cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manufacturing Advisory Service System for Concurrent and Collaborative Design of MEMS Devices

This chapter first presents a concurrent collaborative design strategy for Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS). Then, it presents the development of a knowledge intensive approach and system to select suitable manufacturing processes and materials for MEMS devices a concurrent collaborative design environment. Fundamental issues on concurrent collaborative design for manufacturability of MEMS and MEMS manufacturing process and material selection such as concurrent collaborative design framework, manufacturing process and material hierarchies, and selection strategy are addressed. A fuzzy decision support scheme for multi-criteria decision-making problem is proposed for estimating, ranking and selecting possible manufacturing processes, materials and their combinations. Based on the client-knowledge server architecture and framework, a web-based prototype advisory system for MEMS manufacturing process and material selection, Web MEMS-MASS, is developed to help the designer find good processes and materials for MEMS devices. The system, as one of important parts of an advanced simulation and modeling tool for MEMS design, is a concept level process and material selection tool, which can be used as a standalone application or a Java applet via the web. The running sessions of the system are inter-linked with web pages of tutorials and reference pages to explain the facets, fabrication processes and material choices, and calculations and reasoning in selection are performed using process capability and material property data from a remote web-based database and interactive knowledge base that can be maintained and updated via the Internet. The use of the developed system including operation scenario, use support, and integration with an MEMS collaborative design system is presented. Finally, an illustration example is provided.
Nanocrystalline Cellulose-Derived Doped Carbonaceous Material for Rapid Mineralization of Nitrophenols under Visible Light.

Nitrophenols (NPs) and related derivatives are industrially important chemicals, used notably to synthesize pharmaceuticals, insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides. However, NPs and their metabolites are highly toxic and mutagenic. They pose a serious threat to human health and ecosystem. Current work was undertaken to develop a suitable visible-light active catalyst for the sustainable and efficient mineralization of NPs in an aqueous environment. Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCs)-based nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide and carbonaceous material (N-TiO2/C) was synthesized by pyrolysis and sol–gel methods using NCs, polydopamine, and TiO2. The synthesized N-TiO2/C was characterized using different analytical techniques. Photocatalytic degradation of NPs under visible light indicated that acidic pH (3) was most suitable for the optimal degradation. 4-NP degradation followed both pseudo-first-order (R2 = 0.9985) and Langmuir–Hinshelwood adsorption kinetic models (adsorption constant, KLH = 1.13 L mg–1). Gas c...
Ultra-Coarse-Grained Liquid State Models with Implicit Hydrogen Bonding

Coarse-graining (CG) methodologies have been widely used to extend the time and length scales of computer simulations by averaging over the atomistic details beneath the resolution of the CG models. Despite the efficiency of CG models, important configurational information during a given process may be lost at the CG resolution. One example of this is the topology of the hydrogen bonding network in the liquid state. When the functional group that participates in hydrogen bonding (e.g., -OH in methanol) is coarse-grained into one CG site, the effective interactions of the resultant CG model are usually derived from an averaged overall trajectory and, thus, do not take into account the hydrogen bonding interactions and topologies that are present at the all-atom resolution. In order to overcome this challenge, the present study develops new ultra-coarse-grained (UCG) models that include internal states within the CG sites that participate in hydrogen bonding, where each state represents a specific configuration such as the hydrogen bonding donor or acceptor. Internal states of the UCG beads are modeled to remain in quasi-equilibrium, and the degree of mixing is controlled by utilizing the effective local density of the UCG sites. In particular, we consider two groups of UCG models with different types of hydrogen bonding motifs: chain-like and ring-like. Using five different liquid systems that contain the same fundamental functional groups as biomolecules, we demonstrate the ability of the UCG models to reproduce the structural properties that originate from the configurations beneath the resolution of the UCG model. This proposed approach can also be applied to other liquids with such specific and directional interactions, or even to complex biomolecular systems in which hydrogen bonding is critical.
Highly-active, graphene-supported platinum catalyst for the solventless hydrosilylation of olefins.

Herein we report the development of the first graphene-supported platinum catalyst that has demonstrated exceptional catalytic activity and stability for hydrosilylation reactions of olefins (TOF 4.8 × 106 h−1, TON = 9.4 × 106). The catalyst also exhibited functional group tolerance over a broad range of industrially relevant substrates with minimal metal leaching. In addition, the catalyst system was successfully translated into a packed bed platform for continuous hydrosilylation reactions.
A developmental program truncates long transcripts to temporally regulate cell signaling

Rapid mitotic divisions and a fixed transcription rate limit the maximal length of transcripts in early Drosophila embryos. Previous studies suggested that transcription of long genes is initiated but aborted, as early nuclear divisions have short interphases. Here, we identify long genes that are expressed during short nuclear cycles as truncated transcripts. The RNA binding protein Sex-lethal physically associates with transcripts for these genes and is required to support early termination to specify shorter transcript isoforms in early embryos of both sexes. In addition, one truncated transcript for the gene short-gastrulation encodes a product in embryos that functionally relates to a previously characterized dominant-negative form, which maintains TGF-β signaling in the off-state. In summary, our results reveal a developmental program of short transcripts functioning to help temporally regulate Drosophila embryonic development, keeping cell signaling at early stages to a minimum in order to support its proper initiation at cellularization.
The effect of preschool participation on intellectual and behavioral disorder diagnoses: Evidence from surveys on children’s health

Abstract This paper examines the effect of preschool participation on the probability of ever being diagnosed with certain intellectual and behavioral disorders in childhood. To study this relationship, I use two-sample two-stage least squares where I instrument for preschool participation using an indicator for the availability of universal preschool. Using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and the Current Population Survey October Supplement, I find suggestive evidence that high-quality preschool participation disproportionately benefits children from low-education households. That is, for children from low-education households, I observe that preschool participation reduces the probability of ever having been diagnosed with behavioral or conduct problems, and requiring the use of special therapy. For children from high-education households, however, I observe that preschool participation increases the probability of ever having been diagnosed with behavioral or conduct problems, and requiring the use of special therapy.
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Toxicity of Abiraterone in Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: Post-marketing Experience.

Abstract Introduction Abiraterone improves survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) but may result in the development or worsening of comorbid conditions. We assessed the course of these conditions in patients receiving abiraterone in clinical practice and compared outcomes with those in clinical trials. Materials and Methods Medical records of patients with mCRPC who started abiraterone at an academic institution between 2012 and 2015 were reviewed for emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and the development and/or worsening of key comorbid conditions while on abiraterone. Patient characteristics and adverse events were compared with those from clinical trials. Results In a cohort of 174 patients, 28% experienced either the development or worsening of a comorbid disease; 8% required an ED visit or hospitalization owing to known adverse effects of abiraterone. Increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.17), higher prostate-specific antigen at initiation of treatment (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.18-2.47), preexisting uncontrolled hypertension (OR, 7.61; 95% CI, 1.22-38.70), congestive heart failure (OR, 7.61; 95% CI, 1.22-38.70), and cardiac arrhythmias (OR, 4.73; 95% CI, 1.39-15.12) were associated with increased odds of an ED visit or hospitalization owing to known adverse effects of abiraterone. The rate of discontinuation (6%) was similar to 1 phase III trial that demonstrated the drug’s efficacy in chemotherapy-naive patients. Conclusion Few patients discontinued abiraterone owing to toxicity; however, the fact that over one-quarter of patients experienced the development or worsening of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases warrants development of team-based approaches to the management of these comorbid conditions.
Three-level system for numerical modeling of ultraviolet and visible photoluminescence of aluminum-doped zinc oxide

The emission properties of aluminum-doped zinc oxide are numerically investigated. A complete model for photoluminescence, based on the set of rate equations for electron–hole recombination, is used to study the influence of carrier concentration (1017–1021 cm−3) on visible and ultraviolet (UV) emission. The set of coupled rate equations is solved numerically using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta technique for various optical pump intensities. The results for low carrier concentration (∼1017 cm−3) show that at low pump intensity (0.01 mJ/cm2), visible emission is dominant in the emission spectrum, and as the pump intensity increases (∼1 mJ/cm2), the UV emission becomes dominant. The study of ultrafast dynamics shows that for pump pulse durations of less than ∼1 ns, the intensity of UV emission is an order of magnitude larger compared to the visible intensity for aluminum-doped zinc oxide samples with carrier concentration ∼1018 cm−3.
An SPR-based analysis of cGAS substrate KD and steady-state KM values

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a standard method for evaluating direct protein-small molecule binding. While studying the catalytic mechanism of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), we developed an SPR-based method to measure steady-state KM values that complements traditional SPR affinity measurements. The method relies on refractive changes to detect protein interaction with substrates and products, and takes advantage of stimulator of type 1 interferon genes (STING) binding to the cGAS product, 2',3'-cGAMP. The specific method described here uses co-immobilization of cGAS and double-stranded DNA through a biotin tag; it should be generally applicable to other proteins and protein complexes.
Association of postoperative glycemic control with outcomes after carotid procedures.

ObjectiveThere are limited data evaluating the impact of postoperative hyperglycemia in patients undergoing vascular procedures. This study evaluated the relationship between suboptimal glucose con...
Implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training With at-Risk Male Youth in a Military-Style Residential Program

Abstract Recent calls to action rightly emphasize the need for early and preventative intervention for youth at risk for or currently exhibiting borderline personality disorder (BPD) features, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and/or suicidality. However, there is a lack of information in both the research literature and clinical practice guidelines about the acceptability and effectiveness of such interventions for male youth, particularly those who have dropped out of high school and, thus, are at even greater risk for a multitude of adverse psychological and functional outcomes. The current study aims to address this gap by examining the acceptability and pilot efficacy of a modified Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) skills training group intervention among a sample of 73 non-treatment-seeking male youth (aged 16–18) with borderline personality features, self-harm, or suicidal ideation who had dropped out of high school and were enrolled in a military-style residential program (relative to youth participating in the residential program alone). Both quantitative and qualitative feedback from youth point to the high acceptability of DBT-A skills training with this population. Within-subjects and between-groups comparisons support the preliminary efficacy of DBT-A skills training with this population. At posttreatment, participants reported statistically significant decreases in emotion regulation (ER) difficulties (d = 0.43) and increases in distress tolerance (d = -0.50). Further, compared to a similar group of male youth who did not receive DBT-A skills training, those who received skills training showed greater improvements in ER difficulties, albeit not distress tolerance. Data from this pilot trial provide preliminary support for the efficacy of brief, stand-alone DBT-A skills training in improving ER difficulties in a high-risk group of male youth.
Seeking, Reviewing and Reporting on Healthcare Simulation Research

On commencing any research project, a vital step is to conduct a thorough review of the literature. Over the last decade, healthcare simulation has matured as a distinct research field. However, the conceptual underpinnings for many areas of research within the field can be found in journals of other disciplines. This underscores the importance of adopting a broad search strategy when investigating literature that might aid with a current research question. In this chapter, we discuss how to seek and critically appraise the literature in healthcare simulation.
Antibiotic use and colorectal cancer: a causal association?

Antibiotics have revolutionised our ability to fight infectious diseases that are major causes of morbidity and mortality. However, the widespread use of these powerful agents has led to unintended consequences that reflect their broad effects on microbial community structure. Even short-term antibiotic treatment causes shifts in gut microbiota including, but not limited to, alterations in the abundance of specific taxa and a decrease in overall diversity. Clostridium difficile colitis and vaginal candidiasis are established examples of conditions that originate from gut dysbiosis and opportunistic pathogen colonisation induced by short-term antibiotics. Emerging data also suggest that antibiotic-induced perturbations can persist for years after treatment and contribute to long-term dysregulation of host immune homeostasis.1 In turn, this can potentially increase susceptibility to chronic disorders with an immune basis, including asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Recent epidemiological studies have extended the association between antibiotic exposure and chronic disease to risk of colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer (CRC).2 In parallel, increasing evidence has demonstrated a pivotal role for the interplay between the gut microbiome and lifestyle factors in initiating and promoting CRC.3 Several species of bacteria have been shown to be potential drivers of carcinogenesis through specific biological mechanisms. For example, Fusobacterium nucleatum expresses adhesins, including FadA and Fap2, which bind to tumour cells and directly promote carcinogenesis by activating oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signalling and dysregulating immune cell infiltration and antitumour immunity. Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis forms biofilms in the colonic mucosal membrane, …
Comparison of Localized Corrosion of Fe-Ni-Cr-Mo Alloys in Chloride Solutions Using a Coupled Multielectrode Array Sensor

A multielectrode localized corrosion sensor was developed and used for comparing localized corrosion of Fe-Ni-Cr-Mo alloys in chloride solutions. Experimental results indicated that the coupled multielectrode sensor provides a rapid real-time response to changes in temperature and salt concentration. It was demonstrated that the sensor has a lower detection limit of 5×10 -11 A with respect to corrosion current and 2x10 -8 A/cm 2 with respect to the corrosion current density for the miniature electrodes used in the sensors. Key word: galvanically coupled sensor; multiple-electrode sensor; multielectrode; localized corrosion sensor; wire beam electrode; on-line localized corrosion monitoring.
Establishing the Need to Broaden Bioengineering Research Exposure and Research Participation in Mechanical Engineering and Its Positive Impacts on Student Recruitment, Diversification, Retention and Graduation: Findings From the UMBC ME S-STEM Scholarship Program

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the current status of exposure to bio-engineering research in community college (CC) students and University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) students, and to estimate relationships between research activities sponsored by the Mechanical Engineering (ME) S-STEM Scholarship Program and improvement in student enrollment/diversification, retention rates, and graduation rates. The analysis drew on data from ME undergraduate academic records at UMBC from 2008 to 2019. A survey was designed to assess the research exposure of CC and UMBC students and their evaluation of the research components included in recruitment and curriculum activities. Results show that exposure to research measured by attending a research seminar was low for the participants, around 37% for CC students and 21% for ME students at UMBC. The survey results indicate the positive impact of the scholarship programs at UMBC on the research exposure and research experience. The impact is more evident in students who originally transferred from a CC. The large increase in recruited female and CC students over the past 10 years indicated that the research-related activities of the ME S-STEM program played an instrumental role in those increases. Because of the research-related activities, the ME S-STEM program achieved retention and graduation rates higher than those in the ME undergraduate program (89% versus 60% for the 6 year graduation rate), as well a higher percentage of students enrolled in graduate school (30% versus 10%). We conclude that there is still a need to implement research-related activities in the ME undergraduate program, starting with student recruitment and continuing through the academic program. Results suggest that there is a positive impact of ME S-STEM research activities on student diversification, retention rates, and percentage of our graduates who are pursuing graduate degree.
Thromboembolic disease in COVID-19 patients: A brief narrative review

Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV2/ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2) infection has emerged as a global health crisis. Incidence of thromboembolic disease is reported to be high in SARS-CoV2 disease and is seen in a multitude of organ systems ranging from cutaneous thrombosis to pulmonary embolism, stroke or coronary thrombosis sometimes with catastrophic outcomes. Evidence points towards a key role of thromboembolism, hypercoagulability and over production of proinflammatory cytokines mimicking a “cytokine storm” which leads to multiorgan failure. This brief narrative review highlights the pathophysiology and risk factors of thromboembolic disease and provides a framework for management of anticoagulation based on the current evidence.
The Richness-Dependent Cluster Correlation Function: Early SDSS Data

The cluster correlation function and its richness dependence are determined from 1108 clusters of galaxies -- the largest sample of clusters studied so far -- found in 379 deg^2 of Sloan Digital Sky Survey early data. The results are compared with previous samples of optically and X-ray selected clusters. The richness-dependent correlation function increases monotonically from an average correlation scale of ~ 12 h^{-1} Mpc for poor clusters to ~ 25 h^{-1} Mpc for the richer, more massive clusters with a mean separation of ~ 90 h^{-1} Mpc. X-ray selected clusters suggest slightly stronger correlations than optically selected clusters (~ 2-\sigma). The results are compared with large-scale cosmological simulations. The observed richness-dependent cluster correlation function is well represented by the standard flat LCDM model (\Omega_m ~= 0.3, h ~= 0.7), and is inconsistent with the considerably weaker correlations predicted by \Omega_m = 1 models. An analytic relation for the correlation scale versus cluster mean separation, r_0 - d, that best describes the observations and the LCDM prediction is r_0 ~= 2.6 \sqrt{d} (for d ~= 20 - 90 h^{-1} Mpc). Data from the complete Sloan Digital Sky Survey, when available, will greatly enhance the accuracy of the results and allow a more precise determination of cosmological parameters.
An unusual case of spontaneous nontraumatic pneumocephalus in the setting of remote craniofacial surgery.

Abstract Background Pneumocephalus is an uncommon pathology that typically follows head trauma, neurosurgery, or skull base tumors. Rarely, cases of spontaneous pneumocephalus can occur, most often in the setting of barotrauma. Case description We describe a rare case of spontaneous pneumocephalus in the absence of barotrauma in a 31-year-old male who presented with a headache and a normal neurologic exam. Imaging revealed subarachnoid and subdural pneumocephalus. The patient underwent surgical exploration, revealing an ethmoid bone defect caused by encroachment of material from a remote reconstructive surgery of the left orbit, which was subsequently repaired. Conclusion Although rare, spontaneous pneumocephalus should be considered even in the absence of clinical neurologic findings or barotrauma, in patients with previous cranial surgery and unexplained headaches.
TopMSV: A Web-Based Tool for Top-Down Mass Spectrometry Data Visualization

Top-down mass spectrometry (MS) investigates intact proteoforms for proteoform identification, characterization, and quantification. Data visualization plays an essential role in top-down MS data analysis because proteoform identification and characterization often involve manual data inspection to determine the molecular masses of highly charged ions and validate unexpected alterations in identified proteoforms. While many software tools have been developed for MS data visualization, there is still a lack of web-based visualization software designed for top-down MS. Here, we present TopMSV, a web-based tool for top-down MS data processing and visualization. TopMSV provides interactive views of top-down MS data using a web browser. It integrates software tools for spectral deconvolution and proteoform identification and uses analysis results of the tools to annotate top-down MS data.
Dissipative Hot-Spot-Enabled Shock and Bounce Dynamics via Terahertz Quantum Quenches in Helical Edge States.

We study quantum quenches of helical liquids with spin-flip inelastic scattering. Counterpropagating charge packets in helical edges can be created by an ultrashort electric pulse applied across a 2D topological insulator. Localized ``hot spots'' that form due to scattering enable two types of strongly nonlinear wave dynamics. First, propagating packets develop self-focusing shock fronts. Second, colliding packets with opposite charge can exhibit near-perfect retroreflection, despite strong dissipation. This leads to frequency doubling that could be detected experimentally from emitted terahertz radiation.
A Multiport Bidirectional DC–DC Converter for Hybrid Renewable Energy System Integration

The bidirectional power flow in most of the existing four-port converters is achieved on the battery port located on the low voltage side, i.e., the battery is charged by the energy sources and discharged to the dc link on the high voltage side. The lack of the bidirectional power flow at the dc link prevents them from managing the power at the system level. In this article, a bidirectional four-port dc–dc converter is proposed for the integration of the hybrid renewable energy system to a dc microgrid. The proposed converter uses the least number of devices compared with the existing bidirectional multiport converters. The bidirectional battery and the dc-link ports make it a good candidate for the dc-microgrid application in which the system-level power management is desired. The working principle of the converter is first analyzed, and the power transferred by the transformer and the zero-voltage switching (ZVS) conditions are derived. Then, the converter is designed to meet the requirements of the power rating and soft switching. The proposed converter is used to interface a wind turbine, a photovoltaic panel, a battery bank, and the dc microgrid. The experiments are carried to testify the performance in both steady state and the transient. The steady-state waveforms have validated the power relationship as well as the critical ZVS conditions while maintaining relatively high efficiency. The transient testing results show that the converter can switch from one scenario to another under the different conditions. This article is accompanied by a video demonstrating the converter in the real-time operation.
Microprocessor and Memory IC’s

The chip’s processor core implements the ARM V4 instruction set architecture (ISA) [6.1]. The implementation was derived from an RTL behavioral model (provided by ARM Ltd.) which fixed both the ISA as well as the processor core interface. However, both the custom physical implementation of the core, as well as the rest of the microprocessor design, were fully optimized for energy efficiency.
Inhibition of Thrombosis and Stroke by Elevation of Potassium

Collectively, these studies, most of which have been published recently, present convincing support for an inverse relationship between dietary potassium intake and risk of stroke. None of the individual studies presents evidence linking potassium intake to stroke risk for all members of the population; however, there is information from several of the studies indicating that stroke risk in hypertensive individuals is inversely related to dietary intake or plasma potassium concentration. It is also noteworthy that a strong protective effect of high potassium intake was measured in AfricanAmerican men, the segment of the population that has the highest stroke risk. Each of the studies makes valuable contributions to our understanding of potassium and the risk of stroke. However, each is inadequate in a crucial aspect of design that undoubtedly limits the information that can be derived from the studies: each analyzed the relationship of risk to an insufficiently broad range of potassium intakes. In most of the studies, the lowest tertile or quintile of potassium intake analyzed was close to the national average U.S. potassium intake, 50 to 60 mmol/day. Only in the African-American group analysis in the NHANES I study was the lowest intake group within a range comparable to the intake rates of tens of millions of inhabitants of industrialized cultures who live on potassium-poor diets. And eben in that group, the upper limit of intake, 32 mmol/day, is approximately the average intake, not the lowest intake, recorded in several studies of African Americans living in the stroke belt the southeast United States. Furthermore, in that analysis stroke rate of the low group was compared to that of the highest intake group, whose lower limit was only 56 mmol/day. Therefore, in addition to what this group of studies has already demonstrated, their results also suggest that if the relationship between a wider range of potassium intakes and risk of stroke were analyzed, even more convincing evidence for a protective of potassium would emerge.
There is selective accumulation of a growth factor in chicken skeletal muscle: II. Transferrin accumulation in dystrophic fast muscle

Transferrin or a transferrin-like protein, with ability to stimulate myogenesis and terminal differentiation in vitro, is found in fast chicken muscle during embryonic development. After hatching, however, transferrin is no longer accumulated or is only weakly accumulated by fast muscles like the pectoralis major and the posterior latissimus dorsi but continues to be accumulated by slow muscles like the anterior latissimus dorsi. In congenic lines of chickens bearing the gene for muscular dystrophy, however, adult fast muscles do not lose the ability to accumulate transferrin. While transferrin is found selectively in adult normal and dystrophic muscle it does not appear to be synthesized by muscle cells. Immunocytochemical localization shows that transferrin is accumulated not so much by muscle fibers as it is by single cells in the muscle interstitial space. The relationship between transferrin presence and growth patterns in adult skeletal muscle is not currently understood but evidence suggests that transferrin stimulation of myogenesis observed in vitro may be mediated in vivo by non-muscle cells dwelling within the muscle interstitial space. These cells may act as transferrin-uptake sources for subsequent satellite cell stimulation.
Leadership development skills: a Nigeria educational institutions review

One who desires leadership is a good thing. However, getting the leadership position is not just enough. The real challenge is getting the leadership developed and leadership tasks accomplished in the proper way with the aim of bringing positive development to the people being led. Nigeria is certainly blessed with rich human and natural resources and should stand out among the nations. However, that is not fit with current condition in Nigeria, all because many of those saddled with the responsibility of leadership are not living up the expectation. Adopting the leadership styles of some developed countries into Nigeria school system is apparently not enough to achieve good leadership in Nigerian educational institutions. This paper therefore, focus on the leadership development of school administrators in Nigeria. Leadership is a skill so we need to teach it to our students, only then can we produce leaders who will have a potential to bring about a change in Nigerian educational institutions.
Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems—CXVIII

Abstract The mass spectra of a series of 13 epoxides of terminal alkenes and 11 epoxides of non-terminal alkenes have been recorded. By a combination of high-resolution mass measurements and deuterium labelling techniques, a number of characteristic fragmentation pathways could be documented. Cleavage of α-, β-, γ- and δ-bonds remote from the ring was observed, with γ-cleavage of greatest importance. Transannular cleavages with and without hydrogen transfer were encountered, and the operation of two distinct. McLafferty rearrangements was demonstrated. In some cases, hydrogen rearrangement of the molecular ion to isomeric carbonyl compounds apparently occurred to some extent, but analogous alkyl migrations were not significant process.
Naming the Dragon: Litigating Race Issues During a Death Penalty Trial

The issue of racial disparity in the administration of the death penalty is a persistent theme in modern capital jurisprudence. Starting with Furman v. Georgia and continuing on to McCleskey v. Zant,courts have struggled to come to grips with this issue. This article does not explore all of the legal ramifications of race and the death penalty, nor its political import. Rather, it tackles some of the practical problems facing a capital defense attorney in the courtroom by providing a brief overview of motions practice in this arena by using a federal capital case the author recently tried as an example.
Regulation of acetylcholinesterase synthesis and assembly by muscle activity. Effects of tetrodotoxin

The abundance and distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) oligomeric forms expressed in skeletal muscle is strongly dependent upon the activity state of the cells. In this study, we examined several stages of AChE biogenesis to determine which ones were regulated by muscle activity. Inhibiting spontaneous contraction of tissue-cultured quail myotubes with tetrodotoxin (TTX) reduces AChE activity by approximately 30% of the levels found in actively contracting cells. This decrease is due primarily to the loss of 20 S asymmetric (collagen-tailed) AChE from TTX-treated cultures and is reflected in reduced pool sizes for both cell surface and intracellular AChE molecules. Using monoclonal anti-AChE antibodies to immunoprecipitate and quantify isotopically labeled enzyme molecules, we show that AChE down-regulation by TTX is not mediated through changes in the rates of synthesis or degradation of AChE polypeptide chains. Newly synthesized AChE polypeptides acquire enzymatic activity at the same rate in TTX-treated cultures as in actively contracting cells, however, a larger percentage of catalytically active dimers and tetramers are secreted from TTX-treated cultures compared with controls. These results suggest that TTX-induced down-regulation of asymmetric AChE occurs at the level of assembly of globular AChE molecules with collagen-like tail subunits in the Golgi apparatus, rather than through changes in the availability of catalytic subunits. Thus, post-translational mechanisms appear to play an important role in regulating the abundance and distribution of this important synaptic component in skeletal muscle.
The phonology of Romanian : a constraint-based approach

This book provides the first systematic descriptive analysis of the phonological system of Romanian, one of the less studied Romance languages, from the perspective of recent phonological theory. The author offers an account of some of the major phonological processes of modern standard Romanian, set in the framework of Optimality Theory and Correspondence Theory. The book begins with an overview of Romanian phonology - segment inventory, phonotactics, inflectional and derivational morphology. The main part of the study focuses on processes involving vocalic segments: glide-vowel and diphthong-vowel alternations, vowel harmony, palatalization. The major issues addressed include feature theory, syllable structure, metrical structure and stress, the interaction between phonology and morphology. Acoustic phonetic data is used as supporting evidence for the phonological patterning of diphthongs and glide-vowel sequences. Interesting complexities of the system are pointed out and discussed, as they pose certain challenges to the theoretical model. The book contains an abundance of systematically organized data, which makes it a solid reference for students and scholars of general and Romance phonology, and a strong basis for further study.
Les contraintes sémiotiques du métissage

Cette etude traite du metissage en lui pretant d’emblee une signification etendue. Cette generalisation est propre a l’hypothese du « schematisme tensif » (Fontanille-Zilberberg), laquelle privilegie deux sortes d’operations : des augmentations et des diminutions sur la dimension de l’intensite, celle des « etats d’âme », des tris et des melanges sur la dimension de l’extensite, celle des « etats de choses ». Ces premisses conduisent a la mise en evidence de deux illusions : en premier lieu, l’illusion propositionnelle dans la mesure ou la proposition s’impose davantage par sa transitivite que par sa suffisance; en second lieu, l’illusion objectale: l’objet en sa singularite est plutot un cas que la norme. Le sujet est sollicite, defie par la necessite ou l’arbitraire des groupements et des collections qui lui sont proposes ou imposes. Des lors que l’objet est defini par ses latitudes et/ou ses restrictions de circulation, il devient comprehensible que le tempo et la temporalite controlent cette circulation tantot en la ralentissant, tantot en l’accelerant.
Alcohol self‐presentation: the role of impression motivation and impression construction

Two studies examined impression motivation (IM) and impression construction (IC) processes in college freshman alcohol use. In both studies, students completed individual difference measures related to IM and alcohol IC. In Study 1 (n = 232), participants were assigned to IM (low vs. high) and IC (alcohol vs. control) conditions and then created a personal profile. In Study 2 (n = 65), participants reported levels of IM and alcohol IC, and number of drinks during each evening's social interactions for 3 weeks. Situational alcohol IC was positively related to whether participants presented themselves as an alcohol user in their profile (Study 1) and in the amount they drank (Study 2). In Study 2, the association between IC and drinking was moderated by IM.
Controlling chaos with an artificial neural network

A novel method for controlling chaos is proposed by resorting to an artificial neural network (ANN). It is widely applicable where the behavior of a chaotic system is well described by the next return map. The method appears to be superior to other alternatives since a single ANN trained with time-series data is capable of controlling chaos, i.e., rendering stable multiple unstable periodic orbits embedding a strange attractor, and extensive computation or analysis is unnecessary. Its efficacy is illustrated with an example of a logistic map. >
Role of Adherence in the Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

A correlation has been demonstrated between the in vitro adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to upper respiratory tract epithelium and colonization of the respiratory tract by this organism. Twenty patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and 20 age-matched controls were examined in this study. All of the CF patients but none of the controls were colonized with P. aeruginosa at the time of study. P. aeruginosa adherence to isolated epithelial cells, as determined by an in vitro assay, was 19.1 ± 1.1 bacteria per buccal epithelial cell in the CF patients and 2.3 ± 0.3 bacteria per cell in the controls (P
Challenges in Developing Health Promotion Services for the Chronically Ill

A health promotion perspec tive and the involvement of vol untary agencies are both be coming increasingly important in the development of services for the chronically ill A multi disciplinary model of health promotion for this population is presented that highlights the importance of self-care educa tion and the contributions of social workers, health edu cators, and other community health professionals in the de velopment and delivery of such a program. In essence chronic illness is the
A Letter from One of Wilson's Managers

. . . I have not enough stationery in the office to cover my views and observations in regard to the Baltimore Convention, and you have, of course, seen all the papers by this time and know the general lines of the fight and at least all that the general public and newspaper reporters saw. I reached Baltimore Monday morning' and reported immediately at McComb's4 headquarters, where I met the principal leaders of the Wilson forces, and was immediately impressed with the
Mechanisms of plant competition for nutrients, water and light

Summary Competition for resources has long been considered a prevalent force in structuring plant communities and natural selection, yet our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie resource competition is still developing. The complexity of resource competition is derived not only from the variability of resource limitation in space and time and among species, but also from the complexity of the resources themselves. Nutrients, water and light each differ in their properties, which generates unique ways that plants compete for these resources. Here, we discuss the roles of supply pre-emption and availability reduction in competition for the three resources when supplied evenly in space and time. Plants compete for nutrients by pre-empting nutrient supplies from coming into contact with neighbours, which requires maximizing root length. Although water is also a soil resource, competition for water is generally considered to occur by availability reduction, favouring plants that can withstand the lowest water potential. Because light is supplied from above plants, individuals that situate their leaves above those of neighbours benefit directly from increased photosynthetic rates and indirectly by reducing the growth of those neighbours via shade. In communities where juveniles recruit in the shade of adults, traits of the most competitive species are biased towards those that confer greater survivorship and growth at the juvenile stage, even if those traits come at the expense of adult performance. Understanding the mechanisms of competition also reveals how competition has influenced the evolution of plant species. For example, nutrient competition has selected for plants to maintain higher root length and light competition plants that are taller, with deeper, flatter canopies than would be optimal in the absence of competition. In all, while more research is needed on competition for heterogeneous resource supplies as well as for water, understanding the mechanisms of competition increases the predictability of interspecific interactions and reveals how competition has altered the evolution of plants.
A Monte Carlo simulation model for studying evolution in age-structured populations

This model provides for any number of genotypes defined by age-specific survival and fecundity rates in a population with completely overlapping generations and growing under the control of density-governing functions affecting survival or fecundity. It is tested in situations involving two alleles at one locus. Nonselection populations at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium obey the ecogenetic law; i.e., each genotype follows Lotka's law regarding rate of increase and stable age distribution as if it were an independent true-breeding population. Populations experiencing age- and density-independent selection approximate this situation, and the changes in gene frequency are predicted by relative fitnesses bases on λ, the finite rate of increase of the genotypes. Polymorphic gene equilibria occurring at steady-state population sizes are determined by fitnesses based on R, the net reproductive rate. In examples involving differences in generation time produced by age-dependent differences in fecundity, the allele associated with longer generation time may be favored or opposed by selection, depending on whether the density-governing factor controlling population size affects survival or fecundity. If such genotypes have similar R's, a genetic equilibrium may be established if the population is governed by a density function acting upon fecundity.
Religiousness among terminally ill and healthy adults

The purpose of this study was to compare terminally ill with healthy adults for differences in religiousness; sense of well-being also was explored. This study was based upon a conceptualization of dying as a developmental phase of life. It was hypothesized that terminally ill adults report greater religiousness than healthy adults. A terminally ill and a healthy group with 57 adults each were matched on four key variables: age, gender, education, and religious affiliation. All 114 participants completed two questionnaires: the Religious Perspective Scale and the Index of Well-Being. A t-test of differences between the group means supported the hypothesis (t (112) = 3.11, p less than .001). There was no difference between the groups on sense of well-being; both indicated moderately high levels of well-being. A positive relationship between religiousness and well-being was found in the healthy group (r = .43, p less than .001), but not in the terminally ill group.
Sama’s Rules on Exergy

Each of the following topics is analyzed and discussed from a logical/philosophical viewpoint to arrive at an appropriate conclusion. • Nomenclature for Exergy. • The Proper Thermodynamic Reference Temperature for Exergy Calculations. • Exergy Calculations for Apparently Adiabatic Processes. • Exergy Destruction. • Exergy Balances. • Fuel-Use Factors for Different Forms of Exergy. • Thermodynamic Inefficiencies Not Detected by Exergy Analysis. The conclusions result in a set of governing “rules” that differ in many respects from views commonly held. Accordingly, they will be controversial. Thus, although it is not expected that these rules will be universally accepted, it is hoped that, at the least, they will stimulate further discussions within the Second Law community.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Atom-solid scattering: He + graphite basal plane

Abstract Theoretical studies of scattering of atoms by solid surfaces and calculations of atomic band structure of adsorbed atoms are presented. Inelastic effects on the intensities of diffracted beams are considered within the framework of the optical model potential. The atom-solid potential used for carrying out the numerical calculation is the sum of Lennard-Jones 12-6 pair potentials for the He-graphite system. Resonances with bound states of adsorbed atoms are shown to enhance the diffraction into some of the open channels and inelastic scattering. The degree of enhancement for a certain process depends on the coupling between that process and the resonant bound state and the coupling between the bound state and the incident beam. For first order bound state resonances, minima in the specular intensity may result from a large increase in some of the diffracted intensities or enhancement of inelastic scattering.
Sympathetic paraganglioma as an unusual cause of Horner's syndrome

Background. Paragangliomas are rare tumors aris- ing from paraganglionic tissue of neural crest origin. They are present in any location where autonomic ganglia are found. The most common location in the head and neck is the carotid body, followed by the jugular bulb and vagus nerve. Methods. A 30-year-old woman with a slowly growing left neck mass, aniscoria, and left eyelid ptosis was found to have a vascular tumor consistent with a paraganglioma arising near the left carotid bifurcation. After preoperative embolization, the pa- tient underwent resection of the tumor. Results. The tumor was found to be arising from the left sym- pathetic trunk and did not involve any other surrounding struc- tures. Histopathologic analysis revealed the typical findings of a paraganglioma. Conclusions. Sympathetic paragangliomas are exceedingly rare tumors in the head and neck and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when clinical and radiographic evidence suggest a paraganglioma. The presentation is typically a slow- growing neck mass with the presence of an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 338- 342, 2001.