cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Self- and 360-Evaluation Scores of the Professionalism Intelligence Model Within an Academic Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department.

Purpose To analyze self and 360-evaluation scores of the professionalism intelligence model domains within an academic Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department. Methods A leadership course was introduced within the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. A 360 evaluation assessing domains of the professional intelligence model was recorded for all participants. Participant demographics included gender (male vs female), generation group (generation Y vs older generations) and physician status of participants (physician vs non-physician). Differences in mean self-scores were modeled using linear regression. When analyzing the evaluator scores, gaps were defined as self-score minus evaluator-score for each member of a participant's evaluator groupings (supervisor, peer, and direct report). Two types of linear mixed models were fit with a random intercept to account for the correlated gaps in the same participant. Results Scores of 50 participants and 394 evaluators were analyzed. The average age was 40.6 (standard deviation 9.3) years, and 50% (N=25) of participants were females. Physicians accounted for 36% (N=18) of the cohort, and 61% (N=11) of physicians were residents. Physicians scored themselves lower than non-physicians when assessing leadership intelligence, interpersonal relations, empathy, and focused thinking. On average, participants under-rated themselves compared to their evaluators with direct reports giving higher scores than managers and peers. When compared with generation Y, older generations tended to rate themselves lower than their peers and managers in cognitive intelligence. No significant association was observed between gender and any scores. Conclusion Participants rate themselves lower on average than their evaluators. This work is important in understanding how perceived leadership qualities are assessed and developed within an academic surgical department. Finally, the results presented could serve as a model to address the gap between self- and other-perceptions of defined leadership virtues in future leadership development activities.
Study on the Trauma of Slave Women in Humus

The story of slavery is always told from the masculine perspective neglecting the suffering of women who were also taken into captivity and forced into labor. Many people who talk about this horrific story speak of the suffering of men taken against their will at the expense of that of women. For this reason, Fabienne Kanor, a Martinican writer chose to tell the story of African slave women of different origins and the different forms of abuses and sufferings they suffered during their crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to other parts of the world to work as slaves. This study discusses their suffering by exposing their collective and individual traumas of sexual exploitation and the trauma of displacement which is linked to their loss of identity and meaning.
Dark- and Bright-Pulse States in Photonic Crystal Ring Resonators

Kerr microresonators with normal dispersion support dark- and bright-pulse states, characterized by either locally vanishing or enhanced intensity. We demonstrate that exciting the photonic-crystal resonator defect mode enables continuous tuning between dark and bright solitons.
What makes law : an introduction to the philosophy of law

This book offers an advanced introduction to central questions in legal philosophy. What factors determine the content of the law in force? What makes a normative system a legal system? How does law beyond the state differ from domestic law? What kind of moral force does law have? The most important existing views are introduced, but the aim is not to survey the existing literature. Rather, this book introduces the subject by stepping back from the fray to sketch the big picture, to show just what is at stake in these old debates. Legal philosophy has become somewhat arid and inward looking. In part this is because the disagreement between the main camps on the important questions is apparently intractable. The main aim of the book is to suggest both a diagnosis and a proper practical response to this situation of intractable disagreement about questions that do matter.
Does alternating dissection effect student performance on practical examinations (LB29)

In the process of restructuring the Gross Anatomy course for first-year osteopathic medical students a new lab model was introduced, with teams alternately performing the dissection of midline regi...
Vitamin B6 in milk: review of literature.

Published May 1960. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Equivalence of public mixed-strategies and private behavior strategies in games with public monitoring

In repeated games with public monitoring, the consideration of behavior strategies makes relevant the distinction between public and private strategies. Recently, Kandori and Obara [5] and Mailath, Matthews and Sekiguchi [7] have provided examples of games with equilibrium payoffs in private strategies which lie outside the set of Public Perfect Equilibrium payoffs. The present paper focuses on another distinction, that between mixed and behavior strategies. It is shown that, as far as with mixed strategies one is concerned, the restriction to public strategies is not a restriction at all. Our result provides a general explanation for the findings of Kandori and Obara [5] and Mailath, Matthews and Sekiguchi [7] as well as a general method for constructing examples of that sort. JEL classification number: C73
The Principles and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration: The United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (The New York Convention) (1958)

Reprinted with permission of UNCITRAL Completed in New York, on June 10, 1958 at the United Nations & the Convention entered into force on June 7, 1959. Treaty Series, vol. 330, p. 38, No. 4739 (1959) Article I This Convention shall apply to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards made in the territory of a State other than the State where the recognition and enforcement of such awards are sought, and arising out of differences between persons, whether physical or legal. It shall also apply to arbitral awards not considered as domestic awards in the State where their recognition and enforcement are sought. The term “arbitral awards” shall include not only awards made by arbitrators appointed for each case but also those made by permanent arbitral bodies to which the parties have submitted. When signing, ratifying or acceding to this Convention, or notifying extension under Article X hereof, any State may on the basis of reciprocity declare that it will apply the Convention to the recognition and enforcement of awards made only in the territory of another Contracting State. It may also declare that it will apply the Convention only to differences arising out of legal relationships, whether contractual or not, which are considered as commercial under the national law of the State making such declaration.
Nomenclature and classification of vasculitis: lessons learned from granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis)

Names influence how something is perceived. Diagnostic terms (diagnoses) are the names of diseases that are usually derived either from some distinctive characteristic of the disease or include an eponym recognizing someone who elucidated the disease. No matter how logical and appropriate a name may be, if it is not usable and used it is of no lasting value. This brief commentary focuses on the nomenclature of systemic vasculitides, and uses as a prime example Wegener's granulomatosis, which has been renamed recently 'granulomatosis with polyangiitis', in part because of concerns about the suitability of Friedrich Wegener as the source of an eponym. The most distinctive pathological feature of Wegener's granulomatosis is multi-focal necrotizing inflammation that has long been called granulomatosis. The systemic variant of Wegener's granulomatosis also is characterized by inflammation in many different vessels or different types, i.e. polyangiitis. Thus, granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a very appropriate alternative term for Wegener's granulomatosis. This term also is in accord with the name for a closely related vasculitis, i.e. microscopic polyangiitis. Terms that indicate aetiology and pathogenesis, when known, are useful to include in names for diseases (diagnoses). Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies specific for myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) or proteinase 3 (PR3-ANCA) are implicated in the cause of granulomatosis with polyangiitis and thus also should be specified in the diagnosis (e.g. PR3-ANCA-positive granulomatosis with polyangiitis or MPO-ANCA-positive microscopic polyangiitis). As our understanding of the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and aetiology of vasculitides change over time, the names and approaches for diagnosing these diseases will change accordingly.
Feature Selection by Approximating the Markov Blanket in a Kernel-Induced Space

The proposed feature selection method aims to find a minimum subset of the most informative variables for classification/regression by efficiently approximating the Markov Blanket which is a set of variables that can shield a certain variable from the target. Instead of relying on the conditional independence test or network structure learning, the new method uses Hilbert-Schmidt Independence criterion as a measure of dependence among variables in a kernel-induced space. This allows effective approximation of the Markov Blanket that consists of multiple dependent features rather than being limited to a single feature. In addition, the new method can remove both irrelevant and redundant features at the same time. This method for discovering the Markov Blanket is applicable to both discrete and continuous variables, whereas previous methods cannot be used directly for continuous features and therefore are not applicable to regression problems. Experimental evaluations on synthetic and benchmark classification and regression datasets provide evidence that the new feature selection method can remove useless variables in low and in high dimensional problems more accurately than existing Markov Blanket based alternatives.
Tie-simplex based mathematical framework for thermodynamical equilibrium computation of mixtures with an arbitrary number of phases

We present a general framework for the computation of the thermodynamic behavior of multi-phase, multi-component systems. In this framework we use the fact that for given values of pressure and temperature the compositional space can be represented as a high dimensional simplex, while the phase equilibrium conditions can be represented by a low dimensional tie-simplex. We parameterize the high dimensional compositional space using a lower dimensional tie-simplex subspace. The tie-simplex computation and interpolation procedures complement the parameterization and complete the mathematical framework. We demonstrate that the tie-simplex space fully describes the solution route for displacements involving multi-phase mixtures. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated for several multi-phase equilibrium problems of practical interest. The tie-simplex parameterization can be performed in a preprocessing step to replace the flash computations completely, or can be used as an initial guess to accelerate the convergence of standard procedures. For general-purpose flow simulation, adaptive construction of the necessary tie-simplexes during the course of a simulation is an efficient strategy.
Automatically labeling hierarchical clusters

Government agencies must often quickly organize and analyze large amounts of textual information, for example comments received as part of notice and comment rulemaking. Hierarchical organization is popular because it represents information at different levels of detail and is convenient for interactive browsing. Good hierarchical clustering algorithms are available, but there are few good solutions for automatically labeling the nodes in a cluster hierarchy.This paper presents a simple algorithm that automatically assigns labels to hierarchical clusters. The algorithm evaluates candidate labels using information from the cluster, the parent cluster, and corpus statistics. A trainable threshold enables the algorithm to assign just a few high-quality labels to each cluster. Experiments with Open Directory Project (ODP) hierarchies indicate that the algorithm creates cluster labels that are similar to labels created by ODP editors.
A generalization of Dirac's theorem: Subdivisions of wheels

In this paper, we prove that if every vertex of a simple graph has degree at least @d, then it has a subgraph that is isomorphic to a subdivision of a @d-wheel. We then extend a result of Dirac showing that every graph with a chromatic number exceeding n has a subgraph that is a subdivision of the n-wheel.
Navier-Stokes Simulations of a Novel Viscous Pump

A numerical study of flow in a novel viscous-based pumping device appropriate for microscale applications is described. The device, essentially consisting of a rotating cylinder eccentrically placed in a channel, is shown to be capable of generating a net flow against an externally imposed pressure gradient. Navier-Stokes simulations at low Reynolds numbers are carried out using a finite-volume approach to study the influence of various geometric parameters. Slip effects for gas flows are also briefly investigated. The numerical results indicate that the generated flow rate is a maximum when the cylinder is in contact with a channel wall and that an optimum plate spacing exists. These observations are in excellent agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with a previous experimental study. Furthermore, it is shown that effective pumping is obtained even for considerably higher Reynolds numbers, thereby extending the performance envelope of the proposed device to non-microscale applications as well. Finally, slip-flow effects appear to be significant only for Knudsen numbers greater than 0.1, which is important from the point of view of microscale applications.
Finite Strain Elastostatics With Stiffening Materials: A Constrained Minimization Model

BRIEF NOTES particular, the result will depend on the order in which the impulsive forces are applied. Example 1. Examine the collision without friction of a rigid body with two other bodies. The impulsive forces are collinear with normal vectors hi.2 to the body surface at contact points A~.2. The condition (12) has form (n~, n2) + M(J ~(r2 × n2), rl X n~) = 0. (14) For instance, if at least one of vectors n~ or n2 is collinear to the corresponding radius vector r~.2 then Eq. (14) requires orthogonality of n~ and n2. In the case where a horseshoe hits the ground at two points simultaneously, the vectors n~ and n2 are collinear, and Eq. (14) coincides with the definition of center of percussion (see Routh, Art. 120). Example 2. Consider the point collision of a rigid body with a massive barrier. The impulsive reaction can be presented as the sum of normal reaction and friction, both forces are applied at the same contact point A. The work done by the normal reaction can be calculated by the formula W,, = ~L(u,, 1 + v,,) (15) in the following two cases: (i) the line GA is normal to the barrier and for any friction law; (ii) unidirectional sliding and Coulomb friction and for any orientation of the body. Note that the second of these cases was discovered by Stronge (1992); he showed that these conditions are satisfied only if during the impulse the changes in velocity are planar. References
Post-annealing effects on device performance of AlGaN/GaN HFETs

Abstract The effects of post-annealing on DC, RF, and power performances of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with a gate-length of 0.3 μm were investigated. The results show that the post-annealing technique can improve the device breakdown voltage and device uniformity, reduce the trapping centers on AlGaN surface and/or GaN buffer layer after the post-annealing, and adjust the device threshold voltage. Specifically, after 20-min post-annealing at 400 °C, the gate-to-drain breakdown voltage of the device exhibits remarkable improvement from 10 to 187 V. The maximum extrinsic transconductance (gm) increases from 238 to 254 mS/mm at a drain bias of 10 V after 10-min annealing at 400 °C. The threshold voltage shifts from −3.3 to −2.7 V. However, due to the decrease of two-dimensional electron gas concentration, the maximum drain current at a gate bias of 1 V reduces slightly from 918 to 904 mA/mm. The values of the unity current gain cut-off frequency (fT) and the maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX) increase after annealing. The output power and gain at 10 GHz were improved from 16.4 dBm and 11.4 dB to 22.4 dBm and 17.9 dB, respectively.
Quadrupole and octupole Cauchy moments of the atoms through argon

Quadrupole and octupole Cauchy moments of the atoms through argon are calculated using the hydrodynamic formulation of time-dependent Kohn–Sham theory. The exchange-correlation energy density functional is approximated by a gradient expansion for atoms that has an explicit dependence upon the number of electrons. The first-order corrections to the Kohn–Sham amplitudes and phases are found by seeking variational solutions of the derived sequential set of functionals. The trial functions employed contain both linear and nonlinear variational parameters and are thus flexible enough to provide rapid convergence to the multipole polarizabilities. The resulting Cauchy moments provide information that allows the calculation of various properties that result from the linear interaction of atoms with a time-varying electric field. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reflections on miR-ing Effects in Metastasis

In a recent issue of Cell , Valastyan et al. demonstrate that miR-31 can regulate multiple steps in the metastatic cascade independent of confounding effects on primary tumor development. These data have potential to provide biomarkers for prognosis and novel targets for intervention in this most lethal aspect of malignancy.
Isolation and characterization of hepatic metallothionein from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

1. A low molecular weight (7,700) Zn- and Cu-containing protein was isolated from the livers of Zn-injected rainbow trout by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Purity of the isolated protein was assessed by native and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. 2. The purified protein was positively identified as a metallothionein on the basis of its molecular size, high metal content (3.6 g atoms Zn and 2.6 g atoms Cu per mole; 5.2% metal), heat stability, u.v. absorption spectrum, charge and amino acid composition (25% cysteine, no histidine and tryptophan, and trace tyrosine and phenylalanine). 3. The relatively high Cu content of this protein was unexpected and may be attributed to the presence of high levels of Cu, as Cu-thionein, in the livers of non-injected fish. 4. The comparative differences in the metal content of hepatic MT in trout and other animals are discussed.
Functional Evaluation of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: Selection of Appropriate Pharmacologic Agents and Imaging Modalities

Exercise myocardial perfusion imaging and exercise echocardiography have been applied widely for diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. The accuracy of these evaluations depends upon the ability of the patient to achieve maximal exercise (>85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate). In patients unable to exercise or with a limited capacity to exercise maximally, pharmacologic stress imaging is a safe and effective alternative to exercise stress imaging. Pharmacologic stress is also indicated in patients with resting or exercise-induced left bundle branch block. Vasodilator stress with dipyridamole or adenosine, as well as catecholamine stimulation with dobutamine or preliminarily with arbutamine, provides diagnostic and prognostic information that appears to be equivalent to that achieved with exercise imaging. In addition, low dose catecholamine infusion during echocardiography to assess inotropic reserve is valuable in identifying viable myocardium in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and appears to assess viability with an accuracy that approaches that of nuclear cardiology methods. Hence, pharmacologic stress imaging, like exercise stress imaging, has important implications regarding patient outcome, patient management, and selection of patients for interventional therapy.
Third generation FPA development status at Raytheon Vision Systems (Invited Paper)

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) is developing two-color, large-format infrared FPAs to support the US Armys Third Generation FLIR systems**. RVS has produced 640 x 480 two-color FPAs with a 20 P m pixel pitch. Work is also underway to demonstrate a 1280 x 720 two-color FPA in 2005. The FPA architecture has been designed to achieve nearly simultaneous temporal detection of the spectral bands while being producible for pixel dimensions as small as 20 microns. Raytheons approach employs a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) with Time Division Multiplexed Integration (TDMI). This ROIC is coupled to bias-selectable two-color detector array with a single contact per pixel. The two-color detector arrays are fabricated from MBE-grown HgCdTe triple layer heterojunction (TLHJ) wafers. The single indium bump design is producible for 20 P m unit cells and exploits mature fabrication processes that are in production at RVS for Second Generation FPAs. This combination allows for the high temporal and spatial color registration while providing a low-cost, highly producible and robust manufacturing process. High-quality MWIR/LWIR (M/L) 640 x 480 TDMI FPAs with have been produced and imaged from multiple fabrication lots. These FPAs have LWIR cutoffs ranging to 11 P m at 78K. These 20 P m pixel FPAs have demonstrated excellent sensitivity and pixel operabilities exceeding 99%. NETDs less than 25 mK at f/5 have been demonstrated for both bands operating simultaneously. Keywords: HgCdTe, infrared detectors, focal plane arrays, multi-spectral, two-color, 3
Comparison of high pulse repetition frequency and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography for velocity measurement and gradient prediction in children with valvular and congenital heart disease.

To compare the ability of high pulse repetition frequency and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography to detect the peak velocity of a jet flow disturbance and to predict pressure gradients accurately, two groups of children with valvular or congenital heart disease were examined using both Doppler techniques. The use study group included 84 children or adolescents (aged 1 day to 19 years) who underwent examination in the echocardiography laboratory with both Doppler techniques in a randomized sequence. The peak velocity recorded with high pulse repetition frequency Doppler echocardiography was compared with the peak velocity recorded with the continuous wave technique. The accuracy study group included 41 children or adolescents (aged 1 day to 16 years) who underwent examination with both Doppler techniques at the time of cardiac catheterization. Doppler pressure gradients were calculated from the peak velocity using the simplified Bernoulli equation and were compared with peak instantaneous gradients and peak to peak gradients measured at catheterization. In the use study, a high correlation was found between peak velocities detected by high pulse repetition frequency and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography (r = 0.94, SEE = 0.28 m/s). In the accuracy study, close correlations were found between measured peak to peak pressure gradients and pressure gradients calculated from continuous wave (r = 0.95, SEE = 7.9 mm Hg) and high pulse repetition frequency Doppler echocardiography (r = 0.94, SEE = 8.7 mm Hg). Also, close correlations were found between measured peak instantaneous gradients and pressure gradients calculated from continuous wave (r = 0.96, SEE = 7.1 mm Hg) and high pulse repetition frequency Doppier echocardiography (r = 0.95, SEE = 7.5 mm Hg). Thus, in children and adolescents, no difference was found in the ability of the two Doppler techniques to detect the peak velocity of a jet flow disturbance. Both Doppler techniques were equally accurate in their ability to predict pressure gradients measured at cardiac catheterization.
Effect of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid on resting and exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress

Methods 14 men (26 ± 5 yrs) supplemented with 2224 mg EPA (MorEPA Mini; Minami Nutrition, Belgium)+2208 mg DHA (MorDHA Mini; Minami Nutrition, Belgium) and a placebo for 6 weeks using a random order, double blind cross-over design (with an 8 week washout period) prior to performing a 60 minute treadmill climb using a weighted backpack. Blood was collected before and at 0, 0.5, 24, and 48 hours post exercise and analyzed for Creactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), protein carbonyls (PC), oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and xanthine oxidase activity (XO). Pre (wk 0) and post (wk 6) blood samples were analyzed for EPA and DHA content.
Synthesis, Structure, Hydrolysis, and Film Deposition Studies of Complexes of the Formula [NbCl(4)(S(2)R(2))(2)][NbCl(6)].

Treatment of niobium pentachloride with dialkyl disulfides affords ionic complexes of the formula [NbCl4(S2R2)2][NbCl6] in 72−86% yields. The ionic complexes are readily hydrolyzed by traces of wat...
Flow cytometry in analysis of cell cycle and apoptosis

The capacity for multiparametric measurement of large cell populations rapidly and accurately offered by cytometry has made this methodology indispensable in studies of cell proliferation and cell death. The reviewed cell cycle applications include (1) the univariate analysis of cellular DNA content for identification of G(0/1) versus S versus G(2)/M cells; (2) discrimination between noncycling (G(0); quiescent) and proliferating cells, based on the presence of proliferation-associated proteins; (3) identification of mitotic cells by histone H3 phosphorylation; (4) bivariate analysis of expression of cyclins D, E, A, or B1 versus DNA content; and (5) detection of DNA replicating cells and analysis of cell kinetics from the bivariate distributions of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation versus DNA content. For the identification of apoptotic cells and discrimination between apoptosis and necrosis, flow cytometry techniques are applied to evaluate for changes in cell morphology, the presence of phosphatidylserine on cell surface, collapse of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, DNA fragmentation, and evidence of caspase activation. Semin Hematol 38:179-193.
Comparative effects of antimitotic alkaloids on frog and rat neuromuscular junction

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of several antimitotic alkaloids on transmission at the frog and rat neuromuscular junctions have been studied. 2. 2. In frogs, vincristine and vinblastine increased the frequency of spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs), facilitated the appearance of spontaneous giant MEPPs, and decreased MEPP amplitude. Vincristine did not alter the mean number of quanta(m) released by an action potential in the nerve-terminal. 3. 3. In rats, vincristine and vinblastine had no effect on MEPP frequency and amplitude. Colchicine decreased MEPP amplitude but did not change MEPP frequency.
Contextually appropriate emotional word use predicts adaptive health behavior: Emotion context sensitivity and treatment adherence

Emotion context sensitivity is the ability to respond emotionally in a manner that is functionally appropriate for the context in which the emotion arises. This study examined the relationship between emotion context sensitivity and treatment adherence in adults with the chronic illness Thalassemia. Emotional responses were measured by examining the frequency of positive and negative emotional words used to answer two interview questions that created two different emotional contexts. Consistent with previous research on adaptive and contextually appropriate emotions, negative emotion words were related to adherence in the context of the disease itself, while positive emotion words were related to adherence in the context of coping.
Rotational states of spheroidal nuclei

A new method of introducing collective co-ordinates as dynamical variables is proposed. A hamiltonian for rotating spheroidal nuclei is constructed by this method. The resulting moments of inertia are discussed. They depend on a parameter ξ which is determined if the intrinsic particle wave function of the nucleus is known. If ξ is treated as an empirical parameter the observed moments of inertia can be fitted. In order to illustrate the theoretical determination of ξ calculations have been carried out for independent particles in a harmonic oscillator well without spin-orbit coupling.
Eksarva: A Pragmatic Approach to Collaboration in Pervasive Computing Environments

Summary form only given. Pervasive computing and universal connectivity has dramatically changed the way societies function at play and at work. Many tools, technologies and protocols have become prevalent to enable collaboration -globally. However, the tool centric nature of the present environments has placed inherent limitations on further expansion of global collaboration opportunities. In order to overcome this barrier, we need to create an environment that is based on model that captures the true nature of collaboration -one that incorporates intuitive interfaces, spontaneity, and mixed initiative (i.e., initiative taken by a human or an agent) among others. In this talk, we will explore such a system, known as Eksarva that is currently being developed at West Virginia University. We will also explore how Eksarva may be used to create a universal teaching/learning environment that exploits global resources to benefit students and teachers everywhere.
Morphology and properties of mixed anion ionomers

Abstract A series of model polyurethane ionomers containing varying concentrations of both sulphonate and carboxylate anions is examined. Tensile testing results demonstrate that the greater acid strength of the sulphonate anions causes the ultimate tensile properties of the ionomer to regularly increase as sulphonate content increases. However, the small-strain moduli of two mixed carboxylate/sulphonate ionomers were shown to vary from the trends predicted from strict acid strength arguments; the two mixed-anion ionomers have higher Young's moduli than the fully sulphonated ionomer. D.s.c., d.m.t.a. and SAXS analysis indicates that the modulus enhancement in the mixed-anion ionomer arises from a combination of factors, including aggregate packing, ability to immobilize non-ionic chain segments (ionic anchoring) and degree of phase separation. The onset of flow temperature in d.m.t.a. is seen to decrease in parallel with increasing carboxylate content, unlike the tensile properties. Thus, the concept of mixed anion derivatization is shown to fulfil a primary goal in the ionomer field: development of a method to increase ease of processability while retaining strong tensile properties.
Periodical cicada nymphs impose periodical oak tree wood accumulation

All deciduous woody tree species of the eastern United States serve as hosts for large numbers of root parasitizing cicada nymphs (Magicicada spp.)1–4. Periodical cicadas spend their larval lives 6–24 inches underground, feeding on xylem fluid from rootlets and roots5. They emerge every seventeenth year in the north or every thirteenth year in the south. Densities of cicadas underground are very great—Dybas and Davis report emergence densities of over 300 nymphs per square yard or about 1,500,000 per acre. This represents the highest reported biomass values of any naturally occurring terrestrial animal6. During the adult stage, which lasts 3–4 weeks, cicadas mate and females lay their eggs in twigs of deciduous trees. When the eggs hatch the first instar nymphs fall to the ground to begin their 17-yr development. The damaging effects to twigs by ovipositing adult cicadas is well established7–13 but the major effect of cicadas may be due to the feeding of nymphs: nymphs are implicated in a reduction in productivity of orchard trees14–16. However, no studies have compared growth of parasitized and unparasitized trees in the same environment. I report here that feeding cicada nymphs can reduce tree growth, as measured by growth rings, by as much as 30%.
Influence of contrast media on thrombus formation during coronary angioplasty.

Abstract The influence of contrast media on thrombus formation during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was assessed in 124 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and receiving either ionic (n = 57) (Group I) or nonionic (n = 67) (Group II) contrast medium. The presence of thrombus was assessed by qualitative analysis of angiograms in identical pre- and postangioplasty projections by four observers who had no knowledge of other data. Quantitation of stenosis severity before and after angioplasty and qualitative analysis of lesion eccentricity and complexity and of the presence of dissection were also performed. Although the baseline clinical characteristics of the two groups (including presenting syndromes and procedural and angiographic variables did not differ, more patients in Group II than Group I developed new thrombus during coronary angioplasty (18% vs. 4%, p
A Mutation in the Stalk of the Newcastle Disease Virus Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) Protein Prevents Triggering of the F Protein despite Allowing Efficient HN-F Complex Formation

Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-induced membrane fusion requires formation of a complex between the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins. Substitutions for NDV HN stalk residues A89, L90, and L94 block fusion by modulating formation of the HN-F complex. Here, we demonstrate that a nearby L97A substitution, though previously shown to block fusion, allows efficient HN-F complex formation and likely acts by preventing changes in the HN stalk required for triggering of the bound F protein.
PACBERG: An adaptive program for controlling the blood sugar

PACBERG, a new computer program for automatically controlling (clamping) the blood sugar is described. The plasma glucose concentration is maintained at steady basal (euglycemic) or elevated (hyperglycemic) levels during various insulin infusions. To accomplish this, a minimal mathematical model of glucose kinetics is implemented on a minicomputer. From the measured time course of plasma glucose concentration, using the model, the program estimates the insulin-dependent increase in fractional disappearance rate of glucose (X). In addition the program calculates the rate of exogenous glucose infusion (INF) which must be infused in order to maintain the desired glucose concentration. The program successfully clamps glucose at desired basal or elevated levels. Furthermore, the variable X, provided as the PACBERG studies proceed, is a real-time measure of insulin action which can be used to calculate insulin sensitivity (SI). PACBERG was written in BASIC, but can also be implemented on programmable calculators.
Indications for Cytogenetic Studies: An Update

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/21-2-13315 Evaluation of chromosomes has now become a widely accepted diagnostic tool in many areas of clinical medicine. Many physicians appear to equate chromosome analysis with genetic diagnostics without realizing that only a fraction of genetic diseases are associated with chromosome aberrations. Moreover, cytogenetic tests are complicated, time consuming and expensive, and most laboratories have the capacity to handle only a limited number of specimens. This paper provides a list of current indications for requesting cytogenetic studies.
Nonlinear response of composite panels of high speed aircraft

Abstract The surface thermal protection systems of advanced high speed aircraft such as the National Aerospace Plane (N.A.S.P.) will be constructed from high temperature resistant composite and intermetallic materials. The various dynamic response studies indicate that under severe aerodynamic, acoustic and thermal loads the response of these surface panels is nonlinear. The equations of motion for nonlinear response of composite surface panels are developed in the space-time domain. A time domain Monte Carlo type approach is used to determine the nonlinear deflection and stress response solutions. The formulation includes surface loads due to nonsteady aerodynamic flow, turbulent boundary layer and engine exhaust noise, oscillating surface shocks and aerodynamic heating. Numerical results are presented for a simply supported laminated composite panel.
Increased mTORC1 Signaling UPRegulates Stress

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Ozcan et al. (2008) show that the loss of the tuberous sclerosis tumor suppressor complex induces endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to attenuation of insulin receptor signaling activity via the unfolded protein response.
Iron pentacarbonyl: are the axial or the equatorial iron-carbon bonds longer in the gaseous molecule?

The structure of iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO)5, was reinvestigated by gas-phase electron diffraction using an experimental rotational constant available from the literature as a constraint on the str...
Graded pulmonary vascular changes and hemodynamic findings in cases of atrial and ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus.

With use of a previously described system of grading, a study was made of the relation between each of the grades of hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease and the hemodynamic findings in the lesser circulation in 15 cases of atrial septal defect, 19 cases of ventricular septal defect, and 6 cases of patent ductus arteriosus.
High-priority event instructions affect implicit and explicit memory tests

Previous work has shown that instructing subjects to give special priority to one target event in a list enhances recall for that event, but impairs recall for the events immediately preceding it (Tulving, 1969). We examined the benefit of high-priority instructions, and the retrograde amnesia for previous items, in three experiments that included two explicit tests of memory (free recall and cued recall with word-stem cues) and an implicit test (word-stem completion). Experiments 1 and 2 revealed a beneficial effect of high-priority instructions on memory for the target events in both free recall and primed word-stem completion. Retrograde amnesia for previous events was either absent (Experiment 1) or modest (Experiment 2) in free recall; however, no evidence for amnesia occurred on the implicit test. In Experiment 3, we asked if the benefit of high-priority instructions on the implicit test was due to contamination from intentional recollection, by employing the logic of the retrieval-intentionality criterion via a levels-of-processing manipulation. The results showed a beneficial effect of high-priority instructions on free recall, word-stem cued recall, and word-stem completion. Level of processing affected the two explicit tests, but not the implicit test, indicating that it induced incidental retrieval. We conclude that the benefit of high-priority instructions occurred on all three tests used in these experiments. In contrast, the phenomenon of retrograde amnesia occurred in free recall, but not in primed word-stem completion.
Porosity Content Evaluation in Carbon-Fiber/Epoxy Composites Using X-ray Computed Tomography

In this study we investigate the X-ray computed tomography method for assessment of porosity levels in carbon-fiber/epoxy composites. High resolution computed tomography is used to investigate the distribution, size, and morphology of porosity in composite specimens. The specimens are manufactured with porosity values in ranges that are encountered in the manufacturing of composite structures. Porosity measurement from the optical scans is found to be highly dependent on the number of cross-sections investigated. The stacking sequence is found to have a high effect on the measurements made especially at higher porosity levels due to the preferential alignment of the porosity microstructure.
Surface energy and surface tension of liquid Ar near the triple point

The effect of the transition zone on the surface energy and the surface tension near the triple point is reported. Both quantities are calculated from the extended Kirkwood-Buff formulas for the cases of a linear, a cubic, and a Fermi density profile. The realistic Barker-Fisher-Watts (BFW) potential and the Parson, Siska, and Lee (MSVIII) potential are used. The experimental radial distribution function of Yarnell et al. is used for the bulk liquid and as an approximation for the transition zone. As a function of the zone width both realistic potentials lead to the same rapid monotonic increase for the surface energy, but a different mild monotonic decrease for the surface tension. The transition zone width can be determined approximately from the surface energy. If the three-body nonadditivity effects on both quantities are ignored, the experimental value 34.9 erg/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ of the surface energy suggests a zone width of 6.2 to 8.5 \AA{}, thus predicting a value of the tension of 12.1 dyn/cm for the BFW potential and 12.8 dyn/cm for the MSVIII potential as compared to the experimental value of 13.1 dyn/cm. Including the three-body nonadditivity effects estimated from the Axilrod-Teller triple-dipole potential, the zone width needed for a correct value of the surface energy is slightly larger (7.2 to 9.5 \AA{}). However, the surface tension thus predicted is too small for all potentials.
El acceso invisible en las noticias de televisión

El presente trabajo aborda lo que he denominado el acceso invisible a las noticias de la television chilena. El objetivo es detectar en las notas de prensa la presencia de voces provenientes del contexto extralinguistico y develar la influencia que estas ejercen sobre los periodistas y los entrevistados. Se trata de una forma de polifonia que se manifiesta especialmente a traves de las negaciones linguisticas empleadas por los periodistas y por sus fuentes de informacion. Estas negaciones tienen un caracter metalinguistico, en tanto refutan afirmaciones que otras voces efectuaron con anterioridad en el contexto extralinguistico (o acontecimiento original); por lo mismo, se trata de voces que no son visibles en la pantalla de TV. Se establece asi un juego de poder entre voces invisibles y voces que si son claramente identificables, que se traduce en una dialectica entre voces que ejercen poder sobre el discurso ­las no visibles­ y otras que ejercen poder por dentro del discurso, las de los periodistas. Esta relacion entre acceso, discurso y poder en las noticias de la television chilena se aborda desde la perspectiva del Analisis Critico del Discurso (ACD), a traves del analisis de las noticias de los tres principales noticiarios de la television chilena.
Structural alterations of the intramuscular nerves and junctional region in extraocular muscles of C57BL/Ks (db/db) diabetic mice

The extraocular muscles of the C57BL/Ks (db/db) diabetic mutant mouse were examined by electron microscopy. The intramuscular myelinated nerves and the junctional apparatus of the singly and multiply innervated muscle fibers were found to exhibit various anomalies. Lamellated inclusion bodies were found in many of the Schwann cells of the myelinated nerve fibers; intra-axonal inclusion bodies resembling polyglucosan bodies were also observed. Junctional abnormalities consisted of various types of inclusion bodies within the junctional sarcoplasm and within sole-plate nuclei; in addition, hypertrophied endplates were observed and often penetrated by networks of axonal terminal branches. At times, pseudopod-like extensions of the junctional sarcoplasm encompassed and made protracted synaptic contacts with the incoming axons.
Effects of repeated listening experiences on the perception of synthetic speech by individuals with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether individuals with intellectual disabilities (n = 18) demonstrate improvement in the perception of synthetic speech as a result of repeated exposure to it. Specifically, effects of training on novel versus repeated stimuli produced by the ETI Eloquence™ speech synthesizer were analyzed. Results revealed that training and experimental task each played a significant (p values 0.01) for stimulus type (i.e., repeated versus novel) suggesting that individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to generalize their knowledge of the acoustic-phonetic properties of synthetic speech to novel stimuli. Data are also presented for typical participants to establish a benchmark condition for the newly developed Eloquence synthesizer.
Is Chávez Populist?: Measuring Populist Discourse in Comparative Perspective

This article pushes forward our understanding of populism by developing one of the more underappreciated definitions of populism, populism as discourse. It does so by creating a quantitative measur...
Data requirement for phylogenetic inference from multiple loci: a new distance method

We consider the problem of estimating the evolutionary history of a set of species (phylogeny or species tree) from several genes. It is known that the evolutionary history of individual genes (gene trees) might be topologically distinct from each other and from the underlying species tree, possibly confounding phylogenetic analysis. A further complication in practice is that one has to estimate gene trees from molecular sequences of finite length. We provide the first full data-requirement analysis of a species tree reconstruction method that takes into account estimation errors at the gene level. Under that criterion, we also devise a novel reconstruction algorithm that provably improves over all previous methods in a regime of interest.
A single-period Inventory model with Inventory update decision: The newsboy problem extension

Inventory models use a set of parameters to establish their respected optimal policy. Such parameters are information items that have to be generated (obtained) and, therefore, there is a cost for obtaining them. Traditional inventory models simply ignore the existence of this cost and, therefore, the established optimal policies by these models may not be necessarily optimal in practice. In this paper, based on the requirements dictated by a real-world project, we analyze the impact of information update decisions for a specific class of inventory model (a single-period inventory model). The main difference between the presented model in this paper and newsboy problem is the presence of an inventory update decision and its effect on other inventory decisions. That is to decide when inventory-related information should be updated, how much should be ordered, and what is the maximum level of demand that can be promised to the customers. We formulate these decisions and develop mathematical methods to find the corresponding optimal policies.