cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical properties of the semiconducting “metal-like” complex (NMe3H) (I) (TCNQ)

Abstract We present the results of a study of the room temperature polarized reflectance between 2.5 meV and 3.8 eV of (NMe 3 H)(I)(TCNQ) single crystals. The reflectance found with the electric field parallel to the stacking axis is fit with a Drude-Lorentz model and analyzed using Kramers-Kronig transforms to give the response functions σ 1 (ω) and e 1 (ω). The results confirm the model of semiconducting behavior despite a “metal-like” d.c. electrical conductivity at room temperature.
Practicality in Virtuality: Finding Student Meaning in Video Game Education

This paper looks at the conceptual differences between video game learning and traditional classroom and laboratory learning. It explores the notion of virtual experience by comparing a commonly used high school laboratory protocol on DNA extraction with a similar experience provided by a biotechnology themed video game. When considered conceptually, the notion of virtual experience is not limited to those experiences generated by computer aided technology, as with a video game or computer simulation. The notion of virtuality can apply to many real world experiences as well. It is proposed that the medium of the learning experience, be it video game or classroom, is not an important distinction to consider; instead, we should seek to determine what kinds of meaningful experiences apply for both classrooms and video games.
Optofluidic coupled micro-ring resonators for biosensing

We demonstrated an active optofluidic coupled micro-ring resonator for biosensing on a monolithic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chip. Biotin detection limit of ∼20pm was achieved with a single mode liquid-core waveguide based micro-ring cavity.
Lean Big Data integration in systems biology and systems pharmacology

Data sets from recent large-scale projects can be integrated into one unified puzzle that can provide new insights into how drugs and genetic perturbations applied to human cells are linked to whole-organism phenotypes. Data that report how drugs affect the phenotype of human cell lines and how drugs induce changes in gene and protein expression in human cell lines can be combined with knowledge about human disease, side effects induced by drugs, and mouse phenotypes. Such data integration efforts can be achieved through the conversion of data from the various resources into single-node-type networks, gene-set libraries, or multipartite graphs. This approach can lead us to the identification of more relationships between genes, drugs, and phenotypes as well as benchmark computational and experimental methods. Overall, this lean 'Big Data' integration strategy will bring us closer toward the goal of realizing personalized medicine.
Transient genome-wide transcriptional response to low-dose ionizing radiation in vivo in humans.

Purpose: The in vivo effects of low-dose low linear energy transfer ionizing radiation on healthy human skin are largely unknown. Using a patient-based tissue acquisition protocol, we have performed a series of genomic analyses on the temporal dynamics over a 24-hour period to determine the radiation response after a single exposure of 10 cGy. Methods and Materials: RNA from each patient tissue sample was hybridized to an Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 array. Data analysis was performed on selected gene groups and pathways. Results: Nineteen gene groups and seven gene pathways that had been shown to be radiation responsive were analyzed. Of these, nine gene groups showed significant transient transcriptional changes in the human tissue samples, which returned to baseline by 24 hours postexposure. Conclusions: Low doses of ionizing radiation on full-thickness human skin produce a definable temporal response out to 24 hours postexposure. Genes involved in DNA and tissue remodeling, cell cycle transition, and inflammation show statistically significant changes in expression, despite variability between patients. These data serve as a reference for the temporal dynamics of ionizing radiation response following low-dose exposure in healthy full-thickness human skin.
On the backscatter of solar HeII, 304åradiation from interplanetary He +

Backscatter of solar He II, 304 A radiation by interplanetary positive helium ions is shown to be insufficient to account for recent observations of this airglow radiation in the night sky at rocket altitudes. In fact, for most viewing directions, the expected intensities probably fall well below the sensitivity threshold of existing extreme ultraviolet instrumentation.
Reverse ulta-microtomy: a new method of TEM sample preparation

Two variations of a new method of TEM metal sample preparation are proposed, hereby labeled RUM1 and RUM2, for ”reverse ultra-microtomy” 1 and 2, respectively. With these techniques, the TEM samples are formed from bulk specimens by successively slicing off layers, with an ultra-microtome, until the remnant is partially thinned to electron transparency. This requires the sample to be embedded with excellent adhesion in a mounting material whose mechanical properties resemble that of the sample. While these methods are by far slower than ordinary microtomy wherein the individual slices are used as samples, preparation times are comparable to those for creating TEM samples by standard techniques. Furthermore, the methods (i) can be used where electropolishing fails, (ii) can be favorably applied to finely layered materials and composites, (iii) permit studies of near-surface structure gradients, and (iv) permit the simultaneous observation of an original surface and the underlying material. The methods have been successfully demonstrated through comparisons between samples created through RUM1 and 2 and standard TEM samples. Artifacts caused by the new method of reverse microtoming are shown to be very much reduced compared to direct microtoming.
Photoelectric Hall Effect in KCl at Low Temperatures

The Hall effect for carriers released by light has been studied over a temperature range 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 114\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in additively colored crystals of KCl containing various concentrations of $F$ centers. A negative Hall signal was observed corresponding to electrons released from $F$ centers by light absorbed in the high-energy side of the $F$ band. The Hall mobility rises steeply below 80\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K due to freezing out of the optical modes of lattice vibration. A residual mobility near 4000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/volt sec is found below 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in the crystals prepared so far.
Distinct morphologic classes of serotonergic axons in primates exhibit differential vulnerability to the psychotropic drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

Abstract Immunohistochemical methods were used to analyse the distribution and morphology of serotonergic axons in normal macaque monkeys and in monkeys given (±)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. In untreated monkeys, we observed two morphologic classes of serotonergic axon terminals, which differ in regional and laminar distribution. These two axon types, fine and beaded, correspond to the serotonergic axon types which have been described in the rat. In 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-treated monkeys, there is a profound loss of serotonergic axon terminals, yet some are consistently spared. The surviving axon terminals are nearly all of the beaded type; in contrast, fine serotonergic axons are markedly reduced in density. There are regional differences in the magnitude of denervation, which reflect differences in the distribution of these two types of serotonergic axons in controls. The present study demonstrates that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine has differential neurotoxic effects on fine and beaded serotonergic axons. These results indicate that in the primate there are two distinct classes of serotonergic axon terminals, which differ in morphology, distribution, and vulnerability to psychotropic drugs. We hypothesize that in the primate, as demonstrated in the rat, these two classes of serotonergic axon terminals may arise from different raphe nuclei. In both rodent and primate, the dorsal and median raphe nuclei give rise to parallel ascending serotonergic projections, which are likely to have different pharmacologie properties and functions.
The transformation of tryptamine and d-tryptophan by basidiomycetes in submerged culture

Abstract The basidiomycete Cantharellus cibarius converts d -tryptophan in submerged culture to N-acetyl- d -tryptophan. Another basidiomycete Tricholoma nudum converts tryptamine to indole-3-acetic acid and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid. N,N-Dimethyltryptamine is also converted to indole-3-acetic acid but the branched-chain secondary amines β-methyl- and β-ethyltryptamine are not metabolized.
2,5‐Dibromopyridine as a key building block in the synthesis of 2,5‐disubstituted pyridine‐based liquid crystals

Fifteen 2,5‐disubstituted pyridine based liquid crystals were synthesized exploiting the different reactivities of the bromine atoms in 2,5‐dibromopyridine under Negishi coupling conditions. Convenient approaches to both 2‐iodo‐5‐alkyl‐pyridines and 2‐alkyl‐5‐bromopyridines were also developed. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the synthesized materials was investigated using DSC and polarizing microscopy. The charge mobility of 2‐(4‐heptyloxyphenyl)‐5‐heptylpyridine was measured using the time of flight technique.
Agonistic behavior in wild and inbred Mus musculus.

A factorial arrangement was used to investigate the effects of genotype (wild, BALB/cJ, and C57BL/6J), sex, and location of encounter on agonistic behavior in a paired-encounter situation. One hundred twenty pairs of mice, each pair consisting of one previously isolated and one previously group-housed mouse of the same sex and genotype, were tested on two consecutive days. The wild mice showed significantly more agonistic behavior than the inbred mice for both sexes. Twenty-five percent of the wild female pairs, but none of the inbred female pairs, fought. The location of encounter factor had no effect.
Seasonal variation in the toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants in Corpus Christi Bay, TX.

Abstract Seasonal variation in pore water and sediment–water interface (SWI) toxicity at two sites of suspected contamination was investigated using sea urchin embryological development (Arbacia punctulata) and copepod hatching success (Schizopera knabeni). Site S1, located inside a marina, was fine-grained and S2, located near a neighboring stormwater outfall, was sandy. Both sites were cored in summer and winter, along with reference sites of equivalent grain sizes. Whereas the muddy contaminated site displayed a slight decrease in sea urchin toxicity from summer to winter, pore water from the sandy contaminated site exhibited an increase in sea urchin toxicity. The sandy sites displayed slight toxicity increase to copepod hatching success in winter, which occurred in the SWI of S2 and in the pore water from the reference site, R2, where it coincided with sedimentation. Cu was the most prevalent metal in the sediment samples. Although Cu concentration increased in the whole sediments and pore waters from summer to winter, its concentration in overlying SWI exposure decreased from summer to winter. Organic compounds exhibited opposite behavior, with smaller variety identified in the winter pore water samples, but more chemicals detected in the SWI samples in winter.
Improving the performance of multi-robot systems by task switching

We consider the problem of task assignment for a multi-robot system where each robot must attend to one or more queues of tasks. We assume that individual robots have no knowledge of tasks in the environment that are not in their queue. Robots in communication with each other may share information about active tasks and exchange queues to achieve lower cost for the system. We show that allowing this kind of task switching causes tasks to be completed more efficiently. In addition, we present conditions under which queues can be guaranteed to make progress, and we support these claims with simulation and experimental results. This work has potential applications in manufacturing, environmental exploration, and pickup-delivery tasks.
Attitudes of African Americans Toward Participation in Medical Research

The underrepresentation of African Americans in medical research is problematic for several reasons, including disparities in health outcomes, differences in metabolism of pharmacological agents, and accurate assessment of health needs and costs. This paper investigates factors contributing to African Americans' lower likelihood of consenting to participation in medical research. In Study 1, three focus groups were conducted to assess concerns about research participation and to generate further hypotheses for questionnaire development. Study 2 presented a hypothetical clinical trial and collected questionnaire data on attitudes about participation. Both studies revealed a greater likelihood to mistrust the medical establishment among African American students. However, suspicion did not contribute to a decreased likelihood of participation. Several recommendations are offered regarding the recruitment of African Americans in research.
The urban psychology of Stanley Milgram

AbstractAlthough his obedience research will always remain Stanley Milgram's most important work, his involvement with the social psychology of the city occupied a much larger portion of his professional career. This article traces the evolution and intensification of Milgram's interest in cities, starting with his pre-professional years, through his early research at Harvard, culminating in his multifaceted engagement with urban psychology at the Graduate Center of CUNY. There, as head of the social psychology program, he was able to infuse it with an urban emphasis. He created and taught a variety of courses on urban psychology and got his students involved in a potpourri of experiments comparing behavior in cities and towns. Those experiments provided much of the substance for Milgram's seminal article in Science, “The experience of living in cities,” in which he also introduced the theoretical concept of stimulus overload to help account for the city-small town differences he and his students found. T...
Struggle History and Self-Help: The Parallel Lives of Nelson Mandela in Conventional and Figurative Biography

My general impression, after reading several autobiographies, is that an autobiography is not merely a catalogue of events and experiences in which a person has been involved, but that it also serves as some blueprint on which others may well model their own lives … This book has no such pretentions as it has nothing to leave behind (Nelson Mandela, ‘Unpublished Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom’.)1
Web Technologies of the Self: The Arising of the “Blogger” Identity

Drawing on Michel Foucault's theories of subjectivity, this paper conceptualizes early blogging and online diary writing as “technologies of the self,” that is, procedures through which practitioners enacted certain identities as Internet users. This study combines archival research, close analysis of websites, and interviews with their creators. It analyzes how the most defining practices associated with the emergence of these websites in the second half of the 1990s enabled the performance of specific modes of identification for their users, expressed by concepts such as the “online diarist” and the “blogger.” The study broadens our understanding of technologies of the self by considering the role of websites as artifacts in processes of self-formation on the Internet. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of anticonvulsants on soman-induced epileptiform activity in the guinea-pig in vitro hippocampus

Seizures arising from acetylcholinesterase inhibition are a feature of organophosphate anticholinesterase intoxication. Although benzodiazepines are effective against these seizures, alternative anticonvulsant drugs may possess greater efficacy and fewer side-effects. We have investigated in the guinea-pig hippocampal slice preparation the ability of a series of anticonvulsants to suppress epileptiform bursting induced by the irreversible organophosphate anticholinesterase, soman (100 nM). Carbamazepine (300 microM), phenytoin (100 microM), topiramate (100-300 microM) and retigabine (1-30 microM) reduced the frequency of bursting but only carbamazepine and phenytoin induced a concurrent reduction in burst duration. Felbamate (100-500 microM) and clomethiazole (100-300 microM) had no effect on burst frequency but decreased burst duration. Clozapine (3-30 microM) reduced the frequency but did not influence burst duration. Levetiracetam (100-300 microM) and gabapentin (100-300 microM) were without effect. These data suggest that several compounds, in particular clomethiazole, clozapine, felbamate, topiramate and retigabine, merit further evaluation as possible treatments for organophosphate poisoning.
Flows of thin streams with free boundaries

A method is developed for determining any thin steady two-dimensional potential flow with free and/or rigid boundaries in the presence of gravity. The flow is divided into a number of parts and in each part the flow and its free boundaries are represented as asymptotic series in powers of the slenderness ratio of the stream. There are three basic flows, having two, one and no free boundaries and called jet flow, wall flow and channel flow, respectively. First the three expansions for these flows are found, extending results of Keller & Weitz (1952). They are called outer expansions to distinguish them from the inner expansions which apply near the ends of the stream or at the junction of two different types of flow. The inner and outer expansions must be matched at a junction to find how the emerging flow is related to the entering flow. This process can be continued to build up any complex flow involving thin streams. The method is illustrated in the case of a wall flow that leaves the wall to become a jet, which includes the case of a waterfall treated by Clarke (1965) in a similar way. In part 2 (to be published) other inner expansions are found and matched to outer expansions, providing the ingredients for the construction of the solutions of many flow problems.
XPS and Electrochemical Studies on Tungsten-Oxidizer Interaction in Chemical Mechanical Polishing

Electrochemical interaction between the oxidizer and the metal is believed to play a key role in material removal in tungsten CMP. In this study, we use X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in conjunction with electrochemical measurements in both in-situ polishing conditions as well as in static solutions, to identify the passivation and dissolution modes of tungsten. Dissolution of tungsten oxides was found to be the primary non-mechanical tungsten removal mechanism in CMP.
Processing forecasting queries

Forecasting future events based on historic data is useful in many domains like system management, adaptive query processing, environmental monitoring, and financial planning. We describe the Fa system where users and applications can pose declarative forecasting queries---both one-time queries and continuous queries---and get forecasts in real-time along with accuracy estimates. Fa supports efficient algorithms to generate execution plans automatically for forecasting queries from a novel plan space comprising operators for transforming data, learning statistical models from data, and doing inference using the learned models. In addition, Fa supports adaptive query-processing algorithms that adapt plans for continuous forecasting queries to the time-varying properties of input data streams. We report an extensive experimental evaluation of Fa using synthetic datasets, datasets collected on a testbed, and two real datasets from production settings. Our experiments give interesting insights on plans for forecasting queries, and demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of our plan-selection algorithms.
Transfection of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus with bacteriophage MAC-1 DNA

Single-stranded DNA from MAC-1, a bacteriophage which specifically infects Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, was used to investigate the transfection characteristics of Bdellovibrio. A very low efficiency of phage DNA uptake and expression [20 plaque-forming units (PFU) per μg DNA per 108 viable cells] was shown to be independent of external parameters. DNase I resistance studies demonstrated that uptake of DNA occurred when the cells were heat-shocked and incubated at 30°C. The low efficiency of transfection was markedly enhanced by addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); concentrations in the range of 28.5 to 31.0% (4.0 to 4.4 M) increased transfection 20- to 100-fold, corresponding to an average increase of 513-fold in transfection efficiency. Under these conditions, high efficiency transfection was dependent on exogenous Rb+ and Ca2+ but was inhibited by Mg2+ ion concentrations above 0.5 mM.
Metabolic risks identified by the combination of enlarged waist and elevated triacylglycerol concentration

Background: Abdominal fat and circulating triacylglycerols increase with age, which indicates lipid overaccumulation. Enlarged waist (EW) with elevated triacylglycerols (ET) could identify adults at metabolic risk. Objective: Using thresholds for EW and ET observed among the youngest adults, we estimated for all adults the prevalence of combined EW and ET (EWET) and described the metabolic risks associated with EWET. Design: In a cross-sectional, weighted sample of 9183 adults, we used two-dimensional displays to provide thresholds for EW (men: 95 cm; women: 88 cm) and fasting ET ( 1.45 mmol/L) and estimated the characteristics of EWET among adults of all ages. Results: The population prevalence of EWET in 18–24-y-olds was 6%; it rose with age until age 55–74 y (prevalence: 43%) and then was lower among the elderly. Persons with EWET were more likely (P 0.0001) to have adverse mean ( SEE) concentrations of risk variables in adjusted analyses (fasting insulin: 43 3 pmol/L; HDL cholesterol: 0.27 0.02 mmol/L; apolipoprotein B: 0.20 0.01 g/L; fasting glucose: 0.71 0.07 mmol/L; uric acid: 50 2 mol/L) and to have diabetes (relative risk: 3.2) than were persons without EWET. Compared with a similar-size subpopulation with high body mass index, persons with EWET were older and had more dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperuricemia. Compared with “metabolic syndrome,” EWET identified more persons who were younger and had greater LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations. Compared with “prediabetes,” EWET identified more persons with hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and hyperuricemia. Conclusions: EWET identifies a syndrome of lipid overaccumulation associated with metabolic risk and accelerated mortality after middle age. Prospective studies should evaluate this simple indicator. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:928–34.
Adipokines: a review of biological and analytical principles and an update in dogs, cats, and horses

In addition to its role as an energy storage depot, adipose tissue is now recognized as a complex endocrine organ. Adipose tissue releases a va- riety of factors, termed adipokines, that regulate energy metabolism, cardio- vascular function, reproductive status, and immune function. Some of the better-studied adipokines include leptin, adiponectin, and components of the renin-angiotensin system such as angiotensinogen. The function of more re- cently discovered adipokines such as resistin are under intense scrutiny. Ab- normal production or regulation of adipokines occurs in obese individuals and is implicated in the development of a variety of associated co-morbidities in- cluding metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer in people, although evaluation in domestic species is just begin- ning. Adipokines are now being examined as potential biomarkers for risk as- sessment for development of complications related to obesity. This article summarizes the function and regulation of some better-characterized ad- ipokines. It also reviews the current information on the characterization of adipokines in some domestic species in which rates of obesity and obesity- related disorders are increasing, such as the dog, cat, and horse.
The proliferation of stem cell therapies in post-Mao China: problematizing ethical regulation

Thousands of foreign patients have sought experimental stem cell therapies in China since 2001. Despite critical scrutiny from scientific experts and tightening guidelines on the conduct of translational medicine, stem cell clinics have continued to proliferate in contemporary China. This article delves beyond regulatory exteriors to provide an ethnographic account of why unauthorized stem cell clinics targeting foreign clients have flourished under “socialism with Chinese characteristics.” As the former emphasis on preventive care during Mao's era of collectivism has given way to a market-driven pursuit of high-tech interventions, changes in the political economy of healthcare have transformed China's urban medical system into a laboratory for entrepreneurial tactics. This article traces how medical entrepreneurs operate within and beyond the socialist market economy by co-opting public hospital facilities for private gain and capitalizing on the hope and hype over stem cell research to promote dubious p...
Determinants and consequences of female attractiveness and sexiness: realistic tests with restaurant waitresses.

Waitresses completed an on-line survey about their physical characteristics, self-perceived attractiveness and sexiness, and average tips. The waitresses’ self-rated physical attractiveness increased with their breast sizes and decreased with their ages, waist-to-hip ratios, and body sizes. Similar effects were observed on self-rated sexiness, with the exception of age, which varied with self-rated sexiness in a negative, quadratic relationship rather than a linear one. Moreover, the waitresses’ tips varied with age in a negative, quadratic relationship, increased with breast size, increased with having blond hair, and decreased with body size. These findings, which are discussed from an evolutionary perspective, make several contributions to the literature on female physical attractiveness. First, they replicate some previous findings regarding the determinants of female physical attractiveness using a larger, more diverse, and more ecologically valid set of stimuli than has been studied before. Second, they provide needed evidence that some of those determinants of female beauty affect interpersonal behaviors as well as attractiveness ratings. Finally, they indicate that some determinants of female physical attractiveness do not have the same effects on overt interpersonal behavior (such as tipping) that they have on attractiveness ratings. This latter contribution highlights the need for more ecologically valid tests of evolutionary theories about the determinants and consequences of female beauty.
Malaria parasites utilize both homologous recombination and alternative end joining pathways to maintain genome integrity

Malaria parasites replicate asexually within their mammalian hosts as haploid cells and are subject to DNA damage from the immune response and chemotherapeutic agents that can significantly disrupt genomic integrity. Examination of the annotated genome of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum identified genes encoding core proteins required for the homologous recombination (HR) pathway for repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), but surprisingly none of the components of the canonical non-homologous end joining (C-NHEJ) pathway were identified. To better understand how malaria parasites repair DSBs and maintain genome integrity, we modified the yeast I-SceI endonuclease system to generate inducible, site-specific DSBs within the parasite’s genome. Analysis of repaired genomic DNA showed that parasites possess both a typical HR pathway resulting in gene conversion events as well as an end joining (EJ) pathway for repair of DSBs when no homologous sequence is available. The products of EJ were limited in number and identical products were observed in multiple independent experiments. The repair junctions frequently contained short insertions also found in the surrounding sequences, suggesting the possibility of a templated repair process. We propose that an alternative end-joining pathway rather than C-NHEJ, serves as a primary method for repairing DSBs in malaria parasites.
Transgenic expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in mouse intestine epithelium is insufficient to initiate tumorigenesis but promotes tumor progression

We generated mice expressing a COX-2 transgene in colon epithelium and found that they did not develop spontaneous colon tumors. But when treated with azoxymethane, a colon carcinogen, COX-2 mice had a higher tumor load compared to wild-type mice. There was no change in the number of pre-neoplastic lesions, indicating that COX-2 does not affect tumor initiation. Tumors in the COX-2 transgenic mice had higher levels of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor and Akt compared to wild-type mice. Collectively, our data indicate that COX-2 promotes colon tumor progression, but not initiation, and it does so, in part, by activating EGFR and Akt signaling pathways.
Kaskadenreaktionen in der Totalsynthese von Akuammilin-Alkaloiden

Die Akuammilin-Alkaloide bilden eine Klasse faszinierender Naturstoffe, die vielfach Beachtung gefunden haben. Obwohl viele Akuammiline schon vor uber 50 Jahren entdeckt wurden, ist es erst vor kurzem gelungen, diese Strukturen zu synthetisieren. Dieser Kurzaufsatz gibt einen Uberblick uber die Geschichte der Akuammilin-Alkaloide, einschlieslich ihrer Isolierung, Strukturaufklarung, biologischen Aktivitat und vorgeschlagenen Biosynthesen. Daruber hinaus werden kurzlich abgeschlossene Totalsynthesen vorgestellt. Diese Beispiele veranschaulichen nicht nur die Leistungsfahigkeit der Totalsynthese zum Aufbau von Alkaloiden, sie zeigen auserdem, wie die Molekulgeruste der Akuammiline die Entdeckung und Realisierung von innovativen Kaskadenreaktionen zum schnellen Aufbau komplexer Strukturen angeregt haben.
The Analysis of Leaf Shape Using Fractal Geometry

We often begin studying biological systems, such as molecules, organisms, or even aggregations of organisms in groups, by trying to describe their structure. Structure, or more simply, shape, is often used to describe differences between species. Shape also strongly influences function (e.g. the shape of a male moth's antennae greatly influences his ability to detect the pheromones of females that may be miles away [see Vogel 1988]). The shapes of objects and organisms traditionally have been described using Euclidean geometry. This type of geometry is the basis of what we are all familiar with from high school, and leads to simple shapes like lines, squares, circles and cubes. These structures also define our traditional sense of dimensions in space (e.g. a line is one-dimensional, a square is twodimensional, etc.). Organisms, however, rarely fit these simple shapes and, instead, are a very complex combination of these forms or usually something altogether different. Try, for example, to think of the shape of a human as made up of spheres, right prisms and cylinders. The person is likely to look silly. Size also is an important structural component of objects. For organisms, size, by definition, changes during growth and development. Shape, on the other hand, may or may not change. Imagine, for example, what an adult human would look like if she were to retain the same size relationship between head and body from birth to adulthood. Things that do not change shape, or relative sizes of parts as they grow, are referred to as being isometric. When shape does change as a function of size we refer to these objects as having an allometric scaling relationship. We would like to know how to describe the shapes of organisms and how shape changes. The list of Euclidean shapes does not get us very far, even when we try to describe something simple like a leaf (Figure 1). You could describe this leaf as being similar to an oval or square, but that is clearly inadequate if we are interested in details about the leaf. You could attempt a complicated description using many triangles, for instance, but that would be both difficult and of dubious value. With leaves we may think about the amount of area the leaf covers, but this takes the interesting shape of the leaf and converts it into a Euclidean shape. The leaf in Figure 1 might have an area of 9 cm2, but this implies the leaf has dimensions of 3 x 3 cm, which is a square. If I have another 9 cm2 leaf, does it look the same or could it be
Conceptual progress for explaining and predicting semiconductor properties

After some background discussion, this review will focus on some recent developments in the areas of theoretical studies of semiconductor electronic structure, photovoltaics, semiconducting boron nitride nanotubes, and the search for modified semiconductors and insulators with higher superconducting transition temperatures. The background discussion covers the evolution of studies of solids, which changed dramatically after the development of quantum theory. These conceptual changes resulted in methods for calculating properties of materials and theoretical frameworks for interpreting experimental measurements. In some cases, the theoretical approaches have been successful in predicting new materials and new properties. As stated above, a few examples will be given to illustrate the development of this field.
Downwelling-Front Instability and Eddy Formation in the Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract The instability of the downwelling front along the southern coast of Asia Minor is studied with a multimode quasigeostrophic model. Linear analysis shows that the most unstable wave has a length of about 100 km, The wavelength depends only very weakly on the transversal scale of the front. The wave period is larger by an order of magnitude than the e-folding time; that is, rapid local growth occurs with little propagation. The growth rate is proportional to the maximum of the speed of the downwelling westward jet. The evolution of the frontal waves can be divided into three stages. At first, the evolution is mainly due to linear instability; the second stage is characterized by closed eddy formation; and finally, isolated eddies separate from the front and penetrate into the open sea. The largest amount of available potential energy is transferred to kinetic energy and into the barotropic mode during the second, eddy-forming stage, when several dipoles develop in this mode. The formation of antic...
Regulating Bitcoin: On What Grounds?

Bitcoin is a relatively new technology with much promise. As the world’s first successful cryptocurrency, it seems likely to lower the costs of transacting. Nonetheless, many regulators hold a strong presumption that something must be done. I considered the popular justifications for regulating bitcoin with the idea of efficient regulation in mind. I also offer some simple guidelines for regulators to keep in mind while moving forward.
Identity, Resistance and Moderation in an Online Community of Zoosexuals:

Regulation plays a key role in the construction of sexuality. Given the extent to which new forms of communication technology have had a liberating effect on the production of new discourses emanat...
A Comparison Analysis on Theory and Practice of Power Sector Reform in China and in Other Countries

There are many questions to be considered seriously in the process of power sector reform.What kind of prob- lems should be taken into account in the power sector reform? What is the background and purpose of reform? What is the difference in condition and basis of the power sector among China and other countries.This paper put forward its policy oriented suggestions based on its analysis,comparison and summarized enlightenments on above questions.
Health Insurance and Labor Supply: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act Early Medicaid Expansion in Connecticut

This paper examines how health insurance affects labor supply by exploiting a quasi-experimental change in health insurance provision under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) early Medicaid expansion in Connecticut implemented in 2010. Applying an instrumental variables approach to a difference-in-differences-in-differences strategy, I find remarkable labor supply impacts of the ACA early Medicaid expansion in Connecticut. I show evidence that Connecticut's Medicaid expansion increased Medicaid coverage for low-income childless adults by 5.9 percentage points, and as a result reduced the employment rate by 3.8 to 4.5 percentage points among those low-income childless adults.
Pelvic floor function/dysfunction and electrodiagnostic evaluation.

Abstract The pelvic floor provides support for the bladder, rectum, and genital systems, as well as proper positioning and orientation of the urethral and anal sphincters. Impairment may result in prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. The impact is enormous in terms of personal, social, and financial burden. Pertinent anatomy is presented, followed by an overview of available electrodiagnostic techniques and a description of pudendal nerve conduction studies, sacral reflex testing and selected electromyographic techniques. Clinical applications are discussed throughout the text and the need for further research is addressed.
Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of LaSr3Fe3−xGaxO10−δ: An Intermediate Fe3+Spin State

Abstract The solid solubility of Ga in this solid solution extends to x = 2. A phase change occurs near the composition x = 1 from tetragonal to orthorhombic. A Rietveld X-ray powder diffraction structure determination of LaSr 3 FeGa 2 O 9 indicates that Fe occupies the central octahedral interstice in the triple octahedral layer. Oxygen vacancies are present in the equatorial positions of the central octahedron and in the bridging oxygen positions. The phase change is driven by the increase of the c/a ratio of the tetragonal phase. The phases are antiferromagnets with Neel temperatures of 45 K for the tetragonal phases that go to zero for the orthorhombic phase. The effective magnetic moment for the tetragonal phase is 6 μ B for high spin Fe 3+ . An intermediate spin state of 4 μ B is observed for the orthorhombic phase indicative of three unpaired electrons.
The Life of the Longhouse: Disease, Slavery, Assimilation, Annihilation

The survey in Chapter 8 provides an overview of the populations that were involved in the trading network in the hinterland while it was still functioning, but many puzzles remain. It is difficult to be certain of even the most basic demographic issues, such as the approximate size of the populations involved. Epidemics and Community Size To hear people tell it in the 1970s, there was a previous epoch when longhouse populations were far larger. Repeatedly, I was told that in the old days when the women went to fetch water, the river would be reduced to a mere trickle. The implication was not that all communities were larger in the past, but that the one I was visiting had held a dominant place in the region. Their current reduced circumstances were explained as the result of disasters that caused heavy loss of life, so that what I saw was only a remnant of their former glory. Some disasters were caused by provoking kraken-like monsters that live at the bottom of the river. Others had to do with breach of a taboo, so that a longhouse and its inhabitants were turned to stone. In the muddy lowlands, there are only a few places where river erosion has exposed rocky outcroppings, and each is associated with a petrified longhouse. It is easy to dismiss such boasting, but there may be some truth behind the myths. We know that epidemics of cholera and smallpox devastated some communities in the nineteenth century.
General distress is more important than PTSD's cognition and mood alterations factor in accounting for PTSD and depression's comorbidity.

Abstract Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are highly comorbid and exhibit strong correlations with each other at both the symptom level and latent factor level. Various theories have attempted to explain this relationship. Results have been inconsistent regarding whether PTSD's negative alterations in cognition and mood factor (NACM) is significantly more related to depression, in contrast to other factors of PTSD. Methods Confirmatory factor analysis was used to attempt to address the relationships between PTSD and MDD in a large sample of trauma-exposed combat veterans from the Ohio National Guard as part of a larger longitudinal study. Results Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test a bifactor model of PTSD symptoms, testing relations between PTSD's factors and a latent depressive factor. After partitioning out the common variance into the bifactor, we found that in contrast to other PTSD factors, PTSD's NACM factor was not significantly more related to depression. Instead, only the general bifactor predicted depressive symptoms. Limitations The limitations of the present study include the following: the specific measures of PTSD and MDD used were based on self-report, and the sample consisted of non-clinical, non-treatment seeking veterans. Conclusions The present study suggests that the high rate of comorbidity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder is more related to underlying general distress or negative affectivity than the symptom categories of the PTSD diagnostic criteria.
Pathologic Complete Response Rates After Neoadjuvant Treatment in Rectal Cancer: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Pathologic complete response (pCR) of rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy is associated with decreased local recurrence and increased overall survival. This study utilizes a national dataset to identify predictors of pCR in patients with rectal cancer. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with nonmetastatic rectal cancer (2004–2014) who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection. Unadjusted associations were assessed using rank-sum tests and χ 2 tests where appropriate. Backward elimination and forward selection multivariable logistic regression models were created to determine the relationship of annual surgical volume with pCR rate, adjusting for preoperative characteristics and radiation-surgery interval. Statistical tests were two-sided, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4. A total of 27,532 patients from 1179 participating hospitals met the inclusion criteria. Generalized linear mixed models demonstrated that the odds of achieving pCR was independently associated with more recent diagnosis, female sex, private insurance, lower grade, lower clinical T classification, lower clinical N classification, increasing interval between the end of radiation and surgery, and treatment at higher-volume institutions. pCR was associated with favorable tumor factors, insurance status, time between radiation and surgery, and institutional volume. It is not clear what is driving the higher rates of pCR at high-volume institutions. Research targeted at understanding processes that are associated with pCR in high-volume institutions is needed so that similar results can be achieved across the spectrum of facilities caring for patients in this population.
Perfect Polygons and Geometric Triple Systems

A perfect n-gon is an abstraction of a regular n-gon when regarded in the real projective plane. The vertices of a regular n-gon P lie on n parallel classes of lines. The lines in any parallel class meet at a point at infinity. We call these points the perspective points of P. The vertices of P lie on a circle and the perspective points of P lie on the line at infinity in the projective plane, so we can say that the combined set of vertices and perspective points lie on a (reducible) cubic curve consisting of a line and a circle. In our Main Theorem we show that the combined set of vertices and perspective points of any perfect polygon lie on a cubic curve which may be irreducible. In case the cubic is irreducible, a well-known algebra which we call a geometric triple system can be defined on its points. We show that perfect polygons can be obtained as translates of these algebras.
Fully Bayesian spectral methods for imaging data.

Medical imaging data with thousands of spatially correlated data points are common in many fields. Methods that account for spatial correlation often require cumbersome matrix evaluations which are prohibitive for data of this size, and thus current work has either used lowârank approximations or analyzed data in blocks. We propose a method that accounts for nonstationarity, functional connectivity of distant regions of interest, and local signals, and can be applied to large multiâsubject datasets using spectral methods combined with Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling. We illustrate using simulated data that properly accounting for spatial dependence improves precision of estimates and yields valid statistical inference. We apply the new approach to study associations between cortical thickness and Alzheimer's disease, and find several regions of the cortex where patients with Alzheimer's disease are thinner on average than healthy controls.
Pairing from strong repulsion in triangular lattice Hubbard model

We propose a pairing mechanism between holes in the dilute limit of doped frustrated Mott insulators. Hole pairing arises from a hole-hole-magnon three-body bound state. This pairing mechanism has its roots on single-hole kinetic energy frustration, which favors antiferromagnetic (AFM) correlations around the hole. We demonstrate that the AFM polaron (hole-magnon bound state) produced by a single hole propagating on a field-induced polarized background is strong enough to bind a second hole. The effective interaction between these three-body bound states is repulsive, implying that this pairing mechanism is relevant for superconductivity.
Post-wildfire shrub dynamics and ecological site controls in a sagebrush steppe: Successional shift or enhanced visibility?

ABSTRACTShrub invasion after disturbance affects agriculture and conservation in arid rangelands. After a 2010 wildfire in southwestern Wyoming, USA ranchers perceived rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) had increased in burned sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) dominated areas. Using paired burned-unburned transects stratified across four ecological sites, we determined that ecological site, not fire, explained C. viscidiflorus density. Fire reduced A. tridentata but only increased the visibility, not the density, of the shorter C. viscidiflorus portion of the shrub community. We must differentiate between actual community shifts versus perceived shifts by placing plant succession and disturbance within the context of Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs).
The Role of Spirituality for Black Male Community College Students

Through a qualitative study, the authors aim to understand how does spirituality influence Black male community college students’ success. Spirituality has various definitions between races, cultur...