cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relation Between the Microstructure and the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Forsterite Porcelain: Forsterite Porcelain as High Frequency Insulator, V

Three kinds of forsterite batches of molar ratios, MgO:SiO2=2.00:0.82 (specimen M), 2.00:1.00 (specimen F), and 2.00:1.05 (specimen S) were calcined at 1300°C, added 5% of Kaolin and fired at various temperatures.Firing shrinkage, apparent specific gravity, water adsorption, dielectric loss, insulation resistance and bending strength of the fired specimens were measured to discuss the relation between the properties and the microstructure.Above physical properties gave the maximum or the minimum values at certain firing temperatures. The specimen M fired at 1550°C, F at 1390°C, and S at 1370°C gave the maximum values of firing shrinkage, apparent specific gravity, Te values of volume resistivity, and bending strength, and the minimum values of water adsorption and dielectric loss.At these maximum or minimum points each specimen showed a similar microstructure being composed of the forsterite crystals of about 10μ. The texture was dense but not yet the perfect mosaic structure which came out by firing at higher temperature through the rapid aggregation of forsterite crystals.In such a specimen cracks were observed in crystal and matrix which leads to the lowering of many properties.Comparing the three specimens the aggregation of forsterite crystals by overfiring and concequently the fall of properties was the most remarkable in the specimen S.The electrical properties of the specimen M were the best, but the proper firing temperature were considerably high.It was suggested that the best composition for forsterite porcelain should lie between M and F.
Diels–Alder Reactivities of Benzene, Pyridine, and Di-, Tri-, and Tetrazines: The Roles of Geometrical Distortions and Orbital Interactions

The cycloadditions of benzene and ten different azabenzenes (pyridine, three diazines, three triazines, and three tetrazines) with the ethylene dienophile have been explored with density functional theory (M06-2X) and analyzed with the distortion/interaction model. Activation barriers correlate closely with both distortion energies and interaction energies over an activation energy range of 45 kcal/mol. The replacement of CH with N increases Diels-Alder reactivity due not only to the more favorable orbital interaction, but also to a decrease in distortion energy. The rates of reactions are greatly influenced by the nature of the bonds being formed: two C-C bonds > one C-C bond, and one C-N bond > two C-N bonds. The activation energy of Diels-Alder reactions correlates very well with reaction energies and with the NICS(0) values of the aromatic dienes. The distortion energy of the Diels-Alder reaction transition states mostly arises from the diene out-of-plane distortion energy.
Quality of life of pupils in schools(for migrant workers' children) in Jiading District

Objective To understand the condition of the quality of life for the pupils of migrant school in Jiading District.Methods "PedsQLTM pediatric quality of life questionnaire 4.0" was conducted to a stratified random clustered sample of 1 497 pupils of five migrant schools in Jiading District.Results The pupils' physical field score was 84.920±13.902,the field of psycho-social score was 82.243±13.101,the total score was 83.174±12.174.The score of emotional function,social functioning and school performance was 79.335±17.580,86.530±14.502,and 80.865±16.028 respectively.Conclusions The quality of life of the pupils of migrant school in Jiading District was at an average level,the field of psycho-social score was higher than physical field's.The score of social functioning was the highest in the field of psycho-social,emotional function score was the lowest.More attention should be paid to mental health of pupils,so as to promote their physical and mental health.
Flexor Zone 5 cut injuries: emergency management and outcome.

Objective To determine the outcome and devise a protocol for emergency management of cut injuries in Flexor Zone 5 of hands. Study design Descriptive study. Place and duration of study Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Unit, Mayo Hospital, KEMU, Lahore, Pakistan, from January 2009 to March 2013. Methodology All patients above 12 years of age with single sharp cut injuries in Flexor Zone 5, with no skeletal injuries, presenting within 12 hours in emergency were included with follow-up of 6 months, with active range of motion evaluated by Strickland's adjusted formula. Power of opponens pollicis and adductor muscles was evaluated from P0-4. Nerve repair results were evaluated serially by advancing Tinnel's sign, electrophysiological studies and sensory perception scored from S0-4 compared to the normal opposite upper limb. Results The study group comprised of 31 patients (M : F = 2.4 : 1). Average age was 27 years ranging from 17 - 53 years. In 25 (80%) cases, injury was accidental, in 3 (10%) homicidal and in 3 (10%) injury was suicidal. Four most commonly involved structures included Flexor carpi ulnaris, ulnar artery, ulnar nerve and Flexor digitorum superficialis. Median nerve and radial artery were involved in 10 cases each, while ulnar artery and ulnar nerve were involved in 14 cases each. Longtendons were involved in most cases with greater involvement of medial tendons. None of the patients required re-exploration for ischaemia of distal limb while doppler showed 22 out of 24 vascular anastomosis remained patent. Recovery of long-tendons was good and recovery after nerve repair was comparable in both median and ulnar nerves. Conclusion Early and technically proper evaluation, exploration and repair of Zone 5 Flexor tendon injuries results in good functional and technical outcome.
When To Hospitalize the Patient with Anemia

A highly selective approach is called for, since the main problem in anemia is to establish the underlying condition of which it is a symptom. If this task can be carried out in the office, hospitalization may not be needed. But because anemia is never a trivial symptom, hospitalization may be indicated for its full investigation as well as for treatment of specific complications and advanced disease.
Fast projected gradient method for support vector machines

We present an algorithm for training dual soft margin support vector machines (SVMs) based on an augmented Lagrangian (AL) that uses a modification of the fast projected gradient method (FPGM) with a projection on a box set. The FPGM requires only first derivatives, which for the dual soft margin SVM means computing mainly a matrix-vector product. Therefore, AL-FPGM being computationally inexpensive may complement existing quadratic programming solvers for training large SVMs. We report numerical results for training the SVM with the AL-FPGM on data up to tens of thousands of data points from the UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository.
Active Season Microhabitat and Vegetation Selection by Giant Gartersnakes Associated with a Restored Marsh in California

Abstract Studies of habitat selection can reveal important patterns to guide habitat restoration and management for species of conservation concern. Giant gartersnakes Thamnophis gigas are endemic to the Central Valley of California, where >90% of their historical wetland habitat has been converted to agricultural and other uses. Information about the selection of habitats by individual giant gartersnakes would guide habitat restoration by indicating which habitat features and vegetation types are likely to be selected by these rare snakes. We examined activity patterns and selection of microhabitats and vegetation types by adult female giant gartersnakes with radiotelemetry at a site composed of rice agriculture and restored wetlands using a paired case-control study design. Adult female giant gartersnakes were 14.7 (95% credible interval [CRI] = 9.4–23.7) times more likely to be active (foraging, mating, or moving) when located in aquatic habitats than when located in terrestrial habitats. Microhabitats...
Accurate Methods for Elastic Seismic Demand Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Walled Buildings

AbstractConcrete walls are used commonly as part of the lateral-load resisting system for buildings in regions of high seismicity. Damage to walled buildings in recent earthquakes has highlighted t...
Analytical Model of Correlation Factor for Human-Body Model to Transmission-Line Pulse ESD Testing

Physics of correlation between standard ESD testing and transmission line pulse test results on semiconductor devices using a simple resistor (R) inductor (L) capacitor (C) circuit model approach is presented. The correlation is not a constant factor, however, it can be used to evaluate the time to failure for the device during the human-body model event and is attributed to the time to induce the thermal runaway of the device during the electrostatic-discharge event.
Disagreement in Estimates of Kidney Function for Drug Dosing in Obese Inpatients.

Background:The Cockcroft-Gault (CG), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations are used to estimate kidney function. Ho...
Piezoelectric Converter Test Results

A model to predict the output of piezoelectric generators was developed and discussed in the previous chapter. This model was validated with a prototype to ensure its accuracy and suitability of for use as a basis for design optimization. Optimal designs were generated and discussed. Actual converters were designed and built based on these optimizations. This chapter will discuss.the implementation of these converters and present test results showing the improvement of the optimal designs. The converters have been used to power small wireless sensor devices, and results from such tests will also be presented.
High Performance Metal-Based Nanocomposite Thermal Interface Materials Toward Enhanced Cooling Efficiency in Electronic Applications

The inefficient dissipation of heat is a crucial problem that limits the reliability and performance of all electronic devices. Since devices have become progressively smaller, more powerful, and more complex, they dissipate much larger amounts of heat. Currently, thermal greases, epoxy-based composites, phase change materials and solders are the most common types of thermal interface materials (TIMs) used for efficient dissipation of heat. Herein, we describe next-generation TIMs with thermal resistivity lower than existing solder TIMs and with stiffness comparable with existing epoxy-based TIMs. The approach has involved the incorporation of soft ligand functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) in a silver metal matrix to fabricate nanocomposite TIMs. BNNS was functionalized with thiosemicarbazide (TSC) such that they have a thiol group sticking out for functionalization. Then, the TSC-BNNS was dispersed in a silver matrix using a novel electrocodeposition method where silver and TSC-BNNS are deposited on a cathode in the presence of an electric field and potential difference to form nanocomposite TIMs. The thermal conductivities were found to be 318 W.m-1.K-1. Later, mechanical properties of the developed TIMs investigated using nanoindentation technique showed a reduced modulus of 34.9 GPa. There was more than two-fold reduction reduced modulus of silver matrix in presence of TSC-BNNS. The hardness value corresponding to this sample was about 379 MPa, which is about 3 times lower than the measured hardness values of pure silver (950 MPa). For these materials, the total thermal resistance across interface was calculated to be 0.19-0.45 mm2.K.W-1 for a bond line thickness of 20-100 µm. Considering two extreme cases of epoxy-based and pure silver shim TIMs, our results are significant in advancing the current state of art for TIMs.
Epigenetic modifications of vitamin D-regulatory genes and glutathione-deficiency in FL83B mouse hepatocytes and the liver of HFD-induced diabetic mice

Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is an epidemic health problem. VD-regulates the functions of over 200 genes and is essential for growth and development. VD-deficiency can result in diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke. VD levels correlate positively with GSH and negatively with insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients. High-fat-diet (HFD) fed mice (16 weeks) exhibited elevated blood glucose and decreased blood GSH and 25(OH)VD3 with reduced GSH and increased oxidative stress in the liver compared with control (normal diet) group. We investigated the hypothesis that GSH-deficiency induces epigenetic alterations in the VD-metabolism genes leading to 25(OH)VD3-deficiency in HFD-fed mice. The levels of VD-metabolism genes [25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1, CYP27A1), 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), VDR] and GSH biosynthesis pathway genes were significantly down-regulated in the liver of HFD-fed mice. Conversely, 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) which metabolizes the active-VD was significantly increased. Notably, significant gene-specific hypermethylation of CYP2R1 (1.71, 2.55; Control vs. HFD), CYP27A1 (7.58, 8.68), CYP27B1 (0.11, 0.77), VDR (0.16, 0.46) and hypomethylation of CYP24A1 (0.59, 0.33) was observed in the liver of HFD-fed mice compared with the control group (p
Conclusion: A Haunting Legacy

The twentieth-century modernist use of Asian theatre cannot be isolated and relegated to the history of Western theatre, and must be treated as an integral part of the twentieth-century modernist movement in Western theatre. Its legacy had a direct impact on the theories and practices of Western intercultural theatre in the second half of the twentieth century, and today, it continues to haunt those developed in the twenty-first century. Unlike the founding fathers of modern Western theatre featured in this book, who had not seen an Asian theatre performed on its native soil, their heirs, such as Jerzy Grotowski, Peter Brook, Ariane Mnouchkine, and Eugenio Barba, had the fortune of experiencing and studying at least one of the Asian forms performed on its native soil. Their use of Asian theatre, however, was undergirded by the same mechanism and dynamic of displacement conditioned by their redefined intercultural relationship with Asian theatre.
Single Cell RNA Analysis Identifies Cellular Heterogeneity and Adaptive Responses of the Lung at Birth

The respiratory system undergoes a diversity of structural, biochemical, and functional changes necessary for adaptation to air breathing at birth. To identify the heterogeneity of pulmonary cell types and dynamic changes in gene expression mediating adaptation to respiration, here we perform single cell RNA analyses of mouse lung on postnatal day 1. Using an iterative cell type identification strategy we unbiasedly identify the heterogeneity of murine pulmonary cell types. We identify distinct populations of epithelial, endothelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells, each containing distinct subpopulations. Furthermore we compare temporal changes in RNA expression patterns before and after birth to identify signaling pathways selectively activated in specific pulmonary cell types, including activation of cell stress and the unfolded protein response during perinatal adaptation of the lung. The present data provide a single cell view of the adaptation to air breathing after birth.
Substantial influence of the wind driving force on the size of discs formed from wind accretion in binaries

Binary systems consisting of a secondary accreting form a wind-emitting primary are ubiquitous in astrophysics. The phenomenology of such Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton (BHL) accretors is particularly rich when an accretion disc forms around the secondary. The outer radius of such discs is commonly estimated from the net angular momentum produced by a density variation of material across the BHL or Bondi accretion cylinder, as the latter is tilted with respect to the direction to the primary due to orbital motion. But this approach has ignored the fact that the wind experiences an outward driving force that the secondary does not. In actuality, the accretion stream falls toward a retarded point in the secondary's orbit as the secondary is pulled toward the primary relative to the stream. The result is a finite separation or "accretion stream impact parameter" (ASIP) separating the secondary and stream. When the orbital radius a_0 exceeds the BHL radius r_b, the ratio of outer disc radius estimated as the ASIP to the conventional estimate a_0^{1/2}/r_b^{1/2}>1. We therefore predict that discs will form at larger radii from the secondary than traditional estimates. This agrees with the importance of the ASIP emphasized by Huarte-Esponosa et al. (2013) and the practical consequence that resolving the initial outer radius of such an accretion disc in numerical simulations can be less demanding than what earlier estimates would suggest.
A profile on the FoundationFocus CDxBRCA tests

Introduction: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, including rucaparib, are the only targeted class of therapeutics approved for recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma with a predictive biomarker. Currently, three different PARP inhibitors are approved for either the treatment of ovarian cancer or maintenance of remission following chemotherapy. The Foundation Focus CDxBRCA is an FDA-cleared next-generation sequencing tumor tissue assay that detects somatic and sometimes germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.Areas covered: The authors discuss the evolution of the ovarian cancer genomic testing landscape relative to PARP inhibition, with a focus on Foundation Focus CDxBRCA and CDxBRCA Loss of Heterozygosity (LOH), the complementary diagnostics (CDx) to rucaparib.Expert opinion: Relatively early in PARP inhibitor development, women with somatic and/or germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were found to have higher response rates to PARP inhibitors with longer durability than women who were BRCA wildtype. Other measures of homologous recombination deficiency including LOH have proven to be predictive biomarkers also. Because PARP biomarkers are genomic and complex, co-development of high-performance companion diagnostics was a high priority. The Foundation Focus test began as a next-generation sequencing assay capable of detecting germline (gBRCA) and somatic (sBRCA) mutations that predict response to rucaparib treatment. The addition of LOH to the assay was validated by a clinical trial supporting expansion of the Rucaparib FDA label to include maintenance of chemotherapy response.
Analysis of silicosis surveillance data in Tianjin in 2017

Objective: Analyzes of the monitoring results of silicosis in key occupational disease monitoring in Tianjin in 2017, providing reference for continuous monitoring, and prevention and control work of silicosis. Methods: Monitor and analyze the current state of silica dust hazard enterprises, the health status of silica dust workers, and the characteristics of newly developed silicosis cases in accordance with the national 2017 work plan for key occupational disease monitoring and occupational health risk assessment. Results: In 2017, 210 enterprises have silica dust hazard in Tianjin, silica dust workplaces exceed the standard rate is 34.73%, 5 695 workers' health examination who contact with silica dust were collected. 2 were detected occupational contraindication, the abnormal detection rate of chest examination is 3.60%, the abnormal index of lung function mainly is FVC, the abnormal rate is 15.8%. The abnormal rate increases with working years. In 2017, 193 new cases of silicosis were reported most cases were developed after years of decontamination. Most enterprises with cases had already out of market, only 7 were still producing. Conclusion: The key prevention and control in Tianjin was enterprises with silica dust excess of standard, as well as older and longer working years workers, adopting effective measures to reduce the concentration of silica dust in workplace is a fundamental measure to reduce the risk of silicosis.
Assessment of nutrition knowledge in division I college athletes.

Objective: Assess nutrition knowledge of Division I college athletes.Participants: 128 student-athletes (n = 70 female) from eight sports completed the survey in June 2018. METHODS: The survey by C...
A Transactive Grid with Microgrids Using Blockchain for the Energy Internet

The changing nature of the energy grid has prompted innovative solutions to incoming challenges. In a distribution system with microgrids, residents with distributed energy resources (DERs) and interactive devices can interact with one another and the grid to exchange energy. Blockchain-based transactive energy could dynamically align active grid elements to incentivize demand-side energy resource investment and energy efficient behavior. This work models a blockchain-in-the-loop framework and simulates it using a Hyperledger Fabric blockchain network and the transactive energy simulation platform (TESP). Blockchain smart contracts are used to coordinate a microgrid market. Three market coordination schemes are compared, namely two auction-less schemes and one simple auction scheme, in a 30 home microgrid with different DER penetration levels. Results show that the auction-less scheme is more beneficial to community residents if the energy mix within the microgrid is diverse.
Social Ontology De-dramatized

The article responds to Richard Lauer’s (2019) “Is Social Ontology Prior to Social Scientific Methodology?” The article concurs that “social ontology matters” for the conduct of research and theory...
Image Analysis—Turning Images Into Data

Image analysis is the process of quantifying some aspect of an image—its particle size distribution, for example. Manual methods were in use long before computers made image analysis much faster and more reproducible. Linear measurements of diameter, point counting to measure volume fraction, and intercept counting to determine grain size have been used for over 100 years. Automatic image analysis (AIA), however, can make more measurements, and even calculate derived measurements, such as aspect ratio or circularity. AIA of a specimen or micrograph, of course, is only as good as the contrast mechanism used, so the imaging signal must be chosen carefully to reveal to the computer what is to be measured. Obtaining sufficient contrast is often the limiting task.Once an imaging signal is chosen and the digital resolution set, the computer can analyze the image. The feature descriptors can be generic:
Possible Diagnostic Delays and Missed Prevention Opportunities in Pneumocystis Pneumonia Patients Without HIV: Analysis of Commercial Insurance Claims Data—United States, 2011–2015

Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a life-threatening but treatable and preventable fungal infection in immunocompromised persons. Previous studies suggest that persons without HIV who develop PCP (PCPHIV-) experience more acute, severe illness than persons with HIV who develop PCP (PCPHIV+). We analyzed health insurance claims data to compare demographics, underlying conditions, symptoms, and prescriptions for PCPHIV+ and PCPHIV-. Methods We used the IBM MarketScan Research Databases to identify patients diagnosed with PCP during 2011-2015. We analyzed claims 1 year before to 3 months after diagnosis to compare PCPHIV+ and PCPHIV-. Results Among 3938 patients, 70.4% were PCPHIV-. Compared with PCPHIV+, PCPHIV- were more likely to be older (median, 60 vs 45 years; P < .0001), female (51.5% vs 20.2%; P < .0001), hypoxemic (13.5% vs 7.1%; P < .0001), and to die within 90 days (6.6% vs 4.2%; P < .0001). The most common underlying conditions among PCPHIV- included chronic pulmonary diseases (54.6%), solid tumors (35.1%), hematologic malignancies (20.1%), and rheumatologic conditions (14.0%). The median time between the first visit for PCP-related symptoms and PCP diagnosis was longer for PCPHIV- than PCPHIV+ (25 vs 16 days; P < .0001). In the 3 months before PCP diagnosis, PCPHIV- were less likely to have an outpatient prescription for PCP prophylaxis than PCPHIV+ (6.9% vs 10.6%; P = .0001). Conclusions PCPHIV- may experience a prolonged illness course and diagnostic delays compared with PCPHIV+. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for PCP in immunocompromised patients with compatible symptoms, regardless of HIV status.
Parameter-free robust optimization for the maximum-Sharpe portfolio problem

Abstract How can we optimize for the Sharpe ratio if we only have limited training data? Estimates of mean asset returns are noisy, and this noise hurts the out-of-sample Sharpe ratio of current methods. The minimum-variance portfolio, which ignores mean returns, often has a better Sharpe ratio. We develop a parameter-free and scalable method called AlphaRob for this problem. AlphaRob ’s portfolio is a convex combination of two prespecified portfolios. To select the best combination, AlphaRob fuses robust optimization with a new notion of a portfolio’s regret that accounts for the training data’s size. Our analysis only needs mild assumptions on the distribution of asset returns. AlphaRob significantly outperforms competing methods on several simulated and real-world datasets, even after adjusting for transaction costs. AlphaRob is 7.5 % better on average than the nearest competitor, and 28 % better than the next-best combination portfolio method. Using our regret of regret, we are also able to explain the performance of the minimum-variance portfolio.
Making the Case for a University Senior Wellness Officer

Using case study data about the emergence of the university chief wellness officer (CWO), this article discusses the purpose of this niche executive role. Borrowing from corporate wellness models, ...
Telemedicine visits in myasthenia gravis: expert guidance and the myasthenia gravis core exam (MG-CE).

Telemedicine may be particularly well-suited for myasthenia gravis (MG) due to the disorder's need for specialized care, its hallmark fluctuating muscle weakness and the potential for increased risk of virus exposure among patients with MG during the COVID-19 pandemic during in-person clinical visits. A disease-specific telemedicine physical examination to reflect myasthenic weakness does not currently exist. This paper outlines step-by-step guidance on the fundamentals of a telemedicine assessment for MG. The Myasthenia Gravis Core Exam (MG-CE) is introduced as a MG-specific, telemedicine, physical examination which contains 8 components (ptosis, diplopia, facial Strength, bulbar strength, dysarthria, single breath count, arm strength and sit to stand) and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Pre-visit preparation, remote ascertainment of patient-reported outcome scales and visit documentation are also addressed. Additional knowledge gaps in telemedicine specific to MG care are identified for future investigation.
Step 2: Illuminating Court Power Through Disaggregation—Elitism, Power, Process, Discourse and Representation

The elitist nature of the Court has profound implications for representative democracy. It is a nondemocratic, life-tenured, unaccountable institution composed of nine people that constitute a highly discrete and insular institution, and who occupy positions at the highest echelons of the sociocultural and economic sectors of society. Nine judges determine constitutional reality for 330 million people. The Court’s identity and interests play a key role in the overarching constitutional order and interpretation of the fundamental law through judicial review and supremacy. The Court has exercised profound power through its singular interpretation of the fundamental law, creating a corpus of law which functions as a lodestar and ballast for maintaining the integrity, stability, authority, and legitimacy of the constitutional order that underpins the polity. The sociopolitical and economic consequences of the Court’s notion of the People, as a medium by which the Court legitimates its position, role, and authority, are examined.
Understanding Consumer–Pet Relationship during Travel: A Model of Empathetic Self-Regulation in Canine Companionship

Although the need for canine companionship has had an increasing impact on individuals’ travel plans, the literature has yet to develop the role of consumer-pet relationship in the process of trave...
A rare case of atypical chronic myeloid leukemia associated with t(8;22)(p11.2;q11.2)/ BCR-FGFR1 rearrangement: A case report and literature review

Abstract Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with t(8;22)(p11.2;q11.2)/BCR-FGFR1 is an extremely rare diagnosis, with few reported cases to date. In contrast to other FGFR1-partner rearrangements that are associated with chronic eosinophilic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and/or lymphoblastic lymphoma, patients with BCR-FGFR1 have a myeloproliferative disorder that closely resembles chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The current report describes a rare case of a 61 year old man with an atypical CML phenotype associated with t(8;22)(p11.2;q11.2)/BCR-FGFR1. A literature review is presented to enhance the awareness of this rare diagnostic entity.
A View from inside the Ropes: A Prosecutor's Viewpoint on Disclosing Exculpatory Evidence

The qualities of a good prosecutor are as elusive and as impossible to define as those which mark a gentleman. And those who need to be told would not understand it anyway. A sensitiveness to fair play and sportsmanship is perhaps the best protection against the abuse of power, and the citizen’s safety lies in the prosecutor who tempers zeal with human kindness, who seeks truth and not victims, who serves the law and not factional purposes, and who approaches his task with humility.
Chemical Diffusion, Wave Propagation, and Equistability in Lattice-Gas Models for Bistable Surface Reactions

The lattice-gas monomer-dimer surface reaction model exhibits a discontinuous transition between a highly reactive steady state and a near monomer poisoned state, with varying relative impingement rates of the reactant species (provided the monomer desorption rate is below a critical value). This transition is induced by fluctuations in the reactant adlayer. Increasing monomer mobility quenches these fluctuations, thus enhancing metastability near this transition, and leading to bistability in the hydrodynamic limit of high monomer mobility. Within this bistable regime, the more stable steady state displaces the less stable one separated from it by a planar interface. The interface is stationary at an equistability point corresponding to the transition in the lattice-gas model, and it broadens as the desorption rate approaches the critical value. Such behavior in the hydrodynamic limit can be described by reaction-diffusion equations. However, these must account for the influence of adlayer ordering on the reaction kinetics, and for the coverage-dependent and tensorial nature of chemical diffusion, even in the absence of interactions beyond site blocking. All these effects are assessed by applying a variety of conventional and novel Monte Carlo simulation techniques.
Isolation of four core histones from human sperm chromatin representing a minor subset of somatic histones.

Using high performance liquid chromatography we have successfully purified four core histones from mature human sperm chromatin. The H2A variants present in sperm (H2A.X and limited H2A.Z) have been shown previously to be minor variants in somatic chromatin. The histones are highly modified as evidenced by extensive acetylation and an as yet uncharacterized multicharge modification of H2B. Based on our data, we conclude that histone proteins are a minor component of each mature spermatozoa. Given the unique nature of the histone variants present in sperm, we propose that this chromatin component has a specific function and may possibly facilitate the programming of genes which will be active in early development.
ASIC1A in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis mediates TMT-evoked freezing.

Mice display an unconditioned freezing response to TMT, a predator odor isolated from fox feces. Here we found that in addition to freezing, TMT caused mice to decrease breathing rate, perhaps because of the aversive smell. Consistent with this possibility, olfactory bulb lesions attenuated this effect of TMT, as well as freezing. Interestingly, butyric acid, another foul odor, also caused mice to reduce breathing rate. However, unlike TMT, butyric acid did not induce freezing. Thus, although these aversive odors may affect breathing, the unpleasant smell and suppression of breathing by themselves are insufficient to cause freezing. Because the acid-sensing ion channel-1A (ASIC1A) has been previously implicated in TMT-evoked freezing, we tested whether Asic1a disruption also altered breathing. We found that TMT reduced breathing rate in both Asic1a+/+ and Asic1a–/– mice, suggesting that ASIC1A is not required for TMT to inhibit breathing and that the absence of TMT-evoked freezing in the Asic1a–/– mice is not due to an inability to detect TMT. These observations further indicate that ASIC1A must affect TMT freezing in another way. Because the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has been critically implicated in TMT-evoked freezing and robustly expresses ASIC1A, we tested whether ASIC1A in the BNST plays a role in TMT-evoked freezing. We disrupted ASIC1A in the BNST of Asic1aloxP/loxP mice by delivering Cre recombinase to the BNST with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. We found that disrupting ASIC1A in the BNST reduced TMT-evoked freezing relative to control mice in which a virus expressing eGFP was injected. To test whether ASIC1A in the BNST was sufficient to increase TMT-evoked freezing, we used another AAV vector to express ASIC1A in the BNST of Asic1a–/– mice. We found region-restricted expression of ASIC1A in the BNST increased TMT-elicited freezing. Together, these data suggest that the BNST is a key site of ASIC1A action in TMT-evoked freezing.
Evaluations of hospitalizations associated with thiazide-associated hyponatremia.

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012;14:158–164. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The prevalence of hypertension in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years. Thiazide diuretics have played a major role in the rising rate of blood pressure (BP) control. Accompanying this has been the appearance of adverse drug events, including hospitalizations associated with thiazide-associated hyponatremia (HTAH). Hyponatremia is a common yet often overlooked side effect of this drug class. Identification of HTAH risk factors may aid in creating strategies to prevent hospitalizations. This is a retrospective, case-controlled study of 10,805 patients (1802 cases, 9003 controls) examining HTAH risk factors within a group-model integrated-care organization. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58–1.93), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.16–2.00), and hypokalemia (OR, 40.94; 95% CI, 26.46–66.33) were most associated with HTAH. Urinary tract infection (UTI), type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were also found to be HTAH risk factors. Potassium supplements (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44–0.83) and weight (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88–0.93) had protective effects. A predictive model was developed to determine overall HTAH risk given the presence of individual risk factors. Age, weight, hypokalemia, GERD, type 2 diabetes, UTI, and ACE inhibitor use independently correlated with an increased risk of HTAH. This model may be applied in clinical practice to guide thiazide prescribing.
Lec1A Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants appear to arise from a structural alteration in N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I

The biochemical and kinetic properties of UDP-GlcNAc:alpha-D-mannoside (GlcNAc to Man alpha 1,3) beta 1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GlcNAc-TI) have been investigated in the Chinese hamster ovary glycosylation mutant Lec1A. Previous studies showed that, whereas Lec1A cells synthesize complex carbohydrates at levels consistent with partial GlcNAc-TI action, no GlcNAc-TI activity was detected in Lec1A cell-free extracts (Stanley, P., and Chaney, W. (1985) Mol. Cell. Biol. 5, 1204-1211). It is now reported that, under altered reaction conditions, GlcNAc-TI activity can be measured in Lec1A cell extracts. The GlcNAc-TI enzyme in Lec1A.2C has a pH optimum of 7.5 (compared with 6.25 for the parental enzyme) and apparent Km values for Man5GlcNAc2Asn and UDP-GlcNAc that are, respectively, 21- and 44-fold higher than the apparent Km values of GlcNAc-TI from parental Chinese hamster ovary cells. Two independent Lec1A mutants possess GlcNAc-TI activities with similarly altered biochemical and kinetic properties. In fact, under optimal assay conditions for each cell line, the level of GlcNAc-TI in Lec1A extracts is equal to that of parental Chinese hamster ovary cell extracts. Interestingly, the two glycosylation sites of the G glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus are processed quite differently in Lec1A cells. The glycopeptide nearest the carboxyl-terminal appears to be a preferred substrate for the Lec1A GlcNAc-TI activity. The combined data suggest that the Lec1A mutation affects the gene that codes for GlcNAc-TI, giving rise to a structurally altered glycosyltransferase with different biochemical properties.
Power and information technology: a review using metatriangulation

This study uses a metatriangulation theory building process to explore the relationships between power and information technology (IT) in a sample of 43 articles from 10 leading management and MIS journals. We explore the multiple paradigms underlying this research, describe patterns emerging from the previous power and IT studies, and recommend future directions for investigation.
Do market prices reveal the decision models of sophisticated investors? Evidence from the laboratory

Abstract If security prices are fully revealing, then all public information should be reflected in prices, and unsophisticated traders may be able to learn how various types of information affect security valuation by observing prices. A series of laboratory asset markets was conducted to examine whether unsophisticated traders are able to learn to evaluate publicly released information by trading with and observing trades made by a sophisticated trader who knows the valuation implications of the information. We find that unsophisticated traders who participate in an asset market with a sophisticated trader show significant improvement in their ability to use public information on a subsequent price estimation task. Conversely, a control group consisting only of unsophisticated traders shows no improvement. We conclude that market prices convey the sophisticated trader’s private information in a manner that permits unsophisticated investors to learn the stock price implications of a public information release.
Structural consequences of oxidation of ferrocene derivatives: II. 1,1′,2,2′,4,4′-tris(trimethylene)ferrocenium perchlorate

Abstract The crystal and molecular structures of 1,1′,2,2′,4,4′-tris(trimethylene)ferrocenium perchlorate (I) were determined by X-ray crystallography. Despite the rigidity imparted to the molecule by the three non-adjacent bridges, the iron-to-ring distance of the cation was 4.4(4) pm longer than in the neutral compound, in agreement with what was reported for non-bridged ferrocene derivatives. The increased separation of the rings was accommodated by an increase in angle between the α-carbon atoms and the ring-planes and by an increase in the ring-ring tilt angle.
Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: A Method of Controlling Vocal Cord Position

This study was designed to examine the feasibility of transcutaneous stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Electrical activation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was achieved by applying a blunt electrode to the intact neck skin at specific points along the tracheoesophageal groove in anesthetized adult dogs. The stimulus consisted of 10 mA cathodal pulses, each of 1 msec duration, delivered at a frequency of 10 Hz and increased by 10 Hz increments up to 100 Hz. Vocal cord excursion was directly related to the frequency of applied current. In all six dogs studies, stimulation at 30 Hz resulted in maximal ipsilateral vocal cord abduction, while stimulation at frequencies greater than 40 Hz resulted in ipsilateral vocal cord adduction up to or across the midline. Vocal cord movement was immediate and persisted for the duration of the stimulus train. Surrounding neck muscles were not visibly activated. We propose that the observed frequency-dependent movement of the vocal cords occurred because of the difference between the contraction times of the intrinsic abductor and adductor muscles of the larynx. Transcutaneous recurrent laryngeal nerve stimulation appears promising, both as a diagnostic aid in laryngoscopy and as a therapeutic tool in controlling the glottic aperture.
An Informatics-Based Managed Learning Environment MLE For Research and Learning at UCDavis CRISP, The Instructional Systems Design ISD Approach

This paper describes the main concept depicted in a recent grant proposal submitted by UCDavis to the National Institute of Health NIH January 31, 2006 to improve the education and training of the School of Medicine researchers at UCDavis. The proposal posits that a managed learning (informatics-rich) environment MLE will enhance the education and continuous training of researchers by allowing them access to rich learning research resources through specialized software and databases not normally accessible to researchers while formulating ideas and theories, solving problems, and analyzing data. The paper describes the proposed portal and more importantly, the evaluation component which will drive the continuous re-design of the system
An experimental study on ubiquitous commerce adoption: Impact of personalization and privacy concerns

U-commerce represents “anytime, anywhere” commerce. U-commerce can provide a high level of personalization, which can bring significant benefits to customers. However, customers’ privacy is a major concern and obstacle to the adoption of u-commerce. As customers’ intention to adopt u-commerce is based on the aggregate effect of perceived benefits and risk exposure (e.g., privacy concerns), this research examines how personalization and context can impact on customers’ perceived benefits and privacy concerns, and how this aggregated effect in turn affects u-commerce adoption intention.
Aortic root replacement in 271 Marfan patients: a 24-year experience

Abstract Background . The introduction of composite graft repair of aortic root aneurysm by Hugh Bentall in 1968 promised Marfan patients the choice for a normal life expectancy. We performed our first Bentall composite graft procedure in 1976 and herein report our 24-year experience with 271 Marfan patients. Methods . Between September 1976 and August 2000, 232 Marfan patients had a composite graft replacement of the aortic root, 15 patients received a homograft, and 24 had a valve-sparing procedure. Results . Two hundred thirty-five Marfan patients underwent elective aortic root replacement with no 30-day mortality. Two early deaths occurred among 36 patients who underwent urgent or emergent operation. Eighty-three percent of patients in this series are currently alive. The actuarial freedom from thromboembolism, endocarditis, and reoperation on the residual aorta 20 years postoperatively was 93%, 90%, and 74%. Twenty-four patients have undergone valve-sparing procedures with encouraging results. Conclusions . Elective aortic root replacement for Marfan patients can be performed with low operative risk. Elective repair before the aortic root reaches 6 cm in diameter is recommended to minimize risk of dissection and rupture.
Taming blackbody radiation with MEMS metamaterials

MEMS based metamaterials are an ideal architecture to provide dynamic electromagnetic properties in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. We detail several realizations of infrared MEMS metamaterials and discuss potential applications.
Quantum optics of dielectric media

In this work the electromagnetic field in a dielectric medium is quantized in a simple and straightforward way based on the classical expression for the energy density for the case of weak absorption. The quantized field leads to expressions for spontaneous and stimulated emission rates, and gain and absorption coefficients, for the general case of a dispersive dielectric host medium. Local field corrections, when they apply, arise in the same manner as in classical electromagnetic theory. The theory also leads to a radiative level shift dependent on the dispersion of the dielectric, and this shift may be interpreted as a van der Waals interaction between the guest atom and the atoms of the host medium. >
Commentary on Steingrimsson et al. (2012): an equal right to addiction.

An Equal Right to Addiction Laura A. Schmidt, PhD Professor School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco 3333 California Street, Suite 265 San Francisco, CA 94143 Email: laura.schmidt@ucsf.edu Telephone #: (415) 476-0440 Word Count: 779 Declaration of Interest: None Keywords: gender, addiction, substance use, substance use disorders, feminism
Dispersionless charge transfer on lumped-element transmission lines synthesized via resonant frequency assignment

The uniform lumped element transmission line that exhibits translational symmetry is an inherently dispersive network. The dispersion properties can be transformed by imposing a harmonic symmetry that requires all of the resonant frequencies of the network to be integral multiples of some fundamental frequency. The resulting line will have spatially varying component values, thus breaking the network's translational symmetry. If mirror symmetry is imposed on the line such that right and left sides of the line have identical components, the natural resonant modes of the line will then be either spatially even or spatially odd. The even harmonic frequencies may be assigned to the spatially even modes, and the odd harmonic frequencies may be assigned to the spatially odd modes by methods similar to those used for Marx networks [1], [2], [3], [4]. The resulting network can then be shown to have several important properties: (a) All voltages and currents will be periodic in time with the fundamental period. (b) Starting with zero initial currents and finite charge voltages, the mirror image of the initial conditions on each side of the line will appear on the opposite sides at odd multiples of the half period. (c) A similar result can be stated when starting with zero initial voltages and finite initial currents. While many solutions can be found, the smoothly varying regular solution is of special interest. It possesses the property of having relatively spatially uniform impedance with a cutoff frequency that decreases away from the line center. Thus, higher frequency waves, which travel more slowly, are reflected further from the ends of the line, such that any narrow-band wave packet is reflected periodically without dispersing. This network may be used for efficiently transporting capacitive stored energy on ordinary transmission lines. The lumped-element line is cut at the symmetry plane, and an arbitrary length of conventional transmission line of appropriate impedance is inserted in the gap. Discharging the end capacitor into the resulting network generates a Gaussian-like pulse on the transmission line that is later converted to the identical capacitive charge on the network at the other end of the line.