cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symptomatic vasospasm and outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a comparison between surgical repair and endovascular coil occlusion

Object. The authors studied patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) to determine whether the incidence of symptomatic vasospasm or overall clinical outcomes differed between patients treated with craniotomy and clip application and those treated by endovascular coil occlusion. Methods. The authors reviewed 415 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH who had been treated with either craniotomy and clip application or endovascular coil occlusion at a single institution between 1990 and 2000. Three hundred thirty-nine patients underwent surgical clip application procedures, whereas 76 patients underwent endovascular coil occlusion. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 39% of patients treated with clip application, 30% of patients treated with endovascular coil occlusion, and 37% of patients overall. Compared with patients treated with clip application, patients treated with endovascular coil occlusion were more likely to suffer acute hydrocephalus (50 compared with 34%, p = 0.008) and were more ...
Fundamentals at Odds? The US Current Account Deficit and Dollar

In mid-2008, the real effective exchange rate (REER) of the dollar was close to its minimum level for the past four decades. At the same time, however, the US trade and current account deficits remain large and, absent a significant correction in coming years, would contribute to a further accumulation of US external liabilities. The paper discusses the tension between these two aspects of the dollar assessment, and what factors can help to reconcile them. It focuses in particular on the terms of trade, adjustment lags and measurement issues related to both the REER and the current account balance.
A Precision Measurement of Puncture Voltage

A description is given of an apparatus for the automatic determination of the dielectric strength of thin sheet insulation. The machine makes about 1000 breakdown tests in a day. Almost no attention is required, thus reducing the human element to a minimum. The results of over 100,000 punctures are given. An investigation of the effect of temperature indicates that none of these punctures occurred according to the thermal theories of breakdown. Tests to determine the effect of electrode area are also described. It is shown that statistical theory can be applied to the results with some success. The standard deviation of the breakdown values is a measure of the inherent variability of the material, and thus gives promise of value in the specification of insulation.
Spectral manifestations of nonradiative processes in azulene

Abstract The linewidths for S 1 ← S 0 (at 14 652 cm −1 ) and S 2 ← S 0 (at 28 048 cm −1 ) of azulene in a naphthalene host crystal at 1.2°K are presented along with measurements of the line narrowing due to perdeuteration of the azulene. The results are related to current ideas of nonradiative processes in azulene and azulene- d 8 .
Proposed Research Training Guidelines for Residents in Laboratory Medicine

It is expected that the role of the clinical pathologist will evolve from the more passive role of managing testing facilities to one of active service provider, using powerful molecular, cell biologic, and biochemical tools. The scope of knowledge required to be an effective physician scientist or an accomplished practicing clinical pathologist, however, cannot be acquired through clinical training alone and requires dedicated, structured research learning time. The goal of this article is to consider mechanisms that effectively integrate research training and scholarly activity into residency education in laboratory medicine/clinical pathology. The proposed curricula are purposely unstructured to allow maximum flexibility for training programs to meet the needs and career goals of individual residents.
Possibilities for francium spectroscopy in a light trap

An experimental program is under way to capture neutral francium atoms in a magneto-optic trap. Production and transport of the radioactive Fr atoms near to the trapping region have been tested, with a steady state of 107 atoms. If one hundred atoms are captured from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution into a magneto-optic trap, this will be a sufficient number for spectroscopy of the unknown excited states. These measurements would then open the path to investigations of parity-violating transitions in francium.
A general equilibrium pricing model with speculation, quantity risk, price risk and foreign exchange risk

Abstract This paper develops a general equilibrium model where prices and foreign exchange rates are endogenous and based upon more fundamental determinants. Speculative behavior leading to position taking in claims on foreign risky commodities is explained. It is shown that in a multicurrency environment with less than complete markets and sequential trading opportunities, heterogenous expectations instigate this behavior; speculation occurs only when news (new information) is anticipated to emerge which can lead to a revision in prices and foreign exchange rates. However, it is contended that although foreign exchange risk and price risk do exist in such a market, they are results of the underlying and inescapable quantity risk. Furthermore, in well functioning markets, the risk that emanates from position taking in state contingent claims on foreign commodities and which influences final consumption is quantity risk. The distinction drawn between the three types of risks and the hierarchy established among the three markets with which these risks are associated has implications for international financial management, especially as it pertains to multinational corporations' foreign exchange exposure management.
Vision-aided inertial navigation for pin-point landing using observations of mapped landmarks

In this paper we describe an extended Kalman filter algorithm for estimating the pose and velocity of a spacecraft during entry, descent, and landing. The proposed estimator combines measurements of rotational velocity and acceleration from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) with observations of a priori mapped landmarks, such as craters or other visual features, that exist on the surface of a planet. The tight coupling of inertial sensory information with visual cues results in accurate, robust state estimates available at a high bandwidth. The dimensions of the landing uncertainty ellipses achieved by the proposed algorithm are three orders of magnitude smaller than those possible when relying exclusively on IMU integration. Extensive experimental and simulation results are presented, which demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm on real-world data and analyze the dependence of its accuracy on several system design parameters. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Helicase-Primase: DNA Binding and Consequent Protein Oligomerization and Primase Activation

The heterotrimeric helicase-primase complex of herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1), consisting of UL5, UL8, and UL52, possesses 5' to 3' helicase, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-dependent ATPase, primase, and DNA binding activities. In this study we confirm that the UL5-UL8-UL52 complex has higher affinity for forked DNA than for ssDNA and fails to bind to fully annealed double-stranded DNA substrates. In addition, we show that a single-stranded overhang of greater than 6 nucleotides is required for efficient enzyme loading and unwinding. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and surface plasmon resonance analysis provide additional quantitative information about how the UL5-UL8-UL52 complex associates with the replication fork. Although it has previously been reported that in the absence of DNA and nucleoside triphosphates the UL5-UL8-UL52 complex exists as a monomer in solution, we now present evidence that in the presence of forked DNA and AMP-PNP, higher-order complexes can form. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays reveal two discrete complexes with different mobilities only when helicase-primase is bound to DNA containing a single-stranded region, and surface plasmon resonance analysis confirms larger amounts of the complex bound to forked substrates than to single-overhang substrates. Furthermore, we show that primase activity exhibits a cooperative dependence on protein concentration while ATPase and helicase activities do not. Taken together, these data suggest that the primase activity of the helicase-primase requires formation of a dimer or higher-order structure while ATPase activity does not. Importantly, this provides a simple mechanism for generating a two-polymerase replisome at the replication fork.
The Social Construction of School Failure

A case study highlights barriers encountered by an urban school principal in implementing reforms within the context of the Kentucky Educational Reform Act. By comparing the competing expectations of Miller's (1995) five capitals and Ianneconne and Lutz's (1970) dissatisfaction theory, the case study dramatizes that Site-Based Decision-Making councils exemplify a policy decision that ignores the practical realities of distressed schools. The lack of congruence between policies and the school reality makes implementation of school reform predictably unsuccessful.
RoSS: Virtual Reality Robotic Surgical Simulator for the da Vinci Surgical System

Lack of force feedback and need for dexterous hand movement makes mastering the da Vincireg surgical system (DVSS) a challenging task. As a solution, we present our robotic surgical simulator (RoSS) system as a means of training for DVSS. In this research, we have developed a two handed 6 DOF virtual reality trainer for acquiring basic skill sets that are needed to perform surgery successfully using DVSS. In this paper we discuss the mapping between RoSS and DVSS master's and the preliminary skill training modules.
A general method for predicting the avalanche breakdown voltage of negative bevelled devices

In this paper, the concept of an effective negative bevel angle is introduced. It is shown that the fraction of the ideal breakdown voltage that is attained for virtually any negatively bevelled diffused junction device is a single function of this effective bevel angle. These results can be used to calculate the breakdown voltage for diffused junction devices over the range of commonly used negative bevels. The effective bevel angle is shown to be the product of the actual bevel angle and the square of the ratio of the depletion width on the lightly and heavily doped sides of the junction for the ideal device at breakdown. Consideration is also given to abrupt junction devices. In the final section, an approximate means for correcting these results for variations in the passivant dielectric constant and the introduction of surface charge is presented.
Genome-Wide Patterns of Nucleotide Substitution Reveal Stringent Functional Constraints on the Protein Sequences of Thermophiles

To test the hypothesis that the proteins of thermophilic prokaryotes are subject to unusually stringent functional constraints, we estimated the numbers of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions per site between 17,957 pairs of orthologous genes from 22 pairs of closely related species of Archaea and Bacteria. The average ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions was significantly lower in thermophiles than in nonthermophiles, and this effect was observed in both Archaea and Bacteria. There was no evidence that this difference could be explained by factors such as nucleotide content bias. Rather, the results support the hypothesis that proteins of thermophiles are subject to unusually strong purifying selection, leading to a reduced overall level of amino acid evolution per mutational event. The results show that genome-wide patterns of sequence evolution can be influenced by natural selection exerted by a species' environment and shed light on a previous observation that relatively few of the mutations arising in a thermophilic archaeon were nucleotide substitutions in contrast to indels.
High-resolution analysis of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

A new decomposition and time-frequency method applied to the estimation of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) is presented. TEOAEs are low-level signals in response to auditory stimuli that are used to monitor the functionality of the cochlea. TEOAE parameter estimation is challenging due to the short duration of the signal (about 20ms) and its highly nonstationary nature. Existing time-frequency methods are incapable of providing accurate estimates of the components within the TEOAE signal. The proposed decomposition and time-frequency method is based on the effective tracking of nonstationary sinusoidal components using a nonlinear iterative sinusoid tracking algorithm. The presented technique improves upon existing techniques by offering a high time-frequency resolution and is capable of providing accurate estimates of components within a TEOAE signal. The structure of the proposed decomposition technique as well as the underlying algorithm are presented. Simulation results are presented to show the performance of the proposed technique. Its performance is also demonstrated on a clinically recorded signal.
The role of timing in the attentional boost effect

Images that are presented with targets of an unrelated detection task are better remembered than images that are presented with distractors (the attentional boost effect). The likelihood that any of three mechanisms, attentional cuing, prediction-based reinforcement learning, and perceptual grouping, underlies this effect depends in part on how it is modulated by the relative timing of the target and image. Three experiments demonstrated that targets and images must overlap in time for the enhancement to occur; targets that appear 100 ms before or 100 ms after the image without temporally overlapping with it do not enhance memory of the image. However, targets and images need not be synchronized. A fourth experiment showed that temporal overlap of the image and target is not sufficient, as detecting targets did not enhance the processing of task-irrelevant images. These experiments challenge several simple accounts of the attentional boost effect based on attentional cuing, reinforcement learning, and perceptual grouping.
Creep Cavitation in Liquid‐Phase‐Sintered Alumina

The early stages of cavitation during compressive creep of a liquid-phase-sintered alumina have been characterized using small-angle neutron scattering. Grain-boundary cavities were found to nucleate throughout creep, although at a steadily decreasing rate. The cavities were located on two-grain junctions as well as triple points and were spaced approximately 100 to 200 nm apart. The cavity spacing corresponded to the spacings observed for grain-boundary ledges, suggesting that the ledges were the cavity nucleation sites. Cavity nucleation was also found to be relatively independent of the applied stress. This behavior has been rationalized based on the decreasing ratio of ɛgbs/ɛt, where ɛgbs is the strain due to grain-boundary sliding and ɛt is the total strain, at increasing stresses. Cavity growth, on the other hand, was highly stress dependent. Above a certain “threshold” stress cavity growth was observed. In all cases, however, the observed growth was transient; i.e., the cavity growth rate decreased with time. Lowering the stress below the “threshold” resulted in a condition in which cavities nucleated but continued growth of the cavities did not occur. In all cases the cavities nucleated and grew, when growth did occur, with relatively equiaxed shapes.
Efficient statistical methods for evaluating trading agent performance

Market simulations, like their real-world counterparts, are typically domains of high complexity, high variability, and incomplete information. The performance of autonomous agents in these markets depends both upon the strategies of their opponents and on various market conditions, such as supply and demand. Because the space for possible strategies and market conditions is very large, empirical analysis in these domains becomes exceedingly difficult. Researchers who wish to evaluate their agents must run many test games across multiple opponent sets and market conditions to verify that agent performance has actually improved. Our approach is to improve the statistical power of market simulation experiments by controlling their complexity, thereby creating an environment more conducive to structured agent testing and analysis. We develop a tool that controls variability across games in one such market environment, the Trading Agent Competition for Supply Chain Management (TAC SCM), and demonstrate how it provides an efficient, systematic method for TAC SCM researchers to analyze agent performance.
LASIK in the presbyopic age group: safety, efficacy, and predictability in 40- to 69-year-old patients.

Objective To report the safety, efficacy, and predictability of LASIK in a presbyopic population and to examine possible differences between age groups. Design Retrospective, descriptive, comparative consecutive case series. Participants Seven hundred ten eyes of 424 patients between 40 and 69 years of age who underwent LASIK by the same surgeon between January 1999 and September 2005. Patients had manifest refractive spherical errors ranging from −10.5 to +6 diopters (D) and cylinder of up to 2.50 D. Methods LASIK was performed with IntraLase femtosecond laser or Hansatome microkeratomes and VISX Star (S4 or S2; VISX Inc., Santa Clara, CA) or Baush & Lomb Technolas 217z (Zyoptix or PlanoScan; Bausch & Lomb, Claremont, CA) excimer lasers. There were 511 myopic eyes (spherical equivalent [SE], −5.03±2.02 D) and 199 hyperopic eyes (SE, +2.21±1.21 D). Patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (40 to 49 years old; n=359 eyes), group 2 (50 to 59 years old; n=293 eyes), and group 3 (60 to 69 years old; n=58 eyes). Main Outcome Measures Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), retreatment rates, safety, efficacy, and predictability. Results The mean age of patients in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 45, 53, and 63 years, respectively. With increasing age, there was a trend toward higher retreatment rates and more myopic end points. Safety, efficacy, and predictability were comparable between all groups. At the final follow-up (mean±standard deviation, 10.4±7.4 months), 80% to 100% of eyes had 20/30 or better UCVA and 81% to 90% were within ±1.00 D. No eyes lost more than 2 lines of BSCVA, and only 9 eyes (1.3%) lost 2 lines. Subgroup analysis of eyes with a follow-up of 12 months or more was performed. The results were compared with those with shorter follow-up. Both subgroups had comparable outcomes; the duration of follow-up did not affect the visual outcomes. Conclusions Despite a trend toward worse final BSCVA and higher retreatment rates in older patients, a greater risk of visual loss after LASIK was not observed. LASIK for myopia and hyperopia has reasonable safety, efficacy, and predictability profiles in the 40- to 69-year-old presbyopic population.
Respiratory Uncoupling Lowers Blood Pressure Through a Leptin-Dependent Mechanism in Genetically Obese Mice

Insulin resistance is commonly associated with hypertension, a condition that causes vascular disease in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms linking hypertension and insulin res...
A Pseudorabies Virus Mutant with Deletions in the Latency and Early Protein O Genes: Replication, Virulence, and Immunity in Neonatal Piglets

The pathogenicity of a double mutant of pseudorabies virus (PRV) with deletions in the latency gene and the early protein O gene was examined. In comparison to the parent Indiana-Funkhauser virus, the ability of this mutant to replicate and to cause disease in piglets is greatly reduced. At an infection dose that caused no clinical signs in 5-day-old neonatal piglets, this mutant was capable of eliciting solid protective immunity against a lethal PRV challenge. Thus, the double-gene deletion attenuates PRV but does not affect its immunogenicity. These features may be desirable for inclusion into future PRV vaccines.
Cutting Edge: Memory CD8 T Cell Maturation Occurs Independently of CD8αα

As memory CD8 T cells form during acute viral infection, several changes in gene expression and function occur, but little is known about the control of this process. It was reported previously that the homodimer CD8αα was involved in generating IL-7Rαhigh memory CD8 T cell precursors, and consequently, protective memory CD8 T cells did not form in animals significantly impaired in CD8αα expression (E8I−/− mice). However, the precise contribution of CD8αα to sustained IL-7Rα expression and other memory CD8 T cell-associated changes has not been investigated. We found that IL-7Rα expression and generation of memory CD8 T cells that protect against secondary viral infection was considerably normal in E8I−/− animals. Interestingly, virus-specific CD4 T cell responses were elevated, and the relative surface levels of CD8αβ in activated T cells were reduced in E8I−/− mice compared with wild-type animals. Our results indicate that memory CD8 T cell development can occur independently of CD8αα.
Racemate and enantiomers of ketoprofen: phase diagram, thermodynamic studies, skin permeability, and use of chiral permeation enhancers.

The role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on transport of a chiral drug through the skin was studied. Ketoprofen (KP) was chosen as a model chiral drug. A possible relationship between the melting characteristics and the flux values of S- and RS-KP was investigated. The potential use of chiral enhancers, menthol and linalool, was also investigated. Thermal analyses were carried out for individual enantiomers and the racemate of KP. The melting temperature of each enantiomer was 22 °C lower than that of the racemic compound. Peak temperatures from the melting endotherms were plotted as a function of enantiomeric composition to give the binary phase diagram. The phase diagram suggested the presence of a racemic compound, and it was verified by calculations of the liquidus curve in the dystectic region using reported methods. Powder X-ray diffraction studies also confirmed that the racemate of KP is a racemic compound. The permeability of individual enantiomers and the racemate of KP through mice skin was determined in vitro using side-by-side diffusion cells. Transfer of R- and S-KP from aqueous solutions of both the racemate and pure enantiomer showed no significant differences in the rates of permeation, indicating that the rate of transfer of KP across the mice skin from these solutions was independent of the stereochemistry of the drug. No evidence of racemization during the transfer process was observed. The permeation-enhancing ratio of linalool was higher, but not significant, than that of l-menthol. The predicted ratio of enantiomer to racemate flux through the skin by the MTMT concept (1.97) is in close agreement with the experimentally determined ratio (1.79) across mouse skin.
Sources of Insect and Plant Volatiles Attractive to Cottonwood Leaf Beetles Feeding on Hybrid Poplar

The cottonwood leaf beetle, Chrysomela scripta, is the most damaging insect affecting the production of Populus, an important source of sustainable forest products and biomass. Currently, there is no simple method for monitoring C. scripta populations, and nothing is known about potential chemical attractants for trapping. We conducted laboratory assays on sources of attraction to C. scripta adults. In olfactometer trials, beetles were attracted to volatiles released from conspecifics feeding on foliage. There was also significant, but lesser, attraction to odor from unwounded foliage, C. scripta alone, and frass. The latter two results indicate the presence of a pheromone. Wounding of foliage by C. scripta, but not by artificial means, enhanced its attractiveness compared to unwounded foliage, even when C. scripta by-products were removed. In direct comparisons, responses to odor from beetle-wounded foliage were not different from responses to odor from beetles feeding on foliage. We tested the attractiveness of volatiles emitted by adults feeding on foliage in the field using modified boll weevil traps. Results confirm that these volatiles are sufficient to increase trap catches in the field. Color is also important, with yellow baited traps catching more beetles than black baited. We propose that original landing by C. scripta is mediated by host odors and visual cues and that subsequent aggregation is enhanced by chemical cues associated with feeding by conspecifics. This may partially explain clustering in the field and likewise be incorporated into sampling schemes needed for integrated pest management.
Nonlinear model for magnetic nanoparticle-based hyperthermia

In this work, we use Pennes' nonlinear model to estimate the temperature distribution generated by electromagnetically excited nanoparticles and metabolic processes within a spherical tumour surrounded by a sphere of healthy tissue. We describe an efficient numerical approach to analyse the proposed nonlinear model for the heat transfer. Numerical results for the nonlinear bio-heat transfer model with the temperature dependent blood perfusion are presented, and compared with those of the traditional Pennes linear model with constant perfusion rate. We also investigate the dependence of tissue temperature and nanoparticle heat production on the volume fraction of nanoparticles.
Which Individual Therapist Behaviors Elicit Client Change Talk and Sustain Talk in Motivational Interviewing

Objective To identify individual therapist behaviors which elicit client change talk or sustain talk in motivational interviewing sessions.
Sustainability: Your feet's too big

Humanity's nitrogen pollution footprint has increased by a factor of six since the 1930s. A global analysis reveals that a quarter of this nitrogen pollution is associated with the production of internationally traded products.
Pu236(n,f) , Pu237(n,f) , and Pu238(n,f) cross sections deduced from (p,t) , (p,d) , and (p,p') surrogate reactions

The $^{236}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$, $^{237}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ and $^{238}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ cross sections have been inferred by utilizing the surrogate ratio method. Targets of $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$ and $^{235}\mathrm{U}$ were bombarded with 28.5-MeV protons, and the light ion recoils, as well as fission fragments, were detected using the STARS detector array at the K150 Cyclotron at the Texas A cyclotron facility. The ($p$, $tf$) reaction on $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$ and $^{235}\mathrm{U}$ targets was used to deduce the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ $(^{236}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f))/\ensuremath{\sigma}$$(^{232}\mathrm{U}(n,f))$ ratio, and the $^{236}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ cross section was subsequently determined for ${E}_{n}=0.5--7.5$ MeV. Similarly, the $(p,df$) reaction on the same two targets was used to deduce the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$$(^{237}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f))/\ensuremath{\sigma}$$(^{233}\mathrm{U}(n,f))$ ratio, and the $^{237}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ cross section was extracted in the energy range ${E}_{n}=0.5--7$ MeV. The $^{238}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ cross section was also deduced by utilizing the $(p,{p}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ reaction channel on the same targets. There is good agreement with the recent ENDF/B-VII.1 evaluated cross section data for $^{238}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ in the range ${E}_{n}=0.5--10.5$ MeV and for $^{237}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ in the range ${E}_{n}=0.5--7$ MeV; however, the $^{236}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ cross section deduced in the present work is higher than the evaluation between 2 and 7 MeV.
A NEW SPECIES OF EXOPHIALA ISOLATED FROM CHANNEL CATFISH

The genus Exophiala was proposed by Carmichael (1) to accommodate the fungus causing cerebral mycetoma in cut-throat trout (Salmo clarkii Richardson) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush Walbaum). In 1969, Fijan (3) described a systemic mycosis in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctuatus Rafinesque) and identified the fungus as E. salmonis Carmichael. Upon reevaluation, this fungus is described here as a new species.
Aerodynamic Flow Control Using Synthetic Jet Technology

The manipulation of global aerodynamic forces on bluff bodies using surface fluidic actuators based on synthetic jets technology is demonstrated in wind tunnel experiments using a 2-D cylinder model. Because synthetic jets are zero-mass-flux and are synthesized from the working fluid in the flow system in which they are embedded, their interaction with a cross flow results in formation of closed recirculation regions and in an apparent modification of the surface shape (and thus of surface pressure) with important consequences to flow separation. In the present experiments, the cylinder is instrumented with a pair of spanwise jet actuators and can be rotated about its centerline so that the angle between the jets and the direction of the free stream can be continuously varied. Azimuthal distributions of surface pressure measurements at Re D up to 131,000 over a range of jet angles demonstrate that the jets effect substantial increase in lift and reduction in drag. Velocity measurements in the near wake show that as a result of the actuation, the cross stream extent of the wake, its velocity deficit and all turbulent quantities are reduced. The response of the lift force and of the wake flow to a transient change in the control input are also investigated using pulsed amplitude modulation.
Plato’s Myth of Atlantis, Mad Max, and the Schizophrenia of Progressive Thought - A Lesson in Natural Cycles and Story-Telling

Western political thought is forward-thinking and progressive. It has been so at least since Christianity rose to dominance, and arguably earlier. The emergence of secular modes of thought in the Enlightenment did not commence progressive thought in the western consciousness nor fundamentally alter the already progressive nature of western political philosophy; it did reshape the way western thinkers addressed the idea of progress. With a few notable dissenters (Machiavelli, Rousseau, MacIntyre), Christian theology and secular political thought is overwhelmingly progressive and linear in its view of the world in time. I do not think that position is either bold or interesting, it is merely the baseline for a broader statement about the contemporary mindset of the west. Contemporary political thought, and even politics, is increasingly schizophrenic. Reading the rhetoric of contemporary politics (climate change, the debt crisis, unemployment and inflation), one finds the progress we are sure to achieve in time is increasingly juxtaposed with catastrophic consequences for failure to achieve the progress that is our veritable birthright. How can society stand on this sheer precipice of either bountiful success or total calamity? Why would a progressive mindset reach such a bifurcated vision of the future? How can a person maintain sanity while foreseeing such an either/or utopia/dystopia in the future? I argue that the western progressive consciousness is wrong. There is no guarantee of continuous progress, generation after generation, in this world. Believing whole-heartedly in progress, but simultaneously facing with the reality of decline, decay, and degeneration, the western mind is undone at the prospect of human catastrophe and natural cataclysm. The imminent collapse of civilization is causing schizophrenia in political discourse and consciousness. Reading Plato's myth of Atlantis and watching the Mad Max trilogy are the first steps in releasing the tension that has caused contemporary schizophrenia and disabusing ourselves of a false conception of progress.
Ultrastructure of the human ovary. II. The luteal cell at term.

Abstract The ultrastructure of luteal tissue obtained from term cesarean section deliveries is described. The cytoplasmic organelles of the term luteal cells appeared well preserved and intact. The agranular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) compared favorably with that reported in luteal cells of corpora lutea of the menstrual cycle. Localized concentrations of an atypical granular ER are described and its continuity with the agranular ER was recognized. Mitochondria and Golgi complex are well developed and without notable features. Large homogenous globules are frequently seen in luteal cell cytoplasm; these are assumed to represent the “colloid droplets” described by light microscopy. Lipid globules are rarely seen in term luteal cells and the implications of this are discussed. On the basis of the ultrastructure of the term luteal cells, it is concluded that they are not highly degenerate cells and they could be capable of secretion.
Simulation Modeling and Grid-Connection Technology for Large-scale PV Power Station

On the basis of the actual structure of PV power station,this paper analyzes the PV arrays and inverter control system,and establishes the corresponding mathematical model in PSCAD / EMTDC. The meteorological data( light and temperature),which were collected in the site,are used as input and compared with the simulation data in order to validate the accuracy of the simulation system. Then based on the model,the grid-connection technology of large PV power plants is studied,including the selection of grid-connection site,operational characteristics,and lowvoltage ride-through,thus to provide techniques for the gird-connection operation of the PV plant. The study results could provide guidance to the simulation and operation of large-scale PV power plants.
PMU deployment approach for maximum observability considering its potential loss

Deploying a limited number of Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) into the system to get full buses observability considering disturbance like communication failure, line outages is quite a challenging task. This paper proposes a possible problem solving approach by optimizing PMU location for obtaining maximum buses observability even when considering the potential loss of PMUs. With the knowledge of optimal PMU placement for topological observability under normal operating condition, the proposed method requires the number of PMUs to be one greater than the minimal requirement. The implemented model further considers conventional measurements for economic solution. The proposed approach is applied in four IEEE test systems including 2383 western polish to testify its effectiveness. The optimized deployment scheme also verifies the ability of approach to maximize the observable buses by installed PMUs.
Articulating Rapa Nui: Polynesian cultural politics in a Latin American nation-state

Riet Delsing’s Articulating Rapa Nui: Polynesian cultural politics in a Latin American nation-state is both a history and an ethnography of ‘Easter Island’ (Rapa Nui). The first half of the book is...
ZnS Nanoparticles Sensitize Luminescence of Capping-Ligand-Bound Lanthanide Ions.

2,6-Bis(diethylamide)-4-oxo(3-thiopropane)pyridine (BDP) and 2,6-bis(methyl ester)-4-oxo(3-thiopropane)pyridine (BMP) were synthesized. These compounds chelated LnIII ions and sensitized their emission. The 3:1 complexes of BDP displayed efficiencies of 18% and 12% for EuIII and TbIII, respectively. The analogous complexes of BMP had efficiencies of 23% and 18% for EuIII and TbIII, respectively. Both BDP and BMP were used to cap ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) in a one-pot synthesis, and then LnIII ions were added, resulting in systems with metal ions at the surface of the capped NPs. Photoexcitation of the EuIII and TbIII systems through NPs capped with these two ligands, with the carboxylato derivative of BMP [dicarboxylato-4-oxo(3-thiopropane)pyridine] and the nonchromophore 3-mercaptopropionate, resulted in sensitized LnIII-centered emission. The EuIII-containing systems displayed higher efficiencies in the range 0.04–0.23% than the corresponding TbIII-containing systems with efficiencies in the range 0.01–0....
Ethical Issues in Pain Management

Health care professionals struggle with several ethical issues of pain management. Pain is a uniquely individualized experience, and communication regarding pain creates dilemmas not only for the health care professional, but for the patient and family caregiver as well. Common ethical issues discussed include respect for patient autonomy, fears of drug addiction, patient advocacy for better pain management, moral beliefs, values, and many cultural considerations.
Radiation-Induced Outgassing from Type 304 Stainless Steel

A Type 304 stainless-steel vacuum system has been designed and constructed to study radiation-induced outgassing when this material is exposed to /sup 60/Co gamma radiation. An analytical model has been developed that predicts the outgassing from Type 304 stainless steel to be 5 x 10/sup -10/ Pa.l/cm/sup 2/.s per Mrad/h. Experiments determined the value for Type 304 stainless steel after bakeout at 300/sup 0/C to be (1.03 +- 0.58) x 10/sup -9/ Pa.l/cm/sup 2/.s per Mrad/h, in fair agreement with the analytical model predictions. Studies on thermally induced outgassing from Type 304 stainless steel showed that after bakeout at temperature T/sup */, thermal outgassing ..delta.. obeys the relationship ..delta.. = ..delta../sub 0/ exp(-anti Q/RT), where both the constant ..delta../sub 0/ and the average desorption energy anti Q are functions of T/sup */. Water vapor and hydrogen were the principal residual gases in a Type 304 stainless-steel vacuum system, with hydrogen being dominant at low pressures after bakeout.
Extending roGFP Emission via Förster-Type Resonance Energy Transfer Relay Enables Simultaneous Dual Compartment Ratiometric Redox Imaging in Live Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate both intercellular and intraorganellar signaling, and ROS propagate oxidative stress between cellular compartments such as mitochondria and the cytosol. Each cellular compartment contains its own sources of ROS as well as antioxidant mechanisms, which contribute to dynamic fluctuations in ROS levels that occur during signaling, metabolism, and stress. However, the coupling of redox dynamics between cellular compartments has not been well studied because of the lack of available sensors to simultaneously measure more than one subcellular compartment in the same cell. Currently, the redox-sensitive green fluorescent protein, roGFP, has been used extensively to study compartment-specific redox dynamics because it provides a quantitative ratiometric readout and it is amenable to subcellular targeting as a genetically encoded sensor. Here, we report a new family of genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensors that extend the fluorescence emission of roGFP via Forster-ty...
Constructing a Sustainable Bioeconomy: Multi-scalar Perceptions of Sustainability

Bioenergy holds significant promise to mitigate the climate-related problems associated with fossil fuel use in heat, electricity, and transportation fuel production. Many governments are encouraging bioeconomy growth with new policies. International trade between bioenergy producing and consuming nations has increased over the years. Developed countries with significant greenhouse gas emission (GHG) emission reduction goals are replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy, creating new export commodities for developing nations. However, increased bioeconomy development can put local social, economic, and environmental conditions in bioenergy producing areas at risk. To minimize the potentially adverse impacts of bioenergy development on existing socioeconomic and environmental conditions, several sustainability certification programs have recently been developed. However, there may be significant differences in how actors across multiple scales, including international non-governmental organizations, state and national governments, and local community members perceive a sustainable bioeconomy. In this chapter, we look specifically at two bioenergy development cases, one in the context of economic development in Latin America (jatropha-based bioenergy development in Yucatan, Mexico) and another in the context of a post-industrialized nation (wood-based bioenergy development in Wisconsin, USA) to understand how different actors view sustainability. Our conclusions suggest that, first, developing a sustainable bioeconomy requires addressing sustainability in all stages in the supply chain, and that, second, community perceptions matter in developing a sustainable bioeconomy, thus there is value in a bottom-up approach to policymaking.
Mineralogy and chemistry of Ti-bearing lunar soils: Effects on reflectance spectra and remote sensing observations

Abstract This paper presents results of coordinated ultraviolet and visible wavelength reflectance measurements, X-ray diffraction analyses of mineral components, and micro X-ray fluorescence analyses of Ti concentrations of 13 lunar soil samples (
A Quaternion Kernel Minimum Error Entropy Adaptive Filter

In this paper, we develop a kernel adaptive filter for quaternion data based on minimum error entropy cost function. We apply generalized Hamilton-real (GHR) calculus that is applicable to Hilbert space for evaluating the cost function gradient to develop the quaternion kernel minimum error entropy (MEE) algorithm. The MEE algorithm minimizes Renyis quadratic entropy of the error between the filter output and desired response or indirectly maximizing the error information potential. Here, the approach is applied to quaternions for improving performance for biased or non-Gaussian signals compared with the minimum mean square error criterion of the kernel least mean square algorithm. Simulation results are used to verify the performance of the algorithm. Convergence is very fast and is shown to out-perform existing algorithms.
The Voyage of Entrecasteaux: Part 4 Esperance Bay

Consider for a moment the charms of a cruise on a small ship in the tropics with a goodly supply of livestock and barnyard fowl between decks. In addition to this supply, the General had permitted crewmen to bring pigs and fowl aboard for personal use. Labillardiere felt obliged to make note of the congestion and the sickening odor emitted. Rarely have the personal sacrifices made for the advancement of science been so poignantly depicted.
Spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. A comparison of two doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine.

Background and Objectives Hyperbaric local anesthetic pools in the thoracic spinal curvature in supine patients. The authors hypothesized that patients receiving 12 or 15 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine would achieve similar levels of sensory block but the spinal anesthetic would be denser and longer lasting in patients receiving the 15 mg dose. Methods Twenty eight healthy term parturients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery randomly received 12 or 15 mg hyperbaric 0.75% bupivacaine in 8.25% dextrose. Patients were in the right lateral position during drug injection and were then positioned supine with left uterine displacement on a horizontal operating table. A blinded anesthesiologist assessed the dermatome level of sensory analgesia to pinprick every 2 minutes for 20 minutes, then every 15 minutes until the sensory level regressed to T10. Results The mean level of sensory anesthesia was 2.2 spinal segments higher in patients receiving 15 mg versus 12 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine (24.8 ± 3.7 versus 22.6 ± 1.4 spinal segments; P = .031). Regression to T10 occurred more quickly in the 12 mg than in the 15 mg group (140.0 ± 16.5 versus 162.1 ± 33.8 minutes, P = .046). Patient height did not correlate with the maximum number of spinal segments blocked in either group. All patients had adequate surgical anesthesia. Conclusions Parturients receiving 15 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine developed a higher mean level and longer duration of sensory analgesia than those receiving 12 mg.
The structure—activity relationships of the sweet protein brazzein — roles of acidic amino acids

Brazzein is a thermostable, sweet-tasting protein isolated from the fruit of the African plant, Pentadiplandra brazzeana Baillon [1]. Brazzein consists of 54 amino acid residues and has four intramolecular disulfide bonds [2]. It is wellknown that the carboxyl groups of sweet compounds participate in binding with the receptor. Brazzein contains five Asp residues at positions 2, 25, 29, 40 and 50, and four Glu residues at positions 9, 36, 41 and 53. The roles of these acidic amino acids were investigated by replacing each with an Ala residue by the fluoren-9-yl-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) solid-phase synthesis.
Symbolic, Cultural, and Social Capital

Citizens of Fayette made use of noneconomic capital (social, cultural, and symbolic capital) in fields of social production at work, within households, in community organizations, and through the media. They participated in both hierarchical and heterarchical power networks. Fayette residents attended church, participated in sports and bands, and hosted neighbors and associates in their parlors and dining rooms. In doing so, they gained social capital by having valued relationships with important community members. Social capital could be exchanged for economic opportunities, and a number of well-connected workers climbed the corporate hierarchy. Even some of the poorest citizens displayed cultural capital in demonstrating their literacy and the gentility of their children. Symbolic capital, honor, and prestige were available to those who displayed impressive homes, genteel behavior, or outstanding personal qualities.
DTI for Presurgical Mapping

While there are many current and potential applications for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), the ability to map white matter tracts prior to surgical resection of brain tumors is responsible for the emergence of this powerful technology into the clinical realm. Dramatic successes have propelled the clinical translation. By defining spatial relationships between the lesion and functional white matter networks, DTI plays a critical role in creating a patient-specific neurosurgical plan and guiding intraoperative assessments. When used effectively, DTI can improve surgical outcomes, maximizing tumor resections while minimizing postsurgical deficits. Optimal utilization and interpretation of DTI require an understanding of the technique, data visualization methods, normal white matter anatomy, effect of pathological processes, and limitations.
PRELOAD: A Rubric to Evaluate Course Syllabi for Quality Indicators of Community Engagement and Service-Learning Components

Faculty development programs have proven successful in teaching faculty how to develop community engagement and service-learning (CES-L) courses. Evaluating the outcomes of these programs can occur through assessment of course syllabi for CES-L elements. The PRELOAD rubric was created, which includes the following facets: Partnership, Reflection, Engagement, Logistics, Objectives, Assessment, and Definition. The rubric can support faculty developing CES-L courses and community engagement offices documenting the scope of CES-L opportunities across campus.