cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle properties under different thermal treatments

Magnetic nanoparticle structures have been examined as potential carrier vehicles and substrates in a wide range of applications where they undergo mechanical, chemical, and/or thermal manipulation to allow for their modification, conjugation, and transport. For safe and effective use, it is imperative to not only measure the initial physicochemical and structural properties of nanomaterials, but also identify and quantify any property changes related to a loss of chemical and/or physical integrity during processing and usage conditions. In this study, an assessment of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle thermal stability using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC) and a controlled heating system is conducted on two types of iron oxide nanoparticles: maghemite (Fe2O3; 500 nm) with silanol surface functional groups and magnetite (Fe3O4; 200 nm) with primary amine-terminated alkoxysilane surface functional groups. mDSC results revealed an endothermic peak at 388 K for both types of nanoparticles indicating possible molecular rearrangement within the structure. To confirm this result, iron oxide nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions were heated at discrete temperatures from 303 to 403 K. Calorimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements were used to examine changes in the chemical and physical stability of the suspensions. Morphological characteristics were evaluated using optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Results showed that the chemical and morphological structure of the nanocomposite is critical in determining the thermal performance of the iron oxide nanoparticles. Amine-terminated silane-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles were highly susceptible to morphological and surface chemistry changes starting at ca. 353 K. Conversely, silanol-functionalized maghemite nanoparticles were shown to be stable in terms of morphology and chemical structure up to 403 K. Micrographs demonstrated variations in magnetic domains distribution after exposing the nanoparticles to thermal treatments, confirming the results obtained through mDSC and FTIR measurements.
Isolation of Yersinia enterocolitica From Water

Only in the last few years has Yersinia enterocolitica been recognized as an etiologic agent. An increasing awareness of this organism is evidenced by the number of recorded cases and isolations each year from a variety of sources throughout the world. Previous failure to isolate Y. enterocolitica may be related to lack of familiarity rather than absence of the organism. Presence in the animate and inanimate environments does provide opportunity for transmission by person to person, animals, foodstuffs, and water, but vehicles of disease transmission are not fully delineated. General hygienic techniques in regard to food and water sanitation should apply in the methods for controlling the disease caused by Y. enterocolitica. The bacteriology of Y. enterocolitica is reviewed and laboratory methodology is described.
Using Floating-Gate MOS as a Non-Volatile Analog Memory for Energy-Efficient Adaptive Thresholding in ECG Sensors

We present a floating-gate metal-oxide-semiconductor (FGMOS) device in a 65 nm standard CMOS technology as a non-volatile analog memory element for energy-efficient adaptive thresholding in an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor. We present the write and erase characteristics of the FGMOS obtained through measurements on fabricated pMOS-type FG elements. An adaptive thresholding circuitry that generates, stores, and dynamically updates a threshold value on a FGMOS element to identify the R-waves in an ECG recording is demonstrated. The proposed circuitry uses the outputs from a Pan-Tompkins-algorithm-based ECG processor that accentuates the R-waves of a 50 s ECG recording from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database. Circuit simulations of the proposed adaptive thresholding circuitry and the measured characteristics of the analog memory element demonstrate the similarity between the adaptive thresholds from the proposed circuitry and the digital implementation of the original Pan-Tompkins algorithm. The proposed circuitry consumes 19 nW.
How different are cultural and economic ideology

While a single left-right dimension is often used for elites, many scholars have found it useful to distinguish mass political ideology along two dimensions: an ‘economic’ dimension concerning issues of redistribution, regulation, and social insurance, and a ‘cultural’ (or ‘social’) dimension concerning issues of national boundaries and traditional morality. While economic and cultural ideology do not reduce to a single left-right dimension, they are often moderately — and sometimes strongly — correlated. These correlations vary in magnitude and direction across individuals and countries. The association of these dimensions is due, in part, to shared antecedents in psychological needs for security and certainty. However, these needs explain more variance in cultural than economic ideology, and their relationship with the latter varies across individuals and countries. Traits related to empathy, compassion, and agreeableness are an additional source of variation in mass ideology and are especially important to orientations toward inequality and thus to economic ideology.
Ti3C2Tx MXene-Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Electrodes for Stretchable Supercapacitors.

The development of stretchable electronics requires the invention of compatible high-performance power sources, such as stretchable supercapacitors and batteries. In this work, two-dimensional (2D) titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene is being explored for flexible and printed energy storage devices by fabrication of a robust, stretchable high-performance supercapacitor with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to create a composite electrode. The Ti3C2Tx/RGO composite electrode combines the superior electrochemical and mechanical properties of Ti3C2Tx and the mechanical robustness of RGO resulting from strong nanosheet interactions, larger nanoflake size, and mechanical flexibility. It is found that the Ti3C2Tx/RGO composite electrodes with 50 wt % RGO incorporated prove to mitigate cracks generated under large strains. The composite electrodes exhibit a large capacitance of 49 mF/cm2 (∼490 F/cm3 and ∼140 F/g) and good electrochemical and mechanical stability when subjected to cyclic uniaxial (300%) or biaxial (200% × 200%) strains. The as-assembled symmetric supercapacitor demonstrates a specific capacitance of 18.6 mF/cm2 (∼90 F/cm3 and ∼29 F/g) and a stretchability of up to 300%. The developed approach offers an alternative strategy to fabricate stretchable MXene-based energy storage devices and can be extended to other members of the large MXene family.
Who, What, Where, When, and How? A Typology of Drought Decision-Making on Public and Tribal Lands in the North-Central United States

AbstractAlthough drought is a natural part of climate across the north central United States, how drought is experienced and responded to is the result of complex biophysical and social processes. ...
Lab-in-a-Box: A Guide for Remote Laboratory Instruction in an Instrumental Analysis Course

Hands-on learning in a laboratory is an integral part of the undergraduate experience for chemistry students. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an opportunity for this approach was ...
Difficult intravenous access as an independent predictor of delayed care and prolonged length of stay in the emergency department

Objectives Difficult intravenous access (DIVA) is common in the emergency department (ED). We investigated the extent to which DIVA is associated with care delay outcomes including time to first laboratory draw, therapies, imaging, and ED disposition. Methods An observational retrospective cohort analysis of patients with DIVA treated between 2018 and 2020 at 2 urban academic EDs was performed. DIVA was defined as patients requiring ultrasound-guided intravenous access placed by physicians or advanced practice providers (APPs) as opposed to landmark-based intravenous placement by nurses. ED throughput variables and disposition time were compared. We correlated DIVA with time to administration of intravenous pain medications, fluids, imaging contrast, laboratory results, and ED disposition. Results A total of 108,256 subjects with 161,122 total encounters were included. DIVA occurred in 4961 (3.1%) of ED visits. Patients with DIVA were more likely to be female (3.5% vs 2.6% for males, odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-1.42), self-identify as black (OR 1.78, 95% CI: 1.66-1.91), and have higher acuity of illness (P < 0.001). Among pediatric patients, DIVA occurred most often in the first year of life at a rate of 3.25%. In adults, DIVA occurred in 2 age peaks; at 35 years (4.02%), and at 63 years (3.44%). In all workflow metrics, the presence of DIVA was associated with significant delays in median time to completion: 50 minutes for pain medication administration, 36 minutes for intravenous fluid administration, 29 minutes for laboratory results, 57 minutes for intravenous contrast administration, and 87 minutes for discharge orders. Conclusion DIVA was associated with increased time to therapies, diagnostic studies, imaging completion, and ED disposition. A more expeditious approach to achieving intravenous access in patients with predicted DIVA could improve ED throughput and patient care overall.
Adaptive, Neural Robot Control – Path Planning on 3D Spiking Neural Networks

Safe, yet efficient, Human-robot interaction requires real-time-capable and flexible algorithms for robot control including the human as a dynamic obstacle. Even today, methods for collision-free motion planning are often computationally expensive, preventing real-time control. This leads to unnecessary standstills due to safety requirements. As nature solves navigation and motion control sophisticatedly, biologically motivated techniques based on the Wavefront algorithm have been previously applied successfully to path planning problems in 2D. In this work, we present an extension thereof using Spiking Neural Networks. The proposed network equals a topologically organized map of the work space, allowing an execution in 3D space. We tested our work on simulated environments with increasing complexity in 2D with different connection types. Subsequently, the application is extended to 3D spaces and the effectiveness and efficiency of the used approach are attested by simulations and comparison studies. Thereby, a foundation is set to control a robot arm flexibly in a workspace with a human co-worker. In combination with neuromorphic hardware this method will likely achieve real-time capability.
The End of Forgetting: Growing Up with Social Media: Kate Eichhorn. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2019, 189 pp., ISBN No. 9780674976696 (hard cover).

The End of Forgetting: Growing Up with Social Media effectively documents what it is like for today’s children to grow up with social media, adding another layer to the media effects literature. Ea...
Alligators employ intermetatarsal reconfiguration to modulate plantigrade ground contact.

Feet must mediate substrate interactions across an animal's entire range of limb poses used in life. Metatarsals, the ‘bones of the sole’, are the dominant pedal skeletal elements for most tetrapods. In plantigrade species that walk on the entirety of their sole, such as living crocodylians, intermetatarsal mobility offers the potential for a continuum of reconfiguration within the foot itself. Alligator hindlimbs are capable of postural extremes from a belly sprawl to a high walk to sharp turns – how does the foot morphology dynamically accommodate these diverse demands? We implemented a hybrid combination of marker-based and markerless X-ray reconstruction of moving morphology (XROMM) to measure 3D metatarsal kinematics in three juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) across their locomotor and maneuvering repertoire on a motorized treadmill and flat-surfaced arena. We found that alligators adaptively conformed their metatarsals to the ground, maintaining plantigrade contact throughout a spectrum of limb placements with non-planar feet. Deformation of the metatarsus as a whole occurred through variable abduction (twofold range of spread) and differential metatarsal pitching (45 deg arc of skew). Internally, metatarsals also underwent up to 65 deg of long-axis rotation. Such reorientation, which correlated with skew, was constrained by the overlapping arrangement of the obliquely expanded metatarsal bases. Such a proximally overlapping metatarsal morphology is shared by fossil archosaurs and archosaur relatives. In these extinct taxa, we suggest that intermetatarsal mobility likely played a significant role in maintaining ground contact across plantigrade postural extremes.
Influence of the orientation of uterine bulbs during planting on the seed yield of winter onion variety Ellan in a two-yield direct crop

The article presents the results on the use of paracuneal bulbs for re-harvesting seeds in a direct crop. The influence of the orientation of uterine bulbs during planting on the formation of paracuneal bulbs and seed productivity in the second year of vegetation was determined. The paracuneal bulbs were developing at the base of the flower shoots maintaining the same orientation as in the uterine bulbs when planted. Winter hardiness of paracuneal bulbs depended on orientation, just as with standard technology. Losses during the winter period ranged from 48% to 82%, increasing with an increase in the angle of deviation from the vertical position. The most vulnerable bulbs were the upside down. Paracuneal bulbs can be used to re-harvest seeds in a two-yield crop.
El NiñO or El Peso? Crisis, Poverty, and Income Distribution in the Philippines

In terms of its impact on poverty, the recent economic crisis in the Philippines was more of an El Nino phenomenon than a financial crisis. Using household survey data for 1998, Datt and Hoogeveen assess the distributional impact of the recent economic crisis in the Philippines. The results suggest that the impact of the crisis was modest, leading to a 5 percent reduction in average living standards and a 9 percent increase in the incidence of poverty-with larger increases indicated for the depth and severity of poverty. The greater shock came from El Nino rather than through the labor market. The labor market shock was progressive (reducing inequality) while the El Nino shock was regressive (increasing inequality). Not all households were equally vulnerable to the crisis - induced shocks. Household and community characteristics affected the impact of the shocks. Ownership of land made households more susceptible to the El Nino shocks; higher levels of education made households more vulnerable to wage and employment shocks. The impact of the crisis was greater in more commercially developed communities. Occupational diversity within a household helped mitigate the adverse impact. There is some evidence of consumption smoothing by the households affected by the crisis, but the poor were less able to protect their consumption, which is a matter of policy concern. This paper - a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to better understand the social impact of the crisis.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: Clinical perspective

Since Northway's original description of BPD almost 45 years ago, the clinical presentation of BPD has evolved into a disease process, which mostly involves extremely premature infants. This new form of BPD is the result of multiple antenatal and postnatal factors that can cause injury to the developing lung leading to altered alveolar and vascular development. Over the years, there has been considerable increase in knowledge of factors that contribute to the development of BPD. This has led to different strategies for prevention as well as management of BPD. Some of these strategies have been successful and have withstood the test of clinical trials, such as vitamin A supplementation, post-natal steroids, caffeine, and volume targeted ventilation. The evidence for other interventions has been weak or negative. With better understanding of the complex and multifactorial pathogenesis of BPD, it is quite clear that any single therapy is very unlikely to eliminate this problem unless it reduces prematurity. Further development in prevention and treatment of BPD will likely need a multi-pronged strategy with novel therapeutic agents acting at various stages of the disease process.
Comparative efficacy of ultrasound-guided and stimulating popliteal-sciatic perineural catheters for postoperative analgesia

Purpose Perineural catheter insertion using ultrasound guidance alone is a relatively new approach. Previous studies have shown that ultrasound-guided catheters take less time to place with high placement success rates, but the analgesic efficacy compared with the established stimulating catheter technique remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that popliteal-sciatic perineural catheter insertion relying exclusively on ultrasound guidance results in superior postoperative analgesia compared with stimulating catheters.
Recursive Modeling of Discrete-Time Time Series

The approach to modeling inspired by the behavioral framework consists in treating all measurements on an equal footing, not distinguishing between inputs and outputs. Consequently, the initial search is for autonomous models. In the linear, time invariant case, the main result guarantees the existence of a minimal complexity autonomous generating model Θ*. This means that all other models can be explicitely constructed from Θ*. Among them in most cases, the so-called input-output controllable models are of interest. The main purpose of this paper is to show how these models can be constructed in a an easy-to-implement, recursive way.
Consumer information and providers' reputations: An empirical test in the market for psychotherapy

This paper estimates the price effects of provider-specific reputations measured as the percent of each provider's clients who are referred by 'informed community sources', such as other health professionals, school counselors, businesses, clergy, and attorneys. Using data on the prices of outpatient psychotherapy visits to private-practice social workers in Massachusetts, the results suggest that social workers with established reputations for high-quality care charge higher prices. In addition, the results suggest that intra- and inter-professional competition can constrain the pricing decisions of psychotherapists, and that increasing consumer information increases the effectiveness of this competition.
Magnetic field extraction of trap-based electron beams using a high-permeability grid

A method to form high quality electrostatically guided lepton beams is explored. Test electron beams are extracted from tailored plasmas confined in a Penning-Malmberg trap. The particles are then extracted from the confining axial magnetic field by passing them through a high magnetic permeability grid with radial tines (a so-called “magnetic spider”). An Einzel lens is used to focus and analyze the beam properties. Numerical simulations are used to model non-adiabatic effects due to the spider, and the predictions are compared with the experimental results. Improvements in beam quality are discussed relative to the use of a hole in a high permeability shield (i.e., in lieu of the spider), and areas for further improvement are described.
Recent Results on Neutrino Oscillations

This article reviews the many new results from neutrino oscillation searches which were presented at ICHEP '98. Exciting indications of neutrino oscillations have been seen in the solar neutrino deficit, atmospheric neutrino deficit and LSND excess. These indications and reported limits on oscillations are considered. Attempts to develop a theory which addresses all of the neutrino oscillation data are discussed. Some of the remaining questions and the future experiments which will help answer these questions are described.
On some aspects of XUV spectroheliograms

A comparison between XUV and Ca-K spectroheliograms for 9 dates from 1963 to 1967 showed an excellent correlation between plage intensities in Ca-K and Hen 304 A, except for plages near the limb and a few others. Around the limb all but the highest ionization XUV emission lines form a bright ring, usually weaker over the poles. This is an unresolved combination of the limb-brightened emission from the quiet corona and high chromosphere, and emission extending into the corona above plages located as much as several days from limb passage.
The lactate dehydrogenase isozymes of six species of cottid fishes

Abstract 1. 1. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozyme patterns of six species of cottid fishes have been studied. 2. 2. Epaxial muscle, heart, gill, liver and gonad of all species examined, except for Leptocottus armatus, contain a single prominent LDH as determined by starch gel electrophoresis. L. armatus contains some minor LDH isozymes in its heart and epaxial muscle. 3. 3. Eye and brain tissues of all six species exhibit an array of isozymes which indicates the presence of a C subunit and its recombination products with A and B subunits as well as the LDH found in the general body tissues. The eye LDH isozyme patterns appear to be species specific, ranging from five isozymes in Enophrys bison to eleven in Leptocottus armatus. 4. 4. The subunit nature of these isozymes is discussed and compared with similar data for other fish species.
Acute and Chronic Prostatitis

In summary, prostatitis is a complex syndrome that spans a spectrum from acute prostatitis with a straightforward presentation to CP-CPPS with a complex array of symptoms. The identification of prostatic or pelvic pain becomes a requirement for the diagnosis of CP-CPPS. The NIH system of prostatitis categorization is a refinement of the traditional classification of prostatitis by Drach et al, which was based on the localization test of Meares and Stamey. The NIH categorization system allows for a framework to define the disease process, and the NIH-CPSI was created to quantify the symptoms of chronic prostatitis. Integral to the classification of prostatitis is the presence or absence of inflammation, determined by looking for leukocytes in the EPS, seminal fluid, and VB3 specimens. In addition, the role of bacteria as a cause in category III prostatitis continues to be debated. Future research into using inflammatory markers (eg, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2) and using PCR to identify the presence of bacteria may further refine the pathophysiology of prostatitis. The mainstream treatment of chronic prostatitis involves antimicrobials, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and alpha-blockers. The potential role of asymptomatic category IV chronic prostatitis in the etiology of prostate cancer may be delineated further with future research.
Words Without Objects: Semantics, Ontology, and Logic for Non-Singularity

HENRY LAYCOCK, Words Without Objects: Semantics, Ontology, and Logic for Non-Singularity. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2006. xvi + 202pp. £35.00. ISBN 0‐19‐928171‐8. Gregory Landini, Department of Phil...
Nucleotide and DNA-induced Conformational Changes in the Bacteriophage T7 Gene 4 Protein

The bacteriophage T7 gene 4 protein is a multifunctional enzyme that has DNA helicase, primase, and deoxyribonucleotide 5′-triphosphatase activities. Prior studies have shown that in the presence of dTTP or dTDP the gene 4 protein assembles into a functionally active hexamer prior to binding to single-stranded DNA. In this study, we have examined the effects of different nucleotide cofactors on the conformation of the gene 4 protein in the presence and absence of DNA. Gel retardation analysis, partial protease digestion, and DNA footprinting all suggest that the gene 4 protein undergoes a conformational change when dTTP is hydrolyzed to dTTP and that in the presence of dTDP the complex with DNA is more open or extended. We have also found that the dissociation constant of the gene 4 protein•DNA complex in the presence of dTDP was 10-fold lower than that determined in the presence of dTTP, further suggesting that these cofactors exerts different allosteric effects on the DNA-binding site of the gene 4 protein.
Glutathione Peroxidase Activity Decreases and Hydrogen Peroxide Accumulates after Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischemia in SOD 1 Overexpressing Mice • 1714

Neonatal mice transgenic (tg) for copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD 1) were found to have greater brain injury after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) than their nontransgenic (ntg) littermates (Pediatr Res 39: 204, 1996). No upregulation of catalase activity was found in neonatal SOD tg mice versus their ntg littermates, before or after HI (Soc Neurosci Abst 22: 1430, 1996). To further assess the roles of anti-oxidant enzymes after HI, we measured glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in the brains (cortex and hippocampus) of neonatal SOD tg and ntg mice before and after HI. 15 litters (164 pups) of CD1 mice tg for SOD were identified by gel electrophoresis. On postnatal day 7, half of the pups were subjected to unilateral carotid ligation and 30 mintues of hypoxia in 8% O2. GP activity and [H2O2] were assessed in control mice (no HI), immediately after HI, and 24 hours after HI. Contrary to catalase, GP activity dropped precipitously after injury, in both SOD tg and ntg mice: from 129.4 ± 47.3 U/(mg protein) in SOD tg cortex before injury, to 15.9 ± 7.4 U/(mg protein) in SOD tg cortex 24 hours after injury (p<0.01; similar findings observed in the hippocampus and in ntg brains). Although there was a trend towards greater GP activity in ntg vs. SOD tg brains, it was not significant. Aminotriazole inhibition of catalase activity (a qualitative measure of [H2O2]), was similar between tg and ntg brains before and 2 hours after injury. However, 24 hours after injury, greater aminotriazole inhibition was observed in the tg mice vs. their ntg littermates (p<0.01), indicating greater [H2O2] in these brains. Taken together, these findings suggest that the fall in GP activity after perinatal HI leads to an accumulation of H2O2 in SOD tg brains. This could explain the increased injury after HI previously observed in these tg mice, and suggests a role for GP in the mechanism of oxidative damage after HI in the neonate. This research was supported in part by K12 NS01692-04, RO1 NS33997-01A1, NS35902, NS32553, and AG08938.
Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy arises from the combination of hepatocellular dysfunction and portal-systemic shunting. Encephalopathy is more prominent in advanced stages of liver cirrhosis and signals the presence of fulminant hepatic failure in patients with acute liver injury. As important as the extent of shunting is the presence of large spontaneous collaterals. Ammonia continues to be a leading toxin influencing brain function. Endogenous benzodiazepines and cytokines may contribute to one of ammonia's key effects in the brain: astrocyte swelling. The diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy is a diagnosis of exclusion; the search for a precipitating factor should be started immediately in all cases of encephalopathy. The treatment of hepatic encephalopathy has three aims: decrease the nitrogenous load from the gut, improve the extra-intestinal elimination of ammonia and counteract central abnormalities of neurotransmission. The mainstay of treatment is directed at the colon. Newer approaches targeting the brain, such as flumazenil, have become available.
Treatment of a basilar trunk perforator aneurysm with the pipeline embolization device: case report.

Background and importance Basilar trunk perforator (BTP) aneurysms are rare lesions that pose significant challenges to microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling. We present the intriguing case of a ruptured BTP aneurysm that was successfully treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED). Clinical presentation An elderly woman presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage was found to have a 1.5-mm aneurysm arising from the proximal portion of a thin midbasilar perforator. The decision was made to treat this aneurysm with flow diversion in an attempt to preserve the patency of the perforator and to avoid the hazards associated with parent vessel trapping. A 3 × 12-mm PED was successfully deployed in the basilar trunk across the neck of the aneurysm, causing stasis in the aneurysm, with continuous flow through the parent vessel. The procedure and postoperative course were uneventful. A follow-up angiogram 2 weeks later showed complete disappearance of the aneurysm with preservation of the patency of the perforator. At the 6-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and remained neurologically intact. Conclusion We present the first case of a BTP aneurysm treated with the PED. The aneurysm was successfully occluded, and the patency of the feeding vessel was preserved. In light of the limitations of coiling and the hazards associated with microsurgery and parent vessel trapping, the PED may be a valuable option for BTP aneurysms.
Service Storm: A Self-Service Telecommunication Service Delivery Platform with Platform-as-a-Service Technology

To attract and serve an expanded customer base, telecommunication service providers need to provide more targeted, focused and personalized services, which brings challenges to both business model and technologies to development of value added services. In this paper, we introduce Service Storm, a novel self-service telecommunication Service Delivery Platform with Platform-as-a-Service technologies to support rapid and flexible construction and delivery of value added services in the cloud environment as an open developer community. Firstly, we analyze the characteristics of four categories of users including Individual User, Organization User, Telecommunication Operator, and Business Partner, and present the architecture of Service Storm to support new business model targeting at long tail applications as well as conventional business models. Then we highlight the key technologies including 1) Rapid assembly model and tools for codeless and off-premise integration of telecom services and application logic based on Web 2.0 technologies, 2) Cloud based resource isolation, management, capacity planning and scaling for dynamic topology deployment and elastic infrastructure support, and 3) Automatic deployment and monitoring in runtime. Finally we illustrate the sample of SMS and Web based mobile workflow for insurance order management to show the advantages of Service Storm. We demonstrate how these technologies and architectures enable the new business model for telecommunication operator and significantly enhance the diversity of value added services with lower cost and shorter time to market.
Effects of boron on the deformation behavior of Ni3Al

The effects of boron additions (0 to 4000 wppm B) on the room temperature deformation behavior of Ni-24Al have been examined with both quasi-static deformation and short pulse duration shock loading. Changes in compressive yield strength and hardness with the amount of boron suggest that strengthening effects are more complicated than predicted by usual interstitial solid-solution strengthening considerations. The nature of the dislocations changes from SISF-dissociated superdislocations in the Ni-24Al base alloy to APB-dissociated dislocations with the additions of small amounts of boron. Therefore, the observed variation in strength with boron additions reflects a solid-solution strengthening contribution from the interstitial boron coupled with a “softening” effect arising from the greater mobility of the APB-bounding partials relative to the SISF-bounding partials. It is suggested that this “softening” is a necessary prerequisite for enhanced ductility in Ni3Al. In addition, the grain boundary fracture strength must be increased by boron additions. While this may occur through an increased grain boundary cohesive strength due to boron segregation, it is also expected that the interaction of the dislocations with the grain boundaries will be significantly altered as the nature of the dislocations changes. The lack of a “boron effect” in Ni-25Al, the so-called stoichiometric effect, can be attributed to a diminished “softening”, combined with the rapid solid-solution strengthening observed in this alloy.
Volatile and Semi-volatile Organic Compounds Measured in Bayou Lafourche, Southeastern Louisiana

Abstract Bayou Lafourche is a major tributary of the Mississippi River, being used as part of the water diversion system and as a source of potable water for residents living along the bayou. The suspected presence of pollutants in the river led to the measurement of volatile and semi-volatile organic pollutants in water samples taken from Bayou Lafourche (southeastern Louisiana) using GC/MS. The area drained by the Mississippi River and bayou is entirely in the coastal zone and numerous inputs are present including a large concentration of chemical plants. However, no organic pollutants of interest having concentrations greater than the method MDL's were found at any sampling locations. No results thus exceeded industrial discharge permit limits.
Necrotroph Attacks on Plants: Wanton Destruction or Covert Extortion?

Necrotrophic pathogens cause major pre- and post-harvest diseases in numerous agronomic and horticultural crops inflicting significant economic losses. In contrast to biotrophs, obligate plant parasites that infect and feed on living cells, necrotrophs promote the destruction of host cells to feed on their contents. This difference underpins the divergent pathogenesis strategies and plant immune responses to biotrophic and necrotrophic infections. This chapter focuses on Arabidopsis immunity to necrotrophic pathogens. The strategies of infection, virulence and suppression of host defenses recruited by necrotrophs and the variation in host resistance mechanisms are highlighted. The multiplicity of intraspecific virulence factors and species diversity in necrotrophic organisms corresponds to variations in host resistance strategies. Resistance to host-specific necrotophs is monogenic whereas defense against broad host necrotrophs is complex, requiring the involvement of many genes and pathways for full resistance. Mechanisms and components of immunity such as the role of plant hormones, secondary metabolites, and pathogenesis proteins are presented. We will discuss the current state of knowledge of Arabidopsis immune responses to necrotrophic pathogens, the interactions of these responses with other defense pathways, and contemplate on the directions of future research.
The Effect of Pregnenolone 16α‐Carbonitrile on the Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Dapsone in Rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of pregnenolone 16α-carbonitrile (PCN) on the interconversion pharmacokinetics and metabolism of dapsone. To determine microsomal CYP3A activity and protein, eight rats (4 PCN, 4 corn oil) received a 1 mg kg -1 intravenous bolus dose of dapsone, followed by blood and urine sampling. The formation clearance of dapsone hydroxylamine (CL f DDS-NOH) was calculated from the obtained samples. Interconversion pharmacokinetics estimates were obtained after 10 rats (5 PCN, 5 control) received 1 mg kg -1 dapsone or 1.17 mg kg -1 monoacetyldapsone, with a 24-h wash-out. Results from the interconversion analysis demonstrated that PCN significantly increased systemic clearance (CL s ) of dapsone, but not its interconversion. The in-vivo/in-vitro correlation study demonstrated that PCN significantly increased CL s of dapsone (8.55 to 16.39 mL min -1 ; P <0.01) and CL f DDS-NOH (0.13 to 0.18 mL min -1 ; P <0.01). PCN treatment produced a 69% increase in CYP3A protein, and increased 6β- and 2β-hydroxytestosterone formation rates. Significant correlations were found between CL f DDS-NOH and either 6β- (r2 = 0.925), 2β-hydroxytestosterone (r 2 = 0.92), or CYP3A1/2 protein (r 2 = 0.60). We conclude that PCN treatment produces significant increases in CL s (dapsone) and CL f (DDS-NOH) in rats. These changes were not due to changes in the reversible metabolism of dapsone. These results suggest that the formation clearance of dapsone hydroxylamine reflects alterations in CYP3A activity, despite the fact that it accounted for a small part of the systemic clearance of dapsone.
Differential eigenvalue problems in which the parameter appears nonlinearly

Several methods are examined for determining the eigenvalues of a system of equations in which the parameter appears nonlinearly. The equations are the result of the discretization of differential eigenvalue problems using a finite Chebyshev series. Two global methods are considered which determine the spectrum of eigenvalues without an initial estimate. A local iteration scheme with cubic convergence is presented. Calculations are performed for a model second order differential problem and the Orr-Sommerfeld problem for plane Poiseuille flow.
Women's Patronage‐Seeking as Familial Enterprise: Aemilia Lanyer, Esther Inglis, and Mary Wroth

Taking Aemilia Lanyer, Esther Inglis, and Mary Wroth as its primary examples, this article looks at how early modern women writers in Britain used the literary patronage system to promote not only personal ambitions but familial ones as well.
Effects of prostagiandin F2α or oxytocin on serum estriol and its conjugates during induced labor

Twelve patients underwent induction of labor at term, seven by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) and five by oxytocin infusion. Serum samples were drawn before induction and at two hour intervals after infusion was started, throughout labor. The samples were analyzed for estriol (E3) and its principal conjugates, estriol-3-sulfate (E3-3S), estriol-16-glucosiduronate (E3-16G), estriol-3-glucosiduronate (E3-3G), and estriol-3-sulfate-16-glucosiduronate (E3-SG). No significant changes occurred before eight hours of infusion. Two pre-eclamptic patients showed a 100% increase in serum E3 while receiving PGF. The increases correlated best with rising levels of E3-SG. None of the five pre-eclamptic patients given oxytocin showed this striking changes. These observations raise the possibility that PGF may alter the metabolism of estriol in pre-eclamptic patients, during labor.
Japanese Applied Linguistics: Discourse and Social Perspectives edited by MORI, JUNKO, & AMY SNYDER OHTA

The article reviews the book "Japanese Applied Linguistics: Discourse and Social Perspectives," edited by Junko Mori and Amy Snyder Ohta.
Challenging Professional Self-Regulation: Social Movement Influence on Pharmacy Rulemaking in Washington State

This study examines how professionals contend with threats to self-regulation from social movements outside the profession by providing an analysis of rule development by the Washington State Board of Pharmacy. A case study method using interviews, observations, and content analysis examines how pharmacists and pro-choice groups affected a “pharmacists’ responsibility” rule dictating whether pharmacists can refuse to dispense medications they morally oppose. Findings suggest that movements can influence rulemaking by framing professional responsibilities and enlisting allies, thereby turning a relatively closed process of self-regulation into a contentious one, resulting in a settlement that favors the movement over the profession.
Inverse spectral problem for the 2-sphere Schrödinger operators with zonal potentials

Two basic problems of spectral theory of Schrodinger operators H=−Δ+V(x) on the 2-sphere S2 are studied: (Direct problem) calculate large-k asymptotics of eigenvalue clusters {λkj}j in terms of the potential function V; (Inverse problem) recover V from asymptotics of eigenvalue clusters. We get an explicit solution of the inverse problem and establish local spectral rigidity for zonal potentials V.
A Survey of Rheological Properties of One-Component Epoxy Adhesives

Abstract Flow characteristics of seven commercially available one-component epoxy adhesive pastes were measured using a controlled shear stress rheometer and a controlled shear rate rheometer over a temperature range from 5°C to 60°C. Combining data obtained from both controlled rate and controlled stress experiments over a wide range of shear rates, we observed Newtonian flow (shear stress proportional to shear rate) at very low shear rates, a plateau “shear thinning” region at intermediate shear rates, and a second region of linear dependence of shear stress on shear rate at high shear rates. The adhesive pastes exhibited a very broad range of rheological behavior. Two flow parameters important to adhesive application technology, the plastic viscosity and the apparent yield stress, were measured for each adhesive. The plastic viscosity ranged from 11.6 to 329.5 Pa. s; the apparent yield stress ranged from 56.2 to 413 Pa. The temperature dependence of the rheological parameters of the epoxy adhesive past...
Measurement of upper airway movement by acoustic reflection.

The acoustie reflection method provides a noninvasive way to determine the airway geometry. Based on a discrete upper airway model, an inverse scheme is developed to infer the upper airway area as a function of distance. We incorporate this scheme into a system that can generate multiple acoustic pulses to sample the upper airway geometry at a maximum frequency of 30 Hz, making possible determination of the airway area-distance relation as a function of time. Therefore, we can monitor the dynamic behavior of the upper airway during breathing. To validate the approach, we visualized vocal cord movements in three normal subjects via laryngoscopy; simultaneously acoustic measurements were made at 10 Hz. Video images of vocal cord movement were recorded and digitized. We compared the laryngeal area from analysis of the video images with the acoustic assessment at the level of the glottis. Linear regression analysis shows that the correlation coefficients are between 0.85 and 0.9 for all three subjects. We conclude that the acoustic reflection method is a useful tool for measuring vocal cord movement without the use of laryngoscopy, and the approach promises to be a useful one to measure the movement of the whole upper airway. This paper also discusses the limitations inherent in the algorithm and some useful procedures to ensure accurate and reliable area computation during implemention.
A note on empathy

Abstract This note suggests that the word “empathy” be deleted from the technical language of psychology and replaced by a less ambiguous word or words; for, as it is currently used, empathy is a word which blurs the concept it is meant to define. This note gives a brief description of the muddled etymological provenance of the word empathy in English; suggests that this muddled provenance is at the root of the present confusion about the meaning of this important word; and suggests a means by which that confusion can be done away with: that is, through the introduction of three new terms which distinguish, describe and name the several nuances which the word empathy has currently come to contain.
A genetic linkage map of grape, utilizing Vitis rupestris and Vitis arizonica.

A genetic linkage map of grape was constructed, utilizing 116 progeny derived from a cross of two Vitis rupestris × V. arizonica interspecific hybrids, using the pseudo-testcross strategy. A total of 475 DNA markers—410 amplified fragment length polymorphism, 24 inter-simple sequence repeat, 32 random amplified polymorphic DNA, and nine simple sequence repeat markers—were used to construct the parental maps. Markers segregating 1:1 were used to construct parental framework maps with confidence levels >90% with the Plant Genome Research Initiative mapping program. In the maternal (D8909-15) map, 105 framework markers and 55 accessory markers were ordered in 17 linkage groups (756 cM). The paternal (F8909-17) map had 111 framework markers and 33 accessory markers ordered in 19 linkage groups (1,082 cM). One hundred eighty-one markers segregating 3:1 were used to connect the two parental maps’ parents. This moderately dense map will be useful for the initial mapping of genes and/or QTL for resistance to the dagger nematode, Xiphinema index, and Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterial causal agent of Pierce’s disease.
Preparation and Characterization of Titania-Coated Polystyrene Spheres and Hollow Titania Shells

A procedure has been developed to coat colloidal polystyrene spheres with a smooth and well-defined layer of amorphous titanium dioxide. The thickness of the coating can be easily varied from a few nanometers upward and can be increased further by seeded growth. The resulting composite particles are very monodisperse. The core−shell particles can be turned into spherical hollow titania shells by dissolution of the polystyrene cores in suspension or by calcination of the dried particles in a furnace. Calcination also crystallizes the titania into its anatase form. The coated particles were characterized with electrophoresis, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and light scattering. We find that the coating strongly densifies when the particles are dried but that it is not dense and about twice as thick when the particles are still in suspension. Calcination results in spherical shells composed of a dense arrangement of TiO2 (anatase) nanocrystals. This way, we obtained collo...
Quantum many-body time correlations from semiclassical molecular dynamics

The mixed-order semiclassical molecular dynamics method is used for the calculation of quantum time correlation functions in extended systems. The method allows the consistent treatment of a selected number of degrees of freedom to second-order in the stationary phase approximation through the Herman and Kluk propagator, while the rest of the system is treated to zeroth-order, using frozen Gaussians. The formulation is applied to calculate the absorption spectrum, of the B $IMP X transition of Cl2 isolated in solid Ar, a spectrum that shows zero-phonon lines and phonon sidebands with relative intensities that depend on the excited state vibrational level. The explicit simulation of quantum time correlation functions of the system consisting of 321 degrees of freedom, reproduces the spectrum and allows its interpretation in terms of the underlying molecular motions.IN order to extend the semiclassical methods to longer timescale a new extension of Herman-Kluk propagator is developed, which combines classical propagation of trajectories for length where the initial value propagator remains accurate, followed by Monte-Carlo regeneration of the ensemble of trajectories and continuation of propagation. This new method is tested for the calculation of long time dynamics in a 1D Morse oscillator.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A simulation study of the OSPF-OMP routing algorithm

Abstract Open shortest path first (OSPF) is the most widely used internal gateway routing protocol on the Internet. However, one shortcoming is that it does not take advantage of the existence of multiple equal-cost paths between source and destination nodes. A well-known variation of OSPF, OSPF-ECMP (ECMP, equal-cost multipath), does exploit the presence of multiple equal-cost paths, but only on a static basis. A variation of OSPF, OSPF-OMP (OMP, optimized multipath), attempts to dynamically determine the optimal allocation of traffic among multiple equal-cost paths based on the exchange of special traffic-load control messages. This paper briefly describes the OSPF-OMP algorithm and the design of a discrete event simulator that models its behavior. We then use this simulator to carry out three experiments that compare the performance of OSPF, OSPF-ECMP, and OSPF-OMP under a range of traffic loads and distributions. Our results show that OSPF-OMP produces improvements in both delivery time and the number of lost messages when compared with the other two protocols.