cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic analysis of the nondenaturational conformational change of baker’s yeast phosphoglycerate kinase at 24 °C

Abstract A plot of the Gibbs free energy of unfolding vs. temperature is calculated for baker’s yeast phosphoglycerate kinase in 150 mM sodium phosphate (pH = 7.0) from a combination of reversible differential scanning calorimetry measurements and isothermal guanidine hydrochloride titrations. The stability curve reveals the existence of two stable, folded conformers with an abrupt conformational transition occurring at 24 °C. The transition state thermodynamics for the low- to high-temperature conformational change are calculated from slow-scan-rate differential scanning calorimetry measurements where it is found that the free energy barrier for the conversion is 90 kJ/mol and the transition state possesses a significant unfolding quality. This analysis also confirms a nondenaturational conformational transition at 24 °C. The data therefore suggest that X-ray structures obtained from crystals grown below this temperature may differ considerably from the physiological structure and that the two conformers are not readily interconverted.
The Honduran Army in the Sociopolitical Evolution of the Honduran State

REQUENTLY, commentators on political developments in various small Central American nations describe the political participation of the military as if it were an unchanging and ineluctable force that had conditioned public life from time immemorial. Unfortunately, such a perspective not only distorts historical reality but makes it extremely difficult to offer accurate interpretations of current events. While it seems fundamentally correct to assert that Latin American military institutions differ from such organizations in other less developed areas in that they were forged in the crucible of 19th rather than 20th century events, such a generalization cannot apply to every Hispanic nation.' A more adequate representation of reality might be that there are essentially two types of Latin American military establishments which relate in quite different ways to their respective political systems. First, there is that class of military organization where institutional identities were fairly well established by the early 20th century and, secondly, there are those which bear a closer affinity to military establishments in the new nations. Here, there has been a very late process of institutional consolidation which makes the behavioral patterns of these institutions particularly volatile.
A two-dimensional model of plasma expansion in the ionosphere

A systematic parameter study is conducted of the motion of artificial plasma clouds across the geomagnetic field at ionospheric altitudes. The study is based on a two-dimensional numerical model. Taken into consideration are the effects solar cycle variations on the cloud evolution, as well as the effects of seasonal and geomagnetic activity conditions, and variations in the ionospheric release conditions. The effects of magnetospheric electric fields and thermospheric winds are also considered. The plasma cloud model and related assumptions are discussed, and numerical results are presented.
Noise on the triadic Cantor set

Abstract The effect of noise on the triadic 1D Cantor set is studied. The iterative procedure used to generate the Cantor set is modified by adding a stochastic variable to the interval length at each iteration. It is found that the presence of this ‘noise’ truncates the self-similar structure of the set after a finite number of iterations. Either the noise causes the closest spaced intervals to merge together, or it causes all the intervals to collapse to a set of a finite number of points. Distribution functions are found describing the probability that self-similarity was destroyed on the nth iteration. A program using a random number generator was written that simulates our modified Cantor procedure. The results of 100 000 simulations are compared with the predictions of the probability distribution functions. Good agreement is found.
NON-INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS OF ANOMALOUS LEFT CORONARY ARTERY IN THE YOUNG WITH THALLIUM - 201 MYOCARDIAL IMAGING

The diagnosis of anomalous left coronary artery (ALCA) requires documentation by cardiac catheterization (CC) and angiocardiography (A). The electrocardiographic pattern of myocardial infarction may be atypical or absent; and other cardiomyopathies may have a similar clinical profile. This study was undertaken to assess the value of myocardial perfusion imaging in the diagnosis of ALCA. Three patients (pts.) with proven diagnosis of ALCA by CC and A, aged 0.7, 1 and 2 years respectively, received Thallium-201 I.V. ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 mCi. Scintigraphy revealed a defect in perfusion of the anterior wall (3/3 pts.) and apical region (2/3 pts.) of the left ventricle. Myocardial imaging in 2 children, ages 1.5 and 8 yrs., with severe cardiomyopathy of unknown origin with similar clinical profile to pts. with ALCA, had no abnormalities or diffuse and poorly defined distribution of the radionuclide in the myocardium. Thus, Thallium-201 myocardial imaging appears to be a promising non-invasive technique in the diagnosis of ALCA in the young and may prove of value in cases of high risk cardiac catheterization due to severe left ventricular dysfunction.
University of Colorado radiologist adult contrast reaction smartcard.

cian contacted for evaluation and treatment of the patient and also, is often the only available physician on site. In fact, the majority of contrast reactions occur in the outpatient setting [6] rather than the hospital setting, where multidisciplinary resuscitation teams are usually readily available for assistance. Both practicing radiologists and trainees demonstrate knowledge and skills deficits in the identification and management of severe contrast reactions. In a recent survey, only 41% of the practicing radiologists provided both the correct route and medication dose in the
The Electron-Wave Tube-A Novel Method of Generation and Amplification of Microwave Energy

A novel method of generation and amplification of microwave energy is described, based on space-charge interaction of electron streams of different velocities. The electron streams are generated within a common space which, in the presence of electrons, behaves as a unidirectional transmission medium having negative attenuation. The basic theory of the new method is developed, and formulas and curves are given for propagation constant, electronic, gain, and bandwidth which can be achieved with the device based on the new method. This device is called the "electron-wave tube." The design and performance of the "two-beam"-type and the "single-beam"-type experimental electron-wave tubes are described. Electronic gains of the order of 80 db at a frequency of 3000 Mc and electronic bandwidths of over 30 per cent have been observed in experimental electron-wave tubes. It is pointed out that, since no passive circuit is required in the amplifying region of the electron-wave tube, the new method is important in the development of tubes for millimeter waves.
Accounting for variation in length of NICU stay for extremely low birth weight infants

To develop a length of stay (LOS) model for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. We included infants from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative with birth weight 401 to 1000 g who were discharged to home. Exclusion criteria were congenital anomalies, surgery and death. LOS was defined as days from admission to discharge. As patients who died or were transferred to lower level of care were excluded, we assessed correlation of hospital mortality rates and transfers to risk-adjusted LOS. There were 2012 infants with median LOS 79 days (range 23 to 219). Lower birth weight, lack of antenatal steroids and lower Apgar score were associated with longer LOS. There was negligible correlation between risk-adjusted LOS and hospital mortality rates (r=0.0207) and transfer-out rates (r=0.121). Particularly because ELBW infants have extended hospital stays, identification of unbiased and informative risk-adjusted LOS for these infants is an important step in benchmarking best practice and improving efficiency in care.
Architecture-Aware LDPC Code Design for Software Defined Radio

Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes have been adopted in the physical layer of many communication systems because of their superior performance. The direct implementation of these codes onto an existing software defined radio (SDR) platform is likely to be inefficient. Our approach is to design the LDPC code to match the constraints imposed by the existing architecture, with-out compromising the communication performance. We present a procedure for architecture-aware code design that involves feature identification, code construction and verification. Details of the procedure for the case when the SDR platform is equipped with a multi-stage interconnection network (MIN) is presented. By analyzing the characteristics of the MIN, simple yet explicit constraints are derived and used in the code construction step. The resulting LDPC code can not only be mapped very efficiently onto the SDR platform but also has very good bit error rate (BER) performance.
The cost of prematurity: a case-control study of twins vs singletons.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the extent to which morbidity and costs at birth were associated with plurality, gestational age, and birth-weight with a sample of twins from a large urban hospital. METHODS: Each twin infant was matched to two singleton infants (control [ctrl]-singletons) for payor status and race, and to one singleton infant (gestation [ga]-singleton) for payor status, race, and gestational age; after exclusion of infants who were transferred, the study population included 111 twins, 242 ctrl-singletons, and 106 ga-singletons. Data were stratified by five gestational categories and compared across study groups. Outcomes included birthweight, neonatal diagnoses, infant length of stay, infant costs per day, and total infant and total birth costs. RESULTS: Total birth costs ranged from $280,146 at 25 to 27 weeks to $9,803 at 39 to 42 weeks, decreasing with advancing gestation to means of $88,891 (twins), $43,041 (ga-singletons), and $9,326 (ctrl-singletons). Twins did not differ from eithe...
Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Series of Dimeric Metal(II) Imido Complexes {M(μ-NAr#)}2 [M = Ge, Sn, Pb; Ar# = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2] and the Related Monomeric Primary Amido Derivatives M{N(H)Ar#}2 (M = Ge, Sn, Pb): Spectroscopic Manifestations of Secondary Metal−Ligand Interactions

The solvent-free reaction of M{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) (M = Ge, Sn, or Pb) with the sterically encumbered primary amine 2,6-dimesitylaniline Ar(#)NH(2) [Ar(#) = C(6)H(3)-2,6(C(6)H(2)-2,4,6-Me(3))(2)] at ca. 165-175 degrees C afforded the highly colored imido dimers {M(mu-NAr(#))}(2), where M = Ge (1), Sn (2), or Pb (3), with disilylamine elimination. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. The structures of 1-3 were very similar and had nonplanar four-membered M(2)N(2) ring cores that are folded along the M---M axis. The nitrogen atoms are planar-coordinated, and the M-N distances are consistent with single bonding. The reaction of M{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) with Ar(#)NH(2) in a 2:1 ratio in solution at lower temperature afforded the relatively stable monomeric primary amido species M{N(H)Ar(#)}(2), where M = Ge (4), Sn (5), or Pb (6). Complexes 4-6 displayed V-shaped MN(2) structures, and 5 and 6 revealed close approaches between the metal atom and ipso-carbon atoms of two flanking Mes groups of the terphenyl substituents [Sn(II)---C (2.957 A) and Pb(II)---C (2.965 A)]. The secondary metal-ligand interactions exerted large effects on their electronic and NMR spectra.
Refractory tertiary hyperparathyroidism after calcimimetics and delayed parathyroidectomy in a kidney transplant recipient

Persistent hyperparathyroidism affects renal outcomes and mortality. After kidney transplantation, cinacalcet is not approved as treatment for hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroidectomy, on the other hand, reverses electrolytes and mineral bone metabolism in almost all cases. Early parathyroidectomy may increase the chance of resolving hyperparathyroidism. A 58–year-old man with ESRD status post deceased donor kidney transplantation 3 years prior presented with bone aches. He had persistent hypercalcemia and hypophosphatemia secondary to hyperparathyroidism. Serum calcium ranged 9.3–11.4 mg/dl and serum phosphorus was decreased with a lowest value of 2.1 mg/dl. Intact PTH level was elevated to 487 pg/ml and total 25–OH vitamin D was 20 ng/ml. Bone density studies indicated osteopenia. He refused parathyroidectomy and was treated with cinacalcet. Because of persistent hyperparathyroidism, he underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy. Postoperatively, he required high phosphorus diet, phosphate supplements, and cinacalcet to maintain normal serum phosphorus levels. Intact PTH was still elevated with the level of 188 pg/ml while he continued cinacalcet. Normally, parathyroidectomy is performed 1 year posttransplantion unless severe bone disease, refractory hypercalcemia, or difficulty controlling phosphate wasting occurs. Phosphate wasting from hyperparathyroidism in our patient indicated parathyroidectomy; however, the surgery was delayed for 3 years while cinacalcet had been used. Post parathyroidectomy, hyperparathyroidism still persisted. Both cinacalcet and parathyroidectomy are imperfect to reverse hyperparathyroidism. Timely parathyroidectomy may determine the reversal of electrolyte and metabolic bone diseases; however, a delayed procedure may not have the same benefit. Since hyperparathyroidism is associated with higher incidence of kidney allograft dysfunction and postoperative mortality, should there be a level where pretransplant parathyroidectomy is performed?
Discrete subaortic stenosis: incidence, morphology and surgical impact of associated subaortic anomalies

Abstract Background The association between discrete subaortic stenosis and other subaortic anomalies is a well known but rarely reported occurrence. The aim of this study is to define the incidence, morphology, and surgical impact of associated anomalies of the left ventricular outflow tract in children operated on for discrete subaortic stenosis. Methods Between 1994 and 2000, 45 consecutive children were operated on for discrete subaortic stenosis. Patients were divided in two groups according to the obstructive lesion detected by echocardiography. Results A localized shelf was found as an isolated lesion in 31 patients (group A), whereas additional subaortic anomalies were found in 14 cases (31%) and were multiple in 5 cases (group B). The anomalies included anomalous septal insertion of mitral valve (7 cases); accessory mitral valve tissue (2 cases); anomalous papillary muscle (2 cases); anomalous muscular band (8 cases); and muscularization of the anterior mitral valve leaflet (1 case). Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping times were significantly shorter in group A. There were no operative deaths nor major complications or deaths during follow-up. A gradient of 15 mm Hg or more was found at follow-up in 5 cases whereas aortic regurgitation was estimated to be not clinically significant in all but 1 patient. Six cases of recurrent subaortic stenosis were found in our series, 3 of them with other subaortic anomalies. Conclusions This study shows that discrete subaortic stenosis can often be associated with other subaortic abnormalities. Surgical treatment of these anomalies produces excellent early and mid-term relief of obstruction without any increase in mortality and morbidity.
Cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in children: experience in a controlled setting.

The literature on cerebrospinal fluid opening pressures for pediatric patients is scant. A retrospective study of measured opening pressures during lumbar punctures of pediatric patients in a controlled, uniform setting was conducted. These procedures were performed in an outpatient surgery setting under anesthesia. Patients’ end-tidal carbon dioxide levels were maintained at 40-45 mm Hg. Opening pressures were measured with the patients lying in left lateral decubitus position with their legs extended. Correlations with patients’ ages and body mass index percentiles were investigated. Forty-four patients (median age, 8.9 years; range, 1.1-16.8 years) were included. Patients with chronic headaches, papilledema, or severe abnormalities of cerebrospinal fluid were excluded. The mean opening pressure recorded was 20.3 cm H2O (median, 21 cm H2O; range, 6-36 cm H2O). Poor correlation with both age and body mass index percentiles was evident. The correlation coefficients were 0.09 and 0.14, respectively. Our experience suggests that pediatric reference ranges for opening pressures are closer to those of adults than previously appreciated, and values above 20 cm H2O should not necessarily be considered abnormal.
Application of the method of stepwise coupling to the calculation of mean amplitudes of vibration directly from experimentally observed frequencies

Abstract The method of stepwise coupling was investigated as an approximate method for calculating mean amplitudes of vibration for polyatomic molecules directly from assigned spectroscopie frequencies. Comparisons were made with amplitudes calculated from published Urey-Bradley and generalized valence force field methods for several molecules. Results indicate that the method gives mean amplitudes which agree very closely with those calculated from other force fields. Molecules studied include halogenated methanes, boron trihalides, acetone and diborane.
Population growth and air quality in California.

Demographers are often interested in the environmental impacts of population growth. I examine the impact of growth specifically on air quality in California. In recent decades, California has suffered from notoriously polluted air and has experienced rapid population growth. Despite the population .growth, air quality actually has improved since the early 1980s due to aggressive regulatory efforts. Using data for 56 counties, I analyze the contribution of population growth to trends in atmospheric emissions of five regulated pollutants from 1980 to 1990, controlling for trends in per capita income and regulatory efforts. The analysis is disaggregated by source of emissions and demonstrates that population growth is strongly associated with some sources of emissions but not with others. Thus, the overall impact of population growth depends upon the composition of production and consumption activities in each county. I also explore whether the trend in number of households predicts better than the trend in number of persons, and whether the impact of population growth depends upon the age structure or source of growth (immigration or domestic increase). Generally, these alternative specifications of population do not improve the models of atmospheric emissions.
The synthesis of 7α-methyl-substituted estrogens labeled with fluorine-18: potential breast tumor imaging agents

The 7 alpha-methyl substituent is reported to increase the binding affinity of estradiol for the estrogen receptor (ER). In order to evaluate whether this substituent would improve the in vitro binding characteristics and the in vivo tissue distribution of 18F labeled estrogens that we are developing as positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging agents for ER-positive breast tumors, we have prepared four 18F labeled analogs of 7 alpha-methylestradiol. These ligands were labeled in the 16 alpha or 16 beta position with 18F by nucleophilic displacement of the corresponding epimeric estrone trifluoromethanesulfonates with 18F fluoride ion. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction afforded the estradiol (E2) series, while lithium trimethylsilylacetylide addition provided the 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol (EE2) series. The decay-corrected yields were 2-35% for a synthesis time of 85 minutes for the E2 series, and 120 minutes for the EE2 series, and the effective specific activities were 158-1213 Ci/mmol. In nearly every case, the 7 alpha-methyl substituent increases ER binding affinity (measured at 25 C) and decreases binding to high affinity serum steroid binding proteins, alphafetoprotein, and sex steroid binding protein; this substituent, however, increases the lipophilicity and the predicted non-specific binding (estimated from octanol-water partition coefficients determined by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography/[HPLC]), with the result that the ratio of ER binding to non-specific binding is nearly the same for the 7 alpha-methyl substituted analogs as for the corresponding unsubstituted analogs. In vivo distribution studies demonstrated a high level of receptor-mediated uptake in receptor-rich target tissues (uterus, ovaries), and in some cases, other tissues with low ER titers (secondary target tissues, e.g., muscle, thymus) showed significant displaceable uptake, presumed to be receptor-mediated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Redefining Men Alternative Masculinities in a Twelve-Step Program

This article argues that Codependents Anonymous—a group often criticized for overlooking gender politics—can encourage an awareness of hegemonic masculinity among men. The psychospiritual codependency discourse requires that people examine their lives for sources of dysfunction and make changes where possible. Drawing on data from ethnographic research and interviews, this article reveals that men can come to attribute dysfunction to stereotypical male behavior. Traditional masculinity has failed to provide the men in this research with its customary privileges, including successful marriages and intimate relationships. The experience of failure left them with no typical male resources on which to draw. This lack of resources, consequently, made change possible. Illustrative cases follow several men through the transition from hegemonic masculinity to egalitarian personhood.
Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Direct Assay of Lysosomal Enzymes in Dried Blood Spots: Application to Screening Newborns for Mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter Syndrome)

We report a new assay of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase (aryl sulfatase B) activity in dried blood spots (DBS) for the early detection of mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux−Lamy syndrome) in newborn screening. The assay uses a synthetic substrate consisting of N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfate moiety glycosidically linked to a hydrophobic residue and furnished with a tert-butyloxycarbamido group as a marker for specific mass spectrometric fragmentation. Incubation with aryl sulfatase B present in DBS converts the substrate to a desulfated product which is detected by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and quantified using a homologous internal standard. Assay and workup procedures were optimized to be compatible with the work flow in newborn screening laboratories. Analysis of DBS from human newborns showed clear distinction of aryl sulfatase B activity from 89 healthy individuals where it ranged between 1.4 and 16.9 μmol/(h L of blood), with an average activity of 7.4 μmol/(h L of blood), and an MPS...
Inversion with early photons.

Optical tomography using early photons can improve resolution and reduce the ill-posed nature of the inversion problem. In this work we use 360 ° projection experimental data to investigate the inversion performance of three commonly used numerical inversion methods: the random algebraic reconstruction technique (rART), singular value decomposition (SVD), and the conjugate-gradient-type method LSQR. Results are contrasted to each other and the effects of different photon propagation models are also investigated. We find that all methods perform adequately given appropriate regularization parameters, and that an experimentally measured photon weight function yields superior results over two approximate weights that have been previously used.
Chemistry and. chemical ecology of the Bahamian sponge Aplysilla glacialis

Chemical investigation of the secondary metabolites of the marine spongeAplysilla glacialis collected at French Wells, Crooked Island, Bahamas, resulted in the isolation and characterization of four diterpenes, two sterol endoperoxides, and two methylated primary metabolites. Some of these compounds, along with crude extracts of the sponge, were investigated for their ability to deter fish predation, affect the fouling of surfaces, and inhibit the growth of marine microorganisms. The diterpene manool (3), cholesterol endoperoxide (4), and the crude nonpolar extract ofA. glacialis were shown to deter feeding by a natural assemblage of fish predators in an in situ assay conducted at French Wells. Pure secondary metabolites and crude extracts ofA. glacialis also were tested in a laboratory fish feeding assay employing the wrasseThalassoma lunare. A mixture of sterol endoperoxides was isolated from the mucus that coats the surface ofA. glacialis and is exuded in large quantities when the sponge is disturbed. These compounds are thereby distributed in a manner in which they can best serve a defensive role for the sponge. An in situ assay was designed to determine the effect that pure secondary metabolites and crude extracts have on the fouling of surfaces. Manool (3) and cholesterol endoperoxide (4) were determined to increase the rate of fouling when compared to control surfaces. 1-Methyladenine (5) was identified as an antimicrobial constituent ofA. glacialis that inhibited the growth of four marine bacteria isolated from seawater samples collected at French Wells.
A comparison study of diamond films grown on tungsten carbide cobalt tool inserts with CH4 and CF4 gas sources

Abstract The results of a comparison study of continuous diamond coatings deposited on tungsten carbide-6% cobalt tool inserts using CF 4 and CH 4 gas sources are presented. The CH 4 grown diamond film utilizes a thin (1200 A) amorphous silicon interlayer for adhesion while the CF 4 diamond film is deposited directly onto the tool insert. The films are characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy and are diamond. Diamond films produced with CF 4 gas have much higher (nearly a factor of 4) growth rates and better adhesion (about a factor of 3) than diamond films grown with CH 4 gas. An aluminum-17% Si alloy is machined with the diamond-coated tool inserts to determine their performance in a machining environment. Using CF 4 , diamond is believed to grow by first removing the tungsten from the tungsten carbide to expose the underlying carbon atoms. Subsequent carbon containing gaseous species can then bond to the exposed carbon and initiate and propagate diamond growth.
Social support and avoidant coping: correlates of depressed mood during pregnancy in minority women.

ABSTRACT Introduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate several psychosocial correlates of depressed mood during pregnancy. The psychosocial factors examined included background characteristics (socioeconomic status, planning of pregnancy), perceived social support, and coping styles. Methods. One hundred fifty pregnant lower income, minority women were recruited from an obstetrics clinic at an urban hospital. Patients completed a battery of psychosocial measures including measures of social support, coping style, and depressed mood. Results. Perceived social support and an avoidant coping style were the most salient psychosocial correlates of depressed mood during pregnancy, accounting for 34% of the variance in the model. More specifically, women who reported less social support satisfaction experienced greater avoidant coping strategies, which was then associated with higher levels of depressed mood. Conclusions. This study suggests that women who perceive less social support satisfaction util...
Correlation for the Vapor Pressure of Mercury

We present a new correlation for the vapor pressure of mercury that is valid from the triple point to the critical point. The equation is a Wagner-type form, where the terms of the equation are selected using a simulated annealing optimization algorithm. To improve the reliability of the equation at low temperatures, heat-capacity data were used in addition to vapor-pressure data. We present comparisons with available experimental data and existing correlations. The estimated uncertainty at a coverage factor of 2 varies from 3% near the triple point to 1% for temperatures from 273 to 400 K; 0.15% for the intermediate temperature region from 400 K to the normal boiling point at 629.77 K; for temperatures above the normal boiling point but below ∼900 K, it is 0.5%; and for temperatures between 900 K and the critical point, we estimate that the uncertainty is 5%.
Microcylinder electrodes as sensitive detectors for high-efficiency, high-speed liquid chromatography.

A carbon fiber microcylinder electrode (r = 3.5 μm) is used as a detector for high-efficiency and high-speed liquid chromatography. The microcylinder has a detection volume of a few picoliters, and can be placed directly at the outlet frit of the column. With proper positioning equipment, the electrode can be placed at the region of the outlet frit where the separation efficiency is highest. Such selective sampling results in greatly increased measured efficiency over a conventional electrochemical detector when short (4 cm) columns of conventional diameter (3.2 mm) are used. The microcylinder detector is sensitive and subpicomole detection limits are obtained in less than 30 s for norepinephrine. The need for expensive positioning equipment is eliminated by mounting the electrode into a fitting which can be mated directly with the column.
Formation and stability of large step-free areas on Si(001) and Si(111)

We have created arrays of step-free regions on Si(111) and Si(001) starting with fabricated square ridge structures and using high-temperature annealing. The conditions for the formation of step-free regions are different on the two surfaces due to differences in the temperature dependences of the surface structures and different diffusion characteristics. The step-free regions are unstable against the formation of circular vacancy pits due to the supersaturation of vacancies at large distances from atomic steps and the invasion of pre-existing steps from the surrounding barriers. The effects of electromigration on the behavior of the sublimation pits are different on the two surfaces. On Si(001) the details of the step arrays depend markedly on whether direct or alternating current heating is used. With direct-current heating the pits are no longer concentric. The effect can be explained by electromigration and the anisotropic mobility of adatoms on the reconstructed Si(001) surface. The major type of point defect on the terraces at high temperature can be inferred from the observation of vacancy or adatom clusters after quenching.
A typology of international political communication: Factual statements, propaganda, and noise

Abstract Communication and information are important instruments of foreign policy‐making in the latter portion of the twentieth century, particularly among the superpowers. This paper seeks to present researchers and policy‐makers with a workable definition of international political communication. It also provides a typology of three categories of international political communication: factual statements, propaganda, and noise.
High-power oxygen inductively coupled plasma discharge for spectrochemical analysis

Abstract The diagnostics of a high-power (4.2 and 3.2 kW) atmospheric-pressure oxygen inductively coupled plasma (at 27 MHz) reveals spatial temperature fields corresponding to a hot plasma discharge reaching 10200 K surrounded by a relatively low (> 4000 K) but uniform temperature zone. The electron number density is 10 14 to 10 16 cm −3 in a zone above the induction coil. Steep thermal gradients exist at a radius of about 3.6mm corresponding to the edge of the luminous discharge. Measured radial temperature distributions from the absolute 0 I 715.7 nm and 615.8 nm line intensities are compared with theoretically calculated distributions. The plasma temperature field is shaped by the oxygen transport properties. The calculated equilibrium oxygen plasma composition indicates high (10 18 cm −3 ) atomic oxygen concentrations, although the analytical performance should not be limited by oxide formation in the regions of the discharge above 6000 K. Nebulization of water into the oxygen discharge increases the temperature of oxygen plasma and the oxygen emission intensities.
Echocardiographic Identification of Intrapericardial Fibrous Strands in Acute Pericarditis with Pericardial Effusion

In three cases of acute pericarditis with pericardial effusion, the presence of fibrous strands within the fluid-filled pericardial cavity was demonstrated by M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography. Pericardiocentesis proved difficult in all three. No patient progressed to constrictive pericarditis.
Effect of Inserting Al2O3 Layer and Device Structure in HfO2-Based ReRAM for Low Power Operation

In this paper, the effect of tunnel barrier and device structure for the reliable and low power resistive switching operation was researched in the HfO2 based ReRAM system. From the experimental results, the Al2O3 thin layer as the tunnel barrier lowered the operation current and improved thermal stability for the stable switching operation. Moreover, the additional decrease of the operation current was achieved through the cell size drop with the stable cell structure
Dosimetric Comparison Between 3DCRT and IMRT Using Different Multileaf Collimators in the Treatment of Brain Tumors

We investigated the differences between 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and the impact of collimator leaf-width on IMRT plans for the treatment of nonspherical brain tumors. Eight patients treated by 3DCRT with Novalis were selected. We developed 3 IMRT plans with different multileaf collimators (Novalis m3, Varian MLC-120, and Varian MLC-80) with the same treatment margins, number of beams, and gantry positions as in the 3DCRT treatment plans. Treatment planning utilized the BrainLAB treatment planning system. For each patient, the dose constraints and optimization parameters remained identical for all plans. The heterogeneity index, the percentage target coverage, critical structures, and normal tissue volumes receiving 50% of the prescription dose were calculated to compare the dosimetric difference. Equivalent uniform dose (EUD) and tumor control probability (TCP) were also introduced to evaluate the radiobiological effect for different plans. We found that IMRT significantly improved the target dose homogeneity compared to the 3DCRT. However, IMRT showed the same radiobiological effect as 3DCRT. For the brain tumors adjacent to (or partially overlapping with) critical structures, IMRT dramatically spared the volume of the critical structures to be irradiated. In IMRT plans, the smaller collimator leaf width could reduce the volume of critical structures irradiated to the 50% level for those partially overlapping with the brain tumors. For relatively large and spherical brain tumors, the smaller collimator leaf widths give no significant benefit.
Left Ventricular Thromboembolism

Left ventricular thrombi can occur after acute myocardial infarction or in patients with chronic left ventricular dysfunction. Stasis of blood within areas of akinesis or dyskinesis is thought to be the mechanism by which thrombi form. Cardioembolic stroke is the most feared complication of left ventricular thrombi. A 37-year-old man with progressive heart failure after myocardial infarction was found to have severe …
Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury: An Update

Transfusion-associated acute lung injury (TRALI) has emerged as a leading cause of transfusion-related morbidity and mortality. TRALI is characterized by acute non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema and respiratory compromise in the setting of transfusion. The study of TRALI has been hampered by inadequate case definitions and an incomplete understanding of the pathologic mechanisms. Recent consensus conferences took an important first step by providing a framework for case definition. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of TRALI have also occurred. TRALI has been primarily attributed to donor leukocyte antibodies that are thought to interact with recipient neutrophils, resulting in activation and aggregation in pulmonary capillaries, release of local biologic response modifiers causing capillary leak, and lung injury. An alternate mechanism termed the “two hit” or “neutrophil priming” hypothesis postulates that a pathway to neutrophil activation and aggregation can occur without leukocyte antibodies. A first event such as sepsis or trauma can induce pulmonary endothelial activation, release of cytokines, and priming of neutrophils. A subsequent second event such as exposure to lipids, cytokines or antibodies in a blood component would then cause activation of adherent neutrophils and a release of bioreactive molecules leading to lung injury. There are limited clinical and animal studies to support the “two hit” model. These proposed mechanisms are not mutually exclusive in that donor leukocyte antibody can be pathogenic in both models and have implications for new strategies to prevent TRALI.
Aphid honeydew alters plant defence responses

Summary 1. Plants respond to insect herbivory by ramping up the production of defence-related jasmonic acid (JA). The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is able to avoid triggering JA as it feeds. The aim of our study was to examine whether or not aphids simply avoid triggering plant defence signalling or whether they are able to manipulate plant signalling in a way to alter effectual plant defences. 2. To resolve this, we tested the ability of pea aphids to suppress the accumulation of damageinduced JA. We then tested exogenous application of aphid honeydew as a possible mechanism for JA suppression. 3. While broad bean plants, Vicia faba, accumulated JA in response to artificial damage, the presence of concurrent aphid feeding suppressed JA accumulation. Furthermore, exogenous application of aphid honeydew induced salicylic acid (SA) and suppressed JA accumulation. We also report the presence of SA within honeydew itself. 4. We conclude that both aphid feeding and exogenous honeydew deposition suppress JA accumulation in response to damage. We demonstrate that honeydew application results in an increased accumulation of SA within plant tissue and find that levels of SA present within honeydew do not fully account for this increase. This finding demonstrates, for the first time, that aphid honeydew suppresses induced plant defence.
Novel circuits to improve SRAM performance in PD/SOI technology

A novel circuit technique is proposed to overcome the read disturbance by parasitic bipolar currents in PD/SOI technology. Results show that using the new circuit, larger bitline differentials can be achieved with improvement in performance by more than 18%.
Issues in the specification and design of parallel programs

An overview is given of the main specification and design issues for parallel systems of programs from a software engineering perspective. A parallel system design approach based on the Large-Grain Data Flow 2 (LGDF2) computation model is outlined. An assessment of LGDF2 as the basis for unified specification, design, and implementation of parallel programs is given, along with a brief assessment of its potential impact on parallel software development and software project management. >
Synthesis and reactions of some perfluoroalkyl ether substituted silanes

Abstract Perfluoroalkyl ether substituted silicon compounds of the type (CH3)nSi(RfORf)4−n (n = 1–3) and HSi(RfORf)3 where RfORr = F(CF3)2COCF2CF2 have been synthesized in good yields (64–81%) through the reaction between the organolithium reagent RfORfLi and the corresponding silicon chloride. The stability of these compounds towards acid, base and aqueous media were studied and the ease of cleavage of the SiRfORf bond was found to be in the order HSi(RfORf)3 > CH3Si(RfORf)3 > (CH3)2Si(RfORf)2 > (CH3)3SiRfORf. The influence of the RfORf group on some properties of these compounds is also described.
Effect of hospital volume, surgeon experience, and surgeon volume on patient outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single-institution experience

Objective To determine the importance of hospital volume, surgeon experience, and surgeon volume in performing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Design, Setting, and Patients From 1980 through 2007, 1003 patients underwent PD by 19 surgeons at a university hospital. Main Outcome Measures Patient morbidity and mortality, quality of resection, and learning curve were examined according to hospital volume (period 1: 1980-2003 vs period 2: 2004-2007), surgeon experience (total number of PDs), and surgeon volume (number of PDs per year). Results Perioperative morbidity and mortality for all 1003 PDs were 41% and 3%, respectively. Differences existed between period 1 and period 2 in percentage of PDs performed in elderly patients (7% vs 17%), mortality (4% vs 2%), estimated blood loss (1817 mL vs 780 mL), length of stay (18 days vs 12 days), and proportion of International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula grade C pancreatic fistulae (29% vs 12%). Surgeons with less experience ( Conclusions Improvement in PD outcomes, including mortality, occurred with increased PD volume at a pancreatic center. Surgeon experience remained an important determinant of overall morbidity. Experienced surgeons, however, had comparable outcomes irrespective of annual volume.
Wind Energy: The Next Frontier for Ecological Risk Assessment

There is global consensus that renewable sources of energy will benefit human health and the environment, for example, reducing health impacts from particulates in the air and potential adverse env...
Employer-Sponsored Training And Job Retention Of Mid-Career Employees

Recent research on training has been focused on explaining the empirical finding that many employers often sponsor training that employees could potentially use in other firms (i.e., general training). This paper studies employer-sponsored general training for mid-career employees, who form an important but neglected subset of workers in the training context. The results indicate that college-educated workers in specialized professional occupations are the most common recipients of employer-sponsored general training. Analysis of employee retention rates indicates that mid-career workers that receive employer sponsored training are less likely to voluntarily quit their jobs post-training. Cross training and computer training have the most significant positive effects on employee job retention while only a regular training program to upgrade skills appears to produce positive employee job retention effects.
Evolving Strategies for Social Innovation Games

While evolutionary computation is well suited for automatic discovery in engineering, it can also be used to gain insight into how humans and organizations could perform more effectively in competitive problem-solving domains. This paper formalizes human creative problem solving as competitive multi-agent search, and advances the hypothesis that evolutionary computation can be used to discover effective strategies for it. In experiments in a social innovation game (similar to a fantasy sports league), neural networks were first trained to model individual human players. These networks were then used as opponents to evolve better game-play strategies with the NEAT neuroevolution method. Evolved strategies scored significantly higher than the human models by innovating, retaining, and retrieving less and by imitating more, thus providing insight into how performance could be improved in such domains. Evolutionary computation in competitive multi-agent search thus provides a possible framework for understanding and supporting various human creative activities in the future.
Probable linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient with vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Purpose:A probable case of linezolid-induced thrombocytopenia is reported.Summary:A 74-year-old Caucasian male with renal dysfunction was diagnosed with diverticulosis. Patient was prescribed linez...
Infomercial for Applied Mathematics

According to Galileo, “Mathematics is the language in which God wrote the Universe”. As a living language, mathematics is still developing. Of course, any language develops to express new meanings. For example, English is no longer the same as it was in the time of Shakespeare or Chaucer. Now we have MTV, soundbites, factoids, psychobabble, technospeak and other types of jargon. Language usage helps promote language development. This is more than just a new word or a felicitous turn of phrase. Sometimes new language usage is the sign of an emerging new paradigm. Conversely, sometimes a new paradigm requires a whole new way of using language. Galileo’s analogy is apt — mathematics has many parallels with language. In mathematics there are parallels to linguists, translators, playwrights, poets, songwriters, storytellers, etc. (There are certainly parallels in mathematics to nonfiction and fiction!) Further, sometimes in mathematics, as in language, “the medium is the message”.
Midarm muscle circumference, physical performance and mortality: Results from the aging and longevity study in the Sirente geographic area (ilSIRENTE study)

Summary Background & aims Sarcopenia has been indicated as a reliable marker of frailty and poor prognosis among the oldest individuals. We evaluated the relationship between midarm muscle circumference (MAMC) and physical performance, muscle strength, functional status and survival in persons aged 80 years or older. Methods Data are from the baseline evaluation of the Aging and Longevity Study in the Sirente Geographic Area (ilSIRENTE Study) ( n = 357). MAMC was calculated taking into account the mid upper arm circumference and the triceps skinfold thickness of the right arm. Physical performance was assessed using the physical performance battery score, which is based on three timed tests: 4-m walking speed test, the balance test and the chair stand test. Analyses of covariance were performed to evaluate the relationship between different MAMC levels and physical function. Cox proportional regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of death by MAMC levels. Results After adjustment for potential confounders – which included age, gender, living alone, sensory impairments (hearing and vision), body mass index, albumin and cholesterol – physical performance and function (which were measured using the 4-m walking speed test, the Short Physical Performance Battery score, the hand grip strength), improved significantly as MAMC increased. Compared with those in the low MAMC tertile, subjects in the high MAMC tertile had a lower risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.45; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.23–0.87). Conclusions The present study suggests that among community-dwelling old–old subjects muscle mass may be positively related to functional performance and survival.
Science for All: A Promise or a Pipe Dream for Bilingual Students?

Abstract Scientific and technological literacy are important learning outcomes the nation has committed to develop in order to maintain a globally competitive economy. Students who bring to school diverse languages and cultures provide a rich resource of experiences on which to develop a scientifically literate work force. Unfortunately, in spite of the national commitment to “science for all,” the process of promoting scientific literacy has not yet been fully operationalized across school settings. This article compares and contrasts opportunities for science learning at two schools with diverse student populations, one suburban and one urban. Three sources of information are considered: (a) students’ prior knowledge and backgrounds, (b) perceptions of teachers and administrators, and (c) the schools’ instructional environment. Vast differences are found in the science learning opportunities at these two sites. As the nation strives to promote equitable learning opportunities, these data sources provide...