cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scalarization using loop alignment and loop skewing

Array syntax, which is supported in many technical programming languages, adds expressive power by allowing operations on and assignments to whole arrays and array sections. To compile an array assignment statement to a uniprocessor, the language processor must convert the statement into a loop that has the same meaning. This process is called scalarization.Scalarization presents a significant technical problem because an array assignment needs to be implemented as if all inputs are fetched before any outputs are stored. Since a loop intermixes loads and stores, the compiler typically allocates a temporary array to hold the intermediate result. Because these extra temporary arrays can cause performance problems in cache, many techniques have been developed to avoid their use or minimize their size.In this paper, we present a novel application of two compiler strategies--loop alignment and loop skewing--to address this problem. We show that these strategies can achieve the asymptotically minimal memory allocation for stencil computations. Our experiments with loop alignment and loop skewing demonstrate that it is extremely effective in improving memory hierarchy performance of Fortran 90 array code on standard uniprocessors. The result should be applicable to other array languages, such as MATLAB.
A distributed and collaborative scheme for mitigating coexistence in IEEE 802.15.4 based WBANs

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) comprise a fast growing technology that enables remote monitoring of vital signs and is aimed at providing support for healthcare services. These systems normally use low-power wireless technologies, such as IEEE 802.15.4, which are limited in bandwidth and range. The dense population of patients in places like hospitals is likely to raise situations where the coexistence of multiple WBANs results in severe loss of performance and functionality. Therefore providing coexistence mitigation mechanisms for this kind of systems is a necessity. In this paper, we present the performance analysis of a simulated mechanism designed to mitigate the harmful effects of coexistence on the operation of IEEE 802.15.4 based WBANs. The distributed and collaborative design of this scheme makes it well suited for typical healthcare applications. The proposed mechanism detects the coexistence situation and reorganizes the communication of the coexisting WBANs. We implement the proposed scheme and show the simulation results using OPNET.
Fertile revertants from S-type male-sterile maize grown in vitro.

Plants were regenerated from callus cultures of maize inbred W182BN with the S(USDA) type of cytoplasmic male sterility (cms). Some regenerates from 16 of 18 separate cultures had fertile tassels. Many other regenerates, whose fertility could not be scored accurately because of abnormal plant morphology, produced fertile progeny after pollination with N cytoplasm W182BN. Revertant plants and/or progeny were obtained from all 18 cultures, which included the CA, D, LBN, and S sources of cmsS. More revertants were recovered from cultures maintained as callus for 12 months than from 3–4 month old cultures. Several types of evidence (absence of segregation for fertility after selfing or pollination of revertants with standard W182BN, pollen viability counts, failure of revertants to restore sterile cmsS lines to fertility, mitochondrial DNA analyses) indicated that the reversion to fertility involved cytoplasmic rather than nuclear alterations. All revertants examined lacked the S1 and S2 plasmid-like DNAs characteristic of the mitochondrial genome of sterile cmsS lines. Most callus cultures lost S1 and S2 after 13–20 months in vitro. No revertants were seen among thousands of W182BN cmsS plants grown from seed in the field or among plants from tissue cultures of W182BN with the C or T types of cms. The cytoplasmic revertants recovered from culture may be useful for the molecular analysis of cmsS.
Adsorption of H2, N2, NH3 and PF3 on ultra-thin Fe films on W(100)

The morphologies of ultra-thin Fe films (0.1 to 10 monolayer) on W(100) and the chemisorption properties of H2, N2, NH3 and PF3on these films have been investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). For ⩽ 1 ML coverage dosed at T < 200 K, Fe forms an epitaxial overlayer on W(100) and annealing to 1100 K does not change the AES, LEED and chemisorption properties. Above 1 ML, Fe grows layer-by-layer at 200 K. However, annealing to 1100 K results in the formation of three-dimensional Fe islands over the first monolayer and alters the AES, LEED, and chemisorption properties. Generally, the overlayers with ⩽ 2 ML Fe coverage do not behave like a superposition of pure Fe and W but have unique properties. On monolayer Fe films there is an increase in both the adsorption bond strength and the sticking probability of N2 compared to bulk Fe. For H2, there is a high temperature TPD state attributed to absorption of H at the metal-metal interface between Fe and W.
1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-disilacyclobutane and 1,1,3,3-Tetra- methyl-1-sila-3-germacyclobutane via active metal derivatives of bis(chloromethyl)dimethylsilane

Abstract The reaction of bis(lithiomethyl)dimethylsilane with dimethyldichlorosilane in diethyl ether has served in the preparation of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3-disilacyclobutane in 24% yield and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1-sila-3-germacyclobutane has been prepared in 21% yield by the Barbier reaction between bis(chloromethyl)dimethylsilane, dimethyldichlorogermane and magnesium in THF.
Optimal Index Policies for Anomaly Localization in Resource-Constrained Cyber Systems

Abstract : The problem of anomaly localization in a resource-constrained cyber system is considered. Each anomalous component of the system incurs a cost per unit time until its anomaly is identified and fixed. Different anomalous components may incur different costs depending on their criticality to the system. Due to resource constraints, only one component can be probed at each given time. The observations from a probed component are realizations drawn from two different distributions depending on whether the component is normal or anomalous. The objective is a probing strategy that minimizes the total expected cost, incurred by all the components during the detection process, under reliability constraints. We consider both independent and exclusive models. In the former, each component can be abnormal with a certain probability independent of other components. In the latter, one and only one component is abnormal. We develop optimal index policies under both models. The proposed index policies apply to a more general case where a subset (more than one) of the components can be probed simultaneously. The problem under study also finds applications in spectrum scanning in cognitive radio networks and event detection in sensor networks.
Characterization and protein analysis of myelin subfractions in rat brain: developmental and regional comparisons.

—Myelin preparations from the whole brains of 16-day-old rats and from cortical regions and brainstem, respectively, of 40-day-old rats were separated into light, medium and heavy subfractions on a discontinuous sucrose gradient by a procedure previously used for whole adult rat brain (Matthieu, et al., 1973). The total dry weight of myelin recovered from the 16-day-old rats was only 2·4mg/g fresh brain in comparison to 20 mg from adult brains. In 16-day-old rat brains, the percentage of the total myelin protein in the light fraction was higher than that found in adult brains; the percentage in the medium fraction was only one-third that in adults; while the percentage in the heavy fraction was about the same at both ages. The heavy fraction from the 16-day-old rats contained less basic protein and proteolipid than the light fraction, and the levels of the 2′3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNP) and glycoprotein were less than half those in the light and medium fractions. Double labelling experiments with radioactive fucose indicated that the major labelled glycoprotein in the heavy and medium fractions had a slightly higher apparent mol. wt than that in the light fraction. Electron microscopy showed much readily identifiable, compact myelin in the light and medium fractions from the 16-day-old rats, whereas the heavy fraction contained more single membranous structures and much less multilamellar myelin. The yield of myelin/g fresh wt from brainstem of 40-day-old rats was 4-fold higher than from cortical regions, and the percentage recovered in the light fraction was greater in the brainstem. In both regions basic proteins decreased from the light to the heavy fraction, whereas high mol. wt proteins, the glycoprotein and CNP increased. The biochemical and morphological results suggest that in both 16-day-old and young adult rats the light fraction is enriched multilamellar, compact myelin. In contrast, the heavy fraction at both ages is enriched in loose, uncompacted myelin and myelin-related membranes, although the heavy fraction from 16-day-old rats also may be substantially contaminated with membranes which are unrelated to myelin.
Aging selectively decreases oxidative capacity in rat heart interfibrillar mitochondria.

Mitochondrial-derived oxidative injury contributes to cellular aging as well as to reperfusion-induced tissue damage. While the aging-heart suffers greater tissue damage following ischemia and reperfusion than the adult heart, the occurrence of aging-related alterations in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in the elderly heart has remained uncertain. We determined if aging altered oxidative metabolism in either of the two populations of cardiac mitochondria, subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM) that reside beneath the plasma membrane or interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) located between the myofibrils. SSM and IFM were isolated from 6-month adult and 24- and 28-month elderly Fischer 344 rat hearts. Aging-related alterations were limited to IFM, while SSM remained unaffected. Aging decreased the rate of oxidative phosphorylation in IFM, including when stimulated by electron donors specific for cytochrome oxidase. Cytochrome oxidase enzyme activity was decreased in IFM from aging hearts, while activity in SSM remained similar to adult controls. These findings allow future studies of aging-related decrements in oxidative function to focus upon IFM, while SSM provide an inherent control group of mitochondria that are free of aging-related alterations in oxidative function. The selective alteration of IFM during aging raises the possibility that the consequences of aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction will be enhanced in specific subcellular regions of the senescent myocyte.
Computational strategies for tire modeling and analysis

Computational strategies are presented for the modeling and analysis of tires in contact with pavement. A procedure is introduced for the simple and accurate determination of tire cross-sectional geometric characteristics from a digitally scanned image. Three new strategies for reducing the computational effort in the finite element solution of tire-pavement contact are also presented. These strategies take advantage of the observation that footprint loads do not usually stimulate a significant tire response away from the pavement contact region. The finite element strategies differ in their level of approximation and required amount of computer resources. The effectiveness of the strategies is demonstrated by numerical examples of frictionless and frictional contact of the Space Shuttle orbiter nose-gear tire. Both an in-house research code and a commercial finite element code are used in the numerical studies.
Mediterranean Fruit Fly Eradication in the Lower Rio Grande Valley

One male Mediterranean fruit fly suspect was collected in a detection trap baited with a synthetic male lure in Brownsville, Texas, June 13, 1966. The specimen was identified as Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) by Richard H. Foote on June 15. This was the first record of the pest in Texas. The first larval infestation was found in calamondin on June 16 in the same general area. Other hosts subsequently found infested included peach and sour orange.
A novel ecological role of the Firmicutes identified in thermophilic microbial fuel cells

Significant effort is currently focused on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as a source of renewable energy. Most studies concentrate on operation at mesophilic temperatures. However, anaerobic digestion studies have reported on the superiority of thermophilic operation and demonstrated a net energy gain in terms of methane yield. As such, our studies focused on MFC operation and microbiology at 55 degrees C. Over a 100-day operation, these MFCs were stable and achieved a power density of 37 mW m(-2) with a coulombic efficiency of 89%. To infer activity and taxonomic identity of dominant members of the electricity-producing community, we performed phylogenetic microarray and clone library analysis with small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA). The results illustrated the dominance (80% of clone library sequences) of the Firmicutes in electricity production. Similarly, rRNA sequences from Firmicutes accounted for 50% of those taxa that increased in relative abundance from current-producing MFCs, implying their functional role in current production. We complemented these analyses by isolating the first organisms from a thermophilic MFC. One of the isolates, a Firmicutes Thermincola sp. strain JR, not only produced more current than known organisms (0.42 mA) in an H-cell system but also represented the first demonstration of direct anode reduction by a member of this phylum. Our research illustrates the importance of using a variety of molecular and culture-based methods to reliably characterize bacterial communities. Consequently, we revealed a previously unidentified functional role for Gram-positive bacteria in MFC current generation.
Dynamics of clonal diversity in natural infections of the malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum in its free-ranging lizard host

Within mixed-genotype infections of malaria parasites (Plasmodium), the number of genetic clones present is associated with variation in important life history traits of the infection, including virulence. Although the number of clones present is important, how the proportion of those clones varies over time is poorly known. Clonal proportions of the lizard malaria parasite, Plasmodium mexicanum, were assessed in naturally infected free-ranging lizards followed in a mark-recapture program over as long as two warm seasons, the typical life span of the lizard. Clonal proportions were determined by amplifying two microsatellite markers, a method previously verified for accuracy. Most blood samples had been stored for over a decade, so a verification test determined that these samples had not degraded. Although the environment experienced by the parasite (its host) varies over the seasons and transmission occurs over the entire warm season, 68 % of infections were stable over time, harboring a single clone (37 % of infections) or multiple clones changing only 1–12 % maximum comparing any two samples (31 % of infections). The maximum change seen in any infection (comparing any two sample periods) was only 30 %. A new clone entered three infections (only once successfully), and a clone was lost in only three infections. These results mirror those seen for a previous study of experimentally induced infections that showed little change in relative proportions over time. The results of this study, the first look at how clonal proportions vary over time for any malaria parasite of a nonhuman vertebrate host for natural infections, were surprising because experimental studies show clones of P. mexicanum appear to interact, yet relative proportions of clones typically remain constant over time.
Development and Validation of a Telephone Questionnaire to Characterize Lymphedema in Women Treated for Breast Cancer

Background and Purpose. Accurate and economical characterization of lymphedema is needed for population-based studies of incidence and risk. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a telephone questionnaire for characterizing lymphedema. Subjects. Forty-three women who were treated previously for breast cancer and who were recruited from physical therapy practices and a cancer support organization were studied. Methods. Questionnaire assessment of the presence and degree of lymphedema was compared with physical therapists' diagnoses, based primarily on circumferential measurements. Twenty-five of the 43 subjects were measured independently by 2 physical therapists to assess interobserver agreement. Results. Interobserver agreement on clinical assessments of the presence and degree of lymphedema was high (20/25, weighted kappa=.80); all of the disagreements were between judgments of whether there was no lymphedema or mild lymphedema. For the diagnosis of at least moderate lymphedema (differential in the circumferences of the upper extremities greater than 2 cm), sensitivity of the questionnaire varied from 0.86 to 0.92 and specificity was 0.90. However, sensitivity (varying from 0.93 to 0.96) was higher than specificity (varying from 0.69 to 0.75) for the diagnosis of any lymphedema. Discussion and Conclusion. A few straightforward questions exhibited excellent agreement with physical therapists' assessments for identifying at least moderate lymphedema.
Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer In Vivo to Cerebral Blood Vessels and Perivascular Tissue in Mice

Background and Purpose —Gene transfer to cerebral blood vessels has been accomplished in rats and dogs by injection of replication-deficient adenovirus into cerebrospinal fluid. In this study we examined transgene expression after injection of adenovirus into the cerebrospinal fluid of mice. Responses were observed in ICR mice and C57BL/6 mice, which are outbred and inbred strains, respectively. Methods —We injected replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus expressing nuclear targeted β-galactosidase, driven by either the Rous sarcoma virus promoter (AdRSV-βGal) or the cytomegalovirus promoter (AdCMV-βGal), into the cisterna magna of anesthetized ICR and C57BL/6 strains of mice. The brains were examined from 1 to 21 days after injection by chemiluminescent enzyme activity assay or histochemical staining. Results —After injection of AdRSV-βGal, expression of β-galactosidase in ICR mice peaked on day 7 and returned to basal by day 14. Expression of β-galactosidase in C57BL/6 mice was maximal on days 7 to 14 and was minimal by day 21 after injection of AdRSV-βGal. After injection of AdCMV-βGal in C57BL/6 mice, peak expression of transgene occurred on day 1 and was greatly diminished by day 3. Transgene expression was observed primarily on the ventral surface of the brain, with preferential expression in leptomeninges and adventitia along the major cerebral arteries of that region. Conclusions —Injection of recombinant adenovirus in the cisterna magna resulted in transgene expression in leptomeninges and perivascular tissue of cerebral blood vessels in two strains of mice. The CMV promoter elicited rapid but short-lived expression of the transgene, while the RSV promoter elicited slower, more sustained transgene expression. Expression of AdRSV transgene was prolonged in C57BL/6 mice compared with ICR mice. This approach for gene transfer may be useful to study cerebral vascular biology in genetically altered strains of mice.
Indicators for assessing folate and vitamin B-12 status and for monitoring the efficacy of intervention strategies

Deficiencies of folate or of vitamin B-12 are widespread and constitute a major global burden of morbidity that affect all age groups. Detecting or confirming the presence of folate or vitamin B-12 deficiency and distinguishing one from the other depends, ultimately, on laboratory testing. Tests to determine the presence of folate or vitamin B-12 deficiency are used singly or in combination to establish the nutritional status and prevalence of deficiencies of the vitamins in various populations. The efficacy of interventions through the use of fortification or supplements is monitored by using the same laboratory tests. Tests currently in use have limitations that can be either technical or have a biological basis. Consequently, each single test cannot attain perfect sensitivity, specificity, or predictive value. Laboratory indicators of vitamin B-12 or folate status involve the measurement of either the total or a physiologically relevant fraction of the vitamin in a compartment such as blood. Thus, assays to measure vitamin B-12 or folate in plasma or serum as well as folate in red blood cells are in widespread use, and more recently, methods to measure vitamin B-12 associated with the plasma binding protein transcobalamin (holotranscobalamin) have been developed. Alternatively, concentrations of surrogate biochemical markers that reflect the metabolic function of the vitamin can be used. Surrogates most commonly used are plasma homocysteine, for detection of either vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, and methylmalonic acid for detection of vitamin B-12 deficiency. The general methods as well as their uses, indications, and limitations are presented.
Characterization of RNA Elements That Regulate Gag-Pol Ribosomal Frameshifting in Equine Infectious Anemia Virus

Synthesis of Gag-Pol polyproteins of retroviruses requires ribosomes to shift translational reading frame once or twice in a -1 direction to read through the stop codon in the gag reading frame. It is generally believed that a slippery sequence and a downstream RNA structure are required for the programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting. However, the mechanism regulating the Gag-Pol frameshifting remains poorly understood. In this report, we have defined specific mRNA elements required for sufficient ribosomal frameshifting in equine anemia infectious virus (EIAV) by using full-length provirus replication and Gag/Gag-Pol expression systems. The results of these studies revealed that frameshifting efficiency and viral replication were dependent on a characteristic slippery sequence, a five-base-paired GC stretch, and a pseudoknot structure. Heterologous slippery sequences from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and visna virus were able to substitute for the EIAV slippery sequence in supporting EIAV replication. Disruption of the GC-paired stretch abolished the frameshifting required for viral replication, and disruption of the pseudoknot reduced the frameshifting efficiency by 60%. Our data indicated that maintenance of the essential RNA signals (slippery sequences and structural elements) in this region of the genomic mRNA was critical for sufficient ribosomal frameshifting and EIAV replication, while concomitant alterations in the amino acids translated from the same region of the mRNA could be tolerated during replication. The data further indicated that proviral mutations that reduced frameshifting efficiency by as much as 50% continued to sustain viral replication and that greater reductions in frameshifting efficiency lead to replication defects. These studies define for the first time the RNA sequence and structural determinants of Gag-Pol frameshifting necessary for EIAV replication, reveal novel aspects relative to frameshifting elements described for other retroviruses, and provide new genetic determinants that can be evaluated as potential antiviral targets.
FM and AM mode locking of the homogeneous laser - Part I: Theory

A new general analysis for mode-locked operation of a homogeneously broadened laser with either internal phase (FM) or amplitude (AM) modulation is presented in this paper. In this analysis, a complex Gaussian pulse is followed through one pass around the laser cavity. Approximations are made to the line shape and modulation characteristics to keep the pulse Gaussian. After one round trip, a self-consistent solution is required. This yields simple analytic expressions for the pulse length, frequency chirp, and bandwidth of the mode-locked pulses. The analysis is further extended to include effects of detuning of the modulator, in which case analytical expressions are obtained for the phase shift of the pulse within the modulation cycle, the shift of the pulse spectrum off line center, the change in pulse length, and the change in power output. Numerical results for a typical Nd:YAG laser are given. In the case of the FM mode-locked laser it is found that there is a frequency chirp on the pulse and that this causes pulse compression and stretching when the modulator is detuned. Etalon effects and dispersion effects are also considered.
Detection of abdominal aortic graft infection: comparison of CT and in-labeled white blood cell scans

Aortic graft infections are a rare but potentially lethal complication of aortic graft surgery. If the infection is limited to the groin, local therapy and preservation of the graft may be possible in some cases, whereas infections extending into the retroperitoneum require removal of the graft and revascularization of the lower limbs. The diagnosis and assessment of the extent of a graft infection is difficult on clinical grounds. A prospective study compared CT and indium-labeled white blood cell (In-WBC) scans in the diagnosis of aortic graft infection. Five patients with aortic graft infection and three patients without aortic graft infection were studied by both methods. CT correctly detected the retroperitoneal extension of the infection in three patients with groin infection; In-WBC scans diagnosed the extension only in one patient. Both CT and In-WBC were positive in two patients with aortic graft infection but no groin infection. Both studies were negative in the three patients without evidence of aortic graft infection. The study suggests that CT is more sensitive than In-WBC in evaluating the extent of aortic graft infection and should be the imaging method of choice.
Relations between hinterland and foreland shortening: Sevier orogeny, central North American Cordillera

The tectonic relations between foreland and hinterland deformation in noncollisional orogens are critical to understanding the overall development of orogens. The classic central Cordilleran foreland fold-and-thrust belt in the United States (Late Jurassic to early Tertiary Sevier belt) and the more internal zones to the west (central Nevada thrust belt) provide data critical to understanding the developmere of internal and external parts of orogens. The Garden Valley thrust system, part of the central Nevada thnkst belt, crops out in south-central Nevada within a region generally considered to be the hinterland of the Jurassic to Eocene Sevier thrust belt. The thrust system consists of at least four principal thrust plates composed of strata as young as Pennsylvanian in age that are unconformably overlain by rocks as old as Oligocene, suggesting that contraction occurred between those times. New U/Pb dates on intrusions that postdate contraction, combined with new paleomagnetic data showing significant tilting of one area prior to intrusion, suggest that regionally these thrusts were active before -85-100 Ma. The thrust faults are characterized by long, relatively steeply dipping ramps and associated folds that are broad and open to close, upright and overturned. Although now fragmented by Cenozoic crustal extension, individual thrusts can be correlated from range to range for tens to hundreds of kilometers along strike. We correlate the structurally lowest thrust of the Garden Valley thrust system, the Golden Gate-Mount Irish thrust, southward with the Gass Peak thrust of southern Nevada. This correlation carries the following regional implications. At least some of the slip across Jurassic to mid-Cretaceous foreland thrusts in southern Nevada continues northward along the central Nevada thrust belt rather than noaheastward into Utah. This continuation is consistent with age relations, which indicate that thrusts in the type Sevier belt in central Utah are synchronous with or younger than the youngest thrusts in southern Nevada. This in turn implies that geometrically similar Sevier belt thrusts in Utah must die out southward before they reach Nevada, that slip along the southem Nevada thrusts is partitioned
The Role of the Police in Evacuations: Responding to the Social Impact of a Disaster

Disaster evacuations are stressful events in which citizens and law enforcement frequently interact with each other. Most emergency response plans are based on military strategies that operate inde...
Bright photoluminescence from GaAs and InGaAs nanoneedles grown on Si substrates

We report novel single-crystalline (In)GaAs nanoneedles with 2~5 nm tips, smooth 6-9deg taper angles and lengths up to 3-4 mum, grown aligned to [111] orientation on Si substrates. Bright photoluminescence is obtained from quantum-well nanoneedles.
On the activation free energy of the Cl− + CH3Cl SN2 reaction in solution

Abstract The activation free energetics of the identity SN2 reaction Cl− + CH3Cl → ClCH3 + Cl− in solution are examined theoretically. Two diabatic valence bond states, ψ1[Cl−1/CH3Cl] and ψ2[ClCH3/Cl−], are employed within the framework of the Kim-Hynes theory of solvation [H. J. Kim and J. T. Hynes, J. Chem. Phys. 96, 5088 (1992)] to calculate the free energies of the reactant and transition states in five solvents of different polarity. An electronically adiabatic vacuum potential energy surface for the reaction is presented, in terms of the energies associated with the two diabatic states ψ1 and ψ2 and the electronic coupling between them. Emphasis is placed on exposing the differences between two limiting solvent electronic polarization response regimes: the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) limit, where the solvent electronic polarization time scale is much smaller than that of the solute electronic motion, and the self-consistent (SC) limit, where the solute electronic motion time scale is much smaller than that of the solvent electronic polarization. It is found that the activation free energies calculated within the two limiting regimes can differ by as much as 7.7 kcal/mol, which is extremely significant, given the exponential sensitivity of the reaction rate constant. For the solvents studied, the BO activation free energies are always lower than the experimental estimates, whereas the SC results are invariably higher. The activation free energies calculated by the full Kim-Hynes theory, which properly treats the solvent electronic polarization, gives a result in between the BO and SC limits.
The Abuse Disability Questionnaire A New Scale for Assessing the Consequences of Partner Abuse

The Abuse Disability Questionnaire (ADQ) was administered to women who used domestic violence shelters services and to a community sample of women who were members of the Chamber of Commerce. Results from these administrations along with other clinical information available from a subset of shelter women indicated that the ADQ was a reliable and valid way by which to measure the negative consequences of partner abuse. Factor analysis indicated that the ADQ contained eight factors, suggesting that impairment from partner abuse is multidimensional in its effects. Possible clinical applications and further research with the ADQ are discussed.
MRSA in companion animals.

SIR, — The interesting and informative communication from Moore and colleagues ( VR , October 28, 2006, vol 159, p 605) concerning transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) between man and companion animals mentions the use of chlorhexidine body washes in attempts to
ACUTE GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: The Gastroenterologist's Perspective

Although SRES-associated hemorrhage previously constituted a significant cause of bleeding in the ICU, improvements in ICU management and the institution of prophylactic measures in high-risk patients have significantly reduced SRES-associated hemorrhage since the 1980s. Antacids, H2-receptor antagonists, and sucralfate have been shown to be effective in preventing clinically significant bleeding resulting from SRES, particularly when the intragastric pH is maintained at greater than 4. A selective approach should be adopted in SRES prophylaxis: Patients on mechanical ventilation, with coagulopathy, or with two of the other known risk factors should receive prophylaxis. Although the drug of choice depends to some extent on local preferences, an H2-receptor antagonist by continuous intravenous infusion may represent the best option. No pharmacologic therapy is of proven value once hemorrhage begins, but the current interventional techniques are effective in controlling hemorrhage. Gastrointestinal bleeding from NOMV has become less common with improvements in the hemodynamic monitoring of critically ill patients, but this disease must always be considered when lower gastrointestinal bleeding occurs in the context of relative hypoperfusion. For SRES and NOMV, treatment of the underlying disease or diseases is the optimal route to prevention.
Investigation of double-layer and pseudocapacitance of surface-modified ionic liquid-functionalized graphene oxide

Abstract Electrochemical capacitors (supercapacitors) have received considerable attention as promising energy storage devices for applications including transportation, load leveling, and personal electronic devices. Common features among electrochemical capacitors are high power density and cycle life, and although they may differ with respect to electrode material, many electrochemical capacitors employ some type of high surface area carbon electrode. With the emergence of graphene (a single atom thick layer of carbon), some recent attention has focused on using this material as a supercapacitor electrode with generally promising results. In this paper, we present imidazolium-functionalized graphene oxide supercapacitor electrodes. We compare these materials to unmodified graphene oxide. Our results indicate that the functionalized graphene oxide materials exhibit higher capacity than unmodified graphene oxide, leading us to conclude that these materials may be suitable for supercapacitor electrodes. In addition, we show that the functionalized graphene oxide materials exhibit a mix of double-layer and pseudocapacitance, which ultimately could further enhance material capacity.
A History of Afro-Hispanic Language: The Spanish-Creole debate

Introduction Having reviewed a wide spectrum of Afro-Iberian linguistic manifestations, spanning four centuries and four continents, we are in a position to reassess the question of whether Spanish ever creolized, and if so, where, under what circumstances, with what antecedents, and with what long-term effects on the surrounding Spanish dialects. First it is necessary to revisit the question of why so few (if any) Spanish-derived creoles are found throughout the world, in comparison with the large and diverse collection of Portuguese-, French-, and English-based creoles scattered across five continents. Attempts – sometimes only implicitly stated – at answering this question for Spanish have taken at least the following forms: (1) the demographic proportions of Europeans to Africans in the Caribbean were not favorable to the formation of creoles; (2) Spanish colonization was somehow “different” from that undertaken by Portugal, France, and England, thus accounting for greater Hispanization of the Spanish colonies; (3) all Afro-European creoles formed in West Africa, where Spain held no slave depots; (4) Spanish did once creolize in the Americas, and certain vernacular varieties of Caribbean Spanish are the post-creole remnants of what was once a more extensive creole language; as yet undiscovered enclaves of vestigial Spanish creole language may still be uncovered, as the creole nature of Afro-Colombian Palenquero was revealed only a few decades ago. The bulk of this chapter will consider the last viewpoint, which is of direct relevance to the evaluation of the Afro-Hispanic materials discussed in the preceding chapters.
Grading a Physician's Value — The Misapplication of Performance Measurement

By 2017, the value-based payment modifier will be used to reward or penalize all Medicare physicians on the basis of the relative calculated value of the care they provide. But a physician's overall value cannot be assessed with current or foreseeable measures.
Control of Long-Lived Gas Emissions from Semiconductor Processing Equipment

Certain perfluorocompounds (PFCs) - including CF4, C2F6, SF6, and NF3 - are widely used in gas phase thin film processing applications such as dry etching and CVD chamber cleaning. Through a combination of long atmospheric lifetimes and high infrared absorption cross sections, many PFCs have high global warming potentials (GWPs). Abatement of PFC emissions from semiconductor applications is consistent with existing and developing international, national, and industrial policies for the control of greenhouse gas emissions. For PFC applications in the semiconductor industry, there exist a number of promising options for emissions control. These options include destruction (comprising combustion, plasma, and chemical-thermal routes), recovery, and process replacement.
Research on Power Supply Scheme for Compressor Station

Power supply reliability in compressor station is an important guarantee that the compressor station will keep continuous stable operation.Based on the property of electrical loads,taking the power supply scheme for Yulin compressor station as an example,this paper illustrates that,for ensuring the power supply reliability in the compressor station,there must be an independent double circuit feeding in the compressor station,and filter parameters set should meet the requirements in various operation modes.
Risk factors and prevention and control for Legionella pneumophila contamination in public places of Dongcheng District,Beijing

Objective To find rules of contamination with Legionella pneumophila in public places of Dongcheng District,and put forward effective and feasible measures to control and reduce risk of outbreak of Legionnaires disease. Methods Current information of use,disinfection and cleaning of central airconditioning systems and shower systems in public places of Dongcheng District were collected through questionnaires and interviews,water specimens were collected from central air-conditioning cooling tower and shower systems for Legionella pneumophila examinations. All the information were analyzed comprehensively. Results Most central air-conditioning systems investigated have been used for years,running 165 days per year and 83. 8 percent with opening cooling tower,and 78. 6 percent of shower systems were used more than six years,without cleaning or disinfection,or only with partially cleaned or disinfected in a lower frequency. Legionella pneumophila could be detected from 8. 39 percent of the water specimens overall,11. 3 percent from cooling water specimens of central air-conditioning systems and 6. 57 percent from shower systems. Legionella pneumophila could be detected from 15 percent of cooling water at fivestar hotels and 10. 9 percent of shower systems at hospitals. Conclusion Central air-conditioning systems and shower systems are popular at hotels and hospitals in Dongcheng District,and most of them have been used for years without cleaning, disinfection or only with partially cleaned and disinfected in a lower frequency. It is suggested that management of central sirconditioning system and shower system should be strengthened in a standardized way,and their monitoring and evaluation for effectiveness should be strengthened further.
Antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome

The antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome was first reported in patients with prostate cancer who manifested disease progression after total androgen blockage therapy with medical or surgical castration and pure antiandrogen, flutamide; discontinuation of flutamide resulted in a decline in prostate specific antigen and, in some cases, with clinical response. Same phenomena have been reported after the withdrawal of casodex, chlormadinone acetate, megestrol acetate, diethylstilbestrol, and estramustine phosphate. Mutations in the androgen receptor(AR) gene were discovered in clinical specimens of human prostate cancer patients who showed this syndrome and some of these being identical to the mutation found in LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Another mechanism otherwise the point mutation of AR would be also speculated.
[Drug tolerance and PFGE molecular typing of Salmonella paratyphi A isolated in Dengfeng, Henan province, 2009-2015].

Objective To investigate the drug tolerance and PFGE patterns of Salmonella(S.)paratyphi A strains isolated from sentinel hospitals in Dengfeng, Henan province, during 2009-2015. Methods Venous blood samples were collected from paratyphoid patients and cultured in double phase blood culture bottle. Suspicious strains were identified and used for Salomonella. O antigen and H1/2 phase flagellum-induced serum agglutination test with API20E biochemical systems and SSI Salmonella typing sera. According to Salmonella molecular typing and K-B drug susceptibility testing method published by PulseNet China bacterial infectious disease monitoring network and USA Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, we analyzed the drug susceptibility and PFGE molecule characteristics of S. paratyphi A strains isolated from the patients. Results A total of 126 strains of S. paratyphi A were isolated from 248 blood samples, the antigen modes of them were 1, 2, 12:a:-. The resistance rate of 126 strains of S. paratyphi A was 83.3% to ampicillin; 29.4% to ceftazidime, 31.2% to cefotaxime, 17.5% to cefepime; 62.6% to nalidixic acid; 19.3% to ciprofloxacin, 26.4% to norfloxacin; 22.8% to gentamicin, 47.9% to streptomycin; 19.2% to chloramphenicol, 24.2% to methicillin benzyl ammonium, 58.6% to compound sulfamethoxazole and 46.7% to tetracycline. The 126 strains of S. paratyphi A had different levels of resistance to 8 kinds of antibiotics, 109 strains were multidrug resistant(86.5%), 9 strains were resistant to 2-3 kinds of antibiotics(7.1%), 76 strains were resistant to 5-8 kinds of antibiotics(60.3%), 17 strains were resistant to 9-10 kinds of antibiotics(13.5%), 7 strains were resistant to 11-12 kinds of antibiotics(5.6%). The 126 strains of S. paratyphi A were divided into 14 molecular patterns by digestion with XbaⅠand pulsed field gel electrophoresis. The antibiotics resistance to third generation cephalosporin(CAZ, CTX), one generation and three generation of quinolones(NAL, CIP, NOR)and aminoglycosides antibiotics(STR)showed an upward trend. Each pattern contained 1-98 strains with similarity ranged from 64.10% to 100.00%. PTYA 1, 6, 9 and 10 were the main PFGE belt types. Conclusion The drug resistance of clinical isolates of S. paratyphi A was serious in Dengfeng, Henan province, PFGE patterns showed a diversity, but predominant patterns could also be found. The PFGE patterns of some strains had clustering and were related with their antidrug spectrums. Key words: Salmonella paratyphi A; Molecular typing; Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis; Drug susceptibility test
Using Qualitative Methods to Understand Physical Activity and Weight Management Among Bangladeshis in New York City, 2013

Introduction South Asians experience high rates of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, coupled with low rates of reported physical activity. We report findings from a qualitative sub-study that was conducted in 2013 among Bangladeshi immigrants in New York City to understand factors that affect physical activity practices and weight management in this community. Methods Qualitative study participants were recruited from community-based settings. Sex-specific focus groups were conducted by trained community health workers. Proceedings were audio-recorded for translation and transcription and coded using a constant comparative approach. Data were coded using Atlas.ti software. Results Six focus groups were completed with a final sample of 67 participants (63% male, 37% female). Mean participant age was 42 years; mean years of residence in the United States was 12. Key themes that emerged were beliefs about modesty and sex-separated facilities that may prevent women from engaging in physical activity. Distinctions were made between men and women about what constitutes exercise versus physical activity; religious prayer was considered to be health-promoting because of the movement involved. Other important themes that emerged were cultural dietary practices and evolving conceptions of healthy weight. Conclusion Tailored interventions that take into account the cultural context of this growing community are needed. Findings may also provide insight into barriers to health promotion experienced by other US Muslim communities, which are growing rapidly.
Alternative and Internet Drugs that Affect Sexual Function

The purpose of this book chapter is to better understand the role of alternative nonprescription medications and their effect on sexual function. We will also discuss the prevalence of counterfeit prescription medications and their impact on health. We will discuss where these drugs are being produced and how they are regulated by the federal government. The role of the Internet as a method of obtaining these medications also will be explored. The most common alternative medicines will be reviewed based on clinical research trials in terms of efficacy and side effects.
First-trimester chorionic bump--Association with fetal aneuploidy in a high-risk population.

Purpose To determine the relationship between the first-trimester chorionic bump and fetal aneuploidy. Methods This retrospective cohort study included all singleton pregnancies with chromosomal analysis and sonographic examination performed between 5 0/7 and 13 6/7 weeks from January 1, 2010 through August 15, 2015. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement for identifying a chorionic bump was evaluated by the Kappa statistic. Pregnancies with and without a chorionic bump were compared regarding patient characteristics and fetal karyotypes. Results Six hundred ninety subjects were included, 16 (2.3%) having a bump. The kappa coefficients for interobserver agreement were 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71–1.00) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.82–1.00); those for intraobserver agreement were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.61–1.00) and perfect agreement. One hundred seventeen fetuses (16.9%) were aneuploid, of which five (4.3%) had a bump. The odds of aneuploidy in the presence of a chorionic bump were higher than those in the absence of a chorionic bump, although this difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% CI: 0.8–6.7). In subgroup analyses, odds of aneuploidy were four times higher in the bump group than in the no bump group among those with a sonographically isolated bump (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.5–13.5) and 15 times higher among those with an isolated bump and increased first-trimester aneuploidy risk (OR 15.0, 95% CI 2.4–93.3). Conclusions Agreement in identifying chorionic bumps is near-perfect. A sonographically nonisolated chorionic bump is not associated with significant additional aneuploidy risk, whereas a sonographically isolated chorionic bump confers a significantly increased likelihood of aneuploidy in high-risk fetuses. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:3–7, 2017