cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas phase and surface reactions in Si doping of GaAs by silanes

Abstract A combined numerical and experimental study has been undertaken to understand the mechanism behind silicon doping of MOVPE grown GaAs from a silane or disilane source. Disilane doping leads to a much higher silicon doping efficiency than silane doping, and is temperature insensitive over the range 875 to 1100 K at high pressures (40 to 200 Torr). Residence time experiments confirm the presence of a homogeneous kinetics rate limiting step for the case of disilane doping. A 3D numerical model using homogeneous gas phase kinetics of the silane system has been employed to understand the doping mechanism. The experimental data can be predicted almost entirely from this chemistry, where the rate of silylene arrival at the growth interface determines the rate of Si incorporation. In addition to the insertion reactions of silylene into silane and hydrogen associated with silane chemistry, the effect of silylene insertion into arsine is also considered.
PrBa2Cu3O7: A new superconductor

PrBa2Cu3O7 superconducts, provided Pr is kept off Ba-sites — experimentally confirming the prediction of the oxygen model and indicating that superconductivity originates in the chains, not in the planes.
Vertebral osteomyelitis following translumbar aortography.

Translumbar aortography is the method of choice for abdominal angiog raphy in patients whose vascular disease precludes use of the Seldinger technique via the transfemoral or transaxillary route. Complication rates have decreased with the use of teflon catheters. A case in which vertebral osteomyelitis developed after translumbar aortography is presented.
Strategies to raise the off-design efficiency of chiller machines

Most HVAC systems in large buildings are equipped with centrifugal chillers which are typically designed for maximum efficiency at 70% at 80% of their full-load. But, below about 30% full-load, their part-load efficiency starts to deteriorate rapidly (increasing kilowatts per ton). For older centrifugal chillers, this rapid drop may start at even higher part-load, rendering their operation at low part-load undesirable. In many cases chillers are over-sized, forcing operation below 50% of the full-load most of the time. Furthermore, the field performance of most chiller machines is genearlly not documented, and there is no tradition of recording chiller performance history. There is growing incentive-driven interest in chiller monitoring. But, field visits, discussions with HVAC engineers and opinions from manufacturers have proven that virtually no chiller systems are currently monitored for kilowatts per ton. Only recently has field data gathering been initiated, and part-load performance of chillers in the field started drawing serious attention. The problem, however, still remains poorly disclosed to the end-user. As a result, chiller machines actually operate at much lower efficiency than the design values. There are opportunities for profoundly improving their field performance. Part-load operation is particularly poor for sites with single centrifugal chillers. This research is an appraisal of strategies for improving the part-load performance of chiller systems. A review of simulation results and field data indicate that chiller machines operate at higher kilowatts per ton than allowed for by current technology. Energy consumption of various chiller types and configurations for a generic building indicate that there are possibilities for lowering chiller energy consumption, and these opportunities can be harvested with simple measures.
Brief dynamic psychotherapy of post‐traumatic stress disorders: Management of narcissistic regression

Theoretical and research advances of the past decade have contributed to a general theory of the technique of brief dynamic psychotherapy. Future advances depend in part on the specific modification of technique to address individuals with specific personality difficulties in specific life contexts. The purpose of the present paper is to delineate the modifications of brief dynamic therapy for persons with transient narcissistic regression following traumatic life experiences. The approach stresses initial supportive work to be followed by exploration of warded-off conflicts involving greater self-critical awareness on the part of the patient. The implications of this sequential strategy for the formation of the therapeutic alliance, the choice and working through of a problem focus, and the handling of termination, are spelled out with reference to a detailed single case example.
Integrated Quarter-Wave Shifted Bragg Grating Array with Equalized Channel Spacing

A 4-channel integrated quarter-wave shifted Bragg grating array with precisely equalized channel spacing was demonstrated in a CMOS-compatible process using sidewall Bragg gratings and the equivalent phase shift method.
Intratrial response speed in fixed-ratio behavior: A comparison of positive and negative reinforcement

Terminal decrements in response speeds within trials have been reported in a number of discrete-trial runway and leverpress situations using appetitive reinforcers. One recent attempt to explain this phenomenon suggests that such decrements are the result of the occurrence of premature consummatory behaviors which interfere with the ongoing response sequence. According to this hypothesis, terminal decrements in response speed should not occur in a fixed-ratio discrete trial escape situation where consummatory responses by the subject are not required to gain reinforcement. In support of the hypothesis, terminal decrements in response speed were obtained in an appetitively motivated discrete-trial leverpress situation but not in one in which aversive motivation was employed. A homogeneous behavior sequence (HBS) may be defined as a series of highly similar stimulus-response units terminating in reinforcement. Examples of situations closely approximating HBSs include running in a straight-alley runway and discrete-trialleverpressing on fixed-ratio (FR) reinforcement schedules. Hull (1934) was one of the first to show a theoretical interest in performance within HBSs. Using his goal-gradient hypothesis, Hull predicted that response speed in a runway would be an inverse function of the distance from the goal. Hull's results indicated that, while running speed did increase over initial sections of the runway, rats showed a decrement in speed as they approached the goal area. Similar decrements in response speed have been observed in both runway (e.g., DiLollo & Walker, 1964) and discrete-trial leverpress situations (e.g., Platt, 1972; Platt & Senkowski, 1970; Weiss, 1961). Hull assumed that the terminal decrement in response speed was due to an anticipatory form of the stopping necessary to consume the reinforcer. It has also been suggested that subjects slow down as they approach the end of the runway to avoid hitting the goal box wall. The latter interpretation, while applicable to the runway situation, does not seem appropriate for explaining the terminal decrements in response speed found in discrete-trial leverpressing situations where no such barrier to continued responding exists. An alternative explanation of intratrial terminal speed decrements was proposed by Platt and Senkowski (I970). Their hypothesis suggests that accumulated response-correlated stimuli (RCS) serve two functions in an HBS. The RCS are assumed to serve as secondary reinforcers, strengthening the responses which precede them so as to yield a negatively accelerated increasing intratrial speed gradient. The RCS are also assumed to
Effects of cocaine and norepinephrine on primary cultures of neonatal rat myocardial cells

Sudden cardiac death associated with cocaine (Coc) abuse in healthy, physically active individuals became a grave concern in the late 1980s. It is well documented that physical activity increases circulating plasma catecholamine levels. Catecholamines as well as Coc are independently capable of inducing toxic cardiac effects. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the synergistic or additive toxic effects of norepinephrine (NE) and Coc in primary myocardial cell cultures obtained from 3‐ to 5‐d‐old Sprague‐Dawley rats. Alterations in lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH), lysosomal neutral red retention (NR), beating activity, and morphology were evaluated after treatment of the cells for 1–24 h with 1 × 10‐3 M Coc alone, 1 × 10‐5 M Coc alone, 1 × 10‐5 M NE alone, 1 × 10‐3 M Coc with 1 × 10‐5 M NE, or 1 × 10‐5 M Coc with 1 × 10‐5 M NE. LDH release was elevated significantly after 24 h only with those cells exposed to 1 × 10‐3 M Coc alone and 1 × 10‐3 M Coc + 7 × 10‐5 M NE. Using NR retention as a...
Duality between some linear preserver problems. II. Isometries with respect to c-special norms and matrices with fixed singular values

Let Fm×n (m⩽n) denote the linear space of all m × n complex or real matrices according as F=C or R. Let c=(c1,…,cm)≠0 be such that c1⩾⋯⩾cm⩾0. The c-spectral norm of a matrix AϵFm×n is the quantity ‖A‖c∑i=Imciσi(A) . where σ1(A)⩾⋯⩾σm(A) are the singular values of A. Let d=(d1,…,dm)≠0, where d1⩾⋯⩾dm⩾0. We consider the linear isometries between the normed spaces (Fm×n,∥·∥c) and (Fm×n,∥·∥d), and prove that they are dual transformations of the linear operators which map L(d) onto L(c), where L(c)= {XϵFm×n:X has singular values c1,…,cm} .
Growth of microcrystalline Si and (Si, Ge) on plastic substrates

We report on the growth and properties of microcrystalline Si and its alloys on polyimide substrates. The materials were grown using low pressure, remote ECR plasma deposition. The crystalline fraction of the films was measured using Raman measurements, electrical properties using activation energy, dark conductivity and photo-conductivity and absorption using spectrophotometer and two-beam photo-conductivity. The best crystallinity was obtained when the substrates were conducting, coated with a thin Mo film. Attempts to deposit directly on plastic substrates produced amorphous films. However, the use of an amorphous (Si,C) or doped a-Si buffer layers between the plastic substrate and the microcrystalline film improved the crystallinity. We assume that the improved crystallinity on metal-coated polyimide is an indication of the affect of ion bombardment on promoting crystallinity.
Retrieval of ice cloud microphysical parameters using the CloudSat millimeter‐wave radar and temperature

[1] A new remote sensing retrieval of ice cloud microphysics has been developed for use with millimeter-wave radar from ground-, air-, or space-based sensors. Developed from an earlier retrieval that used measurements of radar reflectivity factor together with a priori information about the likely cloud targets, the new retrieval includes temperature information as well to assist in determining the correct region of state space, particularly for those size distribution parameters that are less constrained by the radar measurements. These algorithms have served as the ice cloud retrieval algorithms in Releases 3 and 4 of the CloudSat 2B-CWC-RO Standard Data Product. Several comparison studies have been performed on the previous and current retrieval algorithms: some involving tests of the algorithms on simulated radar data (based on actual cloud probe data or cloud resolving models) and others featuring statistical comparisons of the R04 2B-CWC-RO product (current algorithm) to ice cloud mass retrievals by other spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based instruments or alternative algorithms using the same CloudSat radar data. Comparisons involving simulated radar data based on a database of cloud probe data showed generally good performance, with ice water content (IWC) bias errors estimated to be less than 40%. Comparisons to ice water content and ice water path estimates by other instruments are mixed. When the comparison is restricted to different retrieval approaches using the same CloudSat radar measurements, CloudSat R04 results generally agree with alternative IWC retrievals for IWC < 1000 mg m−3 at altitudes below 12 km but differ at higher ice contents and altitudes, either exceeding other retrievals or falling within a spread of retrieval values. Validation and reconciliation of all these approaches will continue to be a topic for further research.
Understanding Georg Simmel

Abstract This paper makes two basic claims. First, Simmel was aware of the Als-Ob (“As-If”) before Vaihinger published his Die Philosophie des Als-Ob (The Philosophy of As-If) (Vaihinger, 1911 [1935]), and he used the As-If in his epistemology of the social sciences. It is difficult to understand Simmel's sociology without recognizing the role of the As-If. However, this essential part of Simmel's epistemology of the social sciences almost has gone unreported in the standard literature. Second, Simmel formulated a concept of relativity. This concept, too, is an important part of his epistemology, yet it is not understood well. Only through an appreciation of his view of relativity can Simmel's concept Wechselwirkung (usually translated as “reciprocal interaction” but more exactly translated as “reciprocal effect”) be interpreted properly. Without an understanding of his concept of relativity Simmel's form-content relation does not convey the sense intended. This paper demonstrates that the form-content re...
Comparative utilization of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by cultured human Y-79 retinoblastoma cells.

Abstract The Y-79 retinoblastoma cell, a cultured human line derived from the retina, was utilized as a model for investigating the metabolism of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in neural tissue. When cultures were incubated with 5 μM linolenic (18:3), eicosapentaenoic (20:5) or docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids, a low concentration probably representative of physiologic levels, the amount incorporated was 20:5 ≅18.3 > 22:6. Regardless of which fatty acid was provided, 65–75% of the total uptake accumulated in phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and ethanolamine plasmalogen, suggesting that these phospholipids play an important role in n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism. A small amount of 22:6 was converted to 20:5, which was recovered in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine. Therefore, one metabolic function of 22:6 may be to serve as an intracellular storage pool for the formation of 20:5 through retroconv ersion. When any of the n − 3 polyunsaturates was available, the main fatty acid that accumulated in the cell phospholipids was 22:6. The extent to which 22:6 accumulated, however, depended on the particular n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that was available. This suggests that the 22:6 content of a neural cell, and any cellular function dependent on 22:6 content, may be regulated by changes in the type of n − 3 polyunsaturate available to the nervous system.
Synthesis of highly fluorescent water-soluble silver nanoparticles for selective detection of Pb(II) at the parts per quadrillion (PPQ) level

This communication reports for the first time the synthesis of water-soluble glutathione protected highly fluorescence (Φ = 0.18) silver nanoparticles for the selective and highly sensitive sensing of Pb(II) at the parts per quadrillion (PPQ) level.
THE EFFECT OF VACCINIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM EXTRACTS ON LYMPHOCYTE CELL PROLIFERATION: BLUEBERRIES AS MITOGENIC AGENTS

This study examined the mitogenic potential of crude lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) extracts using an in-vitro lymphocyte-cell proliferation assay. Plant lectins such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) have been shown to stimulate lymphocytes into mitogenesis (cell proliferation) and differentiation. Recent research on fruits, especially berries, has shown that plant products in some fruits exhibit a wide range of positive biological effects. Peripheral blood cultures were used to examine the potential mitogenic activity of blueberry extracts on lymphocytes. Extracts from the stems, fruits, and roots of lowbush blueberry were obtained and added to lymphocyte blood cultures at a 1/400 dilution. After 72 hours of incubation, the cells were harvested, mounted, and an analysis of mitotic index using the Poisson distribution was conducted. Mitotic figures revealed a significant mitogenic effect for blueberry fruit and blueberry roots. The mitotic index ...
Catalytic Reduction of NO over Cu/C

The catalytic reduction of NO to N{sub 2} and CO{sub 2} by C over Cu/C was investigated and a relationship between the conversion of NO and Cu loading obtained. An optimum conversion of 100% was obtained at 410 C over a Cu/C sample that contained 20 wt % Cu. For higher Cu contents the conversion decreased. The selectivities to N{sub 2} and CO{sub 2} at 360 and 410 C were 100% over the samples that contained 5--30 Wt % Cu. As the reaction time increased, the conversion of NO first decreased and later increased. An explanation is provided for this behavior. H{sub 2} titration was employed to determine the change of the exposed surface area of Cu during reaction. The change of the surface area and of the pore size distribution of Cu/C during the reaction was also investigated.
Genipin as a sporicidal agent for the treatment of cortical bone allografts.

IntroductionMicrobial bioburden in bone allografts can be reduced by gamma radiation; however, the radiation compromises collagen and increases the risk of graft failure. Genipin is an agent that may reduce bioburden by chemical crosslinking without causing mechanical detriment or cytotoxicity.MethodsTo evaluate genipin’s ability to penetrate cortical bone while maintaining sporicidal activity, Bacillus subtilis spore strips were isolated between slices of bovine femoral cortical bone and immersed in genipin solutions for up to one week; spore viability was assessed with media-based assays. The mechanical effects of genipin treatment were assessed by performing three-point bending tests on genipin-treated cortical beams. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted by evaluating the adhesion and proliferation of murine MC3T3-E1 (P21) preosteoblasts on cortical bone slices which were treated with genipin and rinsed to different extents.ResultsGenipin successfully penetrated cortical bone slices and sterilized B. su...
On dynamic data-driven selection of sensor streams

Sensor nodes have limited local storage, computational power, and battery life, as a result of which it is desirable to minimize the storage, processing and communication from these nodes during data collection. The problem is further magnified by the large volumes of data collected. In real applications, sensor streams are often highly correlated with one another or may have other kinds of functional dependencies. For example, a group of sound sensors in a given geographical proximity may pick almost the same set of signals. Clearly, since there are considerable functional dependencies between different sensors, there are huge redundancies in the data collected by sensors. These redundancies may also change as the data evolve over time. In this paper, we discuss real time algorithms for reducing the volume of the data collected in sensor networks. The broad idea is to determine the functional dependencies between sensor streams efficiently in real time, and actively collect the data only from a minimal set of sensors. The remaining sensors collect the data passively at low sampling rates in order to detect any changing trends in the underlying data. We present real time algorithms in order to minimize the power consumption in reducing the data collected and show that the resulting data retains almost the same amount of information at a much lower cost.
Prolactin binding by human mammary carcinoma: relationship to estrogen receptor protein concentration and patient age.

Biopsy specimens of 55 human mammary carcinomas (38 primary and 17 metastatic) were assayed for prolactin receptors (PrlR). Prolactin bound specifically to 32 (58%) of the tumor biopsy specimens. The apparent Kd for PrlR in individual tumors ranged from 15 pM to 2. 3 nM (mean 600 pM,n = 5) and the concentration of PrlR ranged from 0 to 44.5 fmoles/mg protein. Estrogen receptors (ERP) were also detected in 28 of the 32 tumors which had PrlR. Overall, there was no correlation between PrlR and ERP. However, the mean concentration of PrlR was significantly higher (p 250 fmoles ERP (4.0 ± 0.4 and 6.5 ± 1.8 respectively fmoles PrlR). Analysis of PrlR concentration as a function of patient age also showed no overall correlation, but the mean PrlR in tumors from women aged 60–70 was significantly higher (p <0.01) than in those from either younger or older women. A higher concentration of PrlR was observed in tumors which were classified histologically as medium or well differentiated (6.1 ± 1.2 and 11.1 ± 2.1, respectively) than in those classified as poorly differentiated (3.3 ± 1.2) (p <0.03). There was a negative correlation between PrlR concentration and membrane yield from the tumors (r = 0.43,p <0.002). The membrane yield correlated with the ratio of tumor cells to stroma (histologically) (r = 0.63,p <0.001). In tumors from 12 patients with metastatic disease on whom follow up after endocrine-related therapy was available, the mean PrlR concentration was significantly higher in the non-responding group (8.2 ± 3.0) than in the responding group (3.4 ± 4.2,p = 0.05).
Robust precoding with QoS guarantee for cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we develop robust precoding for secondary users (SUs) with quality-of-service (QoS) guarantee based on imperfect channel state information (CSI) to minimize the maximum sum interference power to the primary user (PU). Optimal robust precoder is derived by transforming the original problem into a semidefinite programming (SDP) form. We then propose two suboptimal robust precoding design approaches to simplify the optimization process and to get more structural solutions. Numerical results show the proposed robust precoding methods can provide lower maximal interference powers to the PU compared to the non-robust ones and the performance gaps increase with the channel error region.
Performance of finite-depth interleaved convolutional codes in a Rayleigh fading channel with noisy channel estimates

We derive the pairwise error probability of convolutional codes in a time-varying Rayleigh fading channel with finite interleaving depth and noisy channel estimates. The analysis quantifies the estimation-diversity tradeoff, which results from the opposite effects of the Doppler spread on the channel estimation accuracy and the channel diversity. It is also shown that when the channel estimates are correct, this analysis gives the same result as an existing perfect channel estimation analysis.
Health Beliefs and Regimen Adherence in Minority Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Objective To examine the appraisal of short- and long-term diabetes health risk and adherence, determine whether health risk predicts adherence and glycemic control in an ethnic minority sample, and determine whether perceptions of personal risk differ from risk to others. Methods Seventy-four youths with type 1 diabetes (ages 11–16) completed measures of risk perception and regimen adherence during their clinic visit; parents completed a measure of their children’s adherence. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c level was measured as part of the clinic visit. Results Regression analyses predicting parental report and self-reported adherence from appraisal of risk yielded nonsignificant results; perceived short-term complications to self predicted glycemic control. Appraisal of risk was higher for short- and long-term complications occurring to someone else with diabetes than to self. Greater risk for short-term complications than for long-term complications to self and other was found. Conclusions The distinction between long-term and short-term complications and complications occurring to ones’ self or someone else with diabetes was supported. Assessment of perceived risks for short-term complications is important for this age group and should be addressed in interventions to improve adherence.
Antenna optimization using sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithms

An alternative optimization algorithm is the sequential quadratic programming(SQP) which is suitable for continuous nonlinear objective functions such as the input impedance, gain, pattern shape and so on, with both equality and inequality constraints. The basic principle of sequential approximations is to replace the given nonlinear problem by a sequence of subproblems that are easier to solve. Convergence is typically achieved in a few iterations, and therefore their interface with rigorous but expensive numerical antenna analysis codes is much more practical. We examine, with an example, the performance of a general SQP code for designing patch antennas in conjunction with a finite element-boundary integral code.
Efficient determination of maximum incomplete subcubes in hypercubes with faults

After faults arise in a hypercube, it is often desirable to reconfigure the faulty hypercube in such a way as to retain as many fault-free nodes as possible, because system performance tends to be in proportion to the computational power, and a reconfigured hypercube with more nodes is likely to retain performance better. This inspires us to identify maximum incomplete subcubes in a faulty hypercube, as the subcube so reconfigured is often much larger than that reconfigured according to earlier schemes. Here we propose an efficient algorithm for determining maximum incomplete subcubes in faulty hypercubes. The basic idea is to construct a maximum incomplete subcube from a number of healthy complete subcubes of distinct sizes. To this end, an efficient procedure for finding all maximum fault-free complete subcubes in a faulty hypercube is introduced, and then an efficient algorithm for determining maximum incomplete subcubes is presented.
Mechanisms of host defense in well nourished patients with chronic alcoholism.

Tests of immune function were performed on five recently abstinent, well nourished, and disease-free patients with chronic alcoholism. No significant defects in adherence, metabolic, or bactericidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found when compared to sex-matched controls. Antibody-dependent and natural killer cellular cytotoxicity of monocyte-macrophages and lymphocytes also were normal. These data support the concept that immunity might be intact in the group of patients with chronic alcoholism who are recently sober, well nourished, and free of underlying disease.
Sonographic predictors of ovarian malignancy

Purpose To identify a combination of sonographic features that best predicts ovarian malignancy. Methods Subjects included 249 women who had a transvaginal sonogram for a pelvic mass at Brigham and Women's Hospital between December 2005 and February 2010. Subjects underwent surgery for removal of the mass and pathologic diagnosis was available. Images were reviewed retrospectively by one sonologist blinded to diagnosis and clinical information. Twelve sonographic features were scored for each mass. The dataset was divided into training (n = 149) and testing (n = 100) sets. Within the training set, a stepwise logistic regression was used to weigh each variable and combination of features to identify those associated with malignancies. Using the results from the logistic regression analyses, we created a three-level risk stratification that was applied to the sonograms of subjects in the testing set to assess its ability to distinguish benign lesions from invasive and borderline cancers. Results High risk lesions included all masses with internal vascularity. In our testing set, this feature was present in 9 out of 12 (75%) invasive cancers, 1 out of 6 (16.7%) borderline lesions, and 9 out of 82 (11%) benign masses. The intermediate risk level included lesions with a thick wall or thick septa without internal blood flow. This combination of features identified one additional invasive cancer and 5 out of 6 (83.3%) borderline tumors. Masses with low risk features had a 2/49 (4.0%) incidence of malignancy. Conclusions In the absence of high or intermediate risk sonographic features, the risk of malignancy is low. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 41:269–274, 2013
Vehicle Induced Dynamic Behavior of Short-Span Slab Bridges Considering Effect of Approach Slab Condition

In this paper the vehicle induced dynamic bridge responses are calculated by modeling the bridge and vehicle as one coupled system. The dynamic behavior of short slab bridges with different span lengths induced by the AASHTO HS20 truck is investigated. A parametric study is conducted to analyze the effects of different truck speeds and different road surface conditions. Critical truck speeds that result in peaks of dynamic response are found to follow the rule that describes the resonant vibration of bridges due to train loading. The approach slab condition that consists of faulting at the ends and deformation along the span is considered in the analysis. Although the effect of the along-span deformation on the dynamic response of bridges is trivial, the faulting condition of the approach slab is found to cause significantly large dynamic responses in short-span slab bridges. Impact factors obtained from numerical analyses are compared with those values specified in the AASHTO codes.
MORAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE METAPHYSICS OF FREE WILL: REPLY TO VAN INWAGEN

In The Philosophical Quarterly, 47 (1997), pp. 373–81, van Inwagen argues in a critical notice of my book The Metaphysics of Free Will that the impression that Frankfurt-type examples show that moral responsibility need not require alternative possibilities results from insufficient analytical precision. He suggests various precise principles which imply that moral responsibility requires alternative possibilities. In reply, I seek to defend the conclusion I have drawn from Frankfurt-type examples: moral responsibility need not require alternative possibilities. I contend that van Inwagen's principles — the principle of possible prevention and the no-matter-what principle — are invalid, and I suggest that their plausibility comes from thinking about a proper subset of the relevant cases.
Hurricane katrina storm surge distribution and field observations on the Mississippi Barrier Islands

Abstract Hurricane Katrina (23–30 August 2005) struck low-lying coastal plains particularly vulnerable to storm surge flooding. Maximum storm surges, overland flow depths, and inundation distances were measured along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The vehicle based survey was complemented by inspections with the reconnaissance boat along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi Barrier Islands. The storm surge peaked to the East of Katrina’s path exceeding 10 meters in several locations along the Mississippi coastline. The storm surge measurements show that the lower floors of specially designed buildings were damaged by the surge of seawater and associated wave action, while the upper floors sustained minimal wind damage. Furthermore, the storm surge measurements along New Orleans’s Lake shore indicate that the 17th Street Canal levee failed prior to overtopping. The land loss on the barrier islands resulted in an increased vulnerability of the US Gulf Coast to future hurricane storm surges.
Head of Bed Elevation and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common hospital-acquired infection.[1][1] Criteria for the diagnosis of VAP have been published[2][2] and widely adopted by hospital infection control surveillance programs. A number of clinical factors can make the diagnosis of VAP difficult in selected
Dexmethylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background: Dexmethylphenidate is a single-isomer stimulant medication approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Single-isomer drugs have the potential for decreased undesired effects and improved therapeutic efficacy. Stimulant medications have been the mainstay treatments for ADHD for fifty years, and ability to reduce their adverse effects would be useful in promoting patient compliance with treatment. Objective: To review the literature on the safety and efficacy of dexmethylphenidate. Methods: MedLine, PubMed search of dexmethylphenidate research. Results/conclusions: Dexmethylphenidate is a safe and effective treatment for ADHD. Its overall safety and tolerability profile is similar to other members of the psychostimulant class.
Psychotherapy with persons with intellectual disabilities: a review of effectiveness research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the effectiveness of psychotherapy with persons with intellectual disabilities.Design/methodology/approach – This paper focused on summarizing the conclusions of other reviews published in the last ten years, including a recent review by the authors.Findings – The paper concludes that there is evidence that psychotherapy with persons with intellectual disabilities is at least moderately effective. Further, there is evidence of effectiveness of psychotherapy for both child and adolescent, and adult populations. There is also evidence that a range of therapeutic interventions are effective and that a spectrum of problems can be addressed via psychotherapy.Research limitations/implications – This area has received relatively little attention in the research literature and the area lacks a large base of methodologically sound and rigorous studies. There is a need for well‐designed studies, particularly randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and a ne...
Emerging Strategies for Managing Peptic Ulcer Disease

The relationship between the inhibition of intragastric acidity and healing has been determined for both duodenal and gastric ulcers, with a stronger correlation being evident in duodenal ulcer. Omeprazole is clearly more effective than H2-receptor antagonists in healing duodenal ulcers and in the resolution of attendant symptoms. As the recommended treatment periods are shorter with omeprazole (e.g. 2–4 weeks) than with H2-receptor antagonists (4–8 weeks), omeprazole has also been shown to be more cost-effective. Long-term management strategies for peptic ulcer are evolving rapidly in the light of evidence that Helicobacter pylori eradication reduces or eliminates ulcer relapse. Regimens, such as omeprazole in combination with amoxycillin or clarithromycin, that both eradicate H. pylori and heal ulcers rapidly are appealing because they are simple, well tolerated, convenient and efficient in both healing ulcers and preventing relapse. This comprehensive approach appears to be evolving as the dominant str...
Interdependent Expression of the ccoNOQP-rdxBHIS Loci in Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

The rdxBHIS gene cluster of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1, located downstream of the ccoNOQP operon encoding the cbb(3) cytochrome c oxidase, is required for the posttranscriptional modification of the cbb(3) cytochrome c oxidase. The cbb(3) cytochrome c oxidase is the main terminal oxidase under microaerobic conditions, as well as a component of the signal transduction pathway controlling photosynthesis gene expression. Because of the intimate functional and positional relationships of the ccoNOQP operon and the rdxBHIS gene cluster, we have examined the transcriptional activities of this DNA region in order to understand their expression and regulation. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription-PCR, together with earlier complementation analysis, suggested that the ccoNOQP-rdxBHIS cluster is transcribed as ccoNOQP-, ccoNOQP-rdxBH-, rdxBH-, and rdxIS-specific transcripts. Multiple transcriptional start sites have been identified by primer extension analyses: five for ccoN, four for rdxB, and one for rdxI. Transcription from P1(N) of ccoN and P1(B) of rdxB is dependent on the presence of FnrL. LacZ fusion analysis support the above-described studies, especially the importance of FnrL. Expression of the cco-rdx cluster is closely related to photosynthesis gene expression, suggesting that transcript stoichiometry and presumably the stoichiometry of the gene products are critical factors in controlling photosynthesis gene expression.
A geomorphic perspective on terrain‐modulated organization of vegetation productivity: analysis in two semiarid grassland ecosystems in Southwestern United States

Spatial patterns of ecosystem productivity arise from the terrain-modulated wetting and drying of the landscape. Using a daily relative greenness (rG) index, we explore the relations between spatial variability of plant productivity and landscape morphology, and how these relations change over time. The rG index is defined as a measure of local vegetation greenness relative to the site's mean greenness, calculated from remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index. We analyse two semiarid grasslands with pronounced topography, one located in southeastern Arizona, with a mean annual precipitation of 350 mm, and the other in central New Mexico, with a mean annual precipitation of 250 mm. Our results indicate that (1) rG is spatially more uniform after wet conditions (higher biomass) than after dry conditions (lower biomass); (2) differences in the relative frequency distribution of rG among different landscape morphologies (ridges, unchanneled valleys and channels) indicate higher productivity in channels, similar coefficient of variation in all process domains, and higher skewness in the ridges; (3) relatively high correlations between the binned average rG with respect to upstream area, curvature, and annual insolation in more than 80% of the terrain indicate a clear dependence between ecosystem productivity and topography; (4) rG is more sensitive to changes in topographic indices at the wetter Arizona study site. Such improved understanding of vegetation-topography dependence is critical for ecosystem management, testing ecohydrologic models, and offers ideas for the downscaling of coarse-scale satellite-derived vegetation indices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Children's Appraisal of Moderately Stressful Situations.

This study investigated 2 questions: (1) do children show consistent styles of appraisal across a range of moderately stressful events?, and (2) what are the adjustment and parenting correlates of individual differences in children's appraisal style? Ninety-nine 3rd though 5th grade children and their mothers participated. For each of 6 vignettes involving moderately stressful situations, children responded to 10 items assessing children's appraisal of these events. Mothers completed a self-report measure of parenting practices and children reported on their psychological adjustment. Participants showed moderate levels of consistency in their appraisal of the events across situations, and 6 appraisal styles were identified that reflected the nature of appraisal aggregated across situations. These styles showed meaningful patterns of association with child psychological symptoms and parenting practices. Children showing the victim appraisal style reported the highest levels of anxiety and school dislike, w...
Eliminating exception handling errors with dependability cases: a comparative, empirical study

Programs fail mainly for two reasons: logic errors in the code and exception failures. Exception failures can account for up to two-thirds of system crashes, hence, are worthy of serious attention. Traditional approaches to reducing exception failures, such as code reviews, walkthroughs, and formal testing, while very useful, are limited in their ability to address a core problem: the programmer's inadequate coverage of exceptional conditions. The problem of coverage might be rooted in cognitive factors that impede the mental generation (or recollection) of exception cases that would pertain in a particular situation, resulting in insufficient software robustness. This paper describes controlled experiments for testing the hypothesis that robustness for exception failures can be improved through the use of various coverage-enhancing techniques: N-version programming, group collaboration, and dependability cases. N-version programming and collaboration are well known. Dependability cases, derived from safety cases, comprise a new methodology based on structured taxonomies and memory aids for helping software designers think about and improve exception handling coverage. All three methods showed improvements over control conditions in increasing robustness to exception failures but dependability cases proved most efficacious in terms of balancing cost and effectiveness.
Flying insect inspired vision for autonomous aerial robot maneuvers in near-earth environments

Near-earth environments are time consuming, labor intensive and possibly dangerous to safe guard. Accomplishing tasks like bomb detection, search-and-rescue and reconnaissance with aerial robots could save resources. This work describes the adoption of insect behavior and flight patterns to develop a MAV sensor suite. A prototype called CQAR: closed quarter aerial robot, which is capable of flying in and around buildings, through tunnels and in and out of caves is used to validate the efficiency of such a method when equipped with optic flow microsensors.
Sulfonation of tert‐alkyl chlorides: Application to the tert‐chloride‐terminated polyisobutylene system

Les conditions experimentales de la sulfonation par le sulfate d'acetyle dans des melanges CH 2 Cl 2 /hexanes sont optimisees en utilisant un compose modele. Des polyisobutenes en etoile a 3 bras presque monodisperses et termines par des groupes chlorure de tert-alkyle sont prepares par polymerisation cationique vivante et sulfones directement. L'analyse des produits obtenus montre que la sulfonation donne exactement un groupe acide sulfonique par Fin de chaine
Biochemical and functional analysis of smallpox growth factor (SPGF) and anti-SPGF monoclonal antibodies

Variola, the causative agent of smallpox, is a highly infectious double-stranded DNA virus of the orthopox genus that replicates within the cytoplasm of infected cells. For unknown reasons prominent skin manifestations, including "pox," mark the course of this systemic human disease. Here we characterized smallpox growth factor (SPGF), a protein containing an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain that is conserved among orthopox viral genomes, and investigated its possible mechanistic link. We show that after recombinant expression, refolding, and purification, the EGF domain of SPGF binds exclusively to the broadly expressed cellular receptor, erb-B1 (EGF receptor), with subnanomolar affinity, stimulating the growth of primary human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. High affinity monoclonal antibodies specific for SPGF reveal in vivo immunoprotection in a murine vaccinia pneumonia model by a mechanism distinct from viral neutralization. These findings suggest that blockade of pathogenic factor actions, in general, may be advantageous to the infected host.
Focus Issue: Organ Development from Beginning to End

Science Signaling complements the Science special issue on organ development (http://www.sciencemag.org/organdevelopment) with a Perspective and Review highlighting organogenesis in plants and a Research Article on mammalian kidney formation. A Review from Crespi and Frugier focuses on the bacterial and host-generated signals that induce and regulate nodule organogenesis. A Perspective from Gray et al. addresses peptide signals that activate leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor pathways to regulate vein versus stoma cell fate in the leaf. In a Research Article, Tsigelny et al. report metagene analysis that revealed insight into the molecular mechanisms that drive various stages of kidney formation during mammalian embryogenesis.
On Eddy Characteristics, Eddy Transports, and Mean Flow Properties

Abstract Estimates of eddy energy and eddy scales obtained previously from TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) altimeter data are interpreted in the context of a baroclinically unstable flow field. From the observations an integral timescale Talt can be defined that—combined with estimates of the eddy kinetic energy—sets a mixing length scale. Results are compared with theories of a baroclinically unstable flow field. For such conditions, the Eady theory predicts a timescale Tbc = Ri/f from the mean-flow Richardson number Ri, which shows some qualitative agreement with T/P results in terms of a geographical distribution. A factor of 2 difference between the timescales can be explained in terms of a systematic difference between the specific definitions of scale estimates. Although transfer length and velocity scales emerging out of scaling arguments lack resemblance with observations, a transfer length scale based on Tbc and the observed eddy kinetic energy is strikingly consistent with observed eddy scales. Primarily i...
Imaging Traumatic Brain Injury On and Off the Battlefield

Deployed military personnel routinely work in hostile environments with significant exposure to potentially injurious blasts. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) secondary to blast has been labeled a signature injury mechanism. Blast injuries are a medical challenge for physicians in recent conflicts, with multiple blast injuries everyday among US military personnel [1]. In the previous chapter, I showed an imaging spectrum of severity in penetrating head injuries as a guide for providers to tailor imaging with clinical suspicion. The majority of Traumatic Brain Injury seen clinically in combat is mild TBI (mTBI). The remaining severity injuries are moderate, severe, and penetrating (that can be further classified mild, moderate, severe) TBI. Mild TBI is injury with loss of consciousness, or altered mental status such as dazed or confused [2], or sometimes referred to as concussion [3].
An acceptance and commitment therapy approach to adolescent suicide.

Approximately 4,600 American adolescents commit suicide each year, and adolescent suicide rates are on the rise. The consequences of suicidal behavior are far-reaching, and understanding the development of patterns that contribute to ideation and attempt are crucial to prevention and intervention. This paper outlines an experiential avoidance model of suicidality and discusses an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach to treating adolescent suicidal behavior. A case study is reviewed, along with literature relevant to the risk factors and trajectories correlated with suicide in adolescents. Although recent evidence indicates that ACT is generally useful with adolescents with related concerns, a thorough literature review indicates that no specific work has investigated the efficacy of ACT for suicidal behavior in youth.
Regulatory Strategies of the Pneumococcus

As it is for all bacterial species, the ability to accurately sense the extracellular environment and mount an appropriate cellular response is critical for the success of the pneumococcus as a major human pathogen. This is a particularly acute issue for pneumococcus given the diverse host niches, including the mucosa, blood, and the brain, that this pathogen readily infects. Not only are these sites vastly different in terms of nutrient bioavailability and competing bacterial species, but pneumococcus also must contend with the innate and adaptive immune systems as well as be able to readily transmit to and colonize new hosts to ensure success of the species. Pneumococci utilize intricate regulatory strategies encompassing two-component systems, substrate-specific regulators, and small RNAs that play distinct roles at various stages of infection. For these reasons, a mechanistic understanding of pneumococcal gene regulation is invaluable for understanding both host and bacterial factors that underlie pathogenesis.
Differences in Information Characteristics for Information Shared During Successful and Unsuccessful New Product Development

Integration between functional areas is an important determinant of organizational effectiveness. Communication and information sharing are key elements of integration. This study examines the role of information sharing between functional areas during new product development. New product development success is related to information shared between Marketing, Manufacturing and R&D.