cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Contribution of Mining and Transportation to the Total Life Cycle Impacts of Coal Exported from the United States

The construction of two marine bulk terminals in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States are currently under review and would open up additional thermal coal exports to Asia on the order of almost 100 million additional tonnes per year. The major exporters of coal to Asian markets include Indonesia and Australia. This life cycle analysis (LCA) seeks to understand the role of transportation and mining in the cradle-to-busbar environmental impacts of coal exports from the Powder River Basin (PRB) to Asian countries, when compared to the competitor countries. This LCA shows that: (1) the most significant greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts in the cradle-to-busbar life cycle of coal for power generation come from the combustion of coal in a power plant, even when 90% carbon capture is applied; (2) for non-GHG air impacts, power plant combustion impacts are less dominant and variations in upstream impacts (mining and transportation) are more important; and (3) when comparing impacts between countries, upstream impacts vary for both GHG and non-GHG results, but conclusions that rank countries cannot be made. Future research should include expansion to include non-air impacts, potential consequential effects of coal exports, and a better understanding around the characterization of non-GHG ocean transport impacts.
Background to Crisis

When World War II ended in August 1945, Iran was in a pitiable state. Tens of thousands of Soviet, British and American troops occupied its territory; autonomy movements in Kurdistan and Azarbaijan, the breadbasket of Iran, threatened national unity; and inflation and chronic shortages of food and other consumer goods presented a bleak prospect for the months ahead.
Cardiovascular Surgery in the Elderly

The elderly population is the fastest growing demographic in Western countries. As the population ages, the incidence of age-related comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, renal disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease increases. With cardiovascular disease occurring in approximately one-quarter of the population over the age of 75 years and more than half of all cardiac procedures performed on this age group, the number of potential elderly surgical candidates is increasing. However, data suggest that old age is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery. Over the past 2 decades, improvements in myocardial protection, extracorporeal circulation, anesthesia, and surgical techniques have significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac surgery. Although most prospective studies exclude elderly patients, data from large retrospective studies and subgroup analyses suggest that cardiac surgery is a viable option for many elderly patients with cardiovascular disease, with good outcomes observed in reasonable-risk candidates; moreover, there are a growing number of available less-invasive options for them when surgical risk becomes prohibitive. In this article, we discuss the current state of cardiovascular surgery in the elderly as well as emerging technologies on the horizon.
Importance of Electrical Double Layer in Technological Applications

Electrochemical technology is applied to a large number of products in the modern electronics industry.(1–3) Various manufacturing processes leading to important commercial implementations in the computer industry are based on the study, understanding, and direct utilization of double-layer phenomena. The objective of this chapter is to describe in some detail how double-layer theory is being utilized for the development of two rather different products.
Enhanced performance of non-PGM catalysts in air operated PEM-fuel cells

Abstract A non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) oxygen reduction catalyst was prepared from “support-free” zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) precursor and tested in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell with air as the cathode feed. The iron nitrogen and carbon composite (Fe–N–C) based catalyst has high specific surface area decorated uniformly with active sites, which redefines the triple phase boundary (TPB) and requires re-optimization of the cathodic membrane electrode fabrication to ensure efficient mass and charge transports to the catalyst surface. This study reports an effort in optimizing catalytic ink formulation for the membrane electrode preparation and its impact to the fuel cell performance under air. Through optimization, the fuel cell areal current density as high as 115.2 mA/cm2 at 0.8 V or 147.6 mA/cm2 at 0.8 ViR-free has been achieved under one bar air. Impacts on fuel cell internal impedance and the water formation are also investigated.
A sparser, speedier reshape

A new command, sreshape, supports sparse and speedy reshaping of data. Often reshaped data are "sparse" in the sense of containing many missing values that are dropped after reshaping. sreshape automates the process of reshaping and dropping such missing information to avoid potential errors and, for both sparse and nonsparse data, yields speed improvements. Using large test datasets, sreshape achieves identical results to reshape 8 to 31 times faster in wide-to-long reshapes and 2 to 13 times faster in long-to-wide reshapes. Further suggested improvements may allow StataCorp to increase these speed gains in the built-in version.
Epigenetic mediators and consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.

• Epigenetic modifications change global gene expression in response to environmental factors.
A wearable potentiometric sensor with integrated salt bridge for sweat chloride measurement

Abstract The development of wearable sensors to measure biomarkers in sweat remains a major technological challenge. Here we report on a wearable, potentiometric, thin film sweat chloride sensor. Potentiometric devices provide a relatively simple technology for sweat sensing, however, equilibration between the reference and test solutions is a significant source of error. We have developed a sweat chloride sensor with integrated salt bridge that minimizes equilibration and enables stable measurements over extended periods of time. The sensor shows a very small concentration drift even with small sample volumes. The measurement variation was less than 2 mM at low chloride ion concentration (10 mM) and 5 mM at high concentration (150 mM), spanning the range for healthy individuals and CF patients. Finally, in on-body tests we show that the sweat chloride concentration in healthy individuals is dependent on exercise intensity, indicating that the sensor has a potential for a fitness monitoring applications.
FUEL CELLS – PHOSPHORIC ACID FUEL CELLS | Overview

The history of development of the phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) is examined from its mid-1950s origin at the General Electric Company (Schenechtady, NY), which aimed at a moderate-temperature (150°C) laboratory cell directly oxidizing hydrocarbons. Even with high loadings of high-surface-area platinum group electrocatalysts, it gave negligible current densities, so this objective was rapidly abandoned. The PAFC was then employed to oxidize the hydrogen in a hydrogen-rich fuel feedstock containing some carbon monoxide made by steam-reforming light hydrocarbon fuels, particularly natural gas, followed by water-gas shifting to reduce carbon monoxide concentration to below the poisoning threshold. This led to the 1967 American Gas Association TARGET program (Team to Advance Research in Gas Energy Transformation) at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft (South Windsor, CT). Its objective was a dispersed natural gas combined heat power unit to supply individual homes. Economics caused this to be increased in size, eventually becoming a 200 kW on-site generator. Some large electric utility units were demonstrated, but these were abandoned for reasons discussed. In the early 1980s, similar programs were initiated in Japan and elsewhere. We consider the progress through the PAFC system prototype stages, and discuss some elementary economics, fuel-processing technology, and direct–alternating current conversion.
Abstract 17670: Common Polymorphism RYR2-Q2958R Increases Spontaneous Calcium Release Under Stress and May be Associated With Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

Background: The calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor (RyR2) provides the majority of Ca2+ for contraction of cardiac cells. RyR2 malfunction precipitates Ca2+-mediated arrhythmias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Although RyR2-Q2958R is a common RyR2 polymorphism, the role of RyR2-Q2958R as a potential pro-arrhythmic modifier remains unknown. Methods and Results: High-throughput genotyping of the Q2958R polymorphism revealed that the minor allele frequency for R2958 was greatest in Caucasians, followed by Mexican-Americans, Italians, and African-Americans. In addition, the presence of two minor alleles (RR2958) was associated with sudden cardiac death in an HCM cohort study. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce the Q2958R mutation in the mouse ryr2 gene. Compared to wild type (Q2958), R2958 channels produced early and depressed Ca2+ transients under increasing external [Ca2+] when expressed in HEK-293cells. Cytosolic Ca2+ sensitivity of R2958 channels was unaltered as their Ca-dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding was identical to that of WT, but single channel recordings demonstrated higher open probability for R2958 channels in response to increasing luminal [Ca2+]. Homologous recombination was used to generate a knock-in mouse bearing the RyR2-Q2958R polymorphism. Hearts from heterozygous (Q2958R) or homozygous (RR2958) mice showed no gross structural alterations and their cytosolic Ca2+-dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding curves were not different from WT (QQ2958), in line with the results obtained using recombinant protein. However, Ca2+-imaging of isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes subjected to a “stress” protocol that loaded the SR with Ca2+ (5-sec train of stimulations at 3 Hz under 300 nM Isoproterenol) demonstrated that homozygous and heterozygous cells developed spontaneous Ca2+ release (SCR) events with higher frequency than WT (RR2958: 93 SCRs in 34 cells; Q2958R: 32 SCRs in 12 cells; WT: 11 SCRs in 13 cells). Conclusions: RyR2-Q2958R is found variably in different ethnicities and increases SCR under conditions of Ca2+ overload, such as during β-adrenergic stimulation. It is conceivable that the RyR2-Q2958R polymorphism may predispose some HCM patients to sudden cardiac death.
Dose-dependent effect of mammographic breast density on the risk of contralateral breast cancer.

Increased mammographic breast density is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. It is not clear if it is also a risk factor for the development of contralateral breast cancer. The data were obtained from Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium and included women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ between ages 18 and 88 and years 1995 and 2009. Each case of contralateral breast cancer was matched with three controls based on year of first breast cancer diagnosis, race, and length of follow-up. A total of 847 cases and 2541 controls were included. The risk factors included in the study were mammographic breast density, age of first breast cancer diagnosis, family history of breast cancer, anti-estrogen treatment, hormone replacement therapy, menopausal status, and estrogen receptor status, all from the time of first breast cancer diagnosis. Both univariate analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis were performed. In the final multivariate model, breast density, family history of breast cancer, and anti-estrogen treatment remained significant with p values less than 0.01. Increasing breast density had a dose-dependent effect on the risk of contralateral breast cancer. Relative to ‘almost entirely fat’ category of breast density, the adjusted odds ratios (and p values) in the multivariate analysis for ‘scattered density,’ ‘heterogeneously dense,’ and ‘extremely dense’ categories were 1.65 (0.036), 2.10 (0.002), and 2.32 (0.001), respectively. Breast density is an independent and significant risk factor for development of contralateral breast cancer. This risk factor should contribute to clinical decision making.
Joel Seiferas: More on the New Lower Bound

This chapter outlines Ryan Williams’ breakthrough lower bound of the previous chapter in considerable detail. The ideas in a thirty-page paper are explained and the proof method mapped out.
Exchange Processes in Plant Canopies

In Chapter 9 we examined exchange processes for individual plant leaves and were able to predict photosynthesis and transpiration rate as a function of environmental and plant variables. These results are of limited significance, however, unless we can extend our predictions to plant canopies. Production and water use are determined by the response of the entire canopy rather than that of isolated individual leaves.
Post-exit process

Perhaps the most interesting case of the strong Markov property which has been studied so far is that where the optional random variable is an exit time from a stable state. In contrast to the case of an entrance time, which can be defined also for an instantaneous state, we have here already the general situation where the adjoined state ∞ may appear at the optional time. It turns out however that there is still independence of the post and future fields as in the post-entrance case.
Difficulties in Physician and Self-Perception of Asthma in Older Adults

In order to improve care for asthma in older adults, it is critical to recognize barriers such as psychosocial factors and decreased perception of disease by patients, as well as diagnostic uncertainty and misconceptions held by physicians. Patients should be encouraged to express any respiratory concerns so they can be appropriately evaluated. Engagement of a patient’s family and close friends should be sought, particularly in patients who have a decline in cognitive function, are isolated and depressed, or exhibit a denial of symptoms. Patients can be limited in their physical capacity to perform lung testing and perform proper inhaler technique, which can deter diagnosis and management. Physicians need to be aware that new-onset asthma in older patients is not an uncommon phenomenon; it requires careful attention to any history of respiratory, including non-specific respiratory, symptoms. Dyspnea should always be investigated to rule out underlying pathology such as asthma, along with other comorbidities. Applicable testing should be undertaken, although it may not always be reliable in this population. Physicians should be aware of decreased perception of respiratory symptoms among older adults and consider home peak flow monitoring for further evaluation of respiratory symptoms. Recognition of these barriers can engender physicians with more diligence in their approach with this vulnerable population.
Superconductivity and quantum criticality linked by the Hall effect in a strange metal

Many unconventional superconductors exhibit a common set of anomalous charge transport properties that characterize them as ‘strange metals’, which provides hope that there is a single theory that describes them1–3. However, model-independent connections between the strange metals and superconductivity have remained elusive. Here, we show that the Hall effect of the unconventional superconductor BaFe2(As1−xPx)2 contains an anomalous contribution arising from the correlations within the strange metal. This term has a distinctive dependence on the magnetic field, which allows us to track its behaviour across the doping–temperature phase diagram, even under the superconducting dome. These measurements demonstrate that the strange metal Hall component emanates from a quantum critical point and, in the zero-temperature limit, decays together with the superconducting critical temperature. This empirically reveals the structure of the connection between superconductivity and quantum criticality, which may be common to the physics of many strange metal superconductors. The strange metal phase in unconventional superconductors is probed by Hall measurements. This reveals that quantum criticality drives the Hall effect, which also correlates with the superconductivity. This indicates that all three may be linked.
Korean American Smokers' Perspectives on Mobile Smoking Cessation Applications.

Introduction:The primary purpose of this research is to investigate the adoption process of mobile smoking cessation apps for Korean American smokers with the eventual purpose of proposing a new co...
Analysis of Ureteral Diameter and Peristalsis in Response to Irrigant Fluid Temperature Changes in an In Vivo Porcine Model.

Objective: It has been previously reported that warming irrigation fluid higher than body temperature may decrease ureteral spasm and thereby facilitate ureteroscopic access to the proximal ureter....
Carta al Editor N°1, 2021

Estimada/o Lector/a: La Revista Matroneria Actual, pretende ser un espacio abierto a la publicacion de articulos de distintas saberes, como ciencias humanas, ciencias basicas, obstetricia, neonatologia, salud publica y comunitaria, educacion, entre otras, que pretenda aportar al desarrollo y quehacer de la matroneria. En ese sentido, los articulos que se reciben son originales (cuantitativos o cualitativos), revisiones sistematicas, casos clinicos o articulos de opinion – reflexion. Sin embargo, con el fin de aumentar el espacio para la comunicacion de ideas, reflexiones o investigaciones breves con los/as autores/as, que no se ajustan a los formatos antes mencionados, se ha incorporado en la Revista Matroneria Actual, la seccion “Carta al Editor”. La Carta al Editor, se caracteriza por estar destinada hacia el editor de la revista; por ser breve: no mas de 1.000 palabras; ser precisa, pues se centra en un tema en particular; ser dinamica, dado el intercambio de su contenido entre los diferentes actores y, ﬁnalmente, por poder acompanarse de una Tabla o una Figura explicativa. Cabe destacar que este tipo de publicacion tiene un proceso editorial diferente, pues es evaluado solo por el editor, no por un comite de revision por pares, facilitando un proceso mas expedito.(1) Las cartas al editor tiene los siguientes objetivos:(2) 1. Estimular la discusion de los articulos previamente publicados. 2. Emitir un analisis objetivo sobre un hecho medico de dominio publico. 3. Ampliar, interpretar o explicar algunos aspectos de algun trabajo de investigacion publicado recientemente en la revista. 4. Senalar defectos metodologicos o de interpretacion de resultados de un trabajo recientemente publicado. 5. Comunicar brevemente los resultados de un estudio semejante a otro publicado en la revista. 6. Comunicar observaciones y resultados de una investigacion que por su importancia y extension el autor considera que no se adapta al formato de un articulo original u original breve, o para presentar resultados propios (aun no publicados) a raiz de un articulo original o incluso que el articulo original promueva un reanalisis En el caso de la Revista Matroneria Actual, las cartas al editor tendran la siguiente estructura: en primer lugar una introduccion en donde se pueda exponer la motivacion y objetivo de la carta; en segundo lugar el desarrollo de la idea principal; y por ultimo, la conclusion o cierre de la carta. De ser necesario, se deben ingresar las respectivas referencias bibliograficas. Con esta estructura simple, se invita a nuestros/as lectores/as, poder enviar “Cartas al Editor”, con el fin de poder conocer en forma breve los resultados de sus investigaciones, opinar respecto a articulos que se hayan publicado en la Revista Matroneria Actual o bien, presentar un tema relativo a la discplina de la matroneria de interes general.
Determining C2 Pedicle Screw Placement Feasibility in the Pediatric Population: A Computed Tomographic Safe Zone Analysis.

BACKGROUND Due to high rates of anatomic variability of the C2 pedicle, thin-sliced pedicular-oriented computed tomography (CT) and 3-dimensional reconstructive CT technologies have been introduced to predict safe C2 pedicle screw placement. However, this technology may not be readily available in all centers. The purpose of this study was to perform a C2 pedicle safe zone analysis using standard sagittal CT scans to predict the feasibility of C2 pedicle screw placement in a pediatric population and to compare the results with our previously obtained safe zone analysis from the adult population. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed at a single level I trauma center of pediatric patients who completed CT scans of the cervical spine. The feasibility of C2 pedicle screw placement was analyzed using our previously described C2 pedicle safe zone analysis technique. The risk profiles were compared with our previously obtained safe zone analysis from the adult population. RESULTS Thirty-nine consecutive patients with a mean age of 7.8±4.4 years and 78 total pedicles were included in the study. Fourteen pedicles (18%) were considered low risk, 37 (47%) were moderate risk, and 27 (35%) were high risk for vertebral artery injury. Individual patients were found to have a significant amount of side-to-side variability between pedicles with 21 patients (54%) having left and right pedicles with different risk profiles. Four patients (10%) demonstrated low risk profiles in bilateral pedicles. There was no significant difference between the risk profiles of pediatric and adult patients. CONCLUSIONS There is a considerable amount of anatomic variability within the pediatric C2 pedicles. Using this simple and accessible technique during the review of preoperative imaging, C2 pedicle screw placement may be considered in appropriately selected pediatric patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III.
A New Subfamily of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 30 with Strict Xylobiohydrolase Function.

The Acetivibrio clariflavus (basonym: Clostridium clariflavum) glycoside hydrolase family 30 cellulosomal protein encoded by the Clocl_1795 gene was highly represented during growth on cellulosic substrates. In this report, the recombinantly expressed protein has been characterized and shown to be a nonreducing terminal (NRT) specific xylobiohydrolase (AcXbh30A). Biochemical function, optimal biophysical parameters, and phylogeny were investigated. The findings indicate that AcXbh30A strictly cleaves xylobiose from the NRT up until an α-1,2-linked glucuronic acid (GA) decorated xylose if the number of xyloses is even or otherwise a single xylose will remain resulting in a penultimate GA substituted xylose. Unlike recently reported xylobiohydrolases, AcXbh30A has no other detectable hydrolysis products under our optimized reaction conditions. Sequence analysis indicates that AcXbh30A represents a new GH30 subfamily. This new xylobiohydrolase may be useful for commercial production of industrial quantities of xylobiose.
Effects of consumer surface sterilization on diet DNA metabarcoding data of terrestrial invertebrates in natural environments and feeding trials

DNA metabarcoding is an emerging tool used to quantify diet in environments and consumer groups where traditional approaches are unviable, including small-bodied invertebrate taxa. However, metabarcoding of small taxa often requires DNA extraction from full body parts (without dissection), and it is unclear whether surface contamination from body parts alters presumed diet presence or diversity.We examined four different measures of diet (presence, rarefied read abundance, richness, and species composition) for a terrestrial invertebrate consumer (the spider Heteropoda venatoria) both collected in its natural environment and fed an offered diet item in contained feeding trials using DNA metabarcoding of full body parts (opisthosomas). We compared diet from consumer individuals surface sterilized to remove contaminants in 10% commercial bleach solution followed by deionized water with a set of unsterilized individuals.We found that surface sterilization did not significantly alter any measure of diet for consumers in either a natural environment or feeding trials. The best-fitting model predicting diet detection in feeding trial consumers included surface sterilization, but this term was not statistically significant (β = -2.3, p-value = .07).Our results suggest that surface contamination does not seem to be a significant concern in this DNA diet metabarcoding study for consumers in either a natural terrestrial environment or feeding trials. As the field of diet DNA metabarcoding continues to progress into new environmental contexts with various molecular approaches, we suggest ongoing context-specific consideration of the possibility of surface contamination.
Forensic Linguistics: Advances in Forensic Stylistics

LANGUAGE Overview Grammar Language References LINGUISTICS Linguistics Applied Linguistics References LINGUISTIC VARIATION Variation Variation in Language Variation as Ordered Heterogeneity Group Vis-a-Vis Individual Variation The Analysis of Variation Language as a Discrete Combinatorial System Another Discrete Combinatorical System: DNA References FORENSIC LINGUISTICS Forensic Linguistics Areas of Forensic Linguistics Areas Directly Related to Forensic Linguistics Areas Inaptly Related to Forensic Linguistics References STYLE The Concept of Style Style in Language Evaluation Vis-a-Vis Description of Style Group Vis-a-Vis Individual Styles References STYLISTICS Style in Language Linguistic Stylistics Models of Analysis Procedural Outline for Authorship Identification Studies References THE DESCRIPTION OF STYLE The Qualitative Analysis of Style An Example of Qualitative Analysis References THE MEASUREMENT OF STYLE The Quantitative Analysis of Style Statistical Tests for Significance of Variables Measures of Authorship Discrimination Corpus Development of American English References FORENSIC STYLISTICS Forensic Applications of Linguistic Stylistics Legal Definitions of Stylistics Linguistic Stylistics as Evidence Issues in Forensic Stylistic Analysis The Linguist as Expert Witness References CASE STUDY: JON BENET RAMSEY Introduction Method Findings: Qualitative Findings: Quantitative Discussion Conclusion STYLISTIC VARIATION IN AUTHORSHIP CASES Cases in Forensic Linguistics Adjudicated Cases Examples of Unadjudicated Cases Style Markers Found in 80 Authorship Cases References STYLE AND STYLISTICS OF SPANISH WRITING Abstract (Spanish) Spanish-Language Style and Stylistics Style Markers: A Small Corpus of Mexican American Writing Spanish-Language Cases: Linguistics and Stylistics References STYLISTIC FEATURES OF GUJARATI LETTER WRITING: A NOTE, P.J. Mistry Abstract (Gujarati) Introduction Language Writing System Literacy The Letters Ten Characteristics Common to All Letters Concluding Remarks References STYLE AND STYLISTICS OF KOREAN WRITING, Dongdoo Choi Abstract (Korean) Introduction Method Findings and Discussion Word Spacing Conclusions References STYLE AND STYLISTICS OF JAPANESE, Wakako Yasuda Abstract (Japanese) Introduction The Japanese Writing System Data Collection and Corpus Development Analysis and Findings Conclusion References APPENDICES Possible Questions and Responses for Attorney's Direct Examination Expert Testimony, Susan Morton
Diabetic-like retinopathy in rats prevented with an aldose reductase inhibitor.

The earliest histopathologic signs of diabetic retinopathy include selective loss of intramural pericytes and thickening of capillary basement membranes. Previous evidence from animal models indicated that aldose reductase inhibitors could prevent these capillary wall lesions, but only recently have aldose reductase inhibitors been tested for prevention of the subsequent retinal complications of diabetes, such as microaneurysms. In the present study, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing 50% galactose with or without an aldose reductase inhibitor (tolrestat). After 28 months of galactose feeding, the retinal capillaries in whole mounts exhibited a marked increase in periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, extensive pericyte loss, endothelial cell proliferation, acellularity, diffuse dilation, occluded lumens, microaneurysms, and complex microvascular abnormalities including gross dilation and formation of multiple shunt networks. The PAS hyperchromaticity of basement membrane material and pericyte loss occurred throughout the retinal vasculature, while the microaneurysms and complex lesions were limited to the capillaries of the central and paracentral retina. The changes were associated with both the arterial and venous portions of the capillary plexus. Treatment with orally administered tolrestat prevented essentially all of the vessel abnormalities. Thus, longterm galactose feeding of rats induced microvascular lesions simulating those occurring in background diabetic retinopathy in humans, and these lesions were prevented by treatment with an aldose reductase inhibitor. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:2285-2292, 1989
Chemistry on Silicon Surfaces

1 Introduction 2 Theoretical Methods and Surface Models 3 2 × 1 Reconstruction of a Clean Silicon Surface 4 Chemical Reactions Involving SiC Bond Formation 5 Hydration of the Reconstructed Si(100) Surface 6 Hydrogenation of the Reconstructed Si(100) Surface 7 Oxidation Reactions on the Si(100) Surface 8 Etching of Si(100) with Halogen 9 Summary and Outlook 10 Acknowledgment Keywords: chemistry on silicon surfaces; Huckel theory and tight binding method (or Extended Huckel Theory); hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) techniques; SIMOMM (Surface Integrated Molecular Orbital/Molecular Mechanics); reconstruction and ‘dimerization’ of adjacent surface Si atoms; chemical reactions involving Si–C bond formation; backbond and dimer-bridge configurations; etching of SI(100) with halogen
States Can't Regulate Immigration, but They Can Regulate Illegal Immigrants: Remarks at the 2012 Charleston Law Review and Riley Institute Law and Society Symposium

State governments, feeling tremendous pressure from their citizens to address the consequences of the federal failure to meet this nation’s immigration needs, are acting for themselves. Arizona is the tip of the spear, but we’ve also seen various other immigration-related laws passed in states as different as Utah, Georgia, California, and South Carolina. It’s understandable that states have been passing these laws because Congress has fallen down on the job. This is a unique policy area in that sense; voters are mad and want someone to do something. I don’t blame the states, or the voters, or even illegal immigrants who are merely seeking a better life for their families. I blame elected federal elected officials from both parties. Whether related to enforcement, expanded work permits, sanctuary cities, or other types of policy innovations, Congress’s abdication of its duty to manage our immigration system has spawned a host of federalism experiments. It’s a perfectly understandable political dynamic. But none of this speaks to the constitutionality of all the laws these different states have been passing. I think most of them are constitutional. They are terrible policy for various reasons — from economic effects to the misuse of law enforcement resources — but that’s a separate question from their constitutionality. Legal scholars always enjoy the opportunity to point to something that they think is legal or constitutional that they think is bad policy. It makes us feel that we’re being intellectually honest. Well, this is my area of the law in that respect. I’m going to put on my “simple constitutional lawyer” hat, without regard to policy advocacy.
The Mysterious Ways of Mutual Funds: Market Timing

The term market timing was little known outside the arcane world of mutual funds until state attorneys general from across the country popularized it. The term's innocuous-sounding ring assumed a more pernicious note when the mysterious ways of mutual funds became more transparent. In its pernicious sense, market timing denominates mutual fund insiders using the inscrutable structures of mutual funds to provide benefits selectively to favored participants at the expense of less favored participants. Mutual fund shares are not like common stocks; investments made using these vehicles are unlike those made through traditional securities markets. While the peculiar features of mutual funds were manifested in the contemporary environment, these peculiarities are inherent in the very structure of mutual funds. Regulatory efforts dating to the 1940s recognize these realities and regulatory reforms of the early 2000s struggle to respond in much the way earlier reforms did. The wide range of reforms that have been adopted and proposed may overlook this reality, however. By correcting this oversight, and unveiling the historical and contemporary landscape, this Article provides more realistic appraisals for increasing the integrity of the mutual fund investment vehicle. Chief among these is a deeper point: critical to sustaining the mutual fund as an important institution in the financial system is a renewed appreciation of concepts of trust and professionalism.
Dual laser 3D scanner for Random Bin Picking system

Recent research and development in industrial robotics aims at improving, flexibility, intelligence, and robustness of industrial robot application. There are various challenges associated with the development of a Random Bin Picking technology, including fast and accurate 3D imaging, a robust algorithm for object recognition, path-panning, gripper design. In this paper, a vision-guided-robotics (VGR) grasping system is proposed to pick and place metal water parts. The industrial robot can quickly scan and pick the metal parts by the proposed VGR grasping system. Experimental results show that the proposed system is effective and efficient to improve accuracy, flexibility and intelligence in VGR application.
Influence of extended acid stressing in fresh beef decontamination runoff fluids on sanitizer resistance of acid-adapted Escherichia coli O157:H7 in biofilms.

This study evaluated resistance to sanitizing solutions of Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells forming biofilms on stainless steel coupons exposed to inoculated meat decontamination runoff fluids (washings). A previously acid-adapted culture of a rifampicin-resistant derivative of E. coli O157:H7 strain ATCC 43895 was inoculated in unsterilized or sterilized combined hot-water (85°C) and cold-water (10°C) (50/50 [vol/vol]) composite water (W) washings (pH 6.29 to 6.47) and in W washings mixed with 2% acetic acid (pH 4.60 to 4.71) or in 2% lactic acid W washings (pH 4.33 to 4.48) at a ratio of 1/99 (vol/vol). Stainless steel coupons (2 by 5 by 0.08 cm) were submerged in the inoculated washings and stored for up to 14 days at 15°C. Survival of E. coli O157:H7 was determined after exposure (0 to 60 s for cells in suspension and 0 to 300 s for attached cells) to two commercial sanitizers (150 ppm peroxyacetic acid and 200 ppm quaternary ammonium compound) at 2, 7, and 14 days. E. coli O157:H7 attached more rapidly...
Parametric instabilities of large amplitude Alfven waves with obliquely propagating sidebands

This paper presents a brief report on properties of the parametric decay and modulational, filamentation, and magnetoacoustic instabilities of a large amplitude, circularly polarized Alfven wave. We allow the daughter and sideband waves to propagate at an arbitrary angle to the background magnetic field so that the electrostatic and electromagnetic characteristics of these waves are coupled. We investigate the dependance of these instabilities on dispersion, plasma/beta, pump wave amplitude, and propagation angle. Analytical and numerical results are compared with numerical simulations to investigate the full nonlinear evolution of these instabilities.
Structure and Function of the Skin

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the structure and the function of the skin. The skin shelters and protects the entire physiochemical phenomenon necessary for life internally. It is also a barrier against mechanical forces, both physical and chemical, which can be hostile to life from outside. The most important role of the skin both for man and for every other organism, vertebrate or invertebrate, unicellular or multicellular, is to create an obstacle for all those things outside the organism: the rest of the world. The skin is the largest, most extensive organ of our body. It appears smooth and compact but, in reality, is marked over its entire surface by grooves, some shallow, others deeper, which by their layout mark many small polygons. Tiny, invisible openings are found over the entire skin surface. Microscopically, three different superimposed tissues can be identified when the skin is viewed in its entirety, namely: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis is composed of different types of cells that overlap, not randomly but in a well-defined manner. There are four different cell types: keratinocytes, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, and Merkel cells. The dermis is positioned below the epidermis and is the tissue that supports the skin and its annexes. The hypodermis is situated below the dermis and is composed of “adipocytes” grouped into “lobes” separated by an area of connective tissue. Further, this chapter also discusses the principal aspects of the basic mechanisms controlling the life of our skin.
A testing methodology for large scale hybrid VLSI

A test methodology for large systems-on-a-chip designed by the Discretionary Interconnect One Day Electronic System (DIODES) system for the rapid prototyping of digital signal processing (DSP) electronic systems is discussed. DIODES is based on the concept of building a library of chips that implement a set of operators used in DSP algorithms, and using these chips to implement DSP algorithms by implanting them on an alumina substrate and interconnecting them appropriately to realize the desired functionality. Test hardware capabilities are discussed. A description of test circuitry is given. The test methodology is compared with boundary scan. >
INHIBITION OF COUMARIN 7-HYDROXYLASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN LIVER MICROSOMES

Nine organic solvents and 47 commonly used P450 substrates and inhibitors were examined for their effects on coumarin 7-hydroxylase (CYP2A6) activity in human liver microsomes. Of the nine organic solvents examined (final concentration 1%, v/v), only methanol did not inhibit the 7-hydroxylation of coumarin (0.5 to 50 microM) by human liver microsomes. Dioxane and tetra-hydrofuran, which are structurally related to coumarin, were the most inhibitory solvents examined. Although the rates of coumarin 7-hydroxylation varied enormously among nine samples of human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYP2A6 (Vmax = 179 to 2470 pmol/ mg protein/min), the Km for coumarin 7-hydroxylation was fairly constant (ranging from 0.50 to 0.70 microM). The following chemicals caused little or no inhibition of CYP2A6 as defined by a Ki > 200 microM: caffeine, chlorzoxazone, cimetidine, dextromethorphan, diazepam, diclofenac, erythromycin, ethinylestradiol, ethynyltestosterone, fluconazole, furafylline, furfural, hexobarbital, itraconazole, mephenytoin, methimazole, metronidazole, naringenin, naringin, nifedipine, norfloxacin, norgestrel, orphenadrine, quinidine, papaverine, phenacetin, pyrimethamine, ranitidine, spironolactone, sulfaphenazole, sulfinpyrazone, testosterone, tolbutamide, troleandomycin, and warfarin. In other words, these chemicals, at a final concentration of 100 microM, failed to inhibit CYP2A6 when the concentration of coumarin was equal to Km (0.50 microM). The following chemicals were classified as strong inhibitors of CYP2A6 (defined by Ki < 200 microM): clotrimazole, diethyldithiocarbamate, ellipticine, ketoconazole, 8-methoxypsoralen, 4-methylpyrazole, metyrapone, miconazole, alpha-naphthoflavone, nicotine, p-nitrophenol, and tranylcypromine. The potency with which each chemical inhibited the 7-hydroxylation of coumarin was independent of which sample of human liver microsomes was studied. One of the most potent inhibitors of coumarin 7-hydroxylase was 8-methoxypsoralen (methoxsalen), which was determined to be a mechanism-based inhibitor (suicide substrate) of CYP2A6 (k(inactivation) 0.5 min-1). With the exception of 8-methoxypsoralen, preincubation of human liver microsomes and NADPH with the aforementioned inhibitors did not increase their ability to inhibit CYP2A6. The most potent competitive inhibitor of CYP2A6 was tranylcypromine (Ki = 0.04 microM). Several of the chemicals that strongly inhibited CYP2A6, such as ketoconazole and tranylcypromine, are often used with the intention of selectively inhibiting human P450 enzymes other than CYP2A6. The results of this study underscore the need for a systematic evaluation of the specificity of commonly used P450 inhibitors.
βAr-Stimulation Causes EADs but not DADs in Pre-Failure CAMKIIδC Transgenic Myocytes

Ca2+-Calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a nodal regulator of Ca2+-handling and electrophysiology in the ventricular myocyte, and transgenic mice expressing CaMKIIδc (CaMKIIδc TG) exhibit cellular afterdepolarizations and triggered arrhythmias. Here we studied myocytes isolated from these mice to determine: (1) how CaMKII-hyperactivity promotes electrophysiologic instability early in progression to HF, and (2) how βAR stimulation exacerbates this instability. METHODS: Myocytes were isolated, prior to overt HF, from cardiac-specific CaMKIIδc TG mice (TG, n = 18), and WT littermates (n = 16). Steady-state action potentials, Ca2+-handling, and electrophysiologic instability were assessed in whole-cell current clamp (1 Hz pacing), with simultaneous Ca2+ epifluorescence, and with and without βAR stimulation (100 nM Isoproterenol, Iso). RESULTS: EADs, but not DADs, were observed with Iso, and transgenic cells (8/18 cells, 19% of cycles) were more susceptible to EADs than WT (1/16 cells, 2% cycles; p < 0.05). Prior to EAD appearance, TG cells that later exhibited EADs (TG-EAD) also exhibited greater Iso-induced AP prolongation than cells that remained stable (52.3 ± 15.6 ms vs. 21.5 ± 3.9 ms; p < 0.05). TG-EAD cells also exhibited blunted baseline Ca2+ transient amplitude (CaT; 42 ± 9 nM vs. 123 ± 12 nM; p < 0.05), but a larger relative change in CaT with Iso (4.4 ± 0.47 fold vs. 2.8 ± 0.46 fold; p < 0.05). EADs could be abolished by caffeine, indicating a requirement for SR calcium release. CONCLUSIONS: Prior to overt HF, superimposing βAR stimulation upon CaMKIIδc overexpression elicits EADs without DADs. This EAD etiology requires SR calcium release, and given the larger relative effect of Iso on CaT in TG-EAD cells, it is likely that βAR stimulation combines withCaMKII overexpression to exceed the range of calcium-handling permissive of stable electrophysiology.
Gas exchange and air flow in the lung of the snake, Pituophis melanoleucus

Gas samples from various regions of the lung were obtained throughout the breathing cycle inPituophis melanoleucus. Changes in CO2 concentration during the interbreath period differed markedly along the length of the lung. In general, the largest and most rapid increases in CO2 tension were measured at the cranial end of the vascular lung. Further caudad in the vascular lung, the increase was slower and did not reach mixed venous CO2 tension before exhalation. In animals exhibiting the lowest breathing frequencies and presumably larger tidal volumes, the region of gas exchange extended into the cranial portion of the air sac. There was little or no change in gas tensions within the remaining caudal regions of the air sac. Measurement of exhaled CO2 and O2 tensions at the nares confirmed the longitudinal gradient in gas exchange and also demonstrated the sequential emptying of the lung. Large regional differences in the ratio of blood flow to alveolar volume are probably responsible for the gradients in lung gases. Interpretation of N2 clearance curves in terms of two freely communicating compartments demonstrated the presence of a ventilation inequality. Consistent with this was the lack of body wall contractions between breaths while animals were resting. However, just prior to and during activity body wall contractions not associated with breathing often occurred and resulted in pressure excursions in the lung of ca. five mm H2O. In addition, the heart beat results in a pressure change within the lung of ca. 0.2 mmH2O which may be significant in gas mixing.
bis-(β-Chloroethyl)sulfide (BCES)-induced changes in epidermal cell homeostasis in vitro☆

Abstract A rat cutaneous keratinocyte culture system was developed to study the effects of the vesicant bis-(β-chloroethyl)sulfice (BCES) on the homeostasis of cell proliferation and differentiation. Lectins were used to reveal cell surface carbohydrate changes as the keratinocytes differentiate. In the newborn rat epidermis, the isolectin, Griffonia simplicifolia I-B4 (GS I-B4), binds to basal cell surfaces. Ulex europeus agglutinin I (UEA) binds to the surfaces of spinous and lower granular cells and is therefore considered an indicator of keratinocyte differentiation. A fluorometric assay was developed which determines the ratio of bound UEA to bound GS I-B4 (the UEA B 4 ratio) in primary monolayer cultures of rat cutaneous keratinocytes maintained in low Ca2+ medium. The UEA B 4 ratio was found to be a representation of the relative sizes of the differentiating and proliferating cell compartments in the monolayer cultures, respectively (W. W. Ku and I. A. Bernstein, 1988, Exp. Cell Res., 175, 298–316) . Monolayer cultures exposed for 1 hr to BCES at Day 1 exhibited a dose-related increase in the UEA B 4 ratio at Day 7 when compared to solvent controls. The results from the analysis of lectin binding sites showed a decrease in GS I-B4 binding with little or no change in UEA binding as a result of BCES exposure, contributing to the increase in the UEA B 4 ratio. BCES-exposed monolayers also showed early perturbations in replicative DNA synthesis as revealed by autoradiography. Subsequent to the perturbations in replicative DNA synthesis was an inability of BCES-exposed cultures to produce cells into the monolayer through mitosis. In addition to an increase in the UEA B 4 ratio, BCES-exposed monolayers also showed a dose-related loss of DNA, with the appearance of enlarged cells at Day 7. These enlarged cells failed to show evidence of DNA synthesis, with groups of these cells showing intense UEA staining with only faint GS I-B4 staining. Overall, exposure to low concentrations of BCES appeared to disrupt the normal homeostasis of cell proliferation and differentiation in this monolayer culture system. This disruption was primarily through a reduction in the fraction of germinative (basal) cells with concomitant retention of some early differentiated cells, presumably early spinous or spinous cells.
Synthesis of insect trail pheromones: The isomeric 3‐butyl‐5‐methyloctahydroindolizines

The syntheses of the geometrical isomers of 3-butyl-5-methyloctahydroindolizine are described. These compounds, reported as trail pheromones of Pharaoh ants, Monomorium pharaonis (L.), cannot be distinguished from each other by physical data alone and assignments must therefore be based on unambiguous synthesis. Routes to these compounds via suitably constituted dialkylpiperidines and a sequence involving a dialkylpyrrole are described. Infrared and nmr spectral data are presented. These data are examined for their potential in conformaational analyses of these compounds.
Mealtime Talk That Supports Literacy Development

Participation in dinner table conversations offers children opportunities to acquire vocabulary, practice producing and understanding stories and explanations, acquire general knowledge, and learn how to talk in culturally appropriate ways.