, American Style: Test Preparation, the SAT and College Enrollment

Cross-national research finds that "shadow education" — educational activities outside of formal schooling — tends to confer advantages on already privileged students. Shadow education in the United States, such as test prep for college entrance exams, has received considerably less attention. Drawing on the National Education Longitudinal Study, we analyze the likelihood of participation in, and the implications of, SAT preparation. Social class inequalities in test preparation, particularly costly SAT courses and private tutoring, are notable and have at least moderate consequences for SAT scores and selective college enrollment. We also find racial/ethnic variations in the use of test preparation. We consider the implications of these findings for understanding shadow education, stratification and educational mobility in the United States.
Enhanced Ca2+ influx from STIM1–Orai1 induces muscle pathology in mouse models of muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle wasting disease that is thought to be initiated by unregulated Ca(2+) influx into myofibers leading to their death. Store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) through sarcolemmal Ca(2+) selective Orai1 channels in complex with STIM1 in the sarcoplasmic reticulum is one such potential disease mechanism for pathologic Ca(2+) entry. Here, we generated a mouse model of STIM1 overexpression in skeletal muscle to determine whether this type of Ca(2+) entry could induce muscular dystrophy. Myofibers from muscle-specific STIM1 transgenic mice showed a significant increase in SOCE in skeletal muscle, modeling an observed increase in the same current in dystrophic myofibers. Histological and biochemical analysis of STIM1 transgenic mice showed fulminant muscle disease characterized by myofiber necrosis, swollen mitochondria, infiltration of inflammatory cells, enhanced interstitial fibrosis and elevated serum creatine kinase levels. This dystrophic-like disease in STIM1 transgenic mice was abrogated by crossing in a transgene expressing a dominant-negative Orai1 (dnOrai1) mutant. The dnOrai1 transgene also significantly reduced the severity of muscular dystrophy in both mdx (dystrophin mutant mice) and δ-sarcoglycan-deficient (Sgcd(-/-)) mouse models of disease. Hence, Ca(2+) influx across an unstable sarcolemma due to increased activity of a STIM1-Orai1 complex is a disease determinant in muscular dystrophy, and hence, SOCE represents a potential therapeutic target.
Electrochemical Removal of Carbon Monoxide in Reformate Hydrogen for Fueling Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

A twin-cell electrochemical filter is demonstrated to reduce the CO concentration in reformate hydrogen. In this design, the potential and gas flow are switched between the two filter cells so that alternative CO adsorption and oxidation occur in each cell while providing a continuous flow of H 2 to a fuel cell. The effects of filter switching time and applied potential on the CO concentration of gas exiting the filter are presented here for a CO concentration of 1000 ppm in nitrogen flowing at 100 cm 3 /min. The parasitic loss of hydrogen from a corresponding reformate stream was estimated to be 1.5%.
Image-guided evaluation and monitoring of treatment response in patients with dry eye disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most common ocular disorders worldwide. The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of DED are not well-understood, and thus treating DED has been a significant challenge for ophthalmologists. Most of the currently available diagnostic tests demonstrate low correlation to patient symptoms and have low reproducibility. Recently, sophisticated in vivo imaging modalities have become available for patient care, namely, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). These emerging modalities are powerful and non-invasive, allowing real-time visualization of cellular and anatomical structures of the cornea and ocular surface. Here we discuss how, by providing both qualitative and quantitative assessment, these techniques can be used to demonstrate early subclinical disease, grade layer-by-layer severity, and allow monitoring of disease severity by cellular alterations. Imaging-guided stratification of patients may also be possible in conjunction with clinical examination methods. Visualization of subclinical changes and stratification of patients in vivo allows objective image-guided evaluation of tailored treatment response based on cellular morphological alterations specific to each patient. This image-guided approach to DED may ultimately improve patient outcomes and make it possible to study the efficacy of novel therapies in clinical trials.
Preserving Privacy Based on Semantic Policy Tools

Different organizations are constantly collecting, analyzing, and storing individuals' private data: shopping sites want to provide better service and recommendations, hospitals to improve healthcare, and government agencies to enable national defense and law enforcement. Sharing data lets these organizations discover important knowledge and draw useful conclusions but raises concerns about information privacy and trust. Until recently, the focus was on restricting access to data on a "need-to-know" basis, but since the 9/11 Commission, the paradigm has shifted to a "need to share." The authors explore the use of semantic privacy policies, justifications for data requests, and automated auditing to encourage sharing of sensitive data between organizations. They describe an architecture based on policy tools that evaluate incoming queries against semantic policies and domain knowledge and provide a justification for each query-why they're permitted, denied, or inapplicable. Using a semantic policy language gives policies explicit semantics that allow all participants to unambiguously understand their meaning. The justifications generated by checking incoming requests against these policies help requesters formulate privacy-aware queries. Reasoning over event logs and justifications allows data owners to verify that their privacy policies are being correctly enforced.
Enabling light-driven water oxidation via a low-energy RuIVO intermediate

The discovery of catalysts capable of driving water oxidation at relatively low overpotential is a key challenge for efficient photoinduced water oxidation. The mononuclear Ru(II) polypyridyl complex (1) [Ru(NPM)(H2O)(pic)2]2+ (NPM = 4-tert-butyl-2,6-di-(1′,8′-naphthyrid-2′-yl)-pyridine, pic = 4-picoline) has been examined as a catalyst for visible-light-driven water oxidation in a three-component homogeneous system containing [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a photosensitizer, persulfate as a sacrificial electron acceptor and catalyst 1. In contrast to the well-established water oxidation mechanism via the nucleophilic attack of a water molecule on the high-energy [RuVO]3+ species, a lower-energy “direct pathway” for O–O bond formation via a [RuIVO]2+ intermediate was proposed for the first time for the catalyst 1 (Polyansky et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 14649). In this report we successfully demonstrate that this unique proton-coupled low-energy pathway actually takes place with the use of a mild oxidant such as the photogenerated [Ru(bpy)3]3+ (1.26 V vs. NHE) to drive water oxidation. The overall quantum yield of 9%, TOF of 0.12 s−1 and TON of 103 (limited solely by a drop in pH) were found for photochemical water oxidation with 1 using [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a photosensitizer and [S2O8]2− as a sacrificial electron acceptor. These values render catalyst 1 as one of the most active mononuclear ruthenium-based catalysts for light-driven water oxidation in a homogeneous system. The utilization of a pH-dependent pathway for water oxidation is a new and promising direction as a low-energy pathway. Furthermore, the detailed analysis of individual photochemical steps leading to O2 evolution provides benchmarks for future mechanistic studies of photo-induced water oxidation catalysis.
Optimal decomposition of convex morphological structuring elements for 4-connected parallel array processors

A morphological operation using a large structuring element can be decomposed equivalently into a sequence of recursive operations, each using a smaller structuring element. However, an optimal decomposition of arbitrarily shaped structuring elements is yet to be found. In this paper, we have derived an optimal decomposition of a specific class of structuring elements/spl mdash/convex sets/spl mdash/for a specific type of machine/spl mdash/4-connected parallel array processors. The cost of morphological operation on 4-connected parallel array processors is the total number of 4-connected shifts required by the set of structuring elements. First, the original structuring element is decomposed into a set of prime factors, and then their locations are determined while minimizing the cost function. Proofs are presented to show the optimality of the decomposition. Examples of optimal decomposition are given and compared to an existing decomposition reported by Xu (1991). >
Designer, acidic biochar influences calcareous soil characteristics.

In a proof-of-concept study, an acidic (pH 5.8) biochar was created using a low pyrolysis temperature (350 C) and steam activation (800 C) to potentially improve the soil physicochemical status of an eroded calcareous soil. Biochar was added at 0%, 1%, 2%, and 10% (by wt.) and soils were destructively sampled at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 month intervals. Soil was analyzed for gravimetric water content, pH, NO3–N, plant-available Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and P, organic C, CO2 respiration, and microbial enumeration via extractable DNA and 16S rRNA gene copies. Gravimetric soil water content increased with biochar application regardless of rate, as compared to the control. Soil pH decreased between 0.2 and 0.4 units, while plant-available Zn, Mn, and P increased with increasing biochar application rate. Micronutrient availability decreased over time likely due to insoluble mineral species precipitation. Increasing biochar application raised the soil organic C content and remained elevated over time. Increasing biochar application rate also increased respired CO2, yet the CO2 released decreased over time. Soil NO3–N concentrations significantly decreased with increasing biochar application rate likely due to microbial immobilization or denitrification. Depending on application rate, biochar produced a 1.4 to 2.1-fold increase in soil DNA extracted and 1.4- to 2.4-fold increase in 16S rRNA gene abundance over control soils, suggesting microbial stimulation and a subsequent burst of activity upon biochar addition. Our results showed that there is promise in designing a biochar to improve the quality and water relations of eroded calcareous soils. Published by Elsevier Ltd.