cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vibration damping through the use of materials with memory

Abstract We study the dynamics of a lumped mass linear oscillator that is damped through the use of a material with memory in which the internal dissipative forces depend not only on current but also on previous deformations. This effective memory is governed by two parameters: the relaxation modulus G0, and relaxation time γ, which also govern the vibration-damping properties of the material. Conditions for optimal damping in the unforced case corresponding to critical damping of a linear oscillator with viscous damping are derived, and the response of the oscillator in the case of sinusoidal excitation is studied. When the relaxation time is small the history type damping is modeled approximately by the action of a classical viscous damper with small viscosity. However, when the relaxation time is sufficiently large, this damping mechanism adds to the system a new higher resonance frequency that depends on G0 and γ. Since the oscillator is active over a wide range of frequencies, it has potential applications to the development of adaptive damping devices.
Tobramycin: maternal-fetal pharmacology.

To investigate the maternal-fetal transfer of tobramycin (TBM) and its distribution in the fetus, a single dose of 2 mg/kg was administered intramuscularly to 35 pregnant patients (13 first trimester, 22 second trimester) 0.5 to 34 h before hysterectomy. TBM concentration was assayed microbiologically in maternal serum, fetal tissues (placenta, brain, lung, liver, and kidney), and fluids (amniotic, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF], urine, and serum). Mean maternal serum half-life (1.54 h) and mean peak serum concentration of TBM were within ranges reported for nonpregnant adults. In fetal serum, half-life was 5.2 h, and TBM levels did not exceed 0.58 μg/ml. For intervals up to 34 h, the mean TBM concentration in placental tissues was 1.4 μg/g. Concentration differences related to fetal maturation were found for fetal CSF, amniotic fluid, and fetal kidney. No antimicrobial activity was found in the fetal CSF of >16 weeks' gestation. TBM was present predominantly in the second trimester amniotic fluid specimens. Fetal kidney concentrations reached 7.2 μg/g at 34 h after maternal drug administration. Higher TBM concentrations were related to advanced maturation of the fetal kidney. Second trimester fetal urine concentrations for TBM ranged from 0.1 to 3.4 μg/ml, and the fetal urinary half-life was 3.7 h. Knowledge of fetal pharmacology is essential for weighing the fetal benefits or risks of antimicrobial therapy for the infected gravid patient.
Hypertext and creative writing

Among its many uses, hypertext can serve as a medium for a new kind of flexible, interactive fiction. Storyspace™ is a hypertext system we have created for authoring and reading such fiction. Interactive fiction in the computer medium is a continuation of the modern “tradition” of experimental literature in print. However, the computer frees both author and reader from restrictions imposed by the printed medium and therefore allows new experiments in literary structure.
Data Collection Online: Techniques and Traps When Searching for (Treaty-Related) Data on the WWW

Much of the recent literature on the Internet as a research tool has focused on negative effects on student papers and on the creation of quality criteria for Internet resources. Less attention has been paid to how instructors can assist their students in looking for and retrieving data for class assignments requiring Internet searches. As a by-product of my work on the International Environmental Agreements Database project (http://iea.uoregon.edu), I present here a list of techniques on how to find valuable raw data on websites and how to avoid common traps. The underlying premise is that, although the Internet is home to “a great deal of useless information,” a targeted search can be a fairly efficient way of determining data availability and retrieving data for undergraduates and scholars alike. The guidelines are organized into five categories: preliminary steps, potential sources and indicators, organization-related issues, language, and technical concerns.
Question Order and Declining Faith in Elections

Repeatedly since 1964, the National Election Study (NES) has asked crosssections of American citizens how much "having elections makes the government pay attention to what the people think." This question has the virtue of focusing squarely on the key function assigned to elections in democratic theory: ensuring the responsiveness of public officials to the preferences of ordinary citizens. Thus, the NES time series provides a valuable historical record of public faith in the American electoral process over a period of more than 3 decades-a period marked by political turmoil, partisan change, transformations of campaign technology, electoral landslides, and, in 2000, the first contested presidential election outcome in more than a century.' Figure 1 displays the trend in public faith in elections, as measured by this NES question, in presidential election years from 1964 through 1996.2 The average level of reported faith in elections declined in 7 of the 8 presidential election years after 1964, from a high of 81.1 (on a zero-to-100 scale) to a
The use of biopsy in the evaluation of pediatric nasopharyngeal masses

Pediatric nasopharyngeal tumors are rare, and few clinicians possess more than anecdotal experience. The differential diagnosis includes a diverse group of benign and malignant tumors, but can be narrowed further based on the clinical and radiographic appearance of the mass. Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma has such characteristic angiographic and CT imaging that many authors suggest biopsy is not essential in the evaluation of this lesion. We present a case of a pediatric nasopharyngeal neoplasm with angiographic, CT, and clinical findings consistent with angiofibroma. We then discuss the preoperative evaluation of, operative approach to, and postoperative staging and treatment of the biopsy-proven embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. A review of the literature pertinent to this case is presented, and recommendations made concerning biopsy of lesions resembling juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. We believe this report reaffirms the use of histologic study whenever possible, in addition to radiographic imaging, in the diagnosis of pediatric nasopharyngeal masses.
The value of head circumference measurements after 36 months of age: a clinical report and review of practice patterns

OBJECT The cranium is documented to grow from birth through adolescence. The standard of practice in primary care is measuring head circumference and plotting growth using curves that stop at 36 months. The authors report the importance of their experience with measuring head circumference in the child and same-sex parent beyond 36 months. METHODS In the University of Florida genetics and pediatric neurosurgery clinics, head circumference is measured and plotted on growth charts through 18 years of age. Circumference and rate of growth over time are compared with those of the same-sex parent. A diagnostic workup is initiated if there is a discrepancy with the patient's head circumference or if there is significant change in the growth rate of the cranium. RESULTS Between January 2004 and December 2007, the lead author examined 190 patients referred by pediatricians and/or pediatric subspecialists because of the concerns regarding head size of the child. Neuroimaging was performed in 70% of the patients prior to referral. None of the patients had their head size compared with that of their same-sex parent prior to referral. On assessing referring physician responses as to why the same-sex parents, head measurements were not pursued prior to imaging or referral to the specialists, the results were: 1) only have head circumference sheets to 36 months of age (n = 28); 2) the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it (n = 3); and 3) the head stops growing at 36 months of age (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS Pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists need instruction on head circumference measurement in children from infancy through adolescence, and when indicated, in comparison with the head size of the same-sex parent. This measurement may be an effective and inexpensive assessment tool.
Preparing International Counselor Educators through Online Distance Learning.

Online learning has emerged as a significant teaching medium, influencing how higher education is conducted in the U.S. and globally. While widely accepted in select disciplines, distance learning as the method for counselor preparation is often met with skepticism or resistance in the counseling profession. The purpose of this paper is to argue for the confluence of distance and global training in counselor education and training, and to illustrate that confluence through examining the teaching and learning process of doctoral students in a distance PhD program accredited by the U.S. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Adamantyl nitroxide: A spin label for probing membrane surfaces

In an effort to understand more about the perturbing properties of adamantane-like molecules on biological membranes, the spin probe adamantyl nitroxide (2,2'-dimethyl-5-adamantyl oxazolidine-N-oxyl) was synthesized, purified and characterized. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were then obtained from 1:50 and 1:200 mixtures of adamantyl nitroxide with dipalmitoyl and dipalmityl phosphatidylcholine multibilayers. Above the phase transition temperature of these lipids (41 degrees C for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and 43 degrees C for dipalmityl phosphatidylcholine) the spectra of adamantyl nitroxide are similar to control spectra obtained in liquid oleic acid. Below the phase transition temperatures, however, spectral differences were observed depending on: (1) the concentration of the spin probe in the lipid; (2) the linkage between the polar head group and the hydrocarbon tails of the phospholipid; (3) the temperature of the sample. Partitioning of adamantyl nitroxide between the aqueous and hydrocarbon phases of the sample is most prominent at probe-to-lipid ratios of 1:200 and at temperatures below the pre-transition temperature of the lipid (around 33 degrees C). Computer simulations of the above results, as well as additional experiments performed at 35 GHz, show that the results arise from true partitioning and not from asymmetric probe motion. Two conclusive results of these experiments are that spectra of adamantyl nitroxide in phospholipid multibilayers are sensitive to probe concentration and to the physical characteristics of the phospholipid which they probe. The spectral differences which arise when adamantyl nitroxide is used with ether- and ester-linked phospholipids indicate that it is a sensitive probe of membrane surfaces. Employment of this molecule in membrane research should prove to be useful in obtaining additional information about membrane surface events.
Tandem Ligation of Unprotected Peptides through Thiaprolyl and Cysteinyl Bonds in Water

Tandem ligation for the synthesis and modification of proteins entails forming two or more regiospecific amide bonds of multiple free peptide segments without a protecting-group scheme. We here describe a semi-orthogonal strategy for ligating three unprotected peptide segments, two of which contain N-terminal (NT) cysteine, to form in tandem two amide bonds, an Xaa-SPro (thiaproline), and then an Xaa-Cys. This strategy exploits the strong preference of an NT-cysteinyl peptide under acidic conditions to undergo selectively an SPro-imine ligation rather than a Cys-thioester ligation. Operationally, it was performed in the N --> C direction, first by an imine ligation at pH 7 to form an Xaa-Cys bond. Concurrently, this basic condition also catalyzed the O,N-acyl migration of an Xaa-thiazolidine ester to the Xaa-SPro bond at the first ligation site to complete the tandem three-segment ligation. Both ligation reactions were performed in aqueous buffered solvents. The effectiveness of this three-segment ligation strategy was tested in six peptides ranging from 19 to 70 amino acids, including thiaproline --> proline analogues of somatostatins and two CC-chemokines. The thiaproline replacements in these peptides and proteins did not result in altered biological activity. By eliminating the protecting-group scheme and coupling reagents, tandem ligation of multiple free peptide segments in aqueous solutions enhances the scope of protein synthesis and may provide a useful approach for combinatorial segment synthesis.
Beyond “Lawn People”: The Role of Emotions in Suburban Yard Management Practices

The lawn is a dominant feature in the suburban landscape that, under common resource-intensive management regimes, poses risks to human and broader ecosystem health and sustainability. This article examines the role played by emotions as homeowners maintain or change yard management practices, in order to extend existing understandings that focus on external drivers of yard management (e.g., Robbins 2007). Drawing on a high-resolution qualitative study of homeowners in the northern suburbs of Boston, this article describes how emotions circulate between homeowners, yards, and neighborhood political economies, creating collectivities of management practices bound by shared experience of emotions. Using a heuristic set of “yard subjectivities” drawn from interview data, we argue that emotional engagements are central to homeowners’ decision making around yard management practices. These findings provide new insight for those working to shift suburban ecologies away from resource-intensive turfgrass landscap...
Caregiver Support and Child Sexual Abuse: Why Does It Matter?

Coohey’s paper is a valuable investigation of the substantiation of mothers for failure to protect their children from child sexual abuse (CSA). Drawing on concerns regarding the possible inconsistency of decisions to substantiate, the author sought to determine the factors relied on by CPS investigators in the decision-making process. Multivariate analyses revealed the importance of maternal reactions to abuse,
Effective conductivity of composite with imperfect contact between elliptic fibers and matrix: Maxwell’s homogenization scheme

Abstract In the present paper, we use Maxwell homogenization scheme to calculate effective transverse conductivity of a fibrous composite with imperfect contact between the matrix and the parallel elliptic fibers. The developed theory extends the Hasselman–Johnson formula to the composites with elliptic fibers. The complete solution of the conductivity problem for single elliptic inclusion with imperfect interface provides the mathematical background of the method. In the Maxwell homogenization scheme, the effective inclusion is an ellipse with aspect ratio governed by the orientation distribution of elliptic fibers. The formula for effective conductivity is derived by equating the induced dipole moment of effective inclusion to the total dipole moment of individual inhomogeneities. In addition to the usual shape of inclusions, their volume content and phase conductivities, our model accounts also for the interface conductivity and orientation distribution of fibers. The obtained solution has been verified by comparison with the available in literature analytical solutions and numerical data for the particular cases. The reported numerical data validate the equivalent inhomogeneity shape choice. The interface conductivity and fiber orientation statistics are shown to be of primary importance for the effective conductivity of composite.
A component analysis of an operant training program for improving visual acuity in myopic students

Previous research has shown that visual acuity can be improved in laboratory settings using a fading plus feedback discrimination training procedure. The present study was a component analysis of this program. Forty myopic subjects were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: fading plus feedback, fading only, feedback only, yoked control, and no-treatment control. Acuity was measured with the Ortho-rater, two Snellen charts, and Behavioral Acuity Tests for letter and word discrimination. Results showed that fading plus feedback and fading only groups were generally superior on all measures except the Ortho-rater. The findings suggested that fading, not verbal feedback, is the critical component of treatment.
Cholangioma in White Perch (Morone americana) from the Chesapeake Bay

Cholangiomas found in two of 21 wild-caught white perch (Morone americana) from the Chesapeake Bay are described. The two fish were part of a study investigating a condition of abnormal hepatic copper storage in this species. The tumors were superficial, solitary masses consisting of cuboidal to columnar cells in tubuloglandular arrangement. Mild to marked peribiliary inflammation and fibrosis was seen also. Environmental pollution, the condition of abnormal copper storage, peribiliary fibrosis, and/or parasites may have contributed to the development of these tumors.
GA-binding Protein-dependent Transcription Initiator Elements EFFECT OF HELICAL SPACING BETWEEN POLYOMAVIRUS ENHANCER A FACTOR 3(PEA3)/Ets-BINDING SITES ON INITIATOR ACTIVITY

Many eukaryotic RNA polymerase II promoters contain initiator elements which direct accurate transcription in a TATA-independent manner. The PEA3/Ets-binding site (PEA3/EBS) is a common enhancer element in eukaryotic genes and is also found near the transcriptional start sites of many TATA-less promoters. We demonstrate that two PEA3/EBSs driving expression of the luciferase reporter gene, function as a minimal transcriptional initiator element. Maximal levels of transcription was achieved when two PEA3/EBSs, in either orientation, were located on the same face of the DNA helix, and the sites could be separated by up to three helical turns. In vitro transcription start sites directed by PEA3/EBS elements were clustered on either side of the upstream PEA3/EBS and were abolished by immunodepletion of GA-binding protein (GABP) from FM3A cell nuclear extracts. In vivo, co-transfection of GABPα and GABPβ expression vectors enhanced reporter gene expression driven from PEA3/EBS initiator elements. Like other initiator elements, the PEA3/EBS elements were activated synergistically by upstream Sp1-binding sites. Thus, our results establish GABP as both a transcriptional activator factor and as an initiator factor.
Electroconvulsive shock and water deprivation: effects on drinking behavior and locomotor activity in rats.

Abstract The effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) were examined in 72 hooded rats maintained on either ad lib food and water or 23.75-hr water-deprivation (ad lib food) schedules. Although ECS significantly decreased water intake in an ad lib group during drinking-box testing sessions, water deprivation abolished the effect, as indicated by water intake, and drinking frequency and time. However, ECS significantly decreased the locomotor activity of an ad lib group during drinking-box testing; the deficit was also evident in a deprived group which received ECS. The implications of the findings for ECS studies which have used one-trial water-reinforced learning tasks were discussed.
Preparation, Structural and Electrical Properties of Nanocrystalline Zr-Mn Cobalt-Ferrite Synthesized by the Co-Precipitation Method

The present study describes the preparation, structural and electrical characterization of nanosized Zr-Mn cobalt-ferrites. The nominal compositions CoFe2-2xZrxMnxO4 (0.10.4) have been synthesized by the co-precipitation method. These nanopowder products were sintered in furnace at temperature of 800 °C for 8 hour with a heating rate of 10οC/min to obtain these ferrites. The nanopowder was evaluated using XRD, FT-IR and SEM. The XRD data showed that all the samples are of single phase and the crystallite size is found in the range of 2630 nm. The lattice constant (a), X-ray density (dx), porosity (P) and bulk density (dm) are also calculated from XRD data. FT-IR study confirms the presence of ferrite functional groups. The IR spectra of Zr-Mn ferrite system have been analyzed in the frequency range 400650 cm-1. It revealed two prominent bands υ1 and υ2 which are assigned to tetrahedral and octahedral metal complexes, respectively. The position of the highest frequency band is around 550 cm-1 while the lower frequency band is around 425 cm-1. The structural properties are also analyzed on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at room temperature. Additionally, the dc electrical resistivity decreased with the rise in temperature for all the samples, showing a semiconductor like behavior. From the dc electrical resistivity the activation energy and drift mobility are determined. Both the drift mobility and activation energy increase with a rise in x.
A completely aberrant aortic arch.

A 45-year-old man was referred for cerebral angiography for the work-up of a recent cerebellar transient ischemic attack and suspected right vertebral artery occlusion on noninvasive imaging. Arch aortography revealed a completely aberrant left-sided aortic arch, with the following branches arising from proximal to distal: aberrant left brachiocephalic trunk (LBCT) dividing into the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and the left subclavian artery (LSCA), right common carotid artery (RCCA), and aberrant right subclavian artery (RSCA). The right vertebral artery was found to be occluded at its origin from the RSCA (arrow). The left vertebral artery (LVA) arose normally as a branch of the LSCA. Anatomic variations of the aortic arch are common, the classic branching pattern being seen in only 65% to 83% of aortic arches in large cadaveric, angiographic, and computed tomography series. Such variations are thought to result from the differential development of embryonic branchial arch arteries. The most frequent variants are the common origin of the right brachiocephalic trunk and LCCA (15%-27%), direct origin of the LVA from the aortic arch (0.8%-6%), and aberrant RSCA arising distal to the left subclavian artery (0.5%-1.2%). Several other rare variants ( 1%) have also been reported, none resembling the one described in this article.
A broken heart: Right ventricular rupture after blunt cardiac injury

A 68 year old woman who was a restrained driver was brought to the hospital after sustaining severe motor vehicle accident. She underwent CT of the chest demonstrating pulmonary infiltrates, multiple rib fractures, bilateral hemo- and pneumothoraces. Subsequent review of the images noted contrast extravasating from the apical portion of the right ventricle into the pericardial space, demonstrating a confined rupture of right ventricle. Cardiac rupture is a common complication of a rare event and there are few examples in the imaging literature capturing such event.
Permutation code: Optimal exact-repair of a single failed node in MDS code based distributed storage systems

We consider exact repair of failed nodes in maximum distance separable (MDS) code based distributed storage systems. It is well known that an (n, k) MDS code can tolerate failure (erasure) of up to n − k storage disks, when the code is used to store k information elements over n distributed storage disks. The focus of this paper is optimal recovery, in terms of repair bandwidth - the amount of data to be downloaded to repair a failed node - for a single failed node. When a single node fails, it has been previously shown by Dimakis et. al. that the amount of repair bandwidth is at least equation units, when each storage disk stores ℒ units of data. The achievability of this lower bound of equation units, for arbitrary values of (n, k); has been shown previously using asymptotic code constructions based on asymptotic interference alignment. However, the existence of finite codes satisfying this lower bound has been shown only for specific regimes of (n, k) and their existence for arbitrary values of (n, k) remained open. In this paper, we provide the first known construction of a finite code for arbitrary (n, k), which can repair a single failed systematic node by downloading exactly equation units of data. The code that we construct is based on permutation matrices and hence termed the Permutation Code.
The involvement of Frodo in TCF-dependent signaling and neural tissue development.

Frodo is a novel conserved regulator of Wnt signaling that has been identified by its association with Dishevelled, an intracellular component of Wnt signal transduction. To understand further how Frodo functions, we have analyzed its role in neural development using specific morpholino antisense oligonucleotides. We show that Frodo and the closely related Dapper synergistically regulate head development and morphogenesis. Both genes were cell-autonomously required for neural tissue formation, as defined by the pan-neural markers sox2 and nrp1 . By contrast,β -catenin was not required for pan-neural marker expression, but was involved in the control of the anteroposterior patterning. In the mesoderm, Frodo and Dapper were essential for the expression of the organizer genes chordin , cerberus and Xnr3 , but they were not necessary for the expression of siamois and goosecoid , established targets of β-catenin signaling. Embryos depleted of either gene showed a decreased transcriptional response to TCF3-VP16, aβ -catenin-independent transcriptional activator. Whereas the C terminus of Frodo binds Dishevelled, we demonstrate that the conserved N-terminal domain associates with TCF3. Based on these observations, we propose that Frodo and Dapper link Dsh and TCF to regulate Wnt target genes in a pathway parallel to that of β-catenin.
Preliminary first principles study of Hf and Zr aluminates as replacement high-k dielectrics

Bulk Density Functional Theory calculations were performed on Hf and Zr substitutions for Al in κ-alumina. The lowest energy configuration found was an octahedrally coordinated Zr site. Zr dissolution was favorable with an enthalpy of -2eV/unit cell for forming Al1.875Zr0.125O3 from pure Zr and κ-alumina. Hf and Zr substitution for Al atoms introduced empty d-states below the conduction band edge reducing the Eg of pure κ-alumina (7.5eV) to 6.4-5.9eV. The edge of the valence band however remained fixed by the O p-state character. The substitution of Hf and Zr into the alumina structure may lead to a higher dielectric constant, but will also reduce Eg and result in a trade off in tunneling currents in devices.
Carl Rogers's Life and Work: An Assessment on the 100th Anniversary of His Birth

This article summarizes the life and work of America's most influential counselor and psychotherapist, Carl Rogers. He developed the client-centered, person-centered approach; popularized the term client; pioneered the recording of counseling cases; conducted landmark research on counseling and psychotherapy; and was a leader in the humanistic psychology movement, and more. Later, he applied the person-centered approach to resolving intergroup and international conflict. Work on the client-centered approach continues, and current research validates many of Rogers's earlier contributions.
Smart chip, system and data center enabled by advanced flexible cooling resources

The management of energy as a key resource will be a requirement from an economic and sustainability standpoint for the future computing utility. In addition to billions of computing devices, the miniaturization of semiconductor technologies will push the current power density of the microprocessor core over 200 W/cm/sup 2/ resulting in the use of active heat removal techniques. In order to facilitate thermal management of such high power density sources, and to enable energy efficiency, measured application of active cooling resources will be required. State of the art application of heat removal technologies, applied based on maximum heat load and managed with a lack of knowledge of the overall system requirements, will not suffice. Balanced use of energy to actively remove heat from the source, together with management of heat dissipated from the source, will be necessary to reduce the total cost of ownership of information technology equipment and services. Indeed, based on the current trajectory in chip design, future chips will have the flexibility to scale power, albeit at some performance penalty. This variability in heat generation must be utilized to enable balanced chip performance based on the most efficient provisioning of cooling resources. To enable "right" provisioning of cooling resources, flexibility must be devised at all levels of the heat removal stack - chip, system and data center. The ability to change the temperature and coolant mass flow is the required high level abstraction in this heat removal stack. With these underlying flexibilities in heat generation and heat removal, one can overlay a low-cost sensing network and create a control system that can modulate the cooling resources and work "hand in hand" with a power scheduling mechanism to create an energy aware global computing utility.
Reconstruction of biochemical networks in microorganisms

Systems analysis of metabolic and growth functions in microbial organisms is rapidly developing and maturing. Such studies are enabled by reconstruction, at the genomic scale, of the biochemical reaction networks that underlie cellular processes. The network reconstruction process is organism specific and is based on an annotated genome sequence, high-throughput network-wide data sets and bibliomic data on the detailed properties of individual network components. Here we describe the process that is currently used to achieve comprehensive network reconstructions and discuss how these reconstructions are curated and validated. This Review should aid the growing number of researchers who are carrying out reconstructions for particular target organisms.
Novel Square Arrangements in Tetranuclear and Octanuclear Iron(III) Complexes with Asymmetric Iron Environments Created by the Unsymmetric Bridging Ligand N,N,N'-Tris((N-methyl)-2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-N'-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanol.

The synthesis and characterization of novel tetranuclear and octanuclear iron(III) complexes with structures based on a nearly square arrangement of four iron ions are reported. Reaction of ferric nitrate, sodium acetate, and the unsymmetrical binucleating ligand HBMDP, where HBMDP is N,N,N‘-tris((N-methyl)-2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-N‘-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanol, in acetone/water yields the tetranuclear iron complex [Fe4(μ-O)2(μ-BMDP)2(μ-OAc)2]4+, which exhibits coordination number asymmetry. The structure of [Fe4(μ-O)2(μ-BMDP)2(μ-OAc)2](NO3)3(OH)·12H2O has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each (μ-BMDP) ligand spans two iron(III) ions and causes these ions to become structurally distinct. Within this binuclear unit one iron atom is five-coordinate with distorted square pyramidal geometry and an N2O3 donor set, while the other iron is six-coordinate with distorted octahedral geometry and an N3O3 donor set. Two of these binuclear units are linked through a pair of oxo and acetato bridge...
Patient-Specific Pluripotent Stem Cells in Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity: A New Window Into Personalized Medicine.

Abstract In the past ten years, there has been a revolution in our ability to generate human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from adult somatic cells. hiPSCs can be differentiated into many cell types, including cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), providing cardiovascular scientists for the first time with a human heart muscle cell line. hiPSC-CMs have several potential uses: to study mechanisms of disease, as a platform for screening drugs for efficacy and toxicity, and as cell therapy for diseases such as cardiomyopathy. In this review, we discuss the potential of using hiPSC-CMs for drug toxicity testing, and in particular to screen genetic variants found to be predictive of which patients develop cardiotoxicity after receiving the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin.
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Primary Versus Metastatic Colorectal Carcinomas

Purpose To compare the mutational and copy number profiles of primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) using both unpaired and paired samples derived from primary and metastatic disease sites. Patients and Methods We performed a multiplatform genomic analysis of 736 fresh frozen CRC tumors from 613 patients. The cohort included 84 patients in whom tumor tissue from both primary and metastatic sites was available and 31 patients with pairs of metastases. Tumors were analyzed for mutations in the KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA, and TP53 genes, with discordant results between paired samples further investigated by analyzing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue and/or by 454 sequencing. Copy number aberrations in primary tumors and matched metastases were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Results TP53 mutations were more frequent in metastatic versus primary tumors (53.1% v 30.3%, respectively; P < .001), whereas BRAF mutations were significantly less frequent (1.9% v 7.7%, respect...
Coral larvae settle at a higher frequency on red surfaces

Although chemical cues serve as the primary determinants of larval settlement and metamorphosis, light is also known to influence the behavior and the settlement of coral planulae. For example, Porites astreoides planulae settle preferentially on unconditioned red substrata. In order to test whether this behavior was a response to color and whether other species also demonstrate color preference, settlement choice experiments were conducted with P. astreoides and Acropora palmata. In these experiments, larvae were offered various types of plastic substrata representing three to seven different color choices. Both species consistently settled on red (or red and orange) substrata at a higher frequency than other colors. In one experiment, P. astreoides settled on 100% of red, plastic cable ties but failed to settle on green or white substrata. In a second experiment, 24% of larvae settled on red buttons, more than settled on six other colors combined. A. palmata settled on 80% of red and of orange cables ties but failed to settle on blue in one experiment and settled on a greater proportion of red acrylic squares than on four other colors or limestone controls in a second experiment. The consistency of the response across a variety of plastic materials suggests the response is related to long-wavelength photosensitivity. Fluorescence and reflectance spectra of experimental substrata demonstrated that the preferred substrata had spectra dominated by wavelengths greater than 550 nm with little or no reflection or emission of shorter wavelengths. These results suggest that some species of coral larvae may use spectral cues for fine-scale habitat selection during settlement. This behavior may be an adaptation to promote settlement in crustose coralline algae (CCA)-dominated habitats facilitating juvenile survival.
MOPS: Providing Content-Based Service in Disruption-Tolerant Networks

Content-based service, which dynamically routes and delivers events from sources to interested users, is extremely important to network services. However, existing content-based protocols for static networks will incur unaffordable maintenance costs if they are applied directly to the highly mobile environment that is featured in disruption-tolerant networks (DTNs). In this paper, we propose a unique publish/subscribe scheme that utilizes the long-term social network properties, which are observed in many DTNs, to facilitate content-based services in DTNs. We distributively construct communities based on the neighboring relationships from nodes' encounter histories. Brokers are deployed to bridge the communities, and they adopt a locally prioritized pub/sub scheme which combines the structural importance with subscription interests, to decide what events they should collect, store, and propagate. Different trade-offs for content-based service can be achieved by tuning the closeness threshold in community formation or by adjusting the broker-to-broker communication scheme. Extensive real-trace and synthetic-trace driven simulation results are presented to support the effectiveness of our scheme.
Overexpression of 14-3-3γ causes polyploidization in H322 lung cancer cells

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of highly conserved proteins that participate in a wide variety of cellular processes. Mounting evidence suggests that 14-3-3 proteins have a role in human cancers, however their role in tumorigenesis is unclear. Here we report that over-expression of 14-3-3 γ protein in human lung cancer cell line H322 results in abnormal DNA replication and polyploidization. Cells that overexpress 14-3-3 γ are resistant to microtubule inhibitors and can reenter the cell cycle in the absence of mitosis suggesting that elevated levels of 14-3-3 γ may enable cells to bypass the mitotic checkpoint. Taken together, our data indicate that 14-3-3γ may contribute to tumorigenesis by promoting genomic instability. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Factorization of paraunitary polyphase matrices using subspace projections

Paraunitary filter banks (PUFBs) play an important role in multirate signal processing and image processing applications. In this paper a new factorization technique is presented based on the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) that decomposes PUFBs into a product of elementary building blocks. These building blocks are parameterized by a set of angles that can be varied independently via optimization techniques to design a particular filter bank satisfying some criterion. The utility of this new matrix decomposition is that fewer free parameters are required to represent a PUFB as compared to conventional lattice factorizations, such as the Givens rotation matrix decomposition. The more economical PUFB representation presented in this paper improves the numerical behavior of nonlinear optimization programs used for designing PUFBs and allows for the design of longer channel filters without incurring additional computational complexity. A simulated design example is presented whereby a causal Finite Impulse Response (FIR) PUFB is designed to approximate an ideal, infinite order PUFB.
Saxagliptin Preserves Cardiomyocyte Function and Morphology in Aortic-Banded Mini-Swine

Impaired cGMP-PKG signaling may contribute to cardiomyocyte remodeling and cardiac dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients. The purpose of this study was to assess cardiomyocyte function and morphology in aortic-banded mini-swine displaying a HFpEF phenotype following manipulation of cGMP signaling via two mechanisms: 1) driving cGMP synthesis with the DPP4 inhibitor saxagliptin; and 2) preventing cGMP catabolism via the PDE5 inhibitor tadalafil. We hypothesized that preserving cGMP-PKG signaling would prevent cardiomyocyte dysfunction and remodeling. Contractile function was measured in enzymatically isolated cardiomyocytes electrically stimulated at three frequencies (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 Hz)from four groups: control (CON), aortic-banded (AB), AB saxagliptin-treated (AB-SAX), and AB tadalafil-treated (AB-TAD). Increased cGMP activity was only observed in AB-TAD animals, however, neither drug treatment increased PKG activity. A significant pacing-induced decrease in diastolic sarcomere length was observed in the AB and AB-TAD groups compared to CON. This finding, indicative of impaired diastolic relaxation, was prevented by saxagliptin treatment. Shortening amplitude decreased in AB cardiomyocytes with increasing pacing frequency, revealing a negative shortening-frequency relationship that was attenuated by both drug treatments. Length:width ratio was decreased in AB and AB-TAD animals with commensurate decreases in left ventricular (LV) end diastolic and end systolic volumes. Normal cardiomyocyte size and LV volumes were preserved in the AB-SAX group. Interestingly, all AB groups exhibited similar gross hypertrophic remodeling (heart weight:body weight ratio) despite differences in cardiomyocyte morphology. In conclusion, saxagliptin appears superior for preserving normal cardiomyocyte morphology and overall function versus tadalafil, independent of changes in cGMP-PKG activity.
One-way coherent imaging through a distorting medium using four-wave mixing

A proposal and an analysis are presented for imaging through a distorting medium using field multiplication by four-wave mixing.
An EOF analysis of HF Doppler radar current measurements of the Chesapeake Bay buoyant outflow

Surface currents measured by HF Doppler radar as part of a study of the Chesapeake Bay outflow plume are examined using a ‘real-vector’ empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis (Kaihatu et al., 1998). Based on about 23 days of nearly continuous data, the analysis shows that the first three EOF modes, judged to be the only significant modes, account for 76% of the variance in the data set. The buoyant outflow occurs primarily in the mean flow field. The first EOF mode is dominated by wind forcing and the second mode by across-shelf semi-diurnal tidal forcing. The third mode exhibits a large-scale horizontal shear and contains a curved region of weak relative flow which appears to delineate the o⁄shore edge of the plume; also, the third-mode response varies over the spring-neap cycle, suggesting a modulation of the outflow plume by a tidal residual eddy. The analysis therefore has provided a useful, exploratory examination of this dataset of surface currents. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Toxicity of spinosad in protein bait to three economically important tephritid fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

The feeding toxicity of the natural insecticide spinosad in Provesta protein bait was evaluated for three economically important fruit fly species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett; and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel. Both females and males were evaluated. Spinosad was remarkably similar in toxicity to all three fruit fly species. Male C. capitata (24 h LC50 values and 95% fiducial limits = 2.8 [2.60–3.0] mg/liter spinosad) were significantly, although only slightly more susceptible to spinosad than females (4.2 [3.8–4.6] mg/liter). Male (5.5 [4.7–6.6] mg/liter) and female (4.3 [3.7–4.9] mg/liter) B. cucurbitae were equally susceptible to spinosad. Female (3.3 [3.1–3.6] mg/liter) and male (3.1 [2.9–3.3] mg/liter) B. dorsalis also were equally susceptible to spinosad. Provesta bait containing spinosad also was evaluated against two parasitoids of tephritid fruit flies, Fopius arisanus (Sonan) and Pysttalia fletcheri (Silvestri). These parasitoids did not feed on the bait, so a contact toxicity test was conducted. Significant amounts of mortality were found only after exposure of parasitoids to spinosad-coated glass vials with concentrations ≥500 mg/liter spinosad. Parasitoids were less susceptible than fruit flies to such a degree that use of spinosad in bait spray should be compatible with these parasitoid species. Because the fruit flies tested in this study were so susceptible to spinosad, this product seems to be promising as a bait spray additive and a replacement for malathion for control of these species.
Creative Nonfiction Is Everything: Postmodernism, Groundlessness, and the Dual Portrait

Everything is creative nonfiction. This postmodern concept refers to the decentralizing, fragmenting mood of what has taken place ontologically and epistemologically over at least the past 30 years or, as some argue, since the Enlightenment. More specifically, postmodernism might be understood as a systemic and ever-reaching breakdown in master narratives throughout Western thought. This idea is instructive in its relationship to the notion of practical spirituality. The term practical spirituality is postmodern in and of itself, trending away from master narratives of religion and religious practices. Groundlessness is commonly understood as giving up the pain that comes from attachment to people, places, things, and concepts: it is the openness that one experiences when he or she realizes that there is nothing to which one can hold. Therefore, groundlessness offers us a way into practical spirituality, a lens through which to view conflict (spiritual, interpersonal, social, global). Groundless underlines the postmodern; the postmodern has finally caught up with and given us the genre of creative nonfiction, which, one could argue, is everything.
Investigation of Thermal Properties in Thin Films With the Transient Thermo-Reflectance Technique

The reliability of micro-electronic devices depends on the thermal properties and energy transfer of the thin metallic films used in them. Within the thin film structures thermal transport properties often differ from bulk material and can be highly dependent on the manufacturing techniques. Thermal transport properties can be measured by the Transient ThermoReflectance technique (TTR). The TTR method uses an ultra-short laser pulse to generate a transient thermal response, and a weaker probe pulse to monitor the reflectivity response of the surface. The changes in reflectivity can be related to transient thermal effects in the film. With the use of an ultra short-pulsed laser, the extremely small time scale required to observe the microscale heat transfer phenomena is possible. The goal of this research is to observe and quantify the effect of differing substrates, film thicknesses, and deposition methods on thermal conductivity. This study uses the TTR technique to examine nickel films of varying thicknesses, fabricated on silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide substrates, using electron beam evaporation and sputtering techniques. The thermal conductivities of the films were measured and compared.© 2004 ASME
Effectiveness and Selectivity of Sex Pheromone Lures and Traps for Monitoring Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Adults in Connecticut Sweet Corn

Four commercially available sex pheromone lures and four trap designs were evaluated for effectiveness, utility, and target specificity in monitoring adults of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Traps baited with the Terochem lure (Raylo Chemicals) captured significantly more fall armyworm moths than those containing any of the other lures tested. Trap design did not significantly affect the magnitude of fall armyworm moth capture. Trap design, however, was more influential than the choice of pheromone lure in the capture of nontarget moths and stinging Hymenoptera. The Scentry Heliothis traps (Scentry, Inc.) captured significantly more nontarget moths and stinging Hymenoptera than any of the others tested. Servicing time and cost were also greatest for the Scentry traps. Results of this study indicate that either the Multi-pher Trap (Bio-Controle Services) or International Pheromones Moth Trap (International Pheromones Systems) (canister-type traps) baited with the Terochem lure provide a more effective, more durable, more easily serviced, more target specific, and less expensive fall armyworm monitoring trap than those formerly used.
Flat-Band Potentials of Molecularly Thin Metal Oxide Nanosheets

Exfoliated nanosheets derived from Dion–Jacobson phase layer perovskites (TBAxH1–xA2B3O10, A = Sr, Ca, B = Nb, Ta) were grown layer-by-layer on fluorine-doped tin oxide and gold electrode surfaces. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) of the five-layer nanosheet films in contact with aqueous electrolyte solutions were analyzed by the Mott–Schottky method to obtain flat-band potentials (VFB) of the oxide semiconductors as a function of pH. Despite capacitive contributions from the electrode–solution interface, reliable values could be obtained from capacitance measurements over a limited potential range near VFB. The measured values of VFB shifted −59 mV/pH over the pH range of 4–8 and were in close agreement with the empirical correlation between conduction band-edge potentials and optical band gaps proposed by Matsumoto (J. Solid State Chem. 1996, 126 (2), 227–234). Density functional theory calculations showed that A-site substitution influenced band energies by modulating the strength of A–O bonding...