cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flow Photo-Nazarov Reactions of 2-Furyl Vinyl Ketones: Cyclizing a Class of Traditionally Unreactive Heteroaromatic Enones.

Nazarov reactions of 2-furyl vinyl ketones and related heteroaromatic enones, to produce furan-fused cyclopentanones using a flow photochemical approach, are described. Compounds possessing this connectivity between heterocycle and ketone (2-furyl, 2-benzofuryl, 2-thiophene-yl, and 2-benzothiophene-yl) have traditionally proven difficult or impossible to cyclize with typical Bronsted and Lewis acid mediated methods. Using mild flow photochemistry conditions and acetic acid (AcOH) or hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as solvent, these compounds were found to cyclize in 45–97% yields, with typical UV exposure times of 3.4–6.8 min. In all cases, 2-furyl and 2-thiophene-yl enones cyclized, whereas 2-benzofuryl and 2-benzothiophene-yl enones exhibited divergent properties with reactivity patterns tied to the identity of the vinyl group. This report discloses the first photo-Nazarov reactions of tetrahydropyridine-substituted 2-furyl ketones, providing a direct approach to the corresponding fused heterocyclic motifs...
Biological computation (keynote)

Unlike engineered systems, living cells self-generate, self-organise and self-repair, they undertake massively parallel operations with slow and noisy components in a noisy environment, they sense and actuate at molecular scales, and most intriguingly, they blur the line between software and hardware. Understanding this biological computation presents a huge challenge to the scientific community. Yet the ultimate destination and prize at the culmination of this scientific journey is the promise of revolutionary and transformative technology: the rational design and implementation of biological function, or more succinctly, the ability to program life.
Combination of venlafaxine and phentermine/topiramate induced psychosis: A case report

Abstract Background: Various publications have noted increases in dopamine, specifically in the mesolimbic region of the brain, to have a direct correlation to psychotic-like symptoms. Venlafaxine,...
A molecular-beam study of the tribological chemistry of carbon tetrachloride on oxygen-covered iron

Dc molecular-beam methods are used to examine the reactivity of carbon tetrachloride with oxide films grown on iron in ultrahigh vacuum. The incident CCl4 beam flux is sufficiently low that the nature of the surface oxide is dictated by the annealing temperature allowing the reactivity of Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and FeO films to be examined. Carbon tetrachloride reacts rapidly with Fe2O3 and reaction with Fe3O4 commences at ∼620 K to evolve CO. The activation energy for this process is 20.6±1.0 kcal/mol. CCl4 reacts with FeO above ∼790 K, also to evolve CO, and the activation energy for this reaction is 5.7±0.4 kcal/mol. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows the formation of a halide after reaction at 900 K. These results are in accord with film-growth kinetics measured using a microbalance at high pressures, where it was found that it was not necessary to remove the oxide layer prior to reaction. This contrasts with the behavior of sulfur-containing molecules, where the oxide layer had to be removed before a film would grow. This effect may contribute to the additive synergies commonly found in extreme-pressure lubricant additives where one of the roles of the chloride may be to reduce the oxide layer.
A Comparison of Emissions and Externality Costs of Waste-to-Energy and Coal Fired Electric Power Plants

A controversial energy issue in the United States concerns the use of household and commercial waste as a fuel for producing electric power. Interest in waste-to-energy power plants began in the late 70’s, but accelerated as federal and state governments began to close down old style solid waste landfills to protect groundwater.1 Initially, waste-to-energy plants were seen as a panacea for solid waste and energy problems. One argument frequently advanced by combustion technology vendors is that incinerators are a cleaner source of electric power than conventional fossil fuel fired power plants. Today Waste-to-Energy plants are now increasingly opposed by citizen groups, local governments and energy advocates as serious new air pollution threads and as a misdirection of public or consumer funds that would be better spent on energy conservation and waste recycling facilities.
Range of Motion Measurements of the Fingers Via Smartphone Photography

Background: Range of motion (ROM) measurements of the fingers are frequently obtained during hand physical examinations. While traditionally measured by manual goniometry, smartphone photography introduces an alternative method of ROM measurement that also has potential telemedicine applications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of smartphone photography measurements as an alternative to traditional goniometry, using the patient with Dupuytren disease as a model. Methods: Patients with a confirmed Dupuytren contracture were prospectively enrolled in this study. Range of motion measurements of the affected joints were obtained prior to any invasive treatments. Two sets of photographs were taken by both a clinical staff member and a nonclinical individual unaffiliated with the study. Both sets of photos were analyzed for degree of contracture via software analysis and compared against traditional goniometer measurements. Results: The study prospectively enrolled 50 consecutive patients with Dupuytren disease, comprising 123 affected joints. The mean contractures of all affected joints as measured by manual goniometry, trained photograph goniometry, and untrained photograph goniometry were 38.5, 35.3, and 35.5, respectively. The mean difference in contracture measurement was 3.2° between manual and trained photograph goniometry and 3.0° between manual and untrained photograph goniometry. There was no statistically significant difference between trained and untrained photo set measurements. Photograph measurements between separate raters demonstrated high consistency (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.92). Conclusions: Smartphone photography provides contracture measurements equivalent to the accepted error of a finger goniometer (3.2° compared with 5°). The accuracy of smartphone photography in measuring contractures offers potential telemedicine applications for both clinical and research needs.
Analysis of directed networks via the matrix exponential

Abstract The matrix exponential has been identified as a useful tool for the analysis of undirected networks, with sound theoretical justifications for its ability to model important aspects of a given network. Its use for directed networks, however, is less developed and has been less successful so far. In this article we discuss some methods to identify important nodes in a directed network using the matrix exponential, taking into account that the notion of importance changes whether we consider the influence of a given node along the edge directions (downstream influence) or how it is influenced by directed paths that point to it (upstream influence). In addition, we introduce a family of importance measures based on counting walks that are allowed to reverse their direction a limited number of times, thus capturing relationships arising from influencing the same nodes, or being influenced by the same nodes, without sacrificing information about edge direction. These measures provide information about branch points.
Rumination and Perceived Risk in Seeking Social Support as Mediators of the Stressful Impact of Adversity and Posttraumatic Growth

This study examined rumination and perceived risk of seeking social support as mediators of stress and posttraumatic growth. Participants (n = 242) who experienced adversity completed a series of o...
Opportunistic Scheduling over Renewal Systems: An Empirical Method

This paper considers an opportunistic scheduling problem over a renewal system. A controller observes a random event at the beginning of each renewal frame and then chooses an action in response to the event, which affects the duration of the frame, the amount of resources used, and a penalty metric. The goal is to make frame-wise decisions so as to minimize the time average penalty subject to time average resource constraints. This problem has applications to task processing and communication in data networks, as well as to certain classes of Markov decision problems. We formulate the problem as a dynamic fractional program and propose an adaptive algorithm which uses an empirical accumulation as a feedback parameter. A key feature of the proposed algorithm is that it does not require knowledge of the random event statistics and potentially allows (uncountably) infinite event sets. We prove the algorithm satisfies all desired constraints and achieves $O(\epsilon)$ near optimality with probability 1.
Understanding Optical Turbulence Using Coordinated Atmospheric Measurements and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) Modeling

Extensive in situ measurements and modeling initiatives are planned to improve meteorological forecast in support of High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon operations. The key is to understand the atmospheric boundary layer processes affecting optical turbulence.
GenoPri'17: International Workshop on Genome Privacy and Security

The four papers in this special section were presented at the 4th International Workshop on Genome Privacy and Security (GenoPri) in 2017. This workshop aimed to bring together a highly interdisciplinary community involved in all aspects of genome privacy and security research. This workshop built on its three predecessors, GenoPri’14, GenoPri’15, and GenoPri’16 which were collocated with the Privacy Enhancing Technologies Symposium (PETS), IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, and American Medical Informatics Association Annual Fall Symposium (AMIA), respectively. Over the past several decades, genome sequencing technologies have evolved from slow and expensive systems that were limited in access to a select few scientists and forensics investigators to high-throughput, relatively low-cost tools that are available to consumers.
Why Are Stratospheric Sudden Warmings Sudden (and Intermittent)

AbstractThis paper examines the role of wave–mean flow interaction in the onset and suddenness of stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs). Evidence is presented that SSWs are, on average, a threshold ...
Third-Rail Insulator Failure Causes and Mitigating Practices: A Comparative Study of Multiple Case Studies in the U.S.

Rail transit systems are one of the most important and popular types of transit systems used daily in metropolitan areas all around the world. The third rail is one of the providers of traction power in electrified rail systems, but it faces several issues, such as insulator failures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of insulator failures, which have not been comprehensively studied and presented in the literature. To accomplish this objective, eight transit systems with third rails were selected to (1) investigate the characteristics of third-rail systems, (2) determine the causes of insulator failures, (3) analyze the costs associated with insulator failures, and (4) determine mitigating practices to reduce the number and cost of insulator failures. After a thorough literature review, details of eight case studies were collected from different transit agencies, and their subject matter experts were asked to complete a survey and provide input. The results revealed that a build-up of dirt was the major cause of the 17 identified causes of insulator failures; carbon dust and dirt were identified as the most present particles in third-rail systems. It was noted that transit agencies often implement multiple mitigating practices such as cleaning the insulator, performing visual inspections, and conducting regular maintenance to reduce the number and cost of insulator failures. The findings of this study will help decision-makers for transit systems make timely decisions to prevent third-rail insulator failures and adopt appropriate practices that best fit their transit system.
Pain catastrophizing in athletes correlates with pain and cardiovascular changes during a painful cold pressor test

CONTEXT Athletes are often exposed to pain due to injury and competition. There is preliminary evidence that cardiovascular measures could be an objective measure of pain, but the cardiovascular response can be influenced by psychological factors such as catastrophizing. OBJECTIVES The purpose of our study was to use a painful cold pressor test to measure the relationship between catastrophizing, pain, and cardiovascular variables in athletes. DESIGN Pre-post test. SETTING We completed all measures in a laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-six male rugby athletes participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We measured catastrophizing with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and pain with a Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Cardiovascular measures included heart rate, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate variability. RESULTS During the cold pressor test, participants experienced a significant increase in pain (0 to 4.1±2.2), systolic blood pressure (126.7±16.5mm Hg to 149.7±23.4mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (76.9±8.3mm Hg to 91.9±11.5mm Hg) and heart rate variability (from 0.0164ms±0.0121 to 0.0400ms±0.0323) (all p<.001). In addition, there was a significant decrease in heart rate after the cold pressor test (p=0.04). There was a significant correlation between athlete's pain catastrophizing to both pain intensity and change in heart rate during the cold pressor test (p=.017 and p=.003 respectively). A significant linear regression indicated pain and catastrophizing explained 29% of the variance of the change in heart rate (p=.003). CONCLUSION Athletes who have catastrophizing thoughts are more likely to experience higher levels of pain and a greater cardiovascular response during a painful stimulus. The change in cardiovascular variables may be a good alternative for an objective measure of pain in athletes in the future.
Banning Noncompete Agreements to Create Competitive Job Markets

Competitive job markets are critical to the success of the national economy, spurring innovation while boosting wages and labor equality. The moment is ripe for the new administration to foster competitive job markets by banning noncompete agreements (noncompetes). New empirical evidence shows that noncompetes have harmful effects on job mobility, wages, competition, entrepreneurship, and equality. Yet noncompetes are widely included in employment contracts. And inconsistent state rules on noncompetes (and their enforcement) have led to employee confusion and disputes among state courts. A tough, consistent federal strategy to eliminate noncompetes is needed. Several recent federal and state initiatives addressing noncompetes have created momentum that the new administration can build on to rapidly address this issue. The Biden-Harris administration should (1) adopt a federal ban on noncompetes, (2) actively educate the public about their labor-mobility rights (and actively support those rights), and (3) take proactive steps to ensure compliance with labor-mobility policy. Specific steps the new administration could consider include: Barring noncompete agreements through legislation or executive order. If barring all noncompetes is not yet feasible, a federal ban on noncompetes imposed on low-wage and unskilled workers would be a good first step. Issuing executive orders that (i) restrict or eliminate government contracting with companies that use noncompetes; and (ii) require employers in states that restrict noncompetes not to sign noncompetes with employees in those states, and/or to give prominent notice of the unenforceability of noncompetes in those states. Requiring employment contracts to include a notice about employees’ right to leave their employer. Banning secrecy imposed by employers regarding salary information. Requiring the Department of Labor, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Justice Antitrust Division to collaborate to actively enforce laws and policies governing noncompetes nationwide.
Acute submassive pulmonary embolism after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case report of reinfection or prolonged hypercoagulable state

Background Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) reinfection has been a topic of discussion with data still emerging. Viral antibodies are known to develop upon initial infection; however, it is unclear the amount of protection this confers against reinfection. Additionally, COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) is a well-documented phenomenon; however, there are no high-quality studies to support the treatment of outpatients beyond standard indications of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. This case describes a patient with either COVID-19 reinfection or prolonged course of CAC resulting in pulmonary embolism (PE). Case summary A 40-year-old healthy man presented with fever and cough. He tested positive for COVID-19 and was sent home to self-quarantine. His symptoms resolved and repeat COVID-19 testing returned negative. Two months later, he developed dyspnoea on exertion and syncope. Computed tomography with PE protocol demonstrated acute bilateral PE, and repeat COVID-19 testing returned positive. He was escalated to catheter-directed thrombolysis, but prior to the procedure went into cardiopulmonary arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated and full-dose systemic alteplase was administered. Cardiothoracic surgery was consulted for consideration of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; however, return of spontaneous circulation was unable to be achieved. Discussion This case raises the question of COVID-19 reinfection and prolonged risk of VTE due to CAC. We believe the patient was reinfected with COVID-19 provoking his PE; however, a single COVID-19 infection causing a prolonged course of CAC is possible. Until better data exists, decisions regarding outpatient prophylaxis must be individualized to weigh the risks of bleeding against the risk of thrombosis.
Established severe BPD: is there a way out? Change of ventilatory paradigms

Improved survival of extremely preterm newborn infants has increased the number of infants at risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Despite efforts to prevent BPD, many of these infants still develop severe BPD (sBPD) and require long-term invasive mechanical ventilation. The focus of research and clinical management has been on the prevention of BPD, which has had only modest success. On the other hand, research on the management of the established sBPD patient has received minimal attention even though this condition poses large economic and health problems with extensive morbidities and late mortality. Patients with sBPD, however, have been shown to respond to treatments focused not only on ventilatory strategies but also on multidisciplinary approaches where neurodevelopmental support, growth promoting strategies, and aggressive treatment of pulmonary hypertension improve their long-term outcomes. In this review we will try to present a physiology-based ventilatory strategy for established sBPD, emphasizing a possible paradigm shift from acute efforts to wean infants at all costs to a more chronic approach of stabilizing the infant. This chronic approach, herein referred to as chronic phase ventilation, aims at allowing active patient engagement, reducing air trapping, and improving ventilation-perfusion matching, while providing sufficient support to optimize late outcomes. IMPACT: Based on pathophysiological aspects of evolving and established severe BPD in premature infants, this review presents some lung mechanical properties of the most severe phenotype and proposes a chronic phase ventilatory strategy that aims at reducing air trapping, improving ventilation-perfusion matching and optimizing late outcomes.
Organizational Dynamics and Individual Cognition

Organizational structure, culture and dynamics all combine to offer shaping context within which learning takes place; at the same time, individual-level attitudinal, cognitive and behavioural traits determine the breadth and the depth of knowledge acquisition, shaping and utilization. It thus follows that understanding of the essence of what it means for organizations to learn requires explicit examination of the interplay between group and individual factors, as pivotal determinants of the efficacy of organization learning. With that as a general goal, this chapter takes a closer look at the interaction between group dynamics and the key sensemaking-related aspects of individual-level cognition, with particular emphasis on well-known factors such as cognitive bias, brain plasticity and channel capacity, as well as not nearly as often discussed idea of mental models.
High-speed and Wide FoV Autonomous Beamformer Driving Forward to 4D Resource Allocation in 6G RAN Era

We summarized recent progresses of the proposed analog IF beamformer in a fiber- wireless integration and network (FiWIN) architecture. Besides, intra- and inter-beam NOMA systems are designed and experimentally demonstrated to form 4D multiple access structure.
Windmill Monitoring System Using Internet of Things with Raspberry Pi

A large portion of the windmills is situated in distant regions. It might be situated in the mountains or woods. Constant checking of these windmills in these distant regions requires human exertion if people check it. As people are inclined to commit errors, electronic gadgets, such as sensors and miniature regulators, can be depended on to gather information and help screen the gear from any area and take essential activities. In the task "IoT” based Windmill observing framework," a temperature and moistness sensor and an ADC are mounted on a windmill. The information from the sensors is given to Raspberry pi (regulator). Contingent on the information, the gadget is killed or on. Moreover, the live information from the sensors is shown straightforwardly on a dashboard for distant checking. The control experts can get to this dashboard, and some other activities, whenever required, can be taken. The information can appear on hourly, day by day, week after week, or month-to-month premise.
Perspectiva agroecológica en el Antropoceno

El objetivo de esta reflexion es mostrar como se puede utilizar la agroecologia en el desarrollo de un nuevo sistema agricola post-COVID-19 como alternativa de desarrollo sostenible, revitalizando la agricultura campesina creando sistemas alternativos de produccion animal y potencializando la agricultura urbana. Un sistema agricola basado en la agroecologia, es capaz de minimizar las futuras interrupciones generalizadas del suministro de alimentos debido a las pandemias y el cambio climatico al mejorar los vinculos entre la produccion de alimentos a pequena escala, el consumo local y proporcionar pautas para la reconstruccion de un sistema agricola posterior a la COVID-19. La agroecologia es una estrategia que se centra en lograr la autonomia y la resiliencia, que puede transformar rapidamente las formas en que los pequenos agricultores producen y consumen alimentos al mismo tiempo que abordan los desafios globales, incluido el cambio climatico, la perdida de biodiversidad, la inseguridad alimentaria, la pobreza y el deterioro de la salud.
Objects of Urban Security, Part I: Background and Research Starts

Cities are populated by mechanisms of security. Notice the many intrusive devices and repertoires of control at airport departure gates, office reception, subways, and other sites of modern life. But the presence of security, at least more broadly construed to include infrastructures that channel, inhibit, and intrude, did not originate with 9/11 in America. Indeed, the beginning of cities is virtually synonymous with the rise of apparatuses for exclusion and collective inclusion, the ancient city walls being the prominent exemplar. From the perspective of this essay, it is useful to think of security as an intrinsic part of urban life. To the famous Louis Wirth list of attributes of the city (1938)—numbers, density, and heterogeneity—we need to add instruments of security. Urbanism entails security; it is not a simple add-on. Deliberately or by happenstance, the presence of large numbers of diverse people in small spaces opens the way for collision. People need to be allocated to particular spaces in specific ways, either by force or guidance through more genteel maneuver. Technological developments in building construction (e.g., high-rise), transportation appliances (cars and buses), and the impersonality of urban life mean that threats, many arising internally, are omnipresent and nonspecific as to source. This essay asks how this instrumentation works, how it “blends in” with social practices including larger political structures through which it operates. In addressing such questions, we approach important topics that have long occupied the agenda of urban studies and analyses of civic life more generally but most often in separation from one another. As remedy, we must traverse intellectual domains usually treated as discrete—things, cities, and security and find ways to present them as coherently linked. We also need to depart from common orientations that, while critiquing security, surveillance in particular, leave largely unexamined the materiality involved and the social practices of on-the-ground human–thing encounter. Keywords: artifacts; security; materiality; city
Race and Sex Differences in Age-Related Hearing Loss: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for hearing loss in a sample of 2,052 older adults (aged 73–84; 46.9% male, 37.3% black) enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal cohort study. Setting: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee, areas. Participants: Random sample of Medicare beneficiary subjects enrolled in the Health ABC program from 1997 to 1998. They included 2,052 individuals: 660 white men (32.2%), 631 white women (30.8%), 310 black men (15.1%), and 451 black women (22.0%). Participants ranged in age from 73 to 84, with a mean age of 77.5. Measurements: Hearing sensitivity was measured using pure-tone threshold testing. Hearing loss was defined based on two averages of hearing thresholds: 500, 1,000, and 2,000 Hz greater than 25-decibel (dB) hearing level (HL) (hearing loss); and 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz greater than 40-dB HL (high-frequency hearing loss). Potential hearing loss correlates, including demographics, medical history, ototoxic medication use, occupational noise exposure, and lifestyle factors, were collected via questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was 59.9%; the prevalence of high-frequency hearing loss was 76.9%. Hearing loss was most common in white men, followed by white women, black men, and black women. Older age, white race, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, smoking, poorer cognitive status, occupational noise exposure, and ear surgery were associated with hearing loss after multivariable adjustment. Race- and sex-specific risk factors included higher blood pressure and occupational noise exposure (white men), poorer cognitive status and smoking (black women), and low total hip bone mineral density (black men). Possible protective factors included salicylate use (overall sample, black men) and moderate alcohol intake (black women). Conclusion: Hearing loss was extremely common in this population. Because many of the identified hearing loss risk factors are modifiable, some of the burden associated with hearing loss in older people should be preventable.
Acute and congenital Chagas disease.

Abstract The acute phase of Chagas disease lasts 4–8 weeks and is characterized by microscopically detectable parasitaemia. Symptoms are usually mild with severe acute disease occurring in less than 1% of patients. Orally transmitted Trypanosoma cruzi outbreaks can have more severe acute morbidity and higher mortality than vector-borne infection. Congenital T. cruzi infection occurs in 1–10% of infants of infected mothers. Most congenital infections are asymptomatic or cause non-specific signs, requiring laboratory screening for detection. A small proportion of congenital infections cause severe morbidity with hepatosplenomegaly, anaemia, meningoencephalitis and/or respiratory insufficiency, with an associated high mortality. Infected infants are presumed to carry the same 20–30% lifetime risk of cardiac or gastrointestinal disease as other infected individuals. Most control programs in Latin America employ prenatal serological screening followed by microscopic examination of cord blood from infants of seropositive mothers. Recent data confirm that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more sensitive and detects congenital infections earlier than conventional techniques. For infants not diagnosed at birth, conventional serology is recommended at at 6 to 9 months of age. In programs that have been evaluated, less than 20% of at risk infants completed all steps of the screening algorithm. A sensitive, specific and practical screening test for newborns is needed to enable Chagas disease to be added to newborn screening programs.
Chloroplast biogenesis. Biosynthesis and accumulation of protochlorophyll by isolated etioplasts and developing chloroplasts.

Abstract Etioplasts and developing chloroplasts were isolated from etiolated Cucumis cotyledons that were irradiated with white fluorescent light for various periods of time. The endogenous porphyrins and phorbins of the isolated plastids were partitioned between hexane, hexane-extracted aqueous acetone and a lipoprotein precipitate. Spectrofluorometric determinations were performed on these fractions without further fractionation. For quantitative determinations, the fluorescence amplitudes of the various fluorescent components were corrected for fluorescence emission overlap by sets of simultaneous equations. Developing chloroplasts contained endogenous amounts of the following metabolites: Protochlorophyllide, protochlorophyllide ester, Mg-protoporphyrin monoester + longer-wavelength metalloporphyrins and protoporphyrin. The protochlorophyll pool consisted mainly of protochlorophyllide. The latter was heterogeneous and consisted of at least two chemically related protochlorophyllides. In contrast to developing chloroplasts, irradiated etioplasts contained mostly protochlorophyllide ester and smaller amounts of protochlorophyllide. Upon incubation of developing chloroplasts and irradiated etioplasts with δ-aminolevulinic acid and cofactors (coenzyme A, glutathione, adenosine triphosphate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, methyl alcohol, magnesium, potassium and phosphate), a net synthesis and accumulation of protochlorophyllide, Mg-protoporphyrin monoester + longer-wavelength metalloporphyrins, protoporphyrin, coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin were observed. Small amounts of zinc-coproporphyrin and zinc-uroporphyrin were also formed. In some experiments a net synthesis of protochlorophyllide ester was also observed. This report represents the first account of the unambiguous net synthesis of protochlorophyll in vitro.
10.6 THz figure-of-merit phase-change RF switches with embedded micro-heater

We report on GeTe-based phase-change RF switches with embedded micro-heater for thermal switching. With heater parasitics reduced, GeTe RF switches show onstate resistance of 0.05 ohm*mm and off-state capacitance of 0.3 pF/mm. The RF switch figure-of-merit is estimated to be 10.6 THz, which is about 15 times better than state-of-the-art silicon-on-insulator switches. With on-state resistance of 1 ohm and off-state capacitance of 15 fF, RF insertion loss was measured at 25 dB at 20 GHz, respectively. RF power handling was >5.6 W for both onand off-state of GeTe.
Microbial Decomposition of Methionine and Identity of the Resulting Sulfur Products

Various bacteria, actinomycetes, and filamentous fungi decomposed methionine, but only certain aerobic bacteria isolated from soil decomposed it in the absence of other organic substrates. These bacteria could grow on methionine as the only organic substrate and source of nitrogen and sulfur. Methionine was first deaminated and then demethiolated with production of methanethiol, part of which was oxidized to dimethyl disulfide. The amount of methanethiol that was oxidized varied with different cultures. A bacterial culture initially unable to grow on methionine developed capacity to do this in a medium which contained methionine and other growth substrates. The two sulfur products, methanethiol and dimethyl disulfide, are volatile and escaped from the media, resulting in a decrease in the sulfur content proportional to the amount of methionine decomposed.
Excited-State Proton-Transfer Kinetics in 1-Naphthol, 1-Naphthol Sulfonates, and Organometallic Complexes

Upon photoexcitation many aromatic compounds are known to undergo ultrafast proton-transfer reactions in aqueous solution [1]. Picosecond spectroscopy offers the opportunity for modeling and understanding proton-transfer processes in solution by allowing direct measurements of proton-transfer kinetics to be carried out for broad classes of compounds. Given the important role of proton transfer in vast numbers of important chemical and biological processes, such studies can be expected to provide new, fundamental insight into the chemistry of the proton.
Metamorphic constraints on the thermal evolution of the central Himalayan orogen

Recent studies that integrate conventional thermobarometry of pelitic mineral assemblages with thermodynamic modeling of garnet zoning reveal complex Tertiary P -T paths for the Greater Himalayan metamorphic sequence in the central Himalaya. Viewed in light of our current understanding of the structural evolution of the Himalaya, these data provide insights into the relations between tectonic and thermal processes during orogenesis. In this paper, we present an interpretive model for tectonothermal evolution of the Greater Himalaya in the central part of the range. This model involves: (1) middle Eocene—early Oligocene burial to depths of more than 30 km during the early stages of collision between India and Asia; (2) early—late Oligocene uplift and cooling; (3) late Oligocene heating and renewed burial synchronous with the early stages of anatectic melting and leucogranite plutonism; (4) latest Oligocene-middle Miocene rapid uplift and continued leucogranite production associated with ramping on the structurally lower Main Central Thrust and tectonic denudation on structurally higher low-angle detachment systems; and (5) middle Miocene—Recent rapid cooling during the final stages of uplift to the surface.
Diel Resource Partitioning among Juvenile Atlantic Salmon, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout during Summer

AbstractInterspecific partitioning of food and habitat resources has been widely studied in stream salmonids. Most studies have examined resource partitioning between two native species or between a native species and one that has been introduced. In this study we examine the diel feeding ecology and habitat use of three species of juvenile salmonids (i.e., Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar, Brown Trout Salmo trutta, and Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a tributary of Skaneateles Lake, New York. Subyearling Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout fed more heavily from the drift than the benthos, whereas subyearling Atlantic Salmon fed more from the benthos than either species of trout. Feeding activity of Atlantic Salmon and Rainbow Trout was similar, with both species increasing feeding at dusk, whereas Brown Trout had no discernable feeding peak or trough. Habitat availability was important in determining site-specific habitat use by juvenile salmonids. Habitat selection was greater during the day than at night. T...
Immunotherapies currently in development for the treatment of type 1 diabetes

Introduction: Type I diabetes (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin. While T1DM can be managed using insulin therapy, patients face financial burden, serious complications and premature mortality, from the disease. Efforts have sought to define and ultimately suppress the underlying autoimmune attack that results in T1DM.Areas covered: The authors lay out promising immunosuppressive and immunomodulating drugs currently in development for T1DM and outline options for future immune treatment for the disorder. There have been several pharmacological strategies to combat the immune attack which will serve as the organization for this review: antigen-specific therapies; monoclonal antibodies; fusion proteins; alternate Treg affectors.Expert opinion: Immunosuppression and immunomodulation studies in T1DM demonstrated differing levels of slowing the progression of the immune attack; however, no single therapeutic approach provides a lasting halt of the immune atta...
DOES BANKRUPTCY LAW AFFECT BUSINESS TURNOVER? EVIDENCE FROM NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESS

This study examines how differences in state bankruptcy laws, specifically the homestead exemption, affect business turnover by studying both new and existing businesses. We focus on areas just near state boundaries to control for unobserved local attributes to better isolate the effect of more wealth protection. We find that an increase in the homestead exemption attracts new businesses but also has a positive impact on existing businesses, suggesting that asset protection through bankruptcy law encourages successful entrepreneurs to incur the risks. Our results indicate that the personal bankruptcy law is an important policy tool that governments can use to encourage business growth without causing business turnover. (JEL K30, K36, R11, R1)
On the electromagnetic field singularities near the vertex of a dielectric wedge

[1] The problem of electromagnetic scattering by a dielectric wedge has attracted attention recently because of reported disagreement between the theory and numerical experiments concerning a certain behavior of the fields near the wedge vertex. The goal of this paper is to show that what is reported has been not a disagreement but a misinterpretation of the existing theory, which predicts all of the numerically observed effects.
Modern money-information, a sustainable civilization and systems pedagogy

Money-information is a powerful form of communication in modern societies. Its evolution parallels that of civilization itself. In fact, modern market-based societies could not exist at the level of complexity they exhibit without the simplifications provided by money-information. The sustainability of modern civilization, consequently, depends in no small degree upon the continuing evolution of money-information and upon an understanding of it by an increasingly greater portion of the human population. This paper discusses money-information in the context of its evolution as it contributed to advancing human cognition and to introducing higher-level human systems. The paper asserts that money-information-based market societies offer the best chance of sustainability because they are relatively recent emergents that simplify human perceptions of the evermore complex interactions within and among modern societies. Modern money-based societies are the result of a long evolution away from top-down toward bottom-up control of societal decider subsystems. For that evolution to continue, individual humans composing societies must comprehend more societal complexity in order to make decisions that, in fact, sustain civilization instead of those that destroy it. Systems concepts and the knowledge tools developed in the systems framework offer the best hope of educating individual humans to comprehend the complexity needed to sustain rather than destroy modern civilization.
Left Ventricular Systolic Function, Arterial Elastance, and Ventricular-Vascular Coupling: A Developmental Study in Piglets

Circulatory changes occur during perinatal life that increase cardiac output and left ventricular contractile reserve. To examine postnatal changes in left ventricular systolic function and ventricular-vascular coupling, piglets underwent cardiac catheterization at 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk of age. We measured end-systolic elastance (Ees), preload-recruitable stroke work, dP/dt(max), the dP/dt(max) end-diastolic volume relation, cardiac index, heart rate, arterial elastance (Ea), and the ratio Ea/Ees, at rest, during isoproterenol infusions (0.05-1.0 microg/kg/min), and after propranolol (1 mg/kg i.v.). Resting heart rate and cardiac index decreased between 1 and 6 wk. In 1 wk olds, resting Ees was at maximum and was unchanged during isoproterenol infusion; isoproterenol increased other contractility indices. Two, 4, and 6 wk olds demonstrated reserve using all contractility indices. Contractile efficiency was not different between ages. In 1 wk olds, Ea decreased during isoproterenol infusion; isoproterenol did not change Ea at 6 wk. Ea/Ees was higher at rest at 6 wk than at 1 wk, and fell significantly on isoproterenol; isoproterenol did not change Ea/Ees at 1 wk. With beta-adrenergic stimulation, 1 wk olds increased cardiac index by increasing heart rate and decreasing afterload, 6 wk olds increased cardiac index by increasing heart rate and contractility; no change in contractile efficiency was found in either group. In summary, contractile reserve is limited at 1 wk when measured by Ees, but other indices demonstrated reserve. Indexed Ea falls in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation in all ages but 6 wk. Ventricular-vascular coupling is optimized at 1 wk even under baseline conditions.
Latent semantic analysis for dialogue act classification

This paper presents our experiments in applying Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) to dialogue act classification. We employ both LSA proper and LSA augmented in two ways. We report results on DIAG, our own corpus of tutoring dialogues, and on the CallHome Spanish corpus. Our work has the theoretical goal of assessing whether LSA, an approach based only on raw text, can be improved by using additional features of the text.
Unsafe driving by high school seniors: national trends from 1976 to 2001 in tickets and accidents after use of alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drugs.

Objective: This study reports trends from 1976 to 2001 in the number of tickets or warnings that high school seniors receive, the number of vehicle accidents in which they are drivers and the number of these events that occur after use of alcohol, marijuana or other illegal drugs. Method: The data come from the Monitoring the Future study, in which nationally representative samples of high school seniors have been surveyed annually since 1976. Results: Results demonstrate that the problem of unsafe or inappropriate driving among American youth is of considerable magnitude, although there has been a downward trend when adjusted for number of miles driven. The frequency of tickets received and vehicle accidents that occurred after use of alcohol has diminished markedly compared to the incidence of tickets and accidents after use of marijuana over the interval from 1976 to 2001. Conclusions: Despite the decline in the number of vehicle accidents occurring and tickets received after drinking or using illicit ...
Relation of the Plasma Kinetic Equation for the Darwin Hamiltonian to the Relativistic Landau Equation

The connection between the two-particle ring term for the kinetic equation with Darwin interaction and the ${(\frac{v}{c})}^{2}$ approximation of the relativistic Landau equation is demonstrated. It is suggested that for practical calculations of ${(\frac{v}{c})}^{2}$ corrections, an equation (with cutoffs) given might be used instead of the more complete kinetic equation (with ring-sum term and without cutoffs) derived recently.
Digestion of insulin receptors with proteolytic and glycosidic enzymes-effects on purified and membrane-associated receptor subunits.

Abstract Insulin receptors, photoaffinity-labeled in rat liver and human placenta membranes, and receptor purified from rat liver membranes, were treated with proteolytic and glycosidic enzymes and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protease fragments from the purified receptor were similar to those from the photoaffinity-labeled receptors, if these were solubilized prior to digestion. However, the intact photoaffinity-labeled membranes were less sensitive to proteases, and different fragments were produced. Thus, solubilization exposes sites very sensitive to proteolysis. The labeled tryptic fragments of placenta membranes remained membrane-bound. Neuraminidase altered the mobility of the intact receptor and of several of the large tryptic fragments, indicating that these contain sialic acid and are probably exposed on the outer surface of the membrane.
Gas chromatographic determination of dissolved oxygen in sea water using argon as carrier gas

Abstract A modification of the gas chromatographic method of Swinnerton, Linnenbom , and Cheek for the determination of dissolved oxygen in sea water is presented. Argon is used as the carrier gas. Relative standard deviation obtained by the modified method is ± 1·4 per cent for surface sea water samples. One analysis takes four minutes.
Chemotherapy of advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the uroepithelium.

Activity has been demonstrated for both single agents and combination chemotherapy in advanced transitional cell carinoma of the uroepithelium. Regimens are palliative; duration of response has been modest, usually ranging from 3 to 8 months. There are few complete responders; occasional patients remain disease-free at 1 and 2 years.
Beacon vector routing: scalable point-to-point routing in wireless sensornets

We propose a practical and scalable technique for point-to-point routing in wireless sensornets. This method, called Beacon Vector Routing (BVR), assigns coordinates to nodes based on the vector of hop count distances to a small set of beacons, and then defines a distance metric on these coordinates. BVR routes packets greedily, forwarding to the next hop that is the closest (according to this beacon vector distance metric) to the destination. We evaluate this approach through a combination of high-level simulation to investigate scaling and design tradeoffs, and a prototype implementation over real testbeds as a necessary reality check.
The Fielding H. Garrison Lecture : Medicine and the Renaissance World of Learning

This article considers aspects of the relation of medicine with other learned disciplines during the sixteenth century and presents some examples of the contribution of medical authors of that period to such diverse fields as natural philosophy, physiognomy, alchemy, travel writing, the art of memory, and the study of antiquities.
Laboratory populations for long-term toxicity tests

Abstract International standardization of toxicity tests demands ‘standard’ animals. These are not to be found in nature, and transferring organisms from their natural habitat to the laboratory may add to the stress on them and interfere with the tests. Laboratory cultured animals may help reduce this problem.