cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the most commonly billed diagnoses in primary care: Hypothyroidism

ABSTRACT This next article in the Most Commonly Billed Diagnoses series focuses on hypothyroidism and the significant role NPs play in identifying and managing patients with this condition and its associated comorbidities. Pathophysiology, systemic manifestations, screening, and treatment are discussed.
Three years of weekly observations of coastal cliff erosion by waves and rainfall

Abstract Erosion of a 2.5 km-long sedimentary coastal cliff by waves and rainfall is explored with three years of weekly observations. A truck-mounted lidar resolved the fronting beach and convoluted surface of the ~10–25 m high cliffs. Volumes of 4362 cliff erosion events ranged up to 885 m3 (mean 3.3 m3). The three-year cumulative erosion was clustered and alongshore variable. Cliff base wave impact heights were estimated with a wave model and empirical runup formula, and validated with cliff base observations. Cliff erosion rates, incident wave heights, wave-cliff impacts, and rainfall were all elevated during winters. The high temporal resolution of the multiyear dataset is unique, and allows separation of erosion from waves and rainfall by, for example, isolating time periods with no rainfall and high wave runup. Upper cliff erosion was best correlated with rainfall (r2 = 0.57), and lower cliff erosion with wave impacts (r2 = 0.56).
Record fledging count from a seven-egg clutch in the Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) typically lay 3–5 eggs per clutch, rarely 6 eggs, and there are 2 accounts of 7-egg clutches and 1 record of a maximum 8-egg clutch for the species. Brood sizes of 3–5 young are common and the previous maximum brood count is 6 young. However, in 2019, we found an urban nest in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, with 7 eggs that resulted in a record high of 7 fledglings. We genetically confirmed that the attending male sired all the offspring and the attending female laid all 7 eggs. Larger body size of the tending adults may have been a factor in the exceptional reproduction reported here.
Grassroots, Astroturf, or Something in Between? Semi-Official WeChat Accounts as Covert Vectors of Party-State Influence in Contemporary China

This article explores a facet of the Chinese propaganda apparatus that has yet to receive sufficient academic attention: the murky ecosystem of “semi-official” party-state presences on Chinese soci...
Enhanced interlayer interactions in Ni-doped MoS$_2$, and structural and electronic signatures of doping site

The crystal structure of MoS$_2$ with strong covalent bonds in plane and weak Van der Waals interactions out of plane gives rise to interesting properties for applications such as solid lubrication, optoelectronics, and catalysis, which can be enhanced by transition-metal doping. However, the mechanisms for improvement and even the structure of the doped material can be unclear, which we address with theoretical calculations. Building on our previous work on Ni-doping of the bulk 2H phase, now we compare to polytypes (1H monolayer and 3R bulk), to determine favorable sites for Ni and the doping effect on structure, electronic properties, and the layer dissociation energy. The most favorable intercalation/adatom sites are tetrahedral intercalation for 3R (like 2H) and Mo-atop for 1H. The relative energies indicate a possibility of phase change from 2H to 3R with substitution of Mo or S. We find structural and electronic properties that can be used to identify the doping sites, including metallic behavior in Mo-substituted 3R and 2H, and in-gap states for Mo- and S-substituted 1H, which could have interesting optoelectronic applications. We observe a large enhancement in the interlayer interactions of Ni-doped MoS$_2$, opposite to the effect of other transition metals. For lubrication applications, this increased layer dissociation energy could be the mechanism of low wear. Our systematic study shows the effect of doping concentration and we extrapolate to the low-doping limit. This work gives insight into the previously unclear structure of Ni-doped MoS$_2$ and how it can be detected experimentally, the relation of energy and structures of doped monolayers and bulk systems, the electronic properties under doping, and the effect of doping on interlayer interactions.
Alfred Eaton and the Biological Collections from Leigh Smith’s 1873 Expedition

From the diaries of Herbert C. Chermside emerge a colourful picture of the shipboard biology: the collection and observations of rare Arctic flora and fauna, and dredging for deep-sea specimens.
Testing out of quarantine

Abstract Since SARS-CoV-2 emerged, a 14-day quarantine has been recommended based on COVID-19”s incubation period. Using an RT-PCR or rapid antigen test to “test out” of quarantine is a frequently proposed strategy to shorten duration without increasing risk. We calculated the probability that infected individuals test negative for SARS-CoV-2 on a particular day post-infection and remain symptom free for some period of time. We estimate that an infected individual has a 20.1% chance (95% CI 9.8-32.6) of testing RT-PCR negative on day five post-infection and remaining asymptomatic until day seven. We also show that the added information a test provides decreases as we move further from the test date, hence a less sensitive test that returns rapid results is often preferable to a more sensitive test with a delay.
SU-D-BRB-03: Planning Margin Implications for Multiple-Target, Single-Isocenter VMAT SRS Based On Image Guidance Tolerances

Purpose: Single-isocenter, multiple target VMAT SRS for multiple brain metastases typically features field isocenter positional displacement from the individual lesion centroids. This study examines the planning margin implications of this isocenter displacement for VMAT SRS owing strictly to verification tolerances of the image guidance system. Methods: SRS image guidance at this institution is provided by Brainlab ExacTrac in combination with 6DOF couch. The system provides patient position correction through a combination of couch rotations and translations. It is well-known that affine transformations can be compactly represented in matrix form using homogeneous coordinates. The maximum geometric error directly attributable to the x-ray verification tolerances specified in ExacTrac was determined in homogenous coordinates for a range of practical radial distances from isocenter to lesion centroid. These tolerances are selectable and are based on typical uncertainties achieved by the method of patient immobilization. The calculated maximum geometric error is dependent on the understanding that the translational and rotational tolerances selected for x-ray verification represent the ability of the image guidance system to correct errors up to, and including, the specified tolerance. The additional planning margin in the worst-case is assumed to be the magnitude of the maximum geometric error. Results: The maximum error is a non-linear function of the radial distance from field isocenter to lesion centroid. It is dependent on the angular and translational tolerances specified based on setup uncertainties associated with typical immobilization options for SRS. The typical institutional SRS tolerance of 0.5 mm and 0.5° consistent with Brainlab mask immobilization yields maximum error of 0.867 – 1.23 mm over the range 0 – 7 cm radial distance. Conclusion: An expression for the maximum error attributable to the image guidance system for multiple-target, single-isocenter VMAT SRS was developed, enabling proper specification of planning margins to account for the associated geometric uncertainty.
Influence of age and ischemia on cardiac subsarcolemmal and interfibrillar mitochondria in a novel model of estrogen deficiency (680.6)

Altered mitochondrial respiration (MR) and calcium retention capacity (CRC) are proposed cardiac cell death mechanisms exacerbated by aging in males. The present study aimed, for the first time, to...
Spectra of porphyrins: XI. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of matrix isolated phthalocyanines☆☆☆

Abstract Absorption and fluorescence spectra of free base and zine phthalocyanines (H 2 Pc and ZnPc) were studied in matrices of Ar, Kr, Xe, CH 4 , N 2 , and SF 6 at liquid hydrogen temperature. ZnPc was also studied in CO. The spectra show considerable fine structure whose resolution decreases along the series Ar > CH 4 ≳ Kr ≳ Xe > N 2 ≳ SF 6 > CO. Only part of the fine structure seen in absorption appears in emission. Provisionally we view the spectrum as made up of a broad band arising from phonon exchange with the lattice and nophonon lines arising from distinct sets of molecules. However, the lack of apparent correspondence between the line structure of the two Q bands of H 2 Pc remains unexplained.
Youth Suicide Trends in California: An Examination of Immigrant and Ethnic Group Risk

Although immigrants are in better health than the U.S.-born population according to a variety of indicators, little research has investigated current foreign-born/U.S.-born differentials in suicide. A review of 32,928 California death certificates from 1970 to 1992 indicates that although foreign-born persons are consistently underrepresented in the suicide deaths of 15- to 34-year-olds (risk ratio = 0.60), any foreign-versus U.S.-born difference by ethnicity appears to be decreasing. Specifically, although Hispanics born outside the United States consistently are at significantly lower risk of suicide than U.S.-born Hispanics, the discrepancy between the two groups has diminished over time. And, in a comparable trend, non-Hispanic white persons born outside the United States were at higher risk of suicide than their U.S.-born counterparts until 1990, when their risk became similar. Black and Asian/other foreign- and U.S.-born persons have been at statistically similar risk since 1970. A man using a firearm at home was the typical pattern for both the foreign- and U.S.-born.
Double trouble: The importance of reporting chorionicity and amnionicity in twin pregnancy ultrasound reports

Summary An obstetric ultrasound report in a twin pregnancy that does not unambigu-ously determine chorionicity and amnionicity in the ﬁrst trimester is substand-ard. This article will assist radiologists to understand the importance ofreporting the chorionicity and amnionicity in all twin obstetric scans. Key words: obstetrics; obstetric ultrasound. Background Professor Kypros Nicolaides said ‘There is NO diagnosisof twins. There are only monochorionic twins ordichorionic twins.’ 1 At tertiary referral centres, we fre-quently encounter obstetric ultrasound reports that donot clearly determine chorionicity and amnionicity in theﬁrst trimester. Monochorionic twin pregnancies in par-ticular are ‘double trouble’ – not only can any of thecomplications of singleton pregnancies occur, but up to40% of monochorionic twin pregnancies are affected bytwin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), discordant fetalgrowth, intra-uterine or perinatal death. 2 Twinning can occur as the result of fertilization oftwo ova by two sperm (dizygotic twins), or the dividingand separating of a single fertilized ovum (monozygotictwins). While dizygotic twins are virtually alwaysdichorionic diamniotic, monozygotic twins can bedichorionic or monochorionic. If separation occurs within4 days of fertilization, the pregnancy will be dichorionicand diamniotic (DCDA). If separation occurs betweendays 4 and 7, then the pregnancy will be monochorionicand diamniotic (MCDA). Separation occurring after day 7will result in a monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA)pregnancy. Separation occurring after day 13 is usuallyincomplete, resulting in conjoined twins.
Fracture analysis of transverse crack-tip and free-edge delamination in laminated composites

A shear deformation model including hygrothermal effects is developed for the analysis of local delaminations originating from transverse cracks in 90-deg plies located in and around the laminate midplane. A sublaminate approach is used and the model is applied to (+/- 25/90n)s T300/934 graphite/epoxy laminates for n values between 0.5 and 8, along with previously developed edge-delamination shear-deformation models. Critical loads and delamination modes are identified and compared with experimental results. Hygrothermal effects are included in all the models to make the comparisons realistic.
Financial market regulation, imperfect capital markets, and industrial concentration: Mexico in comparative perspective, 1830-1930

This article argues that there is a strong relationship between the efficiency with which a country mobilized capital for industrial development and the industrial structure that country developed. Differences in capital market development were a function of government regulatory policies and the costs of obtaining information. The analysis suggests that the development of financial institutions was not endogenous to the process of economic growth. In the case of Mexico, tight government regulatory policies coupled with high information costs gave rise to highly imperfect capital markets, which in turn were transmuted into imperfections in product markets.
On the intelligibility of the universe and the notions of simplicity, complexity and irreducibility

We discuss views about whether the universe can be rationally comprehended, starting with Plato, then Leibniz, and then the views of some distinguished scientists of the previous century. Based on this, we defend the thesis that comprehension is compression, i.e., explaining many facts using few theoretical assumptions, and that a theory may be viewed as a computer program for calculating observations. This provides motivation for defining the complexity of something to be the size of the simplest theory for it, in other words, the size of the smallest program for calculating it. This is the central idea of algorithmic information theory (AIT), a field of theoretical computer science. Using the mathematical concept of program-size complexity, we exhibit irreducible mathematical facts, mathematical facts that cannot be demonstrated using any mathematical theory simpler than they are. It follows that the world of mathematical ideas has infinite complexity and is therefore not fully comprehensible, at least not in a static fashion. Whether the physical world has finite or infinite complexity remains to be seen. Current science believes that the world contains randomness, and is therefore also infinitely complex, but a deterministic universe that simulates randomness via pseudo-randomness is also a possibility, at least according to recent highly speculative work of S. Wolfram.
Optimization of power and energy densities in supercapacitors

Supercapacitors use nanoporous electrodes to store large amounts of charge on their high surface areas, and use the ions in electrolytes to carry charge into the pores. Their high power density makes them a potentially useful complement to batteries. However, ion transport through long, narrow channels still limits power and efficiency in these devices. Proper design can mitigate this. Current collector geometry must also be considered once this is done. Here, De Levie's model for porous electrodes is applied to quantitatively predict device performance and to propose optimal device designs for given specifications. Effects unique to nanoscale pores are considered, including that pores may not have enough salt to fully charge. Supercapacitors are of value for electric vehicles, portable electronics, and power conditioning in electrical grids with distributed renewable sources, and that value will increase as new device fabrication methods are developed and proper design accommodates those improvements. Example design outlines for vehicle applications are proposed and compared.
Human monocyte morphology is affected by local substrate charge heterogeneity.

Cells are sensitive to topological, chemical, and electrical properties of substrates on which they are grown. However, most studies of cell-surface interactions have neglected electrical effects or confounded them with other substrate properties. The use of nanofabrication technology has made it possible to fabricate optically transparent surfaces with controlled chemistry and topology, and with active, controllable surface charge density in domains as small as 1–4 μm. Human monocytes incubated on polystyrene with 3.3 μm-wide strip domains, alternately charged so as to maintain overall charge neutrality, show significant charge density and time-dependent increases (greater than twofold) in cell area and cell perimeter after challenge with a phagocytic trigger (human IgG opsonized zymosan particles). Additional ultrastructural studies on silicon dioxide substrates show charge-density-dependent qualitative morphological differences. These studies clearly demonstrate that human monocytes respond in vitro to local surface-charge heterogeneity in the absence of substrate topology and compositional variation. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Diphosphine ligand substitution in H4Ru4(CO)12: X-ray diffraction structures and reactivity studies of the cluster compounds H4Ru4(CO)10(P–P) [where P–P–(Z)–Ph2PCH–CHPPh2, bpcd]

The tetraruthenium cluster H4Ru4(CO)12 (1) has been studied for its reactivity with the unsaturated diphosphine ligands (Z)–Ph2PCH–CHPPh2 and 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd) under thermal, near-UV photolysis, and Me3NO-assisted activation. All three cluster activation methods promote loss of CO and furnish the anticipated substitution products H4Ru4(CO)10[(Z)–Ph2PCH–CHPPh2] (2) and H4Ru4(CO)10(bpcd) (3) that possess a chelating diphosphine ligand. Clusters 2 and 3 have been characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopies, and these data are discussed with respect to the crystallographically determined structure for both new cluster compounds. The 31P NMR spectral data and the solid-state structures confirm the presence of a chelating diphosphine ligand in clusters 2 and 3. Cluster 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space P21/c, a=11.768(6) A, b=18.521(9) A, c=20.48(1) A, β=102.291(8)°, V=4361(4) A3, Z=4, and d calc=1.726 Mg/m3; R=0.0225, R w=0.0491 for 6798 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The four bridging hydrides were located in H4Ru4(CO)10[(Z)–Ph2PCH–CHPPh2] and their adopted positions are discussed relative to the solution 1H NMR spectrum. H4Ru4(CO)10(bpcd) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space Pbca, a=19.072(3) A, b=20.169(3) A, c=22.774(3) A, V=8760(2) A3, Z=8, and d calc=1.870 Mg/m3; R=0.0428, R w=0.0896 for 10296 reflections with I > 2σ(I). Sealed NMR tubes containing clusters 2 and 3 were found to be exceeding stable towards near-UV light and temperatures up to ca. 125 °C. The surprisingly robust behavior of 2 and 3 is contrasted with the related cluster Ru3(CO)10(bpcd) that undergoes fragmentation to the donor-acceptor compound Ru2(CO)6(bpcd) and the phosphido-bridged compound Ru2(CO)6(μ–PPh2)[μ–C–C(PPh2)C(O)CH2C(O)] under mild conditions. The electrochemical properties of each substituted cluster have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and our findings are discussed with respect to the reported electrochemical data on the parent cluster H4Ru4(CO)12.
Parallel multisource view maintenance

In a distributed environment, materialized views are used to integrate data from different information sources and then store them in some centralized location. In order to maintain such materialized views, maintenance queries need to be sent to information sources by the data warehouse management system. Due to the independence of the information sources and the data warehouse, concurrency issues are raised between the maintenance queries and the local update transactions at each information source. Recent solutions such as ECA and Strobe tackle such concurrent maintenance, however with the requirement of quiescence of the information sources. SWEEP and POSSE overcome this limitation by decomposing the global maintenance query into smaller subqueries to be sent to every information source and then performing conflict correction locally at the data warehouse. Note that all these previous approaches handle the data updates one at a time. Hence either some of the information sources or the data warehouse is likely to be idle during most of the maintenance process. In this paper, we propose that a set of updates should be maintained in parallel by several concurrent maintenance processes so that both the information sources as well as the warehouse would be utilized more fully throughout the maintenance process. This parallelism should then improve the overall maintenance performance. For this we have developed a parallel view maintenance algorithm, called PVM, that substantially improves upon the performance of previous maintenance approaches by handling a set of data updates at the same time. The parallel handling of a set of updates is orthogonal to the particular maintenance algorithm applied to the handling of each individual update. In order to perform parallel view maintenance, we have identified two critical issues that must be overcome: (1) detecting maintenance-concurrent data updates in a parallel mode and (2) correcting the problem that the data warehouse commit order may not correspond to the data warehouse update processing order due to parallel maintenance handling. In this work, we provide solutions to both issues. For the former, we insert a middle-layer timestamp assignment module for detecting maintenance-concurrent data updates without requiring any global clock synchronization. For the latter, we introduce the negative counter concept to solve the problem of variant orders of committing effects of data updates to the data warehouse. We provide a proof of the correctness of PVM that guarantees that our strategy indeed generates the correct final data warehouse state. We have implemented both SWEEP and PVM in our EVE data warehousing system. Our performance study demonstrates that a manyfold performance improvement is achieved by PVM over SWEEP.
Supercritical fluid chromatographic solvatochromic modifier polarity studies

To understand the chromatographic process as a whole, whether it be for gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), or supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), one needs to know the chemical and physical nature of the mobile and stationary phases and also the interactions that take place between analytes (solutes) and the two phases. An approach towards Investigating the ways that stationary and mobile phases contribute to chromatographic retention Involves exploring the effects of solvent polarity on the strength of the mobile phase. In SFC this could involve determining the polarity of several different modifier/carbon dioxide mobile phases. In this paper, the use of a solvatochromic indicator to learn more about the effects of SFC modifier/mobile phase polarity will be investigated and discussed using several different modifiers and a diolmodified silica column.
Mechanical Properties of Stirred SiC Reinforced Aluminium Alloy: Stir Casting with Different Composition of SiC, Blade Angle and Stirring Speed

Discontinuously reinforced cast metal-matrix composites are increasingly attracting the attention of aerospace, automotive and consumer goods industries. In this study, SiC particle reinforced aluminium alloy is selected to produce metal matrix composites (MMC) using different of parameters blade angle and stirring speed and composition of SiC reinforcement. Mechanical test, metallographic analysis and fracture analysis will be conducted to investigate mechanical properties of material and to observe particle distribution of SiC reinforcement and fracture properties respectively with varies angles and stirring speed of impellers and different composition of SiC reinforcement. Metallographic analysis on composition records at low speed, there exist a particle collection and gas existence on the specimen. At blade angles of 300, increasing on stirring speed and composition of SiC reinforcement may result better of particle distribution. For mechanical test, different composition of SiC reinforcement, blade angle and stirring speed will be affecting a mechanical property of material. The result of the experiment showed at blade angle 300, stirring speed 100rpm and 10% composition of SiC reinforcement give better result of hardness, ultimate strength, energy absorption, microstructure and fracture of composite. For this study, it proved that at the lower blade angle and the increment on stirring speed and composition of SiC reinforcement give a better result on particle distribution of SiC reinforcement, fracture and mechanical properties for A1-MMC.
The mechanism of life-threatening water imbalance in schizophrenia and its relationship to the underlying psychiatric illness

Impaired water excretion was noted to coincide with psychotic exacerbations in the first decades of the past century. In the ensuing decades, life-threatening water intoxication and elevated plasma levels of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP) were reported in a subset of persons with schizophrenia. Subsequent studies demonstrated that the osmotic set point for AVP secretion was transiently reset in these patients by an unknown process and that this was further exacerbated by acute psychosis. More recent studies indicate that the AVP dysfunction is a manifestation of a hippocampal-mediated impairment in the regulation of both AVP and HPA axis responses to psychological, but not other types of, stimuli. Of potential significance, is that schizophrenic patients without water imbalance exhibit the opposite pattern of responses. Preliminary data indicate those with water imbalance also demonstrate a closely linked deficit in central oxytocin activity which may account for their diminished social function. These latter behavioral deficits are perhaps the most disabling and treatment resistant features of schizophrenia, which recent studies suggest, may respond to oxytocin agonists. Together these findings support the view that schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder, and provide novel biomarkers and approaches for exploring the pathophysiology and treatment of severe mental illness.
Failure to conserve lactose and glucose polymers during frozen storage of fecal specimens: Methods for preservation

Abstract Freezing is often used to retard bacterial enzymatic activity in fecal specimens collected to quantify specific carbohydrates. The effectiveness of freezer storage on preservation of lactose and glucose polymers was assessed. The data showed that more than 50% of lactose that was added to fecal supernatants that were stored without treatment for more than 50 days at -20°C was lost. Adjustment of pH with HCl (pH 4.9), with HgCl2 (pH 6.3 or 5.85), or with NaOH (pH 10) improved carbohydrate preservation (P
Consumer Acceptance of Item Price Removal: A Survey Study of Milwaukee Shoppers

A survey was conducted of 193 Milwaukee food shoppers to determine their experiences and opinions relating to item price removal (IPR) in supermarkets. The principal findings were that opinions of IPR were related to experiences with shopping in IPR environments, extent of price comparison behaviors, and certain demographic variables. Most of the respondents thought retailers should supply a price-marking instrument to shoppers. A majority of the respondents who had not shopped in an IPR store said they would switch stores if their current store removed prices. However, only one-quarter of the respondents who had shopped in an IPR store changed stores and price removal was of secondary importance in this decision. Overall, respondents were evenly split on the need for legal controls in IPR, but respondents who had not shopped in an IPR store and who were from disadvantaged households (with regard to age, income and/or education) were more likely to see a need for legal controls. The findings of this study and ones conducted in other cities suggest that the primary public policy issue is not whether or not item prices should be removed. Rather, the issue is what is the best method of providing shoppers with price comparison information.
Development of sensorless vector control for a PMSM running up to 60,000 rpm

This paper presents a novel implementation of a position sensorless vector control scheme for a 40-kW permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) system in super-high speed (>50,000 rpm) applications. A novel sensorless vector control scheme based on a flux observer with phase compensation has been developed and performance investigated. The implementation features a cost-effective solution with a digital controller based on TMS320F2407A (DSP) and a compact intelligent power module. Experimental results operating up to 60,000 rpm are presented to verify the novel implementation
Direct 13C-detection for carbonyl relaxation studies of protein dynamics.

Abstract We describe a method that uses direct 13 C-detection for measuring rotating-frame carbonyl ( 13 CO) relaxation rates to describe protein functional dynamics. Key advantages of method include the following: (i) unique access to 13 CO groups that lack a scalar-coupled 15 N– 1 H group; (ii) insensitivity to 15 N/ 1 H exchange-broadening that can derail 1 H-detected 15 N and HNCO methods; (iii) avoidance of artifacts caused by incomplete water suppression. We demonstrate the approach for both backbone and side-chain 13 CO groups. Accuracy of the 13 C-detected results is supported by their agreement with those obtained from established HNCO-based approaches. Critically, we show that the 13 C-detection approach provides access to the 13 CO groups of functionally important residues that are invisible via 1 H-detected HNCO methods because of exchange-broadening. Hence, the 13 C-based method fills gaps inherent in canonical 1 H-detected relaxation experiments, and thus provides a novel complementary tool for NMR studies of biomolecular flexibility.
The dimensions of complaint satisfaction: process and outcome complaint satisfaction versus cold fact and warm act complaint satisfaction

There is much empirical evidence showing that the satisfaction of complainants with a company’s response has enormous impact on the customers’ future behaviour. Therefore, it becomes necessary to fully understand the construct of complaint satisfaction. Moreover, recent research provides deep insights into the determinants and consequences of complaint satisfaction. The focus of this article is on the dimensional structure of this construct. On a conceptual basis, two dimensions of complaint satisfaction are differentiated: outcome complaint satisfaction and process complaint satisfaction. The results of an empirical study are presented, demonstrating the effects of both dimensions on overall complaint satisfaction, relationship satisfaction and repurchase intention. Additionally, factor analysis leads to the identification of two factors that can be interpreted as satisfaction dimensions: cold fact complaint satisfaction and warm act complaint satisfaction. Obviously, complainants differentiate between those quality attributes that can be evaluated on the basis of objective facts on the one hand, and those that lead to more emotional reactions.
Simulating closed regimes with agent based models

This article describes efforts to develop an exploratory agent-based model as a tool for studying decision making in political regimes such as Iraq, North Korea, and Syria. Our hybrid of the landscape metaphor and the rule-based system approach captures the trade-offs leaders face in balancing components of a utility function, plus risk profiles that allow departures from conventional utility maximization. Two simple experiments concerning succession demonstrate the surprising compromises both leaders and elites are willing to make, as well as the instability of these bargains. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2008
Magnetic anisotropy barrier for spin tunneling in Mn 12 O 12 molecules

Electronic structure calculations on the nature of electronic states and the magnetic coupling in Mn-acetate $[{\mathrm{Mn}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}(R\mathrm{COO}{)}_{16}({\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}{)}_{4}]$ molecules have been been carried out within the generalized gradient approximation to the density functional formalism. Our studies on this 100-atom molecule illustrate the role of the nonmagnetic carboxyl host in stabilizing the ferrimagnetic ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ core and provide estimates of the local magnetic moment at the various sites. We provide a first density-functional-based prediction of the second-order magnetic anisotropy energy of this system. Results are in excellent agreement with experiment. To perform these calculations we introduce a simplified exact method for spin-orbit coupling and magnetic anisotropy energies in multicenter systems. This method is free of shape approximations and has other advantages as well. First, it is valid for periodic boundary conditions or finite systems and is independent of basis set choice. Second, the method does not require the calculation of electric field. Third, for applications to systems with a finite energy gap between occupied and unoccupied electronic states, a perturbative expansion allows for a simple determination of the magnetic anisotropy energy.
Genetic Architecture of Hybrid Male Sterility in Drosophila: Analysis of Intraspecies Variation for Interspecies Isolation

Background: The genetic basis of postzygotic isolation is a central puzzle in evolutionary biology. Evolutionary forces causing hybrid sterility or inviability act on the responsible genes while they still are polymorphic, thus we have to study these traits as they arise, before isolation is complete. Methodology/Principal Findings: Isofemale strains of D. mojavensis vary significantly in their production of sterile F1 sons when females are crossed to D. arizonae males. We took advantage of the intraspecific polymorphism, in a novel design, to perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping analyses directly on F1 hybrid male sterility itself. We found that the genetic architecture of the polymorphism for hybrid male sterility (HMS) in the F1 is complex, involving multiple QTL, epistasis, and cytoplasmic effects. Conclusions/Significance: The role of extensive intraspecific polymorphism, multiple QTL, and epistatic interactions in HMS in this young species pair shows that HMS is arising as a complex trait in this system. Directional selection alone would be unlikely to maintain polymorphism at multiple loci, thus we hypothesize that directional selection is unlikely to be the only evolutionary force influencing postzygotic isolation.
Cameras for Time-Lapse Photography

Motor-driven, cam-controlled cameras are particularly suitable for simple time-lapse photography. External intervalometers can be arranged to control the duration of each exposure to compensate automatically for widely varying light intensities.
Comparison of intrinsic versus paced ventricular function.

UNLABELLED There is increasing evidence supporting the benefits of providing optimum AV delay in cardiac pacing, though controversy exists regarding its value and the benefits of intrinsic versus paced ventricular activation. This study compared various AV delays at rest in patients whose native AV delays were > or = 200 msec. Only patients with DDD pacemakers who had intact AV conduction and normal ventricular activation were included in the study. Nine patients were studied. METHODS Ten studies were performed. Evaluation was done in AAI and DDD modes at paced heart rates of 60/min or as close as possible to the intrinsic heart rate if this was > 60/min. Stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) were measured. RESULTS When AV sequential pacing in the DDD mode with an optimum AV delay was compared to AAI pacing with a prolonged AV interval, the average optimum AV delay in the DDD mode was 157 msec and ranged from 125 to 175 msec. The average AV interval in the AAI mode was 245 msec and ranged from 212 to 300 msec. In the DDD mode, there was an overall significant improvement in CO of 11% and SV of 9%. Patients with intrinsic AV conduction times of > 220 msec showed an overall significant improvement in CO of 13% and SV of 11%. In patients with intrinsic AV conduction times of 220 msec.
Students' perception of a difficult case in psychotherapy.

Paniagua, et al. suggested that the definition of a "difficult" case in psychotherapy implies a relational definition involving the characteristics of the patient, the case, and the therapist. This study concerned this hypothesis with 44 graduate students in social work who received the Difficult Case Questionnaire representing examples of variables across each domain, e.g., motivation of the client, nature of the disorder, generic factors, and orientation of the therapist. The results were compared with the 1993 findings reported by Paniagua, et al., for a group of professionals in mental health practice. As in the earlier study, the present sample also agreed that, although all such domains are important in the formulation of that definition, their importance is not equal. Whereas professionals rated patient's, case's, and therapist's characteristics as the most important order of domains in that definition, students in this study agreed on the order of therapist's, patient's, and case's characteristics.
Nutrition Assessment and Hormonal Influences on Body Composition in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

Malnutrition is a serious complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the pediatric population. Management of the nutritional status of children presents the challenge of ensuring sufficient energy to promote linear growth, development of brain and organs, and maintenance of appropriate fat and muscle stores, while preventing excess protein intake and controlling electrolytes. Aggressive nutrition intervention in the early stages of CKD may be critical in the prevention of more serious complications further in the disease process. Nutrition assessment involves analysis of dietary intake, anthropometric parameters, and laboratory data. Currently, no guidelines are available for nutritional management of pediatric patients with CKD before the onset of dialysis. The content and algorithms in this article are intended to serve as a guide in the management of the nutritional status of children with CKD. Although adequate calorie and protein intake is critical in prevention of malnutrition, it is only part of a complex mechanism in the development of cachexia in CKD. Research suggests that the effects of inflammatory cytokines and hormones such as leptin and ghrelin play a role in the development of malnutrition in CKD. As a more thorough understanding of this mechanism emerges, new treatments aimed at inhibiting cachexia can be developed.
“Speech Problem” Subsequent to Carbon Monoxide Exposure? I the Jury

Exposure to carbon monoxide can damage the nervous system. Sometimes that damage disrupts speech, and sometimes it does not. And, when it does, not all of what one hears may have an organic basis. Coming to grips with altered speech can alter people in different ways--consciously and unconsciously. Finding out what is real and what is not is a good reason for getting up in the morning. It's my job. I'm a speech pathologist.
How well can levator ani muscle morphology on 3D pelvic floor ultrasound predict the levator ani muscle function

The aim of our study was to assess the performance of levator ani muscle deficiency (LAD) evaluated by 3D endovaginal ultrasound (EVUS) to detect pelvic floor muscle function as assessed by digital examination. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 77 patients referred to our urogynecology clinic for pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. Patients underwent physical examinations including digital pelvic muscle strength assessment using the Modified Oxford scale (MOS). EVUS volumes were evaluated and levator ani muscles were scored according to a validated LAD scoring system. MOS scores were categorized as nonfunctional (scores 0–1) and functional (scores 2–5). Mean age of participants was 56 (SD ± 12.5) and 71 % were menopausal. Overall, 32.5 % had nonfunctional muscle strength and 44.2 % were classified as having significant LAD. LAD identified by ultrasound had a sensitivity of 60 % (95 % CI 41 –79 %) for detecting nonfunctional muscle and a specificity of 63 % (95 % CI 50 –77 %) for detecting functional muscle. Overall, LAD demonstrated fair ability to discriminate between patients with and those without poor muscle function (area under the ROC curve = 0.70 [95 % CI 0.58–0.83]). Among patients with an LAD score of 16–18, representing almost total muscle avulsion, 70 % had nonfunctional MOS scores, whereas in patients with normal/minimal LAD (scores of 0–4), 89.5 % had functional MOS scores. Levator ani deficiency and MOS scales were moderately negatively correlated. Among patients with normal morphology or the most severe muscle deficiency, LAD scores can identify the majority of patients with functional or nonfunctional MOS scores respectively.
Whose Job Is It? Key Challenges and Future Directions for Online Accessibility in US Institutions of Higher Education.

This article reports on a national study conducted in the United States on the current institutional practices, structures, resources and policies that are needed to ensure online accessibility for all students at colleges and universities. Key findings include the need to better articulate who is responsible for online accessibility initiatives and policies; the need for an institutional investment when creating accessible online environments in terms of technology, staffing and other resources; and a sense of overwhelm at many institutions that are unsure of where to begin with making their online programmes and courses accessible for all students.
SYMPOSIUM ON CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE Pediatric Aspects of Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive failure in infancy and childhood may occur in a number of diseases. Congenital heart disease. however, is probably the most common cause of failure, with rheumatic fever second. Although the basic physiology of cardiac decompensation is similar in adults and children, the presenting clinical picture may be somewhat different in the 2 groups. We believe that infants and children with congestive failure should be treated vigorously, for we have the distinct impression that the mortality rate of these youngsters with severe heart disease has decreased appreciably since a more optimistic attitude prevails among parents and doctors about these problems. Vigorous use of anticongestive measures and antibiotics is worthwhile and results in many instances in the survival of an infant to an age when successful surgical repair is feasible. Certainly not all babies with congestive failure due to congenital, rheumatic, or other kind of heart disease can be salvaged. But surely the experience of the last few...
Bridging the Pressure Gap in Water and Hydroxyl Chemistry on Metal Surfaces: The Cu(110) Case

We report the first measurements on the quantitative partitioning of water between its molecular and dissociated forms at a gas−metal interface under elevated water pressures and temperatures. By means of synchrotron-based in situ photoelectron spectroscopy, mixed H2O and OH phases on Cu(110) at H2O pressures up to 1 Torr in the 275−520 K temperature range are studied. In increasing order of stability, three phases with H2O/OH ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 0:1 were observed. It was found that surprisingly large quantities of molecular water are present on the surface up to 428 K in 1 Torr H2O. A detailed comparison with previous ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) studies shows that the observed species, phases, and chemical kinetics under UHV compare very well with our results at elevated pressures and temperatures. The stability of the hydrogen-bonded H2O−OH complex at the surface, and its influence on the adsorption−desorption and dissociation kinetics, constitutes the essential link between our results and those obtaine...
Integration challenges at 0.15-μm technology node

The latest National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (NTRS) shows the most aggressive trend in IC performance advancements to date. However, the NTRS projects a course that is two to three years ahead of current industry capabilities. This discrepancy is due to the unprecedented number of new materials being introduced - transmissions that typically require five to ten years of R and D and significant modifications to IC manufacturing environments. CLearly, the challenges presented by these accelerated material changes could greatly impact product quality and reliability. This paper addresses integration complexity and capacitance issues, plus the new algorithms, design techniques, and system and chip architectures needed to meet the technology milestones dictated by the NTRS. A fundamental understanding of the new materials and processes, combined with high-productivity tools, such as the Producer mainframe, will be required to enable optimized front and back end processing.
Environmental and Agricultural Policy Effects on Information Acquisition and Input Choice

Abstract A dynamic model of the farm is developed to evaluate the effects of agricultural policies, a unit pesticide tax, and an information subsidy on the choice of damage control inputs. Non-chemical damage control inputs are information based and require investment by the farmer in information. The steady state comparative statics show that a pesticide tax can provide an incentive for the adoption of a non-chemical pest control input and that conventional economic intuition about the effects of farm program parameters depends crucially on the returns to scale of the non-chemical kill function and the local stability of the steady state.
Fetal Calf Spinal Cords as Enriched Source of mRNA Encoding Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein

Total poly(A)+ RNA was isolated from fetal calf spinal cord, adult rat spinal cord, and young rat brain, and was translated using the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. The amount of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the translation products was measured by immunoprecipitation with antiserum against glial fibrillary acidic protein. RNA from fetal calf spinal cord could direct glial fibrillary acidic protein synthesis such that this protein comprised approximately 1.4% of the total products. RNAs from adult rat spinal cord and brain could direct glial fibrillary acidic protein synthesis much less efficiently, with this protein comprising less than 0.3% of the total products. These results suggest that the gene for glial fibrillary acidic protein is strongly expressed in fetal calf spinal cord and that this tissue is an enriched source of mRNA encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein.
Electrical and compositional properties of TaSi 2 films

Tantalum silicide (TaSi2) thin films were sputter deposited on p- and n-type silicon substrates using ultrapure TaSi2 targets. The TaSi2/Si samples were annealed in nitrogen or forming gas or oxygen containing steam at temperatures in the range of 400-900°C. The sheet resistances of TaSi2/Si were measured by four-point probe before and after anneal. The structure of these films was investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. It has been found that the sheet resistance decreases with the increase in annealing temperature and also with the increase in film thickness. X-ray diffraction patterns show changes in the morphological structure of the films. Oxidation characteristics of the films have been investigated in the temperature range of 400-900°C in oxygen containing steam ambient. The oxidation time ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 h. No oxide formation of the tantalum silicide films was observed in this investigation. This has been attributed to the high purity of TaSi2 sputter targets used in the preparation of the films.