cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using analytic derivatives to assess the impact of phase function Fourier decomposition technique on the accuracy of a radiative transfer model

Abstract Fourier decomposition of the phase function is essential to decouple the azimuthal component of the radiative transfer equation for multiple scattering calculations. This decomposition can be carried out by means of a direct numerical method based on the definition of the Fourier transform (numFT), or by an expansion of the phase function in terms of spherical Legendre polynomials (sphFT). numFT requires interpolation of the phase function between discrete angles, leading to spurious errors in the final computations. This error is difficult to quantify by means of intensity-only computations, since it is hard to determine the absolute accuracy of any given approach. We show that a linearization (analytic computation of derivatives) of the intensity with respect to parameters governing the phase function can be compared against results using the finite difference method, thereby providing a self-consistency test for characterizing and quantifying the error. We have applied this approach to two linearized versions of the Matrix Operator Method, which are identical in all respects except that one uses numFT while the other uses sphFT. In both cases, we compute the derivatives of the intensity with respect to aerosol parameters governing scattering in the simulated atmosphere. Comparison of the derivatives against their finite difference estimates shows a reduction of error by several orders of magnitude when Legendre polynomials are employed. We have also examined the effect of the angular resolution of the phase function on the error due to the numFT technique. A general reduction of error is seen with increasing angular resolution, indicating that interpolation is indeed the major error source. Also, we have pointed out a related source of error in numFT computations that occurs when Fourier decomposition is carried out on the composite phase function of a layer consisting of more than one scatterer. We conclude that an expansion of the phase function in terms of Legendre polynomials eliminates the need for interpolation, making it the more suitable method for linearization of radiative transfer, especially with respect to aerosol properties.
Predicted structures and stabilities of the surface A grooves and double bilayer height steps on the GaAs(001)-2 × 4 surface

Abstract “A-type” surface steps on GaAs(001) have edges parallel to the direction of the As-As dimers. We identify here two series of A step structures on this surface: the “groove structures” and the “double bilayer height steps”. Both can be thought as being obtained by cleaving the flat 2 × 4 surfaces into two bilayer height step segments and reassembling these segments into step structures. The relative stabilities of these two step structures and their stabilities with respect to other low energy A step structures are examined using our newly developed method of “linear combination of structural motifs”. We find that (i) for a given separation S (in units of surface atomic spacing a s ) between the two step segments the grooves are more stable than the double bilayer steps; (ii) the S = 1 A groove is predicted to be the most stable A groove structure, whereas (iii) the S = 0 double A step is predicted to be the most stable A step structure over a wide range of the Ga chemical potential.
Fossilized Eggs in a Pennsylvanian Blastoid

A single specimen of Pentremites rusticus (Echinodermata, Blastoidea) from the Early Pennsylvanian of Oklahoma has hundreds of apparent eggs in one of its abnormal anal hydrospire groups. This rare occurrence suggests that female blastoids in this sexually dimorphic species had modified their anal hydrospiresfor brooding eggs instead of for normal respiration.
A graph-theoretic algorithm for disturbance localization in large power grids using residue estimation

In this paper we consider the problem of localizing unknown disturbances in large power systems using a measurement-based graph theoretic method. We first show that the aggregate electro-mechanical model of the power system, under certain assumptions, can be analyzed analogously to a generic nth-order asymmetric networked dynamic system. Considering that the network exhibits a clustering structure leading to slow and fast eigenvalues, we propose an input localization method based on the properties of the weak nodal domains corresponding to the first p dominant slow eigenvalues. In particular, we prove that for systems defined over p-area complete graphs the input localization is unique. We provide simulation results to illustrate our algorithm.
Bartlett-type formulas for complex multivariate time series of mixed spectra

Abstract Asymptotic normality is established for the sample covariances and correlations of complex-valued multivariate time series with mixed spectra. Expressions for the asymptotic covariances are given that extend the classical results of Bartlett.
Long-term cognitive, emotional, and functional outcomes in trauma intensive care unit survivors without intracranial hemorrhage.

Background: Trauma patients without intracranial hemorrhage or focal neurologic deficits are typically considered low risk for lasting neuropsychological and emotional deficits, and such sequela may be overlooked, especially in those with skull fractures and concussions. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for persistent cognitive impairment and emotional and functional difficulties in a sample of adult trauma intensive care unit survivors without intracranial hemorrhage. Methods: We queried the Vanderbilt University Trauma Registry for all patients admitted during 2003 with an Injury Severity Score >25 and a head computed tomography scan showing no intracranial hemorrhage. Of the 97 patients identified, 58 were evaluated, in person between 12 to 24 months after hospital discharge, with a comprehensive battery of cognitive, emotional, and functional instruments. The Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Decline in the Elderly-Short Form (IQCODE-SF) was used to evaluate for pre-existing cognitive deficits in patients suspected of having cognitive impairment before their trauma. Results: A total of 33 (57%) patients were determined to have cognitive impairment, which was most pronounced in the domains of attention and executive functioning/verbal fluency. Of these patients, one (3%) was determined by the IQCODE-SF to be cognitively impaired before trauma intensive care unit hospitalization. Of the 58 patients studied, 21 (36.2%) had a concussion or skull fracture and 37 (63.8%) had neither. Cognitive impairment was significantly more likely to occur in patients who sustained a concussion or skull fracture than in trauma patients who did not (81% versus 43%; p = 0.006). Patients reported significant depressive symptoms (56%), significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (38%), and significant symptoms of anxiety (29%). Quality of life scores were lower than in the general United States population and employment difficulties were widespread. A total of 34% of patients reported being unemployed at follow-up, and cognitive impairment was more common among these patients compared with patients in the workforce (p = 0.03). Neither cognitive impairment nor emotional dysfunction was associated with age, sex, race, Injury Severity Score, blood loss, ventilatory days, or intramedullary nailing of long-bone fractures. Conclusions: The majority of trauma survivors without intracranial hemorrhage display persistent cognitive impairment, which is nearly twice as likely in those with skull fractures or concussions. This cognitive impairment was associated with functional defects, poor quality of life, and an inability to return to work. Future research must delineate modifiable risk factors for these poor outcomes, especially in patients with skull fractures and concussions, to help improve long-term cognitive and functional status.
Syndepositional thrust-related deformation and sedimentation in an Ancestral Rocky Mountains basin, Central Colorado trough, Colorado, USA

Pennsylvanian–Permian synorogenic deposits (Minturn and Sangre de Cristo Formations) of the Central Colorado trough record an interplay of deformation and sedimentation in an Ancestral Rocky Mountains basin. The Central Colorado trough was a north-trending basin bordered by basement-involved highlands of the Uncompahgre uplift on the west and the Ancestral Front Range and Apishapa uplift on the east. Stratigraphic data show that the Central Colorado trough was an asymmetric basin in which coarse-grained sediments were deposited adjacent to the Sand Creek–Crestone thrust fault system of the Uncompahgre uplift. These deposits pinch out eastward against the Apishapa uplift along the eastern margin of the basin. Lithofacies analysis shows that the Central Colorado trough was filled by fan-delta, fluvial-delta, and turbidite deposits of the Middle Pennsylvanian Minturn Formation and by alluvial-fan, braided-stream, and meandering-stream deposits of the Upper Pennsylvanian–Permian Sangre de Cristo Formation. Geologic mapping has identified three syndepositional structures in the strata of the Central Colorado trough that indicate Pennsylvanian–Permian shortening: (1) the Gibson Peak growth syncline in the footwall of the Crestone thrust fault, which formed by syndepositional rotation of the Crestone Conglomerate Member of the Sangre de Cristo Formation during thrust displacement; (2) the Sand Creek thrust fault, which cuts the lower part of the Crestone Conglomerate Member but is covered by younger deposits of the Crestone Conglomerate Member; and (3) an intraformational angular unconformity in the Sangre de Cristo Formation that separates folded strata from overlying less deformed strata. All three structures indicate general east-west shortening during deposition. We interpret the Central Colorado trough as a flexural basin on the basis of syndepositional thrust-related structures, basin asymmetry, and lithofacies distribution. Displacement on the east-verging Sand Creek–Crestone thrust fault system appears to have controlled uplift of the central part of the Uncompahgre uplift and also subsidence in the adjacent basin. The Apishapa uplift, located along the eastern margin of the basin, is interpreted as a possible flexural forebulge related to crustal loading of thrust sheets along the western margin of the Central Colorado trough. Geologic mapping, subsurface data, and identification of syndepositional structures has also led to a better understanding of post-Paleozoic deformation of Pennsylvanian–Permian strata of the Central Colorado trough and the structural evolution of the present Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
The Tight Skin (Tsk) Mutation in the Mouse, a Model for Human Fibrotic Diseases, Is Tightly Linked to the β2-Microglobulin (B2m) Gene on Chromosome 2

The Tsk mutation in the mouse is characterized by the excessive accumulation of collagen in skin and various internal organs, including the heart and lungs. These connective tissue abnormalities are similar to those present in human systemic sclerosis or scleroderma. The Tsk mutation provides an opportunity to investigate, at the molecular level, the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. As a first step to cloning the Tsk gene, we report the localization of the Tsk mutation with respect to known molecular markers on mouse chromosome 2. N2 progeny carrying the Tsk mutation were obtained from an intersubspecific backcross of [(C57BL/6-pa +/+ Tsk x Mus castaneus)F1 x M. castaneus] mice. Genomic DNA from each N2 mouse was subjected to Southern and PCR analyses to identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms and simple sequence length polymorphisms, respectively. Our results refine the location of Tsk to a 3-cM region, eliminate several genes from consideration as the Tsk mutation, identify molecular probes tightly linked with Tsk, and suggest candidate genes responsible for the Tsk phenotype.
Nitrogenase XI: Mössbauer studies on the cofactor centers of the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii OP.

We have studied the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii OP with Mossbauer spectroscopy in applied magnetic fields up to 50 kG. The results are as follows. (1) The Mossbauer spectra of the S = 32 centers, which reside on the cofactor of nitrogenase, have been decomposed into six subcomponents. This suggests that each center contains 5–7, most probably 6, Fe atoms, thus confirming our earlier conclusions which were based on the quantitation of EPR data and on the assumption that the MoFe protein contains (30 ± 2) Fe atoms. (2) Analysis of the high-field data shows that three subsites are characterized by a positive magnetic hyperfine coupling constant, Ao, while A0 is negative for the other three sites. This observation demonstrates that the S = 32 centers are spin-coupled structures. (3) The zero-field splitting parameter D = + (6 ± 1.5) cm−1 obtained from the Mossbauer data is in good agreement with our earlier EPR results, D ≈ +5.5 cm−1. (4) The resolution of the Mossbauer spectra of the MoFe protein can be dramatically increased by employing Fourier transform deconvolution techniques. This allows a clear demonstration of spectral component S.
Discriminants of Umemura polynomials associated to Painlevé III

Explicit discriminant and resultant formulas for the Umemura polynomials associated with rational solutions to Painleve III equation are proved; P.A. Clarkson conjectured these results, and the formulas are expressed as products of small integers to large powers, and the discriminants can also be used to determine when the roots of Umemura's special polynomials, which have very interesting structure and striking symmetry, coalesce in the complex plane.
EIGHT CASE REPORTS OF LEARNING RECOVERY IN CHILDREN WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS AFTER EARLY INTERVENTION

Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is often recommended for children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). It is an empirically supported treatment designed to address the core symptoms of autism including language delays, social and play skills, and restricted and repetitive behaviors as well as other related deficits in cognition and adaptive behavior. Though there are a growing number of research studies supporting EIBI, many questions remain about the nature and stability of best outcomes. The current study provides case descriptions of eight children previously diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and mental retardation who, after EIBI treatment, no longer met behavioral criteria for mental retardation or a PDD. The average gain in IQ standard scores was 34.6 (� 13.2) points; and, the average gain in adaptive behavior standard scores was 43 (� 25.3) points. Nonverbal IQ standard scores (mean ¼ 93 � 12.6) and academic achievement standard scores (mean ¼ 105.3 � 18.7) ended within the average range. Language skills remained impaired for seven children. The cases support findings of other researchers that learning recovery in autism and PDD is possible and may be related to intensive behavioral treatment. Individual differences in response to EIBI treatment are discussed. Copyright # 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Health domains and race in generic preference-based health-related quality of life instruments in the United States literature

Race differences in health have been extensively analyzed and documented in the literature, especially between African Americans or blacks and whites in the United States. Despite the vast literature in the area, the majority of studies that explore the relationship between race and health use outcomes such as self-rated health, mortality or morbidity, and disability, but very few use Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) measures and their domains or dimensions. This narrative review aims to provide a better understanding of the relationship between race and health domains that are commonly used in preference-based HRQoL measures. We investigated the literature on race, physical health, mental health, pain and discomfort, cognition, neurologic spectrum domains, dexterity, ambulation, vitality and social functioning domains. We conducted a literature search and review using the key words race and the health domain of interest, using medical and social sciences databases, such as MEDLINE/Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Google Scholar portal.The majority of the studies identified in the literature show that African Americans or blacks in the United States tend to have lower scores than whites throughout a variety of health domains found in preference-based HRQoL measures. This review also emphasizes the scarcity of studies that investigate some health domains, such as social functioning, dexterity, vitality and neurologic spectrum domains, and therefore we identify the need for more studies focusing on race and measures that address such domains.
The Impact of Positive Practices on Nurse Work Environments: Emerging Applications of Positive Organizational Scholarship:

The overall purpose of improving work environments in health care is to enhance patient care delivery and improve the retention of nurses by engaging nurses in a model of cultural change that enhances communication and collaboration and actively involves nurses in organizational and clinical decision making. This article reports the findings from a 5-year study that describes an educational intervention for nurse leaders and a unit-based educational intervention for nursing staff, based on the application of Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) and its impact on nursing work environments.
Constitutive desensitization: a new paradigm for g protein-coupled receptor regulation.

GPCRs are a large family of cell-surface proteins that regulate many important biochemical pathways and physiological responses. The isolation and characterization of GPCRs represent one of the more remarkable success stories that occurred during the revolution in biology of the last quarter century. Of the many discoveries that originated in the laboratory of Robert Lefkowitz at Duke University concerning GPCR regulation, none is more fundamental than the elucidation of the families of GRKs and arrestin proteins that terminate GPCR signaling. In this essay, we will discuss how advances in microscopy and biology have made the visualization of GPCR, GRK, and arrestin activity possible in single cells. Additionally, we will discuss how imaging studies using arrestins and a naturally occurring mutant of the vasopressin receptor led to the recognition of a novel phenotypic receptor behavior, in which the receptor desensitizes in the absence of agonist. We have termed this process constitutive desensitization,...
Expedient methodology for the quantification of interconnect-induced semiconductor substrate noise

A methodology is proposed for the quantification and analysis of interconnect-induced noise in semiconductor substrates. The methodology is based on the utilization of commonly-used two-dimensional interconnect parasitics extractors together with SPICE-like simulators. Thus, the proposed model offers a convenient alternative to the use of three-dimensional field solvers for the expedient investigation of the attributes and potential consequences of interconnect-induced substrate noise on on-chip signal integrity.
BILE FISTULAS AND RELATED ABNORMALITIES : BLEEDING, OSTEOPOROSIS, CHOLELITHIASIS AND DUODENAL ULCERS.

A clearer understanding of the various abnormalities which may develop in relation to the experimental or clinical bile fistula will be of value to the laboratory worker as well as to the physician and surgeon. A better comprehension of these diseased conditions will make for a saner analysis of the great mass of experimental data relating to the various types of bile fistula. Too frequently in the literature the bile fistula material is used to debate a physiological state whereas in reality the animal is in a pathological condition. It is possible but not easy to keep a bile fistula dog in a normal state for months or years if proper attention is given to the diet and physical state. The most significant abnormalities are-intestinal disturbances, spontaneous bleeding, osteoporosis, cholelithiasis and duodenal ulcer. Three types of bile fistula were used in our experiments and each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Intestinal intoxication is best controlled by diet, by whole bile or bile salts or combinations of dog and ox bile. Spontaneous bleeding seems to be due to the loss of something by way of the bile and this can be prevented by bile feeding. The blood deficiency appears to be a lack of prothrombin. Osteoporosis appears inevitably after many months if bile is excluded from the intestine. This state is related to the lack of absorption of vitamin D. It is of some interest that liver feeding will prevent it. Duodenal ulcers and cholelithiasis are common in bile fistula dogs and absolute control or prevention is not easy. It may be restated that bile secretion into the intestine is necessary for normal health and even for actual continuation of life beyond a few months' period. Some of these experimental data should be of value to physicians and surgeons in the care and study of human fistula cases and should emphasize the necessity of prompt dietary control.
Molecular dynamics simulation of poly(spiropyran-L-glutamate) : influence of chromophore isomerization

A study of the influence of the spiropyran to merocyanine ring opening on a model of poly(spiropyran-L-glutamate) as implied by the experimental data (T. M. Cooper, K. A. Obermeier, L. V. Natarajan, and R. L. Crane (1992) Photochemistry and Photobiology, 55, 1–7) is presented. The individual chromophore is studied by the AM1 semiempirical approach, while molecular mechanics and dynamics calculations are employed in the analysis of the poly(spiropyran-L-glutamate) model. It is shown that the α-helical secondary structure is less conserved in the polypeptide substituted with the merocyanine form of the chromophore. In particular, larger side-chain flexibility, increased backbone hydrogen-bond lengths, as well as a larger helix bending are calculated. Furthermore, a random conformational minimization calculation finds the intrinsic behavior of the spiropyran molecular system as being more of a helix “maker” than its merocyanine analogue. The interactions of the chromophore substituent with other side chains prove, in part, that an early event in the decay of the α-helical structure is the formation of hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic acid groups and the merocyanine oxygens. The results lend support to the experimental observation that the merocyanine group destabilizes the α-helical framework of the polypeptide, thus possibly allowing the entry of solvent molecules into the α-helical core, while spiropyran in its closed form shields it from the solvent. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Global Illness and Deaths Caused by Rotavirus Disease in Children

To estimate the global illness and deaths caused by rotavirus disease, we reviewed studies published from 1986 to 2000 on deaths caused by diarrhea and on rotavirus infections in children. We assessed rotavirus-associated illness in three clinical settings (mild cases requiring home care alone, moderate cases requiring a clinic visit, and severe cases requiring hospitalization) and death rates in countries in different World Bank income groups. Each year, rotavirus causes approximately 111 million episodes of gastroenteritis requiring only home care, 25 million clinic visits, 2 million hospitalizations, and 352,000–592,000 deaths (median, 440,000 deaths) in children <5 years of age. By age 5, nearly every child will have an episode of rotavirus gastroenteritis, 1 in 5 will visit a clinic, 1 in 60 will be hospitalized, and approximately 1 in 293 will die. Children in the poorest countries account for 82% of rotavirus deaths. The tremendous incidence of rotavirus disease underscores the urgent need for interventions, such as vaccines, to prevent childhood deaths in developing nations.
Integrin-mediated Activation of Focal Adhesion Kinase Is Required for Signaling to Jun NH2-terminal Kinase and Progression through the G1 Phase of the Cell Cycle

The extracellular matrix exerts a stringent control on the proliferation of normal cells, suggesting the existence of a mitogenic signaling pathway activated by integrins, but not significantly by growth factor receptors. Herein, we provide evidence that integrins cause a significant and protracted activation of Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), while several growth factors cause more modest or no activation of this enzyme. Integrin-mediated stimulation of JNK required the association of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) with a Src kinase and p130CAS, the phosphorylation of p130CAS, and subsequently, the recruitment of Crk. Ras and PI-3K were not required. FAK–JNK signaling was necessary for proper progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. These findings establish a role for FAK in both the activation of JNK and the control of the cell cycle, and identify a physiological stimulus for JNK signaling that is consistent with the role of Jun in both proliferation and transformation.
Digital predistortion techniques for linearized power amplifiers

Future generations of wireless communications are expected to place increasing burdens on the efficiency and linearity of power amplifiers, due to the use of more complex multi-carrier waveforms and OFDM. This has implications for the design of transmitters in portable/mobile devices as well as base stations and access points. This paper will summarize the digital predistortion techniques that can be employed to improve the performance of wireless power amplifiers.
Effective Syntheses of 2‐trimethylsilylmethyl‐3‐trimethylsilyl‐1‐propene and its 1,1‐d2‐ and 1,1,1′,1′,3,3‐ d6‐isotopomers

New and effective routes to synthesize 2-trimethylsilylmethyl-3-trimethylsilyl-1-propene and its 1,1-d2- and 1,1,1′,1′,3,3-d6-isotopomers have been developed, using the displacement reaction of lithium trimethylsilylcyanocuprate with allylic halides and tosylates. These compounds are pivotal precursors for the gas-phase synthesis and characterization of the trimethylenemethane anion, and for negative ion photoelectron spectroscopic investigations of the singlet–triplet splitting in trimethylenemethane. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contribution of Excess Weight Gain During Pregnancy and Macrosomia to the Cesarean Delivery Rate, 1990–2000

Objective. After declining for many years, cesarean delivery rates recently increased. To explore whether this increase is associated with excess weight gain during pregnancy, resulting in macrosomic infants who require cesarean delivery, we examined trends in excess weight gain, macrosomia, and cesarean delivery. Methods. Analysis of 1990–2000 US Natality Files of birth certificate data were restricted to first birth, singleton infants of 37 to 42 weeks’ gestation to avoid confounding by repeat cesarean delivery, complications of multigestational pregnancy, and preterm and postterm birth. Excess weight gain was defined according to current guidelines (41+ lb) and macrosomia as birth weight >4000 g. Results. From 1990–2000, excess weight gain rose steadily from 18.6% to 24.2%. There was a 19.3% decline in macrosomic infants among women who gained excess weight compared with an 11.9% decline among women who gained 15–40 lb, although the absolute risk remained substantially greater among women who gained excess weight (eg, 14.2% vs 7.2%, in 2000). From 1990–1997, cesarean delivery declined by 20.2% among women who gained excess weight compared with 15.7% among women who gained 15 to 40 lb. After 1997, cesarean delivery increased in all weight gain categories, and absolute risks in 2000 were 25.8% for women who gained excess weight compared with 21.6% for women who gained 15–40 lb. Overall, women who gained excess weight accounted for 24.1% of cesarean deliveries in 1990 and 28.1% in 2000. Conclusions. Excess weight gain and macrosomia do not seem to be the primary factors that contribute to the recent increase in cesarean delivery because cesarean delivery rates have increased in all weight gain categories and macrosomia rates have decreased steadily from 1990–2000. Nonetheless, women who gain excess weight account for a growing proportion of cesarean deliveries because their relative numbers have grown.
Modeling message propagation in random graph networks

Message propagation is used in a wide range of applications, such as search in unstructured P2P overlays, modeling infection spread in epidemiology, and modeling the spread of gossip in social networks. For example, in a P2P network that has an unstructured overlay, search for a piece of information is conducted by propagating the query message within the network, usually with the desire that as many nodes as possible are covered with as few message forwardings as possible. In this paper, we study the behavior of the message propagation process in random graph networks and give a simple model to describe this process. When applied to a large network with random graph topology, the message propagation process can usually be modeled as a random pick process or the coupon collection problem. We show that these models are less accurate when the number of covered nodes becomes large. We investigate the inaccuracy and then propose refined models which remedy the factors that cause the error. The refined models have been confirmed by our simulations to effectively compensate for the errors, especially under high coverage conditions. Thus, when a large number of messages is expected to be used in the message propagation process, the refined models of higher orders are essential.
Design and performance comparisons of two multi-drive systems with unity power factor

From economical aspects, the multi-drive systems are a promising application area for the converters, where the cost and size of the converters are shared by multiple inverter-motors. Given terminal constraints of unity power factor in grid line and independent multiple motor controls in output ports, two multi-drive topologies are possible: one with single PWM-VSR feeding inverters through the common dc bus, and the other using a diode rectifier and an active power filter with its own load. Despite several publications for two systems, the features and advantages of the two systems have not been clearly explained. This paper, in detail, presents the theoretical analyses and systematic comparisons of the two multi-drive topologies, from converter kVA ratings, dc-link voltage requirements, switch ratings, semiconductor losses and reactive component designs point of views.
Routing with a Markovian Metric to Promote Local Mixing

Routing protocols have traditionally been based on finding shortest paths under certain cost metrics. A conventional routing metric models the cost of a path as the sum of the costs on the constituting links. This paper introduces the concept of a Markovian metric, which models the cost of a path as the cost of the first hop plus the cost of the second hop conditioned on the first hop, and so on. The notion of the Markovian metric is fairly general. It is potentially applicable to scenarios where the cost of sending a packet (or a stream of packets) over a link may depend on the previous hop of the packet (or the stream). Such scenario arises, for instance, in a wireless mesh network equipped with local mixing, a recent link layer advance. This scenario is examined as a case study for the Markovian metric. The local mixing engine sits between the routing and MAC layers. It maintains information about the packets each neighbor has, and identifies opportunities to mix the outgoing packets via network coding to reduce the transmissions in the air. We use a Markovian metric to model the reduction of channel resource consumption due to local mixing. This leads to routing decisions that can better take advantage of local mixing. We have implemented a system that incorporates local mixing and source routing using a Markovian metric in Qualnet. The experimental results demonstrate significant throughput gain and resource saving.
Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Bicyclic β‐Lactones Via Nucleophile‐Catalyzed Aldol‐Lactonization (NCAL)

(1,4-Dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-7-en-8-yloxy)trimethylsilane 1,4-Cyclohexanedione mono-ethylene ketal Trimethylsilyl chloride Triethylamine 3-(2-(2-Oxoethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl) propanoic acid 360794-17-8 Triphenylphosphine N-Methyl-2-chloropyridinium trifluoromethane sulfonate Pyridinium, 2- chloro-1-methyl-, 1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulfonate (1:1) 2-Chloropyridine Methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate Quinidine Diisopropylethylamine Keywords: organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis; bicyclic β-lactones; aldehyde acids; nucleophile-catalyzed aldol-lactonization (NCAL); activated aldol products
Comparison of surface roughness measurements by stylus profiler, AFM and non-contact optical profiler

Abstract Surface roughness measurements were performed on a glass-ceramic disk substrate by stylus profiler (SP), atomic force microscope (AFM) and non-contact optical profiler (NOP). Results of surface measurements are presented and the differences between SP, AFM and NOP roughness measurements are discussed. The effects of stylus size, scan size and sampling interval on roughness parameters are investigated. The methodology of choosing the scan size and sampling interval is suggested. AFM is concluded to be the most suitable surface measuring instrument for roughness measurement on the glass-ceramic substrate. If SP is used to make the measurement, the tip radius should be in the order of 0.2 μ. However, localized damage to the test surface may occur owing to high contact stress. NOP using an objective magnification of 40 or lower is not recommended because the glass-ceramic substrate contains submicron roughness.
A cross-cultural analysis of sex differences in the behavior of children aged three through 11

Summary Our study suggests that (a) there are universal sex differences in the behavior of children 3–11 years of age, but the differences are not consistent nor as great as the studies of American and Western European children would suggest; (b) socialization pressure in the form of task assignment and the associated frequency of interaction with different categories of individuals—i.e., infants, adults, and peers—may well explain many of these differences; (c) aggression, perhaps especially rough and tumble play, and touching behavior seem the best candidates for biophysical genesis; (d) all of the behaviors that are characteristic of males and females seem remarkably malleable under the impact of socialization pressures, which seem to be remarkably consistent from one society to another; and (e) the difference in many of the types of behavior seems to be one of style rather than intent: i.e., seeking help (“feminine”) rather than attention (“masculine”), and justifying dominance by appealing to the rul...
Factors Affecting Inter- and Intra-specific Pollen Rejection in Nicotiana

Abstract Inter- and intra-specific compatibility systems in the genus Nicotiana have been used to identify factors that control pollen recognition. N. alata has a classic gametophytic self-incompatibility (SI) system in which the specificity of pollen rejection is determined by a multiallelic S-locus. S-RNases are products of the S-locus, and are the factors that determine specificity in the style. In vitro mutagenesis experiments have been conducted to determine how allelic specificity is encoded in the S-RNase sequence. Plant transformation experiments have shown that S-RNases also act as factors controlling interspecific pollen rejection. By examining the effect of S-RNases on inter- and intra-specific compatibility in different genetic backgrounds, four different pollen rejection mechanisms can be recognized. S-RNases are implicated in three of these mechanisms. The dependence of pollen rejection on genetic background shows that S-RNases interact with other factors. In general, such factors can be classified in three groups based on their mode of interaction with the S-locus and other pollen–pistil interaction pathways. Some of these factors are now cloned. As more factors are cloned and characterized, it is becoming apparent that pollen–pistil interactions that were once thought to be distinct are actually interrelated.
Comparison of Karydakis versus midline excision for treatment of pilonidal sinus disease.

Pilonidal sinus disease is associated with a high rate of recurrence and complications. The Karydakis (KAR) method, whereby an asymmetric subcutaneous flap obliterates the anal crease, has been shown to be effective in adults. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of the KAR procedure in the operative treatment of children with pilonidal sinus disease compared to those treated via a midline excision (ME). Sixty-eight cases of pediatric pilonidal sinus excision were reviewed over the past 10 years. Data abstracted included surgical approach, complication rate and recurrence rate. Student’s t-test or the Chi square test was used for statistical analysis, with P<0.05 being considered significant. An ME was performed in 44 patients; the KAR method was used in 24 patients. Mean age at diagnosis was 14.4±4.2 years for the ME group compared to 15.7±4.3 years for the KAR patients (P=0.18). Mean operative time was significantly longer with the KAR method (58.7±25.6 min) compared to 46.3±18.6 for the primary ME (P=0.04). Despite the increased operative dissection, there was no difference (P=0.42) in early post-operative complication rates between groups (25% in the KAR group compared to 34.8% in the ME group). Initial drainage of an abscess had no significant effect upon the recurrence/complication rate in either group. Recurrence rate alone was lower in patients operated on via the KAR approach 0% versus 11.0% using the ME (P=0.153). Recurrence and complication rates were lower for those patients with a pilonidal sinus treated by the KAR method compared to the ME, but the results did not reach significance. In conclusion, this study does show a potential benefit for children treated with the KAR method for pilonidal sinus. This study mimics the data obtained in adult patients and suggests that a larger study is likely to achieve significance.
Vasomodulation by Skeletal Muscle–Derived Nitric Oxide Requires α-Syntrophin–Mediated Sarcolemmal Localization of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is abundantly expressed in skeletal muscle where it associates with the dystrophin complex at the sarcolemma by binding to the PDZ domain of α-syntrophin. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by skeletal muscle nNOS is proposed to regulate blood flow in exercising muscle by diffusing from the skeletal muscle fibers to the nearby microvessels where it attenuates α-adrenergic vasoconstriction. In the present study, we hypothesized that sarcolemmal localization of nNOS is a critical determinant of the vasoregulatory effect of skeletal muscle–derived NO. To test this hypothesis, we performed experiments in α-syntrophin null mice and in transgenic mice expressing a mutated α-syntrophin lacking the PDZ domain (ΔPDZ), both of which are characterized by reduced sarcolemmal nNOS. We found that modulation of α-adrenergic vasoconstriction was greatly impaired in the contracting muscles of the α-syntrophin null mice and transgenic ΔPDZ mice compared with wild-type mice and transgenic mice expressing full-length α-syntrophin. These in vivo mouse studies highlight the functional importance of appropriate membrane targeting of nNOS by the dystrophin-associated protein α-syntrophin and may have implications for the development of potential gene therapy strategies to treat muscular dystrophy or other muscle-related diseases.
The Maintenance of an Equatorially Asymmetric State in a Hybrid Coupled GCM

Abstract An ocean general circulation model is coupled with a simple atmosphere model to investigate the formation mechanism of the intertropical convergence zone in the eastern Pacific, which is observed in the Northern Hemisphere. The coupled model develops an asymmetric state under conditions symmetric about the equator. The zonal variation in equatorial upwelling leads to pronounced differences between the western and other parts of the ocean. In the western warm water pool region, where the cooling effect of the equatorial upwelling is suppressed, both atmospheric and oceanic surface conditions are symmetric about the equator. On the other hand. in the central region where the upwelling cools the equatorial ocean, a single ITCZ forms off the equator in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, depending on the initial condition. A strong contrast exists in the sea surface temperature SST between the hemispheres; SST is much higher at the latitude of the ITCZ than that on the other side of the equator. Thi...
Heat stroke during treatment with olanzapine, trihexyphenidyl, and trazodone in a patient with schizophrenia.

Objective Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Psychiatric patients are particularly susceptible to heat stroke. Therefore, awareness and preventive measures of heat stroke are important for both clinicians and patients. Case description A 49-year-old man with schizophrenia, who was under maintenance treatment with olanzapine 20 mg/day, trihexyphenidyl 4 mg/day, and trazodone 50 mg/day, suffered from heat stroke in a heat wave and required intensive care. He recovered with the medical treatment provided. Discussion Several factors could have contributed to the impaired thermoregulation and the occurrence of heat stroke in this case: schizophrenia, the psychotropic regimen, and lack of preventive measures. Possible differential diagnoses of heat stroke in this case include infection, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and serotonin syndrome. Conclusion Heat stroke can occur during the maintenance treatment of olanzapine, trihexyphenidyl, and trazodone for schizophrenia. Clinicians should be proactive to reduce the risk of heat stroke in psychiatric patients.
Cross-Modal Re-Organization in Clinical Populations with Hearing Loss

We review evidence for cross-modal cortical re-organization in clinical populations with hearing loss. Cross-modal plasticity refers to the ability for an intact sensory modality (e.g., vision or somatosensation) to recruit cortical brain regions from a deprived sensory modality (e.g., audition) to carry out sensory processing. We describe evidence for cross-modal changes in hearing loss across the age-spectrum and across different degrees of hearing impairment, including children with profound, bilateral deafness with cochlear implants, single-sided deafness before and after cochlear implantation, and adults with early-stage, mild-moderate, age-related hearing loss. Understanding cross-modal plasticity in the context of auditory deprivation, and the potential for reversal of these changes following intervention, may be vital in directing intervention and rehabilitation options for clinical populations with hearing loss.
Recombinant leptin exchanges between parabiosed mice but does not reach equilibrium

Parabiosis experiments suggest that ob/ob mice are deficient in a circulating "lipostatic" signal but respond to such a signal when it is delivered in the cross circulation from their parabiotic partner. Identification of leptin as the mutation in ob/ob mice leads to the assumption that leptin is the lipostatic signal. The objective of these experiments was to determine the circulating half-life of leptin and to demonstrate whether it exchanged between parabiosed mice. Measurement of disappearance of recombinant leptin from serum in SWRJ mice indicated a circulating half-life of approximately 36 min. Single ob/ob mice or one member of a parabiosed pair of ob/ob mice received 50 micrograms recombinant murine leptin in two intraperitoneal injections a day for 10 days, starting 40 days after parabiosis surgery. Control mice and pairs received equivalent injections of vehicle. In single mice, leptin significantly reduced food intake, body weight, serum insulin, and pancreatic and liver weight. Leptin treatment of one member of a parabiosed pair of ob/ob mice reduced serum insulin, gut content (an index of food intake), and body fat in both partners. The injected parabiont lost more fat than its partner, and body temperature was increased only in the injected mouse, indicating that leptin did not reach equilibrium in the two animals. This was confirmed by Western blot analysis of serum leptin measured 2 h after injection. Therefore, although leptin can exchange between parabionts, its half-life is inadequate to allow equilibrium when a large concentration gradient exists between partners.
The Effects of Time and Temperature on Methyl Bromide Fumigation of Adults of Sitophilus granarius and Tribolium confusum

The effects of temperature and length of exposure on the concentration of methyl bromide required to produce mortality in 2 species of stored-product insects were investigated. The results indicate that between 2 and 12 hours the concentration X time product for Sitophilus granarius (L.) is constant at a single temperature, but for Tribolium confusum Jacquelin duVal the concentration X time product increases as the length of exposure increases. In both species the effect of temperature between 80°F and 50°F was logarithmic, and the efficiency of the fumigant increased as the temperature increased.
Sweetpotato Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae): Analysis of Biotypes and Distribution in Hawaii

Nonspecific e16r2e banding patterns of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), were analyzed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Banding patterns of >300 B. tabaci adults from 30 populations in Hawaii matched the B type esterase banding pattern produced by the B biotype standard from Arizona. Banding patterns representative of other B. tabaci biotypes were not found. Zucchini, Cucurbita pepo L., ‘Ambassador’, plants colonized by field-collected individuals from seven populations developed symptoms of squash silverleaf disorder. Reproducing populations of the B biotype were observed on several crops not previously reported as hosts in Hawaii: papaya, manoa lettuce, taro, Brassica spp., and plumeria. The distribution and relative proportions of B. tabaci and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), present in Hawaii vegetable crops was determined using vacuum samples from grower fields.
Mechanisms of inhibition of insulin release

Several agonists including norepinephrine, somatostatin, galanin, and prostaglandins inhibit insulin release. The inhibition is sensitive to pertussis toxin, indicating the involvement of heterotrimeric Gi and/or Go proteins. Receptors for the different agonists have different selectivity for these G proteins. After G protein activation, the alpha- and beta gamma-subunits dissociate and interact with multiple targets to inhibit release. These include 1) the ATP-sensitive K+ channel and perhaps other K+ channels, 2) L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, 3) adenylyl cyclase, and 4) a "distal" site late in stimulus-secretion coupling. The latter effect, which may be exerted close to the final stage of exocytosis, is the most powerful of the individual inhibitory mechanisms. G protein action on the target molecules is determined by the individual G proteins activated and their specificity for the targets. The L-type Ca2+ channel is inhibited by G(o)-1. Adenylyl cyclase is inhibited by Gi-2 and Gi-3. The distal inhibition can be exerted by Gi-1, Gi-2, Gi-3, and G(o)-2. Thus there is both selectivity and promiscuity in G protein action in the beta-cell. These characteristics allow an inhibitory ligand to be effective at multiple targets and to act differentially from other inhibitory ligands.