cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contaminant bioavailability in soil and phytotoxicity/genotoxicity tests in Vicia faba L.: a case study of boron contamination

In this work, the model plant for genotoxicity studies Vicia faba L. was used to investigate the relation between Boron (B) content and bioavailability in soil and plant genotoxic/phytotoxic response. A total of nine soil samples were investigated: two soil samples were collected from a B-polluted industrial area in Cecina (Tuscany, Italy), the other samples were obtained by spiking control soil (from a not polluted area of the basin) with seven increased doses of B, from about 20 to 100 mg B kg−1. As expected, B availability, evaluated by chemical extraction, was higher (twofold) in spiked soils when compared with collected polluted soils with the same B total content. To analyze the phytotoxic effects of B, seed germination, root elongation, biomass production, and B accumulation in plant tissues were considered in V. faba plants grown in the various soils. Moreover, the cytotoxic/genotoxic effects of B were investigated in root meristems by mitotic index (MI) and micronuclei frequency (MCN) analysis. The results highlighted that V. faba was a B-sensitive plant and the appearance of phytotoxic effects, which altered plant growth parameters, were linearly correlated to the bioavailable B concentration in soils. Concerning the occurrence of cytotoxic/genotoxic effects induced by B, no linear correlation was observed even if MCN frequency was logarithmic correlated with the concentration of B bioavailable in soils.
Unsupervised models for predicting strategic relations between organizations

Microblogging sites like Twitter provide a platform for sharing ideas and expressing opinions. The widespread popularity of these platforms and the complex social structure that arises within these communities provides a unique opportunity to understand the interactions between users. The political domain, especially in a multi-party system, presents compelling challenges, as political parties have different levels of alignment based on their political strategies. We use Twitter to understand the nuanced relationships between differing political entities in Latin America. Our model incorporates diverse signals from the content of tweets and social context from retweets, mentions and hashtag usage. Since direct communications between entities are relatively rare, we explore models based on the posts of users who interact with multiple political organizations. We present a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results of models using different features, and demonstrate that a model capable of using sentiment strength, social context, and issue alignment has superior performance to less sophisticated baselines.
Can participatory action research (PAR) democratize research, knowledge, and schooling? Experiences from the global South and North

AbstractThis introduction provides background for the five articles in this special issue. It briefly describes the current neoliberal context within which PAR seeks to democratize knowledge and the ways PAR attempts to push traditional research epistemologies and methodologies toward more participatory stances. It also provides an overview of the five articles which includes two articles on PAR in the global South where PAR has its origins.
Developing a Real-Time PCR Assay for Direct Identification and Quantification of Pratylenchus penetrans in Soil

The root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans is a major pathogen of potato worldwide. Yield losses may be exacerbated by interaction with the fungus Verticillium dahliae in the potato early dying disease complex. Accurate identification and quantification of P. penetrans prior to planting are essential for developing effective integrated pest control measures. However, distinction between P. penetrans and other Pratylenchus spp. based on morphology is a tedious task. A SYBR Green I-based qPCR assay was developed to discriminate, identify, and quantify P. penetrans in field soil. P. penetrans-specific qPCR primers were designed from the D2-D3 region of the 28S rDNA. The specificity of the assay was evaluated using eight isolates of P. penetrans populations and 31 isolates of other nematode species. A standard curve relating threshold cycle and log values of nematode number was generated from artificially infested soils. There was a high correlation between the P. penetrans numbers artificially added to soil or estimated from naturally infested field soils by conventional methods, and the numbers quantified using the qPCR assay. Grinding the field soil prior to DNA extraction improved P. penetrans detection from soil. The qPCR assay will not only be useful for differentiating P. penetrans from mixed populations of Pratylenchus spp., but also for efficient detection and quantification of P. penetrans from field soil. The assay requires no expertise in nematode taxonomy and morphology, and may serve as a useful diagnostic tool in research, diagnostic labs, and extension services for pest management.
Urban Activity Explorer: Visual Analytics and Planning Support Systems

Urban Activity Explorer is a new prototype for a planning support system that uses visual analytics to understand mobile social media data. Mobile social media data are growing at an astounding rate and have been studied from a variety of perspectives. Our system consists of linked visualizations that include temporal, spatial and topical data, and is well suited for exploring multiple scenarios. It allows a wide latitude for exploration, verification and knowledge generation as a central feature of the system. For this work, we used a database of approximately 1,000,000 geolocated tweets over a two-month period in Los Angeles. Urban Activity Explorer’s usage of visual analytic principles is uniquely suited to address the issues of inflexibility in data systems that led to planning support systems. We demonstrate that mobile social media can be a valuable and complementary source of information about the city.
Naval Technology, State Power and the Influence of Qi Jiguang in the Late Ming

This essay examines the relationship between naval power and central authority in the late Ming period, 1560–1640. While the late Ming is often compared unfavourably with the dynasty’s early decades with respect to naval power, in fact the dynasty’s final decades witnessed a resurgence of interest in naval affairs as the Ming sought to defend its coast against raiders and invaders and protect vital shipping lanes. In particular the Ming revived its navy to combat pirates in the 1560s and then greatly expanded it in the 1590s to aid its vassal state of Chosŏn against a Japanese invasion. Naval power continued to play an important role through the end of the dynasty as the Ming found itself confronted with the rising might of the Manchus in the northeast and the challenge of armed European traders in the southeast. Though not always completely effective in achieving the aims of the state, the Ming navy remained a key component of state power and was often at the cutting edge (so to speak) of technological innovation. This shows that far from being xenophobic and culturally biased against technological innovation, the Ming eagerly adapted new technologies pursuant to its military and policy goals.
A multi-scale homogenization model for fine-grained porous viscoplastic polycrystals: I – Finite-strain theory

Abstract We make use of the recently developed iterated second-order homogenization method to obtain finite-strain constitutive models for the macroscopic response of porous polycrystals consisting of large pores randomly distributed in a fine-grained polycrystalline matrix. The porous polycrystal is modeled as a three-scale composite, where the grains are described by single-crystal viscoplasticity and the pores are assumed to be large compared to the grain size. The method makes use of a linear comparison composite (LCC) with the same substructure as the actual nonlinear composite, but whose local properties are chosen optimally via a suitably designed variational statement. In turn, the effective properties of the resulting three-scale LCC are determined by means of a sequential homogenization procedure, utilizing the self-consistent estimates for the effective behavior of the polycrystalline matrix, and the Willis estimates for the effective behavior of the porous composite. The iterated homogenization procedure allows for a more accurate characterization of the properties of the matrix by means of a finer “discretization” of the properties of the LCC to obtain improved estimates, especially at low porosities, high nonlinearties and high triaxialities. In addition, consistent homogenization estimates for the average strain rate and spin fields in the pores and grains are used to develop evolution laws for the substructural variables, including the porosity, pore shape and orientation, as well as the “crystallographic” and “morphological” textures of the underlying matrix. In Part II of this work has appeared in Song and Ponte Castaneda (2018b), the model will be used to generate estimates for both the instantaneous effective response and the evolution of the microstructure for porous FCC and HCP polycrystals under various loading conditions.
Spironolactone Bodies: An Immunoperoxidase Study with Biochemical Correlation

The present immunoperoxidase study attempted to localize aldosterone and cortisol in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded adrenal glands or tumors. Apparently, steroid substances are solubilized during routine tissue processing, and the cytoplasm of adrenal cortical cells is not stained by either antialdosterone or anticortisol antibodies. However, spironolactone bodies react positively with antialdosterone antibody. The presence of aldosterone in the concentric laminations of spironolactone bodies supports the concept that spironolactone bodies are not artifacts. Furthermore, the fact that aldosterone does survive in spironolactone bodies suggests that it is bound in some unusual form. The spironolactone bodies are probably derived from endoplasmic reticulum, and the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum are considered capable of storing steroids. It is likely that during the formation of spironolactone bodies are probably derived from endoplasmic reticulum, and the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum are considered capable of storing steroids. It is likely that during the formation of spironolactone bodies, aldosterone or a few cortisol-like substances are trapped in these laminated concentric bodies.
Legal Issues Concerning Children with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disabilities.

Children and youth with autism often present special challenges to the educational system. Issues related to these challenges are reflected in court cases involving these students and those charged...
A Critical Analysis of Functional Assessment: Issues for Researchers and Practitioners:

This article addresses the use of an analytical approach to making treatment decisions known as functional assessment. The usefulness of functional assessment with students with emotional/behaviora...
An Acute Care for Elders Quality Improvement Program for Complex, High-Cost Patients Yields Savings for the System.

BACKGROUND Acute Care for Elders (ACE) programs improve outcomes for older adults however, little is known about whether impact varies with comorbidity severity. OBJECTIVE To describe differences in hospital-level outcomes between ACE and routine care across various levels of comorbidity burden. DESIGN Cross-sectional quality improvement study. SETTING A 716-bed teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS Medical inpatients aged ≥70 years hospitalized between September 2014 and August 2017. INTERVENTION ACE care, including interprofessional rounds, geriatric syndromes screening, and care protocols, in an environment prepared for elders MEASUREMENTS: Total cost, length of stay (LOS), and 30-day readmissions. We calculated median differences for cost and LOS between ACE and usual care and explored variations across the distribution of outcomes at the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles. Results were also stratified across quartiles of the combined comorbidity score. RESULTS A total of 1,429 ACE and 10,159 non-ACE patients were included in this study. The mean age was 81 years, 57% were female, and 81% were white. ACE patients had lower costs associated with care ranging from $171 at the 25th percentile to $3,687 at the 90th percentile, as well as lower LOS ranging from 0 days at the 25th percentile to 1.9 days at the 90th percentile. After stratifying by comorbidity score, the greatest differences in outcomes were among those with higher scores. There was no difference in 30-day readmission between the groups. CONCLUSION The greatest reductions in cost and LOS were in patients with greater comorbidity scores. Risk stratification may help hospitals prioritize admissions to ACE units to maximize the impact of the more intensive intervention.
Is epistemic circularity a fallacy

The author uses a series of potential counterexamples to argue against attempts by Bergmann and Plantinga to articulate a distinction between malignant and benign epistemic circularity and, more radically, to argue that epistemic circularity per se is no fallacy, and the concept of epistemic circularity plays no role in the explanation of why some instances of epistemic circularity are irrational. The author contrasts an inferential framework, in which circularity is a problem, with an equilibrium framework, in which the concept of circularity plays no useful role and argues that defeasible reasoning can only be understood in an equilibrium, not an inferential, framework. The author uses an example of reasoning about the reliability of one’s own memory to explain how seemingly malignant epistemic circularity can be rational in an equilibrium framework. The author discusses the relevance of this conclusion to two contemporary issues: (1) the cogency of Plantinga’s Evolutionary Argument against Naturalism and (2) the evolutionary naturalists’ (e.g., Street) challenges to non-naturalist moral realism—and, indeed, to all forms of non-naturalist normative realism.
Bone Marrow Granulocytes Drive Vascular and Hematopoietic Regeneration

Abstract In addition to eliminating host hematopoietic cells myeloablation also disrupts the blood vessels that sustain hematopoiesis. Regeneration of the bone marrow (BM) vasculature is necessary for hematopoietic recovery and survival after transplantation (Cell Stem Cell. 2009 Mar 6;4(3):263-74) but the mechanisms that drive vascular regeneration are not clear. We found that, fourteen days after lethal irradiation and transplantation, mice transplanted with 20x106 bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNC) had ~6-fold more CD45-Ter119-CD31+CD105+ endothelial cells (6.9x103 vs 0.96x103 EC/femur, p Because hematopoietic progenitors inhibit vascular regeneration via angiopoietin 1 (Elife 2015 Mar 30;4:e05521) we hypothesized that mature hematopoietic cells mediated vascular recovery. To test this we adoptively transferred, B and T cells, monocytes and macrophages (MO), granulocytes and erythroid cells into lethally irradiated recipients previously transplanted with 105 donor BMNC. Only CD115-Gr1+ granulocytes promoted endothelial cell regeneration (2.5x103 for granulocyte treated mice vs 0.9x103 for PBS, 0.3x103 for B- and T-cell, 0.7 1x103 for MO and 0.3x103 EC/femur for erythroid cell-treated mice; p We found that granulocytes produced high levels of the angiogenic cytokine TNFα. This cytokine signals via Tnfrsf1aand Tnfrsf1b. Tnfrsf1a was upregulated specifically in BM endothelial cells. After myeloablation with 5-fluorouracil Tnfa-/- mice have reduced survival (Tnfa-/-= 13% vs WT= 93%; p We have identified a new type of cellular crosstalk in the microenvironment that drives regeneration. Our research also provides proof of principle for studies targeting BM granulocytes to enhance vascular recovery and survival after transplantation in patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Metabo- and mechanoreceptor expression in human heart failure: Relationships with the locomotor muscle afferent influence on exercise responses.

NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? How do locomotor muscle metabo- and mechanoreceptor expression compare in heart failure patients and controls? Do relationships exist between the protein expression and cardiopulmonary responses during exercise with locomotor muscle neural afferent feedback inhibition? What is the main finding and its importance? Heart failure patients exhibited greater protein expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 and cyclooxygenase-2 than controls. These findings are important as they identify receptors that may underlie the augmented locomotor muscle neural afferent feedback in heart failure. ABSTRACT Heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) exhibit abnormal locomotor group III/IV afferent feedback during exercise; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine (1) metabo- and mechanoreceptor expression in HFrEF and controls and (2) relationships between receptor expression and changes in cardiopulmonary responses with afferent inhibition. Ten controls and six HFrEF performed 5 min of cycling exercise at 65% peak workload with lumbar intrathecal fentanyl (FENT) or placebo (PLA). Arterial blood pressure and catecholamines were measured via radial artery catheter. A vastus lateralis muscle biopsy was performed to quantify cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), purinergic 2X3 (P2X3 ), transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV 1), acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3 ), Piezo 1 and Piezo 2 protein expression. TRPV 1 and COX-2 protein expression was greater in HFrEF than controls (both P 0.16). In all participants, COX-2 protein expression was related to the percentage change in ventilation (r = -0.66) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r = -0.82) (both P < 0.01) with FENT (relative to PLA) during exercise. In controls, TRPV 1 protein expression was related to the percentage change in systolic blood pressure (r = -0.77, P = 0.02) and MAP (r = -0.72, P = 0.03) with FENT (relative to PLA) during exercise. TRPV 1 and COX-2 protein levels are elevated in HFrEF compared to controls. These findings suggest that the elevated TRPV 1 and COX-2 expression may contribute to the exaggerated locomotor muscle afferent feedback during cycling exercise in HFrEF.
Controlling spin-polarized carriers at the SrTiO 3 / EuO interface via the ferroelectric field effect

Using density functional theory and phenomenological Landau-Khalatnikov theory, we investigate the effect of spontaneous polarization switching in ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ on the oxygen vacancy-induced electron gas at the adjacent ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}/EuO$ interface in epitaxial ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}/{\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}/\mathrm{EuO}$ heterostructures. The ferroelectric field effect, induced by ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ (BTO) in oxygen-deficient ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ (STO) in the presence of a ferromagnetic semiconductor EuO, results in a spin-polarized carrier gas at the interface due to the magnetoelectric proximity effect.
Racism, Not Race, Drives Inequity Across the COVID-19 Continuum

Since the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, significant racial and ethnic inequities have persisted across the continuum of COVI
Will Protective Innovations Like the "Airway Box" Become Routine Practice After the Pandemic?: An Opinion Survey

Background Tracheal intubation carries an elevated risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to the generation of aerosols containing high concentrations of the virus. An airway box was designed to mitigate the exposure of healthcare professionals performing intubations. Aim We evaluated usability and sustainability in the routine practice of the "airway box" as a protective device during high-risk airway procedures. Materials and methods After institutional review board approval, clinicians were educated on using the device through simulation, intranet learning modules, and emailed resources. The airway box was made available in the emergency department, critical care units, perioperative area, and operating rooms. QR codes affixed to the box, emailed, and displayed in common areas provided easy access to complete a REDcap survey (Vanderbilt University Nashville, USA) eliciting providers’ experience. Data was collected and analyzed between April 1 and July 31, 2020, on REDcap, and the results were analyzed. Results 687 emergent intubations took place. 232 were performed by anesthesiologists, 315 by emergency department providers, and 140 by critical care specialists. 39 surveys were completed, 29 from intubations in the operating room, three from the critical care units, five from interventional radiology suites, and two perioperatively. Providers found the device to be readily available, with a score of 4.51/5, and the majority of providers, 60%, found the device easy to use, rating it either a 4 or 5 out of 5. Providers acquired a mean Mallampati score of 1.75 and 1.40 mean laryngoscopic grade view. Conclusion Intubation boxes may effectively mitigate high-risk viral exposure during airway procedures. Survey responses show that devices were easy to use and did not significantly affect visualization of the airway. Similar to mask use, enclosure devices in clinical practice could become a vital part of medical protective equipment even after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic if they are effectively implemented.
Medical Provider Embeddings for Healthcare Fraud Detection

Advances in data mining and machine learning continue to transform the healthcare industry and provide value to medical professionals and patients. In this study, we address the problem of encoding medical provider types and present four techniques for learning dense, semantic embeddings that capture provider specialty similarities. The first two methods (GloVe and Med-W2V) use pre-trained word embeddings to convert provider specialty descriptions to phrase embeddings. Next, HcpsVec and RxVec embeddings are constructed from publicly available big data using specialty-procedure and specialty-drug occurrence matrices, respectively. We evaluate the learned provider type embeddings on two real-world medicare fraud classification problems using logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), gradient boosted tree (GBT), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) learners. Through repetition, statistical analysis, and feature importance measures, we confirm that semantic embeddings for provider types significantly improve fraud classification results. Finally, t-SNE visualizations are used to show that the learned provider type embeddings capture meaningful specialty characteristics and provider type similarities. Our primary contributions are two novel methods for encoding medical specialties using procedure-level statistics and the evaluation of four encoding techniques on two large-scale healthcare fraud classification tasks. Since all data sources are publicly available, these encoding techniques can be readily adopted and applied in future machine learning applications in the healthcare industry.
Ungovernable, Incorrigible, and Impudent: An Empirical Study of Criminal Character Among Serious Institutionalized Delinquents

The notion of criminal character—indicative of an offender unresponsive to rehabilitative efforts, largely unamenable to treatment, primed for recidivism, and committed to a criminal or delinquent lifestyle—has an uneven history in criminology and criminal justice. Despite tangential efforts to apply criminal character considerations to delinquency, we are unaware of any study that has empirically employed the concept of criminal character among justice-system involved youth. Here, we examine the similarities and differences among a large cohort of serious delinquent offenders, some of whom correctional staff assessed as having “criminal character.” Youth with criminal character had more extensive delinquent history, adverse childhood experiences, psychopathology, and institutional and violent misconduct while confined in state juvenile correctional facilities and had significant associations with institutional and violent misconduct despite controls for 29 covariates. However, sensitivity analyses indicated the results were sensitive to specification of the dependent variable (e.g., null associations with dichotomous measures of misconduct) and revealed period effects (e.g., null associations for more recently placed youth). Our models show the potential pitfalls from using administrative measures of criminological and forensic concepts and we offer guidance for measurement development in this area.
Credit ratings, financial ratios, and equity risk: A decomposition analysis based on Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch’s ratings

Abstract This paper applies regression-based methods to analyze the variation in corporate bond ratings within and between credit rating agencies (CRAs). The between-variation is decomposed via the Binder–Oaxaca method, whereas the within-variation is decomposed into three components corresponding to financial ratios, equity risk, and CRA’s private information (residual). In the period from 1995 to 2019, the contribution of equity risk has ascended substantially from 10% to about 30% whereas financial ratios’ importance has declined from 70% to 40%. The gap between Fitch’s ratings and Moodys’/S&P’s was largely due to companies’ endogenous shopping for ratings rather than the difference in rating criteria.
Grieving Rituals and Beliefs of Chinese Families

This chapter explores the general beliefs and rituals of grieving experience in Chinese culture. As the biggest population in the world, Chinese is not well understood and systematically studied in terms of their approaches to the death of family members. There is an urgency and necessity to explore this important and yet understudied phenomenon. The chapter is to introduce the general beliefs on death and grieving among the Chinese population, by exploring the primary philosophical and religious foundation of these beliefs such as ancestor worship, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. The combination of the diverse origins is believed to have influenced Chinese people for thousands of years, particularly in relation to death and grieving. Over the long period of Chinese history, beliefs and traditions have formed and evolved on the basis of these philosophies/religions. They have demonstrated surprising persistence as the Chinese culture itself for the past four millennia or even longer. It was also noticed that the integration of other sources, such as Christianity and western culture also helped reform or shape perceptions of death in modern Chinese society and how Chinese families deal with death and mourning. In addition to the review of existing literature, a stand-alone case study based on a concurrent qualitative study will give readers a closer look at how a Chinese family dealt with their loss.
Limitations of women's freedoms: a comparison study between two societies

55 INTRODUCTION 55 PURPOSE OF STUDY 58 METHOD 58 Instrument 58 Participants 59 Procedure 59 RESULTS 59 Nonacademic Activities 59 Personal Habits When Using a Car 60 Safety Issues 61 Freedom of Movement in Society 62 DISCUSSION 63 SUMMARY 67 REFERENCES 67 CHAPTER IV: LIMTTATIONS OF WOMEN'S FREEDOMS: A COMPARISON STUDY BETWEEN TWO SOCIETIES 70 ABSTRACT 70 INTRODUCTION 70 PURPOSE OF STUDY 73 METHOD 73
Efferent Vestibular Fibers in the Frog

Publisher Summary Following the demonstration of efferent fibers in the vestibular nerve of mammals, several studies have been devoted to this subject. The endings of these fibers on the receptor cells have been identified electron microscopically and shown to differ from the endings of the afferent processes. Dohlman et al. and others have produced evidence that the fibers and their endings are rich in acetylcholinesterase (AChE). According to Rossi and Cortesina, the fibers originate in part in the vestibular nuclei and in part in the reticular formation. Physiological studies in mammals have clarified their function. From the discussion in this chapter, it appears that in mammals, neurons within the brain stem nuclei such as the lateral vestibular nucleus and the reticular nuclei give rise to efferent fibers, which are AChE-positive. The frog efferent fibers for the most part arise from a region medial to the vestibular nerve and up to the lower lateral part of the cerebellum. The cells, which give rise to these efferent processes, are apparently diversely distributed throughout this region with a high concentration just rostra1 to the vestibular nerve entrance. It is not known whether more than one type of cell is responsible for efferent processes to the vestibular organ.
Learning from experience: A gendered approach to social protection for workers in the informal economy

Using a gendered approach, this paper provides a conceptual basis and a review of initiatives concerning the extension of protection for workers in the informal economy. It examines the situation of women in this sector as well as their need for social protection and then proposes an approach for extending this protection, based on a multi-dimensional matrix. It also presents a series of case studies on innovative systems for covering people working in the informal economy.
The acid hydrolysis of glycosides : VIII. Synthesis and hydrolysis of three aldotriouronic acids

Abstract 2- O -(β- D -Glucopyranosyluronic acid)cellobiose, 6- O -(β- D -glucopyranosyluronic acid)cellobiose, and 6′-β- O -(β- D -glucopyranosyluronic acid)cellobiose have been synthesized and characterized, and kinetic data have been determined for the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the D -glucuronide and D -glucoside linkages in each compound. The D -glucosidic bonds are all hydrolyzed at a rate lower than that for cellobiose, the stabilizing effect of the D -glucuronic acid residue being most pronounced in the last two compounds. The results are discussed with reference to recent theories concerning the acid hydrolysis of acidic polysaccharides.
Research issues in molten carbonate fuel cells: Pressurization

The issue of pressurization is a complex and controversial one involving many engineering design variables. There are among the molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) developers and researchers differences in the relative perceived importance of these variables in the MCFC power plant systems determined to be of interest. These variables significantly affect MCFC system economics and commercial viability. While developing at pressure at this time may not be necessary to commercialize the MCFC, there are potential benefits of operating MCFC`s at pressure. In this paper, the authors identify the advantages and disadvantages of operating the MCFC at pressure. Potential problems are discussed. The large and small power plant system implications of operating at pressure are qualified. Some recommendations are made. The overall goal of this paper is to create interest and motivate research in the area. (VC)
α‐Halogenated carboxylic acids and their corresponding zinc salts in the living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether

Des poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)s monodisperses sont obtenus par polymerisation vivante en solution amorcee par les systemes RCO 2 H/Zn(O 2 C-R) 2 (=CHCl 2 , CF 3 , CH 3 ) dans des conditions appropriees. Discussion du mecanisme
Absorption and biological half-life in humans of intrinsic and extrinsic 54Mn tracers from foods of plant origin

Absorption and biological half-life of 54Mn were measured in adult men and women fed foods labeled intrinsically or extrinsically with 54Mn. Each subject consumed a series of three test meals consisting of a food labeled intrinsically, a food labeled extrinsically or MnCl2 (control) served in random order. The foods tested were lettuce, spinach, wheat and sunflower seeds. Lettuce meals and their controls contained 9.65 mumol Mn; other meals contained 22.50 mumol Mn. In addition to the test food or MnCl2, each meal consisted of vegetable oil (5 g), salt (NaCl, 0.15 g) and crackers (10 g), which provided 0.55 mumol Mn. There were no differences in percentage of Mn absorption or biological half-life of 54Mn for any of the intrinsically/extrinsically labeled food pairs. Absorption of 54Mn from MnCl2 (8.90%) was greater than from lettuce (5.20%), spinach (3.81%), wheat (2.16%) or sunflower seeds (1.71%), but the biological half-life did not vary with the source of Mn. Absorption of 54Mn from lettuce was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater than from wheat or sunflower seeds. Although the Mn dose in the test meal was less for lettuce than for the other foods, there was no difference in Mn absorption from MnCl2 between the subjects fed lettuce and subjects fed other foods. There was no correlation of either 54Mn absorption or biological half-life with whole blood or plasma Mn.
Investigation of impinging‐jet crystallization with a calcium oxalate model system

An impinging-jet crystallizer was investigated in this work to assess its operational sensitivity and reproducibility for the production of small, monodisperse crystals using calcium oxalate, a model system capable of forming multiple hydrates. The impinging-jet mixer provides rapid mixing of the reactant solutions through the impingement of two narrow reactant streams at high velocity. Impinging jet linear velocity and postjetting conditions were studied, with the jet operated in nonsubmerged mode. Hydrate form and crystal-size distribution (CSD) were determined using optical microscopy and image analysis techniques. The impinging jet consistently produced small, monodisperse crystals. However, at a high level of supersaturation, slight variations in the CSD were observed for apparently identical conditions, suggesting a degree of sensitivity in the system that could lead to difficulty in its application. An apparent trend between impinging-jet linear velocity and crystal size and number was observed, with more small crystals produced at higher linear velocity.
In-situ biological oxidation of hazardous organics

Colloidal gas aphrons show good adhesion and retention in unconsolidated saturated soil matrices.
Endocrinology of puberty. I. Normal sexual maturation.

The stages of sexual development in boys and girls are described and correlated with the changing hormonal secretory activities of the pituitary and gonads which accompany puberty. The roles of the hypothalamus and the central nervous system in the regulation of pituitary function during adolescence are described, and current hypotheses concerning the mechanisms by which puberty may be initiated are discussed.
Mapping the cardiac acousteome: An overview of technologies, tools and methods

The cardiac acousteome project is aimed at developing the fundamental science, knowledge-base, tools and technologies that can form the foundation of smart diagnosis and monitoring of heart conditions based on automated cardiac auscultation. In this paper we provide an overview of the project discussing the state of the art in technologies, modeling and recognition techniques.
You've got style: detecting writing flexibility across time

Writing researchers have suggested that students who are perceived as strong writers (i.e., those who generate texts that are rated as high quality) demonstrate flexibility in their writing style. While anecdotally this has been a commonly held belief among researchers, scientists, and educators, there is little empirical research to support this claim. This study investigates this hypothesis by examining how students vary in their use of linguistic features across 16 prompt-based essays. Forty-five high school students wrote 16 essays across 8 sessions within an Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) system. Natural language processing (NLP) techniques and Entropy analyses were used to calculate how rigid or flexible students were in their use of narrative linguistic features over time and how this trait related to individual differences in literacy ability and essay quality. Additional analyses indicated that NLP and Entropy reliably detected narrative flexibility (or rigidity) after session 2 and was related to students' prior literacy skills. These exploratory methodologies are important for researchers and educators, as they indicate that writing flexibility is indeed a trait of strong writers and can be detected rather quickly using the combination of textual features and dynamic analyses.
ROM based methods for computing the squaring operation in modular rings

Signal Processing algorithms generally rely heavily on the convolution operation which in turn is multiplication intensive. However, more recently convolution algorithms based on the squaring operation as opposed to the multiplication operation have been developed. In this article we present two ROM based methods for performing the squaring operation modulo 2n, modulo 2n?1, or modulo 2n+1. The performance, cost, and implementation issues of the two methods are analyzed in detail and compared against each other as well as with a traditional ROM based implementation. It is shown that both methods obtain ROM bit savings of 99.99%, for 32-bit word lengths, when compared with traditional techniques. However, one of the methods outperforms the other in all other respects such as overhead costs, of up to 99.48% savings, performance, up to about 20 times faster, and regularity and simplicity of hardware design.
Memories of Morocco: The influence of age, schooling, and environment on memory

Abstract To what extent are models of memory general , in that they may be applied to children or to other cultural groups? In an attempt to answer this question, two experiments were undertaken in Morocco to investigate various cultural and experiential antecedents to memory development. A total of 384 children and young adults, ranging in age from 6 to 22 years, were tested in a design that contrasted schooled and nonschooled children in urban and rural environments. Three additional groups of subjects—Koranic students, Moroccan rug sellers, and University of Michigan students—were also studied because it was hypothesized that each might have particular “culture-specific” memory skills as a function of previous experience. A serial short-term recall task was used in Experiment I. Results showed that the recency effect or short-term store was generally invariant with age or experience. Control processes appeared to be a function of age, but only when coupled with schooling, and, to a lesser extent, urban environment. In Experiment II, a continuous recognition memory task was given with black and white photographs of Oriental rugs as stimuli. Forgetting rates were generally invariant with age and experience, while the acquisition parameter seemed to vary as a function of specific cultural experiences. Data from the three additional groups were useful in supporting the hypothesis of culture-specific memory skills. From Experiments I and II, and previous research, it was hypothesized that structural features of memory (e.g., short-term store and invariant forgetting rates) may be universal , while control processes or mnemonics in memory are probably culture-specific , or a function of a variety of experiential and cultural factors that surround the growing child.
Motorcycle safety: Educating riders at the teachable moment.

This continuing education article encourages emergency department (ED)nurses to present safety information to motorcyclists in an effort to prevent future injuries. The authors help nurses to create a positive attitude that can support teaching, rather than a negative attitude that limits constructive interactions between health care providers and patients. Nurses should understand the problems facing the motorcyclist, identify teachable moments during the ED visit, and share evidence-based crash avoidance and harm-reduction information. Topics include wearing conspicuous clothing, using the motorcyle's lights even during daytime, the use of protective clothing, level of experience, and resources for nurses who want to teach patients about motorcycle safety (websites are noted where readers can obtain instructional materials).
Two polypropionate metabolites from the cephalaspidean mollusk Philinopsis speciosa

Abstract Two polypropionate compounds, niuhinone-A and -B were isolated from a mollusk, Philinopsis speciosa , and their structures were elucidated by spectral methods.
Surface Charge Density of Silica Suspended in Water–Acetone Mixtures

Abstract The net proton surface charge density of silica suspended in water–acetone mixtures was studied by potentiometric titration. LiCl and NaCl were used as background electrolytes at concentrations of 10 −1 , 10 −2 , and 10 −3 mol L −1 . The results showed that acetone lowers the net proton surface charge density of silica and that the greater the decrease, the greater the acetone concentration. The surface charge density of silica also is very sensitive to the nature of the background electrolyte, LiCl producing much lower surface charge densities than NaCl. The concept of free energy of transfer (Δ G 0 t ) of an electrolyte between two different solvents was applied to explain the results in a qualitative manner.
The University of Texas Cold Neutron Source

Abstract A cold neutron source has been designed, constructed, and tested by the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory (NETL) at The University of Texas at Austin. The Texas Cold Neutron Source (TCNS) is located in one of the beam ports of the NETL 1-MW TRIGA Mark II research reactor. The main components of the TCNS are a cooled moderator, a heat pipe, a cryogenic refrigerator, and a neutron guide. 80 ml of mesitylene moderator are maintained at about 30 K in a chamber within the reactor graphite reflector by the heat pipe and cryogenic refrigerator. The heat pipe is a 3-m long aluminum tube that contains neon as the working fluid. The cold neutrons obtained from the moderator are transported by a curved 6-m long neutron guide. This neutron guide has a radius of curvature of 300 m, a 50 × 15 mm cross-section, 58 Ni coating, and is separated into three channels. The TCNS will provide a low-background subthermal neutron beam for neutron capture and scattering research. After the installation of the external portion of the neutron guide, a neutron focusing system and a Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis facility will be set up at the TCNS.
Minutes of the Annual Membership Meeting

The Sixtieth Annual Membership Meeting was held at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on January 8, 2000 at 5:00 PM. Executive Secretary and Treasurer David Pyle offered brief comments on the financial status of the Association. The meeting was turned over to President Hans R. Stoll. President Stoll welcomed the members and reported on the activities of the Association and Board in 1999. A summary of his comments follows. The results of the 1999 election for the year beginning at the end of this meeting are:
Mercury speciation in coal-fired power plant plumes observed at three surface sites in the southeastern U.S.

Elemental Hg (Hg0), reactive gaseous Hg (RGM) and fine particulate Hg (HgP) were measured intermittently at three sites in the southeastern U.S. from June 2001 through November 2004. Simultaneous measurements of SO2 and NOy were used to identify plumes from coal fired power plants (CFPPs). Emission signatures and back trajectories were used to identity specific CFPPs, and to compare observed (i.e., at the site) versus expected (i.e., at the stack) Hg speciation. Results for 41 precipitation-free plume events show that observed RGM:SO2 is substantially lower (by a factor of 2−4) than expected RGM:SO2. HgP represented 2%, or less, of total-Hg in CFPP plumes, in general agree- ment with emission estimates. Results for 21 events, where both RGM and Hg0 could be estimated, show that total-Hg (i.e., RGM + Hg0) was essentially conserved from the point of emission to the site, and that Hg0 was the dominant form (average 84%). Emission estimates, based on coal analyses and the EPRI−ICR Hg speciation model, indicat...
The history of Hayek’s theory of cultural evolution

Abstract This paper traces the historical origins of Friedrich A. Hayek’s theory of cultural evolution, and argues that Hayek’s evolutionary thought was significantly inspired by Alexander M. Carr-Saunders and Oxford zoology. While traditional Hayek scholarship emphasizes the influence of Carl Menger and the British eighteenth-century moral philosophers, I claim that these sources underdetermine what was most characteristic of Hayek’s theory, viz. the idea that cultural evolution is a matter of group selection, and the idea that natural selection operates on acquired as well as on inherited properties.
A single cannula for aortic perfusion and left ventricular decompression.

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Exercise thermoregulation after 6 h of chair rest, 6 degrees head-down bed-rest, and water immersion deconditioning in men

The purpose was to investigate the mechanism for the excessive exercise hyperthermia following deconditioning (reduction of physical fitness). Rectal (Tre) and mean skin (Tsk) temperatures and thermoregulatory responses were measured in six men [mean (SD) age, 32 (6) years; mass, 78.26 (5.80) kg; surface area, 1.95 (0.11) m2; maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), 48 (6) ml.min-1.kg-1; whilst supine in air at dry bulb temperature 23.2 (0.6) degree C, relative humidity 31.1 (11.1)% and air speed 5.6 (0.1) m.min-1] during 70 min of leg cycle exercise [51 (4)% VO2max] in ambulatory control (AC), or following 6 h of chair rest (CR), 6 degree head-down bed rest (BR), and 20 degree (WI20) and 80 degree (WI80) foot-down water immersion [water temperature, 35.0 (0.1) degree C]. Compared with the AC exercise delta Tre [mean (SD) 0.77 (0.13) degree C (*P < 0.05), after WI80 0.96 (0.13) degree C*, and after WI20 1.03 (0.09) degree C*. All Tsk responded similarly to exercise: they decreased (NS) by 0.5-0.7 degree C in minutes 4-8 and equilibrated at +0.1 to +0.5 degree C at 60-70. Skin heat conductance was not different among the five conditions (range = 147-159 kJ.m-2.h-1.degree C-1). Results from an intercorrelation matrix suggested that total body sweat rate was more closely related to Tre at 70 min (Tre70) than limb sweat rate or blood flow. Only 36% of the variability in Tre70 could be accounted for by total sweating, and less than 10% from total body dehydration. It would appear that multiple factors are involved which may include change in sensitivity of thermo- and osmoreceptors.
The University of Washington superconducting booster project

Abstract The University of Washington Nuclear Physics Laboratory has designed a superconducting linac booster with an equivalent dc accelerating voltage of 24.35 MV, which will be injected by the existing FN tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. The design is based on the lead-plated copper quarter-wave resonator units developed by the Stony Brook/Weizmann group. The UW booster, unlike previous designs, will accelerate p, d, t, 3He, and 4He as well as light heavy ions (A ΔE/E ⋍ 10 −4 or about 5 keV for protons, and bunching gives a time resolution on target of about 40–60 ps. The UW Booster Project has been recommended by NSAC and is to be funded in the FY'84 and FY'85 budgets of the US Department of Energy at a cost of about $8 million. Final planning and development are now in progress; construction is to begin in late 1983.
The new social studies, textbooks, and reform in social studies

The New Social Studies curriculum development movement was short-lived, in part because project staff were not sensitive to the realities of the educational context within which their materials and methods would be used. Although textbook-based recitation persists in social studies classrooms, textbooks are not a ready mechanism for reform. Among the reasons are the institutional constraints on publishers and the difficulty in effecting curricular change without appropriate teacher preparation and modifications in the educational environment.