cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and Management of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in the Emergency Department.

Abstract Background Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a dangerous condition that can be misdiagnosed in the emergency department. Objective The purpose of this narrative review article is to provide a summary of the background, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of TTP, with a focus on emergency clinicians. Discussion TTP is a disorder with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, and multiorgan ischemic injury. It may be acquired or hereditary, and is caused by a reduced amount or function of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), which is an enzyme involved in cleaving von Willebrand factor. The classic presentation of TTP includes fever, neurologic abnormalities, thrombocytopenia with purpura, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and acute renal injury. However, Conclusion TTP is a potentially dangerous medical condition requiring rapid diagnosis and management. It is essential for emergency clinicians to know how to diagnose and treat this disorder.
The Therapeutic Alliance: Cultivating and Negotiating the Therapeutic Relationship

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on therapeutic alliance and its theoretical perspective, and presents conceptualizations and strategies for cultivating and negotiating a healthy and strong relationship with patients. The therapeutic alliance is a prerequisite for change in all forms of psychotherapy. The alliance consists of three interdependent components: first, tasks—the specific covert and overt activities in which the patient must engage to get benefits from the treatment; second, goals—general objectives toward which the treatment is directed; and third, bonds—affective quality of the relationship between patient and therapist. The process of negotiation involves many tasks for the therapist. Therapists must be able to shift their attention between the process and the content of the session—not just what is being said, but how it is said. Awareness of the process keys the therapist into the interpersonal communication the patient is making about the relationship with the therapist. The interpersonal field should be monitored for levels of relatedness, connection, or disconnection at any given moment. Shifts in affective engagement are important clues to the patient's experience of the therapeutic material as well as the therapeutic relationship.
A SPEECH SCREENING PROCEDURE WITH THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

A screening examination for use by nonprofessional interviewers in the home situation for evaluation of speech and language development of 3-year-old children was developed. The perinatal histories and developmental data for the first year of life were examined for 46 children who failed this screening examination and for 92 control subjects, matches for age, sex, and time of examination, who passed the screening examination. Significant differences were found between the groups in incidence of complications of pregnancy and labor, prematurity and in various aspects of development during the first year of life. Follow-up psychological examinations at 4 years of age and psychological and neurological examinations at 7 years of age found marked differences between the groups still present, with the speech failure group presenting a significantly higher incidence of a Variety of psychological and neurological deviations from the normal.
Trellis coded modulation design for multi-user systems on AWGN channels

Trellis coded multiple access (TCMA) is a multiple access scheme where different users in a multiuser system employ different trellis coded modulation (TCM) schemes as the only means of separation. The superposition of individual signals can be considered to be a super trellis coded modulation (super TCM) scheme, which is the combination of individual TCM schemes. In this paper, first we propose some design rules for individual TCM schemes which produce a super TCM scheme that performs well on an AWGN channel. For simplicity, we further constrain that all users have the same coding scheme. The only difference among them is their individual constellations. Then we provide a design procedure for these individual constellations. This paper also includes some examples which show the design procedure. Finally, we compare several TCMA systems by their performance analysis and simulation results.
The Importance of Being Earnest about the Definition and Metaphysics of Art

the first place. But many are troubled by the nagging sense of failure that no mere dismissal seems able to dispel. We are still caught in the puzzles of Morris Weitz's extraordinarily disturbing early essay, "The Role of Theory in Aesthetics," published in 1956, only a few years after the appearance of Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations (1953), on which, however inaccurately, it claims to depend.1 If Weitz's account is regarded as the original gauntlet analytic aesthetics took up so eagerly almost at onceagain, very close to its own beginnings: Beardsley's Aesthetics appeared in 1958it is equally plausible to credit Arthur Danto's immensely influential essay, "The Artworld," published in 1964, with having confirmed (by the absence of explicit mention, so to say) the single most-discussed version of the great complication that baffled all efforts at defining art in accord with the new spirit of rigor that had just taken hold in analytic aesthetics. I mean, of course, the trauma produced by Duchamp's devilish jokes (especially the notorious Fountain) transfigured, in Danto's hands, into the sober metaphysics of Warhol's Brillo Box? A great swath of well-intentioned responses to the double challenge of Weitz's verdict and Danto's new turn fell over the philosophical cliff in an effort to get things right in accord with the seeming fashions of the day. They have engaged a large part of the energies of contemporary aesthetics for the last fifty or so yearsand they still do. Yet a small caution suggests that the puzzles thus confronted have yielded rather meager gains (at least of the mettle sought). Have we perhaps entrapped ourselves in unguarded readings of the errors we supposed we had uncovered in the various now-canonical summaries of the work of the
Using Atomic Force Microscopy to Study Soil Mineral Reactions

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the application of AFM (atomic force microscopy) to researchon the structure, chemical composition, and chemical reactivity of soil particle surfaces. First, basic operating principles are reviewed. Second, tip-sample interactions are discussed, including forces between the tip and the sample, special considerations in the new tapping-mode AFM (TMAFM), and tip shape considerations. A variety of common artifacts are discussed, with the dual purpose of alerting new users to potential pitfalls and of enabling nonusers to evaluate more fully AFM results. Third, examples of applications to studies of soil chemistry—particularly soil particle chemistry is presented. Finally, several “new frontiers” in AFM research are discussed. The aim is to provide the reader with a sense of the ever-increasing capabilities of AFM and to point out some of the potential problems and limitations that need to be recognized, addressed, and eventually overcome.
A Measuring Instrument for Multipoint Soil Temperature Underground

centimeters depth underground was designed. System was based on Silicon Laboratories’ MCU C8051F310, single chip digital temperature sensor DS18B20, and other peripheral circuits. It was simultaneously able to measure, memory and display, and also convey data to computer via a standard RS232 interface.
The Laplace Transform

The main applications of the Laplace transform are directed toward problems in which the time t is the independent variable. We shall therefore use this variable in this chapter. Let f(t) be a complex-valued function of the real variable t such that f(t)e -ct is abolutely integrable over 0 < t < ∞, where c is a real number. Then the Laplace transform of f(t), t ≥ 0, is defined as $$ \tilde f(s) = \mathcal{L}\left\{ {f(t)} \right\} = \int_0^\infty {f(t)e^{ - st} dt, Re s > c,} $$ (1) where s = σ + iω. The Laplace transform defined by (1) has the following basic properties.
The sugar model: catalysis by amines and amino acid products

Ammonia and amines (including amino acids) were shown to catalyze the formation of sugars from formaldehyde and glycolaldehyde, and the subsequent conversion of sugars to carbonylcontaining products under the conditions studied (pH 5.5 and 50 degrees C). Sterically unhindered primary amines were better catalysts than ammonia, secondary amines, and sterically hindered primary amines (i.e. alpha-aminoisobutyric acid). Reactions catalyzed by primary amines initially consumed formaldehyde and glycolaldehyde about 15-20 times faster than an uncatalyzed control reaction. The amine-catalyzed reactions yielded aldotriose (glyceraldehyde), ketotriose (dihydroxyacetone), aldotetroses (erythrose and threose), ketotetrose (erythrulose), pyruvaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal, pyruvate, glyoxylate, and several unindentified carbonyl products. The concentrations of the carbonyl products, except pyruvate and ketotetrose, initially increased and then declined during the reaction, indicating their ultimate conversion to other products (like larger sugars or pyruvate). The uncatalyzed control reaction yielded no pyruvate or glyoxylate, and only trace amounts of pyruvaldehyde, acetaldehyde and glyoxal. In the presence of 15 mM catalytic primary amine, such as alanine, the rates of triose and pyruvaldehyde of synthesis were about 15-times and 1200-times faster, respectively, than the uncatalyzed reaction. Since previous studies established that alanine is synthesized from glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde via pyruvaldehyde as its direct precursor, the demonstration that the alanine catalyzes the conversion of glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde to pyruvaldehyde indicates that this synthetic pathway is capable of autocatalysis. The relevance of this synthetic process, named the Sugar Model, to the origin of life is discussed.
Harmonic Surface Mapping with Laplace-Beltrami Eigenmaps

In this paper we propose a novel approach for the mapping of 3D surfaces. With the Reeb graph of Laplace-Beltrami eigenmaps, our method automatically detects stable landmark features intrinsic to the surface geometry and use them as boundary conditions to compute harmonic maps to the unit sphere. The resulting maps are diffeomorphic, robust to natural pose variations, and establish correspondences for geometric features shared across population. In the experiments, we demonstrate our method on three subcortical structures: the hippocampus, putamen, and caudate nucleus. A group study is also performed to generate a statistically significant map of local volume losses in the hippocampus of patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
CM101 Treatment Overrides Tumor-induced Immunoprivilege Leading to Apoptosis

CM101, a bacterial polysaccharide exotoxin produced by group B Streptococcus (GBS), also referred to as GBS toxin, has been shown to target pathological neovasculature and activate complement (C3), thereby inducing neovascularitis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, inhibition of tumor growth, and apoptosis in murine tumor models. Data from refractory cancer patients in a Phase I clinical trial with CM101 indicated a similar mechanism of tumor-targeted inflammation. To further our understanding of the mechanism of action of CM101 as an antitumor agent, we examined the role of the inflammatory response in inducing tumor apoptosis in a normal mouse and tumor-bearing mouse model. The i.v. infusion of CM101 into B16BL-6 melanoma tumor-bearing mice elevated p53 mRNA in circulating leukocytes as measured by reverse transcription-PCR, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated infiltration and sequestration of leukocytes. Whole tumor lysates from excised tumors exhibited an increase in binding to the murine p21Waf1/Cip1-derived p53 DNA binding sequence compared with control whole tumor lysates, in which minimal or no DNA binding was observed. CM101 infusion led to elevated levels of Fas protein within the tumors as well as a decrease in the expression of fas ligand (fasL). Furthermore, tumors were apoptotic as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling and DNA fragmentation assays. Collectively, these data suggest that CM101 up-regulates p53 in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, initiating a loss of tumor immunoprivilege and consequently rendering the tumor sensitive to Fas/fasL-mediated apoptosis. CM101 induced loss of tumor immunoprivilege through changes in the expression of leukocyte p53, tumor Fas and fasL coupled with neovascularitis and leukocyte infiltration, constitutes a plausible molecular pathway for tumor reduction observed in cancer patients.
Determination of Water Associated with Some Iron Acetylacetonates and Nickel Glyoximes Extracted into CHCI3

Abstract Utilizing the Karl Fischer titration technique for the quantitative determination of water, the number of water molecules associated with a molecule of chelate when extracted from water into chloroform was determined for five chelates in the acetylacetone and dimethylglyoxime types. In this investigation no increase in the number of associated water molecules was observed as the bulkiness of the ligand was increased by the substitution of electron-withdrawing groups for methyl groups on the ligand, nor was any increase noted when the metal ion in the chelate was less sterically hindered to the approach of water molecules than in the phenanthroline chelates. The fact that the chelate contains hydrogen-bonded sites does not appear to affect the number of water molecules associated with the chelates investigated here.
Dynamics of sonoporation correlated with acoustic cavitation activities

Sonoporation has been exploited as a promising nonviral strategy for intracellular delivery of drugs and genes. The technique utilizes ultrasound application, often facilitated by the presence of microbubbles, to generate transient, nonspecific pores on the cell membrane. However, due to the complexity and transient nature of ultrasound-mediated bubble interaction with cells, no direct correlation of sonoporation with bubble activities such as acoustic cavitation, i.e., the ultrasound-driven growth and violent collapse of bubbles, has been obtained. Using Xenopus oocytes as a model system, this study investigated sonoporation in a single cell affected by colocalized cavitation in real time. A confocally and collinearly-aligned dual-frequency ultrasound transducer assembly was used to generate focused ultrasound pulses (1.5 MHz) to induce focal sonoporation while detecting the broadband cavitation acoustic emission within the same focal zone. Dynamic sonoporation of the single cell was monitored via the transmembrane current of the cell under voltage-clamp. Our results demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, the spatiotemporal correlation of sonoporation with cavitation at the single-cell level.
A simple recording technique for determining raindrop size and time of occurrence of rain showers

This paper describes an easily constructed instrument for the purpose of obtaining a continuous record of the time of occurrence and duration of shower-type rains and their range of raindrop sizes. A battery-driven motor pulls paper tape, previously treated with the water-soluble dye, methylene blue, past an opening exposed to the rain. The spot diameters left by the rain on the tape may be related to raindrop size by laboratory calibration. During a week's run on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, a total of 119 rains were recorded. Although many of these passed in a minute or so and were only a few minutes apart, less than 40 were recorded by nearby recording rain gages.
Rare kaon processes as a probe of the top-quark mass

We study the ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{-}{K}_{S}$ mass difference and the ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ decay rate in the Kobayashi-Maskawa model. If the matrix element $〈{\overline{K}}^{0}|{[\overline{s}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}(1\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5})d]}^{2}|{\overline{K}}^{0}〉$ is sufficiently small (e.g., as estimated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology bag model), then a stringent upper bound on the top-quark mass can be obtained.
Segmental localization of sensory cells that innervate the bladder

The present study labels the neuronal cell bodies that give rise to afferent fibers that innervate the bladder of cat and rat. The method used was the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) from its injection site in the bladder to cells in the various dorsal root ganglia. In the rat, the labelled cells are located in the L1–L2 and L6–S1 dorsal root ganglia. In the cat, the labelled cells are located in the L2–L5 and S1–S4 dorsal root ganglia. This confirms older clinical findings, and for the first time directly demonstrates the afferent cell bodies for the bladder. The bladder afferents are small ganglion cells in both rat and cat, and because there is a correlation between the size of axon and the cell body from which it originates, we conclude that the great majority of bladder afferents are small myelinated or unmyelinated axons. In addition, by restricting the HRP to one side of the bladder, we were able to show that some afferent cell bodies send their distal processes across the midline. These results will be useful in considerations of the neural control of bladder function.
Toward ‘SMART’ stem cells

Stem cell research is at the heart of regenerative medicine, which holds great promise for the treatment of many devastating disorders. However, in addition to hurdles posed by well-publicized ethical issues, this emerging field presents many biological challenges. What is a stem cell? How are embryonic stem cells different from adult stem cells? What are the physiological bases for therapeutically acceptable stem cells? In this editorial review, I will briefly discuss these superficially simple but actually rather complex issues that surround this fascinating cell type. The goal of this special issue on stem cells in Gene Therapy is to review some fundamental and critical aspects of current stem cell research that have translational potential.
Practical Evaluation of Sulphur Contents in Diesel Fuel Used by Pakistani Industry for Steam and Power Generation and Establish Relationship between Theoretical and Observed SOx Contents in Exhaust Emission

Rising fuel prices coupled with environmental concerns to arrest SOx emissions is forcing organizations all over the world to adapt new protocols and fuel standards with the aim to lower the sulphur contents in the fuel to keep SOx emissions in check and in tandem equally optimize the capital spending on fuel. The need to adapt to this new reality is even more obligatory for industries in PAKISTAN where power available through national grid is in dire state and industry has to resort to their own resources sources to meet local demand for Steam and Power Generation. This paper presents the fuel analysis of the Unilver factory at Rahim Yar Khan Pakistan. The increase reliance on diesel fuel, for power and steam generation, is a concern at company as it will directly impact their environmental balance sheet due SOx production. Fuel was analyzed as per ASTM D 975 and results were compared with that of supplier certificate and it was observed there was erroneous reporting in sulphur contents. The impact of this deviation was discussed in length along with its bearing on SOX calculations and environmental balance sheet of the company. The results are expected to be first of its kind and may be helpful to Pakistani industries that endeavor to improve their SOx foot prints in factory premises.
Effects of Ownership Structure and Control on Corporate Productivity

This study developed and tested a model that attempts to describe the influence of ownership structure on productivity differences between firms. We theorized that diversification, investment in R&...
New (3+1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations with mKdV equation constituting its main part: Multiple soliton solutions

Abstract In this work, we present two new (3+1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations where the modified KdV equation constituting its main part. We derive the dispersive relation and the phase shift for each model. We determine multiple soliton solutions for each new equation.
The beta focus: it's nature and significance.

What is the beta focus? What are the conditions of its appearance? What are its functional characteristics? What is its pathologic significance? This study attempts to deal with these questions on the basis of evidence obtained in a series of clinical cases. 49 patients showing focally enhanced beta activity were studied. 90 percent of these patients had undergone craniotomies. All of the 10 patients in whom the beta focus was the only abnormality had been operated. Analysis of the location, time course, electrical characteristics, and responsivity of the beta focus has failed to provide a specific explanation for its appearance. No data suggested that the beta focus signified the presence of an active or expanding lesion. The evidence in this study suggests that operative trauma is in some way a predisposing factor to the appearance of the beta focus, but that the phenomenon is due to localized cerebral dysfunction rather than the purely physical effects of absence of bone.
Iterative Approaches to the Solution of Electromagnetic Boundary Value Problems

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper is to present the development of the conjugate gradient method (CGM). and other related iterative techniques, by viewing the iterative problem as that of reducing the norm of the error in the satisfaction of the boundary conditions in a systematic manner. It is demonstrated that the choice of the direction vectors, as dictated by CGM. is not optimal and that alternate choices for these vectors, that have the potential of accelerating the convergence over that achieved by the CGM technique, are theoretically possible. It is also shown that the approximate inverse of the operator, which can be constructed by using the spectral iterative technique, can some-times be employed with advantage, to generate these direction vectors. The important problem of multiple incident fields is addressed and the difficulties associated with the CGM method for multiple right-hand side problem is linked lo the machine round-off errors that are responsible for the loss of orthogonality gene...
Managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cognitive Behavioral Strategy

Managing polycystic ovary syndrome often requires lifestyle modifications, including diet, exercise and weight loss. Cognitive behavioral strategies can help women with PCOS successfully adopt and maintain these lifestyle changes.
Specific region of the c‐myc promoter is responsive to electric and magnetic fields

The level of c-myc transcripts is increased in cells exposed to extremely low frequency (elf) electromagnetic (EM) fields at 60 Hz. The aim of the present experiments was to determine if regulatory regions upstream of the c-myc gene modulate the response to EM fields. DNA upstream of P1 of both mouse and human c-myc genes was transfected into cells as CAT constructs. The presence of DNA 5′ to the human or mouse myc genes results in increased expression of CAT following 20 min exposures of cells to 60 Hz elf EM fields. Specific portions of the human upstream DNA were deleted and introduced into cells. The region responsive to EM fields is located between −353 and −1,257 relative to the P1 promoter.
Using the internet to screen for postpartum depression.

Objective To examine the feasibility of using the Internet to screen for postpartum depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 142 participants completed the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on the Internet, and these findings were compared with those administered in-person by the authors of the PDSS (Beck and Gable) in recruitment sources, demographic characteristics, psychometric properties, and prevalence of significant postpartum depressive symptoms. Results Participants were more likely to be recruited through Internet websites than mailing sources in the Internet study, and participants in the in-person study were recruited through prenatal childbirth classes. A higher proportion of Hispanic and Asian women participated on the Internet compared to the in-person study. The PDSS had excellent internal consistencies and construct validity across Internet and in-person studies. The Internet sample also reported more risk for major postpartum depression (PPD) compared to the community sample (23% vs. 12%). Conclusions The Internet is a viable and feasible tool to screen for PPD. Implications for preventing and treating PPD on the Internet are discussed.
M-Shell X-Ray Production Cross Sections for 19 Elements in the Range Z=54-92 by H+ and He+,++ Ions from 300 keV to 40 MeV

In this report, the measurements done over the last three decades at various laboratories are surveyed. The elements studied were Xe, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb, Bi, and U. The projectile energies investigated range from 300 keV to 40 MeV for the protons and 250 keV to 2.5 MeV for He+ ions. Also reported are the M-shell x-ray production cross sections of some rare-earth elements recently measured at NTSU. For these measurements the energy of incident 1H+ and 4He+ ions ranged from 0.25 to 2.5 MeV. The experimental data are compared to the M-shell ionization cross section predictions of first Born approximation, i. e. the PWBA for direct ionization plus the OBK of Nikolaev for electron capture. Comparison is also made with the theory by Brandt and Lapicki that goes beyond the first Born approximation, i.e. the ECPSSR approach which accounts for the Energy loss, Coulomb deflection and Relativistic effects in the Perturbed Stationary State theory.
Catecholamine excretion and bronchial response to methacholine after Salmonella enteriditis endotoxin in a normal and an asthmatic subject.

Abstract Two subjects, one with and one without asthma, were given 20 mcg. of Salmonella enteriditis endotoxin intravenously. Shivering, fever, and leukocytosis were observed, but there was no alteration in blood pressure. The bronchial response to methacholinc increased slightly but was normal seven hours after the injection. One to two hours after the endotoxin injection, epinephrine excretion reached very high levels and exceeded norepinephrine excretion. It was concluded that endotoxin evokes cpinephrine secretion from the adrenal medulla.
RNA‐DNA HYBRIDIZATION COMPETITION STUDIES ON SENESCING BARLEY LEAVES

Summary No detectable differences in RNA populations from 7-day-old (young) and 17-day-old (senescent) first seedling leaves of barley were found by RNA-DNA hybridization competition experiments. It is suggested that enzymatic changes during senescence may result from minor changes at the transcription level or alterations at the translation level.
Objective identification of meanders and bends

Abstract Traditional methods of studying meander planform geometry have assumed that meanders contain a single bend or apex and that the inflection points or half-meander endpoints can be identified unambiguously. Along many meandering channel reaches both assumptions are often violated. Accordingly, a distinction is drawn between half-meanders and bends, and a method of objectively identifying these features is developed. This method, termed the planform differencing technique, is based on direction-change measurements made at a fixed interval along the channel and uses a single criterion variable, the half-meander tolerance, to identify half-meanders and bends alike. A second criterion variable, the bend tolerance, is employed to determine the lengths of bends. The planform differencing technique permits meanders and bends to be identified on the basis of explicitly stated quantitative criteria and yields reproducible and spatially consistent results. When the technique is applied to a small meandering stream in western New York, it reveals that almost half the bends do not contain pools. The dearth of pools in relatively open bends is at odds with the idea that bends form at pools by the lateral migration of the outswinging channel thalweg. The development of bends at locations other than pools appears to be caused mainly by inhomogeneities in the bank material.
Physical Requirements for Oil Pollution Control Barriers

ABSTRACT To be effective, an oil pollution control barrier must fulfill a number of requirements. It must have adequate strength to withstand wave and current forces in the sea. In addition to this, it must be adequately strong to withstand nonoperating loads such as those encountered in construction, packaging, launching, recovery and refurbishment for further use. The barrier must have seakeeping responses which are correct for the purpose of containing oil. Sway response of a barrier is needed to avoid large relative flow velocities in waves. Heavy response is needed so that the relative height of the oil on the barrier will not become too large allowing oil to pass over the barrier or become too low and allow oil to pass beneath the barrier. The roll angle of the barrier must be relatively small to prevent leakage as well. The above factors are considered in this paper. This consideration is based on full scale trials of barriers, theoretical studies and model tests.
Terminal Carbido Complexes of Osmium: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity Comparison to the Ruthenium Analogues

The first terminal carbide complex of osmium, Os(⋮C)(PCy3)2Cl2 (4), was synthesized via S-atom abstraction from Os(CS)(PCy3)2Cl2 (4-S) by Ta(OSi-t-Bu3)3 (7). Compound 4 reacts with HO3SCF3 (HOTf) to form the first cationic osmium methylidyne complex [Os(⋮CH)(PCy3)2Cl2][OTf] (18). The analogous ruthenium complex [Ru(⋮CH)(H2IMes)(PCy3)Cl2][OTf] is not observed upon protonation of Ru(⋮C)(H2IMes)(PCy3)Cl2 (2) with HOTf. Substitution of the chloride ligands in 4 is surprisingly difficult compared to the case of 4-S, but Os(⋮C)(PCy3)2I2 can be obtained. Compound 4 also reacts with a variety of electrophiles to afford cationic five-coordinate and neutral six-coordinate carbyne complexes. In general, 4 reacts more readily with electrophiles than does 1, and cationic carbyne complexes formed from 4 are more resistant to degradation than are their Ru counterparts.
Effect of non-thermal plasma exposure on regrowth potential of foodborne and nosocomial pathogens

The effective sterilization of foodborne and opportunistic nosocomial pathogens is a major problem in food industry, biomedical and hospital applications, respectively. We present the results of indirect exposure of a portable plasma source as a non-thermal sterilization method and its effects on regrowth potential of post-partial-plasma-exposure of foodborne and nosocomial pathogens [1]. We have investigated the plasma efficiency at different bacterial concentrations for its effects on growth for pre and post plasma treated bacteria. The cold plasma was applied to Escherichia coli ATCC 11775, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. An average of 30 CFU per 71 mm2 was inoculated with the corresponding bacterium on a dry surface-agar plate, followed by the following exposure times 0, 30, 60,120 and 180 seconds of plasma. 20 µl of E. coli 107 CFU/ml and P. aeruginosa 108 CFU/ml were treated with plasma for 0, 120, 240 and 360 seconds. The colonies that survived the plasma treatment and control colonies were transferred to tryptic soy broth (TSB) and their growth was observed for 24 hrs. Results have showed 100 % and 96% of inactivation after 180s of treatment for E. coli and S. aureus respectively. A 100% of inactivation was observed for B. cereus and P. aeruginosa after 60s. E. coli and P. aeruginosa showed a log reduction of 3.4 and 3.9 orders respectively after 360s. The growths of survived colonies were monitored and subjected to further treatment. From the measurements we have estimated the “plasma treatment regime” based on the most effective exposure time and the status of the microbial colonization, and the results will be presented. The cold plasma is effective in sterilizing bacteria at different concentrations with potential applications in the food industry and the medical field.
The integrated distribution network design problem with transportation economies-of-scale: Model and algorithm

In this paper, we formulate and analyze an integrated design model for multi-product, multi-echelon distribution systems with significant economies-of-scale in the transportation movements and stochastic demand at retailers. The hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) algorithm is designed for the complicated mathematical model, which is combining the transportation route prediction algorithm (TRP) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The results analysis confirm that the superiority of the integrated design model and efficiency of the hybrid PSO.
Explosive Adaptive Radiation and Extreme Phenotypic Diversity within Ant-Nest Beetles

Summary Ant-nest beetles ( Paussus ) are the quintessential Trojan horses of the insect world. They hack the complex communication system of ants, allowing them to blend into the ant society and be treated as royalty, all the while preying upon the ants and the ants' brood and duping the ants into rearing their young [1–3]. Here we present results of the first molecular-based phylogeny of ant-nest beetles, which reveals that this symbiosis has produced one of the most stunning examples of rapid adaptive radiation documented to date. The most recent ancestor of a Paussus clade endemic to Madagascar is only 2.6 million years old. This species gave rise to a remarkably phenotypically diverse clade of 86 extant species with a net diversification interval of 0.38–0.81 million years, a rate of radiation faster than classic textbook examples of large, recent, rapid radiations such as Anolis lizards on Caribbean islands, cichlids of the East African Great Lakes, finches on the Galapagos Islands, and Drosophila and tetragnathid spiders on the Hawaiian Islands [4–8]. In order for Paussus to adapt to a new host ant species, the beetle's ability to perceive, deceive, and communicate with the new host must evolve quickly and in synchrony in both the larval and adult life stages, resulting in unusually strong selective pressure levied by their host ants. Data on host associations suggest that the history of host shifts may help explain both the striking phenotypic diversity within the Malagasy radiation and the evolution of phenotypically similar yet distantly related species in Madagascar and Africa.
Elogio de la contraconducta

Entre diciembre de 1976 y mayo de 1984 Michel Foucault no publico ningun nuevo libro. Sin embargo, lejos de ser este un periodo de silencio, Foucault concentro en este tiempo una extraordinaria cantidad de actividad intelectual en ensayos, conferencias, entrevistas, y especialmente en sus cursos del College de France. Sin tener acceso a estos cursos, era extremadamente dificil entender la reorientacion del trabajo de Foucault, de un analisis de las estrategias y tacticas de poder inmanentes e...
Osmoregulation in Hydra: Column contraction as a function of external osmolality

Abstract 1. 1. The rate of spontaneous column contractions in fresh-water Hydra is inversely proportional to external osmolality. 2. 2. Hydra maintain their water balance by periodically eliminating excess water from the enteron through the mouth by contraction of their body column.
Surface-Grafted Polymers from Electropolymerized Polythiophene RAFT Agent

The synthesis of grafted homopolymer and block copolymer films is reported using a surface-initiated reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (SI-RAFT) polymerization from electropolymerized polythiophene on indium tin oxide (ITO) and Au electrode surfaces. The polythiophene macro-RAFT agent was electrodeposited by cyclic voltammetry (CV) from thiobenzoate-functionalized terthiophene monomers. The ultrathin films on Au surfaces were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), static contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ellipsometry. On the other hand, the RAFT agent-modified ITO substrate was monitored by UV−vis to track the electropolymerization of the RAFT agent and formation of π-conjugated polymer. Molecular weight (MW) and polydispersity index (PDI) were determined from sacrificial polymerization in solution. AFM imaging revealed typical polymer layer morphology for the films. Investigation of film thicknesses by ellipsometry and AFM profilometry gave comparable re...
The Earned Income Tax Credit and abortion

Abstract Using a panel of states between 1975 and 2005, I examine the relationship between the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and abortion. Results suggest that increases in the EITC are associated with reductions in the overall abortion rate. Specifically, a $1000 increase in the maximum credit is associated with a 7.6% decrease in the overall abortion rate. This effect implies a reduction of approximately 1.6 abortions per 1000 women of childbearing age. I also provide evidence that the reduction in abortions is attributable to a drop in pregnancies, not an increase in the number of births. In other words, women appear to respond to increases in EITC generosity by altering sexual behavior, rather than shifting abortion–birth decisions after a pregnancy occurs.
A novel small animal model of left ventricular tissue engineering

Abstract Background: Complex congenital cardiac anomalies involving ventricular hypoplasia require either staged palliative reconstruction, converting the circulatory system to a single ventricle based pump, or allogeneic transplantation. Tissue engineering offers the potential for complete reconstruction of these defects, but is limited by the inability to model myocardial tissue engineering in a small animal. Our goal was to develop a small animal model for ventricular tissue engineering using rat heterotopic heart transplantation. Methods: Donor hearts were explanted after cardioplegic arrest and the left ventricular volume was augmented by the implantation of a biodegradable engineered construct. The heart was then transplanted heterotopically into syngeneic recipients creating either a volume loaded, functioning left ventricle, or a non-functioning left ventricle. Some of the engineered constructs were seeded with multipotent bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells before implantation. Animals were evaluated by echocardiography, morphology, histology, and immunohistochemistry after 1 month. Results: A scaffolding constructed from polytetrafluoroethylene, polylactide mesh, and type I and IV collagen hydrogel resulted in minimal intracardiac inflammation without aneurysmal dilatation. Successful transplantation and differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells was accomplished using this scaffolding. No ventricular arrhythmias resulted from this surgical manipulation and echocardiography revealed both end systolic and diastolic volume augmentation with ventricular expansion. Conclusion: We have developed an in vivo model of ventricular tissue engineering using heterotopic heart transplantation. Future work will focus on construction of ventricular tissue around pre-fabricated vascular networks in order increase cellular engraftment for ventricular reconstruction.
Utilizing Multiple Datasets for Snow Cover Mapping

Snow-cover maps generated from surface data are based on direct measurements, however they are prone to interpolation errors where climate stations are sparsely distributed. Snow cover is clearly discernable using satellite-attained optical data because of the high albedo of snow, yet the surface is often obscured by cloud cover. Passive microwave (PM) data is unaffected by clouds, however, the snow-cover signature is significantly affected by melting snow and the microwaves may be transparent to thin snow (less than 3cm). Both optical and microwave sensors have problems discerning snow beneath forest canopies. This paper describes a method that combines ground and satellite data to produce a Multiple-Dataset Snow-Cover Product (MDSCP). Comparisons with current snow-cover products show that the MDSCP draws together the advantages of each of its component products while minimizing their potential errors. Improved estimates of the snow-covered area are derived through the addition of two snow-cover classes ("thin or patchy" and "high elevation" snow cover) and from the analysis of the climate station data within each class. The compatibility of this method for use with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, which will be available in 2000, is also discussed. With the assimilation of these data, the resolution of the MDSCP would be improved both spatially and temporally and the analysis would become completely automated.
Theory Analysis of FBG Characteristics under 3D Homogeneous Stress Field

FBG sensing characteristics and model under three-dimensional stress are studyed in this paper. Theory analysis indicates that the reflection spectra of FBG is gradually splitted into two resonance peaks with the increase of the load and the two resonance peaks have a linear relation to the load. The difference of the wavelength sensitivity of the two directions of FBG is much less than the conditions of FBG only under transverse force, that is to say, the axial force plays a leading role in the shift amount of center wavelength.
Is the Gordii Dorsum escarpment on Mars an exhumed transcurrent fault

Investigators of deformation features on the surface of Mars have generally concluded that fault zones with major horizontal displacements do not occur or have not been preserved1–5. Here we present evidence from high-resolution Viking imagery for an array of structures along the Gordii Dorsum escarpment which suggest that it is a left-lateral strike-slip fault zone of lithospheric proportion. The escarpment is one of an array of subparallel ridges6,7 preserved in an equatorial region to the west of Tharsis Montes. The region is of transitional character between the youthful ('Amazonian' age) cover of the Amazonia Planitia to the north and older ('Noachian' age) intensely cratered surfaces of the Highlands to the south. Relations between these ridges and the Gordii Dorsum suggest that the ridges are exhumed ancient fault zones. These features imply that Mars, like the Earth today, may have had in its early stages a more dynamic tectonic style of planetary evolution.
Mechanical properties of dental luting cements.

Abstract Statement of problem. Dental luting cements fail by microcrack formation and bacterial ingress or by gross failure and crown dislodgment. Both of these failure modes are related to mechanical properties and deformation. Purpose. This study evaluated those mechanical properties of cements. Methods and material. Elastic modulus for 8 representative cements (zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate, glass ionomer, encapsulated glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, resin composite, and adhesive resin composite) was measured by using a nondestructive technique and evaluated for cement type and storage time (1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year) by 2-way ANOVA ( P P Results. Cements varied with respect to elastic moduli, compressive proportional limit, compressive resilience, compressive strength, compressive toughness, diametral tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural toughness. Storage time affected the elastic moduli of different materials in different ways. Elastic moduli of polycarboxylate and glass ionomer cements increased over time, whereas the other materials changed little after the first day. Crosshead rate only significantly affected compressive proportional limit and resilience. Conclusions. Luting cements differed considerably with respect to mechanical properties. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;81:597-609.)
Dynamics of Granular Compaction

We investigate the way the disordered granular materials organize themselves in a vibrating bed, the intensity of which is given by the dimensionless parameter Γ. Based on the recognition that an assembly of mono-disperse and cohesionless granular materials is a collection of spinless hard sphere Fermions, we first demonstrate that the time averaged steady state density profile for weak excitation with Γ ≈ 1 is given by the Fermi distribution. This is consistent with the observed experimental data and the results of Molecular dynamics. We then present a dynamic model to study the dynamics of granular compaction, namely the dynamic evolution of the initial state ultimately relaxing toward this steady state. Our preliminary investigation reveals that the relaxation is exponential, which is not inconsistent with the available experimental data for low Γ.
Tailoring cobalt doped zinc oxide nanocrystals with high capacitance activity: factors affecting structure and surface morphology

Highly crystalline zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) nanocrystals were successfully synthesized through an epoxide driven, sol–gel method using Zn(NO3)·6H2O and CoCl2·6H2O as precursors. The crystal phase, morphology, specific surface areas, porosity, and capacitance activity of the prepared materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), gas sorption techniques, and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. Results reveal that the synthesized nanocrystals are ∼4 nm in diameter. Electron microscopy studies illustrate significant changes brought on by varying the solvent and epoxide. Gas sorption analyses detail high specific surface areas (>200 m2 g−1) and porosities of the as prepared and annealed samples. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show that these zinc cobaltite nanocrystals have exceptional capacitance (∼700 Fg−1) and excellent cycle durability making them an excellent electrode material for supercapacitors.
Multi‐scale assessment of greater sage‐grouse fence collision as a function of site and broad scale factors

Previous research in Europe and North America suggested grouse are susceptible to collision with infrastructure, and anecdotal observation suggested greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) fence collision in breeding habitats may be prevalent. However, no previous research systematically studied greater sage-grouse fence collision in any portion of their range. We used data from probability-based sampling of fences in greater sage-grouse breeding habitats of southern Idaho, USA, to model factors associated with collision at microsite and broad spatial scales. Site-scale modeling suggested collision may be influenced by technical attributes of fences, with collisions common at fence segments absent wooden fence posts and with segment widths >4 m. Broad-scale modeling suggested relative probability of collision was influenced by region, a terrain ruggedness index (TRI), and fence density per square km. Conditional on those factors, collision counts were also influenced by distance to nearest active sage-grouse lek. Our models provide a conceptual framework for prioritizing sage-grouse breeding habitats for collision mitigation such as fence marking or moving, and suggest mitigation in breeding habitats should start in areas with moderate-high fence densities (>1 km/km2) within 2 km of active leks. However, TRI attenuated other covariate effects, and mean TRI/km2 >10 m nearly eliminated sage-grouse collision. Thus, our data suggested mitigation should focus on sites with flat to gently rolling terrain. Moreover, site-scale modeling suggested constructing fences with larger and more conspicuous wooden fence posts and segment widths <4 m may reduce collision. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.