cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nickel(I) Aryl Species: Synthesis, Properties, and Catalytic Activity.

In this work, Ni(I) aryl species that are directly relevant to cross-coupling have been synthesized. Transmetalation of (dppf)NiIX (dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene, X = Cl, Br) with aryl Grignard reagents or aryl boronic acids in the presence of base produces Ni(I) aryl species of the form (dppf)NiI(Ar) (Ar = Ph, o-tolyl, 2,6-xylyl, 2,4,6-mesityl, 2,4,6-iPr3C6H2). The stability of the Ni(I) aryl species is inversely correlated to the steric bulk on the aryl ligand. The most unstable Ni(I) aryl species are the most active precatalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions because they rapidly decompose to generate the active Ni(0) catalyst. This study shows that Ni(I) aryl species are initially formed in the activation of Ni(I) halide precatalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions and establishes their stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity profile.
Recurrent Corneal Erosions in Corneal Dystrophies: a Review of the Pathogenesis, Differential Diagnosis, and Therapy.

Introduction Recurrent corneal erosions in corneal dystrophies are visually significant and bothersome to patients. The goal of this article is to review the pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and management of recurrent corneal erosions in corneal dystrophies. Patients and Methods Forty-eight articles and 1 textbook recently published on corneal erosions in corneal dystrophies were reviewed. The findings on the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of erosions in each dystrophy were summarized. Any contradicting opinions for which the literature was unclear were either omitted or recorded as lacking strong evidence. Results and Conclusions The epithelial-stromal complex plays an important role in the pathogenesis of erosions in corneal dystrophies. The clinical features of each corneal dystrophy guide their diagnosis and management. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical features of erosions in corneal dystrophies can lead to better clinical outcomes.
Sedimentation Equilibrium Analytical Ultracentrifugation for Multicomponent Protein Interactions

Sedimentation equilibrium (SE) analytical ultracentrifugation is one of the oldest approaches to measure the molar mass of macromolecules in solution (Svedberg and Fahraeus, 1926; Svedberg and Pedersen, 1940; Schachman, 1959). It may also be considered as one of the most direct methods, as it consists solely in the application of a gravitational force and the observation of the concentration gradients established in solution. In contrast to the complementary approach of sedimentation velocity (SV) analytical ultracentrifugation (reviewed in Chapter 16), the time-course of sedimentation is not of interest in SE. Of concern in SE is only the final distribution attained after a long time, which is independent of all kinetic or hydrodynamic factors, but measures directly the macromolecular mass.
Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Adaptive Immunity

Mucosal immune cells of the intestine require microbiota-derived cues for their induction and regulation. The recent identification of specific members of the endogenous microbiota that can shape immune function is providing insight into the exquisite interdependence that occurs in the gut between host and microbe. Fascinating links between diet, the microbiota, and the immune system are also emerging. In this chapter, we focus on the gut microbiota's influence on the development and function of intestinal adaptive immune cell subsets.
The XEDS-TEM Interface

In principle, all you have to do to create an AEM is to hang an XEDS detector on the side of a TEM. However, in practice it isn’t always that simple because the TEM is designed primarily as an imaging tool, and microanalysis requires different design criteria. The AEM illumination system and specimen stage are rich sources of radiation, not all of it by any means coming from the area of interest in your specimen. So you have to take precautions to ensure that the X-ray spectrum you record comes from the area you chose and can ultimately be converted to quantitative elemental information. You therefore need to understand the problems associated with the XEDS-TEM interface and find ways to maximize the useful data. We describe several tests you should perform to ensure that the XEDS-TEM interface is optimized.
Perceived Emotional Intelligence and Stress Management among Undergraduate Students

The study investigated perceived emotional intelligence and stress management among 350 undergraduate university students in Delta State University, Delta State, Nigeria. The participants responded to three valid scales. The Pearson correlation was used to investigate the relationship between the variables and t-test of significance was used to determine the difference in stress management among high and low emotional intelligent students. It was found that perceived emotional intelligence and stress management were related and high emotional intelligent students were better in stress management. Based on this, it was recommended that the inclusion of emotional intelligence training in the school curricula could be considered as important to enable students improve their awareness and assertively express themselves particularly in the management of stress.
Relationship between the Ki67 index and its area based approximation in breast cancer

The Ki67 Index has been extensively studied as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. However, its clinical adoption is largely hampered by the lack of a standardized method to assess Ki67 that limits inter-laboratory reproducibility. It is important to standardize the computation of the Ki67 Index before it can be effectively used in clincial practice. In this study, we develop a systematic approach towards standardization of the Ki67 Index. We first create the ground truth consisting of tumor positive and tumor negative nuclei by registering adjacent breast tissue sections stained with Ki67 and H&E. The registration is followed by segmentation of positive and negative nuclei within tumor regions from Ki67 images. The true Ki67 Index is then approximated with a linear model of the area of positive to the total area of tumor nuclei. When tested on 75 images of Ki67 stained breast cancer biopsies, the proposed method resulted in an average root mean square error of 3.34. In comparison, an expert pathologist resulted in an average root mean square error of 9.98 and an existing automated approach produced an average root mean square error of 5.64. We show that it is possible to approximate the true Ki67 Index accurately without detecting individual nuclei and also statically demonstrate the weaknesses of commonly adopted approaches that use both tumor and non-tumor regions together while compensating for the latter with higher order approximations.
Yeast fermentate prebiotic improves intestinal barrier integrity during heat stress by modulation of the gut microbiota in rats.

Aims To evaluate efficacy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentate prebiotic (EH) in protection of intestinal barrier integrity in rats during heat stress, to analyze the impact of heat stress and preventive treatment with EH on the structure of the gut microbiota. Methods and results Two groups of rats were treated orally with EH or phosphate-buffered saline for 14 days. On day 15, half of the rats in each group were exposed to heat stress conditions, while control animals were kept at room temperature. Histological and Western blot analyses of the intestine, culture-based microbiological analysis and high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing for the gut microbiota were performed for each rat. Exposure of animals to heat stress conditions resulted in inhibition of tight junction (TJ) proteins expression, decrease of Paneth and goblet cells, decrease of beneficial and increase of pathogenic bacteria. Oral treatment of rats with EH before stress significantly prevents these adverse effects by elevation of the gut beneficial bacteria, particularly butyrate-producing bacteria. Conclusions Essential effect of EH in protection of intestinal barrier integrity during heat stress is connected with beneficial modulation of the gut microbiota. Significance and impact of the study Our results will contribute to the development of new approaches to prevention of heat stress-related complications.
Findings from a Multi-year Study of CT in K-2 Students in Formal and Informal Settings

For the past four years, our research group has conducted a series of NSF funded studies on Computational Thinking (CT) involving elementary school students, parents, and teachers. We developed curriculum, trained teachers, observed classrooms, created museum exhibits, followed students and families, explored theory, and utilized the diverse skills of a large multi-disciplinary research group to understand the intersection of STEM, literacy, and CT. As we close out this grant, we are looking to disseminate our findings, share lessons learned about research methods and data collection, and build collaborations for future research.
In Vitro Activity of Rifampin, Rifabutin, Rifapentine, and Rifaximin against Planktonic and Biofilm States of Staphylococci Isolated from Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

The in vitro activities of rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, and rifaximin were tested against 200 periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)-associated staphylococci. Seven rifampin-resistant isolates had MICs of ≥4 μg/ml. Three isolates had rifampin MICs of 0.25 to 1 μg/ml and harbored an Asp471Gly RpoB variant, suggesting that the CLSI rifampin-susceptible staphylococcal breakpoint of ≤1 μg/ml may be too high. The remaining isolates had rifampin MICs of ≤0.016 μg/ml, and the rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, and rifaximin minimum biofilm bactericidal concentrations (MBBC) for ≥50% of isolates were 8, 1, 2, and 4 μg/ml (for S. aureus) and 2, 0.06, 0.25, and 0.5 μg/ml (for S. epidermidis), respectively, for rifampin-susceptible isolates. Nonrifampin rifamycins have promising staphylococcal activity, including antibiofilm activity.
Headache Attributed to Autonomic Dysreflexia: Clinical Presentation, Pathophysiology, and Treatment

A patient presenting with marked elevation in blood pressure and concurrent headache often presents a diagnostic challenge for even the most seasoned clinician. When marked hypertension and headache occur in a patient with a history of upper spinal cord injury, the patient should be presumed to have autonomic dysreflexia until proven otherwise. Autonomic dysreflexia can at times trigger headaches, hypertension, and variations in pulse, as well other autonomic signs and symptoms. Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency for which appropriate treatment may be life-saving. In this review, we address the historical origins, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of headache attributed to autonomic dysreflexia. Included are two case presentations from the authors' clinic, which illustrate the diagnosis and treatment of headache attributed to autonomic dysreflexia.
Preparing for the Attack: Tactics That Establish Control

As the attack becomes more likely, predators seek to establish control over their targets, social settings, and circumstances to maximize their chances of success. They may achieve this by reducing target resistance and eliminating potential help sources. At this point in the criminal victimization process, the situation has become more dangerous and there are fewer options available for targets. Recognizing control tactics quickly may provide the targets the opportunity to take action before the attack has commenced. If possible, they must act promptly to avoid, contain, or defend themselves from the potential attackers. Aggressors may employ control tactics such as verbal abuse, intimidations, threats, manufactured anger, stalking, securing weapons, or exploiting authority to establish dominance. They may attempt to isolate targets from those who can assist. Aggressors may lie in wait at public places, or lure their targets to private locations where they can exercise greater control.
Reducing Injuries, Malingering, and Workers’ Compensation Costs by Implementing Overt Integrity Testing

Workers’ compensation costs are a substantial expense for employers. Given mixed results of training and job redesign interventions designed to reduce accidents leading to claims, organizations may wish to reduce these costs by screening job applicants with integrity tests. Building on theories of workplace safety and malingering (i.e., faking or exaggerating injuries for personal gain), we argue that overt integrity tests predict workers’ compensation claims through both workplace injuries and malingering. Analyses of archival data from three organizations (study 1) found screening job applicants reduced workers’ compensation claim rates and related costs, demonstrating a return on investment of 734% in one sample and 866% in another. In a three-wave survey of working adults (study 2), integrity test scores related directly to malingering, and indirectly to workplace injuries through motivation to work safely and compliance with safety rules. Analyses of three common dimensions of overt integrity tests (substance abuse, aggression, and theft) found theft scores directly related to malingering, and indirectly related to injuries through lower safety compliance. Substance abuse scores were related to higher rates of injury through lower safety motivation and compliance. Aggression scores were not related to malingering or injuries. We conclude that screening job applicants with overt integrity tests can be a cost-effective way to reduce unnecessary workplace injuries, malingering, and the related workers’ compensation claims.
Percolation of Microparticle Matrix Promotes Cell Migration and Integration while Supporting Native Tissue Architecture

ABSTRACT Cells embedded in the extracellular matrix of tissues play a critical role in maintaining homeostasis while promoting integration and regeneration following damage or disease. Emerging engineered biomaterials utilize decellularized extracellular matrix as a tissue-specific support structure; however, many dense, structured biomaterials unfortunately demonstrate limited formability, fail to promote cell migration, and result in limited tissue repair. Here, we developed a reinforced composite material of densely packed acellular extracellular matrix microparticles in a hydrogel, termed tissue clay, that can be molded and crosslinked to mimic native tissue architecture. We utilized hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels, amorphously packed with acellular articular cartilage tissue particulated to ~125-250 microns in diameter and defined a percolation threshold of 0.57 (v/v) beyond which the compressive modulus exceeded 300kPa. Remarkably, primary chondrocytes recellularized particles within 48 hours, a process driven by chemotaxis, exhibited distributed cellularity in large engineered composites, and expressed genes consistent with native cartilage repair. We additionally demonstrated broad utility of tissue clays through recellularization and persistence of muscle, skin, and cartilage composites in a subcutaneous in vivo mouse model. Our findings suggest optimal strategies and material architectures to balance concurrent demands for large-scale mechanical properties while also supporting integration of dense musculoskeletal and connective tissues.
Crossing over the mountain

This talk will offer attendees the opportunity to think about how they communicate their scientific discoveries so that the general public can both understand and help carry messages forward to their own networks. This talk will demonstrate the art of storytelling, discuss how ideas are packaged into memes that must compete with all other information available, and show examples of people in a wide variety ofnetworks WHO are successfully engineering memes that outcompete fear and pseudoscience.
Wearable technology in service delivery processes: The gender-moderated technology objectification effect☆

Abstract In the current research, we investigate how employees’ adoption of wearable technology (i.e., a front-line employee using Google Glass for a hotel check-in) influences consumers’ service encounter evaluations and revisit intentions. Building on the theoretical frameworks of technology objectification effect, person sensitivity bias and gender stereotypes, we find that wearable technology has a differential impact on service evaluations based on the employee's gender. Study 1 demonstrates that for female employees, the adoption of wearable technology leads to more favorable customer evaluations in service failure encounters. Study 2 shows that for male employees, the adoption of wearable technology leads to less favorable customer evaluations in service success encounters. We discuss theoretical and managerial implications of these findings.
Milk films exposed to high humidity: studies with electron microscopy and electrophoresis.

Stainless steel plates, which are similar to milk contact surfaces, were dipped in fresh raw milk. The residual film was dried (37 C and 10% to 20% relative humidity) for 30 min. Treated plates were then exposed to 100% relative humidity for 30 min at 37 C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed splotches of fat on surfaces of dried films and the humidified films had a more aggregated and porous appearance than films that were dried only. The incidence of granulated lactose was greater among humidified samples than among nonhumidified samples. Discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that α- and β-caseins resisted rinsing from plates on which dried films were exposed to 100% relative humidity but not from plates on which films had been dried only.
A comparative study of linear and nonlinear feature extraction methods

This paper presents theoretical relationships among several generalized LDA algorithms and proposes computationally efficient approaches for them utilizing the relationships. Generalized LDA algorithms are extended nonlinearly by kernel methods resulting in nonlinear discriminant analysis. Performances and computational complexities of these linear and nonlinear discriminant analysis algorithms are compared.
From a “Far East Coast Cousin”

In this article, the author comments on Roger Sneed’s Representations of Homosexuality from the perspective of a queer Asian American theologian. Cheng appreciates how Sneed lifts up the experiences of LGBT African Americans. He also challenges Sneed to explore theological alternatives to liberation theology as well as dialogue with LGBT people of color from other racial and ethnic groups.
A fast learning algorithm for Gabor transform extraction

A simple neural network-based approach is introduced in this paper which allows the computation of the coefficients of the generalized non-orthogonal 2-D Gabor transform representation. The network is trained using a recursive least squares (RLS) type algorithm. This RLS learning algorithm offers better accuracy and faster convergence when compared to the least mean squares (LMS) based algorithms. The aim is to achieve minimum mean squared error for the reconstructed image from the set of the Gabor coefficients. Application of this scheme in image data reduction is demonstrated in the simulation results. >
Skin Biopsy Indications in Primary Care Practice: A Population-Based Study

Background: To better understand skin biopsy practice among primary care providers, we sought to describe (1) the type and variability of skin lesions biopsied within a defined population, (2) the providers9 previous skin cancer experience in clinical practice, and (3) how providers are alerted to the lesions. Methods: Our study was based upon 1215 skin biopsies done by family physicians, internists, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives at a health maintenance organization between June 1989 and February 1992. Biopsy reports were reviewed, and providers were both surveyed and interviewed. Results: There were 1004 benign, 89 premalignant, and 122 malignant skin lesions removed for biopsy by 47 primary care providers. The five most frequent biopsy diagnoses were nevi, seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses, cysts, and dermatofibromas. Personal interviews indicated that providers noticed lesions based on their experience with pictures, text descriptions, or variation from expected growth, behavior, or response to treatment. Seventy percent of providers interviewed stated that most often the patient brought the lesion to the attention of the provider. Conclusions: Among the skin lesions examined by biopsy in this primary care setting, 82.6 percent were benign, 7.3 percent were premalignant, and 10.0 percent were malignant. Worthy educational objectives suggested by this study include (1) meeting primary care providers9 need for information about early detection of skin cancers, (2) increasing provider access to visual dermatology resources, and (3) increasing patient awareness of skin cancers.
Statistical tests on clustered global earthquake synthetic data sets

We study the ability of statistical tests to identify nonrandom features of earthquake catalogs, with a focus on the global earthquake record since 1900. We construct four types of synthetic data sets containing varying strengths of clustering, with each data set containing on average 10,000 events over 100 years with magnitudes above M = 6. We apply a suite of statistical tests to each synthetic realization in order to evaluate the ability of each test to identify the sequences of events as nonrandom. Our results show that detection ability is dependent on the quantity of data, the nature of the type of clustering, and the specific signal used in the statistical test. Data sets that exhibit a stronger variation in the seismicity rate are generally easier to identify as nonrandom for a given background rate. We also show that we can address this problem in a Bayesian framework, with the clustered data sets as prior distributions. Using this new Bayesian approach, we can place quantitative bounds on the range of possible clustering strengths that are consistent with the global earthquake data. At M = 7, we can estimate 99th percentile confidence bounds on the number of triggered events, with an upper bound of 20% of the catalog for global aftershock sequences, with a stronger upper bound on the fraction of triggered events of 10% for long-term event clusters. At M = 8, the bounds are less strict due to the reduced number of events. However, our analysis shows that other types of clustering could be present in the data that we are unable to detect. Our results aid in the interpretation of the results of statistical tests on earthquake catalogs, both worldwide and regionally.
The clinical evaluation of UNIS: an expert system for the long-term care of patients with urinary incontinence

The effects of UNIS (urological nursing information system), a nurse expert system prototype, on the nursing care of elderly patients with urinary incontinence in a nursing home are determined. UNIS was designed to facilitate knowledge transfer of urinary incontinence to users and to advise nurse users on how to assess and manage the incontinent patients. UNIS was installed on two nursing units for ten weeks and the amount of user support was varied. A third nursing unit served as a control unit. Patients were matched according to their cognitive function and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. The wet occurrences of each patient were measured during the day and evening. Nurses' knowledge of urinary incontinence was measured on four separate occasions. All subjects served as their own control. Analysis-of-variance procedures were used to analyze the data. Installing UNIS significantly reduced the number of wet occurrences of a ten-week period. >
Geometrical-optics solution to light scattering by droxtal ice crystals

We investigate the phase matrices of droxtals at wavelengths of 0.66 and 11 μm by using an improved geometrical-optics method. An efficient method is developed to specify the incident rays and the corresponding impinging points on the particle surface necessary to initialize the ray-tracing computations. At the 0.66-μm wavelength, the optical properties of droxtals are different from those of hexagonal ice crystals. At the 11-μm wavelength, the phase functions for droxtals are essentially featureless because of strong absorption within the particles, except for ripple structures that are caused by the phase interference of the diffracted wave.
Organismal duplication, inclusive fitness theory, and altruism: understanding the evolution of endosperm and the angiosperm reproductive syndrome.

Abstract For almost a century, events relating to the evolutionary origin of endosperm, a unique embryo-nourishing tissue that is essential to the reproductive process in flowering plants, have remained a mystery. Integration of recent advances in phylogenetic reconstruction, comparative reproductive biology, and genetic theory can be used to elucidate the evolutionary events and forces associated with the establishment of endosperm. Endosperm is shown to be derived from one of two embryos formed during a rudimentary process of "double fertilization" that evolved in the ancestors of angiosperms. Acquisition of embryo-nourishing behavior (with accompanying loss of individual fitness) by this supernumerary fertilization product was dependent upon compensatory gains in the inclusive fitness of related embryos. The result of the loss of individual fitness by one of the two original products of double fertilization was the establishment of endosperm, a highly modified embryo/organism that reproduces cryptically through behavior that enhances the fitness of its associated embryo within a seed. Finally, although triploid endosperm remains a synapomorphy of angiosperms, inclusive fitness analysis demonstrates that the embryo-nourishing properties of endosperm initially evolved in a diploid condition.
Blood-based biomarkers for malignant gliomas

Malignant gliomas remain incurable and present unique challenges to clinicians, radiologists and clinical and translational investigators. One of the major problems in treatment of these tumors is our limited ability to reliably assess tumor response or progression. The most frequently used neuro-imaging studies (contrast-enhanced MRI and CT) rely on changes of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, providing only an indirect assessment of tumor burden. In addition, the BBB can be altered by commonly used interventions including radiation, glucocorticoids and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, further complicating the interpretation of scans. Newer radiologic techniques including PET and magnetic resonance spectroscopy are theoretically promising but thus far have not meaningfully changed the assessment of patients with malignant gliomas. A tumor-specific, blood-based biomarker would be of immediate use to clinicians and investigators if sufficiently sensitive and specific. This review discusses the potential utility of such a biomarker, the general classes of tumor-derived blood-based biomarkers and it summarizes the currently available data on circulating tumor cells, circulating nucleic acids and circulating proteins in patients with malignant gliomas. It is unclear which marker or marker class appears to be the most promising for these tumors. This article provides thoughts on how novel candidate blood-based markers could be discovered and tested in a more comprehensive way and why these efforts should be among the top priorities in neuro-oncologic research in the coming years.
Optimal cooperative jamming for security

In this paper, based on a cooperative jamming scheme, the design of the optimal covariance matrix of the artificial noise produced by a helper that maximizes the secret rate between a source and legitimate destination pair in the presence of multiple eavesdroppers is addressed. It is shown that the original nonconvex design problem can be transformed into a sequence of convex optimization problems. The rank property of the optimal covariance matrix is investigated. In the presence of multiple eavesdroppers, the optimality of beamforming is established. Further, in the presence of two eavesdroppers, it is shown that generally the zero-forcing solution does not maximize the secret rate. Finally, the robust design under imperfect channel state information is considered.
Observations of thermal plasmas in Jupiter's magnetotail

[i] A survey of thermal plasmas and magnetic fields is presented for the orbit of the Galileo spacecraft around Jupiter that occurred during the period May 4 through June 22, 1997. This orbit traversed the magnetotail out to Jovian radial distances of 100.2 R J in the magnetotail. Perijove was positioned at 9.3 Rj. Three primary ion populations were detected with the plasma analyzer: cool hydrogen ions with temperatures of 10 eV, hot hydrogen ions with temperatures of ∼10 keV, and a third population of heavy ions such as O ++ , O + , S ++ , and S +++ with temperatures in the range of 500 eV. Plasma flows near perijove were in the corotational direction but with speeds ∼60% of those for rigid corotation with the planet out to radial distances of ∼18 R J . In the radial range of 18-26 R J there were significant radial components for the bulk flows, and the flow components in the corotational direction reached values expected for rigid corotation when the current sheet was crossed. The transient character of the plasma parameters suggests that strong ion plasma acceleration is occurring in this region. The temperatures of the heavy ions increased from 5 x 10 6 K at 9.3 Rj to ∼10 8 K at 26 R J . At distances 50 Rj it varied as R -1.19 . The thermal plasma pressure in the current sheet is a factor of ∼10 less than the magnetic pressure at 9.3 R J at positions above or below the sheet but becomes equal to this magnetic pressure at radial distances >30 R J . The corresponding values of the ratio of the plasma to magnetic pressure, β, are in the range of 10-100 in the current sheet. The number densities and temperatures of these plasmas are 0.05-0.1 /cm 3 and 0.5-1 x 10 8 K, respectively. In the magnetotail the bulk flows of the thermal plasmas exhibit substantial components in the corotational and radially outward directions, but the bulk speeds of 50-200 km s -1 are significantly less than those for rigid corotation. For this single orbit the average bulk flows were ∼50 km s -1 in the premidnight sector and 200 km s -1 in the early morning sector at radial distances >∼50 R J . At apojove of 100 R J an antisunward flow of ∼200 km s -1 is found that is supportive of the magnetospheric wind reported for Voyager measurements of energetic charged particles. The 10-hour periodicity of the pairs of current sheet crossings at the position of the Galileo spacecraft includes a variety of dynamical signatures, which are suggested to be due to the changes in direction and pressures in the solar wind and due to the transient acceleration of plasmas in the current sheet.
SINGLE AND DOUBLE IONIZATION OF DIATOMIC MOLECULES IN STRONG LASER FIELDS

Strong-field single ionization and double ionization of two diatomic molecules, ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2},$ are studied and compared to Xe and Ar, using an intense ultrashort pulse Ti:sapphire laser in the $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}$ to $8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}{\mathrm{W}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ intensity range. ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ behaves like a structureless atom for both single and double ionization. The recently reported suppression of the ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}^{+}$ ion yield compared to ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}$ is confirmed in our experiment, but we show that the suppression is not due to dissociative recombination. Rather, we conclude that the ionization rate of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is below that predicted by tunneling ionization. We extend the study to the double ionization of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and find a distinctly reduced nonsequential double-ionization rate. We find evidence that electronic structure influences strong-field tunneling ionization in molecules.
Possible refugia in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska during the late Wisconsin glaciation

The interpretation of the extent of late Wisconsin glaciation in southeastern Alaska has varied between geologists and biologists. Maps and reports of the region prepared by geologists commonly indicated that late Wisconsin ice extended as a large uniform front west to the edge of the continental shelf. However, the distribution of plants and animals in the region has led many biologists to suggest that there may have been ice-free areas that served as refugia during the late Wisconsin. Based on analyses of aerial photographs, topographic maps, and bathymetric charts, in conjunction with a review of previous literature and reconnaissance fieldwork throughout the region, this study presents data supporting a limited ice extent in the Alexander Archipelago during the late Wisconsin and identifies possible ice-free areas that may have served as refugia. These areas include (1) the Fairweather Ground, (2) the Herbert Graves Island area, (3) the western coast of southern Baranof Island and adjacent continental...
Porous structure of silicon carbide refractories

The silicon carbide refractories studied here possess dissimilar structural characteristics, i.e., terms of their dominant pore size they can be arranged in the following descending order: recrystallized type → with silica binder → with nitride binder → with hydroxynitride binder → polycrystalline type.
Discovering workplace motivators for the millennial generation of IT employees

This paper provides an overview on motivational research and describes the research methodology and approach that was used to identify the workplace rewards and motivators that the youngest generation of employees, the millennial generation or generation Y, finds attractive in organizations looking to hire them for fulltime Information Technology (IT) positions. Preliminary findings from a pilot study conducted at Purdue University are shared.
Impedance of thin conducting films in a longitudinal magnetic field

Abstract Real and imaginary parts of the a.c. resistivity if thin conducting films in a longitudinal magnetic field are calculated. A method for obtaining the electronic mean free path, Fermi velocity and the effective mass is suggested.
Comparative study of defect transition energy calculation methods: The case of oxygen vacancy in In 2 O 3 and ZnO

Theoretical calculation of defect properties, especially transition energy levels, is typically done by first-principles density-functional theory calculation using supercells with finite size. So far, three approaches---band-filling corrections (BFC), band-edge corrections (BEC), and no corrections (NC)---have been applied to deal with the potential inaccuracy caused by the finite size. In this paper, we compare these three approaches by calculating the (0/2$+$ ionization energies of the oxygen vacancy (V${}_{\mathrm{O}}$) in In${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ and ZnO. We find that a correction must be included whether or not the defect level is deep or shallow, especially when the defect band has a large dispersion. The BFC approach gives the best correction. The BEC approach works well in GGA calculations only for certain systems in which the band gap underestimation is partially corrected by choosing effective band edges.
Neonatal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Before Discharge Is Better Than Serial Cranial Ultrasound in Predicting Cerebral Palsy in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

Objective. To compare the value of serial cranial ultrasound (US) with a single magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before discharge in very low birth weight preterm infants to predict cerebral palsy (CP). Methods. Infants who weighed Results. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for predicting CP were 71% and 91% at 20 month and 86% and 89% at 31 months, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of US for predicting CP were 29% and 86% at 20 months and 43% and 82% at 31 months. Conclusions. As a predictor of outcome for CP, MRI at near-term in very low birth weight preterm neonates is superior to US. However, both US and MRI demonstrate high specificity.
Wind-tunnel investigation of a fighter model at high angles of attack

A low-speed wind-tunnel investigation was conducted to examine the aerodynamic characteristics of the flowfield around a 3% scale model of YF-17 lightweight fighter prototype at high angles of attack using laser sheet flow visualization and force and moment measurements. The data indicate a good correlation between the observed flow phenomena and force and moment measurements at various orientations of the model, thus establishing the credibility of such experimental investigations for high-angle-of-attack aerodynamic research. The asymmetric shedding of vortices generated by the slender nose and leading-edge extensions (strakes) of the model dominate the aerodynamic phenomenon between 45and 65-deg angle of attack. The roll and yaw angles have considerable influence on vortex development and consequently on flow behavior at high angles of attack.
Using Caged Calcium to Study Sea Urchin Egg Cortical Granule Exocytosis in Vitro

Abstract We present a simple method for releasing calcium from the photolabile chelator DM-nitrophen in a microscope chamber and following the calcium-triggered exocytosis of sea urchin egg cortical granules. With this method, calcium can be introduced at different rates and the biological response can be monitored under these conditions. We find that this "uncaging" of calcium, but not magnesium, barium, or strontium (up to 500 μM), from DM-nitrophen triggers exocytosis. The timing and identity of which granules first fuse with the plasma membrane appear to be stochastic, although there does seem to be some subsequent positive cooperativity in the fusion of neighboring granules. Calcium-triggered exocytosis is a threshold phenomenon, and this threshold appears to be independent of the rate of calcium uncaging. Mild treatment with N-ethylmaleimide shifts this threshold so that higher concentrations of calcium are required for exocytosis and decreases the apparent rate of exocytosis despite the fact that all of the granules remain fusion competent, albeit with higher concentrations of calcium.
Fever Phobia Revisited: Have Parental Misconceptions About Fever Changed in 20 Years?

Objectives. Fever is one of the most common reasons that parents seek medical attention for their children. Parental concerns arise in part because of the belief that fever is a disease rather than a symptom or sign of illness. Twenty years ago, Barton Schmitt, MD, found that parents had numerous misconceptions about fever. These unrealistic concerns were termed “fever phobia.” More recent concerns for occult bacteremia in febrile children have led to more aggressive laboratory testing and treatment. Our objectives for this study were to explore current parental attitudes toward fever, to compare these attitudes with those described by Schmitt in 1980, and to determine whether recent, more aggressive laboratory testing and presumptive treatment for occult bacteremia is associated with increased parental concern regarding fever. Methods. Between June and September 1999, a single research assistant administered a cross-sectional 29-item questionnaire to caregivers whose children were enrolled in 2 urban hospital-based pediatric clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. The questionnaire was administered before either health maintenance or acute care visits at both sites. Portions of the questionnaire were modeled after Schmitt9s and elicited information about definition of fever, concerns about fever, and fever management. Additional information included home fever reduction techniques, frequency of temperature monitoring, and parental recall of past laboratory workup and treatment that these children had received during health care visits for fever. Results. A total of 340 caregivers were interviewed. Fifty-six percent of caregivers were very worried about the potential harm of fever in their children, 44% considered a temperature of 38.9°C (102°F) to be a “high” fever, and 7% thought that a temperature could rise to ≥43.4°C (≥110°F) if left untreated. Ninety-one percent of caregivers believed that a fever could cause harmful effects; 21% listed brain damage, and 14% listed death. Strikingly, 52% of caregivers said that they would check their child9s temperature ≤1 hour when their child had a fever, 25% gave antipyretics for temperatures Conclusions. Fever phobia persists. Pediatric health care providers have a unique opportunity to make an impact on parental understanding of fever and its role in illness. Future studies are needed to evaluate educational interventions and to identify the types of medical care practices that foster fever phobia.fever, fever phobia, child, children, antipyretics, sponging, health care practices.
Levels of Illiteracy in England, 1530–1730

While remaining appropriately humble about the crudity of his data and the limitations of his sources, the social historian who is willing to employ numerical methods and statistical procedures can make reasonably confident estimates of the extent of illiteracy in early modern England. A careful examination of the ability of witnesses before the ecclesiastical courts to sign their depositions, of testators to sign their wills, of applicants for marriage licences to sign the allegations and bonds, and of subscribers to protestations and declarations actually to write their names on the document, reveals a pattern of widespread but unevenly distributed illiteracy. The best of these sources provides evidence not only on the social structure of illiteracy, but also on its changing level between the sixteenth and the eighteenth centuries. Progress towards the reduction of illiteracy was decidedly erratic.
Long-chain Alkyl Substituents in Native Asphaltic Molecules

THE term petroleum asphaltic usually refers to either the resin fraction (propane insoluble, n-pentane soluble), or the asphal-tene fraction (n-pentane insoluble, benzene soluble), or the combination of the two. Infrared spectra between 10 and 16 µm of these materials contain four bands at approximately 865, 815, 760 and 730 cm−1 (see Fig. 1). The first three bands have hitherto been assigned to 1-isolated, 2-adjacent and 3-adjacent C–H aromatic out-of-plane bending vibrations and the fourth to polymethylene type rocking1. Because, according to Bellamy2, the ranges for 1-isolated, 2, 3 and 4-adjacent bending vibrations are 900–860, 860–800, 810–750 and 752–718 cm−1 respectively, it is conceivable that the fourth band in the asphaltic spectrum may well be that of 4-adjacent vibrations. Whether the assignment of the fourth band should be to (CH2)n rocking or to the 4-adjacent aromatic bending is a controversial question. The fact that the (CH2)n rocking vibration is unsymmetrical and weak in these samples is consistent with X-ray observations that asphaltenes do not normally contain long-chain alkyl substituents3. Hence the fourth band in the asphaltic spectrum may not be due to long-chain (CH2)n rocking.
Inequality of direct and converse piezoelectric coefficients

Abstract It is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally that the direct and converse piezoelectric coefficients. ∂P/∂σ and ∂e/∂E, are not equal as is generally believed. The correct relationship between these coefficients is derived, and it is shown that the experimentally measured quantities analogous to the piezoelectric coefficients are equal. Similar considerations apply to the relationship between the pyroelectric and electrocaloric coefficients.
Teratogenic Effect of Broad-Band Electromagnetic Field on Neonatal Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract Pregnant mice (Mus musculus), strain Swiss Webster, were exposed to a continuous electromagnetic field (12.8V/m) beginning in the third week of pregnancy. Histological and hematological analysis showed gender specific responses in 21 day-old mice after in-utero and post-natal continuous exposure. Automated lymphocyte percentage and total white blood cell counts were significantly elevated in exposed 21 day-old female mice compared to control mice. Lymphoma-like cells were seen in higher numbers in exposed 21 day-old male mice. Megaloblastic changes, such as hypersegmented neutrophils, were observed in exposed mice. The blood from control neonatal mice was more viscous than that of exposed mice, enough to interfere with making a blood smear. The adult female mice showed no significant differences in the above hematologic parameters between exposed and control groups. Histological study showed the following pathological changes in the adrenal cortex: degeneration/necrosis in the zona glomerulosa; h...
Distributed multi-agent control of parallel Cúk converters using feedback linearization

A distributed control scheme, based on feedback linearization, is proposed for proper current sharing in parallel Cuk converters. Compared to the conventional master-slave control method used in parallel converters, the proposed distributed scheme enjoys modularity, improved reliability, and more design flexibility; it also eliminates the necessity for a central master controller. The nonlinear state-space average model of the multiphase Cuk converter is developed. Feedback linearization is used to transform the nonlinear average model to an equivalent single-integrator dynamics. A distributed control protocol is developed for the single-integrator dynamic model and numerical switch-level simulations are presented to verify the performance of the proposed method.
Origin and distribution of the amygdalofugal pathways in the rat: An experimental neuronatomical study

The fields of origin of the amygdalofugal pathways in the albino rat were studied by using the Fink-Heimer technique to stain degenerating fibers and terminals in brains of animals sacrificed four and seven days after small unilateral lesions of the amygdale. A surprisingly restricted field of origin was found for the supracommissural stria terminalis — the component projecting to the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus Only a lesion in the most posterior part of the cortical nucleus produced degeneration in this pathway. The postcommissural stria terminalis which apparently distributes to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and preoptic area originates in a more widespread area including parts of both the basolateral and corticomedial complexes. Although intense terminal degeneration could be seen within the amygdala following all lesions, long fibers projecting into the anterior amygdaloid area, lateral preoptic area and lateral hypothalamus were found only after lesions in which fibers of passage from periamygdaloid cortex could have been interrupted. Convincing evidence, therefore, of a long axon ventral amygdalofugal pathway of the rat was not found in this study.
A computational study of some nitrofluoromethanes

A group of eight nitrofluoromethanes has been studied by the ab initio SCF GAUSSIAN 82 computational procedure. All structures were optimized at the 3-21G level and then used to compute bond orders, as measures of relative bond strengths, and electrostatic potentials, as guides to the molecular charge distributions. The C-F bonds were found to be strengthened by the presence of other fluorines or nitro groups; this is attributed to inductive electron withdrawal by these other substituents, which leads to significant double-bond character in the C-F bond, through resonance back-donation by the fluorine. This simultaneously weakens or even eliminates the negative electrostatic potential normally associated with the fluorine. The interesting observation that there are marked differences between the strengths of the two N-O bonds in some nitro groups can be quantitatively related to the environment of each oxygen. The C-NO2 bond strengths are relatively insensitive to the presence of other-NO2or-F substituents. However, CHF(NO2)2 is found to be significantly more stable than CH(NO2)3, presumably because the crowding of three -NO2 groups together on the same carbon is partially relieved.