cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformational preferences and restricted ring inversion in thianthrenium ylides

Abstract Thianthrene reacts with dialkyl diazomalonates to form, depending upon stoichiometry, both mono-and diylides. The monoylide exists perferentially in the pseudo-equatorial geometry but undergoes ring inversion at room temperature. The trans-diylide, unlike trans-thianthrene disulfoxide, does not undergo rapid ring inversion at room temperature. VT NMR indicates a barrier of 19 kcal/mole.
Intravascular ultrasound imaging of vascular responsiveness in isolated perfused canine arteries.

We investigated the feasibility of using intravascular ultrasound imaging to analyze vascular physiology in various arterial beds. Canine superficial femoral, external iliac, and common carotid arteries were harvested and suspended and perfused in a bath of oxygenated, heated, physiologic salt solution. A 6-Fr, 20-MHz ultrasound imaging catheter was inserted into the lumen of the arteries and serial images were acquired after bolus injections of either serotonin or normal saline into the extravascular bathing medium. Serotonin resulted in a significant time- and dose-dependent decrease in cross-sectional area in muscular femoral arteries (P less than .001): -5.2% with 10(-8) M serotonin, -15% with 10(-7) M, and -28% with 10(-6) M. Histologically transitional iliac arteries demonstrated less marked changes, while elastic carotid arteries demonstrated no significant changes. Our results indicate that intravascular ultrasound may be used to quantify and differentiate responses to vasoconstrictive agents in different vascular beds.
Rounding a corner of a bent termite tunnel and tunnel traffic efficiency

Abstract Subterranean termites construct underground tunnels, tens to hundreds of feet, to reach feeding sites and to transport food items to their nest. To ensure a high rate food return to the nest, an optimized tunnel should be constructed. We found that termites (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) fill the corner of a bent tunnel with soil particles excavated from tunnel tip where their digging behavior is activated. The corner-filling behavior, eventually, made a sharp corner smooth-rounded. In the present study, we showed that the corner-filling behavior could play an important role in improving the tunnel traffic efficiency. To do this, we compared the termites’ time spent for passing corners between with a right-angled flat tip (RA-corner), corresponding to the sharp corner, and with a rounded tip (R-corner) corresponding to the smooth-rounded corner. As a result, the passing time in the R-corner was significantly shorter than in the RA-corner. In addition, tunnel width effect was discussed in terms of individual movement.
EX Lupi: History and Spectroscopy

EX Lupi is the prototype of the "EXor" class, which are pre-main-sequence variables that normally remain at minimum light, but are subject to relatively brief (a few months to a few years) flare-ups of several magnitudes amplitude. This paper examines what is known about EX Lup itself, and describes new photometric and spectroscopic information collected between 1995 and 2005, during which time the star underwent four flare-ups. It is concluded, in agreement with previous investigations, that the flare-ups are due to intermittent mass infall. The evidence: veiling of the M0-type absorption spectrum, appearance of reversed P Cyg-type absorption components displaced up to +340 km s-1 at many emission lines, and striking variations in emission-line structure. It remains to be seen whether these phenomena are shared by other EXors, which are often classified as such on the basis of fragmentary observational evidence.
On applications of a complex variable method in compressible flows

In this paper, we develop a complex variable formulation for the potential equations of compressible fluid flow and discuss the possibility of its application to the solution of compressible fluid flow problems. A numerical method to solve inverse problems using this formulation is discussed. 6 1990 Academic press, IIIC. In this paper we discuss the complex variable formulation of compressible fluid flow equations and its application to inverse problems. This paper shoud be viewed as an attempt to extend the complex variable approach (CVA) to compressible fluid flow computation. As we know the success of CVA with incompressible flow lies in the Cauchy-Riemann formulation of the fluid flow equations. This suggests that a similar formulation for compressible fluid flow equations may prove useful for many applications. As it turns out, the compressible fluid flow equations admit an almost similar representation in an appropriate plane [ 1,2]. The equations in this plane are the nonlinear Cauchy-Riemann equations (CRE). As we will see, the nonlinearity in this plane is very mild in the sense that these equations are linear CRE with an O(M4) nonlinear contribution, where M is the local Mach number. This formulation has a number of significant applications and is likely to be useful in fluid flow applications. A similar notion using the partial differential equation in the real plane has been first used by the author [2] and has proven useful in aerodynamic application. Neglecting the nonlinear contribution provides an almost exact solution by a simple fast Fourier transform. The principle idea has been to compute this almost exact solution and then to use this as a driver to get the exact solution. This approach is naturally favorable provided the nonlinear contribution can be computed economically. In [2] the appropriate partial differential equations were solved using this approach and proved quite economical. There a clever approach is taken to remove some of the singularities. Such singularities are encountered at the stagnation points. As differential operators are not suitable to deal with such singularities, we feel that it is worthwhile to attempt an alternate approach that has inherent
History of Unemployment Predicts Future Elevations in C-Reactive Protein among Male Participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Background Unemployment is associated with risk of future morbidity and premature mortality. Purpose To examine whether unemployment history predicts future C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in male participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Methods Unemployment, body mass index (BMI), and health behaviors were measured at 7, 10, and 15 years postrecruitment. CRP was measured at Years 7 and 15. Results Having a history of unemployment at Year 10 was associated with higher CRP at Year 15, independent of age, race, BMI, Year 7 CRP, Year 15 unemployment, and average income across Years 10–15. Poor health practices and depressive symptoms explained 22% of the association, but Year 10 unemployment history remained a significant predictor. Findings did not differ across age, race, education, or income. Conclusions Discrete episodes of unemployment may have long-term implications for future CRP levels.
Monitoring temperature in FPGA based SoCs

FPGA logic densities continue to increase at a tremendous rate. This has had the undesired consequence of increased power density, which manifests itself as higher on-die temperatures and local hotspots. Sophisticated packaging techniques have become essential to maintain the health of the chip. In addition to static techniques to reduce the temperature, dynamic thermal management techniques are essential. Such techniques rely on accurate on-chip temperature information. In this paper, we present the design of a system that monitors the temperatures at various locations on the FPGA. This system is composed of a controller interfacing to an array of temperature sensors that are implemented on the FPGA fabric. Such a system can be used to implement dynamic thermal management techniques. We cross validate the sensor readings with values obtained from HotSpot, a pre-RTL architectural level thermal modeling tool.
The Architecture of the Pollen Hoarding Syndrome in Honey Bees: Implications for Understanding Social Evolution, Behavioral Syndromes, and Selective Breeding

Social evolution has influenced every aspect of contemporary honey bee biology, but the details are difficult to reconstruct. The reproductive ground plan hypothesis of social evolution proposes that central regulators of the gonotropic cycle of solitary insects have been co-opted to coordinate social complexity in honey bees, such as the division of labor among workers. The predicted trait associations between reproductive physiology and social behavior have been identified in the context of the pollen hoarding syndrome, a larger suite of interrelated traits. The genetic architecture of this syndrome is characterized by a partially overlapping genetic architecture with several consistent, pleiotropic quantitative trait loci (QTL). Despite these central QTL and an integrated hormonal regulation, separate aspects of the pollen hoarding syndrome may evolve independently due to peripheral QTL and additionally segregating genetic variance. The characterization of the pollen hoarding syndrome has also demonstrated that this syndrome involves many non-behavioral traits, which may be the case for numerous “behavioral” syndromes. Furthermore, the genetic architecture of the pollen hoarding syndrome has implications for breeding programs for improving honey health and other desirable traits: if these traits are comparable to the pollen hoarding syndrome, consistent pleiotropic QTL will enable marker-assisted selection, while sufficient additional genetic variation may permit the dissociation of trade-offs for efficient multiple trait selection.
Randomized controlled trials in frontotemporal dementia: cognitive and behavioral outcomes

Progress has been made in understanding the genetics and molecular biology of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Targets for intervention have been identified, therapies are being developed, and clinical trials are advancing. A major challenge for FTD research is that multiple underlying pathologies can be associated with heterogeneous phenotypes. The neuropsychological profiles associated with FTD spectrum disorders often include executive dysfunction, language impairments and behavioral disturbance. Behavioral variant FTD is characterized by an initial presentation of changes in personality, behavior and/or emotion, which are often difficult to objectively capture using traditional neuropsychological measures. The two principal language variants of FTD are Progressive Nonfluent Aphasia (PNFA) with predominant agrammatic/non-fluent impairments and Semantic Dementia (SD) with semantic impairments and visual agnosia. Selection of appropriate endpoints for clinical trials is critical to ensure that the measures are adequately sensitive to detect change, yet specific enough to isolate signal from noise, and acceptable to regulatory agencies. Given the anticipated potential for small effect sizes, measures must be able to identify small incremental changes over time. It is also imperative that the measures provide adequate coverage of the constructs or behaviors of interest. Selected outcome measures should be suitable for repeat administration, yet relatively robust to practice effects to ensure that observed changes reflect true signal variance and not residual effects due to repeated measurement or poor reliability. To facilitate widespread adoption as an endpoint, measures should be readily accessible. We provide several examples of potential global, composite, and individual cognitive measures, as well as behavioral measures promising for FTD trials. Development and application of appropriate trial outcomes is critically important to success in advancing new treatments for FTD patients.
Maastricht type 2 donors: unrealized opportunities.

The 2006 report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), titled “Organ Donation, Opportunities for Action” (1) estimated that 22 000 of the 335 000 individuals who die annually from cardiac arrest outside of a medical facility would be suitable for organ donation. Currently donation after cardiac death (DCD) in the United States usually occurs in Maastricht Type 3 donors that die after planned withdrawal of futile cardiorespiratory support in a hospital setting. This has also been termed “controlled” DCD because the timing of the donation event is planned. Maastricht Type 2 DCD, termed “uncontrolled” because the timing of the donation event is unplanned, occurs when an individual suffers cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation en route to a medical facility, but the attempted resuscitation is unsuccessful and death is declared by circulatory criteria. The IOM report suggested that the expansion of Type 2 DCD in the United States should be an imperative.
Was the bell system a natural monopoly? An application of data envelopment analysis

Examination of the relation between scale economies and natural monopoly has been a central issue in public policy research. The paper employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to re-examine the issue of natural monopoly for the Bell system with annual time series data for 1947--1977. Results from the DEA-based statistical tests reveal the prevalence of increasing returns to scale for the Bell system, implying that there were economies of scale for the Bell system. This evidence suggests that the Bell data was indeed consistent with a natural monopoly. Further, the results indicate that the low level of overall efficiency primarily results from allocative inefficiency rather than technical and scale inefficiency.
Stopover ecology of American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica) in Midwestern agricultural fields

ABSTRACT Stopover locations represent critical habitat in the life cycle of migratory birds and the alteration of this habitat can profoundly influence a population. American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica) migrate though the Midwestern United States each spring, where most natural habitat has been converted to row crop agriculture. We investigated the stopover ecology of the golden-plover in the agricultural matrix of east-central Illinois and west-central Indiana between 2008 and 2012. We found that golden-plovers remained in the region for ∼45 days and individuals spent on average 24 days in the area before departing to the northwest. During a period of peak migration, golden-plovers preferred fields with standing water and, to a lesser extent, soybean fields. Over the 45-day stopover duration, golden-plovers moved extensively (shown by a dynamic occupancy model and area used estimation), with some evidence for tilled fields becoming unoccupied at greater rates than untilled fields. The tendency to...
Voltage-gated Na+ channel activity and connexin expression in Cx43-deficient cardiac myocytes.

Na+ Channel Activity in C×43-Defident Myocytes. Introduction: Dynamic interplay between active and passive electrical properties of cardiac myocytes is based on interrelationships between various channels responsible for depolarizing and repolarizing ionic currents and intercellular conductances. Mice with targeted disruption of the connexin43 (C×43) gene have hearts completely devoid of C×43, the principal gap Junctional protein expressed in mammalian hearts. Methods and Results: To determine whether cardiac myocytes that develop in an abnormal environment of reduced intercellular coupling have altered active membrane properties, we studied whole cell action potentials, Na+ channel currents, and Na+ channel expression and distribution via immunoblotting and confocal immunofluorescence in neonatal ventricular myocytes isolated from C×43 wild-type, heterozygous, and homozygous null hearts. Action potential morphology, peak Na+ current, activation and inactivation kinetics, and Na+ channel protein expression and distribution were not different among myocytes isolated from wild-type, heterozygous, or null hearts. Active membrane properties and Na+ channel activity were completely normal in C×43-deficient myocytes isolated from hearts that have been shown to exhibit markedly reduced C×43 expression, gap junction number, and epicardial conduction delay. Conclusion: Despite a genetic inability to produce C×43 and a developmental history that culminates in marked gross cardiac morphologic abnormalities, premature death, and myocardial inexcitability ex vivo, cardiac Na+ channel distribution and function appear to he normal in C×43 null hearts. Although intimate structural and functional interrelationships have been described between ion channels and gap junction channels, expression and function of Na+ channels is not affected by the absence of C×43.
Influencing Environmental Policy in Rural Communities: The Environmental Opposition at Work

Environmental opposition groups have often formed in rural communities as a response to sweeping environmental regulations. They do not match the stereotypes of nongovernmental organizations funded by extractive resource industries, but have a solid grass-roots membership that is stalling, if not altogether thwarting, the momentum of the environmental movement.
Topochemical Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Perovskites from Lamellar Precursors

A topochemical route to nondefect, three-dimensional perovskites from lamellar Dion−Jacobson and Ruddlesden−Popper precursors was demonstrated. The method involves reduction of one of the ions (in this case Eu3+) in the precursor phase and concomitant loss of oxygen. CsEu2Ti2NbO10, a three-layer Dion−Jacobson compound, was ion-exchanged to AEu2Ti2NbO10 (A = Na, Li) and reduced in hydrogen to form the SrTiO3-type perovskites AEu2Ti2NbO9. Similarly, K2Eu2Ti3O10, a three-layer Ruddlesden−Popper compound, underwent divalent ion exchange to form the Dion−Jacobson compounds AIIEu2Ti3O10 (AII = Ca, Sr) and MIIEu2Ti3O10 (MII = Ni, Cu, Zn), which were reduced in hydrogen to perovskite-type AIIEu2Ti3O9 and MIIEu2Ti3O9, respectively. The AII and Eu2+ ions of AIIEu2Ti3O9 remain ordered, while A-site disordering occurs in the other perovskites. In all cases, the anisotropic texture of the layered precursors is retained in the product perovskite phase.
Opportunist or Patriot? Julien Raimond (1744–1801) and the Haitian Revolution

This paper examines the virtually unknown biography of Julien Raimond, a wealthy indigo planter of one-quarter African descent who became the leading advocate of racial reforms in Paris during the French Revolution. The article explores Raimond's identity before and during the Revolution, challenging his historical reputation as a political conservative whose actions were primarily motivated by financial self-interest.
Multidimensional Item Response Theory Parameter Estimation With Nonsimple Structure Items

Estimation of multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) model parameters can be carried out using the normal ogive with unweighted least squares estimation with the normal-ogive harmonic analysis robust method (NOHARM) software. Previous simulation research has demonstrated that this approach does yield accurate and efficient estimates of item discrimination and difficulty across a variety of conditions. However, these studies have been limited primarily to the case of simple structure, where each item is associated only with one of the latent traits underlying the data. The current simulation study seeks to extend this earlier work by comparing NOHARM and unidimensional IRT-based estimates of difficulty and discrimination values for items that do not conform to simple structure, that is, are associated with more than one latent trait. The outcomes of interest were relative bias and standard error values for parameter estimates under a variety of conditions, including the degree of nonsimple structure present. Results demonstrate that both bias and standard error tended to be larger for items that do not conform to simple structure than for those that do, but that the degree of such differences was influenced by factors such as correlation between the latent traits, sample size and distribution of the latent trait, among others.
Technical note--auditory feedback of knee angle for amputees.

A new gait training device has been developed to provide auditory feedback of knee angle information to above-knee and hip disarticulation amputees. Traditionally, new amputees have relied on visual feedback of knee position during gait training (van Griethuysen, 1979). This auditory feedback system eliminates the need for visual feedback by providing a frequency encoded tone corresponding to knee angle.
Predictors of successful voiding before hospital discharge after urinary stress incontinence surgery

This study aims to identify variables associated with successful voiding before hospital discharge in women undergoing urinary stress incontinence (USI) surgery. Medical records of women who underwent USI surgery between July 1997 and October 2005 were reviewed. Demographic, urodynamic, and perioperative data were recorded. The primary outcome was successful voiding at hospital discharge. Univariate, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed (SPSS 12.0/SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). The two groups, successful vs unsuccessful voiders, were similar in age, postmenopausal status, and prior hysterectomy/incontinence/prolapse surgery. Burch colposuspension was performed in 82% and pubovaginal sling in 18% of women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age < 45 years (OR 2.6), sustained detrusor contraction (OR 4.4), and Burch colposuspension (OR 2.9) were positively associated with early successful voiding. Early successful voiding was associated with age < 45 years, sustained detrusor contraction, and Burch colposuspension. These data may facilitate preoperative counseling in women undergoing USI surgery.
Segmentation Circuits Using Constrained Optimization

A novel segmentation algorithm has been developed utilizing an absolute-value smoothness penalty instead of the more common quadratic regularizer. This functional imposes a piece-wise constant constraint on the segmented data. Since the minimized energy is guaranteed to be convex, there are no problems with local minima and no complex continuation methods are necessary to find the unique global minimum. By interpreting the minimized energy as the generalized power of a nonlinear resistive network, a continuous-time analog segmentation circuit was constructed.
Effect of metabolic state on immune-hemolysis of L-positive low potassium (LK) sheep red blood cells by iso-immune anti-L-serum and rabbit serum complement.

L-antigen-positive low potassium type (LK) sheep red blood cells (SRBC) metabolically depleted by (A) starvation in glucose-free media, (B) incubation in 2-deoxy-D-glucose, or (C) exposure to iodoacetamide (IAA) were more susceptible to immune-hemolysis by ovine anti-L serum and rabbit serum complement (RSC) than control LK SRBC. The magnitude of this effect depended on the concentrations of L-antiserum and RSC used. Although all three treatments leading to enhanced immune-hemolysis of LL or LM (LK) SRBC also resulted in a loss of intracellular adenosine triphosphate [ATPli, the data do not permit conclusion of a direct correlation between immune-hemolysis and [ATP]i in these cells. Restoration of [ATP]i in glucose-containing media of LK SRBC previously metabolically depleted by treatments (A) or (B) was complete within two hours; it was followed, however, by a much slower and only partial return of immune-hemolysis to control values. The depletion induced changes appear to promote binding of RSC to, and/...
Pivotal Change in US Public Policy: How the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Affected Internal Auditing and its Relationship to External Auditing

Accounting regulation is one aspect of the government’s role in protecting the investing public’s interest. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was an effort by the U.S. Congress to remedy negative effects of earlier major accounting failures. Requirements of SOX highlight the critical role of internal control as a component of accurate and reliable financial reporting. This new emphasis on effective internal controls places internal auditors of public companies at center stage. Internal audit departments are asked to identify, evaluate, and test the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. This study examines the perceived role of the internal audit function in the external audit and financial reporting process. Results indicate that internal audit participation in the external audit process is perceived to be important by both internal and external auditors. Internal auditors are performing more work for the external auditors after the passage of SOX. Thus, implicitly, external auditors are placing greater reliance on the work of internal auditors.
The Ottoman Empire in the “Great Depression” of 1873–1896

Contrary to the view that the periphery of the world economy benefited from rapidly expanding trade, the Ottoman economy actually faced a distinctly unfavorable world conjuncture during the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Rates of growth of foreign trade dropped, external terms of trade deteriorated, declining wheat prices affected peasant producers, and the establishment of European control over Ottoman finances led to large debt payments abroad.Indirect data indicate that rates of change of agricultural and aggregate production were also lower during the “Great Depression” as compared to the later period.
Fiberoptic based recirculating memory loop

The authors discuss the design of a low-loss, low-noise figure, fiber optic delay element at 1300 nm, capable of recirculating a short electrical pulse as long as a millisecond over the 2-4 GHz frequency band by using an adaptive gain equalizing technique. While the RF pulses are recirculating in the system the noise level starts to build up. By looking at the spectrum of the output signal the effect of the recirculation on the spectral purity of the microwave signals can be studied. The spectral purity characteristics of recirculated signals were quantified for various recirculation times. >
Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Embeddedness Failure in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Since the early 1990s, U.S. pharmaceutical firms have partially outsourced the coordination of the clinical trials they sponsor to specialized firms called contract research organizations. Although...
The Effects of Cooperation and Competition on Intrinsic Motivation and Performance.

The authors examined the effects of competition and cooperation on intrinsic motivation and performance in 4 studies. Across 3 behavioral studies that involved shooting a basketball, no differences were observed between competition and cooperation on task enjoyment or performance. However, the combination of competition and cooperation (intergroup competition) consistently led to higher levels of intrinsic motivation, and in 2 of the 3 studies, performance. In a questionnaire study, the authors replicated the positive effects of intergroup competition on enjoyment and examined process measures that might account for these effects. These findings suggest that competition and cooperation both have positive aspects and that structuring recreational activities to include both can facilitate high levels of both intrinsic motivation and performance.
A Configurable Ring-Oscillator-Based PUF for Xilinx FPGAs

Devadas has first proposed the notion of Silicon Physical Unclonable Function (sPUF), which takes advantage of delay variations of wires and gates. A Ring-Oscillator-Based PUF (RO PUF) is one possible implementation of an sPUF. One disadvantage of RO PUFs is that they require one pair of ring oscillators per bit of output. Therefore, in order to collect enough output bits for a safe security level, a large number of ring oscillators is needed. Configurable PUFs may help solving this problem. In 2009, Maiti introduced a configurable RO PUF to improve RO PUF reliability, where each RO is implemented in one configurable logic block (CLB) by using lookup tables (LUTs) and dedicated multiplexers. In this paper we analyze Maiti's configurable RO PUFs and propose improvements to generate more output bits, by utilizing latches as well as the resource mentioned above. Experimental results demonstrate that our improved method outputs more bits than Maiti's configurable RO PUFs and the original RO PUFs, while using the same amount of area.
The Arabidopsis thaliana Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate Reductase Gene SUPPRESSOR OF FATTY ACID DESATURASE DEFICIENCY1 Is Required for Glycerolipid Metabolism and for the Activation of Systemic Acquired Resistance

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a broad-spectrum resistance mechanism in plants that is activated in naive organs after exposure of another organ to a necrotizing pathogen. The organs manifesting SAR exhibit an increase in levels of salicylic acid (SA) and expression of the PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 (PR1) gene. SA signaling is required for the manifestation of SAR. We demonstrate here that the Arabidopsis thaliana suppressor of fatty acid desaturase deficiency1 (sfd1) mutation compromises the SAR-conferred enhanced resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola. In addition, the sfd1 mutation diminished the SAR-associated accumulation of elevated levels of SA and PR1 gene transcript in the distal leaves of plants previously exposed to an avirulent pathogen. However, the basal resistance to virulent and avirulent strains of P. syringae and the accumulation of elevated levels of SA and PR1 gene transcript in the pathogen-inoculated leaves of sfd1 were not compromised. Furthermore, the application of the SA functional analog benzothiadiazole enhanced disease resistance in the sfd1 mutant plants. SFD1 encodes a putative dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) reductase, which complemented the glycerol-3-phosphate auxotrophy of the DHAP reductase–deficient Escherichia coli gpsA mutant. Plastid glycerolipid composition was altered in the sfd1 mutant plant, suggesting that SFD1 is involved in lipid metabolism and that an SFD1 product lipid(s) is important for the activation of SAR.
Crystal structure of (1S,2R,6R,7R,8S,12S)-4,10,17-triphenyl-15-thia-4,10-diaza­penta­cyclo[5.5.5.01,16.02,6.08,12]hepta­deca-13,16-diene-3,5,9,11-tetrone p-xylene hemisolvate

The title tetrone compound, C32H22N2O4S· 0.5C8H10, is the major product (50% yield) of an attempted Diels–Alder reaction of 2-(α-styr­yl)thio­phene with N-phenyl­male­imide (2 equivalents) in toluene. Recrystallization of the resulting powder from p-xylene gave the title hemisolvate; the p-xylene mol­ecule is located about an inversion center. In the crystal, the primary tetrone contacts are between a carbonyl O atom and the four flagpole H atoms of the bi­cyclo­[2.2.2]octene core, forming chains along [001].
Low-Dose ACTH for West Syndrome

The initial effects, adverse effects, and long-term outcome in 138 patients with West syndrome (WS) treated with low-dose synthetic ACTH were analyzed in a multi-institutional retrospective study reported from the Department of Pediatrics, Shiga Medical Center, Moriyama, Japan.
Challenges of Estimating Fracture Risk with DXA: Changing Concepts About Bone Strength and Bone Density.

INTRODUCTION Bone loss due to weightlessness is a significant concern for astronauts' mission safety and health upon return to Earth. This problem is monitored with bone densitometry (DXA), the clinical tool used to assess skeletal strength. DXA has served clinicians well in assessing fracture risk and has been particularly useful in diagnosing osteoporosis in the elderly postmenopausal population for which it was originally developed. Over the past 1-2 decades, however, paradoxical and contradictory findings have emerged when this technology was widely employed in caring for diverse populations unlike those for which it was developed. Although DXA was originally considered the surrogate marker for bone strength, it is now considered one part of a constellation of factors-described collectively as bone quality-that makes bone strong and resists fracturing, independent of bone density. These characteristics are beyond the capability of routine DXA to identify, and as a result, DXA can be a poor prognosticator of bone health in many clinical scenarios. New clinical tools are emerging to make measurement of bone strength more accurate. This article reviews the historical timeline of bone density measurement (dual X-ray absorptiometry), expands upon the clinical observations that modified the relationship of DXA and bone strength, discusses some of the new clinical tools to predict fracture risk, and highlights the challenges DXA poses in the assessment of fracture risk in astronauts.
Washing practices on the microflora on Georgia-grown cantaloupes.

In recent years, several foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with the consumption of cantaloupe. Cantaloupes can be contaminated with pathogens anywhere from the field to the packing line. In the United States, cantaloupes are handled and packed differently in each state. Georgia-grown cantaloupes are brought to sheds, washed, and packed, whereas California-grown cantaloupes are field packed. In this study, the microbiological status of cantaloupes produced by four Georgia growers that use various washing and packing practices was assessed to determine the influence of these different practices. The facilities were visited four times during the harvest season. Aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and coliforms on these Georgia-grown cantaloupes were enumerated in transport trailers, after washing, and after packing. Samples also were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. In sheds 1 and 4, a chlorinated dump tank was used to wash melons. In sheds 2 and 3, heated water wit...
An overview of sport psychiatry.

OBJECTIVE Although the application of psychiatric methods and principles to sports is relatively unsystematic at this time, athletic behavior presents several issues of interest to psychiatry. The aim of this paper is to provide a framework for understanding the developmental, occupational, pathologic, therapeutic, and research aspects of sport psychiatry. METHOD Studies in psychiatry, psychology, and psychoanalysis provide the basis for this overview, and nonscientific works are cited where they illuminate various issues. Illustrative case examples are also reported. RESULTS It is proposed, but not proven, that athletes undergo phase-specific development and that they may suffer impairments in adapting to the athletic context. This context may also modify treatment modalities. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for more clinical studies of athletes, especially in the realms of childhood traumas, competitive issues, and mental illnesses. Because of the close relationship of mental and physical phenomena in sports and because athletic behaviors are often precisely measurable, athletics may constitute a fruitful area for psychiatric research.
Understanding evaluation and management of primary cutaneous and systemic ALCL.

Querfeld et al have written a comprehensive evaluation of primary cutaneous and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). The important similarities between them are outlined in the article, for example tumor cells expressing the CD30 antigen for both subtypes. In addition, important differences such as the wide spectrum of CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders of the skin and the large differences in outcomes of the primary cutaneous vs systemic types of ALCL are discussed. Other important differences include expression of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein. The ALK protein is activated most frequently through the nonrandom t(2;5) chromosome translocation, resulting in fusion of the nucleophosim (NPM) gene located at 5q35 to 2p23 and encoding the receptor tyrosine kinase, ALK. Most patients with primary cutaneous ALCL are ALK-negative, yet their 5-year disease-free survival rate is > 90%. Systemic ALCL is divided into ALK-positive and ALK-negative cases. Patients with systemic ALCL that is ALK-positive have a much higher 5-year survival rate of 70%, compared with a rate of 49% for those with systemic ALCL that is ALK-negative.[1]
Tissue Factor (TF) Activity in Trauma Patients Is Suppressed on Cell-Derived Microparticles (MP).

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS . Traumatic injury is expected to expose or release into circulation large amounts of procoagulant material, including TF from subendothelial tissues, yet thrombosis is rarely an immediate concern. To investigate the basis of this, we measured TF activity and TF antigen (TF:Ag) associated with MP (believed to be a main carrier of circulating TF) in trauma patients. METHODS . With IRB approval, two tubes of citrated blood were obtained upon admission from each of 18 patients and were processed within 2hr. Four patients were followed up 5–7 days later. MP were isolated from 0.9mL platelet-poor plasma (PPP) by centrifuging at 16,000g for 15min, then resuspending in 0.45mL Tris-saline pH 8.0 with brief (5sec) ultrasonic probe. Then 10uL was added to reaction mix (0.2mL final vol) in 96-well plate on ice containing physiologic amounts of FX, FVII, FVa, prothrombin, phospholipid and chromogenic substrate for thrombin, S-2238, then calcium to start reaction. Plate was then warmed (t=0) on metal block in 37° oven with fan and absorbance (OD) read at intervals from 6 min to 20min at 405nm. Known standards of pure thrombin and TF enabled conversion from OD to units of thrombin per ug TF/min. Flow cytometry was used to measure TF:Ag in PPP by fluorescent mAb. RESULTS . (i) The apparent TF activity of patient MP was significantly or markedly reduced in 16 of 18 trauma patients, to as little as 10% of controls (mean of the 16 was 45.4%, median 47.7%). This was not seen in any other group of clinical patients. (ii) However, comparing rates of thrombin production by plotting log OD vs. time (giving straight line, R>0.97, as expected since thrombin accumulates in this method) revealed that final rates were often similar to controls. This was explained by prolonged lag phase in patients. Extrapolation back to OD=0.01 showed origin delayed by 2–8min in trauma patients relative to controls. (iii) Neither MP numbers or TF antigen differed significantly or consistently from controls; TF-positive MP in plasma were 529 ±196 vs. 581 ±279 per mL for patients and controls respectively. CONCLUSIONS . Trauma patients do not exhibit elevated circulating TF activity on MP. The prolonged lag phase might be explained by presence of increased protective TFPI or cryptic state in patients, requiring more time for expression of full activity in assay medium, supported by other experiments showing that anti-TFPI restored normal or above-normal activity in trauma patients.
Teaching Reframes in a Master’s Level Marriage and Family Therapist Program

ABSTRACTReframing is a fundamental and widely used technique in individual and relational therapy. Despite the widespread use of reframing, we are not aware of explicit and comprehensive guidelines for constructing reframes. This lack of clarity about how to develop reframes may lead clinicians to do so haphazardly. Further, those who train marriage and family therapists may struggle to effectively teach students to develop reframes. In this article, we present three principles that guide the development of effective reframes. We offer these principles as one way to teach students to construct reframes and have developed case vignettes to demonstrate the application of these three principles.
Common superficial fungal infections in the pediatric age group

Superficial fungal infections are a common presentation in the pediatric age group and are a significant cause of morbidity in children. This review covers infections commonly seen in the pediatric age group like the dermatophytic infections,pityriasis versicolor and candidiasis including their management aspects.
Highly stiff yet elastic microcapsules incorporating cellulose nanofibrils

Microcapsules with high mechanical stability and elasticity are desirable in a variety of contexts. We report a single-step method to fabricate such microcapsules by microfluidic interfacial complexation between high stiffness cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and an oil-soluble cationic random copolymer. Single-capsule compression measurements reveal an elastic modulus of 53 MPa for the CNF-based capsule shell with complete recovery of deformation from strains as large as 19%. We demonstrate the ability to manipulate the shell modulus by the use of polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a binder material, and observe a direct relationship between the shell modulus and the PAA concentration, with moduli as large as 0.5 GPa attained. These results demonstrate that CNF incorporation provides a facile route for producing strong yet flexible microcapsule shells.
Driving Under the Influence (of Language)

We present a unified framework which supports grounding natural-language semantics in robotic driving. This framework supports acquisition (learning grounded meanings of nouns and prepositions from human sentential annotation of robotic driving paths), generation (using such acquired meanings to generate sentential description of new robotic driving paths), and comprehension (using such acquired meanings to support automated driving to accomplish navigational goals specified in natural language). We evaluate the performance of these three tasks by having independent human judges rate the semantic fidelity of the sentences associated with paths. Overall, machine performance is 74.9%, while the performance of human annotators is 83.8%.
A new use of Douglas–Rachford splitting for identifying infeasible, unbounded, and pathological conic programs

In this paper, we present a method for identifying infeasible, unbounded, and pathological conic programs based on Douglas–Rachford splitting. When an optimization program is infeasible, unbounded, or pathological, the iterates of Douglas–Rachford splitting diverge. Somewhat surprisingly, such divergent iterates still provide useful information, which our method uses for identification. In addition, for strongly infeasible problems the method produces a separating hyperplane and informs the user on how to minimally modify the given problem to achieve strong feasibility. As a first-order method, the proposed algorithm relies on simple subroutines, and therefore is simple to implement and has low per-iteration cost.
Government Solutions: An Answer to the Subprime Market Problems

Though homeownership has grown phenomenally in the United States over the past decade, recent developments with subprime mortgages threaten to undo that growth and hurt the economy in the process. With record rates of foreclosures and defaults on subprime mortgages, there has been a public outcry for the government to take charge and fix the problem before it does significant damage to the United States economy. Many different government agencies and branches have answered the call with four differing approaches to this issue. Each groupâ€™s approach is analyzed and the four approaches are then compared to see which provides the most success in the current situation. In the end, each has had mixed results that seem to answer most of the problems effectively but each has its drawbacks, as well. The final conclusion is that the federal regulatory agencies approach has the most effective solution with the least drawbacks.
Accelerating Graph Community Detection with Approximate Updates via an Energy-Efficient NoC

Community detection is an advanced graph operation that is used to reveal tightly-knit groups of vertices (aka. communities) in real-world networks. Given the intractability of the problem, efficient heuristics are used in practice. Yet, even the best of these state-of-the-art heuristics can become computationally demanding over large inputs and can generate workloads that exhibit inherent irregularity in data movement on manycore platforms. In this paper, we posit that effective acceleration of the graph community detection operation can be achieved by reducing the cost of data movement through a combined innovation at both software and hardware levels. More specifically, we first propose an efficient software-level parallelization of community detection that uses approximate updates to cleverly exploit a diminishing returns property of the algorithm. Secondly, as a way to augment this innovation at the software layer, we design an efficient Wireless Network on Chip (WiNoC) architecture that is suited to handle the irregular on-chip data movements exhibited by the community detection algorithm under both unicast- and broadcast-heavy cache coherence protocols. Experimental results show that our resulting WiNoC-enabled manycore platform achieves on average 52% savings in execution time, without compromising on the quality of the outputs, when compared to a traditional manycore platform designed with a wireline mesh NoC and running community detection without employing approximate updates.
Deconstructing sport and performance psychology consultant: Expert, person, performer, and self-regulator†

Sport and performance psychology (SPP) consultants play a critical role in successful service delivery. This article inspects the consultant as an expert, person, and performer, which the three aspects are further linked through a self-regulatory (meta-cognitive) function (i.e. consultant as a self-regulator). It will be proposed that not only self-regulation is an important tool in promoting effectiveness of service delivery, but also adds to the consultant’s growth in becoming a more fulfilled human while pursuing excellence in SPP consulting. In particular, the value of self-reflection, deliberate self-regulation, and professional interactions (e.g. supervision, collegial consultations) will be underscored. Theory-driven, empirically grounded, and professional practice founded implications for consultancy, graduate teaching, and applied research will be offered.
On-Line Identification and Suppression of Time Varying Machining Chatter in Turning Via Dynamic Data System (DDS) Methodology

The time varying stability of the machining process necessitates a technique of on-line chatter identification and control. The Dynamic Data System (DDS) methodology which has been applied in the field of manufacturing and proved itself as a powerful tool to identify the machining process under working conditions is implemented for this purpose.
The Feasibility of Self-Resonant Structures in Wireless Power Transfer Applications

The efficiency and range of wireless power transfer (WPT) is dependent on the $Q$ of the resonant coils. The multilayer self-resonant structure (MSRS) has been shown to have $Q$ more than 6× conventional coils. This structure has an integrated capacitance, which limits the minimum achievable size and frequency. In this paper, we explore the minimum feasible resonant frequency and the maximum power level without dielectric breakdown that can be achieved using the MSRS given a size constraint. This analysis is applied to two case studies; one for consumer electronics and one for electric vehicles. The example MSRS for electric vehicles has a diameter of 20 cm and height of 5 cm, If a 100 kHz resonant frequency is selected, the MSRS can achieve an output power of 10 kW at a range of 20 cm with an input voltage of 500 V.
Results: Attitudes and Beliefs About Internal and External Memory

In this chapter we begin reporting the results of our comprehensive survey study on the interplay of internal and external memory in everyday life, and how that is changing in the early twenty-first century (N = 476 Mechanical Turk participants). After first describing data cleaning and scoring, we report the descriptive statistics for questions about attitudes and beliefs regarding internal memory, external memory, and their interplay. The overall pattern, based on participants’ self-reports, is that most think external memory enhances their everyday functioning, but they also think they would do fine without it, and they do not feel uneasy about their reliance on it. External memory is seen as augmenting human capability, not supplanting it. Furthermore, participants generally put considerable value in their external memories.