cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wearable radio-frequency sensing of respiratory rate, respiratory volume, and heart rate.

Many health diagnostic systems demand noninvasive sensing of respiratory rate, respiratory volume, and heart rate with high user comfort. Previous methods often require multiple sensors, including skin-touch electrodes, tension belts, or nearby off-the-body readers, and hence are uncomfortable or inconvenient. This paper presents an over-clothing wearable radio-frequency sensor study, conducted on 20 healthy participants (14 females) performing voluntary breathing exercises in various postures. Two prototype sensors were placed on the participants, one close to the heart and the other below the xiphoid process to couple to the motion from heart, lungs and diaphragm, by the near-field coherent sensing principle. We can achieve a satisfactory correlation of our sensor with the reference devices for the three vital signs: heart rate (r = 0.95), respiratory rate (r = 0.93) and respiratory volume (r = 0.84). We also detected voluntary breath-hold periods with an accuracy of 96%. Further, the participants performed a breathing exercise by contracting abdomen inwards while holding breath, leading to paradoxical outward thorax motion under the isovolumetric condition, which was detected with an accuracy of 83%.
Microbiota Can't Keep Time in Type 2 Diabetes.

Gut microbes exhibit diurnal rhythmicity, and disruptions in this rhythmicity potentially impact host health. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Reitmeier et al. (2020) employ timestamped gut microbiome sequencing data from human subjects coupled with machine learning to identify microbial rhythmicity patterns that predict Type 2 Diabetes incidence.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis as the Presenting Manifestation of Relapsed Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Presence of Concurrent Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Genital Herpes, Epstein-Barr Virus and Mycobacterium Avium Complex Infection

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disorder of uncontrolled immune activation which is usually divided into two main types. Primary, which is associated with genetic mutation and familial predisposition and secondary, which is usually associated with infections, malignancies and autoimmune conditions. More often multiple risk factors are present at the time of initial presentation. We report a case where HLH was the presenting manifestation of relapsed Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the presence of multiple risk factors of secondary HLH such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), active genital herpes, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viremia, Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection and prior chemotherapy. A 38-year-old male to female transgender woman presented with one-week history of fever, nausea, vomiting and generalized weakness. The past medical history was significant for HIV and previously treated and positron emission tomography (PET) scan confirmed complete remission of Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Physical examination showed BP 92/40 mmHg, fever of 102.6 F, heart rate of 114 beats per minutes, diffuse abdominal tenderness and male genitalia with multiple small ulcerative lesions. Labs showed pancytopenia, hyponatremia, mildly elevated total and direct bilirubin, transaminitis, CD-4 count 96/mcL, HIV viral load undetectable and COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative. Imaging showed right middle lung lobe consolidation and hepatosplenomegaly with multiple hypodense lesions. Lymphadenopathy was reported in mediastinum and retroperitoneum. The patient was initially treated with broad spectrum antibiotics, IV fluids, vasopressors and stress dose steroids. After initial improvement, vasopressors and steroids were stopped. The patient again started spiking fever on day 9 despite being on antibiotics. Workup showed EBV viremia, genital herpes and evidence of MAC infection on sputum culture. No improvement noted despite appropriate treatment for genital herpes and MAC. Additional lab work showed hyperferritinemia and elevated soluble Interleukin-2 receptors. The patient was diagnosed with HLH as per HLH-2004 criteria and treated with dexamethasone and etoposide. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed hemophagocytosis and immunoperoxidase staining established the diagnosis of relapsed Classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We can conclude that in patients with a history of hematological malignancy presenting with HLH, a high degree of suspicion for relapse should be maintained even in the presence of other risk factors.
Digital Twin for Human-Robot Interactive Welding and Welder Behavior Analysis

This paper presents an innovative investigation on prototyping a digital twin (DT) as the platform for human-robot interactive welding and welder behavior analysis. This human-robot interaction (HRI) working style helps to enhance human users' operational productivity and comfort; while data-driven welder behavior analysis benefits to further novice welder training. This HRI system includes three modules: 1) a human user who demonstrates the welding operations offsite with her/his operations recorded by the motion-tracked handles; 2) a robot that executes the demonstrated welding operations to complete the physical welding tasks onsite; 3) a DT system that is developed based on virtual reality (VR) as a digital replica of the physical human-robot interactive welding environment. The DT system bridges a human user and robot through a bi-directional information flow: a) transmitting demonstrated welding operations in VR to the robot in the physical environment; b) displaying the physical welding scenes to human users in VR. Compared to existing DT systems reported in the literatures, the developed one provides better capability in engaging human users in interacting with welding scenes, through an augmented VR. To verify the effectiveness, six welders, skilled with certain manual welding training and unskilled without any training, tested the system by completing the same welding job; three skilled welders produce satisfied welded workpieces, while the other three unskilled do not. A data-driven approach as a combination of fast Fourier transform (FFT), principal component analysis (PCA), and support vector machine (SVM) is developed to analyze their behaviors. Given an operation sequence, i.e., motion speed sequence of the welding torch, frequency features are firstly extracted by FFT and then reduced in dimension through PCA, which are finally routed into SVM for classification. The trained model demonstrates a 94.44% classification accuracy in the testing dataset. The successful pattern recognition in skilled welder operations should benefit to accelerate novice welder training.
Porous Cu2BaSn(S,Se)4 Film as a Photocathode Using Non-Toxic Solvent and a Ball-Milling Approach

Cu2BaSn(S,Se)4 (CBTSSe) has been proposed as an alternative to Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) for solar absorbers due to its reduced propensity for antisite disorder and band tailing while maintaining the...
Distributed learning of multilingual DNN feature extractors using GPUs.

Multilingual deep neural networks (DNNs) can act as deep feature extractors and have been applied successfully to crosslanguage acoustic modeling. Learning these feature extractors becomes an expensive task, because of the enlarged multilingual training data and the sequential nature of stochastic gradient descent (SGD). This paper investigates strategies to accelerate the learning process over multiple GPU cards. We propose the DistModel and DistLang frameworks which distribute feature extractor learning by models and languages respectively. The time-synchronous DistModel has the nice property of tolerating infrequent model averaging. With 3 GPUs, DistModel achieves 2.6× speed-up and causes no loss on word error rates. When using DistLang, we observe better acceleration but worse recognition performance. Further evaluations are conducted to scale DistModel to more languages and GPU cards.
From the Seat of Authority: A Case Study in Exhibition Development

FROM THE SEAT O F AUTHORITY: A CASE STUDY IN EXHIBITION DEVELOPMENT by Chasity Janet Miller, M.A. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006. Major Director: Dr. Margaret Lindauer, Museum Studies Coordinator, Department of Art History During the Spring 2006 semester, Virginia Commonwealth University students enrolled in the graduate Museun~ Studies course on exhibition development collaboratively curated an exhibition entitled From the Seat ofAuthority, which opened at the Anderson Gallery in June 2006. This thesis project documents the exhibition and offers an account of the deliberative and creative development process in which studentcurators engaged. It is different from other case studies that focus on the technical aspects of curating an exhibition. Major components of the development process include articulating a theme, selecting artworks, writing interpretive text, and designing display techniques. This thesis project aims to characterize the development of these components in relationship to the overall creative processes. It is important to note that the previously mentioned four components were not developed independently of one another, as the exhibit development process was non-linear and organic.
Stream Equations and Method of Characteristics

The method of characteristics is applied to the form of the one dimensional continuity equation that is commonly employed in the analysis of the distribution of dissolved substances, such as BOD and dissolved oxygen, in natural rivers and streams. The resulting pair of ordinary differential equations can be solved numerically using widely available computer programs. This method appears to be superior to methods based on approximations using a rectangular grid in terms of the accuracy obtained and the computer time and memory required.
Residents' Experience in Breast Cancer Care.

Objective General surgeons commonly treat breast cancer (BC), hence necessitating adequate training during residency. We examined surgery residents’ exposure to these conditions across postgraduate years (PGYs) to assess the proximity of involvement to commencement. Study Design We examined the BC operative profile by PGY using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File (ACS NSQIP PUF, 2008-2011). Operations were classified using the Surgical Council on Resident Education curriculum complexity categories. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square, Fisher exact, analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, as appropriate. Results Of 58,413 BC operations, 23,996 involved PGY1 to PGY5 residents. A Surgical Council on Resident Education complexity was assigned to 97.7% of operations studied ( n = 23,432). PGY was inversely proportional to the number of operations performed. PGY1 to PGY3 residents covered most essential-common operations (PGY1-3, 72% vs PGY4-5, 28%; p n = 359] vs PGY3-5, 45% [ n = 288]; p = 0.033). Conclusions Although junior residents perform most of the BC cases in surgical residency, residents do participate in operations for BC across the continuum of the training years. Program directors should consider trainees’ career aspirations to ensure adequate exposure to the operative and nonoperative management of this common disease before the transition to independent practice.
Bartholinitis simulated by anal infection.

Abstract The purpose of this brief presentation is to invite the attention of the profession to an entity which, although proctologic, presents the appearance of bartholinitis and may be misleading to the gynecologist. It is noteworthy that no previous description is to be found in the medical literature from the year 1879. Anorectal suppurations usually arise in the crypts of Morgagni. These are small pouches at the dentate line, or mucocutaneous junction, whose mouths look upward, and they are therefore accessible to receive and retain infectious inocula. Appended to the depths of these pockets are vestigial ducts which lead, in turn, to anal glands. Both of these are true preformed structures; the glands are analogous to the preen glands of lower mammals, secreting a substance whose odor is sexually stimulating. The glands lie, in part, within the anal sphineter, and some penetrate the muscle to be sitnated in the ischioanal fat. Thus, an infection originating in a crypt of Morgagni is located in the associated duct. The duct, once inflamed, is occluded proximally by the resultant edema, and the pus, denied escape by way of the crypt, extends distally to involve the gland. When the latter suffers pressure, atrophy, and necrosis, the infection has been conveyed to the ischioanal fossa, or the plane of the superficial layer of the superficial fascia, immediately subjacent to the skin. Since the skin of the buttock is quite resistant, the infection may extend in the loose areolar tissue in several directions, one of which is to the scrotum or labia majora. Scrotal involvements in the male are not uncommon. Labial presentation of such suppurations is the subject of this discussion. Two illustrative cases observed and treated simultancously by one of us (B. L.) follow.
A generic model to compose vision modules for holistic scene understanding

The problem of holistic scene understanding involves many vision tasks such as depth estimation, scene categorization, event categorization, etc. Each of these tasks explores some aspects of the scene but, these tasks are related in that, they represent attributes of the same scene. An intuition is that one task can provide meaningful attributes to aid the learning process of another task. In this work, we propose a generic model (together with learning and inference techniques) for connecting different vision tasks in the form of a 2-layer cascade. Our model considers the first layer as a hidden layer, where the latent variables are inferred by feedback from the second layer. The feedback mechanism allows the first layer classifiers to focus on more important image modes, and draws their output towards "attributes" rather than the original "labels". Our model also automatically discovers sparse connections between the learned attributes on the first layer and the target task on the second layer. Note that in our model, the same vision tasks can act as attribute learners as well as target tasks, while being set up on different layers. In extensive experiments, we show that the same proposed model improves the performance in all the tasks we consider: single image depth estimation, scene categorization, saliency detection and event categorization.
From Global Buck to Local Muck: Capital Markets, Public Policy and Neighborhood Wreckage in the U.S.

The U.S. subprime crisis was the result of a continual movement of U.S. mortgage markets towards vertical disintegration, structured finance, and deregulation since the early 1980s. The result was an increasingly direct connection between global capital markets and U.S. homeowners and neighborhoods, with little mediation, oversight or restraint, especially by the public sector. There was no concern with the consequences that high-risk lending might have on local communities and their residents; the focus was on promoting liquidity at all costs, to increase the transactions (and the associated profits) and continue to promote financialization of the economy. The impacts of the subprime crisis, both direct and indirect, are far too vast and widespread to be addressed in a single paper. However, I attempt here to describe one critical aspect of this impact - the piling up of vacant, foreclosed properties in many U.S. neighborhoods, especially those in older central cities as well as those in newer, outlying suburban and exurban communities in some parts of the country. I also discuss the primary federal response to the problem of vacant, foreclosed properties, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which was adopted initially in the summer of 2008, with supplemental funding in 2009.
Use of electrophilic substitution to form site-specific cross-links in DNA.

This unit describes the synthesis, purification, and analysis of modified oligodeoxynucleotides containing 4-thio-2′-deoxyuridine, and the use of these modified oligodeoxynucleotides in conjunction with bis-electrophilic tethers to form site-specific cross-links with a complementary DNA target. These modified oligodeoxynucleotides provide a flexible tool for studies directed at biophysical investigation of oligonucleotide structure, as well as investigation of DNA hybridization, stability, and sequence-dependent base nucleophilicity.
Some experiences with CAEME software in undergraduate electromagnetics education

With the availability of CAEME software it was decided to incorporate and use a number of the software modules in undergraduate electromagnetics courses at Case Western Reserve University. The objective was to determine to what extent the available software enhanced student interest, understanding, and the learning process. The author describes the various computer-oriented projects that were assigned and the software that was recommended for tutorial use to the students, along with an assessment of how well the objectives were met. >
HST Images of Stephan's Quintet: Star Cluster Candidates in a Compact Group Environment

We present HST WFPC2 images of Stephan's Quintet which encompass three interacting galaxies and their associated tidal features. These deep, three-color (B, V, I) images indicate recent, massive stellar system formation in various regions within the compact group environment. We have identified star cluster candidates (SCC) both within the interacting galaxies and in the tidal debris. We compare the SCC colors with stellar population synthesis models in order to constrain cluster ages, and compare the pattern of formation of SCC in different regions to the inferred dynamical history of the group.
Low peak power multiband spokes pulses for B1+ inhomogeneity‐compensated simultaneous multislice excitation in high field MRI

Purpose To design low peak and integrated power simultaneous multislice excitation radiofrequency pulses with transmit field inhomogeneity compensation in high field MRI. Theory and Methods The “interleaved greedy and local optimization” algorithm for small-tip-angle spokes pulses is extended to design multiband (MB) spokes pulses that simultaneously excite multiple slices, with independent spokes weight optimization for each slice. The peak power of the pulses is controlled using a slice phase optimization technique. Simulations were performed at 7T to compare the peak power of optimized MB spokes pulses to unoptimized pulses, and to compare the proposed slice-independent spokes weight optimization to a joint approach. In vivo experiments were performed at 7T to validate the pulse's function and compare them to conventional MB pulses. Results Simulations showed that the peak power-minimized pulses had lower peak power than unregularized and integrated power-regularized pulses, and that the slice-independent spokes weight optimization consistently produced lower flip angle inhomogeneity and lower peak and integrated power pulses. In the brain imaging experiments, the MB spokes pulses showed significant improvement in excitation flip angle and subsequently signal homogeneity compared to conventional MB pulses. Conclusion The proposed MB spokes pulses improve flip angle homogeneity in simultaneous multislice acquisitions at ultrahigh field, with minimal increase in integrated and peak radiofrequency power. Magn Reson Med 74:747–755, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The field from an SH point source in a continuously layered inhomogeneous half-space: II. The field in a half-space

The propagation of waves due to the presence of an SH point source in the interior of a piecewise continuously stratified half-space is studied. The physical parameters governing the wave propagation, i.e. the rigidity and the density, are assumed to be arbitrary piecewise continuous functions of depth with constant finite limiting values as depth goes to infinity. The analysis is based on spectral theory of boundary value problems associated with ordinary linear second order differential equations. It is found for the time harmonic case that the final field representations are given in the form of a finite residue series, plus a branch line integral, the first representing the normal mode contribution to the field. The field expression appears to have a symmetrical form with respect to field point depth and source depth, involving solutions connected with free wave propagation. This enables one to draw immediately conclusions regarding the influence of the source depth and the frequency on the spectral excitation of the normal modes if numerical knowledge of free Love waves is assumed to be known.
Cancer: Sugar-coated cell signalling

Cell membranes are covered with sugar-conjugated proteins. New findings suggest that the physical properties of this coating, which is more pronounced in cancer cells, regulate cell survival during tumour spread.
Looking for epilepsy genes.

The complexity of the human genome creates special problems in understanding the genetic component of disease processes. An estimated 50,000 genes exist in the human genome and it is reasonable to assume that mutation in any one of these genes may result in an inherited disorder. Because of the complex pattern of gene expression controlling the development and organization of the central nervous system, insights into the genetic component, if any, of diseases such as epilepsy are most accessible to analysis by genetic linkage studies. Advances in the manipulation of DNA have made possible more effective acquistion of genotypic information in humans by studying the inheritance of restriction fragment length polymorphisms using cloned DNA probes. Two approaches exist to utilize this technology in studying inherited disorders. The first approach consists of genotypic determinations in affected families with cloned genes in which a mutation might result in the phenotype observed. Analysis of these data will show whether the inheritance of an allele of the candidate gene is linked to the disease. The second approach relies upon the construction with these probes of a linkage map for the human genome such that disease families can be screened in order to determine with which of these markers the phenotype is linked, indicating the map position of a gene associated with the inherited disorder. The use of these new approaches enables investigators to screen either specific biochemical defects in disease families or to identify the underlying genetic mechanisms in inherited disorders whose phenotype is expressed only in the intact human.
Cascaded-transition Quantum Cascade laser

The Quantum Cascade (QC) laser is a semiconductor laser based on intersubband transitions in the conduction band of a multiple quantum-well heterostructure, and is a highperformance light source in the mid-infrared and terahertz region. With the aim of improving the quantum efficiency and power efficiency of long-wavelength QC lasers, based on the principle of conventional single-transition QC lasers, we demonstrate a cascaded-transition, long-wavelength (λ ∼ 14.6 μm) QC laser where an electron makes two consecutive, cascading optical transitions and emits two energy-matched photons in each active region. The laser structure grown consists of a cascaded-transition active core with 25 stages sandwiched between two conventional single-transition active cores with 30 stages each. From the grown samples, laser emission from ∼ 680 cm−1 to ∼ 700 cm−1 (λ ∼ 14.7–14.3 μm) with threshold current density of 4.8 kA/cm2 at 80 K is observed. The laser functions in pulsed mode up to ∼ 240 K, with a characteristic temperature of 190–230 K for ridge widths around 20 μm. From the current-voltage (I–V) measurement, two turn-on's, defined as the electric field at which the subbands line up to create a low-resistive state, are observed, which is consistent with the I–V of a cascaded-transition only mesa, which, in turn, is suggestive of the functionality of the cascaded-transition active core; each turn-on relates to electron transport through the upper laser subbands and the middle subband respectively.
Identification and Characterization of NF-Y Transcription Factor Families in the Monocot Model Plant Brachypodium distachyon

Background Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric transcription factor composed of NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC proteins. Using the dicot plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), NF-Y were previously shown to control a variety of agronomically important traits, including drought tolerance, flowering time, and seed development. The aim of the current research was to identify and characterize NF-Y families in the emerging monocot model plant Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) with the long term goal of assisting in the translation of known dicot NF-Y functions to the grasses. Methodology/Principal Findings We identified, annotated, and further characterized 7 NF-YA, 17 NF-YB, and 12 NF-YC proteins in Brachypodium (BdNF-Y). By examining phylogenetic relationships, orthology predictions, and tissue-specific expression patterns for all 36 BdNF-Y, we proposed numerous examples of likely functional conservation between dicots and monocots. To test one of these orthology predictions, we demonstrated that a BdNF-YB with predicted orthology to Arabidopsis floral-promoting NF-Y proteins can rescue a late flowering Arabidopsis mutant. Conclusions/Significance The Brachypodium genome encodes a similar complement of NF-Y to other sequenced angiosperms. Information regarding NF-Y phylogenetic relationships, predicted orthologies, and expression patterns can facilitate their study in the grasses. The current data serves as an entry point for translating many NF-Y functions from dicots to the genetically tractable monocot model system Brachypodium. In turn, studies of NF-Y function in Brachypodium promise to be more readily translatable to the agriculturally important grasses.
Acid-promoted tautomeric lactonization and oxidation-reduction of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ).

Abstract Acid-treatment facilitates PQQ detection by electron ionization mass spectroscopy with a molecular ion atM/e 330 and a base ion formed by triple decar☐ylation atM/e 198. Other ions found probably arise through acid-catalyzed tautomeric lactonization of PQQ to PQQ-lactone (PQQL) with subsequent oxidation of PQQL and reduction of PQQ. We propose that a car☐yl group, presumably the 9-car☐yl, attacks a double bond in PQQ, reversibly converting the 4,5-orthoquinone into an 4,5-enediol and forming an isomeric lactone, PQQL, of 330 daltons. The masking of carbonyls may explain the low reactivity of PQQ with carbonyl reagents in acid. Acid-promoted tautomeric lactonization with carbonyl-masking is known to occur with fluoresceins, phenolphthalein and other compounds, but has not been recognized before with PQQ. Acid-treated PQQ demonstrates molecular and other ions derived from reduced PQQ (PQQ(2H)) or its lactone atM/e 332 with a base ion atM/e 200. There is compelling evidence for a dehydrogenated lactone, PQQ(−2H)L), atM/e 328 with a base ion atM/e 196. We suggest that PQQ, in tautomeric equilibrium with PQQL, oxidizes PQQL to PQQ(−2H)L (328 daltons), with its concurrent reduction to PQQ(2H) (332 daltons). With acidified D 2 O, PQQ shows deuterated products with ions atM/e values consistent with lactonization and oxidation-reduction. An analytically useful quinoxaline adduct, formed from PQQ and 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (PQQ-DAN) of 452 daltons, also undergoes acid-tautomerization-lactonization and oxidation-reduction similar to PQQ showing molecular ions atM/e 450, 452 and 454 and decar☐ylation-derived strong (base) ions atM/e 318, 320 and 322. Esterification of PQQ-DAN acid-products with triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate gives triethyl esters derived from the 452 and 454 dalton compounds with very strong molecular ions atM/e 536 and 538, respectively. Ions derived from diethyl esterification of the 450 dalton compound atM/e 506 identify the 450 compound as the dehydrogenated monolactone of PQQ-DAN. Acid-hydrolyzed PQQ placed in neutral buffers yields PQQ(2H) as the main product with some PQQ also present. Both catalyze redox cycling and amplified formazan formation with glycinate and nitroblue tetrazolium. Therefore, acid hydrolysis of quinoproteins releases PQQ-products, detected well by redox-cycling. These products are not detected efficiently with carbonyl reagents in acid since acid-treatment of PQQ leads to 1) carbonyl group reduction and PQQ(2H) formation and 2) carbonyl masking of remaining PQQ by tautomeric lactonization.
Hypothermic effects of intraventricular and intravenous administration of cannabinoids in intact and brainstem transected cats.

Abstract Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol ( Δ 9 -THC, 500 μg in 40 μl), and the synthetic cannabinoid Dimethylheptylpuran (DMHP, 75 μg in 6.0 μl) were injected into ventricles III or IV of chronically implanted unanesthetized cats to determine the effect on body temperature. The hypothermia induced by administration of Δ 9 -THC into ventricle IV was faster in onset and reached a greater maximum than that induced by ventricle HI administration. Five hundred μg (i.v.) of Δ 9 -THC produced significantly less hypothermia than interventricular microinjection. Administration of Δ 9 -THC (2 mg/kg i.v.) to animals with a midcollicular transection produced significant decreases in blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature when compared to animals receiving vehicle alone. Cats transected at C-1 were utilized to determine the rate at which body temperature was lost in animals unable to temperature regulate. Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol had no effect in these preparations indicating that direct peripheral mechanisms have little or no role in Δ 9 -THC induced hypothermia. It was further noted that Δ 9 -THC had little effect on blood pressure or heart rate in C-1 transected animals. These findings suggest a caudal brain stem site of action for the hypothermie effect of the cannabinoids.
Analysis of torsional spectra of molecules with two internal C3v rotors. X.a) Low frequency vibrational spectra, methyl torsional potential functions, and internal rotation of ethylmethylether (‐d0 and ‐d3)

The vibrational spectra of gaseous ethylmethylether C2H5OCH3 and C2H5OCD3 have been investigated at high resolution below 500 cm−1. Considerable torsional data are reported and assigned on the basis of an equilibrium between the s‐trans and the high energy gauche conformers. Asymmetric potential functions for the CH2–O torsions have been calculated from observed transitions, leading to values for the enthalpy difference between the gauche and s‐trans conformers of 1.36 and 1.28 kcal/mole, respectively, for the ‐d0 and ‐d3 compounds. Analysis of the transitions above 130 cm−1 indicates that the two methyl rotors have strongly coupled torsional vibrations in both compounds, and that previous assignments are insufficient for explaining the data. Transitions due to the methyl torsions of the molecules in the first excited states of the asymmetric CH2–O torsions are reported; also, some weak bands have been assigned tentatively as methyl torsions of gauche‐ethylmethylether. Torsional potential functions and ba...
Evaluation of Controlled-Release Fertilizers for Northeast Florida Chip Potato Production

ABSTRACT Controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) were compared with ammonium nitrate (AN) in a potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production study at the University of Florida farm in Hastings, FL, in 2002. Treatments were no nitrogen (No-N), AN, and nine CRFs at 146 kg ha−1 N and 225 kg ha−1 N. CRF7 (146 kg ha−1 N) resulted in highest total and marketable yields at 33.7 MT ha−1 and 29.4 MT ha−1, respectively. Tubers from the AN (225 kg ha−1 N) and CRF9 (225 kg ha−1 N) treatments had the highest specific gravity at 1.073. Nitrogen removal efficiency was highest in plants in CRF1 (43.0%) and CRF7 (47.3%) plots. Both were significantly higher than AN-treated plants. At 39 days after planting, NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations in lysimeter water samples were significantly higher in AN treatments. Leaf tissue N concentrations were sufficient throughout the growing season in all treatments except No-N.
Conductivity and Dielectric Constant of PPO and PPO-Based Solid Electrolytes from Dc to 6 GHz

The conductivity and dielectric response of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and the polymeric solid electrolytes (PPO) 8 NH 4 CF 3 SO 3 , (PPO) 16 NaI, (PPO) 10 NaI, and (PPO) 8 NaI were studied in the frequency range from dc to 6 GHz and the temperature range from 173 to 323 K with the objective of elucidating the dynamic factors that affect ion transport in polyether electrolytes. The temperature dependencies of the primary α-relaxation of PPO and the dc electrical conductivity of the salt complexes are consistent with this relaxation playing a key role in ionic conduction in polymer electrolytes. For the salt complexes, the α-relaxation appears to be shifted to lower frequencies relative to pure PPO, and this is attributed to virtual cross-linking
Anatomical and biomechanical assessments of medial tibial stress syndrome.

Background: Medial tibial stress syndrome is a common overuse injury in weightbearing, physically active individuals and in athletes. Most research associated with this condition is primarily based on static foot and lower-extremity measurements. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to assess a set of static and dynamic measurements to determine which anatomical factors (limb length, ankle dorsiflexion, first metatarsophalangeal joint extension, and arch height) and biomechanical factors (center-of-pressure excursion index, malleolar valgus index, and gait velocity) are associated with medial tibial stress syndrome. Results: One-way analysis of variance models revealed that participants with medial tibial stress syndrome had significantly greater visual analog pain levels and slower gait velocity than noninjured controls (P = .05). No other significant differences were found between the two groups. Conclusions: Further investigation of these and other factors can help health professionals develop better strategies for the prevention and clinical intervention of medial tibial stress syndrome. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(2): 121-132, 2010)
Effects of Species Diversity on Establishment and Coexistence: A Phylloplane Fungal Community Model System

A model system was devised, evaluating the influence that species diversity (species richness) has on fungal establishment and coexistence. Seven members of the fungal phylloplane community of Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry) were selected to assess how species diversity affected development and coexistence of another community member, Pestalotia vaccinii. Pestalotia was engaged in competitive interactions on 1% Malt Extract Agar (MEA) petri dishes with each of the seven individual saprotrophs (two-way interaction), in random combinations with three of the seven saprotrophs (four-way interaction), and in random combinations with five of the seven saprotrophs (six-way interaction). The saprotrophic fungi used in this study were Aspergillus sp., Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Curvularia lunata, Epicoccum purpuracens, Penicillium sp., and Pithomyces chartarum. We hypothesized that species diversity would have a significant impact on the establishment and coexistence of Pestalotia vaccinii in culture. In an effort to minimize density-dependent effects, the number of viable spores employed in the three types of interactions was kept constant. Target spore concentrations of 50 viable spores of P. vaccinii and 50 saprotroph spores were used, regardless of the number of species involved in the interaction. This proved to be a very important factor in the experiment. As our results show, species diversity had little or no effect on the establishment and coexistence of Pestalotia vaccinii; however, spore density played an extremely important role in the establishment and development of fungal propagules in our model.
Scrupulosity: A cognitive–behavioral analysis and implications for treatment

Abstract Scrupulosity involves obsessive religious doubts and fears, unwanted blasphemous thoughts and images, as well as compulsive religious rituals, reassurance seeking, and avoidance. This article provides a comprehensive review of the nature of scrupulosity, including (a) a detailed clinical description, (b) information about how to differentiate scrupulosity from normal religious practice, (c) cross cultural aspects of scrupulosity, and (d) the relationships between scrupulosity and religiosity. Next, evidence is presented in support of scrupulosity as a presentation of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and a cognitive–behavioral model of scrupulosity extending current models of OCD is outlined. In this model, the influence of religion on the misinterpretation of unacceptable intrusive thoughts, the ways in which symptom content depends on one׳s religious identification, and the role of intolerance of uncertainty are emphasized. Finally treatment implications are discussed for applying exposure and response prevention and cognitive techniques to the specific concerns relevant to scrupulosity.
Poetry as a Mnemonic Prompt in Children's Stories.

This research investigates the effects of prosody on children's recall for stories using two successive studies. Study 1 is an ethnographic exploration of a group of fifth graders creating summaries of a children's story with overt prosodic elements. Study 2 is a quasi-experiment in which the story summaries created by students who heard one of two versions (more or less prosodic) of the story from Study 1 were compared. Overall, we find that the amount of prosody in a story has a significant effect on children's story recall and the quality of the stories they produce.
Nuclear-Spin Inertia and Pressure Broadening of P 1 2 2 Hanle-Effect Signals

Hanle-effect measurements yield values for the collisional depolarization rates of $^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}$ excited atomic states that are about three times too small unless one explicitly includes the effects of nuclear spin. The broadening also becomes a nonlinear function of foreign-gas pressure. We present experimental evidence for nuclear-spin effects on pressure-broadened Hanle-effect signals of ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}$ and ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}$ in helium.
Complete Heart Block Occurring during Cardiac Catheterization in Patients with Preexisting Bundle Branch Block

A case of catheter-induced complete heart block in a patient with preexistent left bundle branch block is documented by His bundle recordings. It is recommended that a temporary pacemaker catheter on demand should be placed in the right ventricular apex in all patients with complete bundle branch block undergoing cardiac catheterization. In the coronary care units catheters should never be passed blindly to the right heart chambers in patients with left bundle branch block.
An analysis of bootstrapped gain enhancement techniques

Bootstrapping is a means of enhancing the gain of amplifier stages while retaining a compact circuit. The precise means of gain increase are analyzed and described qualitatively, as well as the frequency limitations of the circuits. Examples are drawn from NMOS and GaAs MESFET implementations.
Whole-Body Autoradiographic Disposition and Plasma Pharmacokinetics of 5,10-Dideazatetrahydrofolic Acid in Mice Fed Folic Acid-Deficient or Regular Diets †

The effect of folic acid depletion on the tissue distribution and plasma pharmacokinetics of the oncolytic agent 5,10-dideazatetrahy-drofolic acid (DDATHF) was evaluated in mice fed either folic acid-deficient or regular diets. Mice were maintained on diets for 2 weeks prior to receiving a single iv 30 mg/kg dose of [14C]DDATHF (tissue distribution) or DDATHF (plasma pharmacokinetics). Whole-body autoradiographic evaluation and plasma analysis for DDATHF were conducted in mice at 5 min and 6, 24, 48, 96, 120, and 168 h postdose. Radiocarbon associated with [14C]DDATHF was readily distributed to all tissues in both diet groups at the early time points and was rapidly cleared from most tissues at 24 h postdose. At the later time points, substantial amounts of radioactivity remained in liver from mice fed either diet. However, levels of radiocarbon in liver from mice fed the folic acid-deficient diet were approximately 2.5–4.2-fold the radiocarbon levels in liver from mice fed the regular diet. Similarly, plasma pharmacokinetics indicated that mice fed the folic acid-deficient diet had sustained plasma concentrations of DDATHF compared to plasma concentrations in mice fed the regular diet. These data indicated that a deficiency in dietary folic acid in mice caused increased hepatic retention of radioactivity and sustained plasma concentrations of DDATHF which are probably responsible for the observed toxicity of DDATHF in mice.
Infrared studies of the adsorption of synthesis gas on zirconium dioxide

The adsorption of CO, CO2, H2, HCOOH, and CH3OH was studied over ZrO2 using FTIR. Bicarbonate, formate, and methoxide species were observed. Bicarbonate was the major species formed from CO2 and was converted into formate in the presence of sufficient hydrogen. Formate was observed following CO adsorption even in the absence of hydrogen. The formate was reduced to methoxide in the presence of hydrogen. The different behavior for CO/H2 and CO2/H2 demonstrated that different mechanisms should be proposed for CO versus CO2 hydrogenation over ZrO2. Formate to methoxide conversion was reversible. Experiments conducted with D2O revealed that surface OH (OD) groups participate in formate formation and in formate to methoxide conversion.
Protest with Chinese Characteristics: Demonstrations, Riots, and Petitions in the Mid-Qing Dynasty

Ho-fung Hung's Protest with Chinese Characteristics is an extraordinary piece of scholarship. Hung's use of historical sources, lucid explication of social theory and clarity of writing uniquely po...
What is graphene

Graphene is a 2D material with a honeycomb lattice structure made of sp2 bonded carbon atoms. Graphene is essentially the mother of all graphitic materials - it can be formed into buckyballs and nanotubes, etched into nanoribbons, or stacked into bulk graphite. The properties of graphene that have researchers excited [1-2] include its excellent mobility[4-5,8], long mean free path, high thermal conductivity [9], high mechanical strength, high surface area to volume ratio, width-dependent bandgap [3,6], and high current carrying capacity [17]. Most of these properties are also true for carbon nanotubes (CNTs); however, graphene also has the advantage over CNTs . if graphene can be produced as a single two-dimensional sheet, it allows for easy patterning and can be integrated into the processes used in silicon integrated circuit manufacturing. As a truly 2D material, graphene has been of theoretical significance for more than 60 years. The discovery of graphene isolated from graphite in 2004 [1] proved that a 2D material such as graphene can exist in a flat state on a substrate rather than curl up as previously thought.
Cathodic activation of RuO2 single crystal surfaces for hydrogen-evolution reaction

Abstract Activation of RuO 2 (1 1 0) and (1 0 0) single crystal surfaces by cathodic polarization was studied using hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions as probes, as well as cyclic voltammetry and X-ray crystal-truncation-rod measurements. Both surfaces are poor catalysts for hydrogen reactions in the as-grown state, however, their activity increases after cathodic polarization. Cathodic activation of the RuO 2 (1 1 0) surface was interpreted as the formation of metallic ruthenium sites which can be reoxidized to ruthenium dioxide. This process is reversible in the early stages of activation when no significant surface corrugation is produced. Irreversible surface roughening can be produced with activation at very negative potentials. On the other hand, the activation of the RuO 2 (1 0 0) surface leads, under even very mild conditions, to an irreversible increase in surface pseudocapacitance and the appearance of new voltammetric features. This behavior is attributed to irreversible morphological changes following hydrogen intercalation into the subsurface region. The more facile and drastic changes upon activation of the (1 0 0) surface can be explained by its more open structure as compared with the densely packed (1 1 0) surface.
“Green” Reproduction, Resource Conservation, and Ecological Responsibility

This paper will draw on Catholic resources to examine the impact of population and consumption vis-a-vis reproduction in the developed world as it relates to theological/ moral obligations to the earth. By examining both natural and artificial means of procreation, an assessment of “green” reproduction can be made. I will explore contraception as an option for limiting natural procreation, and the avoidance of assisted reproductive technologies [ARTs] as a way of preventive artificial reproduction. However, both family size and carbon footprint must be scrutinized for ecologically sound consumer practices in accordance with biblical principles to ensure the global magnitude of the ecological crisis is examined; therefore the role of consumption that stems from procreation will also be discussed. The paper will conclude by envisioning alternative parenting options as they relate to ecological practices, and I will assert that all things considered, on the continuum of ecologically oriented reproductive choices, non-biological parenting and thereby a reduction in procreation and consumerist practices is the most ethical and ecological solution to the environmental crisis that surely escalates with each birth.
Tai Chi: The Chinese ancient wisdom of an ideal exercise for cardiac patients

Tai Chi, the shorter version of Tai Chi Chuan [1], is a form of ancient Chinese martial art with slow and graceful movements. It is also a mind–body relaxation exercise [1]. Tai Chi was originally devised in about 960 during the Song dynasty by Chang San-fung [1,2] for meditation and selfdefence [1,3]. Contrary to the northern, external form of boxing (shao-lin based on muscular strength), Tai Chi was a southern internal form based on suppleness and the art of evasion. The idea was to oblige one's opponent to exert efforts as considerable as they were useless and so put him into an unfavorable position [2]. Over the years Tai Chi has become more focused on health promotion than as a martial art. It is now a very popular Chinese conditioning exercise practiced all around the world. The effect of Tai Chi on health outcomes in patients with chronic diseases has been extensively reviewed over the years [4–8]. In particular, the benefits of Tai Chi in patients with cardiac diseases were the subjects of several recent articles [9–13]. In addition to those discussed in these articles – enhanced cardiovascular function, increased strength, increased balance, decreased falls, reduced pain perception, reduced anxiety and improved self-efficiency – there are several additional effects of Tai Chi in cardiac patients that will be the subjects of this article. First, Tai Chi is effective in treating patients with hypertension [8,14–18]. The effect is greater for systolic than for diastolic blood pressure which is dependent upon elasticity in the arterial wall [15,17]. Whether the blood pressure decrease is a consequence of the mental or physical relaxation aspects of the exercise is still under investigation [15].