cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metal-vapor vacuum arc as a primary ion source for secondary ion mass spectrometry

Abstract A novel secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) ion source, MicroMEVVA, introduces multiply charged primary ions such as Fe2+, Ta(2–4)+, W(2–6)+, and Pb2+ into a Fourier-transform mass spectrometer to give about 50 μA cm−2 current densities at the sample. Its ion accelerating potential of 11 kV thus makes possible a maximum ion energy of 66 keV. The effiency for desorption ionization of crystals violet and gramicidin S is greatly increased by changing from 17 to 38 keV primary ion energy and from 10 to 1 μs ion pulse duration, but is affected less by ion mass. Reactions between tungsten ions and neutral molecules show an increasing cross-section for charge exchange with increasing ion charge; only W+ participates in ion/molecule reactions with chlorotrimethylsilane.
Design of a braille writing tutor to combat illiteracy

Less than 3% of the 145 million blind people living in developing countries are literate (Helander, Prejudice and dignity: An introduction to community-based rehabilitation. New York: UNDP 1998). This low literacy rate is partly due to the lack of trained teachers and the challenges associated with learning to write braille on a traditional slate and stylus. These challenges include writing from right to left, writing mirrored images of letters, and receiving significantly delayed feedback. Extensive conversations with the Mathru Educational Trust for the Blind near Bangalore, India, revealed the need for a robust, low-power, low-cost braille writing tutor. We present an iterative and participatory process resulting in the creation and refinement of a prototype braille writing tutor system. This system uses a novel input device to capture a student's activity on a slate using a stylus and uses a range of techniques to teach braille writing skills to both beginner and advanced students. We report on lessons learned from the implementation of this project and from a 6-week pilot study at Mathru, and outline future directions for improvement.
Improving the Surgeon's participation in research: is It a problem of training or priority?

Background. Although numerous important contributions have originated from basic science research performed by surgeons, it seems that such dedicated work is becoming increasingly difficult to accomplish. What are the reasons for this change and what improvements can be made? This study aims to characterize the basic research training and careers of senior academic surgeons to assess and devise strategies for sustaining productive and quality surgical research. Methods. A 25-item survey was sent to 850 senior-level members of academic societies, including the Association of Academic Surgeons, Society of University Surgeons, and American Surgical Association. It addressed each surgeon's clinical and research training and career, as well as opinions concerning surgical research. Results. Three hundred seventy-seven (44%) surveys were received. Mean age was 64 years, and 73% were full professors. Seventy-two percent of respondents performed basic science research during training, and for 71% of this group, research was a significant reason for choosing a clinical specialty. Ninety-one percent performed research in the same specialty area during and after training. Of those who performed research during training, a full 99% continued to perform research on completion of training. However, 38% stopped performing basic research by age 39. Seventeen and twenty-three percent stopped basic research between 40 and 49 and between 50 and 59 years of age, respectively. The most common factors causing them to stop were increased clinical load (40%) and increased administrative duties (38%). For respondents who had stopped research prior to age 40, 73% cited increased clinical load as the primary reason. Eighty-five percent felt a dedicated research period should be included in surgery training. Conclusions. Most respondents had participated in basic research during training, and continued similar research after training. However, an overwhelming clinical practice at the junior faculty level seemed to hinder research. We conclude: (1) the majority consensus is that research training is integral to the development of academic surgeons; (2) such research training opportunities appear adequate; however, (3) faculty performing research, particularly at the junior level, need to be better protected from other academic duties, such as clinical practice and administration. The challenge to the leadership of academic surgery will be to enhance such research productivity in the context of increasing academic demands.
Interpretation of simple and cloud-resolving simulations of moist convection radiation interaction with a mock-Walker circulation

An idealized two-dimensional mock-Walker circulation in the tropical atmosphere forced by prescribed horizontal gradients in sea-surface temperature (SST) is discussed. This model problem includes feedbacks between cumulus convection and tropical large-scale circulations that have proved challenging for global climate models to predict accurately. Three-dimensional cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulations that explicitly simulate turbulent circulations within individual cloud systems across 4,096 and 1,024 km-wide Walker circulations are compared with a simple theoretical model, the Simplified Quasiequilibrium Tropical Circulation Model (SQTCM). This theoretical model combines the weak-temperature-gradient approximation with a unimodal truncation of tropospheric vertical structure coupled to highly simplified formulations of moist precipitating cumulus convection and its cloud-radiative feedbacks. The rainfall, cloud and humidity distribution, circulation strength, energy fluxes and scaling properties are compared between the models. The CRM-simulated horizontal distribution of rainfall and energy fluxes are adequately predicted by the SQTCM. However, the humidity distribution (drier subsidence regions and high-humidity boundary layers in the CRM), vertical structure and domain-size scaling of the circulation differ significantly between the models. For the SQTCM, the concept of gross moist stability – related to advection of moist static energy (MSE) out of tropospheric columns by the mean divergent circulation – is used to explain the width and intensity of the rainy region. Column MSE budgets averaged across the ascent branch of the simulated Walker circulation provide similar insight into the cloud-resolving simulations after consideration of the more complex horizontal and vertical circulation structure and the role of transient eddies. A nondimensional ascent-region moist stability ratio α, analogous to the SQTCM gross moist stability, is developed. One term of α is related to the vertical profiles of ascent-region mean vertical motion and ascent-region edge MSE; a second term is proportional to eddy export from the ascent region. Smaller α induces a narrower, rainier ascent region. The sensitivity of the SQTCM and CRM to a uniform 2 K increase in SST is compared, and the rainy upward branch of the circulation narrows in both models. MSE budget arguments are used to explain this behavior. In the simple model, the gross moist stability is a decreasing function of tropospheric temperature. Hence gross moist stability reduces and the ascent region narrows as the SST increases. In the CRM, increased atmospheric radiative cooling due to the warmer and moister troposphere destabilizes the MSE profile and decreases α, inducing a narrower ascent region. In the CRM, and to a lesser extent in the SQTCM, intensified shortwave cloud forcing in the warmer climate causes a negative radiative feedback on the SST change.
Modal Truncation, Ritz Vectors, and Derivatives of Closed-Loop Damping Ratios

The effect of modal truncation on the damping ratio and their derivatives with respect to an added mass is investigated for a simply supported, multispan beam with a linear quadratic Gaussian control system. It is found that both the damping ratios and derivatives converge slowly, but the derivatives converge more slowly than the damping ratios. However, it is shown that when Ritz vectors corresponding to static displacements due to actuator forces are added to the reduced model, the convergence of both the damping ratios and their derivatives is accelerated. It is also shown that the accuracy of the damping ratio predicted by a reduced-model control design can be improved significantly if the Ritz vectors are included in the design of the control system. Thus, it appears that Ritz vectors added to the reduced model of flexible structures can improve greatly the accuracy of both the design and analysis of the control system.
Maximum likelihood estimation in semiparametric regression models with censored data

Summary. Semiparametric regression models play a central role in formulating the effects of covariates on potentially censored failure times and in the joint modelling of incomplete repeated measures and failure times in longitudinal studies. The presence of infinite dimensional parameters poses considerable theoretical and computational challenges in the statistical analysis of such models. We present several classes of semiparametric regression models, which extend the existing models in important directions. We construct appropriate likelihood functions involving both finite dimensional and infinite dimensional parameters. The maximum likelihood estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal with efficient variances. We develop simple and stable numerical techniques to implement the corresponding inference procedures. Extensive simulation experiments demonstrate that the inferential and computational methods proposed perform well in practical settings. Applications to three medical studies yield important new insights. We conclude that there is no reason, theoretical or numerical, not to use maximum likelihood estimation for semiparametric regression models.We discuss several areas that need further research.
Mechanisms Revealed Through General Anesthetic Photolabeling

General anesthetic photolabels are used to reveal molecular targets and molecular binding sites of anesthetic ligands. After identification, the relevance of anesthetic substrates or binding sites can be tested in biological systems. Halothane and photoactive analogs of isoflurane, propofol, etomidate, neurosteroids, anthracene, and long chain alcohols have been used in anesthetic photolabeling experiments. Interrogated protein targets include the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, GABAA receptor, tubulin, leukocyte function-associated antigen-1, and protein kinase C. In this review, we summarize insights revealed by photolabeling these targets, as well as general features of anesthetics, such as their propensity to partition to mitochondria and bind voltage-dependent anion channels. The theory of anesthetic photolabel design and the experimental application of photoactive ligands are also discussed.
Assessing the role of neutrophil apoptosis in the resolution of particle-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Following inflammatory-cell recruitment in the lung, neutrophil apoptosis and subsequent engulfment by macrophages are regarded as important components in the resolution of pulmonary inflammation. The goal of this study was to further investigate the role of apoptosis and its influence, if any, on the pulmonary inflammatory process following exposures to the following particulate types: amorphous (AMO) or crystalline silica (Si), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or pigment-grade titanium dioxide (TiO 2) . Rats were intratracheally instilled either with TiO 2, AMO, or Si particles at doses of 1 or 5 mg/kg or 6 µg LPS. Following exposures, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and lung tissues were collected and evaluated at 12, 24, 48, or 168 h (i.e., 1 wk). At the 1 mg/kg dose, AMO instillation produced the highest pulmonary inflammatory response, concomitant with a rise in apoptotic cells that mirrored temporally the transient nature of the inflammatory response. At 5 mg/kg, amorphous silica and crystalline silica part...
Prineville Chemical Type: A New Basalt Type in the Columbia River Group

Samples from 13 basalt flows of the Columbia River Group, which are part of a measured section near Prineville Dam in central Oregon, were analyzed for trace and major elements, using instrumental neutron activation and x-ray fluorescence techniques. The 13 flows are compositionally similar to one another and contain anomalously (for basalt) large amounts of Ba and P. They also have higher Sm, Yb, Lu, and Sr contents, lower Co content, and higher total alkali and K 2 O for their MgO content than do the Picture Gorge and Yakima Basalt. These 13 flows define a new chemical type in the Columbia River Group, the Prineville chemical type. The Prineville chemical-type flows, interfingering with other basalt types of the Columbia River Group, are found in other areas and therefore will be useful in stratigraphic studies.
Lunar Floor-Fractured Craters: Evidence for Viscous Relaxation of Crater Topography

Viscous relaxation is evaluated quantitatively as a possible mechanism to account for the observed topographical modification of floor-fractured lunar craters. On the basis of a model of the moon as a viscous material of uniform Newtonian viscosity, the ultimate topographic profiles of fresh craters predicted taking into account viscous relaxation effects are compared with the observed profiles of floor-fractured craters of similar diameter. It is found that for a number of crater pairs, the agreement of the observations with the predictions of the simple viscous relaxation model is good, suggesting that isostatic adjustment of craters in areas of anomalously high temperatures at shallow depth may be a more important source of deformation than previously realized.
Successful implementation of cooperative handling eliminates the need for restraint in a complex non-human primate disease model.

Introduction—Streptozotocin-induced diabetic nonhuman primates are used to study efficacy and safety of innovative immunosuppression after islet transplantation. We implemented a training program for medical management of a chronic disease state. Methods—Cooperation with hand feeding and drinking; shifting; and limb presentation were trained utilizing predominately positive but also negative reinforcement in 52 animals compared with 28 macaques subjected to conventional physical and/or chemical restraint. The success of and timing of behavior acquisition was evaluated in a representative subset of 14 animals. Results—Over 90% of animals were successful in behavior acquisition. Programmatically this resulted in complete elimination of chair restraint and negligible requirement for sedation. About half of trained animals had no to moderate thymic involution, indicative of a substantial reduction in stress.
Universal approximation of fully complex feed-forward neural networks

Recently, we have presented the ‘fully’ complex feed-forward neural network (FNN) using a subset of complex elementary transcendental functions (ETFs) as the nonlinear activation functions. In this paper, we show that folly complex FNNs can universally approximate any complex mapping to an arbitrary accuracy on a compact set of input patterns with probability 1. The proof is extended to a new family of complex activation functions possessing essential singularities. We discuss properties of the complex activation functions based on the types of their singularity and the implications of these to the efficiency and the domain of convergence in their applications.
Gap analysis: concepts, methods, and recent results

Rapid progress is being made in the conceptual, technical, and organizational requirements for generating synoptic multi-scale views of the earth's surface and its biological content. Using the spatially comprehensive data that are now available, researchers, land managers, and land-use planners can, for the first time, quantitatively place landscape units – from general categories such as ‘Forests’ or ‘Cold-Deciduous Shrubland Formation’ to more categories such as ‘Picea glauca-Abies balsamea-Populus spp. Forest Alliance’ – in their large-area contexts. The National Gap Analysis Program (GAP) has developed the technical and organizational capabilities necessary for the regular production and analysis of such information. This paper provides a brief overview of concepts and methods as well as some recent results from the GAP projects. Clearly, new frameworks for biogeographic information and organizational cooperation are needed if we are to have any hope of documenting the full range of species occurrences and ecological processes in ways meaningful to their management. The GAP experience provides one model for achieving these new frameworks.
Switchbox Steiner tree problem in presence of obstacles

The authors consider a problem related to global routing of multiterminal nets in VLSI layout. They investigate the problem of finding the minimum Steiner tree in the presence of obstacles when the terminals lie on the boundary of a rectangle (RSTO) and present two results. The first contribution is an exact solution for finding the rectilinear Steiner tree in the presence of an obstacle when the terminals lie on the boundary of a rectangle. Second, an approximation algorithm for RSTO in the presence of k obstacles is given. It is shown that the algorithm has a tight performance bound. A heuristic algorithm which produces solutions very close to the optimal is given. >
Repression, the Judicial System, and Political Opportunities for Civil Rights Advocacy During Reconstruction

Contemporary research on the modern civil rights movement stresses the importance of a triad pattern of civil rights protest, white violence, and federal intervention. We explore the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in constraining federal intervention in response to white supremacist violence during Reconstruction. We conclude that Supreme Court decisions played an important role in defeating the Reconstruction-era civil rights movement by minimizing the likely benefits to be gained from civil rights advocacy. Future scholarship should further examine the impact of federal court decisions on the political opportunity structure facing social movements.
Experimental Investigation of Scaling Effect on Thermal Transport in Nanoscale Hot Spots

This article reports experimental investigation of the scaling effect on thermal transport in platinum nanoheaters deposited on a single crystalline silicon substrate. The size dependency of the thermal resistances of nanoheaters with dimensions from 5 μm down to 100 nm was experimentally obtained. Additional joule heating and electrical resistance thermometry in heater/sensor pairs of various dimensions and spacing (100 to 400 nm) were carried out in order to study the temperature distribution in the vicinity of these nanoheaters. The results of these two sets of measurements confirm that the thermal resistances of smaller nanoheaters are dominated by the interface resistance between the platinum and silicon substrate. Furthermore, analytical solutions of the BTE around a hot spot were used to evaluate and examine the significance of the localized heating or subcontinuum transport around a hot spot.
Examination of reproductive aging milestones among women who carry the FMR1 premutation

Background The fragile X premutation is characterized by a large CGG repeat track (55-199 repeats) in the 5' UTR of the FMR1 gene. This X-linked mutation leads to an increased risk for premature ovarian failure; interestingly, the association of repeat size with risk is non-linear. We hypothesize that the premutation-associated ovarian insufficiency is due to a diminished oocyte pool and examined reproductive aging milestones by repeat size group to determine if the same non-linear association is observed. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional reproductive history questionnaire data from 948 women with a wide range of repeat sizes. Results We have confirmed the non-linear relationship among premutation carriers for ovarian insufficiency. The mid-range repeat size group (80-100 repeats), not the highest group, had an increased risk for: altered cycle traits (shortened cycle length, irregular cycles and skipped cycles), subfertility and dizygotic twinning. Smoking, a modifiable risk, decreased the reproductive lifespan of women with the premutation by about 1 year, similar to its effect on non-carriers. As expected, premutation carriers were found to be at an increased risk for osteoporosis. Conclusions Possible molecular mechanisms to explain the non-linear repeat size risk for ovarian insufficiency are discussed.
Second kind integral equations for the first kind Dirichlet problem of the biharmonic equation in three dimensions

A Fredholm second kind integral equation (SKIE) formulation is constructed for the Dirichlet problem of the biharmonic equation in three dimensions. A fast numerical algorithm is developed based on the constructed SKIE. Its performance is illustrated via several numerical examples.
Heteroclinic Cycles in Coupled Systems of Difference Equations

Cycling behavior, in which solution trajectories linger around steady-states and periodic solutions, is known to be a generic feature of coupled cell systems of differential equations. In this type of systems, cycling behavior can even occur independently of the internal dynamics of each cell. This conclusion has lead to the discovery of "cycling chaos", in which solution trajectories cycle around symmetrically related chaotic sets. In this work, we demonstrate that cycling behavior also occurs in coupled systems of difference equations. More specifically, we prove the existence of structurally stable cycles between fixed points, and use numerical simulations to illustrate that the resulting cycles can also persist independently of the internal dynamics of each cell. Consequently, we demonstrate that cycles involving periodic orbits as well as cycling chaos also occur in systems of difference equations.
Neogeomorphology, prediction, and the anthropic landscape

The surface of the earth is undergoing profound change due to human impact. By some measures the level of human impact is comparable to the effects of major classical geomorphic processes such as fluvial sediment transport. This change is occurring rapidly, has no geologic precedent, and may represent an irreversible transition to a new and novel landscape with which we have no experience. For these reasons prediction of future landscape evolution will be of increasing importance. The combination of physical and social forces that drive modern landscape change represents the Anthropic Force. Neogeomorphology is the study of the Anthropic Force and its present and likely future effects on the landscape. Unique properties associated with the Anthropic Force include consciousness, intention and design. These properties support the occurrence of nonclassical geomorphic phenomena, such as landscape planning, engineering, and management. The occurrence of short time-scale phenomena induced by anthropic landscape change, the direct effects of this change on society, and the ability to anticipate and intentionally influence the future trajectory of the global landscape underscore the importance of prediction in a neogeomorphic world.
Trustees' Perceptions of the Desired Qualifications for the next Generation of Community College Presidents.

Although the authority for hiring a community college president resides with the board of trustees, few studies have directly explored trustees’ perceptions of the desired qualifications for presid...
Charakterisierung von Materialien durch Chemilumineszenz‐Messungen

Von einer grosen Zahl organischer Materialien werden in geringer Menge Photonen emittiert, deren Wellenlangen vom sichtbaren bis zum IR-Bereich reichen. Diese Lichtemission begleitet beispielsweise die radikalische Autoxidation ebenso wie Ladungsrekombinationen. Sie ist besonders nutzlich fur die Untersuchung von Schaden durch thermische Oxidation und Strahlung sowie von Reaktionen bei der Verarbeitung von Polymeren. Aus der Beobachtung von Chemilumineszenz im IR-Bereich, die wegen geringerer Absorption durch das lumineszente Material (Selbstabsorption) gewisse Vorteile bietet, kann man z. B. das Ende von Induktionsperioden in inhibierten Systemen erkennen. Nachdem nun auch hochempfindliche Gerate zur Messung der Festkorper-Chemilumineszenz verfugbar sind, wurde die Technik auf zweidimensionale Chemilumineszenz-Experimente ausgedehnt.
Education Research Speaks--Dare We Listen?.

From learning theorists, from political and social scientists, from counseling psychologists, from cognition scientists, and from pedagogical researchers, have come messages that have the potential of quiet revolutions.
Individualized cost-effectiveness analysis

John Ioannidis and Alan Garber discuss how to use incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) and related metrics so they can be useful for decision-making at the individual level, whether used by clinicians or individual patients.
Adaptation mechanism for three dimensional content within the MPEG-21 framework

The goal of the research is creation of an adaptation mechanism for the delivery of three-dimensional content. The adaptation of content, for various network and terminal capabilities - as well as for different user preferences, is a key feature that needs to be investigated. Current state-of-the art research of the adaptation shows promising results for specific purpose and limited types of content but still it is not well adaptable for the massive heterogeneous environments. We present a method for transmitting adapted thee-dimensional contents to multiple target devices. We present some theoretical and practical methods for adapting three-dimensional contents, which includes shapes and animation. We also discuss practical details to the integration of our methods into MPEG-21 and MPEG-4 architectures
Incidence of Hyperbilirubinemia and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Asymptomatic Term Neonates Under Two Weeks of Age

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common cause of referral to neonatal care units. According to several studies, jaundice is among the primary symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI) in neonates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of UTI in asymptomatic term neonates diagnosed with indirect hyperbilirubinemia within the first two weeks of birth. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 314 term neonates under 14 days of age, presented with unexplained indirect hyperbilirubinemia for UTI (total bilirubin level: 15 mg/dl). Subjects were referred to 17-Shahrivar Children’s Hospital in Rasht during 16 months, and neonates diagnosed with UTI were further investigated. Results: Out of 314 neonates, 12 patients (3.8%) were diagnosed with UTI, and E. coli was the most prevalent pathogen in these patients. No significant differences were observed between neonates with and without UTI in terms of gender, birth weight, age, bilirubin level on admission and mode of delivery (P>0.05). Additionally, pyuria and bacteriuria were significantly more prevalent among UTI patients compared to other neonates (P<0.0001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, appropriate urine tests could rule out the possibility of coincidental UTI in icteric term neonates under two weeks, who are diagnosed with unexplained indirect hyperbilirubinemia.
Performance evaluation of aluminum/phosphate cell for powering small electronic devices

Abstract We report on an innovative membrane-free aluminum/phosphate cell based on the activation of aluminum (Al) as anodic material using ZnO nanocrystal in phosphate rich electrolyte that is capable of generating sufficient power to power a light-emitting diode (LED), selected as a model of a small electronic device. The energy from the cell is periodically supplied in high power bursts due to the charge and discharge cycle of the capacitor. The entire process is controlled by a switched capacitor regulator. The Al/phosphate cell was studied in neutral 100 mM phosphate buffer solution (7.4) at a temperature of 25 °C. We demonstrate that two Al/phosphate cells connected in series can generate an open circuit voltage (Voc) up to 1.66 V to continuously power a LED via a switched capacitor regulator circuit. The switched capacitor regulator circuit enabled the 1 μF capacitor to store the incoming power from the cell and discharge it in a large power burst to supply the necessary drive strength required by the LED. This new Al/phosphate cell configuration is a ‘green’ alternative to the use of glucose abiotic and biofuel cells for powering ultra-low power implantable electronic devices.
GLOBALIZATION AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY

Writing on the eve of the democratic breakthrough of the late eighteenth century, Jean-Jacques Rousseau gave vivid voice to a critique of the political institutions across the Channel that were admired by so many French reformers of the day. Commenting scornfully on British electoral practice, he observed in 1762 that:"The people of England regards itself as free, but it is gravely mistaken. It is free only during the election of Parliament. As soon as they are elected, slavery overtakes it, and it is nothing. The use it makes of the short moments of liberty it enjoys merits losing them." Rousseau's contention about the limitations of electoral institutions was in no way superseded by the age of democratic revolution that followed. From the 1790s to the present, there have been recurrent complaints about the depth of popular involvement in political life, the reality of popular control over powerholders, and the possibility that the existence of some form of institutional channel for participation could blind publics to the inadequacy of that participation. Rousseau's critique has repeatedly reappeared in one form or another and has informed movements for a more genuine democratization.
Managing Chronic Kidney Disease in Older People--Reply.

In Reply We respectfully disagree with Dr Rosansky on several key points and favor a more comprehensive approach to the care of older patients with CKD than he has proposed. First, the current eGFR and the rate of future decline are each important in the care of older patients with CKD. Numerous studies show the current eGFR is related to a broad range of adverse outcomes beyond kidney failure, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic and hormonal complications, medication toxicity, infections, cognitive impairment, and frailty.
Separation of Unburned Carbon from Fly Ash by a Dry Shaking Table

Fly ash was processed on a dry shaking table as a trial in order to remove unburned carbon from fly ash. Experiments were carried out with varying operating variables, such as table tilt, frequency of table stroke and feed rate of fly ash. The dispersion state of fly ash on the table was dependent on the operating conditions, and the experimental results were not satisfactory when fly ash resided in a narrow region on the table. However, when the fly ash was dispersed widely on the table, fly ash with more desirable less unburned carbon was segregated from the that with more unburned carbon. They were recovered separately from different discharge zones on the table. It was also found that for the separation of unburned carbon from fly ash, a dry shaking table was less affected by particle size distribution than a fluidized bed with tapping.
The effect of π contacts between metal ions and fluorophores on the fluorescence of PET sensors: implications for sensor design for cations and anions.

The idea that M···C π contacts between diamagnetic heavy metal ions such as Pb(II), Ag(I), Pd(II), or Hg(II) and the anthracenyl fluorophore of adpa ((N-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-N-(2-pyridinylmethyl)-2-pyridinemethanamine) are responsible for quenching the fluorescence of the complexes of these metal ions with adpa is explored crystallographically. The structures of [Pb(adpa)(NO3)2] (1), [Ag(adpa)NO3] (2), [Pd(adpa)NO3]NO3 (3), [Zn(adpa)(NO3)2] (4), and [Cd(adpa)Br2] (5) are reported. The π contacts with the fluorophore are for 1 are a Pb···C π contact of 3.178 A; for 2, an Ag···C π contact of 3.016 A; and for 3, a Pd···C π contact of 2.954 A on the axial site of the Pd(II) ion. The Zn(II) ion in 4 has no Zn···C π contact, with the anthracenyl fluorophore rotated completely away from the Zn(II) ion. These structures confirm that in the Pb(II), Ag(I), and Pd(II) complexes of adpa, which experience strong quenching of fluorescence, there are strong M···C π contacts, as expected if it is the π contacts that que...
Outcomes after External Iliac and Femoral Vascular Injuries

Background Vascular injuries occurring at the junction of the trunk and lower extremity are uncommon yet challenging because of their location and potential for associated truncal injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare outcomes among patients sustaining external iliac and femoral vascular injuries. Methods We performed a 13-year retrospective analysis of our level 1 trauma center database to identify and compare patients with external iliac and femoral vessel injuries. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors for mortality. Results During the study period, 135 patients with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 25 (20–35) years were identified with external iliac (n = 29) and femoral vascular injuries (n = 106). The majority were male (85.9%) with a penetrating mechanism (84.5%), and the median (IQR) Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 16 (11–26). The overall mortality rate was 14.1%. In comparison with patients with femoral vascular injuries, patients with external iliac injuries presented with higher ISS (25 vs. 16, P < 0.001), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (14 vs. 15, P = 0.001) and had a higher incidence of mortality (41.4% vs. 6.6%, P < 0.001) and disability (13.8% vs. 1%, P = 0.007). Shunts were used in only 7 patients (5.2%). Stepwise logistic regression consistently identified external iliac injury (odds ratio, 15.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.72–141, P = 0.014 in best-fitted model) as independently associated with mortality. Conclusions In comparison with femoral vascular injuries, external iliac vascular injuries are associated with higher blood loss, more intense resuscitation, higher disability and mortality in patients sustaining junctional groin injuries. Early recognition and application of damage control techniques and resuscitative practices may result in improved outcomes.
Analysis of Epidemic Situation of Measles in Yibin County From 2003 to 2007

Objective To analyze the epidemic law of measles from 2003 to 2007 in Yibin County,and provide basis for effective prevention and control the occurrence of measles epidemic.Method The data of the measles epidemic situation in Yibin County from 2003 to 2007 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological analysis. Results There were 337 cases of measles reported from 2003 to 2007 in Yibin County,without death case. From 2003 to 2007,the incidence of measles were 5.78/10~5,4.23/10~5,6.69/10~5,9.03/10~5,and 10.58/ 10~5 respectively.The average incidence was 7.28/10~5.Obvious seasonal epidemic characteristic was found. The main cases of measles occurred from January to June,which accounted for 78.34% of the annual inci- dence;The sex ratio of male to female among the cases was about 1.46:1;The ages below 15 years old were the main group with measles.The cases mainly distributed among the children in kindergartens,scat- tered children or pupils,which accounted for 89.61% of the total morbidity.During the five years,2 times of fulminant epidemic occurred.Conclusion The incidence of measles in the recent five years in Yibin County shows an obvious rise,and the incidence pattern presents itself as coexistence of extensively sporadic mode and partial outbreak mode.
Vowel hiatus and Dispersion Theory

This paper presents a Dispersion Theoretic (Flemming 2004) perspective on cross-syllable vowel hiatus in Spanish and Western Catalan. Evidence from these languages’ determiner-noun sequences points to a scale of sensitivity to perceptual contrast among vowels, along with augmentation in stressed syllables. These sequences show four patterns of sensitivity to vowel quality: complete tolerance (Spanish unstressed), all but the least contrastive pair tolerated (Spanish stressed), all but the most contrastive pairs not tolerated (Catalan unstressed), and complete intolerance (Catalan stressed). Using MINIMUM DISTANCE and markedness augmentation (Smith 2002), these patterns are explored within the larger typology of possible vowel hiatus sensitivity.
Energetics of lithium ion battery failure

The energy released by failure of rechargeable 18-mm diameter by 65-mm long cylindrical (18650) lithium ion cells/batteries was measured in a bomb calorimeter for 4 different commercial cathode chemistries over the full range of charge using a method developed for this purpose. Thermal runaway was induced by electrical resistance (Joule) heating of the cell in the nitrogen-filled pressure vessel (bomb) to preclude combustion. The total energy released by cell failure, ΔHf, was assumed to be comprised of the stored electrical energy E (cell potential×charge) and the chemical energy of mixing, reaction and thermal decomposition of the cell components, ΔUrxn. The contribution of E and ΔUrxn to ΔHf was determined and the mass of volatile, combustible thermal decomposition products was measured in an effort to characterize the fire safety hazard of rechargeable lithium ion cells.Published by Elsevier B.V. Language: en
A Closing Thought

Engaging in the kind of evolutionary inquiry proposed here will require an immense effort and commitment of individuals, families, groups, systems, institutions, and the society as a whole. I invite you to contemplate what role you might play in this great venture, what contributions you might make to the task of building New Agoras and joining others in a harmonious way in the creation of a desired shared future.
Repress or Respect? Precarious Leadership, Poor Economy and Labor Protection

How should insecure leaders deal with labor rights in the face of an economic downturn? Economic theory suggests that suppressing labor rights boosts the economy and that economic growth also dampens violent political opposition. As a result, the suppression of labor rights should contribute to more job security for leaders. However, some other scholars maintain that more repression actually increases the probability of opposition. As a result, the policy implication of this argument is that leaders would be better off if they choose to improve the protection of labor rights. Our simple formal model demonstrates that the second argument is more likely to be the case. The probit analysis of 146 countries from 1984 to 2004 bears out this prediction. We also find that this relationship is stronger in non-democracies than in democracies. Our study appears to provide some support to Bueno de Mesquita et al.’s (2005) statement that policies that are good for political survival may not necessarily be good for the economy.
Memory space representation for heterogeneous network process migration

A major difficulty of heterogeneous process migration is how to collect advanced dynamic data-structures, transform them into machine independent form, and restore them appropriately in a different hardware and software environment. In this study we introduce a data model, the Memory Space Representation (MSR) model, to recognize complex data structures in program address spaces. Supporting mechanisms of the MSR model are also developed for collecting program data structures and restoring them in a heterogeneous environment. The MSR design has been implemented under a prototype heterogeneous process migration environment. Pointer-intensive programs with function and recursion calls are tested. Experimental results confirm that the newly proposed design is feasible and effective for heterogeneous network process migration.
An Ancient Role for Giant Ankyrins in Axon Initial Segment Organization

The axon initial segment (AIS) of multipolar vertebrate neurons contains a specialized set of ion channels that allows it to serve as the site for action potential initiation. The AIS is organized by a giant variant of ankyrin G (AnkG) that links ion channels to a specialized cytoskeleton and is required for a plasma membrane diffusion barrier that excludes somatodendritic proteins from the axon. The ankyrin-based AIS has been viewed as a vertebrate adaptation for fast, precise signaling because the giant isoform required for AIS organization is believed to have evolved recently in the vertebrate lineage. Here we re-examine AIS origins with a detailed analysis of giant ankyrin evolution and testing the role of a giant ankyrin in organization of an AIS-like domain in the proximal axon of a model multipolar Drosophila neuron (ddaE). We found giant ankyrins in all major bilaterian phyla, and phylogenetic analysis points to a single origin for the unusual long exon that encodes giant ankyrins in an ancestor of all extant bilaterians. We therefore hypothesized that giant ankyrins may play a conserved role in organization of the proximal axon throughout the Bilateria. We examined this possibility by looking for conserved ankyrin-dependent AIS features in Drosophila ddaE neurons via live imaging. Using a FRAP assay, we found that ddaE neurons have a plasma membrane diffusion barrier in the proximal axon that requires a giant isoform of the neuronal ankyrin ank2. Two voltage-gated K+ channels, elk and shal, concentrate in this proximal axon. We found that the accumulation of shal, like the diffusion barrier, depends on ank2. Our results suggest that the giant ankyrin-based cytoskeleton of the AIS may not be a recent vertebrate innovation, but instead evolved in an ancestral bilaterian soon after the divergence from cnidarians.
Acquired transthyretin amyloidosis after domino liver transplant: Phenotypic correlation, implication of liver retransplantation

Reports of acquired ATTRm in domino liver transplant (DLT) recipients are infrequent and the approach to management is unknown. We describe two patients, an inherited ATTRm patient who underwent liver transplant and his liver recipient who developed acquired ATTRm 8years following transplantation. The clinical manifestations of amyloidosis were similar between patients and consisted of peripheral neuropathy, diarrhea and weight loss. Following liver transplantation, the DLT donor went into remission for 4years, but eventually progressed and died. The DLT recipient was re-transplanted with a healthy liver, but amyloidosis progressed after 5years, with symptoms resembling the progression of the ATTRm liver donor. Proteomic analysis was utilized to type the amyloid deposits present in the DLT recipient fat aspirate specimen obtained prior to the second transplantation and stomach biopsy obtained at disease progression. The fat amyloid deposits contained almost equal amounts of mutant TTR and wild-type TTR peptides, but the stomach biopsy showed only wild-type TTR. There is a high concordance of disease phenotype between inherited and acquired ATTRm, which may help in early recognition of acquired ATTRm in DLT recipients. Liver re-transplantation for acquired ATTRm may not interrupt the cycle of amyloid deposition since normal hepatically produced TTR may co-deposit with trace amount of pre-existing TTRm amyloid.
Safety of Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia in Parturients With Chorioamnionitis

Background and Objectives The safety of spinal and epidural anesthesia in patients with chorioamnionitis was explored. Methods A retrospective study was made of the charts of 517 parturients who had received epidural anesthesia and 14 who had received spinal anesthesia before delivery and whose placentas had subsequently been found to be positive for chorioamnionitis. Results Of the 146 blood culture results that were reported, 13 were positive. Of these 13 blood cultures, 5 had been drawn within 6 hours after placement of the epidural block, and four of the five bacteremic patients did not receive antibiotics until after the regional anesthetic was administered. One quarter (11/45) of the patients who were febrile and three quarters (174/229) of those who had leukocytosis before their block received no antibiotics before the block was placed. After the epidural block was performed, the catheter was left in place for over 24 hours in 18% (46/260) of the women who spiked a fever and in 14% (18/130) of those who exhibited leukocytosis during that period. There was no report of an epidural or spinal abscess or of meningitis in any of the women in the study. Conclusion Conduction anesthesia may be safe in parturients with chorioamnionitis without prior antibiotic therapy.
Molecular Cobalt Catalysts for O2 Reduction: Low-Overpotential Production of H2O2 and Comparison with Iron-Based Catalysts

A series of mononuclear pseudomacrocyclic cobalt complexes have been investigated as catalysts for O2 reduction. Each of these complexes, with CoIII/II reduction potentials that span nearly 400 mV, mediate highly selective two-electron reduction of O2 to H2O2 (93–99%) using decamethylferrocene (Fc*) as the reductant and acetic acid as the proton source. Kinetic studies reveal that the rate exhibits a first-order dependence on [Co] and [AcOH], but no dependence on [O2] or [Fc*]. A linear correlation is observed between log(TOF) vs E1/2(CoIII/II) for the different cobalt complexes (TOF = turnover frequency). The thermodynamic potential for O2 reduction to H2O2 was estimated by measuring the H+/H2 open-circuit potential under the reaction conditions. This value provides the basis for direct assessment of the thermodynamic efficiency of the different catalysts and shows that H2O2 is formed with overpotentials as low as 90 mV. These results are compared with a recently reported series of Fe-porphyrin complexes...
Vehicle-to-vehicle propagation channel for truck-to-truck and mixed passenger freight convoy

This paper presents first measurement results on truck-to-car and truck-to-truck propagation channels at 5.9 GHz. We measured the channel with a self-built real-time channel sounder with multiple antennas at both transmitter and receiver. We present sample results for two safety-related scenarios in a highway and urban environment, respectively. We analyze the measured data with a high-resolution parameter extraction algorithm, which provides both spatial and temporal characterization of the channel. The results show that the channel exhibits a higher Doppler dispersion in the highway scenario than in the urban scenario. Besides, the metallic trailer, which is higher than the antenna, acts as a strong reflector when the trucks face each other and an effective shadowing object when the trucks face away.