cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Higher pregnancy rates using testicular sperm in men with severe oligospermia.

Objective To evaluate assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes using testicular sperm in oligospermic men who previously failed to achieve paternity using TUNEL-positive ejaculated sperm. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Twenty-four oligospermic men who failed one or more ART cycles using ejaculated sperm with TUNEL-positive proportion >7%, and subsequently underwent microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Intervention(s) TESE followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Main Outcome Measure(s) TUNEL-positive level in ejaculated and testicular sperm; clinical pregnancy. Result(s) The mean TUNEL-positive level was 24.5% for ejaculated sperm, and 4.6% for testicular sperm. Clinical pregnancy was achieved in the first ART cycle with testicular sperm in 12 (50%) out of 24 couples. There was no statistically significant difference in maternal and paternal age, maternal gravity and parity, number of previous ART attempts, concentration or motility of retrieved sperm, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, or number of embryos transferred between couples who did and did not achieve pregnancy. No miscarriages occurred. All 12 pregnancies resulted in the delivery of healthy children. Conclusion(s) The percentage of TUNEL-positive cells is lower in testicular sperm for oligospermic men who have abnormal ejaculated sperm DNA fragmentation. The use of testicular sperm for ICSI was associated with a 50% pregnancy and live-birth rate for couples who had previously failed one or more IVF–ICSI cycles with ejaculated sperm. No other clinical predictors of successful pregnancies after the use of surgically retrieved sperm could be identified. In men with elevated TUNEL-positive ejaculated sperm and failed ART, TESE may be considered.
Treatment outcomes of a combined cognitive behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy for a sample of women with and without substance abuse histories on an acute psychiatric unit: do therapeutic alliance and motivation matter?

Background and Objectives Women with comorbid psychiatric and substance abuse problems (PwSA) experience more consequences from their use and typically have the poorest prognosis and outcome, compared to those with psychiatric problems but without substance abuse problems (PwoSA). The present study examined outcomes of a combined intensive inpatient cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy program for women with PwSA and PwoSA. Methods Sample consisted of 117 women on a women-only acute inpatient unit (PwSA = 50, PwoSA = 67). Results Women in both groups made significant improvements in psychological functioning. High motivation at admission and therapeutic alliance at discharge were associated with improved psychological functioning at discharge for both groups. Scientific Significance Findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy of a combined CBT and pharmacotherapy program for women with psychiatric diagnoses on a women-only acute inpatient unit, and for pre-treatment motivation and therapeutic alliance as important correlates of better treatment outcomes. (Am J Addict 2013;22:556–573)
Popular Sovereignty and the Democratic Threat

Democracy is defined generally as some form of popular rule, but popular rule alone does not legitimize itself or the institutions intended to facilitate it. Democracy can be a normative imperative because of the benefits of democratic citizenship, typically assessed in terms of personal autonomy or freedom. Irrespective of how these benefits are conceived in alternative theories of democracy, there is an enormous gap between ideal and reality in open electoral regimes purporting to be democracies. Granted, only a small minority of the citizens in these societies enjoy theoretically envisioned benefits of democratic citizenship. However, this article suggests it is not only possible, but likely that genuinely open electoral institutions achieve a meaningful element of popular control. Moreover, while popular control in itself does not legitimize these institutions, those who call attention to the gap between ideal and reality cannot dismiss popular sovereignty as a complete myth, nor should they ignore the importance of the myth itself.
Early Adopters of Solar Panels in Developing Countries: Evidence from Tanzania

Who pioneers the adoption of solar home systems as a source of power in developing countries? While many scholars of electrification praise off-grid options, evidence on their adoption from nationally representative surveys is lacking. We test existing and new hypotheses using the 2007 Tanzanian National Household Budget Survey. Since the survey is nationally representative and has more than 10,000 respondent households, it is ideal for our purposes. We find modest support for the notion that wealthier households adopt more readily than poorer ones. Surprisingly, electrified households adopt solar home systems more readily than other households, suggesting that solar home systems provide backup power. We further find that larger households adopt more readily than smaller ones and that a rural location or high education levels do not predict solar power use. These findings suggest that new policies are needed to promote solar home systems in poor and rural areas, where their development effectiveness is maximal.
Evaluation of rat white blood cell and plasma peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase activity as indicators of copper status

Activity of the cuproenzyme peptidylglycine α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) was studied in two-month-old male Holtzman rats following dietary copper (Cu) deficiency. Compared to Cu-adequate controls, Cu-deficient rats exhibited cardiac hypertrophy (94% increase) and lower liver Cu concentrations (87% decrease). White blood cell PAM activity was not altered by dietary Cu deficiency but activity of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, another cuproenzyme, was lower in the same cells from Cu-deficient rats (68% decrease). Plasma PAM activity was lower in samples from Cu-deficient rats (32% decrease) compared to Cu-adequate rats. In additional studies it was found that PAM activity of serum was higher than plasma, that gender and type of anesthesia had little influence on PAM activity of plasma. Plasma but not white blood cell PAM activity is a useful indicator of Cu status.
Knowledge and heuristic-based modeling of laser-scanned trees

We present a semi-automatic and efficient method for producing full polygonal models of range scanned trees, which are initially represented as sparse point clouds. First, a skeleton of the trunk and main branches of the tree is produced based on the scanned point clouds. Due to the unavoidable incompleteness of the point clouds produced by range scans of trees, steps are taken to synthesize additional branches to produce plausible support for the tree crown. Appropriate dimensions for each branch section are estimated using allometric theory. Using this information, a mesh is produced around the full skeleton. Finally, leaves are positioned, oriented and connected to nearby branches. Our process requires only minimal user interaction, and the full process including scanning and modeling can be completed within minutes.
Effect of dehydration on the viscosity of sol-gel processed silica

Abstract For short times and low temperatures, the dehydration of silica gels is limited by the diffusion of water species. For long times and temperatures 600°C and higher, dehydration shows first order kinetics. That is dehydration rates decrease with increasing temperature where silica gels have less surface area and consequently fewer hydroxyls. For comparison with samples treated isothermally, samples were heated to 600, 700, 800 and 850°C at 100°C intervals and held 4 h at each temperature starting with 500°C. Comparison of isothermal and multistep treatments shows the contributions of structural relaxation and dehydration to the viscosity. At a given temperature, two gels of different water content may show the same viscosity, because the difference in water is matched by the difference in degree of structural relaxation. More complete dehydration is accomplished by constant rate heating to a single isothermal treatment rather than heating in steps.
Ballistic transport in the upper subband of a two-dimensional electron system

Abstract We report the observation of ballistic transport of upper subband electrons in a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) confined to a square quantum well with two occupied electrical subbands. We have performed two types of experiments. In the first type, we use a specially designed transverse magnetic focusing device in which the usual reflecting barrier is replaced by a surface-gate-induced, tunable potential barrier to selectively reflect and magnetically focus the upper subband electrons. In the second type of experiment, we create a surface-gate-induced, periodic potential in a double-subband-occupied 2DES and measure the magnetoresistance along the modulation direction. Fourier analysis is used to separate the commensurability oscillations originating from ballistic electrons of different subbands.
SPATIAL HETEROGENEITY OF STREAM WATER NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS OVER SUCCESSIONAL TIME

Nutrient availability in ecosystems is patchy both in space and in time. Whereas temporal trends have often been studied, less information exists on spatial patterns of nutrient availability, particularly in aquatic ecosystems. The goals of this study were (1) to describe and quantify patterns of nutrient concentration in surface waters of an arid land stream and (2) to compare spatial patterns of nutrient availability across nutrients and over a successional sequence. We describe changes in the spatial pattern of stream water nutrient concentrations over successional time (between floods) using quantitative measures of heterogeneity. Samples were collected from the middle of the channel every 25 m over a 10-km section of a Sonoran Desert stream during three periods: early succession (2 wk post-flood), middle succession (2 mo post-flood), and late succession (9 mo post-flood). Nutrient concentrations were extremely variable in space (coefficients of variations as high as 145%). Coefficients of variation increased over successional time and were consistently greater for nitrate-nitrogen than for soluble reactive phosphorus. Semi-variogram analysis showed that nutrient con- centrations were spatially dependent on all dates, but to different degrees and over different distances. The distance over which nutrient concentrations were spatially dependent, as measured by the semi-variogram range, tended to decrease with successional time. The strength of spatial dependence, as measured by the slope of the ascending limb of the semi- variogram, increased with successional time. The limiting nutrient, nitrogen, was consis- tently more spatially heterogeneous than phosphorus or conductivity, both in terms of patch size (range) and strength of spatial dependence. In streams, downstream transport combined with nutrient transformation produces patch- es of similar nutrient concentrations that are elongated compared with nutrient patches in terrestrial soils. Variation in nutrient concentration is likely to affect the spatial distribution of organisms and rates of ecosystem processes.
Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens placement in eyes with cataract and congenital coloboma: visual acuity and complications.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the safety and complications of phacoemulsification in a series of patients with congenital coloboma and cataract. Setting University-based hospital practice. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive patients who had coloboma and cataract and had phacoemulsification between January 1987 through December 1998. Complications and visual acuity 2 months postoperatively were assessed. Results Mean age of 7 cases at the time of surgery was 41.6 years ± 11.1 (SD). Visual acuity improved in 6 of 7 eyes; 1 eye had no change. Six eyes had no serious complications. In 1 eye, a retinal detachment was observed postoperatively, but there was no loss in visual acuity. Another patient developed postoperative monocular diplopia from exposure of the intraocular lens (IOL) edge within the inferonasally located corectopia associated with the coloboma. Nonsurgical treatment was unsuccessful, but this symptom resolved after surgical pupilloplasty. Conclusions The results of this small case series affirm that clinically significant cataract develops at a younger age in eyes with congenital coloboma than in eyes with typical age-related nuclear sclerotic cataract. Monocular diplopia, a potential complication after cataract surgery in these eyes, can be managed by pupilloplasty. The improved vision in this study indicates that phacoemulsification and IOL placement are safe and beneficial in patients with typical congenital coloboma and cataract.
The effect and causes of protein-energy malnutrition in Nigerian children

Abstract Protein-energy malnutrition is still highly prevalent in Nigeria due to faulty weaning practices, poverty, poor sanitary conditions, minimal medical attention, and endemic childhood infections. Insufficient food intake affects the child principally as a result of one of these causes: 1) the child is offered little food and is unable to get more by him/herself; (for example, restricted intake of protein during illness or prolonged exclusive breast feeding); 2) the child is offered ample foods but the quantity is of inadequate quality for his/her needs, resulting in low protein and/or energy density; 3) improper feeding practices such as nonhygienic preparation of over-diluted formula or starch gruels, which give rise to early-age severe protein-energy malnutrition. Studies in Nigeria found that protein-energy malnutrition was the second cause of death in children under six years. This review covers 1) the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition; 2) morbidity and mortality rate due to malnutrition; and 3) the hematological parameters of Nigerian children.
Physiological responses to supercooling and hypoxia in the hatchling painted turtle, Chrysemys picta.

We investigated physiological responses to supercooling in hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) which remain in their natal nests over winter and therefore may become exposed to subzero temperatures. These turtles are freeze tolerant but also must rely on supercooling to survive exposure to the lower temperatures occurring in nests during winter. We compared whole-body concentrations of lactate, glucose, glycerol, and ATP in turtles chilled at 0 °C, –4 °C, or –6 °C for 5 days, or at –6 °C for 19 days. In a companion experiment, we measured metabolite concentrations in turtles exposed to a hypoxic environment for 1 day, 4 days, or 8 days. Supercooling and hypoxia exposure were both associated with an increase in concentrations of lactate and glucose and a decrease in glycerol concentrations (albeit no change in the ATP pool), suggesting that supercooling induces functional hypoxia. We conclude that hypoxia tolerance may be an important pre-adaptation for surviving exposure to subzero temperatures in hatchling C. picta.
The Ecological Efficiency of Consumer Populations

It has been suggested that the ecological efficiencies (or gross efficiencies of yield to ingestion) of steady—state consumer populations may be a constant 8—12%. It is now argued that, on the basis of available data, the ecological efficiency of populations of homeothermic animals cannot exceed 2—3%. See full-text article at JSTOR
Effect of breeding season and pregnancy status on serum progesterone, sodium, potassium, copper and iron of estrous synchronized Aradi goat does

Eighteen out of 88 estrous synchronized Aradi goat does were randomly chosen to be bled during May–July (Out breeding season, n = 9) and during September–December (Within breeding season, n = 9). Estrous synchronization was applied by using a control internal drug release (CIDR) as a reproductive management regimen throughout the year. Nineteen days after CIDR insertion, a 500 IU eCG was injected (i.m.) and CIDR was removed. Does were subjected to fertile bucks 48-60 h after CIDR removal. Jugular blood samples were collected in non-heparinized Vacutainer tubes at 0 h just before CIDR insertion, every 3 days during CIDR insert, at day of CIDR removal, at incidence of estrus and mating, at day 1, 8 and 30 post mating. Data on pregnancy were recorded and serum levels of progesterone (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) were determined. Progesterone concentration was higher (p < 0.05) within (2.85 ± 0.15 ng/ml) than outside (2.37 ± 0.13 ng/ml) the breeding season. Pregnant does exhibited higher (p < 0.05) levels of progesterone (2.76 ± 0.17 ng/ml) than non-pregnant does (2.37 ± 0.10 ng/ml). No significant interaction was found between season and pregnancy status on progesterone concentration. A typical progesterone profile was found during treatment days, as levels of P increased during CIDR insertion and declined at CIDR removal and thereafter. Neither breeding season nor pregnancy status affected Na+ concentration. Contrariwise, mean levels of K+ was higher (p < 0.05) outside (148.34 ± 3.91 mg/L) than within (136.27 ± 3.91 mg/L) the breeding season. Pregnancy status did not influence K concentration. Sodium/potassium (Na+/K+) ratio was significantly (p < 0.01) higher within (30.29 ± 0.44) than outside (27.62 ± 0.44) the breeding season. On the contrary, pregnancy status did not affect this ratio. Iron concentrations neither affected by season nor pregnancy. Likewise, Cu concentrations were not affected by season, however Cu levels were higher (p < 0.05) in pregnant (147.75 ± 7.24 μg/L) than in non-pregnant (127.31 ± 5.03 μg/L) does.
Online scheduling of equal-processing-time task systems

We consider the problem of online scheduling a set of equal-processing-time tasks with precedence constraints so as to minimize the makespan. For arbitrary precedence constraints, it is known that any list scheduling algorithm has a competitive ratio of 2-1/m, where m is the number of machines. We show that for intree precedence constraints, Hu's algorithm yields an asymptotic competitive ratio of 3/2.
Comparisons of dynamic retinoscopy measurements with a print card, a video display terminal, and a PRIO System Tester as test targets.

Background Dynamic retinoscopy is a common clinical test for assessment of visual function in patients with symptoms related to computer use. It has been suggested that performing dynamic retinoscopy with a fixation target resembling a computer screen may be valuable in the examination of computer users. However, such targets differ in luminance and other characteristics from the printed paper test cards typically used for dynamic retinoscopy. Method To address the effect of varying test targets on dynamic retinoscopy results, this study compared lag of accommodation results from dynamic retinoscopy with three different fixation targets: (a) a printed paper target, (b) a video display terminal, and (c) the PRIO® vision testing device, which is designed to simulate a computer screen. MEM (monocular estimate method) dynamic retinoscopy was performed with the print target and with the PRIO device. Results The difference between results with the different test conditions were generally small, with a statistically significant 0.32 D lower lag found on MEM retinoscopy with the PRIO target (MEM–PRIO) than on MEM retinoscopy with a print target (MEM–PRINT). Mean lag measurements on MEM with a print target and on Nott retinoscopy with the video display terminal (NOTT–VDT) were only 0.04 D different. The 95% limits of agreement for the difference between MEM–PRINT and MEM–PRIO (±0.6 D) was similar to the 95% limits of agreement for the interexaminer reliability of the two procedures (±0.6 D for MEM–PRINT and ±0.7 D for MEM–PRIO). Conclusion There was a small but statistically significant difference in lag of accommodation measured with MEM dynamic retinoscopy on the PRIO testing device when compared to a print card.
Scene Collaging: Analysis and Synthesis of Natural Images with Semantic Layers

To quickly synthesize complex scenes, digital artists often collage together visual elements from multiple sources: for example, mountains from New Zealand behind a Scottish castle with wisps of Saharan sand in front. In this paper, we propose to use a similar process in order to parse a scene. We model a scene as a collage of warped, layered objects sampled from labeled, reference images. Each object is related to the rest by a set of support constraints. Scene parsing is achieved through analysis-by-synthesis. Starting with a dataset of labeled exemplar scenes, we retrieve a dictionary of candidate object segments that match a query image. We then combine elements of this set into a "scene collage" that explains the query image. Beyond just assigning object labels to pixels, scene collaging produces a lot more information such as the number of each type of object in the scene, how they support one another, the ordinal depth of each object, and, to some degree, occluded content. We exploit this representation for several applications: image editing, random scene synthesis, and image-to-anaglyph.
Conservation and distribution status of amphibian fauna in Sri Lanka

Abstract Sri Lanka has an exceptionally rich amphibian biodiversity with high endemism. This paper describes 106 amphibian species, the majority confined to rainforests and many threatened with extinction. The key factors causing amphibian decline in Sri Lanka are of anthropogenic origins; habitat destruction and fragmentation, alien invasive species, wildlife diseases/pathogens, climate change and environmental pollution. Only 750 km2 of Sri Lanka are covered with tropical rainforests and this area is broken into 100 km2 fragments or less. It is difficult for amphibians to tolerate disturbances and to maintain a sustainable population size under these conditions. Alien and domestic species impose threats by direct predation, competition, disease contraction and habitat alteration. Parasites and pathogens, especially the chirtrid fungus, hamper the growth, reproductive success, and physical fitness of amphibians and can result in mortality. Climate change has reduced the distribution of amphibians by modi...
Description of large angle /sup 6/Li + /sup 40/Ca scattering from 26 to 34 MeV using double-folded and. cap alpha. +d cluster potentials

New elastic scattering data are reported for /sup 6/Li + /sup 40/Ca at 26 and 30 MeV, and inelastic data at 30 MeV. The measurements at 30 MeV were taken to provide a complete angular distribution at this energy and showed that previously published large angle data at 30 MeV are incorrectly normalized and must be multiplied by 0.65. The new angular distribution at 26 MeV displays enhanced large angle cross sections as has also been previously observed at 30 and 34 MeV. Double-folded or cluster potentials are able to describe the elastic scattering of /sup 6/Li + /sup 40/Ca over the energy range 26--34 MeV, including the large angle oscillations. No special property is required to explain the large angle behavior other than weak absorption. The double-folding model has also been used to determine deformation lengths for the first 2/sup +/, 3/sup -/, and 5/sup -/ states in /sup 40/Ca. The values for the 2/sup +/ and 3/sup -/ states agree well with those found from electron, /sup 9/Be and /sup 11/B inelastic scattering, while the value for the 5/sup -/ state is a factor of 2 smaller.
Collective punishment and public policy

In this paper I shall discuss various philosophical theories of collective punishment: marxian annihilism, metaphysical collectivism and methodological individualism. After refuting metaphysical collectivism and its modified version, I defend a modification of methodological individualism.
Five ways of deconstructing Europe

In this essay, previous attempts to dismantle the idea of Europe as a self-contained space are briefly examined. Five strategies for deconstructing the idea of Europe are considered: re-origination...
Effects of intravenous Zaprinast and inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange in an ovine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) selectively dilates the pulmonary vasculature and improves gas exchange in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Because of the very short half-life of NO, inhaled NO is administered continuously. Intravenous Zaprinast (2-o-propoxyphenyl-8-azapurin-6-one), a cyclic guanosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase inhibitor, increases the efficacy and prolongs the duration of action of inhaled NO in models of acute pulmonary hypertension. Its efficacy in lung injury models is uncertain. The authors hypothesized that the use of intravenous Zaprinast would have similar beneficial effects when used in combination with inhaled NO to improve oxygenation and dilate the pulmonary vasculature in a diffuse model of acute lung injury. Methods: The authors studied two groups of sheep with lung injury produced by saline lavage. In the first group, 0, 5, 10, and 20 ppm of inhaled NO were administered in a random order before and after an intravenous Zaprinast infusion (2 mg/kg bolus followed by 0.1 mg.kg -1 .min -1 ). In the second group, inhaled NO was administered at the same concentrations before and after an intravenous infusion of Zaprinast solvent (0.05 M NaOH). Results: After lavage, inhaled NO decreased pulmonary arterial pressure and resistance with no systemic hemodynamic effects, increased arterial oxygen partial pressure, and decreased venous admixture (all P < 0.05). The intravenous administration of Zaprinast alone decreased pulmonary artery pressure but worsened gas exchange (P < 0.05). Zaprinast infusion abolished the beneficial ability of inhaled NO to improve pulmonary gas exchange and reduce pulmonary artery pressure (P < 0.05 vs. control). Conclusions: This study suggests that nonselective vasodilation induced by intravenously administered Zaprinast at the dose used in our study not only worsens gas exchange, but also abolishes the beneficial effects of inhaled NO.
3-Methyl-γ-butyrolactone as a source of 2-methyl-3-hydroxyketones and 2-methyl-1,3-diols: a synthesis of the C19C27 fragment of rifamycin S by linear iteration

Abstract 3-Methyl-γ-butyrolactone has been employed as a source of 2-methyl-3-hydroxyketones after functioning as a template for the preparation of enantiomerically pure propionate chains. This method is exemplified by the preparation of the C19C27 propionate fragment utilized by Kishi in his synthesis of rifamycin S.
A comparison of EMCCD, CCD and emerging technologies optimized for low light spectroscopy applications.

Electron multiplying CCDs have revolutionized the world of low light imaging by bringing improved detection limits along with high readout rates; however, it remains to be seen whether they offer any benefits to the world of spectroscopy. Here we review the performance of current CCD and EMCCD detectors and compare their performance for low light level spectroscopy applications. In particular, we look at the detection limits of both technologies for real applications and examine all the parameters that affect these limits in a practical situation. We compare sensitivities, dark signal, noise factors and readout noise with the latter two as the ultimate limitations for detection. We also look at emerging new technology for low light spectroscopy applications which optimizes the parameters discussed without the disadvantages of the current technologies. Theoretical signal to noise data comparing conventional CCD and EMCCD technologies is presented and discussed. Experimental signal to noise comparisons are made for Raman spectra obtained using both conventional and electron multiplying CCDs in conjunction with a confocal Raman microscope. It is concluded that traditional CCDs have a superior detection limit and equal sensitivity to that of EMCCDs and are far superior for high quality quantitative data measurements.
Integrating the effects of climate and seed fall velocities on seed dispersal by wind: A model and application☆

Abstract A numerical model of seed dispersal by wind is presented which integrates the effects of wind speeds and directions during seed dispersal season, height of seed release, seed terminal velocities and effects of wind speed/atmospheric humidity on seed release rates. A histogram of terminal velocities of maple ( Acer spp.) seeds and climatic data of Minneapolis, MN, are used to derive a seed dispersal pattern for an isolated tree. Under these conditions seed dispersal is asymmetric around the seed source. Maximum seed deposition occurs 100 m northeast of the seed source (13 seeds m −2 per 10 6 seeds released); this declines to 1 seed m −2 at 300 m and 0.03 seeds m −2 at 600 m distance from the seed source.
Rapid chromatographic purification of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II from human plasma

Rapid, large-scale isolation of human apolipoproteins A-I and A-II has been accomplished using two chromatographic procedures. The apolipoproteins adsorbed from plasma onto a column of phenyl-Sepharose are eluted with increasing propylene glycol concentrations. Apolipoproteins A-I and A-II can be resolved by elution with a linear 0 to 80% propylene glycol gradient. Homogeneous preparations of apo A-I and A-II are obtained following gel filtration in 3M guanidinium chloride.
Ethylene-propylene copolymerization with 2-arylindene zirconocenes

Unbridged 2-arylindenylmetallocene complexes such as bis(2-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) are catalyst precursors for the synthesis of elastomeric polypropylenes. These catalysts are also active for the copolymerization of ethylene and propylene. Addition of small amounts of ethylene to a polymerization system derived from the 2-arylindene metallocenes results in a large and nonlinear increase in the polymerization rate. This increase in rate cannot be explained by the faster rate of ethylene insertion but is likely the result of the activation of dormant catalyst sites by ethylene. This “ethylene effect” is much larger for bis(2-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride/MAO ((2PhInd)2ZrCl2/MAO, 1/MAO) and bis[2-(3‘,5‘-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)indenyl]zirconium dichloride/MAO ((CF3)2PhInd)2ZrCl2/MAO, 2/MAO) metallocene catalysts than for bridged rac-ethylene-bis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride/MAO (EBIZrCl2/MAO, 3/MAO) metallocene. Copolymerization parameters for 1−3...
Photosensitized oxidation of methyl linoleate: Secondary and volatile thermal decomposition products.

Studies of photosensitized oxidation of methyl linoleate show that the greater relative concentration of 9- and 13-hydroperoxides than 10- and 12-hydroperoxides is characteristic of singlet oxygenation and not due to either simultaneous autoxidation or type 1 photosensitized oxidation. Cyclization of the internal 10- and 12-hydroperoxides accounts for their lower relative concentrations. Secondary products separated by silicic acid and high pressure liquid chromatography were characterized spectrally (IR, UV,1H-NMR,13C-NMR, GC-MS). Major secondary products included diastereomeric pairs of 13-hydroperoxy-10,12-epidioxy-trans-8-octadecenote (I and III) and 9-hydroperoxy-10,12-epidioxy-trans-13-octadecenoate (II and IV); minor secondary products included hydroperoxy oxy genated and epoxy esters. Thermal decomposition of the hydroperoxy cyclic peroxides produced hexanal and methyl 10-oxo-8-decenoate as major volatiles from I and III and methyl 9-oxo-nonanoate and 2-heptenal from II and IV. Hydroperoxy cyclic peroxides may be important sources of volatile decomposition products of photooxidized fats.
History and status of coherent bremsstrahlung

Coherent bremsstrahlung research originated with the 1955 papers by Dyson and Uberall, Ter-Mikaelian, and Ferretti. Its intermediate status thirty years later has been documented by Saenz and Uberall in the book Coherent Radiation Sources (A. W. Saenz and H. Uberall, editors), Springer, Berlin 1985. The first precision experiments were carried out by Diambrini-Palazzi et al. (1960) in Frascati shortly after the theory had been developed; see also Timm (1969). After experimentation by dozens of electron accelerator laboratories all over the world, there are presently measurements being made by Arends et al. at the University of Mainz (MAMI, 855 MeV), Klein et al. at the University of Bonn (ELSA, 3 GeV), at CERN (20-170 GeV) by Avakian of the Yerevan Physics Institute and others, and with electron energies of 6 GeV at the Jefferson Laboratory, Newport News, VA (F. J. Klein, Catholic University, spokesperson). At Jefferson Lab, linearly polarized quasi-monochromatic coherent-bremsstrahlung photons [peaked at 1.8GeV, with polarization (after collimation) of 84%] are being used for the production (off protons) of ρ and ω mesons among others. Recent theoretical research deals with coherent bremsstrahlung in quasicrystals (Fusina, Langworthy, and Saenz, 2001), and with planar and axial coherent bremsstrahlung in a diamond crystal (Chouffani, Endo, and Uberall 2001-2), both at low energies. In the latter study, in which the concept of axial coherent bremsstrahlung is now stressed (while in the related processes of planar and axial channeling radiation this distinction is well known), photon emission occurs here not necessarily in the forward direction.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Anorectal abscesses: Need for accurate anatomical localization of the disease

Anorectal abscesses constitute a common problem of the perianal area. Considerable morbidity is expected if an immediate and anatomically correct drainage procedure is not performed in a timely manner. Acute infection of an anal gland leads to the formation of the anorectal abscess, while the chronic stage of the infection appears as a fistula in ano. It is imperative to perform operations with accurate anatomical knowledge; this is particularly true in the case of fistula-in-ano and anorectal abscesses, for which inappropriate surgery can lead to disastrous results. Here we report our experience with anorectal abscesses in various locations in 14 patients. Four of the 14 had a transrectal drainage. The internal (transrectal) or external drainage of the anorectal abscesses depends mainly on the mechanism of their formation and the anatomical relationship of the abscess to the levator ani. Apart from a death occurring 1 month after drainage due to a cause not related to suppurative disease (subdural hematoma), all patients had an uneventful recovery and were discharged from hospital after a mean stay of 1.2 days. A brief and practical description of the macroscopic anatomy of the area will assist in understanding better the selection of the appropriate route of drainage of anorectal abscesses.
Top seeded solution growth of La4CuO4

Abstract Single crystals of La 2 CuO 4 have been grown from a flux with a top seeded solution growth technique. X-ray and chemical analyses indicate the presence of some flux impurities that are detrimental to superconductive properties. Strontium addition was also attempted to produce superconductive crystals.
Effects of ATP depletion and protein synthesis inhibition on muscle plasma membrane orthogonal arrays

We studied the effects of perturbations on the orthogonal arrays of 6- to 8-nm intramembranous particles seen in freeze-fractured fast-twitch rat muscle plasma membrane. We found the arrays to be stable in whole muscle in vitro to 8 to 12 h regardless of the presence of glucose, calcium, or supplemental oxygen. Depletion of ATP with 2,4-dinitrophenol or sodium azide led to a marked reduction in array density without a compensatory increase in nonarray particles. Ninety-five percent inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide had no effect on the arrays to 12 h. These results indicate that muscle plasma membrane orthogonal arrays, if protein, are slow-turn-over structures whose degradation is hastened by ATP depletion.
Analyzing conflict severity: Predictions of distributive justice theory for the two-subgroup case

This paper formulates a model of conflict based on the theory of distributive justice. The model begins with a condition we termcleavage: There is a perfect correlation between the distribution of a valued good and a grouping variable such as race, ethnicity, or sex. Cleavage sets the stage for conflict. Two key elements are specified—conflict severity and subgroup effectiveness—and their mathematical representation described. The paper analyzes the special case where the conflict involves two subgroups, and focuses on conflict severity. Analysis identifies several sources of variability in conflict severity: the relative sizes of the two subgroups; whether the advantaged subgroup is the smaller or larger; whether the collectivity values personal attributes (such as noble birth or athletic skill) or instead values material possessions; and the extent and shape of inequality in the distribution of material possessions. Results indicate, among other things, that, in a collectivity which values personal attributes, the smaller is the disadvantaged subgroup, the greater is the conflict severity. In contrast, in a collectivity which values material wealth, the direction of the effect of subgroup relative size on conflict severity depends on the distributional form of the valued material possessions. Results also indicate that, for given subgroup relative size, conflict severity is higher the greater the inequality in the distribution of valued material possessions.
Measurement and prediction of freezing times of vacuum canned Pacific shrimp

Abstract Freshly cooked Pacific shrimp, vacuum packed in cans fitted with monitoring instruments, were frozen under industrial conditions. Surface heat transfer coefficients were determined experimentally using aluminium cyclinders. Freezing times were measured and also calculated using Plank's equation and the formulae of Cleland and Earle. The investigation indicated that the vacuum level had little effect on the freezing time and that freezing time essentially doubled when cans were enclosed in a commercial carton. For the prediction of freezing times, Cleland and Earle's method was found to be more accurate than Plank's for the tests performed, with predicted values within ± 10% of measured values.
Genetic Variation and the Evolution of Consensus in Digital Organisms

In this paper, we describe a study of the evolution of consensus, a cooperative behavior in which members in both homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, must agree on information sensed in their environment. We conducted the study using digital evolution, a form of evolutionary computation where a population of computer programs (digital organisms) exists in a user-defined computational environment and is subject to instruction-level mutations and natural selection. We placed these digital organisms into groups whose fitness relied upon their ability to perform consensus. We then tested different degrees and types of genetic variation present in the population, based on biologically inspired models of gene flow, including mutation, sexual recombination, migration, and horizontal gene transfer. Our experimental treatments examined the effect of these processes on genetic variation and groups' ability to reach consensus. The results of these experiments demonstrate that while genetic heterogeneity within groups increases the difficulty of the consensus task, a surprising number of groups were able to overcome these obstacles and evolve this cooperative behavior.
HERITABLE VARIATION IN A FAMILY‐DIAGNOSTIC TRAIT

Derived characters that have not changed during the diversification of a clade provide traits that are diagnostic at higher taxonomic levels. The tetradynamous stamen condition (four long and two short stamens) of the Brassicaceae is an example of a diagnostic trait that has not changed during the diversification of this large flowering plant family. We investigated one hypothesis that might explain the long-term stasis of this trait—that tetradynamous stamens have persisted because of an absence of genetic variation underlying the trait. Through a sib-analysis with Raphanus raphanistrum and an artificial selection experiment with Brassica rapa, we demonstrate that significant genetic variation is present for the tetradynamous condition in both species and that the trait is therefore not constrained from evolutionary change by a lack of heritable genetic variation.
Efficient computation of eigenvalues of randomly generated matrices

Abstract Recently, Geist has given an algorithm to find eigenvalues of a general matrix by tridiagonalization, followed by L lower triangular, R upper triangle (LR) iteration. The total computational cost is 4 3 n 3 + O(n 2 ) flops. This paper shows how to modify Geist's approach to produce a banded Hessenberg form and employs Rayleigh coefficient iteration to refine the eigenvalues obtained from LR iteration. These techniques appear to significantly improve the accuracy of the computation without greatly increasing the computational cost. Results of numerical experiments on randomly generated matrices are given. The proposed algorithm appears to be have significantly better potential for parallelization than the standard method of reduction to Hessenberg form followed by implicit Q orthogonal, R upper triangular (QR) iteration.
EKF-Based Vehicle Center of Gravity Position Real-Time Estimation in Longitudinal Maneuvers With Road Course Elevation

In this paper, a real-time estimator, based on an extended Kalman filter (EKF), for the position of vehicle center of gravity (CG) is proposed. Accurate knowledge of the CG longitudinal location and the CG height in the vehicle frame is helpful to the control of vehicle motions, especially for lightweight vehicles (LWVs), whose CG positions can be substantially varied by freight goods or passengers onboard. The proposed estimation method, unlike many existing ones, extracts signals only from vehicle longitudinal maneuvers in which road course elevation may exist. A three-state vehicle dynamic model, including the longitudinal velocity, the front-wheel angular speed, and the rear-wheel angular speed of the vehicle, is employed in the EKF formulation. With the help of the GPS altitude measurement, the road grade, which provides excitation for the estimation of the CG height, can also be obtained using a typical Kalman filter. Simulation studies based on a CarSim® vehicle model show that the proposed estimator is capable of accurately estimating both the CG longitudinal location and the CG height without a priori knowledge of the tire-road contact condition. Moreover, though the performance of the CG height estimation largely depends on the road grade variations, the CG longitudinal location can always be accurately estimated, even on a horizontal road.© 2012 ASME
Hospitalizations of Adults ≥60 Years of Age With Venous Thromboembolism

We assessed the rates, trends, and factors associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis among hospitalizations of adults ≥60 years of age during the period 2001 to 2010. Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used for this study. During the period 2001 to 2010, the estimated annual number of hospitalizations in which a VTE diagnosis was recorded, among adults ≥ 60 years of age, ranged from approximately 2 70 000 in 2001 to 4 23 000 in 2010. The rate of such hospitalizations per 1 00 000 US population ≥60 years of age ranged from 581 in 2001 to 739 in 2010. During the period 2001 to 2004, there was a significant increasing trend in the rate of hospitalizations with VTE among women ≥60 years of age. The factors positively associated with an increased risk of VTE diagnosis were female sex, summer and autumn seasons (compared with spring), venous catheterization, cancer, and greater length of hospital stay.
Hydrogenation of 1,3-butadienes with a rhodium complex-layered silicate intercalation catalyst

Abstract Rh(NBD)(dppe) + (NBD = norbornadiene, dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino ethane) intercalated in hectorite, a swelling layered silicate, catalyzes t the overall 1,2 and 1,4 addition of hydrogen to 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene at rates which range from −5 to 0.83, relative to the homogeneous catalyst. The yields of 1,2 addition products are 1.5 to 2.3 times higher than those obtained under homogeneous reaction conditions. The intercalation effects depend in part on the extent to which the silicate interlayers are swelled by solvent.
Adding parametric polymorphism to the common object request broker architecture (CORBA) (poster session)

The research displayed in this poster showcases issues surrounding adding parametric polymorphism to CORBA. The merits of parametric polymorphism are widely published, yet there is no support for the parametric polymorphism paradigm in CORBA. This research should be of special interest to C++ programmers, and other programmers accustomed to generic programming, frustrated by this lack of support.
Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Glycine max and Comparative Analyses with other Legume Genomes

Lack of complete chloroplast genome sequences is still one of the major limitations to extending chloroplast genetic engineering technology to useful crops. Therefore, we sequenced the soybean chloroplast genome and compared it to the other completely sequenced legumes, Lotus and Medicago. The chloroplast genome of Glycine is 152,218 basepairs (bp) in length, including a pair of inverted repeats of 25,574 bp of identical sequence separated by a small single copy region of 17,895 bp and a large single copy region of 83,175 bp. The genome contains 111 unique genes, and 19 of these are duplicated in the inverted repeat (IR). Comparisons of Glycine, Lotus and Medicago confirm the organization of legume chloroplast genomes based on previous studies. Gene content of the three legumes is nearly identical. The rpl22 gene is missing from all three legumes, and Medicago is missing rps16 and one copy of the IR. Gene order in Glycine, Lotus, and Medicago differs from the usual gene order for angiosperm chloroplast genomes by the presence of a single, large inversion of 51 kilobases (kb). Detailed analyses of repeated sequences indicate that many of the Glycine repeats that are located in the intergenic spacer regions and introns occur in the same location in the other legumes and in Arabidopsis, suggesting that they may play some functional role. The presence of small repeats of psbA and rbcL in legumes that have lost one copy of the IR indicate that this loss has only occurred once during the evolutionary history of legumes.
A method for the analysis of comparative data

Felsenstein (1985) developed a method for analyzing comparative data that calculates a set of mutually independent comparisons among the species. The method was designed to be used with phylogenies for which the true dichotomous branching pattern is known. However, available phylogenies often contain many incompletely resolved nodes, or nodes from which three or more branches emanate. This paper reports a generalization of Felsenstein's method that permits the analysis of incompletely resolved phylogenies. The method is general to any sort of phylogeny and, like Felsenstein's model can accommodate more than one model of evolutionary change. The method is implemented in a computer program which can make use of information on branch lengths, or, if branch length information is not available, an algorithm is used to calculate a set of branch lengths. The wider implications of the method are that it makes explicit the assumptions about unknown branching patterns and branch lengths that all comparative methods that are applied to incompletely resolved phylogenies must make.