cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethanol Modulates Glutamatergic Transmission and NMDAR-Mediated Synaptic Plasticity in the Agranular Insular Cortex.

The agranular insular cortex (AIC) has recently been investigated by the alcohol field because of its connectivity to and modulatory control over limbic and brainstem regions implicated in alcohol use disorder (AUD), and because it has shown involvement in animal models of alcohol drinking. Despite evidence of AIC involvement in AUD, there has not yet been an examination of whether ethanol modulates glutamatergic and γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA)ergic synaptic transmission and plasticity in the AIC. Characterizing how the synaptic transmission and plasticity states of AIC cortical processing neurons are modulated by acute ethanol will likely reveal the molecular targets by which chronic ethanol alters AIC function as alcohol drinking transitions from controlled to problematic. Therefore, we collected brain slices from ethanol-naive adult male mice, obtained whole-cell recording configuration in layer 2/3 AIC pyramidal neurons, and bath-applied ethanol at pharmacologically relevant concentrations during electrophysiological assays of glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission and plasticity. We found that ethanol inhibited electrically evoked N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated excitatory post-synaptic currents (EPSCs) in a concentration-related fashion, and had little effect on evoked α-amino-3-hydrox-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid-type receptor (AMPAR)-mediated EPSCs. Ethanol had no effect on spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (sEPSCs) or inhibitory GABAAR-mediated post-synaptic currents (sIPSCs). We found that synaptic conditioning (low-frequency stimulation for 15 min at 1 Hz) induced a form of long-term depression (LTD) of evoked AMPAR-mediated EPSCs. The ability to induce LTD was inhibited by a non-selective NMDAR antagonist (DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid), and also by acute, intoxicating concentrations of ethanol. Taken together these data suggest that the glutamate, but not GABA system in the AIC is uniquely sensitive to ethanol, and that in particular NMDAR-mediated processes in the AIC may be disrupted by pharmacologically relevant concentrations of ethanol.
Strip Intercropping of Rye–Vetch Mixtures: Effects on Weed Growth and Competition in Strip-tilled Sweet Corn

Strip-intercropping of functionally diverse cover crop mixtures including cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is one mechanism by which nitrogen (N) banding can be applied to an organic, strip-tilled system to increase crop competitiveness over weeds. We hypothesized that by targeting hairy vetch, a low C:N legume, to the tilled strip directly in row with future crop establishment, and cereal rye, a high C:N grass, to the untilled strip directly between future crop rows, that N would be preferentially available to the crop. We conducted a field study between 2011 to 2013 in southwest Michigan to examine the effects of rye–vetch mixture spatial arrangement (strip intercropping vs. full-width mixture) on (1) soil inorganic N; (2) weed biomass; and (3) sweet corn (Zea mays L.) biomass, yield, and competitiveness against weeds. We found that as the proportion of vetch biomass in the crop row (in-row, IR) increased, we also saw increasing levels of IR soil inorganic N and greater early sweet corn N uptake and growth relative to weeds. However, sweet corn yield and final biomass were more responsive to vetch biomass across the whole plot (WP) and did not respond to rye and vetch segregation into strips. Increasing vetch WP biomass increased sweet corn final biomass across both years, but only increased corn competitiveness against weeds in 1 out of 2 years and decreased sweet corn competitiveness in the other year. Strip-intercropping of cereal rye and hairy vetch has potential to increase soil N availability to the crop, thereby increasing early crop competitiveness, which may lower weed management costs.
Rethinking Autonomy

This paper explores the assumption of autonomy. Several arguments are presented against the assumption of runtime autonomy as a principle of design for artificial intelligence systems. The arguments vary from being theoretical, to practical, and to analytic. The latter parts of the paper focus on one strategy for building non-autonomous systems (the practice view). One critical theme is that intelligence is not located in the system alone, it emerges from a history of interactions among user, builder, and designer over a given set of data as mediated by the system. A second critical theme is that artificially intelligent systems are ongoing projects that must be continuously adapted and revised using joint person-machine efforts.
Gender and thrombolysis therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients with incidence of obesity.

To investigate clinical risk factors that were associated with gender differences in thrombolysis therapy in stroke patients with incidence of obesity. Retrospective data of obese acute ischemic stroke patients were extracted from a stroke registry between January 2010 and June 2016. Gender differences in exclusion from rtPA or thrombolysis therapy were determined following an adjustment for differences in demographics, clinical risk factors using multiple regression analysis. Significant interactions between variables in the regression models were determined using variance inflation factors. A total of 1105 obese stroke patients were admitted, 549 were excluded from rtPA of which 51.7% were males and 48.3% were females. Among obese male stroke patients, age > 80 years (OR = 1.029, 95% CI, 1.005–1.054, P = 0.016), a history of peripheral vascular disease (OR = 3.008, 95% CI, 0.989–9.153, P = 0.052), and an elevated diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.018, 95% CI, 1.001–1.035, P = 0.038) were associated with exclusion from rtPA therapy. In obese female stroke patients, coronary artery disease was associated with exclusion from rtPA (OR = 2.478, 95% CI, 1.270–4.836, P = 0.008) while antihypertensive therapy was associated with inclusion for rtPA (OR = 0.326, 95% CI, 0.139–0.764). Elderly obese male stroke patients with elevated diastolic blood pressure, history of peripheral vascular disease, and obese female stroke patients with a history of coronary artery disease were more likely to be excluded from rtPA.
Pooled Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Video Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Implantable Cardiac Devices.

Background. To date, video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is still contraindicated by the FDA and the main manufacturers of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIED) in patients with CIED, given a theoretical electromagnetic interference and possible device malfunction. Objectives. The objective of this study was to assess the safety profile and efficacy of VCE in patients with implantable cardiac devices through analyzing the risk of mutual interference. Methods. A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted. Peer-reviewed original articles, published in the English language and containing “capsule endoscopy” AND “pacemaker”, “defibrillator” OR “left ventricular assist device” as keywords, were selected. Studies performed in vitro, isolated case reports, and abstracts/posters were excluded. Results. A total of 735 VCE procedures were performed in patients with cardiac devices in various clinical settings. Cardiac events were not seen in any case. Interference on capsule images transmission was noted in 5 cases (left ventricular assist device (LVAD)) where few images were lost when the capsule was closest to the device. Finally, interference between capsule and telemetry leads was noted in 6 cases (4 Permanent Pacemakers (PPM), 2 Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)) leading to image artifacts. Discussion. Adverse cardiac events were not seen in any study. Loss of images occurred when the VCE was in proximity to the device (only with LVAD) or after telemetry leads installation without affecting the completion rate and diagnostic yield of VCE. Conclusion. VCE is safe and remains efficient in patients with cardiac devices. If cardiac monitoring is required, wired systems are preferable.
Syncope in a Rural Emergency Department Setting

Syncope is a common event in older adults and accounts for a significant proportion of chief concerns of older adults presenting to the emergency department. When treating an older adult, the diagnostic process should include consideration of the differing relative frequency of causes of syncope in older adults compared to the general population, and the physician should take care to consider causes of syncope more rarely observed in younger adults. It remains critical, however, that the physician should not rule out common causes of syncope more frequently observed in younger adults simply due to patient age. In addition to diagnosing and treating the patient for a presenting episode of syncope, care should be taken with the older adult patient to assess risk of future syncopal episodes and functional status, all while assessing the safety and sustainability of the patient’s home structure and environment. In doing so, presentation to the emergency department can present an opportunity to connect the patient with outpatient medical and social services best suited to his/her needs. The case that follows illustrates an approach to workup, treatment, and patient-centered navigation of care resources specific to an older adult presenting to the emergency department with a chief concern of syncope.
Invasive Ductular Reaction: Form and Function.

This commentary highlights the article by Clerbaux et al that describes the critical role of invasive ductular reaction in hepatocellular injury.
Individuals with Parkinson's Disease Retain Spatiotemporal Gait Control With Music and Metronome Cues

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is marked by a loss of motor automaticity, resulting in decreased control of step length during gait. Rhythmic auditory cues (metronomes or music) may enhance automaticity by adjusting cadence. Both metronomes and music may offer distinct advantages, but prior attempts at quantifying their influence on spatiotemporal aspects of gait have been confounded by altered gait speeds from overground walking. We hypothesized that when gait speed is fixed, individuals with PD would experience difficulty in modifying cadence due to the concomitant requirement to alter step length, with greater changes noted with metronomes compared to music cues. Research Question Can a metronome or music promote spatiotemporal adjustments when decoupled from changes in gait speed in individuals with PD? Methods 21 participants with PD were instructed to time their steps to a metronome and music cues (at 85%, 100%, and 115% of overground cadence) during treadmill walking. We calculated cadence, cadence accuracy, and step length during each cue condition and an uncued control condition. We compared the various cue frequencies and auditory modalities. Results At fixed gait speeds, participants were able to increase and decrease cadence in response to auditory cues. Music and metronome cues produced comparable results in cadence manipulation with greater cadence errors noted at slower intended frequencies. Nevertheless, the induced cadence changes created a concomitant alteration in step length, with music and metronomes producing comparable changes. Notably, longer step lengths were induced with both music and metronome during slow frequency cueing. Significance This important change conflicts with conventional prescriptive approaches, which advocate for faster cue frequencies, if applied on a treadmill. The music and metronome cues produced comparable changes to gait, suggesting that either cue may be effective at overcoming the shortened step lengths during treadmill walking if slower frequencies are used.
Neuropathic Pain (NP)

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common form of human pain, often poorly responsive to analgesic medications. This chapter discusses the pathophysiology and conventional treatment of common categories of neuropathic pain and reviews the literature on botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) efficacy in neuropathic pain. The level of efficacy for BoNT treatment in each category is defined according to the published guidelines of the American Academy of Neurology. The data on type A toxin (mostly onabotulinumtoxinA, onaA) indicates efficacy in postherpetic neuralgia and probable efficacy in post-traumatic neuralgia, and painful diabetic neuropathy. Retrospective studies and anecdotal observations suggest efficacy in residual limb pain of amputees, complex regional pain syndrome, and chemotherapy-induced allodynia. Controlled studies are necessary to assess the efficacy of BoNTs in these conditions. Much remains to be learned about the most effective dosage and technique of injection, optimum dilutions, and differences among BoNTs in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Pathology of Vaping-Associated Lung Injury

Pathology of Vaping-Associated Lung Injury This letter describes findings in 17 patients with a history of vaping who had lung biopsies after presenting with symptoms and bilateral pulmonary opacit...
Staging for Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Utility of Incorporating Biologic Factors

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) breast cancer pathological prognostic stage, which incorporates biologic factors, was developed using data from patients undergoing upfront surgery, and its application in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is unknown. We previously developed the Neo-Bioscore, incorporating clinical and pathological TNM categories with biologic factors, to improve the prognostic stratification of NAC patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the use of available staging models incorporating biologic factors in NAC patients. Patients treated with NAC between 2005 and 2012 at MD Anderson (n = 2363) were staged using the Neo-Bioscore and the AJCC 8th edition: (1) clinical anatomic stage; (2) pathological anatomic stage; (3) clinical prognostic stage; and (4) pathological prognostic stage. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) rates, along with Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), were estimated. A National Cancer Database (NCDB) cohort (n = 12,887) treated with NAC between 2010 and 2013 was used for validation. In the MD Anderson cohort, staging systems incorporating biologic factors better predicted DSS (bias-corrected C-index: pathological prognostic stage = 0.8026; Neo-Bioscore = 0.7483) and OS (bias-corrected C-index: pathological prognostic stage = 0.7780; Neo-Bioscore = 0.7260) than those using anatomic factors only. Similar results were seen in the NCDB cohort. In pairwise comparisons, the pathological prognostic stage was significantly better (p < 0.0001) than other staging systems in all comparisons except for OS in the NCDB cohort, where it was not significantly different than the Neo-Bioscore (p = 0.2). Biologic factors are important for determining prognosis in patients receiving NAC. These data indicate that the 8th edition AJCC pathological prognostic stage is applicable in these patients.
ECU Fingerprinting through Parametric Signal Modeling and Artificial Neural Networks for In-vehicle Security against Spoofing Attacks

Fully connected autonomous vehicles are more vulnerable than ever to hacking and data theft. The controller area network (CAN) protocol is used for communication between in-vehicle control networks (IVN). The absence of basic security features of this protocol, like message authentication, makes it quite vulnerable to a wide range of attacks including spoofing attacks. As traditional cybersecurity methods impose limitations in ensuring confidentiality and integrity of transmitted messages via CAN, a new technique has emerged among others to approve its reliability in fully authenticating the CAN messages. At the physical layer of the communication system, the method of fingerprinting the messages is implemented to link the received signal to the transmitting electronic control unit (ECU). This paper introduces a new method to implement the security of modern electric vehicles. The lumped element model is used to characterize the channel-specific step response. ECU and channel imperfections lead to a unique transfer function for each transmitter. Due to the unique transfer function, the step response for each transmitter is unique. In this paper, we use control system parameters as a feature-set, afterward, a neural network is used transmitting node identification for message authentication. A dataset collected from a CAN network with eight-channel lengths and eight ECUs to evaluate the performance of the suggested method. Detection results show that the proposed method achieves an accuracy of 97.4% of transmitter detection.
Addiction vs. dependence: A mixed methods analysis of young adult JUUL users.

Abstract Objective JUUL-brand electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain higher levels of nicotine than other e-cigarettes. The current study examined the relationship between young adults’ self-reported addiction and measured JUUL dependence. Methods This study used a sequential, explanatory mixed methods design. Data were collected from a large, southwestern college in the US. College students who were weekly JUUL users and owned a JUUL device (n = 595) completed a cross-sectional online survey, then a subsample (n = 51) participated in in-person interviews. All data were collected between March-April 2019. T-tests were used to examine differences between JUUL dependence and self-reported addiction, and logistic regressions were employed to examine factors that may influence self-reported addiction to JUUL, nicotine, and other e-cigarettes. Interviews were independently coded by 2 coders (kappa ranged from 0.46 to 0.99) then analyzed for corresponding themes. Results Participants who had a higher JUUL dependence were more likely to report addiction to several substances/products, including nicotine, JUULs, cigarettes, other e-cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. Interview participants minimized JUUL addiction by comparing JUUL to other socially acceptable addictions and describing JUUL addiction as a habit. Interview participants suggested addiction to nicotine was more stigmatizing than JUUL. The number of days participants used JUUL per week, use of traditional tobacco products, and measured JUUL dependence were each associated with self-reported JUUL addiction. Conclusions Social construction of self-reported addictions may be changing young audiences’ views of addiction to JUUL. Research is needed to see if using the phrase ‘nicotine dependence’ rather than ‘JUUL addiction’ influences young adults’ JUUL use.
Lower urinary tract symptoms in older Chinese American women: prevalence and risk factors.

The aim was to examine the prevalence of and risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a community-dwelling cohort of older Chinese American women. We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective cross-sectional population-based survey of community-dwelling Chinese Americans aged 60 and older in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Taishanese, or Teochew between 2011 and 2013. A clinical Review of Systems (ROS) was used to assess LUTS, which included urinary frequency, urgency, burning or pain, blood in urine, and urinary incontinence. Of the 1,829 women queried, 28.6% reported LUTS. The cohort of women who reported LUTS had a mean ± SD age of 74.7 ± 8.7 years, with a BMI of 23.4 ± 3.7 kg/m2 and had lived in the USA for 21.5 ± 13.1 years. Nearly 90% earned less than $10,000 a year, 50% were married, and 50% used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) once monthly or more. In comparison with women without LUTS, women with LUTS had significantly higher rates of medical comorbidities and a poorer perception of their general health and quality of life. In multivariate regression analysis, any LUTS were significantly associated with older age (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.04), TCM use (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.34–2.07), anxiety (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.02–2.06), depression (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.53–2.61), and a history of stroke (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.19–3.02). Lower urinary tract symptoms are common among older Chinese American women, particularly in those who are older, use TCM regularly, or report a history of anxiety, depression, or stroke.
Room temperature rectification in tapered-channel thermal diodes through nanoscale confinement-induced liquid–solid phase change

Designing thermal diodes is attracting a considerable amount of interest recently due to the wide range of applications and potentially high impact in the transportation and energy industries. Advances in nanoscale synthesis and characterization are opening new avenues for design using atomic-level tools to take advantage of materials properties in confined volumes. In this paper, we demonstrate using advanced modeling and simulation the rectification properties of tapered-channel thermal diodes relying on asymmetric heat flow brought about by thermal conductivity differences between the liquid and solid phases of suitably selected phase-change materials (PCM). Our prototypical design considers Ga as PCM and anodized alumina as the structural material. First, we use a thresholding scheme to solve a Stefan problem in the device channel to study the interface shape and the hysteresis of the phase transformation when the temperature gradient is switched. We then carry out finite-element simulations to study the effect of several geometric parameters on diode efficiency, such as channel length as aspect ratio. Our analysis establishes physical limits on rectification efficiencies and point to design improvements using several materials to assess the potential of these devices as viable thermal diodes. Finally, we demonstrate the viability of proof-of-concept device fabrication by using a non-conformal atomic layer deposition process in anodic alumina membranes infiltrated with Ga metal.
The Myth of Second Chances: Noncitizen Youth and Confidentiality of Delinquency Records

Juvenile justice systems in the United States are designed to rehabilitate youth, giving them a second chance at living a productive adult life. Yet many noncitizen youths are not afforded this opportunity. A key aspect of rehabilitation is keeping delinquency records confidential so that the information is not used in a manner that would impede rehabilitation. Delinquency records are distinct from adult criminal records in that the purpose and means of their creation is geared toward rehabilitating youth. Because of this, the nature of delinquency records are more sensitive and expansive, as well as far less reliable. Nonetheless, delinquency records are routinely used by immigration officials in decision-making with devastating results to noncitizen youth. This Article is the first comprehensive examination of immigration agencies’ use of juvenile records in decisions concerning detention, deportation, and immigration benefits adjudications. It analyzes the use of these records by immigration officials within the framework of objectives of the juvenile justice system and the current era of juvenile justice reform focused on child development. This Article demonstrates that to align with current juvenile justice jurisprudence, as well as insuring uniformity in the implementation of immigration laws, immigration agencies must adopt policies that reject the use of juvenile records.
Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Utilization in Children's Hospitals

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are used to manage bleeding in critically ill children. We performed a repeat cross-sectional study using the Pediatric Health Information System registry to describe PCC utilization in the U.S. children's hospitals over time and determine the relationship between PCC use and specific risk factors for bleeding. We included children
Incidence, Mechanism, and Outcomes of On-Plane Versus Off-Plane Cardiac Arrest in Air Travelers.

Background Air travel affords an opportunity to evaluate resuscitation performance and outcome in a setting where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available. Methods and Results...
Field and laboratory characterization of rotenone attenuation in eight lakes of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

Abstract Rotenone is a pesticide commonly used to eradicate Northern Pike (Esox lucius), an invasive species, in Southcentral Alaska. The present work incorporates a field investigation of rotenone attenuation in eight lakes of the Kenai Peninsula, following a CFT Legumine® treatment in October 2018 and a laboratory simulation to determine persistence under light/dark and sterile/nonsterile conditions representative of Southcentral Alaskan winters. In the field, rotenone degraded within
Cisplatin, environmental metals, and cardiovascular disease: an urgent need to understand underlying mechanisms

Significantly increased risks of cardiovascular disease occur in testicular cancer survivors given cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The postulated mechanism of platinum-based chemotherapy’s vascular toxicity has been thought secondary to its different early- and late- effects on vascular injury, endothelial dysfunction, and induction of a hypercoagulable state. We highlight for the first time the similarities between platinum-associated vascular adverse events and the vascular toxicity associated with other xenobiotic-metal contaminants. The vascular toxicity seen in large epidemiologic studies of testicular cancer survivors may in part be similar and mechanistically linked to the risk seen in environmental heavy metal contaminants linked to cardiovascular disease. Future research should be directed to better understand the magnitude of the adverse cardiovascular effects of platinum and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.
Case 58: My Wife Is Dead, Doctor

You, an anesthesiologist, have taken a job for 6 months in a small mission hospital in northern Nepal. The hospital is in a small village and is situated at 12,000 feet above sea level. It is a winter’s evening and you are in your room. There is a knock on the door and in bursts one of your operating room nurses. He tells you that he has found his wife dead. You follow him to his nearby house which is about 500 meters from the hospital. Outside, the temperature is −26 °C (−15 °F). He tells you that he has just come back from 3 days visiting his family in a nearby village.
Liberalism and Local Government in Early Victorian London

A fresh interpretation of London's early Victorian political culture, devoting particular attention to the relationship which existed between Whigs and vestry-based radicals. In the second quarter of the nineteenth century the British capital witnessed a growing polarisation between metropolitan Whig politicians and the increasingly vocal political force of London radicalism - a tension exacerbated by urban, and in many respects specifically metropolitan, issues. Though Whiggery was a political creed based on tenets such as the defence of parliament and free trade, it has been traditionally thought out of place and out of favour in large urban settings, in part because of its association with aristocracy. By contrast, this book shows it to have been an especially potent force in the early Victorian capital where continual conflict between Whigs and radicals gave the metropolitan constituencies a singularly contested and particularly vibrant liberal political culture. From the mid-1830s, vestry-based metropolitan radicals active in local governing structures began to espouse an anti-Whig programme, aimed in part at undermining their electoral strength in the metropolitan constituencies, which emphasised the preservation and extension of "local self-government". This new cause displaced the older radical rhetorics of constitutional "purification" and "re-balance", and in so doing drove metropolitan radicalism away from its earlier associations and towards a retrenchment-obsessed and anti-aristocratic liberalism. Benjamin Weinstein is assistant professor of history at Central Michigan University.
Phenotypic responses to social defeat are associated with differences in cued and contextual fear discrimination.

Abstract Conflict among individuals is one of the most common forms of stressors experienced across a variety of species, including humans. Social defeat models in mice produce two phenotypic behavioral responses characterized by prolonged social avoidance (susceptibility) or continued social interaction (resistance). The resistant phenotype has been proposed as a model of resilience to chronic stress-induced depression in humans. Previously, we have found that mice that are resistant to social defeat stress display significant impairments in extinction learning and retention, suggesting that continued social interaction following the experience of social defeat may be associated with maladaptive fear responses. Here, we examined how individual differences in response to social defeat may be related to differences in cued and context fear discrimination. Following defeat, resistant mice showed increased fear to a neutral cued stimulus (CS−) compared to control and susceptible mice, but were still able to significantly discriminate between the CS+ and CS−. Likewise, both phenotypes were generally able to discriminate between the training context and neutral context at all retention intervals tested (1, 5, 14 days). However, susceptible mice displayed significantly better discrimination compared to resistant and non-defeated control mice when assessing the discrimination ratio. Thus, at a time when most animals begin exhibiting generalization to contextual cues, susceptible mice retain the ability to discriminate between fearful and neutral contexts. These data suggest that the differences observed in context and cued discrimination between susceptible and resistant mice may be related to differences in their coping strategies in response to social defeat. In particular, resistance or resilience to social defeat as traditionally characterized may be associated with altered inhibitory learning. Understanding why individual differences arise in response to stress, including social confrontation is important in understanding the development and treatment of stress related pathologies such as PTSD.
σ-π Rearrangements and Their Role In Catalysis

Publisher Summary In the relatively short time since the establishment of the π-bonded “sandwich” structure of Hein's polyaromatic chromium compounds (1) the discovery of a large number of similar compounds has been reported. An equally significant outgrowth of this pioneering work, however, has been the establishment of a new and important class of organometallic reactions, the σ–π rearrangement. With the recent resurgence of interest in catalysis by metals and metal-organic compounds, one sees the σ–π rearrangement constantly invoked in the literature to explain the action of these compounds—whether the process under study is industrial or biological. This chapter presents a survey of the involvement of the σ–π rearrangement reaction in catalysis. The chapter also present a representative sample of catalytic processes with the σ–π rearrangement as a unifying thread.
Controlling carbon nanotube mechanics with optical microcavities

We demonstrate optomechanically induced amplification of carbon nanotube (CNT) mechanical modes using optical microcavities. We also show direct imaging of the spatial profile of CNT mechanical modes using optical readout.
Infrared fiber optic delivery systems for medical lasers

Newly developed hollow glass waveguides with losses as low as 0.1 dB/m are successfully being used to deliver up to 80 W of CO/sub 2/ and 7 W of Er:YAG laser power for a variety of surgical applications.
Review of Continuous Time Models

In this book we will consider methods for numerically computing the value function for certain classes of controlled continuous time stochastic and deterministic processes. The purpose of the present chapter is to provide an introduction to and some of the background material for controlled diffusions and controlled jump diffusions. These types of processes include many of the models that are commonly used. This section is only intended to serve as a review of the main ideas and for purposes of reference. Other models (e.g., singularly controlled diffusions) that are also of interest will be introduced and elaborated on in the appropriate later sections of the book.
Chaos in Communications

This paper examines the roles in which chaos have been used in various approaches in communications. In the first approach, instead of modulating a periodic sinusoidal carrier as in conventional communications, various forms of modulation using an aperiodic chaotic waveform have been proposed. They include chaotic masking, dynamical feedback, chaotic switching, and different versions of chaos shift keying. Since these continuous-time chaotic digital communication systems are modeled as stochastic nonlinear dynamical systems, the error probabilities of many of these systems do not have analytically tractable forms, but must be numerically evaluated using Ito/Stratonovich stochastic integrations. In the second approach, symbolic dynamics viewed as a “coarse-grained” description of a chaotic dynamical system is exploited for modulating/coding of digital data. In the third approach, chaotic dynamics are viewed as analog channel encoders. In the fourth approach, communications using chaotic pulse-position-modulation are discussed. In the fifth approach, CDMA communication systems using spread sequences generated from chaotic dynamics are considered. Finally, in the sixth approach, the roles of chaos in laser communication and modeling of RF propagation effects for clutter and fading channel are discussed. Some comments are also provided on the practicality of various chaos-based communication schemes. Keywords: chaos; chaotic communication; nonlinear dynamical system; stochastic integration; BER; symbolic dynamics; Lorenz system; self-synchronization; chaotic masking modulation; chaotic switching modulation; chaos shift keyed modulation; DCSK; FM-DCSK; CDMA; chaotic spreading sequence; ergodic theory; chaotic pulse position modulation; gold codes; fractal; multifractal; fractional Brownian-motion process; radar clutter; fading channel
Dynamic architecture extraction

Object models capture key properties of object-oriented architectures, and they can highlight relationships between types, occurrences of sharing, and object encapsulation. We present a dynamic analysis to extract object models from legacy code bases. Our analysis reconstructs each intermediate heap from a log of object allocations and field writes, applies a sequence of abstraction-based operations to each heap, and combines the results into a single object model that conservatively approximates all observed heaps from the program's execution. The resulting object models reflect many interesting and useful architectural properties.
COAGGREGATION OF PREVOTELLA-INTERMEDIA WITH ORAL ACTINOMYCES SPECIES

Five strains of Prevotella intermedia were examined for their ability to coaggregate with various gram-positive and gram-negative species of oral bacteria. Two of the P. intermedia strains coaggregated with selected Actinomyces species, P. intermedia 27 with Actinomyces viscosus T14V and Actinomyces naeslundii ATCC 12104, PK606, PK984, and PK947, and P. intermedia 113 with Actinomyces odontolyticus WVU 1546 and Actinomyces israelii WVU 838. Exposure of both Prevotella strains but not the Actinomyces strains to heat, trypsin, or proteinase K abolished most coaggregations. All pairs were disaggregated by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate, but only those coaggregations involving P. intermedia 113 were reversed by the addition of 2.0 M urea. P. intermedia 27 was sensitive to periodate oxidation, whereas the partner strains were stable to this treatment. Most coaggregations occurred in the presence of saliva; however, reactions involving P. intermedia 27 were not as strong as those of buffer-suspended cells. Treatment of both P. intermedia 113 coaggregations pairs with proteinase K and the results obtained from suspensions of these pairs in saliva suggest that different surface molecules of this P. intermedia strain may mediate each of these coaggregations. These data suggest that all of these coaggregations involve either a protein or glycoprotein on the Prevotella strain, which may interact with carbohydrates or carbohydrate-containing molecules on the surface of the Actinomyces strain.
Harmonizing Climate Change Policy and International Investment Law: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities

This chapter responds to a chorus of commentary about the potential for conflict between the international investment law regime and an array of national and international actions being undertaken to mitigate and adapt to global climate change. Contrary to conventional wisdom, while some climate-friendly regulations may indeed be facially incompatible with the obligations imposed on states by typical international investment agreements (IIAs), many climate policies – especially those related to clean energy finance and technology transfer – involve principles common to foreign investment law and are largely compatible with that regime. Moreover, pending the unlikely negotiation of a single global agreement on climate change, states are initiating a host of national, bilateral and regional initiatives to encourage certain kinds of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in the hope of catalyzing low-carbon growth. These sorts of strategies will benefit from a flexible and responsive set of rules governing climate-friendly FDI, something the international investment law regime is uniquely positioned to provide. Meanwhile, international investment law is itself undergoing a transformation of sorts, as more serious consideration is given to the environmental and social impacts of foreign investment and as global capital flows become increasingly multidirectional, calling into question longstanding distinctions between FDI host countries and the home countries of investors. Rather than signaling conflict, recent trends in climate change policy and international investment law indicate that both regimes may be entering a new phase characterized by coordination, harmonization, and mutual learning. This chapter maps this emerging territory and identifies key opportunities to shape the interaction between the two disciplines.
A measurement-based model for estimation of resource exhaustion in operational software systems

Software systems are known to suffer from outages due to transient errors. Recently, the phenomenon of "software aging", in which the state of the software system degrades with time, has been reported (S. Garg et al., 1998). The primary causes of this degradation are the exhaustion of operating system resources, data corruption and numerical error accumulation. This may eventually lead to performance degradation of the software or crash/hang failure, or both. Earlier work in this area to detect aging and to estimate its effect on system resources did not take into account the system workload. In this paper, we propose a measurement-based model to estimate the rate of exhaustion of operating system resources both as a function of time and the system workload state. A semi-Markov reward model is constructed based on workload and resource usage data collected from the UNIX operating system. We first identify different workload states using statistical cluster analysis and build a state-space model. Corresponding to each resource, a reward function is then defined for the model based on the rate of resource exhaustion in the different states. The model is then solved to obtain trends and the estimated exhaustion rates and the time-to-exhaustion for the resources. With the help of this measure, proactive fault management techniques such as "software rejuvenation" (Y. Huang et al., 1995) may be employed to prevent unexpected outages.
An unusual case of coccidioidomycosis.

Abstract Dissemination of coccidioidomycosis is rare. The skin, musculoskeletal system, and central nervous system have been described as the most common sites of extrapulmonary disease. We present a case of an asymptomatic patient in whom the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis was made on a lymph node biopsy. The biopsy was performed because of an abnormal mammogram and physical findings suggestive of malignancy.
Discriminability and the sigmoid functional response: how optimal foragers could stabilize model-mimic complexes.

Cryptic and mimetic prey species have evolved characteristics that contravene the ability of predators to detect them and discriminate their value before initiating attack. Traditional optimal diet theory has not considered model-mimic complexes. Analyses of predation on mimicry systems have not been prescriptive of optimal behavior, have assumed perfect mimicry, and/or have not considered the presence of alternative prey. In this analysis, features of optimal signal detection theory are incorporated into traditional optimal diet theory to synthesize a more general theoretical framework that allows us to make predictions on the basis of constrained predator perceptual abilities. Predictions include frequency-dependent partial preferences for prey types defined by profitability, but not for types defined by appearance. Frequency-dependent partial preferences can create or enhance sigmoid functional responses, which can, in turn, stabilize randomly mixed model-mimic complexes.
Gas-Phase Reactions of Americium Ion, Am+, with Alkenes

The investigation of gas-phase activation of alkene C−H bonds by f-element metal ions has been extended to americium (Am+) using the technique of laser ablation with prompt reaction and detection; reactions were carried out with ethene, 1-butene, 2-butene, cyclohexene, benzene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD), and cyclooctatetraene (COT). The product {Am−L*}+ compositions and abundances were compared with those for lighter An+ and Ln+. For the linear and cyclic C6 alkene reactants, Am+ was found to be essentially inertonly a minuscule amount of the {Am+−benzene} condensation product was detected. Reactions with COD and COT produced the dehydrogenation complexes, {Am−C8H8}+ and {Am−C8H6}+, though in lower yields than for lighter An+. Overall, the C−H activation efficacy of Am+ was smaller than that for the preceding An+ but was closer to that of the relatively unreactive lanthanide ion Tm+. This result is interpreted to indicate that the 5f electrons of Am+, like the 4f electrons of the Ln+, do not substantially ...
Acidic properties of binary oxide catalysts. I: Mössbauer spectroscopy and pyridine adsorption for iron supported on silica

Abstract The acidic properties of 0.5 and 1.0 wt% iron supported on silica were probed by adsorption of pyridine, as studied by gravimetric measurements and infrared spectroscopy. The state of iron on silica was monitored by Mossbauer spectroscopy. This latter technique showed evidence for three types of Fe cations on the surface of silica, i.e., trivalent iron and two states of divalent iron having low and high coordination, respectively. Addition of iron to the silica generated Lewis acid sites on the surface, while little or no acidity existed on the silica surface alone. These new acid sites were shown to be iron cations in sites of low coordination. Infrared spectroscopy and gravimetric measurements of adsorbed pyridine indicated that the trivalent iron cations were stronger Lewis acids than divalent iron cations. The strength differences of the different oxidation states is explained on the basis of electronegativity differences.
Semiconductor–metal transitions in low-Z and alkali fluids

Experiments are described which observed semiconductor-metal Mott transitions in fluid H, N, O, Rb, and Cs at ∼ 2000 K. The pressures required to observe this transition in low-Z and in alkali fluids differ by a factor of 10 4 . This difference in pressure is caused by differences in radial extents of charge density distributions of the respective atoms. Dynamic pressures and temperatures can now be tuned to probe states not accessible previously to scientific investigation.
A lightweight streaming layer for multicore execution

As multicore architectures gain widespread use, it becomes increasingly important to be able to harness their additional processing power to achieve higher performance. However, exploiting parallel cores to improve single-program performance is difficult from a programmer's perspective because most existing programming languages dictate a sequential method of execution.Stream programming, which organizes programs by independent filters communicating over explicit data channels, exposes useful types of parallelism that can be exploited. However, there is still the burden of mapping high-level stream programs to specific multicore architectures. The complexities of each architecture's underlying details makes it difficult to schedule the execution of a stream program with high performance.In this paper, we present the specifications for an intermediate layer between the stream program and the target architecture. This multicore streaming layer (MSL) provides a common level of abstraction that facilitates efficient execution of stream programs by making it easier for compilers to manage computation, and by providing automatic orchestration and optimization of communication when appropriate. We implemented a framework for one such instance of the MSL targeted to the Cell processor and the StreamIt language and achieved greater than 88% utilization on all benchmarks with relatively small amounts of code. The framework can also be applied to other architectures and stream programming languages to enhance generality and portability.
Effects of Gender-Related Domain Violations and Sexual Orientation on Perceptions of Male and Female Targets: An Analogue Study

The current study examined factors that influenced heterosexual male and female raters' evaluations of male and female targets who were gay or heterosexual, and who displayed varying gender roles (i.e., typical vs. atypical) in multiple domains (i.e., activities, traits, and appearance). Participants were 305 undergraduate students from a private, midwestern Jesuit institution who read vignettes describing one of 24 target types and then rated the target on possession of positive and negative characteristics, psychological adjustment, and on measures reflecting the participants' anticipated behavior toward or comfort with the target. Results showed that gender atypical appearance and activity attributes (but not traits) were viewed more negatively than their gender typical counterparts. It was also found that male participants in particular viewed gay male targets as less desirable than lesbian and heterosexual male targets. These findings suggest a nuanced approach for understanding sexual prejudice, which incorporates a complex relationship among sex, gender, sexual orientation, and domain of gendered attributes.