cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fischer Tropsch synthesis: Deuterium isotopic study for the formation of oxygenates over CeO2 supported Pt–Co catalysts

Abstract The effect of deuterium on Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis was investigated over a Pt promoted Co/CeO2 catalyst. CeO2 supported Pt–Co catalyst is more selective towards methane and oxygenates. H2–D2–H2 switching experiments suggest that the hydrogenation of CO is involved in the rate determining step (inverse isotope effect). The suppression of oxygenate formation with deuterium leads to the conclusion that common FT intermediates are responsible for the observed shift in the product spectrum. The deuterium isotopic study supports our previously proposed mechanism for the formation of alcohols in that the Co–CeO2 interface is involved in the catalysis, such that termination of chain growth occurs at the metal–oxide junction and involves bridging OH groups on partially reduced ceria.
Fluid overload and mortality are associated with acute kidney injury in sick near-term/term neonate.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and portends mortality in several neonatal cohorts. Fluid overload is independently associated with poor outcomes in children and adults but has not been extensively studied in neonates. Between February 2010 and May 2011, we followed 58 neonates who met the following criteria: birth weight >2,000 g, gestational age ≥34 weeks, 5-min Apgar ≤7, and parental consent. Serum creatinine (SCr) was measured daily for first 4 days of life. AKI was defined as a rise in SCr of > 0.3 mg/dl or persistent SCr above 1.5 mg/dl. AKI was present in 9/58 (15.6 %) neonates and was associated with higher birth weight, being male, lower 5-min Apgar scores, lower cord pH, delivery room intubation, and absence of maternal pre-eclampsia. Percent weight accumulation at day 3 of life was higher in those with AKI [median = 8.2, interquartile range (IQR) = 4.4–21.6)] than without AKI (median = −4 (IQR = −6.5 to 0.0) (p < 0.001). Infants with AKI had lower survival rates than those without AKI [7/9 (72 %) vs. 49/49 (100 %) (p < 0.02)]. AKI incidence in this neonatal population is similar to other neonatal cohorts. Near-term/term infants with AKI have a higher mortality rate and a net positive fluid balance over the first few days of life.
Systematic changes of stratospheric temperature: Relationship between the tropics and extratropics

[1] Ozone declined over the extratropics of the Northern Hemisphere during the 1980s and 1990s. The interpretation of those systematic changes rests on the behavior of temperature, which declined simultaneously. New evidence reported here shows that systematic cooling of the wintertime stratosphere at high latitudes was accompanied by systematic warming at low latitudes. Those regions exhibit clear but opposing trends in the wintertime tendency of temperature, which is related directly to adiabatic warming and cooling. Mirrored by ozone, the compensating changes of temperature at high and low latitudes characterize a systematic weakening of the residual mean circulation, which regulates wintertime temperature and spring ozone.
A mixed heterologous radioimmunoassay for human prolactin.

A mixed heterologous radioimmuoassay for human prolactin (HPr) has been developed in which prolactin in serum or plasma competes with radio-iodinated porcine prolactin for binding sites on anti-ovine prolactin antibody. The system is unaffected by all pituitary and placental peptides tested, and allows specific measurement of HPr in unextracted plasma or serum throughout pregnancy and in acromegaly. Sensitivity is sufficient to detect HPr in serum of normal males and females, whose mean levels (± se) were 6.2 ± 0.6 and 9.0 ± 0.6 ng/ml, respectively. Mean HPr levels (± se) during normal pregnancy were 56.2 ± 5.6, 117.4 ± 14.0, and 251.4 ± 23.3 ng/ml in the three successive trimesters. Elevated levels were found in most patients with non-puerperal galactorrhea of various etiologies, and were very high in patients with HPr-secreting pituitary tumors.
Fatigue craze initiation in polycarbonate: study by transmission electron microscopy

Fatigue craze initiation in bulk, amorphous polycarbonate (PC) is investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. The results agree very well with small angle X-ray scattering measurements of the same set of samples, and confirm that void generation is the main characteristic of the initiation process. The evolution of the initial void-like structures or 'protocrazes' with dimensions of ~ 50 nm into crazes with dimensions of several micrometres is presented in considerable detail. It is found that some similarities exist between crazes induced by cyclic fatigue at room temperature and crazes produced in monotonic loading at temperatures close to the glass transition. The similarities suggest that disentanglement of polymer chains plays an important role in the fatigue craze initiation process in bulk, amorphous PC near room temperature.
The role of clothing fabrics as passive pollen collectors in the north‐eastern United States

The purpose of this investigation is to determine if clothing fabrics act as passive pollen collectors, and to determine if different fabrics vary with regard to the abundance and type of pollen trapped. Five of the most common fabrics in the United States (cotton, wool, polyester, silk and linen) were used to trap pollen. The pollen collecting apparatus was constructed of a 30 cm diameter circular needlepoint hoop, which vertically rotated freely, and was mounted on a dowel that was driven into the soil to chest height. Five pollen collectors, each with one of the five fabrics were placed at a collection site in rural, suburban, and urban habitats in Rhode Island for a 24 h period at weekly or biweekly intervals throughout 2002–2003. Pollen was washed from each of the fabrics and acetolysed. Total pollen per cm2 removed from each of the fabric types was estimated using a haemocytometer. The pollen types were identified, and 200 grains were counted to determine the relative abundance of the various pollen...
A NOTE ON ADJUSTMENT OF FREE NETWORKS

The present paper deals with the least-squares adjustment where the design matrix (A) is rank-deficient. The adjusted parameters\(\hat x\) as well as their variance-covariance matrix (\(\sum _{\hat x} \)) can be obtained as in the “standard” adjustment whereA has the full column rank, supplemented with constraints,\(C\hat x = w\), whereC is the constraint matrix andw is sometimes called the “constant vector”. In this analysis only the inner adjustment constraints are considered, whereC has the full row rank equal to the rank deficiency ofA, andAC T =0. Perhaps the most important outcome points to the three kinds of results 1) A general least-squares solution where both\(\hat x\) and\(\sum _{\hat x} \) are indeterminate corresponds tow=arbitrary random vector. 2) The minimum trace (least-squares) solution where\(\hat x\) is indeterminate but\(\sum _{\hat x} \) is detemined (and trace\(\sum _{\hat x} \) corresponds tow=arbitrary constant vector. 3) The minimum norm (least-squares) solution where both\(\hat x\) and\(\sum _{\hat x} \) are determined (and norm\(\hat x\), trace\(\sum _{\hat x} \) corresponds tow−0
Accurate prediction of the wall shear stress in rod bundles with the spectral element method at high Reynolds numbers

Abstract Resolving flow near walls is critical to reproducing the high rates of shear that generate turbulence in high Reynolds number, wall-bounded flows. In the present study, we examine the resolution requirements for correctly reproducing mean flow quantities and wall shear stress distribution in a large eddy simulation using the spectral element method. In this method, derivatives are only guaranteed in a weak sense, and the same is true of quantities composed of derivatives, such as the wall shear stress. We are interested in what is required to resolve the wall shear stress in problems that lack homogeneity in at least one direction. The problem of interest is that of parallel flow through a rod bundle configuration. Several meshes for this problem are systematically compared. In addition, we conduct a study of channel flow in order to examine the issues in a canonical flow that contains spanwise homogeneity missing in rod bundle flow. In the case of channel flow, we compare several meshes and subgrid scale models. We find that typical measures of accuracy, such as the law of the wall, are not sufficient for determining the resolution of quantities that vary along the wall. Spanwise variation of wall shear stress in underresolved flows is characterized by spikes—physical points without well-defined derivatives of the velocity—found at element boundaries. These spikes are not particular to any subgrid scale model and are the unavoidable consequence of underresolution. Accurately reproducing the wall shear stress distribution, while minimizing the computational costs, requires increasing the number of elements along the wall (local h -refinement) and using very high order ( N = 19 ) basis functions ( p -refinement). We suggest that while these requirements are not easily generalized to grid spacing guidelines, one can apply a general process: construct a mesh that progressively increases elements along any walls, and increase the order of basis functions until the distribution of wall shear stress or any other quantity of interest is smooth.
Determination of silica coating efficiency on metal particles using multiple digestion methods.

Abstract Nano-sized metal particles, including both elemental and oxidized metals, have received significant interest due to their biotoxicity and presence in a wide range of industrial systems. A novel silica technology has been recently explored to minimize the biotoxicity of metal particles by encapsulating them with an amorphous silica shell. In this study, a method to determine silica coating efficiency on metal particles was developed. Metal particles with silica coating were generated using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process with a silica precursor tetramethylsilane (TMS) added to the shielding gas. Microwave digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) were employed to solubilize the metal content in the particles and analyze the concentration, respectively. Three acid mixtures were tested to acquire the appropriate digestion method targeting at metals and silica coating. Metal recovery efficiencies of different digestion methods were compared through analysis of spiked samples. HNO 3 /HF mixture was found to be a more aggressive digestion method for metal particles with silica coating. Aqua regia was able to effectively dissolve metal particles not trapped in the silica shell. Silica coating efficiencies were thus calculated based on the measured concentrations following digestion by HNO 3 /HF mixture and aqua regia. The results showed 14–39% of welding fume particles were encapsulated in silica coating under various conditions. This newly developed method could also be used to examine the silica coverage on particles of silica shell/metal core structure in other nanotechnology areas.
Investment Merits of the World's Most Admired Firms

One criterion for Fortune magazine9s selection of “the world9s most admired firms” is that these firms have the “guts” to “take risks so bold that they may cause shareholders to question their sanity.” The question posed in this article is whether investors would be sane to select these firms for their portfolios. The authors investigate the raw and risk-adjusted returns of the selected industry leaders over single- and multiple-year holding periods prior to and after the survey9s release, and test whether an announcement effect occurs around the public release of the survey. The results indicate that while these firms do outperform the S&P 500 over most time periods, their returns do not differ from a more appropriate matched sample, based on market capitalization and SIC codes. There is little evidence of a market reaction to the survey9s release.
Parylene as a conformal insulator for submicron multilayer interconnection

Planarization, conformal coating and etch selectivity are three key areas for successful fabrication of submicron interconnections, BCl3 and BCl3/N2 RIE (Reactive Ion Etch) are usually used to define high aspect ratio and fine edge submicron Al lines. Polymers have potential for being used as the insulator for multilevel interconnections, because of their low dielectric constants. Due to viscosity, it is difficult to coat the space between submicron metal lines with spin on formulations for polymers. Parylene is a family of conformal vapor depositable polymers with many attractive attributes, such as low dielectric constant (2.38 - 2.65), no outgassing or moisture uptake, room temperature deposition, low stress, good gap filling and local planarization properties. However, with this 'new' polymer insulator, selectivity becomes important for proper etch stop. In this paper the RIE etch selectivities of Al and parylene have been investigated and the selectivity explored to pattern micron feature size interconnections. The Al was deposited on parylene and patterned for studying etch selectivity. The planarization capability of parylene was also studied. It is demonstrated that high aspect ratio sub-micron trenches could be successfully conformally coated with parylene. The metal-polymer adhesion and diffusion characteristics are also examined; and low mechanical stress for the dielectric are demonstrated.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
One Reading Specialist's Response to High-Stakes Testing Pressures

Pressures to help students pass high-stakes tests affect teachers' reading instruction, their responsiveness to students' learning needs, and their professional effectiveness. This article reports on how one reading specialist responded to testing pressures in her urban elementary school. She believed that what was “right” for her students was to nurture them as real readers and give them opportunities to engage in authentic book discussions, but she felt pushed to consider test scores over all other literacy practices and found herself neglecting long-term goals for short-term test success. The author considers the difficulties this reading specialist experienced and provides insights on ways teachers can push back against pressures to teach to the test in order to stay true to their own educational values and professional knowledge.
Meta-Regression of Gene-Environment Interaction in Genome-Wide Association Studies

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have created heightened interest in understanding the effects of gene-environment interaction on complex human diseases or traits. Applying methods for analyzing such interaction can help uncover novel genes and identify environmental hazards that influence only certain genetically susceptible groups. However, the number of interaction analysis methods is still limited, so there is a need to develop more efficient and powerful methods. In this paper, we propose two novel meta-analysis methods of studying gene-environment interaction, based on meta-regression of estimated genetic effects on the environmental factor. The two methods can perform joint analysis of a single nucleotide polymorphism's (SNP) main and interaction effects, or analyze only the effect of the interaction. They can readily estimate any linear or non-linear interactions by simply modifying the gene-environment regression function. Thus, they are efficient methods to be applied to different scenarios. We use numerical examples to demonstrate the performance of our methods. We also compare them with two other methods commonly used in current GWAS, i.e., meta-analysis of SNP main effects (MAIN) and joint meta-analysis of SNP main and interaction effects (JMA). The results show that our methods are more powerful than MAIN when the interaction effect exists, and are comparable to JMA in the linear or quadratic interaction cases. In the numerical examples, we also investigate how the number of the divided groups and the sample size of the studies affect the performance of our methods.
Outcomes of solid palpable masses assessed as BI-RADS 3 or 4A: a retrospective review

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and cancer rate in solid palpable masses with benign features assessed as BI-RADS 3 or 4A. This study was Institutional Review Board approved. Mammography and breast ultrasound reports in our Radiology Information System were searched for solid, palpable masses with benign features described from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2009, and retrospectively reviewed. Those masses prospectively assessed as BI-RADS 3 or 4A, or suggestive of a fibroadenoma or other benign pathology were retrieved. Chart review was used to assess outcomes and cancer rate. Basic summary measures were summarized and compared between BI-RADS 3 and 4A groups using Wilcoxon Rank Sum test for continuous data or Fisher’s exact test for categorical data. The cancer rate across age quartiles was assessed using Cochran-Armitage trend test. 573 solid palpable masses with benign features in 487 women were identified. There were 197 BI-RADS 3 and 376 BI-RADS 4A masses. The overall cancer rate was 1.6 % (9/573). All cancers were BI-RADS 4A (cancer rate 2.4 %—9/376). Smaller mean size and younger age at presentation in BI-RADS 3 women was found compared to BI-RADS 4A (P < 0.0001). There was a significant increase in cancer rate across age quartiles (P = 0.03124). The cancer rate is very low in solid palpable masses with benign features. In particular, BI-RADS 3 palpable masses in young women may undergo close surveillance without immediate biopsy, confirming what other investigators have found. All cancers were in the BI-RADS 4A group with increasing incidence with age, with over half occurring in women over 40 years old. Palpable masses in women 40 and older with benign features should be considered for immediate biopsy.
Full Range Advising: Transforming the Advisor-Advisee Experience

Drawing from the leadership literature, a new model for advising is proposed. Full range advising encompasses laissez-faire, management by exception, contingent rewards, and transformational behaviors. The relationships between full range advising and advisees' extra effort, satisfaction with the advisor, and advising effectiveness were examined. Four hundred and seven advisee/raters were sampled. Results indicated that contingent rewards and transformational advising behaviors were highly effective as rated by students.
Effects of dopants on performance of metal crystallites: 2. Further characterization of doped supports and catalysts

Abstract The effects of dopants on chemisorptive and catalytic properties of metal crystallites are further investigated by additional characterization of supports and catalysts. Alterations of the Fermi energy level of TiO2 doped with altervalent cations are detected by measurements of specific electrical conductivity and activation energy of electron conduction. It is established that under any environment the specific electrical conductivity of higher-valence doped TiO2 is significantly higher than that of undoped, equal-, and lower-valence doped TiO2. The CO chemisorption capacity of Pt supported on higher-valence doped carriers is found to be significantly reduced and to follow the same general trends as those of O2 and H2. Shifts in the vibrational frequency of CO adsorbed on these catalysts indicate that the metal-carbon bond is weakened, probably due to increased saturation of Pt d orbitals as a result of electronic interactions at the metal-support interface.
Prior Checking and Moving Horizon Smoothing for Improved Particle Filtering

Particle filtering, also known as sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) sampling, has been successfully applied to general state−space models for Bayesian inference. Being a simulation method, its performance relies to some extent on the generated samples or particles. For a poor initial guess a large fraction of particles is usually less representative of the underlying state’s distribution and could even cause SMC to diverge. In this paper, an intuitive statistic, predictive density is proposed to monitor the particles’ performance. When below a statistically controlled threshold value, our approach triggers smoothing for obtaining a better estimate of the initial state in the case of a poor prior. We find that combining a moving horizon smoother with SMC is very effective for recovering from a poor prior and develop an integrated practical approach that combines these two powerful tools.
Prenatal imaging of amniotic band sequence: utility and role of fetal MRI as an adjunct to prenatal US

Amniotic band sequence and its US manifestations have been well-described. There is little information, however, regarding the accuracy and utility of fetal MRI. To describe the MRI findings in amniotic band sequence and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and US. Prenatal MRI and US studies were retrospectively reviewed in 14 consecutive pregnancies with confirmed amniotic band sequence. Both studies were evaluated for amniotic band visualization, body part affected, type of deformity, umbilical cord involvement and vascular abnormality. Amniotic bands were confidently identified with MRI in 8 fetuses (57%), suggested with MRI in 3 fetuses (21%) and confidently seen by US in 13 fetuses (93%). Neither modality detected surgically proven bands on one fetus. Both techniques were equally able to define the body part affected and the type of deformity. At least one limb abnormality was visualized in all cases and truncal involvement was present in two cases. Cord involvement was identified in seven cases, with one case detected only by MRI. Fetal MRI is able to visualize amniotic bands and their secondary manifestations and could be complementary to prenatal US when fetal surgery is contemplated.
The effect of exercise training on ankle-brachial index in type 2 diabetes

Introduction Though being physically active has associated with a healthier ankle-brachial index (ABI) in observational studies, ABI usually does not change with exercise training in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Less is known about the effect of exercise training on ABI in patients without PAD but at high risk due to the presence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
Plasmodium tenue Laveran and Marullaz, 1914.

SYNOPSIS. Plasmodium tenue was described briefly by Laveran and Marullaz in 1914, and seems to have been studied by no one since. Indeed only Wenyon reports having seen it. The discoverers saw it in the blood of Liothrix luteus (a babbler, but often mistakenly called a Pekin robin or Chinese nightingale). Partly because of the small size of the parasite and partly because it had been found in a “robin,” it has since been generally thought to be a synonym for Plasmodium vaughani, so common in America robins. Plasmodium tenue usually produces 4 merozoites per segmenter, but often as many as 6; rarely it apparently gives rise to only 2 or 3. Gametocytes are elongate, and neither sexual nor asexual stages displace the host cell nucleus. Altho very similar to Plasmodium rouxi in structure, and also to certain other recently found members of the group, it seems to be a valid species of the subgenus Novyella. Canaries seem insusceptible, at least to blood-induced infection, and its structure and behavior have therefore been studied in the original host, of which a number of individuals have been found infected. By contrast, canaries are readily susceptible to Plasmodium rouxi, and also to P. vaughani. In vaughani malaria, whether in the robin or canary, larger asexual stages usually have a conspicuous refractile granule.
Structural and functional characterization of the RNA-positive complementation groups, C and D, of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus: assignment of the M gene to the C complementation group

Abstract The structural and functional lesions in the RNA-positive complementation groups, C and D, of the New Jersey serotype (Hazelhurst subtype) of vesicular stomatitis virus have been characterized. The M protein of the temperature-sensitive mutant C1, the prototype of the C complementation group, was degraded at the restrictive temperature in vivo , and was resolved from the wild-type M protein by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis. Coreversion of these properties and the temperature-sensitive phenotype was observed in a spontaneous revertant. On the basis of these results, the M gene was assigned to the C complementation group. Intracellular nucleocapsids could not be isolated from New Jersey serotype infections by procedures developed for Indiana serotype infections. Therefore, in order to assess the ability of New Jersey ts mutants to accumulate nucleocapsids at the restrictive temperature, a procedure for their isolation was developed. Hypertranscription was observed in C1-infected cells incubated at the restrictive temperature, but was not accompanied by proportionate increases in intracellular viral nucleocapsids or protein synthesis. The G and N proteins of the temperature-sensitive mutant D1, the sole representative of the D complementation group, were electrophoresic variants. The relative yield of intracellular D1 N protein was lower at the restrictive than at the permissive temperature, and the D1 L protein was thermolabile. No intracellular viral nucleocapsids were detected in D1 infected cells incubated at the restrictive temperature; however, more 40 S and less message-sized RNA were synthesized at the restrictive than at the permissive temperature. These results suggested functional defects in both the N protein and polymerase of D1.
High-level buffering for hiding periodic output cost in scientific simulations

Scientific applications often need to write out large arrays and associated metadata periodically for visualization or restart purposes. In this paper, we present active buffering, a high-level transparent buffering scheme for collective I/O, in which processors actively organize their idle memory into a hierarchy of buffers for periodic output data. It utilizes idle memory on the processors, yet makes no assumption regarding runtime memory availability. Active buffering can perform background I/O while the computation is going on, is extensible to remote I/O for more efficient data migration, and can be implemented in a portable style in today's parallel I/O libraries. It can also mask performance problems of scientific data formats used by many scientists. Performance experiments with both synthetic benchmarks and real simulation codes on multiple platforms show that active buffering can greatly reduce the visible I/O cost from the application's point of view.
Growth and Characterization of Carbon Nanopearls on a Si Substrate by CVD Process

Carbon nanopearls have been found to form on a Si substrate when grown at 850°C, using the chemical vapor deposition process (CVD). An acetylene carbon source and a Ni catalyst are the main ingredients for this procedure. The nickel was prepared and deposited on the substrate in two ways: (1) sonication and dispersion in a methanol solution, and (2) reduction of size via a reverse-micelle technique with a supercritical fluid deposition technique. The resulting carbon nanopearls were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). These tools enabled us to observe the structure, size, and absorption. Characterization of the carbon nanopearls is imperative for understanding of the structure and properties of these nanomaterials.
Evaluation of an Authority Innovation-Decision: Brief Alcohol Intervention for Pregnant Women Receiving Women, Infants, and Children Services at Two Illinois Health Departments

Despite the availability of clinical tools and evidencebased screening recommendations, there has been little discussion regarding screening of prenatal alcohol exposure in community-based settings, including adoption and implementation. This study’s aim is to evaluate and validate—through surveys and focus groups—obstacles and challenges that shape efficacious implementation of the BAI at two Illinois health departments. Results suggest that BAI implementation is facilitated by staff perceptions of its benefits, readiness to implement the intervention, and organizational support for it. Limitations of the management information system, ambiguous screening questions, and high case-loads present barriers to effective BAI implementation.
Sequencing XML data and query twigs for fast pattern matching

We propose a new way of indexing XML documents and processing twig patterns in an XML database. Every XML document in the database can be transformed into a sequence of labels by prufer's method that constructs a one-to-one correspondence between trees and sequences. During query processing, a twig pattern is also transformed into its Prufer sequence. By performing subsequence matching on the set of sequences in the database and performing a series of refinement phases that we have developed, we can find all the occurrences of a twig pattern in the database. Our approach allows holistic processing of a twig pattern without breaking the twig into root-to-leaf paths and processing these paths individually. Furthermore, we show in the article that all correct answers are found without any false dismissals or false alarms. Experimental results demonstrate the performance benefits of our proposed techniques.
Meeting the Governance Challenges of Next-Generation Biorepository Research

Advances in clinical translational research have led to an explosion of interest in infrastructure development and data sharing facilitated by biorepositories of specimens and linked health information. These efforts are qualitatively different from the single-center sample collections that preceded them and pose substantial new ethics and regulatory challenges for investigators and institutions. New research governance approaches, which can address current and anticipated challenges, promote high-quality research, and provide a robust basis for ongoing research participation, are urgently required.
Tension pneumothorax during one-lung ventilation: A case report

A 76-year-old woman underwent double-lumen endotracheal tube intubation for right upper lobectomy. During one-lung ventilation, she developed tension pneumothorax on her dependent lung and suffered cardiac arrest. The presenting signs of tension pneumothorax--hypoxemia, hypotension, and increased airway pressure--are relatively common during this procedure, leading to a delay in diagnosis and effective treatment. When all three signs occur together during one-lung ventilation, cardiovascular collapse can result and serious consideration must be given to the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax in the dependent lung.
Functional Coefficient Regression Models for Non-linear Time Series: A Polynomial Spline Approach

We propose a global smoothing method based on1 polynomial splines for the esti- mation of functional coefficient regression models for non-linear time series. Consistency and rate of convergence results are given to support the proposed estimation method. Methods for automatic selection of the threshold variable and significant variables (or lags) are discussed. The estimated model is used to produce multi-step-ahead forecasts, including interval forecasts and density forecasts. The methodology is illustrated by simulations and two real data examples.
Novel Template Guided Synthesis of Poly Aniline

In acidic medium, polyaniline has positive charges on its molecular backbone. These charges come from either protonation at the nitrogen atom sites or polarons in its β-electronic system [1]. Although polyaniline, due to its positive charges, is a polycation, yet its physical properties are quite different from the classical polyelectrolytes. For example, the polycation vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride is soluble in water but polyaniline molecules (and other conducting polymers too) tends to aggregate into intractable solid. Conducting polymers aggregate into intractable solid because of their stiff molecular backbone and the strong short range attractive forces between βclouds of adjacent polyaniline chains. The insolubility of polyaniline poses problem for solution processing of polymers. There have been a heavy effort towards the resolution of this problem [2].
The Irony of Contingency and Solidarity

Irony is nothing new to philosophy; quite the contrary, it is as familiar as the figure of Socrates. Yet when, for example, Socrates asks Euthyphro to teach him about piety because of Euthyphro's obvious knowledge of the subject, Socrates‘ irony has little philosophical significance. Socrates says something contrary to what he means, and Euthyphro in his arrogance takes the statement literally. Plato uses Socratic irony to dramatic affect by allowing the events of the drama to unfold in such a way that it becomes clear that Socrates’ literal praise of Euthyphro’s knowledge is incongruous with the results of the discussion taking place, although Euthyphro is hardly aware of the incongruity. The significance of this literary technique is that the reader be made conscious of the possibility of his own arrogance and the hindrance this would create to true philosophical understanding. As important as this use of irony is to Plato's Socratic dialogues, the irony is not the philosophical thesis.
The value of ultrasound visualization of the ovaries during the routine 11-14 weeks nuchal translucency scan.

Abstract Objective To investigate the feasibility and possible value of routine screening for ovarian pathology in asymptomatic pregnant women at 11–14 weeks’ gestation. Study design A policy of routine ovarian visualization was implemented in 2925 pregnant women attending for a nuchal translucency scan at 11–14 weeks’ gestation. In all cases, an attempt was made to visualize the ovaries on transabdominal ultrasound scan. Simple cysts were defined as unilocular cysts with regular internal walls and no solid components, which contained clear anechoic fluid. All other cysts were classified as complex. Simple cysts Results Adnexal cysts were found in 728/2925 (24.9%) pregnant women. 400/728 (55%) women had simple cysts Conclusion Asymptomatic adnexal cysts detected in the first trimester of pregnancy are unlikely to be malignant or to cause clinical symptoms antenatally. The policy of routine ultrasound visualization of the ovaries in pregnancy cannot be justified.
Easier technique for venous end‐to‐side anastomoses

other anastomosis involving vessels of mismatched size. In the most commonly described technique for end-to-side anastomosis, a diamond-shaped piece of vein wall is re- moved. The two end (anchoring) sutures are performed first, followed first by all the back wall sutures and then by the front wall sutures (Fig.
Comorbid schizophrenia and substance abuse: a review of epidemiology and course.

Over the last dozen years, our knowledge regarding comorbid schizophrenia (SCZ) and substance use disorder (SUD) has evolved in several ways. First, the rate of lifetime comorbid SCZ-SUD appears to have increased another 20–30%, so now about 70–80% of persons with SCZ have lifetime SUD. Second, early remission of SUD has become commonplace among patients with SCZ, perhaps outnumbering the number of SCZ-only patients as well as those with active SCZ-SUD. Third, sustained SUD remission is well demonstrated, though the rates may yet be low. Fourth, research on comorbid SCZ-SUD is filling out our knowledge in many areas, including the characteristics of SCZ patients at risk for SUD, reasons SCZ patients seek out substances, effects of various substances on SCZ course and symptoms, and obstacles to SUD recovery in people with SCZ. The influence of SUD treatment and self-help on epidemiology and course has not been adequately evaluated. Primary prevention and early treatment of SUD in SCZ patients are still rel...
Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus is not associated with chronic fatigue syndrome in patients from different areas of the us in the 1990s.

Background In 2009, xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) was reported in 67% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) compared to 4% of controls. Since then numerous reports failed to detect XMRV in other cohorts of CFS patients, and some studies suggested that XMRV sequences in human samples might be due to contamination of these samples with mouse DNA.
Integrin-mediated Activation of MAP Kinase Is Independent of FAK: Evidence for Dual Integrin Signaling Pathways in Fibroblasts

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion causes activation of MAP kinases and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Autophosphorylation of FAK leads to the binding of SH2-domain proteins including Src-family kinases and the Grb2–Sos complex. Since Grb2–Sos is a key regulator of the Ras signal transduction pathway, one plausible hypothesis has been that integrin-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK leads to activation of the Ras cascade and ultimately to mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. Thus, in this scenario FAK would serve as an upstream regulator of MAP kinase activity. However, in this report we present several lines of evidence showing that integrin-mediated MAP kinase activity in fibroblasts is independent of FAK. First, a β1 integrin subunit deletion mutant affecting the putative FAK binding site supports activation of MAP kinase in adhering fibroblasts but not tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Second, fibroblast adhesion to bacterially expressed fragments of fibronectin demonstrates that robust activation of MAP kinase can precede tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK. Finally, we have used FRNK, the noncatalytic COOH-terminal domain of FAK, as a dominant negative inhibitor of FAK autophosphorylation and of tyrosine phosphorylation of focal contacts. Using retroviral infection, we demonstrate that levels of FRNK expression sufficient to completely block FAK tyrosine phosphorylation were without effect on integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase. These results strongly suggest that integrin-mediated activation of MAP kinase is independent of FAK and indicate the probable existence of at least two distinct integrin signaling pathways in fibroblasts.
Energy-Efficient Coverage Hole Self-Repair in Mobile Sensor Networks

With the advancement of MEMS techniques, mobile sensors with low cost and high capability are being deployed widely to carry out all kinds of complicated, risky tasks in large scale networks, especially in the areas are inaccessible to the human. Mobile sensors, which have the function of self-detection and self-repair, are desirable to solve the problem of failure of sensors, which causes costly maintenance expenditure and fatal loss. In this paper, we propose a novel heuristic self-repair algorithm to fix coverage holes in sensor networks using mobile nodes. The algorithm works successfully and efficiently to cover holes using reasonable numbers of mobile sensors. Numerical simulation results show our algorithm is near optimal for small coverage holes in terms of the metrics in number of mobile sensors, time and space complexity compared to optimal scheme. Our scheme is especially suitable for repairing multiple irregular areas of coverage holes simultaneously.
Beyond "medical tourism": Canadian companies marketing medical travel.

Despite having access to medically necessary care available through publicly funded provincial health care systems, some Canadians travel for treatment provided at international medical facilities as well as for-profit clinics found in several Canadian provinces. Canadians travel abroad for orthopaedic surgery, bariatric surgery, ophthalmologic surgery, stem cell injections, “Liberation therapy” for multiple sclerosis, and additional interventions. Both responding to public interest in medical travel and playing an important part in promoting the notion of a global marketplace for health services, many Canadian companies market medical travel. Research began with the goal of locating all medical tourism companies based in Canada. Various strategies were used to find such businesses. During the search process it became apparent that many Canadian business promoting medical travel are not medical tourism companies. To the contrary, numerous types of businesses promote medical travel. Once businesses promoting medical travel were identified, content analysis was used to extract information from company websites. Company websites were analyzed to establish: 1) where in Canada these businesses are located; 2) the destination countries and health care facilities that they market; 3) the medical procedures they promote; 4) core marketing messages; and 5) whether businesses market air travel, hotel accommodations, and holiday tours in addition to medical procedures. Searches conducted from 2006 to 2011 resulted in identification of thirty-five Canadian businesses currently marketing various kinds of medical travel. The research project began with what seemed to be the straightforward goal of establishing how many medical tourism companies are based in Canada. Refinement of categories resulted in the identification of eighteen businesses fitting the category of what most researchers would identify as medical tourism companies. Seven other businesses market regional, cross-border health services available in the United States and intranational travel to clinics in Canada. In contrast to medical tourism companies, they do not market holiday tours in addition to medical care. Two companies occupy a narrow market niche and promote testing for CCSVI and “Liberation therapy” for multiple sclerosis. Three additional companies offer bariatric surgery and cosmetic surgery at facilities in Mexico. Four businesses offer health insurance products intended to cover the cost of obtaining privately financed health care in the U.S. These businesses also help their clients arrange treatment beyond Canada’s borders. Finally, one medical travel company based in Canada markets health services primarily to U.S. citizens. This article uses content analysis of websites of Canadian companies marketing medical travel to provide insight into Canada’s medical travel industry. The article reveals a complex marketplace with different types of companies taking distinct approaches to marketing medical travel.
Irrigation Water Chemistry: Impact on Microbial Community Composition and Biogeochemical Leaching under Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne [L])

Greywater recycling and rain water harvesting for irrigating urban and suburban landscapes may reduce the use of potable water in arid and subtropical climates but affect soil microbial community composition and biogeochemical cycling. Municipal tap water, greywater, and harvested rain water were used to irrigate (Lolium perenne L.) planted in a constructed soil over a 20 week period. Irrigation with grey water significantly increased the relative abundance of gram-positive biomarkers ANTEISO 15 : 0, ISO 17 : 1G, gram-negative biomarkers 19 : 0 CYCLO c11-12 and bacterial biomarker 18 : 0 (𝑃<.05) relative to irrigation with harvested rain water. Significant decreases were observed in the relative abundance of gram-positive biomarker 16 : 0, gram-negative biomarker 16 : 1 ω7c, both fungi biomarkers (18 : 2 ω6c and 18 : 1 ω9c) in soils irrigated with greywater (𝑃<.05). Dissolved organic carbon losses from soil were a significant two-to-four times greater from soils irrigated with municipal tap water and greywater relative to soils irrigated with harvested rain water (𝑃<.001). This study highlights the effect that municipal tap water and grey water may have on microbial community composition and soil nutrient dynamics under irrigated turf grass.
The slides in the San Fernando Dams during the earthquake of February 9, 1971

The February 9, 1971 earthquake in San Fernando Valley, California, caused slides in the embankments of two old adjacent hydraulic fill dams. At the 140-ft high Lower dam, the entire upstream face slid into the reservoir leaving only 5 ft of freeboard. At the 65-ft high Upper dam, the entire embankment from the waterline to the downstream toe moved downstream 6 ft, leaving a scarp just below the reservoir level on the upstream face. It is concluded that the slide in the Lower dam resulted from the development of an extensive zone of liquefaction near the base of the embankment. Some liquefaction is also believed to have occurred in the Upper dam; however, since a significant body of the sand in the upstream and downstream shells of this dam retained considerable strength, complete failure could not occur and the movements were limited in extent. Conclusions are presented concerning the applicability of analytical procedures for predicting the failure and movements that occurred.
Parameters for Feature Evolution Models in Plasma Etching from Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The impact of Si with incident energy Ei (0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 eV) and angle θi (0° and 60° from the surface normal) into three model Si surfaces with varying degrees of F coverage (0 ML F, ∼ 1 ML F, and ∼2 ML F) was simulated using classical molecular dynamics (MD). From the simulation results, the probabilities for incident Si reflection and removal of surface Si and F were obtained as a function of Ei, θi, and F surface coverage. In general, these probabilities were observed to depend significantly on these parameters. This result implies that feature evolution simulations require surface reaction models with the necessary functionality in order to make quantitative predictions.
Cato Supreme Court Review 2009-2010: Introduction

This is the ninth volume of the Cato Supreme Court Review, the nation’s first in-depth critique of the Supreme Court term just ended. We release this journal every year in conjunction with our annual Constitution Day symposium, about two and a half months after the previous term concludes and two weeks before the next one begins. We are proud of the speed with which we publish this tome - authors of articles about the last-decided cases have no more than a month to provide us full drafts - and of its accessibility, at least insofar as the Court’s opinions allow for that. This is not a typical law review, after all, whose prolix submissions use more space for obscure footnotes than for article text. Instead, this is a book of articles about law intended for everyone from lawyers and judges to educated laymen and interested citizens.And we are happy to confess our biases: We approach our subject matter from a classical Madisonian perspective, with a focus on individual liberty, property rights, and federalism, and a vision of a government of delegated, enumerated, and thus limited powers. We also try to maintain a strict separation of politics (or policy) and law; just because something is good policy doesn’t mean it’s legal, and vice versa. Similarly, certain decisions must necessarily be left to the political process: We aim to be governed by laws, not lawyers, so just as a good lawyer will present all plausibly legal options to his client, a good public official will recognize that the ultimate buck stops with him.