cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute renal failure in hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is a common procedure for the treatment of malignancies and some non-malignant hematologic disorders. In addition to other transplant-related organ toxicities, acute renal failure is a common complication following transplantation. This review discusses the incidence, timing, etiologies, risk factors, and prognosis of renal failure associated with three commonly used transplantation procedures – myeloablative autologous, myeloablative allogeneic, and non-myeloablative allogeneic transplantation. It is important to note that the epidemiology and prognosis of renal failure are distinct with these three transplantation procedures. However, the common theme is that mortality increases with worsening renal failure with all three procedures. Moreover, mortality is >80% for patients with renal failure requiring dialysis. It also appears that surviving patients have an increased risk of chronic kidney disease after renal failure. The reduction of acute renal failure will have several advantages, including reducing mortality and the burden of chronic kidney disease following transplantation.
Prognosis in long-term immunosuppressive treatment of refractory chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.

Treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) frequently includes use of immunosuppressive agents. Controlled treatment trials demonstrating efficacy are available only for prednisone and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). When these fail to achieve lasting clinical improvement after reduction or cessation of therapy, subsequent regimens are empiric, often leading to prolonged immunosuppression. It is not possible to predict who will respond to which agent and when. Administered individually, immunosuppressive agents may pose an acceptable risk, but cumulative effects of multiple agents in refractory patients may suppress the immune system and contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment difficulties with refractory CIDP patients have not been emphasized, and long-term effects of immunosuppression have focused on the risk of malignancy. In reviewing our clinical experience treating over 100 CIDP patients we identified approximately 20 patients who could be considered refractory to multiple immunosuppressive therapies and dependent upon long-term intermittent TPE. Two of these patients exemplify the morbidity associated with CIDP and its associated treatment. Our review of the clinical course of these patients raised issues about the use of multiple immunosuppressive agents, long-term goals, and long-term prognosis in CIDP.
BLyS and B cell homeostasis.

Naive peripheral B cells survive in vivo because of active stimulation by the TNF superfamily ligand B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS/BAFF). Although the survival promoting properties of BLyS are well known, the signal pathways and molecular effectors that characterize this stimulation are still being elucidated. In this communication, we discuss the signal cascades that effect BLyS dependent survival and the regulation of BLyS induced signaling. We also examine the role of BLyS as a growth factor and propose that BLyS induced metabolic enhancement optimizes the B cell response to BCR and TLR-dependent signaling.
FDA phantom CT database: a resource for the assessment of lung nodule size estimation methodologies and software development

As part of a more general effort to probe the interrelated factors impacting the accuracy and precision of lung nodule size estimation, we have been conducting phantom CT studies with an anthropomorphic thoracic phantom containing a vasculature insert on which synthetic nodules were inserted or attached. The utilization of synthetic nodules with known truth regarding size and location allows for bias and variance analysis, enabled by the acquisition of repeat CT scans. Using a factorial approach to probe imaging parameters (acquisition and reconstruction) and nodule characteristics (size, density, shape, location), ten repeat scans have been collected for each protocol and nodule layout. The resulting database of CT scans is incrementally becoming available to the public via the National Biomedical Imaging Archive to facilitate the assessment of lung nodule size estimation methodologies and the development of image analysis software among other possible applications. This manuscript describes the phantom CT scan database and associated information including image acquisition and reconstruction protocols, nodule layouts and nodule truth.
Effect of vagus nerve stimulation on cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites, norepinephrine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations in depressed patients

Background Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown promising antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression, but the mechanisms of action are not known. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies in epilepsy patients show that VNS alters concentrations of monamines and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), neurotransmitter systems possibly involved in the pathogenesis of depression. Methods Twenty-one adults with treatment-resistant, recurrent, or chronic major depression underwent standardized lumbar puncture for collection of 12 mL CSF on three separate but identical procedure days during participation in the VNS D-02 clinical trial. All subjects remained on stable regimens of mood medications. Collections were made at baseline (2 weeks after surgical implantation but before device activation), week 12 (end of the acute-phase study), and week 24. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations of GABA were assayed with mass spectrometry. Results Comparison of sham versus active VNS revealed a significant (mean 21%) VNS-associated increase in CSF HVA. Mean CSF concentrations of NE, 5-HIAA, MHPG, and GABA did not change significantly. Higher baseline HVA/5-HIAA ratio predicted worse clinical outcome. Conclusions Although several of the CSF neurochemical effects we observed in this VNS study were similar to those described in the literature for antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy, the results do not suggest a putative antidepressant mechanism of action for VNS.
VO2 max and training indices as determinants of competitive running performance

Abstract The importance of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) for competitive running performance is established. Although of clear importance, the quantitative association between the volume and intensity of training, and running performance has not been established. The purpose of this investigation was to quantify the relative importance of VO2 max, training volume (miles/week) and intensity for running performance at distances ranging from 1.0 to 26.2 miles. Seventy‐eight well‐trained runners of widely varying ability were studied during uphill treadmill running to determine VO2 max. They provided training records to determine training volume and intensity, and participated in races of 1.0 (n = 31), 2.0 (n = 55), 3.0 (n = 28), 6.0 (n= 17), 10.0 (n = 20) and 26.2 (n = 25) miles. The relationship of VO2 max and training volume and intensity to performance was determined using multiple regression. Performance (running time) was highly correlated with VO2 max (r= ‐0.91, ‐0.92, ‐0.94, ‐0.96, ‐0.95 and ‐0....
Hydrolytic degradation mechanism of Kevlar 49 fibers when dissolved in sulfuric acid

The hydrolytic degradation of Kevlar 49 fibers when dissolved in H2SO4 is characterized from (i) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), CNH analyses and optical microscopy studies of insoluble crystals formed in the PPTA-H2SO4 dope and (ii) the rates of H2SO4-catalyzed hydrolysis of model compound aromatic amides. After hydrolysis of a PPTA amide linkage, the amide linkage adjacent to the freshly formed-COOH macromolecular end group rapidly hydrolyses resulting in the formation of terephthalic acid which then forms insoluble crystals in the PPTA-H2SO4 dope.
Use of the dropping mercury electrode for measuring oxygen changes in Treponema and Clostridium sporogenes cultures.

Abstract Using the dropping mercury electrode for measuring small oxygen changes in culture media, it is found that both spirochetes and Cl. sporogenes cause the disappearance of this gas at a low rate. These observations may suggest that a re-evaluation of the oxygen relationships of “anaerobic” bacteria may be indicated.
Finite-state code generation

This paper describes GBURG, which generates tiny, fast code generators based on finite-state machine pattern matching. The code generators translate postfix intermediate code into machine instructions in one pass (except, of course, for backpatching addresses). A stack-based virtual machine---known as the Lean Virtual Machine (LVM)---tuned for fast code generation is also described. GBURG translates the two-page LVM-to-x86 specification into a code generator that fits entirely in an 8 KB I-cache and that emits x86 code at 3.6 MB/set on a 266-MHz P6. Our just-in-time code generator translates and executes small benchmarks at speeds within a factor of two of executables derived from the conventional compile-time code generator on which it is based.
rac-(Z)-2-(2,4-Dichlorobenzylidene)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-ol

The racemic form of the title compound, C14H15Cl2NO, was prepared by the base-catalyzed reaction of 2,4-dichloro­benzaldehyde with 1-aza­bicyclo­[2.2.2]octan-3-one and subsequent reduction to the corresponding secondary alcohol. In the mol­ecule, the olefinic bond connecting the 2,4-dichloro­phenyl ring and 1-aza­bicyclo­[2.2.2]octan-3-ol group has Z geometry. The C=C—CH=C torsion angle [45.3 (3)°] indicates deviation of the 2,4-dichloro­phenyl ring from the plane of the double bond connected to the aza­bicyclic ring. The hydroxyl group is disordered over two sites, the ratio of occupancies being approximately 0.67:0.33. The crystal structure contains intermolecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds.
Crystal and molecular structure of W(CCMe3)(PMe3)3Cl3; a seven-coordinate tungsten(VI) alkylidyne complex with a regular capped octahedral (C5v) stereochemistry

Abstract The complex W(CCMe 3 )(PMe 3 ) 3 Cl 3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbnm (No. 62) with a 10.3147(10), b 14.7920(17), c 15.4266(22) A, V 2353.7(5) A 3 and D (calcd.) 1.66 g cm −3 for mol. wt. 587.6 and Z = 4. Diffractometer data were collected for four equivalent forms of reflections with 2θ = 4.0–45.0° (Mo- K α ) and the structure was solved and refined to R F 2.7% for all 1605 independent data ( R F 2.0% for those 1378 data with | F o | > 3.0σ(| F o |)). The molecule lies on a crystallographic mirror plane, which leads to disorder of the methyl groups of the neopentylidyne ligand. The tungsten atom has a monocapped octahedral coordination geometry ( C 3 v symmetry) with the neopentylidyne ligand in the capping position (WC 1.793(6) A), three PMe 3 ligands in the capped face and three Cl ligands in the opposite triangular face (WPMe 3 2.513(1)–2.519(2), WCl 2.542(1)–2.545(2) A).
433 Eros lineaments: Global mapping and analysis

Using images and laser ranging data from the NEAR-Shoemaker mission, we map lineaments on the surface of Eros in order to investigate the relationship between surface morphology and interior structure. Several sets of lineations are clearly related to visible impact craters, while others suggest that different parts of the asteroid may have undergone different stress histories. Some of these sets infer internal structure, at least on a local level. This structure may derive from Eros' parent body and suggest, although largely coherent, Eros' interior may have portions that have not undergone a common history.
Select patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may respond to treatment with clomiphene citrate

Objective To review the management of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) and evaluate the efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC). Design Retrospective review. Setting Two university-based urology clinics. Patient(s) Ten patients referred for male infertility evaluation. Intervention(s) Patients were treated with either clomiphene citrate or injectable gonadotropins. Main Outcome Measure(s) Changes in seminal parameters, gonadotropin levels, serum testosterone, and pregnancy. Result(s) Ten men who were evaluated for infertility were diagnosed with HH. Four had Kallmann's syndrome, four idiopathic HH, and two panhypopituitarism. Eight patients were azoospermic, and two were oligospermic on presentation. Three of the four men with adult-onset idiopathic HH responded to CC alone with increases in testosterone, FSH, and LH. Semen parameters in this group also improved, and two of the three men achieved pregnancies with CC alone. Out of the ten men actively attempting conception, four pregnancies were achieved. Three pregnancies (two with CC and one with gonadotropins) were in men diagnosed with adult-onset idiopathic forms of HH. Conclusion(s) Select patients with adult-onset idiopathic forms of HH may benefit from a trial of clomiphene citrate.
Optimization of the n + ledge channel structure for GaAs power FET's

The n+ledge channel structure used on some GaAs power FET's has several adjustable parameters. Experiments to optimize these parameters have been conducted. It is found that the gate recess should be as narrow as possible, the wide recess should be 0.5 to 0.7 µm wider than the gate, and the gate recess depth should be either ∼50 or ∼90 nm, depending on the shape of the gate recess. FET's having optimized values of these parameters had more than 1-W output power per millimeter gate width at 10 GHz along with high gain and efficiency.
The Drosophila tumor suppressor gene, dlg, is involved in structural plasticity at a glutamatergic synapse

Abstract Background Synaptic contacts between neurons and their targets are dynamic entities that can change depending on developmental and functional states of the pre- and postsynaptic cell. However, the molecular factors involved in this plasticity have remained largely unknown. We have demonstrated previously that the Drosophila tumor suppressor gene, discs-large ( dlg ), is expressed at neuromuscular synapses, and is required for normal synapse structure. A family of dlg homologues is also expressed at mammalian synapses, where they interact with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and ion channels. Here, we provide the first demonstration of the involvement of dlg in structural synaptic plasticity during postsynaptic target growth. Results We used a temperature-sensitive dlg allele to demonstrate that there are two stages, late embryogenesis and larval stages, at which dlg is necessary for normal formation of synapses. These stages are coincident with dynamic DLG expression at presynaptic sites in the late embryo, and at postsynaptic regions in the larva. Ultrastructural and confocal analyses reveal that Drosophila neuromuscular junctions undergo a dramatic expansion of the postsynaptic apparatus, which is paralleled by target muscle growth. We show that this process of postsynaptic expansion is partially blocked in dlg mutants. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that dlg is required during synapse maturation. We show that dlg is involved in the determination of postsynaptic size during target muscle growth. Because motorneuron targets in the larva are continuously growing, synaptic contacts are structurally plastic, undergoing continuous expansion. We conclude that dlg plays an important role in this form of structural synaptic plasticity.
The Appearance of Sustained Equatorial Surface Westerlies During the 1982 Pacific Warm Event

In June 1982 a band of anomalous southerly surface wind, extending from the equator as far south as the Tasman Sea, formed east of Australia (150 deg E to 160 deg E). This flow crossed the equator just before the appearance of sustained westerly winds on the equator somewhat west of the date line. Because these westerly winds induced the initial strong equatorial warming of the ocean east of the date line during the 1982 El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, the southerly jet appears to be an important atmospheric component leading to the onset of the vigorous phase of this event. Some historical evidence suggests that anomalous southerly winds in the same region occurred prior to the appearance of sustained equatorial westerly winds in the major ENSO events of 1957, 1965, and 1972.
A smooth adaptive estimator of the mean of a symmetric or asymmetric distribution

We study an adaptive estimate (SA) of the mean of a continuous distribution F based on a quasi-linear combination of order statistics with weights which smoothly adapt to the extremeness of the tail order statistics. SA is based in part on the selector statistic (HG2) of Hogg and Lenth (1984), which has been used widely for estimating the location when F is symmetric. We compare SA to HG2 via Monte Carlo for both symmetric and asymmetric F. We find that SA dominates or ties HG2 for symmetric F with t 5 or lighter tails, and enjoys robustness to asymmetric F (not possessed by HG2), for which it competes well with the sample mean.
Taxonomic Composition and Diversity of Microphytobenthos in Southern California Marine Wetland Habitats

Sediments in coastal wetlands host communities of phylogenetically diverse primary producers such as diatoms, cyanobacteria, and anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria, but little is understood about spatial variation in the composition of these assemblages at the highest taxonomic levels. Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography to quantify taxon-specific pigments, I investigated habitat-linked heterogeneity in microphytobenthic biomass, composition, and diversity within two natural wetland systems from southern California and tested for differences in community structure between natural and restored ecosystems. Natural vegetated habitat at Mission Bay had higher concentrations of zeaxanthin (cyanobacteria) and bacteriochlorophyll a (anoxygenic photobacteria) than unvegetated mudflat and creek banks. Organic matter was positively correlated with the concentrations of these pigments, whereas sediment pore water salinity and sand content were generally unrelated to composition. At Tijuana Estuary, community structure was generally similar between mudflat and Spartina marsh at the natural site, but concentrations of chlorophyll a and fucoxanthin (diatoms) were higher in mudflats. Restored wetland similarity with adjacent natural habitat (age 2 yr at Tijuana Estuary and 6 yr at Mission Bay) depended on habitat type and pigment measure. Restored upper intertidal succulent marsh at Mission Bay was most divergent: it had lower microalgal biomass, a lower concentration of zeaxanthin relative to fucoxanthin, and less bacteriochlorophyll a relative to chlorophyll a than natural habitat. The results suggest that patches of prokaryotic primary producers coincide with areas of high sediment organic matter and/or hypoxia superimposed on a broadly distributed flora of diatoms across various wetland landscapes.
The relationship between the grid size and the coefficient of nonlinear lateral eddy viscosity in numerical ocean circulation models

Abstract When a constant coefficient of lateral eddy viscosity v 0 is used in ocean circulation models, a false computational space oscillation is generated in the western boundary region if v 0 is smaller than a critical value. The use of a nonlinear eddy viscosity coefficient based upon two-dimensional turbulence theory is shown to permit the use of an eddy viscosity which, away from the western boundary region, is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the above critical value.
Inverse Thermal Analysis of Refractory Metal Laser Welds

Case study inverse thermal analyses of Vanadium and Tantalum laser welds are presented. These analyses employ a methodology that is in terms of analytic basis functions for inverse thermal analysis of steady-state energy deposition in plate structures. The results of the case studies presented provide parametric representations of weld temperature histories that can be adopted as input data to various types of computational procedures, such as those for prediction of solid-state phase transformations. In addition, these temperature histories can be used to construct parametric-function representations for inverse thermal analysis of welds corresponding to other process parameters or welding processes process conditions of which fall within similar regimes. This study also discusses specific aspects the inverse-analysis methodology relevant to further development of algorithms for its application in practice.
Remarks on the numerical solution of Langevin equations on unitary groups spaces

Abstract We discuss the properties of Stratonovich type stochastic differential equations (SDE's) on U (1) and SU ( N ) group spaces and their consequences for the numerical solution. Both real and complex drift terms are considered. We also discuss a two-stage Runge-Kutta algorithm for this type of SDE.
The fate of the five‐cent fare. X. Minneapolis keeps home rule and the five‐cent rate

The necessary basis for fair dealing between the street railroads and the people is scientific valuation, but as no one knows what that is and the United States Bureau of Standards still refrains from the task of setting up standards in this field, Minneapolis, for instence, gets figures that are $10,000,000 apart!
Synthesis and structures of boron dihalides supported by the C6F5-substituted β-diketiminate ligand [HC(CMe)2(NC6F5)2]−

The new boron dihalides of the type [HC(CMe)2(NC6F5)2]BX2 (X = Cl, Br, I) have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Of the various synthetic approaches explored, the best method in terms of yield and product purity involves the silylhalide elimination reaction of the silylated iminoamine [HC(CMe)2(NC6F5)(N{SiMe3}C6F5)] with BX3. Chloroborenium salt [HC(CMe)2(NC6F5)2BCl][AlCl4] was prepared by treatment of [HC(CMe)2(NC6F5)2]BCl2 with AlCl3 in CH2Cl2 solution. This salt was also structurally authenticated and represents the first such data for a β-diketiminate-supported haloborenium cation.
Supercritical CO2/co-solvent extraction of porogens and surfactant templates to obtain ultralow dielectric constant films

Abstract A method of pore generation by supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) and co-solvent extraction for the preparation of nanohybrid film and mesoporous organosilicate thin film for ultralow dielectric constant materials is investigated. The films were treated with SCCO2/methyl ethyl ketone-tetrahydrofuran co-solvent combination and it was found that the treatment produced dielectric constant (k) values of 2.30 for closed-pore and 1.61 for open-pore nanohybrid films; 2.14 for cetyl trimethylammonium bromide-based and 2.50 for polyethylene glycol octadecyl ether-based films. These results suggest that the SCCO2/co-solvent treatment produces closely comparable results with thermal decomposition in terms of Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy data, optical constants obtained from variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, and k values.
Bioaccumulation and physiological effects of mercury in Sesbania drummondii

The accumulation of mercury and its effect on growth, photosynthesis and antioxidative responses were studied in Sesbania drummondii seedlings. Mercury concentration in shoots as well as in the roots increased with increasing Hg concentrations in the growth solution. The accumulation of Hg was more in roots than shoots. At 100 mg l-1 Hg concentration, shoots accumulated 998 mg Hg kg -1 dry weight (dw) while roots accumulated 41,403 mg Hg kg-1 dw. Seedlings growth was not significantly affected at lower concentrations of Hg. A concentration of 100 mg l-1 Hg inhibited growth by 36.8%, with respect to control. Photosynthetic activity was assessed by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence by determination of Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo values. Photosynthetic integrity was not affected up to 50 mg l-1 Hg concentration, however, concentrations higher than 50 mg l-1 affected photosynthetic integrity. Sesbania responded to Hg induced oxidative stress by modulating non-enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione (GSH) and non-protein thiols (NPSH)] and enzymatic antioxidants: superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR). Glutathione content and GSH/GSSG ratio increased up to a concentration of 50 mg l-1 while slight down at 100 mg l-1 Hg. The content of NPSH significantly increased with increasing Hg concentrations in the growth medium. The activities of antioxidative enzymes, SOD, APX and GR followed the same trends as antioxidants first increased up to a concentration of 50 mg l-1 Hg and then slight decreased. The results of present study suggest that Sesbania plants were able to accumulate and tolerate Hg induced stress using an effective antioxidative defense mechanisms.
The Listening Guide for coaching: exploring qualitative, relational, voice-centered, evidence based methodology for coaches

Abstract Now that coaching has developed into a more recognisable and established profession, coaches must articulate and understand their own practices with growing precision (Kauffman & Bachkirova, 2008). Since coaching is an evolving field, coaches are being encouraged to document research on their emerging profession (Drake, 2008). Considering this need, a new demand arises for coaches to be supported by colleagues who are familiar with existing research, best practices, and empirical bases. Because concepts such as listening, relationships, voice, and silence matter to many coaches, and given the fact that more coaches are seeking valuable methods of analysis to better understand their coaching in research-based ways, the purpose of this article is to introduce the Listening Guide (e.g. Brown & Gilligan, 1992; Gilligan, Spencer, Weinberg, & Bertsch, 2003; Raider-Roth, 2005; Taylor, Gilligan, & Sullivan, 1995; Tolman, 2002; Way, 1998) to the field of coaching. The Listening Guide (LG) is a qualitative...
How confidential is confidential

Violations of patient confidentiality occur all too frequently. Conversations about patients and their care can be heard throughout hospitals. Although these conversations are necessary to manage the care of patients, the breach of confidentiality is of concern because of where the discussions occur and what is being communicated in public places. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, are at risk in matters of patient confidentiality. This article discusses confidentiality and its relationship to privacy and the trust relationship that healthcare professionals have with their patients, and offers some suggestions to uphold confidentiality within the healthcare setting.
Mentoring: A Key Strategy to Prepare the Next Generation of Physicians to Care for an Aging America

Mentoring is an important instructional strategy that should be maximally used to develop the next generation of physicians who will care for a growing population of frail older adults. Mentoring can fulfill three specific purposes: (1) help learners choose an area of specialty, (2) help fellows and new faculty navigate advancement in the academic environment, and (3) help new physicians enter a local medical community and develop a high-quality, professionally rewarding, financially viable practice that meets the needs of older adults. The components and process of mentoring are reviewed. Current and potential mechanisms to promote mentoring for the specific purpose of increasing the quality and quantity of physicians available to care for the older adult population are discussed.
Mediated Bioelectrocatalytic Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticides with a Tyrosinase-Based Oxygen Biosensor

An electrochemical biosensor for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides is described. A tyrosinase-based oxygen sensor is constructed where enzymatic oxygen consumption is monitored electrochemically with the mediator 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate. This bioelectrocatalytic system allows electrochemical initiation and termination of the enzymatic reaction. Amperometric and coulometric techniques are used to study inhibitory effects for pesticide determinations. This inhibition appears to be fully reversible, with full catalytic activity returning after removal of the pesticides. Detection limits are 5 μM for diazinon and 75 nM for dichlorvos. Enzymatic inhibition of 50% occurs at ∼1000 and ∼50 μM, respectively.
The synthesis, characterization and structures of the chromium(III) dinitrito complexes: trans -[Cr(L)(ONO) 2 ] + (L=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane or 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)

Abstract Described are the syntheses plus the spectroscopic and structural characterizations of the chromium(III) complexes trans -[Cr(cyclam)(ONO) 2 ](BF 4 ) ( 1 ) (cyclam=1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) and [Cr(tetA)(ONO) 2 ](NO 3 )·H 2 O ( 2 ) (tetA=5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane). The optical absorption spectra of these are dominated by a spin allowed ligand field band at 476 and 480, respectively, and by a nitrite ligand localized n →π* band at 336 and 344 nm, respectively. The crystalline phases of both materials consist of Cr(III) complex ions situated at unit cell edge and face centers that correspond to the crystallographic inversion centers. For 1 the charge balancing BF 4 − anions are orientationally disordered and are positioned in the cavities formed by the complexes. For 2 , the nitrate anion and water molecule forms pairs through the OH⋯O type hydrogen bond and each pair has two statistical orientations.
Biogeography and Divergence in Guaiacum sanctum (Zygophyllaceae) Revealed in Chloroplast DNA: Implications for Conservation in the Florida Keys

Guaiacum sanctum (lignumvitae, guayacan) comprises economically important and globally endangered trees endemic to the dry neotropics. These trees were historically over-harvested and now G. sanctum is among the species listed by IUCN and CITES. Guaiacum sanctum was once found throughout the Florida Keys, but anthropogenic habitat fragmentation and exploitation have left only one significant population, on Lignumvitae Key. The ecology of this population is additionally subject to hurricane-mediated effects and an endemic parasite. Genetic profiles were determined for the Lignumvitae and putative source populations of G. sanctum to assess variability and to test biogeographic hypotheses. These data were analyzed by phylogenetic and statistical parsimony analyses. The results were most readily interpreted as indicating historical fragmentation followed by long-term isolation. However, recent dispersal or gene flow could not be entirely excluded. Both types of analyses strongly support a significant genetic divergence between Caribbean and Mexican populations of G. sanctum and also suggest bidirectional dispersal of G. sanctum into Lignumvitae Key from both the Caribbean and Mexico. These results inform the process of restoring G. sanctum in the Keys. RESUMEN Guaiacum sanctum (lignumvitae, guayacan) consta de arboles de importancia economica y en peligro de extincion y endemicos a neotropicos secos. Estos arboles historicamente se cosecharon en abundancia y ahora G. sanctum se encuentra entre las especies nombradas por UICN y CITES. Guaiacum sanctum se encontraba por todo Florida Keys, pero fragmentacion del habitat antropogenico y explotacion han dejado solamente una populacion significante, en Lignumvitae Key. La ecologia de esta populacion adicionalmente es sujeta a efectos mediados por huracanes y por un parasito endemico. Perfiles geneticos se determinaron para la populacion Lignumvitae y populaciones de origen putativas de G. sanctum para asesar variabilidad y para poner a prueba hipotesis biogeograficas. Estos datos se analizaron con analices filogeneticos y analices estadisticos de mezquindad. Los resultados se interpretaron mas facilmente indicando una fragmentacion historica seguida por aislamiento a la larga. Sin embargo, dispersion recien o flujo de genes no pudieron ser excluidos por completo. Ambos tipos de analisis firmemente apoyan una significante divergencia genetica entre populaciones caribenas y mexicanas de G. sanctum y asimismo sugieren dispersion bidireccional de G. sanctum a Lignumvitae Key de ambos el Caribe y de Mexico. Estos resultados informan el preceso de restablecer G. sanctum en las Keys.
Femoral neuropathy from iliac muscle hematoma induced by oral anticoagulation therapy. Report of three cases with CT demonstration.

Three cases are reported of femoral neuropathy in patients receiving oral anticoagulants. After consideration of the pertinent anatomy, possible pathogenesis and CT demonstration, spontaneous hematoma of the iliac muscle is suggested as the cause of the femoral neuropathy.
Mapping the Names of American Businesses: A Teaching and Software Aid

Abstract PhoneDisc Business 95 and Business MAP LTF, when used in conjunction with each other, offer a user-friendly, low-cost, and quick method of identifying and mapping patterns of the names of America's businesses. Intended as a teaching/technical aid, this paper provides: 1) descriptions of software capabilities; 2) step-by-step directions for use; 3) examples of student-generated maps, which explored the distribution of businesses with “Coast(al),” “Piedmont,” and “Sunbelt” in their names; and 4) a concluding evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the packages as teaching and research technologies. Mapping the names of American businesses can provide students with: 1) insight into how populations see and define themselves regionally, 2) an avenue to explore the country' s spatial economy; and 3) valuable experience using the computer as a tool for collecting and visualizing large amounts of geographic data.
Real-Time Scheduling for Phase Change Main Memory Systems

Multi-core processors are effective for reducing energy consumption in computer systems, since modern multicore chips allow for power management of individual cores. However, multiple cores impose higher demand on the memory subsystem, which is extremely power hungry. In addition to the small steps towards managing power in DRAMs, Phase-Change Memory (PCM) has emerged as a low-power alternative that is especially helpful for energy-aware embedded real-time systems. However, there are three drawbacks to PCM: its high latency, high energy consumption when writing, and low endurance. In real-time systems, the impact of PCM's high access latency is of special interest, as it has a negative effect on the number of deadlines that are met by the system. In this paper, we examine the memory subsystem and add a real-time scheduler for prioritizing requests at the bottleneck resource, the PCM controller. Adding support for external priorities, we use rate monotonic (RM) and earliest deadline first (EDF) prioritization at the PCM and show that it does reduce the number of deadline misses, but not sufficiently. We examine two additional schemes for prioritizing PCM requests (critical read boosting and read over write). We show that the scheduler of the PCM controller has a significant influence on the percentage of missed deadlines: critical read boosting and read over write can reduce the percentage of missed deadlines by 80% in the best case with negligible energy overhead.
Transient behaviour of encapsulated enzyme reactor systems

Mathematical models are developed for the transient behaviour of encapsulated enzyme reactor systems such as the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and the packed bed tubular reactor. The rate processes taking place in the encapsulated enzyme bed are approximated by using a combined rate control model of enzyme reaction and membrane diffusion. The change in transient substrate concentration is obtained by using the developed rate expression in the material balance over the substrate as a function of time for the CSTR and as a function of time and position for the packed bed tubular reactor. The effects of various parameters such as the enzymic reaction rate constant, Michaelis constant, diffusional resistance of membranes, and Peclet number on the substrate concentration distribution, which varies with respect to operating time, are investigated. This study affords insight into the transient operating characteristics of the encapsulated enzyme reactor system. The results should be useful in understanding the start-up performance of the reactor systems and to control such reactor systems at desired operating conditions.
On catalytic preorganization in oxyanion holes: highlighting the problems with the gas-phase modeling of oxyanion holes and illustrating the need for complete enzyme models.

Oxyanion holes play a major role in catalyzing enzymatic reactions, yet the corresponding energetics is frequently misunderstood. The main problem may be associated with the nontrivial nature of the electrostatic preorganization effect, without following the relevant formulation. That is, although the energetics of oxyanion holes have been fully quantified in early studies (which include both the enzymatic and reference solution reactions), the findings of these studies are sometimes overlooked, and, in some cases, it is assumed that gas-phase calculations with a fixed model of an oxyanion hole are sufficient for assessing the corresponding effect in the protein. Herein, we present a systematic analysis of this issue, clarifying the problems associated with modeling oxyanions by means of two fixed water molecules (or related constructs). We then re-emphasize the point that the effect of the oxyanion hole is mainly due to the fact that the relevant dipoles are already set in an orientation that stabilizes ...
A model for molecules with twisted intramolecular charge transfer characteristics: solvent polarity effect on the nonradiative rates of dyes in a series of water—ethanol mixed solvents

Abstract The model of Grabowski et al. has been modified and used to account for the absence of a fluorescence band from the twisted form of molecules with torsional mechanisms. We have measured the ground and excited state spectroscopic properties of rhodamine B dissolved in a series of water—ethanol mixed solvents, and used the data to test the model. We also applied our model to 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) in the same solvent system, using previously published decay and quantum yield data. The results show that the variation of the nonradiative rates may be attributed to changes in solvent polarity for both systems.
An efficient procedure for the N-city traveling salesman problem

This paper considers the traveling salesman problem as an assignment problem with additional constraints to prevent subtours. A solution method incorporating a primal-dual procedure is subsequently discussed.
Modeling the stress-induced transformation behavior of shape memory alloy single crystals

The phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography has been used to determine habit plane/shear direction combinations for stress-induced transformation of NiTi, Cu-Ni-Al and NiAl shape memory alloys (SMA) to twin-related martensite correspondence variant pairs. By considering the habit plane/shear direction combinations as unidirectional shear systems, generalized Schmid's law is then used to predict the mechanical response of unconstrained single crystals of each SMA. Model results include axial transformation strain, and plane stress transformation surfaces as a function of crystal orientation. Comparison of the predicted mechanical response results with the habit plane/shear direction combinations reveals a link between the anisotropy and asymmetry of the mechanical response of SMA single crystals, and the crystallography of the martensitic transformation.
HAND: A Hybrid Approach to Accelerate Non-contiguous Data Movement Using MPI Datatypes on GPU Clusters

An increasing number of MPI applications are being ported to take advantage of the compute power offered by GPUs. Data movement continues to be the major bottleneck on GPU clusters, more so when data is non-contiguous, which is common in scientific applications. The existing techniques of optimizing MPI data type processing, to improve performance of non-contiguous data movement, handle only certain data patterns efficiently while incurring overheads for the others. In this paper, we first propose a set of optimized techniques to handle different MPI data types. Next, we propose a novel framework (HAND) that enables hybrid and adaptive selection among different techniques and tuning to achieve better performance with all data types. Our experimental results using the modified DDTBench suite demonstrate up to a 98% reduction in data type latency. We also apply this data type-aware design on an N-Body particle simulation application. Performance evaluation of this application on a 64 GPU cluster shows that our proposed approach can achieve up to 80% and 54% increase in performance by using struct and indexed data types compared to the existing best design. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to propose a hybrid and adaptive solution to integrate all existing schemes to optimize arbitrary non-contiguous data movement using MPI data types on GPU clusters.
Convoluted cords, a new nuclear body in spermatocytes and spermatids of the rabbit

The convoluted cords present in the nuclei of rabbit primary spermatocytes and spermatids differ from previously described nuclear bodies. They are composed of proteic strands decorated with granules and, in most cases, are embedded in clusters of interchromatin granules. They are partly sensitive to trypsin and can be visualised with protein-specific stains. The decorating granules are similar in size and aspect to interchromatin granules. However, only the latter are continuously immunolabelled with anti-snRNPs (small ribonucleoproteins) antibodies during spermatogenesis. The complexity and organisation of the convoluted cords are modified specifically during cell differentiation. They might be involved in the storage, transport and release of interchromatin granules in male germ cells.
The prediction of the structure of members of the homologous series of the higher rare earth oxides

Abstract The structural principle supported by the determination of the structures of the anion-deficient, fluorite-related, homologous series of higher rare earth oxides, is reviewed. The principle is applied to predict the structure of the β(2) phase, one of the members of the homologous series, R n O 2 n −2 m . Addition of the rule that during reaction or phase transformation, oxygen or vacant oxygen sites move in close-packed layers, allows the steps in the transformation of β(2) to its homologue β(3) to be shown. This transformation has been observed at atomic-resolution in the electron microscope and is interpreted in terms of intermediate forms that appear as modulated distortion waves sweeping the specimen.
Discouraging Instructional Dissent and Facilitating Students' Learning Experiences Through Instructor Self-Disclosure

The purpose of this study was to examine if instructors’ self-disclosures in the college classroom (i.e., amount, relevance, negativity) influence students’ instructional dissent responses (i.e., expressive, rhetorical, vengeful) and learning outcomes (i.e., cognitive learning, affective learning, motivation). In line with research by Ellis (2004), this study attempted to explain these associations by incorporating students’ receiver apprehension as a mediating variable. Participants were 206 undergraduate students who completed surveys, and results were examined using two path analyses. Results indicated that students’ state receiver apprehension mediated the relationships between instructor self-disclosure with learning outcomes and instructional dissent responses. Specifically, frequent, relevant, but not negative (positive) instructor self-disclosure was related indirectly (mediated by student receiver apprehension) to both student dissent responses and learning outcomes.
Triangulations (tilings) and certain block triangular matrices

For a convex polygonP withn sides, a ‘partitioning’ ofP inton−2 nonoverlapping triangles each of whose vertices is a vertex ofP is called a triangulation or tiling, and each triangle is a tile. Each tile has a given cost associated with it which may differ one from another. This paper considers the problem of finding a tiling ofP such that the sum of the costs of the tiles used is a minimum, and explores the curiosity that (an abstract formulation of) it can be cast as a linear program. Further the special structure of the linear program permits a recursive O(n 3) algorithm.
The influence of microstructure on the electronic properties of thin films of barium strontium titanium oxide composites

Abstract Microstructural and electrical properties were investigated for barium strontium titanium oxide (BSTO) magnesium oxide doped (0 to 10 wt.%) thin films deposited by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method on Pt/TiOx/SiO2/Si substrates. The dielectric properties were found to be strongly dependent on composition and microstructure. In cross-section, all films exhibited a columnar polycrystalline microstructure with vertical orientation deviations dictated by the surface roughness of the Pt electrode. A uniform granular microstructure was observed for all films in plan view. The dielectric constant, loss tangent and grain size decreased with increasing MgO concentration.
Intercellular bridges between epithelial cells in the Drosophila ovarian follicle: a possible aid to localized signaling.

Abstract In the epithelium ofDrosophilaovarian follicles, cytoplasm-filled intercellular bridges connect epithelial cells. This study presents further descriptive information about the morphology of these intercellular bridges and the extent of their distribution. We also offer speculations concerning the possible developmental importance of the epithelial bridges. These bridges, whose luminal diameters averaged 0.25 μm, are smaller than those forming the ring canals joining germline cells: nor do they increase their size over time. The membranes limiting the bridges are lined on the cytoplasmic side with an electron-dense material to which is attached a monolayer of filaments which encircle the bridge. By decoration with the S1 fragment of myosin, these filaments are confirmed as actin filaments. Following disruption of gap junctional dye coupling by treatment with 1 mM octanol, microinjection of Lucifer yellow CH revealed the extent and distribution of follicle cell intercellular bridges to be confined to arrays of no more than eight cells/cluster, with many such independent clusters comprising the epithelium. Thus cell-to-cell movement throughout the epithelium of cytosolic regulatory molecules cannot occur via these intercellular bridges. However, weak signals affecting only one or a few cells in each cluster would be amplified throughout the group by spread through the intercellular bridges.
The effects of problem-solving training on two problem-solving tasks

The present study assessed the effects of problem-solving (D'Zurilla & Goldfried, 1971) training on two problem-solving tasks. Sixty-one subjects were assigned randomly to and trained in one of the following groups: general orientation (GO)-problem definition (PD)-generation of alternatives (GA)-decision making (DM), GO-PD-GA, GO-PD-DM, GO-GA-DM, GO, and a control group. The six groups did not differ significantly at pretesting on the measures of selecting the best alternative solution and describing problem-solving behaviors used to solve problems. Training was significantly effective on selecting the best alternative solution for all groups compared with the control group at the time of posttesting. The GO-PD-GA-DM and GO-PD-DM groups described significantly more problem-solving behaviors than the GO-PD-GA, GO-GA-DM, and GO groups. All five treatment groups performed significantly better than the control group at the time of post-testing. At follow-up 1 month after posttesting, groups trained with the PD component selected significantly better alternatives than the groups without PD training. Groups trained with the DM component described significantly more problem-solving behaviors at follow-up than the groups trained without the DM component.