cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An interpretation of the Auger LVV transitions from oxides of third-row elements

Abstract The principal features in the LVV Auger spectra from the oxides of third-row elements are semi-empirically derived for the XO 4 n − species of Si, PS and Cl, and the XO 6 n − species of Mg and Al. Electron molecular orbital energies are derived from X-ray photoelectron and X-ray emission spectra; the central atom 3 p electron density of states is taken from the K β X-ray emission. Two principal peaks, separated by ca. 14 eV, are predicted for the central atom LVV Auger spectra and are experimentally confirmed for the XO 4 n − species. Similar features are observed in published spectra for oxides of Mg and Al. These peaks correspond to central atom 3 p electrons in orbitals whose energy is dominated by the atomic oxygen 2 s and 2 p electron levels. An examination of the total LVV line-shape shows that a self-convolution of the K β spectra does not reproduce the more subtle features, which are probably a result of the contributions of other electron orbitals and final-state effects. The possibility of using the LVV Auger spectra to discriminate between various oxide stoichiometries, i.e. sulfate, sulfite, etc., and between various ligand species, i.e. carbide, nitride, oxide, fluoride, is discussed.
Evaluation of transition metal complexes of aminopropylsilyl-dithiooxamide bonded phases for gas chromatography

Abstract Copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of dithiooxamide chemisorbed on aminopropyl bonded silicas were prepared and evaluated for the separation of light hydrocarbons (C4 and below) by microcolumn gas chromatography (GC). All the columns appeared to be effective for the separation of C1–C4 saturates with reproducible retention times. In general, the sample components were retained longer on the metal-containing packings presumably due to specific solute-metal interactions. The cobalt(II) complex of aminopropylsilyl-dithiooxamide bonded phase showed better selectivity for the test solutes, particularly the C2 hydrocarbons. This result, which reflects the higher capability of cobalt(II) to form pi-complexes with electron donor compounds than copper(II), showed a significant improvement in the separation of the C2 hydrocarbons over molecular sieve 5A, alkyl bonded silicas and copper(II) complexes of cyano- or mercaptopropyl bonded phase where ethane and ethylene eluted as a single peak. Thermal stability test showed that the columns could be operated at temperatures up to 200 °C without any appreciable change in retention properties.
Adults with myelomeningocele - what happened urologically after leaving childhood?

Purpose Due to careful follow-up and intensive treatment most children and adolescents with MMC have normal renal function and social acceptable continence. The aim of the study was to make a survey of the bladder and bowel situation in adulthood. Material and Methods There were 152 children and adolescents with MMC, born before 1980, who had at least 2 assessments by the urologist at the Rehabilitation Centre in Gothenburg. Of them, 100 individuals were randomly chosen and 66 (30 males, 36 females), with a median age of 38 years (range 28-51), accepted to participate in a telephone interview. Results Upper secondary school was passed by 75% of the individuals, 68% were employed and 35% were married or lived with a partner. Surgery of the urinary tract was performed in 35% of the patients and of the intestine in 14 %. CIC was done by 70% and enema used by 14 %. However, during daytime 60% of the participants had episodes of urinary leakage and 50% episodes of faecal leakage. Pads were used in 70% of the patients while anticholinergic treatment was registered in 12%. In 1/3 of the adults there was no urological follow-up at all or in a frequency of less than once every 5 years. Seventeen % had support by urotherapist, while none had support regarding bowel-emptying regimen. Conclusions In spite of high incidence of incontinence and despite surgical procedures of the urinary tract in one third of the cases, few adults with MMC had regular follow-up by urologist and urotherapist.
Young Children's Understanding of Realities, Nonrealities, and Appearances

In 2 studies we uncover some of children's earliest conceptions of various realities, nonrealities, and appearances. In the first study, we investigated children's early understanding by examining their use of the words real and really in spontaneous speech. These natural language data consisted of longitudinal samples of 6 children's speech between the ages of 1 and 6 from the Childes database. Analyses of these samples showed that by age 3 children clearly distinguished between reality and a variety of nonreal contrasts in their everyday speech. For example, young children distinguished between toys, pictures, and pretend actions versus their real natures. We claim that, in making these distinctions, children often are considering appearances, broadly construed. To confirm this, we conducted a second experimental study with 3-year-olds, in which we questioned children about the reality and appearance of a variety of items. Results from this study confirm and clarify our findings from the natural language data. We discuss the implications of these studies for current descriptions of young children's understanding of realities and nonrealities, including their understanding of the distinction between reality and appearance.
Response to the letter to the editor by J Silver 'Re: Case report: a fatal metastasis of Klebsiella pneumonia of the lungs'.

Response to the letter to the editor by J Silver ‘Re: Case report: a fatal metastasis of Klebsiella pneumonia of the lungs’
Recoil Range Measurements of Reactions Induced in Ni 58 with 46- to 68-MeV Helium Ions

Ranges in /sup 58/Ni are reported for /sup 56/Ni, /sup 57/Ni, /sup 55/ Co, /sup 5 6/Co, /sup 57/Co, and /sup 58/Co recoil ions resulting from the bombardment of /sup 58/Ni with 46- to 68-Mev helium ions. The thick targetthick catcher method was used to obtain average recoil ranges in the beam direction. Measured ranges were compared with theoretical range predictions, calculated assuming full momentum transfer from the incident helium ions to the recoil ions. Theoretical range curves were corrected for the influence of alpha particle and nucleon evaporation. Experimental ranges measured from reaction thresholds to excitation function peaks agree with the corrected theoretical curves to within 10%. Recoil ranges for /sup 57/Co and /sup 57/Ni are shown to have predominate contributions from a low-momentum-transfer process in the energy range corresponding to the high-energy tail of the excitation functions. At higher energies the ranges and excitation functions are shown to increase, consistent with contributions from the onset of /sup 58/Ni ( alpha ,5-nucleon) compound- nucleus reactions. Recoil ranges for /sup 55/Co, /sup 56/Co, and /sup 56/Co are consistent with full momentum transfer over the entire energy range studied, including those ranges corresponding to the high-energy tail of the /sup 56/Comore » excitation function. Recoil ranges for /sup 56/Ni are consistent with full momentum transfer up to the peak of the excitation function, after which the range decreases sharply as a competing low momentum-transfer reaction becomes predominant. The details of the reaction mechanism responsible for the high- energy tails of the /sup 56/Ni, /sup 57/Co, and /sup 56/Ni excitation functions are discussed. In the case of the tail of the excitation-function for the formation of /sup 56/Ni, evidence is presented that the interaction is between the incident helium ion and one or two neutrons, rather than an ( alpha , alpha ') inelastic scattering followed by nucleon evaporation. It is concluded that differentiation between these two mechanisms in the case of the reactions forming /sup 57/Ni and /sup 57/Co is impossible. (auth)« less
On moment-length scaling of large strike slip earthquakes and the strength of faults

[1] Several large strike slip earthquakes have occurred in various tectonic settings in the past 5 years, adding well documented data to the global collection of moment and length estimates for such earthquakes. Based on this augmented dataset, we reexamine the controversial issue of scaling of seismic moment with length of rupture. We find that the global dataset of large strike-slip earthquakes follows a bi-modal distribution. Most oceanic and/or intraplate strike-slip earthquakes have stress drops that are ∼5 times larger than interplate continental ones. When distinguishing these two classes, the scaling is compatible with that predicted by simple dislocation theory.
Small-particle dry deposition under high wind speed conditions: Eddy flux measurements at the boulder atmospheric observatory

Eddy flux measurements of small-particle (≈0.2μm) deposition at an air-land interface indicate that large dry deposition velocities (vd) prevailed under 6–10 m s−1 wind speed conditions. For 0.2μm particles, vd was found to be 1.2±0.2cms−1 and 0.37±0.04cms−1 for unstable and stable conditions, respectively. The consideration of several error terms, including wind fluctuation and horizontal divergence contributions to the eddy flux data, as well as the consideration of a heat analogy correction, resulted in corrected vd of 0.6-1.0 cm s−1for the unstable period with u = 8.7 ms−1, and 0.1-0.4 cm s−1 for the stable period with u = 6.4 ms−1. It appears then that high wind speed events may contribute substantially to overall dry deposition of aerosol, at least over agricultural fields. It is suggested that aerosol interception may explain these large values of vd Comparison of these experimental results with a theoretical model for particle deposition to vegetative canopies suggests a factor of two discrepancy between theory and this experiment.
Chronic trigeminal ganglionectomy or topical capsaicin application to pial vessels attenuates postocclusive cortical hyperemia but does not influence postischemic hypoperfusion.

Marked hyperemia accompanies reperfusion after ischemia in the brain, and may account for the propensity of cerebral hemorrhage to follow embolic stroke or carotid endarterectomy, and for the morbi...
Vibrational Spectra and Structural Order in the Lithium-Rare Earth Sulfides

Abstract Raman spectra have been measured on a series of sulfide compounds Li LnS 2 , where Ln is one of the rare earths between Pr and Yb. Compounds of the smaller rare earths have the ordered αNaFeO 2 structure and give two-band Raman spectra in agreement with group theoretical calculations. Compounds of the larger rare earths have a disordered NaCl structure which, contrary to the NaCl selection rules, give an intense broad Raman band spanning the wavenumber region between the bands of the ordered structure. The broad band is interpreted as a density of states function with contributions of phonons from throughout the Brillouin zone. The massive breakdown of the k = 0 selection rule occurs because of the charge mismatch between monovalent and trivalent ions distributed over the crystallographically equivalent sites of the NaCl structure.
Further studies on the effects of antipantothenates on malaria parasites (Plasmodium coatneyi and P. falciparum) in vitro.

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium coatneyi and P. falciparum were maintained in host erythrocyte suspensions in vitro under conditions supporting one cycle of development with reinvasion occurring after 2 days. Inhibitory effects were then assessed for a series of analogs of pantothenic acid. In compounds of the general formula R-sulfamoylethyl-2,4-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl butyramide antimalarial activity was strongly influenced by the nature of the R group. Most active was the compound with R = methoxy-quinolyl; this material had an in vitro activity approaching that of primaquine. If R was chloro- or dichlorophenyl, activity was much greater than if it was fluoro- or difluorophenyl. Small changes at the other end of the molecule had less effect; addition of a methyl group to give the valeramide, or omission of the 2-hydroxy did not change activity. Sulfonylethyl and thio-ethyl compounds were less active than the sulfamoylethyl compounds.
Molecular variant of the NPM-ALK rearrangement of Ki-1 lymphoma involving a cryptic ALK splice site.

The breakpoints of the translocation t(2;5)(p23;q35) associated with Ki-l-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (Ki-l ALCL) have recently been cloned. They involve a novel tyrosine kinase gene, ALK, at 2p23 and the nucleophosmin gene, NPM, at 5q35. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with NPM and ALK primers detects a consistent fusion product in Ki-l ALCL cases that have the translocation. In the course of a survey of 15 cases of Ki-l ALCL, we identified a single case with a slightly smaller NPM-ALK RT-PCR product, among 12 cases positive for this fusion RNA. Sequencing of this novel NPM-ALK RT-PCR product showed an in-frame junction of NPM to ALK, 30 bases distal to the usual ALK junction site, but at the usual NPM junction site. The predicted chimeric protein in this case is thus shorter by 10 amino acids, but the putative ALK catalytic domain remains intact. PCR with ALK primers bracketing the novel fusion point, performed on either cDNA or genomic DNA, yielded the same product, confirming that this novel ALK fusion point was located within an exon. Hybridization analysis of the genomic junction fragment isolated by long-range DNA PCR suggested that the ALK genomic breakpoint was also exonic. Cloning and sequencing of the genomic breakpoint confirmed that the break occurred within the 5′ portion of the ALK exon participating in the fusion junction, 28 bases 3′ to the normal ALK exon boundary, resulting in the use of a cryptic splice acceptor site two bases distal to the breakpoint. This case demonstrates that, in translocations resulting in chimeric transcripts, genomic breakpoints may rarely lie within an exon, provided that the reading frame is maintained and no domains presumed critical to tumorigenesis are deleted. Genes Chromosom Cancer 15:173–177 (1996). © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The neuropsychology of autistic spectrum disorders.

DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, 27(3), 307-310 Copyright © 2005, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. The Neuropsychology of Autistic Spectrum Disorders Natacha Akshoomoff Department of Psychiatry University of California, San Diego Child and Adolescent Services Research Center Children's Hospital, San Diego This special issue represents the work from several of the leading autism research groups in the United States. The studies include behavioral, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging investigations of preschoolers, school-age children, adoles- cents, and adults with an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision; American Psychiat- ric Association, 2000) includes autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, and perva- sive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) under the um- brella term pervasive developmental disorders (ASD), but many researchers and clinicians now prefer the term autistic spectrum disorders. Under this term, au- tism is seen as part of a spectrum of disorders that have significant social deficits and the presence of repetitive behaviors and restricted interests in common (Lord & Bailey, 2002; Tanguay, 2004; Wing, 1996). Structural brain imaging studies have revealed neuroanatomical abnormalities in a wide variety of brain regions in children and adults with autism including the corpus callosum, cerebellar vermal lobules V I - V I I , amygdala and hippocam- pus (for review, see Akshoomoff, Pierce, & Courchesne, 2002). Recent studies (Akshoomoff et al., 2004; Courchesne et al., 2001; Sparks et al., 2002) have demonstrated that brain volume is abnormally large in 2- to 4-year-olds who are later confirmed to have a diagnosis of autistic disorder or P D D - N O S . Infant head circumference measurements from children diagnosed with autism or P D D - N O S suggest that the process of early brain overgrowth begins to occur by Requests for reprints should be sent to Natacha Akshoomoff, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, 3020 Children's Way M C 5033, San Diego, C A 92123^1282. E-mail: natacha@ucsd.edu
The Evolution of Post-socialist Projects: Trajectory Shift and Transitional Capacity in a Polish Region

Existing perspectives on the social and institutional underpinnings of regional economic performance lack an account of how regions in post-socialist or developing countries lacking embedded, cohesive, trust-based networks could organize to transform themselves. This paper shows how provisional, contingent post-socialist projects--in opposition to more stable firm, market or network forms of organization--temporarily drawing together sets of actors from diverse organizational environs can enable regions to overcome social impediments to development. Drawing on an in-depth field study of the _ od  old industrial district in central Poland, the first part of this paper demonstrates the projectification of regional restructuring efforts and links it to regional trajectory shift embodied in a variety of far-reaching industrial, institutional and social transformations. The second part of the paper explores the question of how trajectory shift could have occurred in _ od  , despite the lack of incremental in...
Application of DSC-DTA technique for estimating various constituents in white coat plasters

Abstract The DSC—DTA combination technique has been used to estimate CaSO 4 · 2H 2 O, Mg(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , CaCO 3 and MgO, comprising three white coat plasters. Unhydrated magnesium oxide could be estimated by converting it to Mg(OH) 2 by autoclaving. An equation is derived from which unhydrated MgO can be determined by substituting the estimated values for CaSO 4 · 2H 2 O, Mg(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 and CaCO 3 . Estimated values of CaO, MgO and CaSO 4 · 2H 2 O obtained by the DSC—DTA technique correspond closely to those determined by chemical analysis.
The human melanocyte: a model system to study the complexity of cellular aging and transformation in non-fibroblastic cells

The melanocyte is a neural crest-derived cell that localizes in humans to several organs including the epidermis, eye, inner ear and leptomeninges. In the skin, melanocytes synthesize and transfer melanin pigments to surrounding keratinocytes, leading to skin pigmentation and protection against solar exposure. We have investigated the process of replicative senescence and accompanying irreversible cell cycle arrest, in melanocytes in culture. As was found in other cell types, progressive telomere shortening appears to trigger replicative senescence in normal melanocytes. In addition, senescence is associated with increased binding of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDK-I) p16(INK4a) to CDK4, down-regulation of cyclin E protein levels (and consequent loss of cyclin E/CDK2 activity), underphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein RB and subsequent increased levels of E2F4-RB repressive complexes. In contrast to fibroblasts, however, the CDK-Is p21(Waf-1) and p27(Kip-1) are also down-regulated. These changes appear to be important for replicative senescence because they do not occur in melanocytes that overexpress the catalytic subunit of the enzyme telomerase (hTERT), or in melanomas, which are tumors that originate from melanocytes or melanoblasts. In contrast to unmodified melanocytes, hTERT overexpressing (telomerized) melanocytes displayed telomerase activity, stable telomere lengths and an extended replicative life span. However, telomerized melanocytes show changes in cell cycle regulatory proteins, including increased levels of cyclin E, p21(Waf-1) and p27(Kip-1). Cyclin E, p21(Waf-1) and p27(Kip-1) are also elevated in many primary melanomas, whereas p16(INK4a) is mutated or deleted in many invasive and metastatic melanomas. Thus, the molecular mechanisms leading to melanocyte senescence and transformation differ significantly from fibroblasts. This suggests that different cell types may use different strategies to halt the cell cycle in response to telomere attrition and thus prevent replicative immortality.
Some invariants for equivalent G-algebras

Abstract In an earlier paper (Clifford theory with Schur indices, J. Algebra 170 (1994) 661–677), the author introduced a generalization of the Brauer-Wall group. It is defined for any given finite group G and any field F of characteristic 0. Each element of this generalized Brauer-Wall group is an equivalence class of central simple G-algebras. He showed that given a finite group H with a normal subgroup N such that H N ≅ G , and an irreducible character χ of H, there corresponds naturally an element of this generalized Brauer-Wall group, and that this element alone controls the Clifford theory (including Schur indices) of χ with respect to N. The present paper studies some invariants for G-algebras which are preserved under equivalence of G-algebras in the above sense. These invariants are the basis of a characterization of each equivalence class of central simple G-algebras in some cases, as is described in a forthcoming paper of the author. The present paper also includes a brief comparison of this generalization of the Brauer-Wall group with others that have appeared in the literature.
Purification and spectrophotometric assay of neomycin phosphotransferase II

Summary Neomycin phosphotronnferase II is maximally released by osmatic shocking of R+ E. coli between late log and early stationary phase. A 300–400-fold purification of the enzyme protein is accomplished by streptomycin sulfate and ammonium sulfate precipitations of osmotic shockates, followed by affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. The recovered enzyme preparation is electrophoretically 90% pure, is free of ATP-ase activity, and can be conveniently assayed spectrophotometrically by linking the production of ADP to pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. The purified enzyme, however, is not stable.
Prevalence and clinical correlation of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in african americans with ischemic stroke.

Background The goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and associated clinical correlates in African Americans (AA) diagnosed with ischemic stroke (IS). Methods Retrospective chart analysis was done on all diagnosed AA IS patients between January 2010 and March 2012. Patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded. A total of 147 patients were included in the study. Transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular systolic function, and study groups were categorized as normal, mild, moderate, and severely abnormal, based on the ejection fraction (EF). Available imaging studies were analyzed for data collection. Logistic regression and Pearson chi-square tests were performed. Results Normal EF was present in 114 of 147 patients (78%). Mild abnormality was present in 9 of 147 (6%), moderate in 8 of 147 (5%), and severe in 16 of 147 (11%) patients. In patients with mildly reduced EF, smoking was the most common (RF). In patients with moderately and severely reduced EFs, hypertension was the most common RF. History of smoking was commonly found in systolic dysfunction group compared with normal group ( P = .001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking and advanced age were the significant predictors for LVSD. Large-vessel IS were more common in systolic dysfunction group than normal EF group ( P = .017). Conclusions Prevalence of LVSD in AA with IS was 22% in our study. Smoking was a significant modifiable RF associated with systolic dysfunction. A history of smoking and higher age could predict the occurrence of LVSD. There were more large-vessel IS in patients with LVSD.
Coarctation of the abdominal aorta in a child: morphometric analysis of the arterial lesion.

Coarctation of the abdominal aorta with associated narrowing of the origin of major visceral arteries is a rare cause of life-threatening hypertension. We describe a 9-year-old male with hypertension and recent onset of headache and dizziness who was subsequently found to have a suprarenal Coarctation with involvement of the proximal renal arteries. The patient died following a left cerebrovascular accident associated with recent thrombosis in the left middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries. Morphometric analysis of the aortic Coarctation revealed that a reduction in outside diameter of the vessel was complicated by marked intimal thickening which caused further stenosis of the lumen. Medial thickness was constant, and elastic fibers of the media were intact at the level of coarctation.
CLINICAL MODELS OF CHEMOPREVENTION FOR CERVICAL CANCER

Cervical carcinoma creates a worldwide, significant population burden that potentially could be reduced by new preventive strategies for cervical cancer such as chemoprevention. Given the vast array of clinical and molecular information available relating to cervical cancer and the precursor lesions along with a growing number of new molecular techniques, a model is needed to guide further investigation. Such a model would facilitate research design, guide hypothesis development and testing, and focus the use of molecular data collection and analysis. This article reviews the clinical and molecular data of cervical cancer and the precursor lesions in order to develop a model for chemoprevention research in cervical cancer.
Lysophospholipid variants in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background The U.S. incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing and is linked to hepatitis C (HepC) infection, alcohol toxicity, and obesity. This manuscript examines lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) variant biosynthesis as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HCC. Methods Serum LPA variant levels were determined in patients with HepC ± HCC, alcoholic cirrhosis ± HCC, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ± HCC by mass spectroscopy. To clarify the relationship between cancer and LPA variant profiles, LPA variants were evaluated in HepC + HCC patients before and after liver transplantation. Moreover, LPA variant modification of gene expression was also determined in vitro by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results In patients diagnosed with HCC, 18:2 LPA biosynthesis was decreased, whereas 20:4 LPA biosynthesis and 20:4 LPA:18:2 LPA ratio were increased. Three days after liver transplantation, serum LPA levels and 18:2 LPA:20:4 LPA ratio were significantly reduced in patients with cancer. The 20:4 LPA selectively stimulated LPA receptor and tumor necrosis factor α expression in Hep3B cells, whereas 18:2 LPA did not. Conclusions Serum LPA variant profiles are unique in patients with HCC allowing for the stratification of patients. Moreover, LPA variants impart individual mitogenic properties associated with tumorigenesis that may provide a potential therapeutic target. We envision that LPA profiling may accelerate diagnosis, help stratify patients at high risk of developing cancer, and provide potential targets for chemoprevention.
The effect of scatterer statistics on diffraction corrections

The acoustic field generated by an ultrasonic transducer radiating into a homogeneous medium is well understood, but generally accepted scattering models for biological tissue do not exist. To investigate the effects of scatterer model on diffraction filtering, two cases were considered. In both cases particles were randomly distributed in space; in one case random scattering amplitudes were allowed and in the other case particles behaved identically. In both cases the diffraction filter was a low-pass effect. However, at low frequencies the diffraction filter for identical scatterers was found to be steeper by a factor of three in slope (dB/MHz) for reasonable values of scatterer number density. The results of this study demonstrate that the characteristics of the scattering medium can significantly affect acoustic measurements.
Size-based variation in intertissue comparisons of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier)

Stable isotopes are important tools for understanding the trophic roles of elasmobranchs. However, whether different tissues provide consistent stable isotope values within an individual are largel...
State Government Influence in the National Policy Process: Lessons from the 104th Congress

During the last several decades, state officials increasingly concluded that their interests are not adequately represented in national policymaking and sought to increase their influence through the constitutional amendment process, the federal judiciary, and the political process. This article evaluates the extent to which these institutional mechanisms were effective in advancing state interests during the 104th Congress. United States Constitutional amendments were improbable and ineffective devices. Litigation was slightly more successful, though it provided an uncertain source of long-term security for state interests. Efforts to work through the political process, either through securing the passage of legislation that increases congressional responsiveness or by engaging in direct lobbying, were moderately effective under certain conditions.
A Charge Transport Model for SiCOH Dielectric Breakdown in Copper Interconnects and Its Applications

A charge transport model has been applied to predict dielectric breakdown in copper interconnects. The model very accurately predicts the lifetimes of dense and porous dielectrics over long periods. The predictions of the model significantly vary from currently available methodologies, which fail to adequately account for copper charge transport. We apply this charge transport model to simulate the TDDB lifetime activation energy (Ea, eV) in copper interconnects. The model again very accurately predicts the available activation energy data, in actual interconnect test structures, over a wide range of electric fields. The model can be applied to determine the reliable operating voltage for a given operating temperature.
Trichostatin A causes selective loss of DNA methylation in Neurospora

Both DNA methylation and hypoacetylation of core histones are frequently associated with repression of gene expression. Possible connections between these processes were investigated by taking advantage of genes controlled by methylation in Neurospora crassa. Trichostatin A (TSA), a potent inhibitor of histone deacetylase, derepressed a copy of hph that was repressed by DNA methylation which resulted from repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) acting on sequences flanking hph. Derepression by TSA was comparable to derepression by the inhibitor of DNA methylation, 5-azacytidine. TSA treatment also repressed an allele of am whose expression depends on methylation of an adjacent transposon, Tad. DNA methylation in the hph and Tad/am regions was greatly reduced by TSA treatment. TSA also caused hypomethylation of other methylated alleles of am generated by RIP. In contrast, TSA did not affect methylation of several other methylated genomic sequences examined, including the nucleolar rDNA and the inactivated transposon PuntRIP1. Several possible models are discussed for the observed selective demethylation induced by TSA. The implication that acetylation of chromatin proteins can directly or indirectly control DNA methylation raises the possibility that connections between protein acetylation and DNA methylation result in self-reinforcing epigenetic states.
Employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and financial performance: An empirical examination

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction, and to examine the impact of both on a hospitality company’s financial performance utilizing service-profit-chain framework as the theoretical base. Specifically, this study explores four major relationships: (1) the direct relationship between customer satisfaction and financial performance; (2) the direct relationship between employee satisfaction and financial performance; (3) the direct relationship between customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction; and (4) the indirect relationship between employee satisfaction and financial performance. Furthermore, this study examines the mediating role of customer satisfaction on the indirect relationship between employee satisfaction and financial performance. Data for this study was collected from employees, customers and managers of three- and four-star hotels. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with a two-step approach was utilized to empirically test the proposed hypotheses and the relationships between the constructs. Findings suggest that while customer satisfaction has positive significant impact on financial performance, employee satisfaction has no direct significant impact on financial performance. Instead, there is an indirect relationship between employee satisfaction and financial performance, which is mediated by customer satisfaction.
Laparoscopic Morcellator-Related Complications

Morcellation at laparoscopy is a commonly used minimally invasive method to extract bulky tissue from the abdomen without extending abdominal incisions. Despite widespread use of morcellation, complications still remain underreported and poorly understood. We performed a systematic review of surgical centers in the United States to identify, collate and update the morcellator-related injuries and near misses associated with powered tissue removal. We searched articles on morcellator-related injuries published from 1993 through June 2013. In addition, all cases reported to MedSun and the FDA device database (MAUDE) were evaluated for inclusion. We used the search terms "morcellation," "morcellator," "parasitic," and "retained" and model name keywords "Morcellex," "MOREsolution," "PlasmaSORD," "Powerplus," "Rotocut," "SAWALHE," "Steiner," and "X-Tract." During the past 15 years, 55 complications were identified. Injuries involved the small and large bowels (n = 31), vascular system (n = 27), kidney (n = 3), ureter (n = 3), bladder (n = 1), and diaphragm (n = 1). Of these injuries, 11 involved more than 1 organ. Complications were identified intraoperatively in most patients (n = 37 [66%]); however, the remainder were not identified until up to 10 days postoperatively. Surgeon inexperience was a contributing factor in most cases in which a cause was ascribed. Six deaths were attributed to morcellator-related complications. Nearly all major complications were identified from the FDA device database and not from the published literature. The laparoscopic morcellator has substantially expanded our ability to complete procedures using minimally invasive techniques. Associated with this opportunity have been increasing reports of major and minor intraoperative complications. These complications are largely unreported, likely because of publication bias associated with catastrophic events. Surgeon experience likely confers some protection against these injuries. Understanding and implementing safe practices associated with the use of the laparoscopic morcellator will reduce these iatrogenic injuries.
Environmental Literacy: Providing an Interdisciplinary Context for Young Children

This article outlines the benefits of developing a program considering environmental education in which children are engaged in learning opportunities that connect to their lives and interests. The authors contend that reform efforts generally focus on the application of content knowledge by using higher order thinking skills and encourage connections to be made with the world beyond the classroom. The article includes examples which highlight that environmental literacy is particularly appropriate for emphasizing the world beyond the classroom, for developing depth of understanding and content knowledge, and opportunities to use higher order thinking skills
Restructuring Teacher Education Through Collaborative Action Research

Teacher education faculty at the University of Houston are collaborating with the staff at five elementary schools on an action research project. The evolution of the project is traced from its origins in the professional preparation program through the second year of work with the leader ship teams of the schools. Five dimensions of professional learning are identified: leadership, temporal and physical structures, individuals, interpersonal relationships, and synergy. Data from the second year of the project are considered in terms of the five dimensions. Implications of the project for developing a more collaborative, action-oriented approach to teacher educa tion that can be carried through the novice years of teaching and beyond are discussed.
Two-Phase Slug Flow

Entrance effects can persist for great lengths, L/D = 300, and long times, in developing two phase flows. Wall shear stresses at moderate and low velocities contribute only slightiy to the pressure drop in slug flows. Bubblerise velocities in slug flow are quite sensitive to the velocity profile in the water ahead of the bubbles. The effect of wall shear stress manifests itself pnimarily through the velocity profiles. Pressure drop, density, slug length, bubble length and fluctuation pressure drops, and frequencies can be calculated for fully developed slug flow with gocd accuracy.
An Engineering Rock Classification to Evaluate Seismic Rock-Fall Susceptibility and its Application to the Wasatch Front

The authors examine the characteristics of rock slopes that make them susceptible to failures caused by earthquakes. They discuss these characteristics, namely the fracture and joint properties that define the structural behavior of a rock mass at the surface, and then present an empirical engineering classification or ranking system that rates the relative seismic susceptibility of rock masses. They next apply the engineering classification in a case study of seismically-triggered rock falls in the Mammoth Lakes area. The engineering classification is correlated with the concentration of seismically-triggered rock falls, and the resulting statistical model can be used to predict the probability of a rock fall for a given magnitude earthquake. Finally, they apply the classification and probability analysis to similar slopes in the Wasatch Range near Salt Lake City and evaluate the relative susceptibility of slopes in this area to seismically-induced failure.
Surface effects in field-assisted sintering

The more-stringent requirements for densification of new out-of-equilibrium powders have created a growing demand for nonconventional rapid sintering processes. Among those, field-assisted sintering techniques (FASTs) have seen a recent renewed interest motivated by their ability to consolidate a large variety of powder materials into high densities in short times. Characterization of a range of FAST-consolidated materials displayed relevant associated surface effects, such as grain boundary cleaning with direct grain-to-grain contact and advanced densification without sintering aids. These effects may be attributed to phenomena ranging from dielectric breakdown to a possible nonconventional plasma generation. Such surface effects provided a better intergranular bonding of powder particles during subsequent sintering
Canine H3N8 Influenza Virus Infection in Dogs and Mice

An H3N8 influenza virus closely related to equine influenza virus was identified in racing greyhound dogs with respiratory disease in 2004 and subsequently identified in shelter and pet dogs. Pathologic findings in dogs spontaneously infected with canine influenza virus were compared with lesions induced in beagle and mongrel dogs following experimental inoculation with influenza A/canine/Florida/43/2004. BALB/c mice were inoculated with canine influenza virus to assess their suitability as an experimental model for viral pathogenesis studies. All dogs inoculated with virus developed necrotizing and hyperplastic tracheitis and bronchitis with involvement of submucosal glands as well as mild bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Viral antigen was identified in bronchial and tracheal epithelial cells of all dogs and in alveolar macrophages of several dogs. Many dogs that were spontaneously infected with virus also developed bacterial pneumonia, and greyhound dogs with fatal spontaneous infection developed severe pulmonary hemorrhage with hemothorax. Virus-inoculated BALB/c mice developed tracheitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and mild pneumonia in association with viral antigen in airway epithelial cells and in type 2 alveolar epithelial cells. Virus was not detected in extrarespiratory sites in any animals. The results indicate that canine influenza virus infection consistently induces acute tracheitis and bronchitis in dogs. Mice may be a useful model for some pathogenesis studies on canine influenza virus infection.
Mechanical properties of particulate filled polymers

The mechanical properties of several types of inorganic fillers were investigated in a number of different thermoplastic polymers. The fillers included minerals, such as talc and silicon carbide, and metals, such as aluminum flake and stainless steel fibers. The polymers included General Electric's Noryl, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, polypropylene, and modified polypropylene. The talc and some of the aluminum flake were treated with coupling agents to improve interfacial adhesion to the polymers. The results showed that the modulus of the filled polymers was a function only of the concentration of filler used up to 40 volume percent filler. The tensile strength of the filled compositions depended very strongly on the degree of interfacial bond developed between the polymer and the filler. The interfacial bond strength depended on the effectiveness of the coupling agents and the inherent wetting ability of the polymer. Of the polymers investigated in this study, Noryl showed the greatest degree of inherent wetting to inorganic fillers. Chemical modification of polypropylene also resulted in greater adhesion to fillers. The impact strength of filled compounds had an even more complex response, because, in addition to the concentration of the filler, and strength of the polymerfiller interface, it depends on the mechanism of crack propagation.
Fracture and dislocation dynamics

The influence of dislocations on the stability and motion of cracks which are driven by stress waves is analyzed. Dislocations enhance the response time of a crack, however, they have no influence on the terminal velocity. Ductile—brittle transition is investigated as a function of grain size and pulse duration. It will occur if the pulse duration is approximately c/a* and shorter than 10− 8 sec, where c is the average grain size and a* is the transversal velocity of sound. The incubation time for fracture is also of this order and fracture by stress waves can occur in this time frame.
Oral treprostinil for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients transitioned from parenteral or inhaled prostacyclins: case series and treatment protocol

Oral treprostinil (TRE) is a prostacylin approved for the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Few data exist to guide the use of oral TRE as a replacement for parenteral or inhaled prostacyclins. Therefore, the purpose of this report was to describe our experience with oral TRE to transition patients from parenteral or inhaled TRE. We describe a case series of patients admitted for a 4-day hospital stay to transition from parenteral or inhaled TRE. Appropriate criteria for transition included stable patients with improved symptoms/functional capacity, patients who could not tolerate intravenous prostacyclin due to infection or subcutaneous prostacyclin due to pain, and patient preference for transition. The dosing protocol for transition is described. A total of 9 patients generally representative of a typical PAH demographic and background medical therapy were included. Patients were initiated at either 0.5 or 1 mg 3 times daily and discharged on a median dose of 8 mg 3 times daily. Our protocol resulted in 6 of 9 patients who successfully transitioned at a median follow-up of 47 weeks. Two patients had to return to their previous prostacyclin therapy based on the presence of clinical worsening and adverse events (n = 1) and adverse events alone (n = 1). Another patient discontinued therapy due to plans for hospice care. Oral TRE may serve an important role in prostacyclin transitions in carefully selected, stable patients who receive background oral therapy for PAH.
OPTIMAL DESIGN OF STILLING BASINS FOR OVERFLOW SPILLWAYS.

A model has been developed for use in determining the optimal dimensions of stilling basins for overflow dam spillways and their appurtenances that minimize cost and satisfy hydraulic performance. The decision variables which are the width and elevation of the stilling basins are determined such that the hydraulic performance is satisfied for a wide range of possible spillway discharges. The model is based upon an optimization procedure with two phases. The first phase is used to optimize the hydraulic performance of a stilling basin and the second phase is to use the first phase results to minimize the cost satisfying required basin performance. Both phases are based upon a gradient search technique. Application of the optimization model was made using data for the spillway and stilling basin designs for three dams in Texas.
Commentary on \Online Optimization with Gradual Variations"

This commentary is about (Chiang et al., 2012b). This paper is the result of a merge between two papers, (Yang et al., 2012) and (Chiang et al., 2012a). Both papers address the same question: is it possible to obtain regret bounds in various online learning settings that depend on some notion of variation in the costs, rather than the number of periods? Both papers give remarkably similar algorithms for this problem, although the analysis techniques are quite different, and obtain very similar results. While (Yang et al., 2012) gives two algorithms obtaining such regret bounds for general online convex optimization (OCO), (Chiang et al., 2012a) gives a unified framework to obtain such regret bounds for three specific cases of OCO: online linear optimization, online learning with experts, and online expconcave optimization.
The Development of Brand Loyalty

The experiment reported here examines the growth of brand loyalty in a setting where there is no prior consumer knowledge about any of the available brands. Search behavior precedes the development...
Register and Translation of Meaning

Register means different situations in which words are used.Natives usually have an ability to distinguish and choose different registers,but to non-natives it is hard.They lack the sense of register.During the communication,they often confuse and misuse registers,which will lead to failure of communication.This is true of translation.The choice of words in translation is determined by register good choice of words can exactly express different styles of the original.
Design and Realization of Rod Pumping Working Behavior Simulation Software

Improving the rod pumping system's working efficiency is a very important problem in the enterprise of oil fields. Researching the rod pumping system by the way of computer simulating technique, the rod pumping system's working capability is simulated in different working condition, different swabbing parameter and different system configure, and then optimizing the rod pumping system, improving the system efficiency which has great significance to the production of the oil fields. In this paper, we put emphases on the designing idea, the system function, the realizing method of the rod pumping working behavior simulating system. Based fully on Windows System, the rod pumping system's working behavior simulating software has been developed by using programming language of Visual Basic 6.0. The simulating software has high simulating precision, convenience for use and maintenance and is of great value to application.