cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Artificial Photosynthetic Reaction Centers with Porphyrins as Primary Electron Acceptors

A triad consisting of a carotenoid (C), a dimesitylporphyrin (P), and a tris(heptafluoropropyl)porphyrin (PF), C−P−PF, has been synthesized and found to undergo rapid singlet−singlet energy transfer between the porphyrin moieties so that their excited states are in equilibrium. Photoinduced electron transfer from the first excited singlet state of P, or hole transfer from the first excited singlet state of PF, yields C−P•+−PF•-. Electron transfer from C then yields the final charge-separated state C•+−P−PF•- with a quantum yield of 0.73 and a lifetime of 500 ns in tetrahydrofuran solution at ambient temperature. The final charge-separated state decays to form primarily a triplet excited state localized on the carotenoid, 3C−P−PF, rather than the ground state. A second triad in which P is metalated (PZn) has also been synthesized. In this system, the excited singlet states of the porphyrins are no longer in equilibrium; fast electron transfer from excited PZn to PF to form C−PZn•+−PF•- and also fast energy...
Learning from South Asian ‘Successes’: Tapping Social Capital

India's economic success over the last decade and a half, and more recently Pakistan's economic progress under the military government, have drawn attention. While these and information technology in India may be the main South Asian success stories drawing attention currently, there are a number of other successes that have been around long enough to be considered sustainable. Successes are defined as initiatives, interventions, cases or models that have been sustained for several decades, can be replicated, scaled up, have had a significant impact and exported to the rest of South Asia or beyond. The ones documented in this article rely on the tapping of social capital. This article explores various conceptualizations of social capital and argues that the latter is an important reason for the three ‘successes’ considered. It is further argued that a good understanding of the relevant concepts of tapping social capital will enable development via social mobilization, participation, collective action, pub...
Paracrine-Mediated Apoptosis in Reproductive Tract Development

In mammalian development, the signaling pathways that couple extracellular death signals with the apoptotic machinery are still poorly understood. We chose to examine Mullerian duct regression in the developing reproductive tract as a possible model of apoptosis during morphogenesis. The TGFbeta-like hormone, Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), initiates regression of the Mullerian duct or female reproductive tract anlagen; this event is essential for proper male sexual differentiation and occurs between embryonic days (E) 14 and 17 in the rat. Here, we show that apoptosis occurs during Mullerian duct regression in male embryos beginning at E15. Female Mullerian ducts exposed to MIS also exhibited prominent apoptosis within 13 h, which was blocked by a caspase inhibitor. In both males and females the MIS type-II receptor is expressed exclusively in the mesenchymal cell layer surrounding the duct, whereas apoptotic cells localize to the epithelium. In addition, tissue recombination experiments provide evidence that MIS does not act directly on the epithelium to induce apoptosis. Based on these data, we suggest that MIS triggers cell death by altering mesenchymal-epithelial interactions.
Inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium on poultry by the lactoperoxidase system

The antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase (LP) system on the growth and survival of a naladixic acid resistant strain of Salmonella typhimurium on poultry was determined. The LP system treatment, which consisted of lactoperoxidase (1 μg/ml), potassium thiocyanate (5.9 mM), and hydrogen peroxide (2.5 mM) (final concentrations) in water, reduced the level of Salmonella on inoculated chicken legs. The magnitude of reduction was dependent on temperature and time. For a water temperature of 25C and a time of 30 min, a 13.2% reduction was seen, as compared to a water temperature of 60C and a time of 15 min which showed a 80.6% reduction. In a 48 h shelf-life study, the LP system controlled growth of psychrotrophic bacteria on chicken legs. Hunterlab color values (L, a, b) for chicken thigh skin and oxidative deterioration as measured by TBA values for chicken thigh meat did not significantly differ (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) between control and treated thighs.
The surface charge of alkali halides : consideration of the partial hydration of surface lattice ions

Abstract Recently, nonequilibrium electrokinetic measurements using laser-Doppler electrophoresis were reported for alkali halides and the sign of their surface charge was thus determined. These surface charge results for alkali halides are generally as expected from simplified lattice ion hydration theory with some exceptions, specifically LiF, KCl, NaCl, KBr, RbBr, KI, and RbI. Thus the sign of the surface charge can not be predicted solely from consideration of the hydration energies of the gaseous ions which constitute the ionic lattice. Accurate prediction of the surface charge must include consideration of the partial hydration of surface lattice ions. In this regard, ion-dipole interaction energies have been taken into consideration for three cases, based on steric and hydration effects, in order to predict more accurately the surface charge of alkali halides. The calculations indicate that the sign of the surface charge of alkali halides can be accurately predicted from an extended lattice ion hydration theory which involves the partial hydration of surface lattice ions.
Hepatic cholangiocarcinoma and testicular mesothelioma in a wild‐caught blue shark, Prionace glauca (L.)

An adult male blue shark, Prionace glauca (L.), caught in July 2000 by a recreational fisherman off Long Island, New York, USA, had a retained fishing hook from a previous capture. The hook penetrated the gastric wall and lacerated the right liver lobe. Macroscopic lesions consisted of transmural gastritis and peritonitis. Alteromonas sp. and Vibrio alginolyticus were isolated from the peritoneal fluid. In addition, a well delineated, sessile mass was found on the otherwise normal serosa of the right testis. Histopathological findings included mesothelial hyperplasia and hypertrophy involving diffusely the gastric, hepatic and parietal serosae, and forming a discrete testicular capsular mass compatible with mesothelioma. In the liver an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, chronic hepatitis, biliary hyperplasia and increased numbers of melanomacrophages were found. In addition organisms compatible with histozoic and coelozoic myxosporeans were found within the skeletal muscle of the abdomen and intrahepatic bile ducts, respectively. This is the third literature report of a liver tumour and the first report of a coelomic mesothelioma from a shark.
Elastic secondary flows of semidilute DNA solutions in abrupt 90° microbends

Secondary flows that are absent in Newtonian flows are found for semidilute lambda -DNA solutions in abrupt planar 90 degrees microbends at modest levels of elasticity. Flow visualization and microparticle image velocimetry experiments show that a vortex, which is present in the inner, upstream corner of the bend, grows with increasing Reynolds and Weissenberg number (9.9x10;{-7}<Re<3.1x10;{-2},0.41<Wi<126) . The vortex growth is quantified as a function of elasticity; at high elasticity, the vortex occupies a significant fraction of the upstream channel and distorts the primary flow. The presence of elastic vortices, in which molecules can become trapped for long times, has implications for the design of microdevices for the processing of biological macromolecules.
Preference of Campoletis perdistinctus for Certain Noctuid Larvae

Mated adult females of Campoletis perdistinctus (Viereck) were confined together in one or more of 4 laboratory tests and I field-cage test with 3- to 4-day-old larvae of the noctuids: beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner); bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie); cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner); fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith); southern armyworm, Prodenia eridania (Cramer); tobacco bud worm, H. virescens (F.); and yellowstriped armyworm, Prodenia ornithogalli Guenee. The bollworm, fall armyworm, and tobacco budworm were the most preferred hosts in all laboratory tests, whereas the cabbage looper was the least preferred host, and no parasite cocoons were produced from larvae of the beet armyworm. Also, rates of parasitization were greater when the hosts were confined in chambers containing cotton plants than in chambers containing an artificial diet. In the field-cage test, considerably more parasite cocoons were formed from larvae of the bollworm and the tobacco bud worm than from the cabbage looper and the southern armyworm. Thus, laboratory and field-cage tests indicated that the bollworm and tobacco budworm were among the most preferred noctuid hosts of C. perdistinclus . Consequently, these noctuids should be the major ovipositional site [or the parasite if it were to be used in an inundative release program against cotton pests.
δ-Tocotrienol and quercetin reduce serum levels of nitric oxide and lipid parameters in female chickens

Chronic, low-grade inflammation provides a link between normal ageing and the pathogenesis of age-related diseases. A series of in vitro tests confirmed the strong anti-inflammatory activities of known inhibitors of NF-κB activation (δ-tocotrienol, quercetin, riboflavin, (-) Corey lactone, amiloride, and dexamethasone). δ-Tocotrienol also suppresses β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity (the rate-limiting step in de novo cholesterol synthesis), and concomitantly lowers serum total and LDL cholesterol levels. We evaluated these compounds in an avian model anticipating that a dietary additive combining δ-tocotrienol with quercetin, riboflavin, (-) Corey lactone, amiloride, or dexamethasone would yield greater reductions in serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], and nitric oxide [NO]), than that attained with the individual compounds. The present results showed that supplementation of control diets with all compounds tested except riboflavin, (-) Corey lactone, and dexamethasone produced small but significant reductions in body weight gains as compared to control. (-) Corey lactone and riboflavin did not significantly impact body weight gains. Dexamethasone significantly and markedly reduced weight gain (>75%) compared to control. The serum levels of TNF-α and NO were decreased 61% - 84% (P 60% by each of the experimental compounds. Additionally, all the treatments except with dexamethasone, resulted in lower serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The impact of above mentioned compounds on the factors evaluated herein was increased when combined with δ-tocotrienol.
Elasticity considerations for optimal pricing of networks

Since optimization of networks pricing has attracted significant attention over the last decade. These studies assumed concave utility functions for users and derived optimal pricing strategies for the network provider. In this paper, we consider effect of user's elasticity to price and bandwidth on optimality of pricing. We first derive optimal pricing strategy for the case logarithmic user utilities. Then, we investigate two types of elasticity for users: demand-price elasticity and utility-bandwidth elasticity. By incorporating these two elasticities, we develop a non-logarithmic utility function for users. Finally, we derive an optimal pricing strategy for the non-logarithmic user utilities and illustrate that pricing strategy should be more conservative when the elasticities increase.
Is a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure enough to explain the edema of pregnancy

The balance of fluid across capillaries is given by the Starling equation. Because the plasma protein concentration (one of its components) is decreased in pregnancy, we decided to explore the question as to whether hypoproteinemia with intact protein mass (produced by blood volume expansion) or hypoproteinemia with decreased total protein mass (produced by removal of circulating proteins) alters the oncotic pressure differences across capillaries. We calculated the oncotic pressure difference obtained in seven nonpregnant ewes during periods of normoproteinemia and hypoproteinemia; the influence of fluid infusion under both conditions was also observed. There was an increase in the oncotic pressure difference across the capillary wall during hypoproteinemia produced by a decrease in the total protein mass (p 0.1). The venous pressure (used as an index of interstitial fluid pressure changes) did not differ in either hypoproteinemia or fluid infusion. Capillary permeability was decreased during hypoproteinemia, as evidenced by a higher lymph/protein ratio of labeled albumin during the control period (p
Diagnosing Domoic Acid Toxicosis in the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Using Behavioral Criteria: A Novel Approach

Domoic acid toxicosis in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is difficult to diagnose using presence of toxin alone because the duration of domoic acid presence in blood and urine is generally less than 48 hr following exposure. Because domoic acid toxicosis is often suggested by presentation of behavioral abnormalities, we asked whether assessment of behavior might be useful for diagnostic purposes. We developed an ethogram to categorize behavioral data collected via continuous focal animal sampling. In total, 169 subjects were observed at a rehabilitation center. Sea lions with domoic acid toxicosis displayed head weaving (P < 0.0001) and muscle fasciculations (P < 0.01) significantly more often than animals in a comparison group. Dragging hind flippers and swift scanning were observed exclusively in animals from the domoic acid toxicosis group. The data show that behavioral diagnostic criteria can be effective in the diagnosis of domoic acid toxicosis in the California sea lion. Zoo Biol. 34:314–320, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
A dosimetry system for 192IR interstitial breast implants performed at the time of lumpectomy

Abstract Purpose: 192 Ir interstitial breast implants performed at the time of lumpectomy present a unique problem because they cannot be preplanned, and yet they are expected to produce a treatment dose rate (TDR) from 0.3 to 0.5 Gy/h using sources already procured. The purpose of this work is to describe a system of dosimetry that works within these constraints and has been used to perform more than 600 such implants. Methods and Materials: The underlying principle is to fix the ribbon spacing, the interplaner separation, and the linear activity (1 mCi/cm) so that the TDR will depend only on the area (L × W) implanted. The ribbons are spaced 1.5 cm and 2.0 cm apart in single plane and double implants, respectively. Idealized implants were used to study the TDR as a function of the implant dimensions, and to study the effects of varying the ribbon spacing and interplanar separation. Volume-dose histograms were generated to study the homogeneity of dose. Results: The TDRs of single plane implants range from 0.3 Gy/h for small 4 × 4 cm 2 implants to 0.4 Gy/h for large 10 × 10 cm 2 implants. The TDRs for double plane implants are similar for the same range of dimensions. Conclusions: Implants with a TDR between 0.3 and 0.5 Gy/h can be performed for a wide range of geometries without preplanning using fixed ribbons spacings of 1.5 and 2.0 cm for single and double plane implants, respectively, and a linear activity of 1 mCi/cm.
Predicting printability of WSPs through rheological characterization

Water soluble fluxes and pastes contain a high percentage of free acids that increase the activation level and subsequently enhance solderability, but do not contain resins. A method was developed that can be used to predict the printability of a water soluble solder paste. Since a solder paste shear thins and exhibits a yield point during actual printing (paste flow) these two parameters were measured and then correlated to the resultant paste print performance on more than 40 different lots of paste. The measurement techniques used for the in-depth rheological characterization as well as the viscometers employed are discussed in detail. >
A model for understanding patient attribution of adverse drug reaction symptoms

The study addressed issues surrounding the patient's recognition of whether a symptom is drug- or disease-related. Studies have demonstrated that the information the lay population has about illness can be organized into five categories: identity (symptoms and label), cause, time course, consequences, and cure. These elements, termed illness representations or prototypes, facilitate patient interpretation and response to symptoms as they occur. Theoretically, patients may have such a framework for interpretation of symptoms that they considered adverse drug reactions. The purpose of this study was to explore whether an adverse drug reaction (ADR) prototype exists. A self-administered questionnaire was used to elicit the subject's perceptions and awareness of adverse drug reactions. Subjects were also asked to make judgments about severity of ADRs and frequency of particular symptoms as drug-related effects. The study population was a sample of 338 adults visiting a family practice clinic over a four-week ...
Relative Plasma Volume Monitoring During Hemodialysis Aids the Assessment of Dry Weight

Among hemodialysis patients, the assessment of dry weight remains a matter of clinical judgment because tests to assess dry weight have not been validated. The objective of this study was to evaluate and validate relative plasma volume (RPV) monitoring as a marker of dry weight. We performed RPV monitoring using the Crit-Line monitor at baseline and at 8 weeks in 150 patients participating in the Dry-Weight Reduction in Hypertensive Hemodialysis Patients Trial. The intervention group of 100 patients had dry weight probed, whereas 50 patients served as time controls. RPV slopes were defined as flat when they were less than the median (1.33% per hour) at the baseline visit. Among predominantly (87%) black hemodialysis patients, we found that flat RPV slopes suggest a volume-overloaded state for the following reasons: (1) probing dry weight in these patients led to steeper slopes; (2) those with flatter slopes at baseline had greater weight loss; (3) both baseline RPV slopes and the intensity of weight loss were found to be important for subsequent change in RPV slopes; and, most importantly, (4) RPV slopes predicted the subsequent reduction in interdialytic ambulatory systolic blood pressure. Those with the flattest slopes had the greatest decline in blood pressure on probing dry weight. Both baseline RPV slopes and the change in RPV slopes were important for subsequent changes in ambulatory systolic blood pressure. We conclude that RPV slope monitoring is a valid method to assess dry weight among hypertensive hemodialysis patients.
Flight Dynamic Simulation for Multibody Aircraft Configurations

To capture salient features of the flight dynamic behavior of some aircraft configurations, the air vehicle is best idealized as a multibody dynamic system where individual rigid bodies are connected via various joint connections. This paper considers automatic generation of a multibody air vehicle simulation where the standard six degrees of freedom rigid body modeling forms the basic kernel of the method. By adding an extra term to the individual body equations of motion representing joint connection constraint loads, a multibody flight dynamic model can be constructed. A globally stable nonlinear controller computes these constraint forces and moments. Through three modeling examples (projectile with an internal moving mass, airdrop system, and articulated wing aircraft), practical aspects of the methodology are explored. Many nonlinear control techniques can be used for the constraint control problem. Here, feedback linearization and sliding mode control algorithms are shown to work effectively. Constraint computation dominates overall simulation time, independently of the control algorithm used, and several means to reduce simulation time are reported. Moreover, unconstrained linear dynamic models can be generated by combining a linear model of the constrained coordinate equations of motion and a linear model of the constraint equations.
The Christian Right and the 1994 Elections: A View from the States

(Wald 1992). Innovations in survey research, including those by the National Election Studies, have shown that religious beliefs, practices, and identifications are a potent source of political behavior, both for activists (see Guth and Green 1992) and voters (see Leege and Kellstedt 1993). These effects have been particularly strong among Evangelicals, where a combination of close-knit church com-
X-ray Crystallographic Structures of Oligomers of Peptides Derived from β2-Microglobulin.

Amyloid diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and type II diabetes share common features of toxic soluble protein oligomers. There are no structures at atomic resolution of oligomers formed by full-length amyloidogenic peptides and proteins, and only a few structures of oligomers formed by peptide fragments. The paucity of structural information provides a fundamental roadblock to understanding the pathology of amyloid diseases and developing preventions or therapies. Here, we present the X-ray crystallographic structures of three families of oligomers formed by macrocyclic peptides containing a heptapeptide sequence derived from the amyloidogenic E chain of β2-microglobulin (β2m). Each macrocyclic peptide contains the heptapeptide sequence β2m63–69 and a second heptapeptide sequence containing an N-methyl amino acid. These peptides form β-sheets that further associate into hexamers, octamers, and dodecamers: the hexamers are trimers of dimers; the octamers are tetramers of dimers; an...
L2 Gain Stability of Switched Output Feedback Controllers for a Class of LTI Systems

Our previous work has been devoted to designing asymptotically stabilizing switching controllers for a class of second order LTI plants. Here, we extend the results of our previous work by proving that, when a plant can be asymptotically stabilized using a particular switching architecture, the overall closed-loop interconnection is also finite L2 gain stable. We shall first prove this result for a simplified problem in which a portion of the switching architecture has full access to the state of the plant and shall then extend to the case where the architecture only has access to the plant output by designing an appropriate observer.
BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS APPLIED TO ENVIRONMENTAL/ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS; A REVIEW1

Recent applications of operant technology, including the manipulation of environmental conditions and response consequences, have been directed toward the improvement of man-environment relations. This document summarizes the research designs, procedures, results, and conclusions of these recent behavioral interventions for ecological rebalance. Each of the 32 studies reviewed was undertaken since 1970; all studies were relatively successful in changing the probability of an ecology-related response; all studies incorporated basic methodologies applicable for large-scale, community programs; most of the investigations were conducted in field settings (e.g., college campuses, grocery stores, mobile-trailer parks, homes, movie theaters, public campgrounds, and a football stadium). Several of the studies are as yet unpublished. Sources for receiving documentation of the unpublished research are provided in this document. About 50% of the investigations reviewed were designed to influence behaviors related to environmental litter; the others were of behavior-modification programs that substantially increased bus-ridership, decreased lawn-trampling, promoted the purchase of drinks in returnable rather than throwaway containers, initiated a recycling process, or reduced energy consumption. Essentially, the interventions were either preventive in nature (i.e., designed to discourage environment-destructive behaviors before they occur), or remedial (i.e., designed to encourage behaviors that correct an existing environmental problem). Usually, the preventive measures emphasized responses priming (or prompting), while the corrective measures applied some form of positive reinforcement. Response priming was accomplished with modelling techniques, or with written and/or verbal prompts presented either publicly or on a personal, one-to-one basis. Among the positive reinforcement procedures were field applications of token economies, lottery systems, feedback programming, and intergroup contests, as well as individual contingency contracting. Some experimental designs provided for comparisons between the behavioral effects of response priming and positive reinforcement.
Input-out properties of the Toda lattice

This paper establishes a number of inequalities showing that the periodic Toda lattice acts like a self timed shift register for pulses if the initial conditions are appropriately chosen and that this behavior is robust with respect to small changes, noise, and implementation imperfections. We also establish an estimate relating to the progression of pulses in the periodic Toda lattice. These models have solutions that resemble the action potentials observed in neurological signaling.
Male eastern bluebirds trade future ornamentation for current reproductive investment

Life-history theory proposes that organisms must trade-off investment in current and future reproduction. Production of ornamental display is an important component of reproductive effort that has rarely been considered in tests of allocation trade-offs. Male eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) display brilliant ultraviolet-blue plumage that is correlated with mate acquisition and male competitive ability. To investigate trade-offs between current reproductive effort and the future expression of a sexually selected ornament, we manipulated the parental effort of males by changing their brood sizes. We found that parents provisioned experimentally enlarged broods more often than reduced broods. As predicted by life-history theory, the change in parental effort had a significant effect on the relative plumage ornamentation of males in the subsequent year: males with reduced broods significantly increased in plumage brightness. Moreover, this change in plumage coloration had a direct effect on the timing of breeding in the following season: males that displayed brighter plumage in the year following the manipulation mated with females that initiated egg laying earlier in the season. These data indicate that male bluebirds must trade-off conserving energy for production of future ornamentation versus expending energy for current reproduction.
NEW SPECIES OF MONODELPHIS (DIDELPHIMORPHIA: DIDELPHIDAE) FROM PERU, WITH NOTES ON M. ADUSTA (THOMAS, 1897)

Monodelphis (short-tailed opossums) is the most diverse genus in the family Didelphidae, including at least 20 recognized species. This paper describes a new species of short-tailed opossum from the lowland forests of Loreto, northeastern Peru. The new species is intermediate in size and coloration between M. ronaldi, a species recently described on the basis of 1 specimen from southeastern Peru, and M. adusta, a more common species distributed across western Amazonia. However, the new species is sympatric only with M. emiliae. Diagnostic characters include overall large size, conspicuously wide buffy stripe on the venter, wide rostrum, narrow postorbital constriction, rounded posterior border of the infraorbital foramen, small and well-separated tympanic processes of alisphenoid, conspicuous posttympanic processes, enlarged canines, small 1st upper premolars, and enlarged cingula on premolars and molars. Whereas morphologically the new species closely resembles M. ronaldi and M. adusta, a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences (which did not include M. ronaldi) indicates M. osgoodi as its sister taxon. Examination of molecular data also indicates that M. adusta is paraphyletic relative to M. osgoodi and the new species, and that populations currently referred to M. a. adusta and to M. a. peruviana each represent 2 distantly related and clearly distinct species.
Incest and ridicule in the Poenulus of Plautus

Readers of Plautus’ Poenulus are struck by the generally ‘sympathetic’ portrayal of the title character Hanno, a portrayal somewhat surprising to us since the play was produced shortly after the Second Punic War.1 Contrary to what we might expect, Hanno the Carthaginian is neither villain nor scapegoat, and he even exhibits the Roman virtue of pietas.2 However, Hanno's portrayal is not wholly positive, for Plautus delineates his character principally by endowing him with the negative stereotypes of Punic physiognomy, dress, speech, and behaviour familiar to his Roman audience.3 Hanno's Punic ethnicity is not merely an incidental matter of fact, as it is with his relative Agorastocles, but an essential part of his characterization that serves to isolate him from all the other characters of the palliata. While some of Hanno's vices—deceit, licentiousness, and effeminacy—are not exclusive to Carthaginians and are shared by other Greek characters in the palliata, there is one vice peculiar to Hanno. In this paper I argue that Plautus ridicules Hanno through arecurrent insinuation of incest. The insinuation of incest has not, to my knowledge, been noted previously, but our text does imply it in three conspicuous places.
High molecular weight SOA formation during limonene ozonolysis: insights from ultrahigh-resolution FT-ICR mass spectrometry characterization

Abstract. The detailed molecular composition of laboratory generated limonene ozonolysis secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was studied using ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. Approximately 1200 molecular formulas were identified in the SOA over the mass range of 140 to 850 Da. Four characteristic groups of high relative abundance species were observed; they indicate an array of accretion products that retain a large fraction of the limonene skeleton. The identified molecular formulas of each of the groups are related to one another by CH2, O and CH2O homologous series. The CH2 and O homologous series of the low molecular weight (MW) SOA (m/z 300) were found to constitute a significant number fraction of the identified SOA components. The formation of high MW compounds was evaluated by molecular formula trends, fragmentation analysis of select high MW compounds and a comprehensive reaction matrix including the identified low MW SOA, hydroperoxides and Criegee radicals as building blocks. Although the formation of high MW SOA may occur via a variety of radical and non-radical reaction channels, the combined approach indicates a greater importance of the non-condensation reactions over aldol and ester condensation reaction channels. Among these hemi-acetal reactions appear to be most dominant followed by hydroperoxide and Criegee reaction channels.
The Impact of Children With Chronic Health Problems on Marriage

The authors examined the impact of having a child with a chronic illness or handicapping condition on marital quality and on perceived marital stability. Using data from the National Study of Famil...
Texturing of polycrystalline SiC films on graphitic carbon in laminated composites grown by forced-flow chemical vapor infiltration

The growth and orientation of SiC on pyrocarbon using forced-flow thermal gradient chemical vapor infiltration to deposit alternate layers of these materials has been examined by transmission electron microscopy. The SiC layers were determined to be . 4 predominantly of the cubic b polytype, and the close-packed 111 planes were found to be mostly oriented parallel and next SiC 4 to the highly dense 0001 basal planes of the pyrocarbon layers at the interface. A model involving close-packed plane C sequencing is proposed for the CrSiC interface. Q 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. .
Planning for growth in a natural resource boomtown: challenges for urban planners in Fort McMurray, Alberta

Between 2000 and 2010, the population of the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta increased by 80%, mainly due to the expansion of oil extraction projects and subsidiary industries. Population growth of this magnitude has significant consequences for city planning. While Fort McMurray struggles to keep up with enormous numbers of in-migrants, the cost of living in the city has skyrocketed. Using interviews with city planners and field experience in the city, in this paper I examine the current challenges faced by urban planners in Fort McMurray against the backdrop of global economic decision-making, corporate influence, and commodity dynamics. While the recession of 2008 gave city planners some breathing room, they still struggle with gathering accurate census information and predicting population growth, providing affordable housing, and balancing short-range planning with their long-term goals. Attempts by city planners to address these challenges could provide a contemporary model for urban planning in rapi...
Pupil Tracking Optical Coherence Tomography for Precise Control of Pupil Entry Position

To maximize the collection efficiency of back-scattered light, and to minimize aberrations and vignetting, the lateral position of the scan pivot of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal scanner should be imaged to the center of the ocular pupil. Additionally, several retinal structures including Henle's Fiber Layer (HFL) exhibit reflectivities that depend on illumination angle, which can be controlled by varying the pupil entry position of the OCT beam. In this work, we describe an automated method for controlling the lateral pupil entry position in retinal OCT by utilizing pupil tracking in conjunction with a 2D fast steering mirror placed conjugate to the retinal plane. We demonstrate that pupil tracking prevents lateral motion artifacts from impeding desired pupil entry locations, and enables precise pupil entry positioning and therefore control of the illumination angle of incidence at the retinal plane. We use our prototype pupil tracking OCT system to directly visualize the obliquely oriented HFL.
The Polygonal Regions into which a Plane is Divided by n Straight Lines

It is well known that in certain branches of mathematics, notably in number theory, there are unsolved and certainly difficult problems which can, however, be stated so simply that anyone can understand the problems themselves. It is my purpose to call attention to such a problem in geometry. Consider a set of n lines, n > 3, lying in a plane, no three of them concurrent in a point. One sees that the lines separate the plane into polygonal regions. If the plane is euclidean, some of the regions will be completely bounded, while others will extend out indefinitely between two of the lines. I prefer, however, to consider the problem in the projective plane, in which case each region will be completely bounded. In Figure 1, for instance, there is the 5-sided region R6
Seed Layer-Assisted Chemical Bath Deposition of CuO Films on ITO-Coated Glass Substrates with Tunable Crystallinity and Morphology

A seed layer-assisted chemical bath deposition (SCBD) method has been developed to create high quality CuO thin films on transparent conductive electrode/glass substrates. A CuO seed layer is formed by the electrodeposition of Cu2O on a tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) electrode for 10 s, followed by a brief (15 min) heating step to convert the Cu2O to CuO. The seed layer is found to be essential for the growth of micrometer-thick, adherent CuO thin films on ITO-coated glass, as no films were observed to form on substrates without a seed layer. The addition of sodium lactate to the SCBD solution can be used to tune the morphology and relative crystallinity of the CuO films. A highly crystalline CuO film possessing a resistivity of 3.3 × 105 Ω·cm has been deposited from a solution without sodium lactate, while a largely amorphous CuO film grown from a solution with a lactate/copper molar ratio equal to 1.0 displayed a resistivity of 7.2 × 105 Ω·cm. The CuO film with greater amorphous character exhibited a sign...
Study on the Influence of Montelukast Sodium on the Serum Allergy Related Indexes of Children with Cough Variant Asthma

Objective To study and analyze the influence of montelukast sodium on the serum allergy related indexes of children with cough variant asthma. Methods 52 children with cough variant asthma admitted in our hospital from July, 2011 to January, 2013 were selected as the research object,and they were divided into control group of 26 cases and observation group of 26 cases by the random allocation. The control group were intervened with routine treatment method,the observation group were treated with montelukast sodium based on the treatment of the control group. Then the serum allergy related indexes of two groups before the treatment and at 6th and 12th week after the treatment were compared. Results The change of serum allergy related indexes of the observation group at 6th and 12th week after the treatment were all bigger than those of the control group,the differences were significant(P0.05). Conclusion The influence of montelukast sodium on the serum allergy related indexes of children with cough variant asthma is more active,and it is helpful for the improvement of disease state.
ICT-Enabled Grievance Redressal in Central India: A Comparative Analysis

Helping citizens to resolve grievances is an important part of many e-governance initiatives. In this paper, we examine two contemporary initiatives that use ICTs to help citizens resolve grievances in central India. One system is a state-run call center (the CM Helpline), while the other is an independent citizen journalism service (CGNet Swara). Despite similarities in their high-level goals, approach, and geographies served, the systems have key differences in their use of technology, their level of transparency, and their relationship to government. Using qualitative interviews, field immersions, and other data, we analyze how these differences impact the experiences of citizens, officials, and the intermediaries between them. We synthesize our observations into a set of recommendations for the design of future ICT-enabled grievance redressal systems.
The Effect of Inspector Accuracy on the Type I and Type II Errors of Common Sampling Techniques

The single sample and sequential sampling models are presented in a form which includes inspector error. The effect of inspector errors on the probability of type I and type II errors is discussed...
Implementation of output prediction models for a passively double-scattered proton therapy system.

Purpose: Two output (cGy/MU) prediction models (one existing and one newly developed) for a passively double-scattered proton therapy system are implemented and investigated for clinical use. Variations of each model are tested for accuracy in order to determine the most viable prediction model. Methods: The first output prediction model [model (1)] is a semianalytical model proposed by Kooy et al. [Phys. Med. Biol. 50, 5847–5856 (2005)], which employs three main factors. The first factor (basic output prediction) uses a unique combined parameter [r = (R − M)/M] of range (R) and modulation [M; spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) width] along with option specific fitting parameters. The second factor takes into account minor source shifts using a linear fit due to varying beamline configurations for different options. The final factor accounts for a condition where the point of measurement is not at the isocenter or away from the middle of the SOBP based on an inverse-square correction. The second model [model (2)] is a novel quartic polynomial fit of the basic output prediction whose idea was inspired by the first model. Different variations in the definition of R and M at distal (D) and proximal (P) ends resulted in the exploration of three variations of r for both models: r 1 = (R D90 − M D90−P95)/M D90−P95, r 2 = [(R D90 + ΔR 1) − m × (M D90−P95 + ΔR 1)]/[m × (M D90−P95 + ΔR 1)], where ΔR 1 is an offset between R D80 and R D90 and m is a ratio between M D90−P95 and theoretical M D 100 − P 100 ′ , and r 3 = [(R D90 − 0.305) − 0.801 × M D90−P95]/(0.801 × M D90−P95), where 0.305 (ΔR 2) is an offset between R D90 and R D100 and 0.801 is a ratio between M D90−P95 and measured M D100−P100. Output measurements for 177 sets of R and M from all 24 options are compared to outputs predicted by both the models of three variations of r. Results: The mean differences between measurements and predictions ([predicted − measured]/measured × 100%) were −0.41% ± 1.78% (r 1), 0.03% ± 1.53% (r 2), and 0.05% ± 1.20% (r 3) for model (1), and 0.27% ± 1.36% (r 1), 0.71% ± 1.51% (r 2), and −0.05% ± 1.20% (r 3) for model (2). For a passing prediction rate with a difference threshold of ±3%, model (1) showed slightly worse results than model (2) using r 1 (91.5% vs 94.4%). In general, small (M < 4 g/cm2) and close-to-full modulations produced larger discrepancies. However, 100% output predictions using r 3 were confined within ±3% of measurements for both models and the difference between the models was not substantial (mean difference: 0.05% vs −0.05%). Conclusions: The first existing model has proven to be a successful predictor of output for our compact double-scattering proton therapy system. The new model performed comparably to the first model and showed better performance in some options due to a great degree of flexibility of a polynomial fit. Both models performed well using r 3. Either model with r 3 thus can serve well as an output prediction calculator.
Acidosis and Kidney Allograft Survival.

The typical complications of CKD, such as anemia and hyperparathyroidism, are common in patients with kidney transplants. However, the mechanisms and management of each are often more complicated in the transplant setting. Metabolic acidosis, for instance, can develop because of reduced nephron
Learning to look critically: teaching and learning visual literacy in art and design librarianship

Teaching and learning visual literacy within art and design librarianship presents several unique challenges. Librarians are better equipped than ever to meet these challenges with the help of ACRL Visual Literacy Competency Standards and the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education, which provides an exciting opportunity to situate visual literacy within the contextual definition of information literacy for art and design students. In mapping these two documents together the author found several ways to address the more critical components of information and visual literacy in more nuanced and meaningful ways. While art librarians have often addressed visual literacy needs to varying degrees and in creative and practical ways, a more systematic approach is needed as we move forward.
Overcoming the Shame of Cancer

The author describes the silencing and dehumanizing effects of being diagnosed with cancer. This experience evolved from a sense of being totally stunned, to being flooded with shame, and finally to be able to reenter an experience of subjectivity through the support of his family, friends, and community. He describes his personal struggle to disclose having cancer to his patients and supervises and the incredible beneficial effects of disclosure and being virtually and actually held and cared for. The author describes from Relational, Kleinian, and Lacanian perspectives his understanding of the effects of self-disclosure in reestablishing the capacity for symbolization and the ability to create personal meaning.
The Reproducibility of Racial Differences in Ambulatory Blood Pressure Phenotypes and Measurements.

BACKGROUND We examined the reproducibility of differences in ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) phenotypes and other parameters (sustained hypertension, masked hypertension, nocturnal hypertension, and nondipping) between African Americans and Whites. METHODS A total of 420 participants untreated for hypertension attended 2 research visits 1 week apart during which traditional office BP averages and ABPM session averages were determined. We computed percent agreement in ABPM phenotypes across the 2 visits stratified by race and associated kappa statistics with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Whites on average were older, more likely to be male, and had a higher body mass index. There was no significant difference in sleep quality as defined by sleep diary between the 2 races. There were also no significant differences between races in the proportions of participants with sustained hypertension, sustained normotension, or masked hypertension at either testing session. The prevalence of nocturnal hypertension was 59% vs. 75% (P = 0.012) at session 1 and 59% vs. 73% (P = 0.024) at session 2 for Whites and African Americans, respectively, with moderate reproducibility for both (kappas 0.45 and 0.44). Nocturnal BP nondipping had a prevalence 29% vs. 53% (P < 0.001) at session 1 and 29% vs. 47% (P = 0.004) at session 2 for Whites and African Americans, respectively, with fair reproducibility (kappas 0.28 and 0.29). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support that African Americans indeed exhibit a greater preponderance of abnormal nocturnal BP patterns than Whites. Our work is some of the first to demonstrate that these abnormal patterns are modestly reproducible.
A novel splice site variant in CYP11A1 in trans with the p.E314K variant in a male patient with congenital adrenal insufficiency.

Background The CYP11A1 gene encodes the cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme, which is essential for steroid formation. Recessive variants in this gene can lead to impairment of sexual differentiation caused by a complete or partial loss of steroid hormone production. The phenotypic spectrum in affected 46XY males may vary from surgically repairable defects including cryptorchidism and hypospadias to complete feminization of external gonads, accompanied by symptoms of adrenal dysfunction. Methods Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of a 12-year-old male proband and his parents was performed after a protracted diagnostic odyssey failed to uncover the cause of his primary adrenal insufficiency. Of note, the proband had early symptomatology and corrective surgery for hypospadias, raising suspicion for a disorder of steroidogenesis. Results WES identified compound heterozygous variants in CYP11A1 including a novel canonical splice site variant (c.425+1G>A) and a previously reported p.E314K variant, which were consistent with a diagnosis of congenital adrenal insufficiency with partial 46XY sex reversal. Conclusion Congenital adrenal insufficiency with 46XY sex reversal is a rare disorder that is characterized by dysregulation of steroid hormone synthesis, leading to adrenal and gonadal dysfunction. In this report, we describe a patient with adrenal insufficiency, hypospadias, and skin hyperpigmentation who was found to have a novel c.425+1G>A variant in trans with the p.E314K variant in CYP11A1. We performed structural analyses to examine the effect of the p.E314K variant on protein function and show that it falls in the core of the protein may disrupt cholesterol binding in the active site.