cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of extended solid solution of Hf on the microstructure of the laser clad Ni-Fe-Cr-Al-Hf alloys

Abstract Alloys and coatings for alloys for improved high temperature service life under aggressive atmosphere are of great contemporary interest. There is a general consensus that addition of reactive elements such as Hf will provide many beneficial effects for such alloys. The laser cladding technique was used to produce Ni-Fe-Cr-Al-Hf alloys with extended solid solution of Hf. A 10 kW CO2 laser with mixed powder feed was used for laser cladding. Optical, scanning electron (SEM) and scanning transmission electron (STEM) microscopy were employed for microstructural evolution of alloys produced during laser cladding processes. The electron probe microanalysis and the auger electron spectroscopy were also used for micro-chemical analysis of different phases. Microstructural studies revealed a high degree of grain refinement, considerable increase in solubility of Hf in matrix and Hf rich precipitates and new metastable phases. This paper will report the microstructural development in this laser clad Ni-Fe-Cr-Al-Hf alloy.
Smiling Women and Fighting Men The Gender of the Communist Subject in State Socialist Hungary

The gendered assumptions embedded in the construction of the rational individual are well established in Western feminist thought but inapplicable to describe societies operating on different principles, such as East European state socialism. This article identifies the communist subject as the building block of communist political ideology and argues that this formulation was no less male biased than its counterpart, the rational individual under liberal capitalism. In state socialist Hungary this male bias came to be expressed differently: Women were integrated into society through membership in a social group perceived as relatively homogeneous regarding interests and obligations and with gender-specific qualities and privileges. These qualities were considered inferior to men's since women—because of household responsibilities—were not capable of total devotion to the communist party. The author explores this construction of the female communist subject through a content analysis of classified materia...
An Ultraviolet-to-NIR Broad Spectral Nanocomposite Photodetector with Gain

photodetector; the corresponding responsivity and normalized detectivity were 0.5 A/W and 2.3 × 10 9 Jones, respectively. [ 19 ] It is reasonable to anticipate a better detector performance if the photon-to-current conversion effi ciency can be further improved. In this manuscript, we report a PbS-based NIR hybrid photodetector with an EQE above 100% by the integration of zinc oxide (ZnO) QDs to induce a photoconductive gain. The active layer of the photodetector can be prepared by a single cycle of spin-coating. Moreover, the photodetector shows a tenfold higher responsivity than that of commercial SiC and Si photodetectors in the UV‐visible range at room temperature. The structure of the dual-QD hybrid photodetector is presented in Figure 1 a. The device structure is similar to bulk heterojunction solar cells with indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium used as the anode and cathode, respectively. Both PbS and ZnO QDs were introduced into the polymer blends. The PbS QDs in this study were synthesized by a hot-injection technique involving the quick injection of bis(trimethylsilylsulphide) into a hot lead precursor. [ 21‐23 ] The average diameter of PbS QDs was about 3.3 nm (maximum 3.7 nm), calculated from the
Influence of Transport and Reaction on Wormhole Formation in Porous Media

The transport and reaction of fluids in porous media results in unique pore growth and channel evolution as the media are dissolved. This often leads to the formation of highly conductive flow channels, commonly referred to as wormholes. The objective of this work is to predict the influence of transport and reaction on the structure of the wormhole channels. An experimental and theoretical investigation of a variety of fluid systems, including strong acids, weak acids, and chelating agents, provides a wide range of conditions for studying wormhole formation. A generalized description of the dissolution phenomenon is introduced, and a common dependence on the Damkohler number is demonstrated. The Damkohler number is shown to dictate the type of wormhole structure formed by systems with various degrees of transport and reaction limitations. An optimum Damkohler number for channel formation is observed at a value of approximately 0.29 for all of the fluid systems investigated. The stochastic nature of the dissolution phenomenon is described using network models. Results from a 2-D network model and a 3-D physically representative network model agree qualitatively with experimental results and substantiate the existence of an optimum Damkohler number.
The Impact of the Myeloid Response to Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is showing potential as a partner for immunotherapies in preclinical cancer models and early clinical studies. As has been discussed elsewhere, radiation provides debulking, antigen and adjuvant release, and inflammatory targeting of effector cells to the treatment site, thereby assisting multiple critical checkpoints in antitumor adaptive immunity. Adaptive immunity is terminated by inflammatory resolution, an active process which ensures that inflammatory damage is repaired and tissue function is restored. We discuss how radiation therapy similarly triggers inflammation followed by repair, the consequences to adaptive immune responses in the treatment site, and how the myeloid response to radiation may impact immunotherapies designed to improve control of residual cancer cells.
Three dimensional kinematics of the thoracolumbar spine as quantified by a novel in vivo/in vitro active/passive robotic simulator

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of missed work. Surgical intervention is an option to those who have failed conservative therapy. The current gold standard of surgical procedures is bony fusion. Long term follow up of fusion patients has identified adjacent level disease as a complication. New motion preserving technologies aim to eliminate harmful effects on adjacent levels but have not been confirmed with long term clinical trials. In vitro testing provides repeatability for relative comparison between treatments, but the clinical relevance remains questionable without in vivo loads and motions. We have developed a novel in vivo/in vitro method using active motion to characterize the motion of the thoracolumbar spine using a robotic simulator. Preliminary results indicate a reduction in motion at the operative and super-adjacent level while motion is increased at all other levels. This may be compensation for the reduced motions at the operative and adjacent level.
Anti-A and anti-B titers in pooled group O platelets are comparable to apheresis platelets.

BACKGROUND: Although uncommon, acute hemolytic transfusion reactions (AHTRs) have been reported after transfusion of group O single-donor apheresis platelets (SDPs) to group A, B, and AB recipients. Current methods for identifying “high-titer” SDPs include tube and gel methods. The risk of a high-titer unit is considered low with group O, poststorage, pooled platelet concentrates (PPLTs); however, data regarding anti-A and anti-B titers in PPLTs are lacking. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Anti-A and anti-B titers were determined in 185 PPLTs by direct agglutination using manual gel and tube methods. PPLTs tested included 124 group O PPLTs, 25 group A PPLTs, 26 group B PPLTs, and 10 PPLTs containing a mix of either groups O plus A or groups O plus B (mixed PPLTs). The reciprocal of the highest dilution giving macroscopic agglutination was considered the agglutinin titer. RESULTS: Mean anti-A and anti-B titers in group O PPLTs were, respectively, 16 and 8 by tube and 64 and 32 by gel (p < 0.0001). Gel titers were one to two dilutions higher than tube and sensitive to reagent red cell lots. With the use of at least 64 as a critical titer, 60 percent of group O PPLTs tested by gel would be considered high-titer. In mixed PPLTs, the addition of one non-group O PLT significantly decreased or neutralized the corresponding anti-A or anti-B (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Anti-A and anti-B titers in group O PPLTs are comparable to those reported in group O SDPs and significantly lower than titers reported in AHTR. A critical direct agglutinin titer of 64 for identifying high-titer units by gel is too low and should be increased to 128 or higher.
Granulites at Winding Stair Gap, North Carolina: The thermal axis of Paleozoic metamorphism in the southern Appalachians

Granulite-facies rocks in the thermal axis of Paleozoic (Taconic) metamorphism are exposed in southwestern North Carolina in a 370-m-long road-cut at Winding Stair Gap. Lithologic units are composed of metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks, some of which are now migmatites. Structural analysis of the exposure indicates that deformation occurred before, during, and after the peak of metamorphism. Interpretation of the predeformation stratigraphy suggests five of the six lithologic units may correlate with intervals in the late Precambrian Tallulah Falls Formation or the upper part of the late Precambrian or possibly early Paleozoic Coweeta Group. The sixth unit, an orthopyroxenite, may be related to presumed ophiolites elsewhere in the Hayesville thrust sheet. Prograde metamorphic conditions of T =750–775 °C, P = 6.5–7.0 kbar were determined from mineral stability fields and cation exchange geothermometry-geobarometry. Partitioning of water into anatectic melts of quartzofeldspathic gneiss and garnet-sillimanite schist units resulted in PH2O < Ptotal during the prograde event. An isobaric cooling path, from the metamorphic peak to 600 °C, may be related to expulsion of partial melts that may be represented by pegmatites and trondhjemite dikes at higher structural levels. Limited retrograde effects were likely facilitated by water released from crystallization of the remaining in situ melts at T <700 °C.
An evaluation of temporally adaptive transformation approaches for solving Richards' equation

Developing robust and efficient numerical solution methods for Richards' equation (RE) continues to be a challenge for certain problems. We consider such a problem here: infiltration into unsaturated porous media initially at static conditions for uniform and non-uniform pore size media. For ponded boundary conditions, a sharp infiltration front results, which propagates through the media. We evaluate the resultant solution method for robustness and efficiency using combinations of variable transformation and adaptive time-stepping methods. Transformation methods introduce a change of variable that results in a smoother solution, which is more amenable to efficient numerical solution. We use adaptive time-stepping methods to adjust the time-step size, and in some cases the order of the solution method, to meet a constraint on nonlinear solution convergence properties or a solution error criterion. Results for three test problems showed that adaptive time-stepping methods provided robust solutions; in most cases transforming the dependent variable led to more efficient solutions than untransformed approaches, especially as the pore-size uniformity increased; and the higher-order adaptive time integration method was robust and the most efficient method evaluated.
Estimation in regression models with externally estimated parameters

In many regression applications, some of the model parameters are estimated from separate data sources. Typically, these estimates are plugged into the regression model and the remainder of the parameters is estimated from the primary data source. This situation arises frequently in compartment modeling when there is an external input function to the system. This paper provides asymptotic and bootstrap-based approaches for accounting for all sources of variability when computing standard errors for estimated regression model parameters. Examples and simulations are provided to motivate and illustrate the ideas.
The Art of Political Warfare. By John J. Pitney, Jr. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2000. 256p. $24.95.

For political scientists, the world of politics is often comprised of policy markets and aggregated data points. Regression models, actor preferences, and game structures are disciplinary norms. For political professionals, however, politics often has a strongly militaristic bent: It is war by other means. John Pitney analyzes political affairs in the way that political professionals commonly do, using armed conflict as a metaphor to understand complex political phenomena.
Measurement of Plasma Aldosterone by Radioimmunoassay

ABSTRACT A radioimmunoassay for the measurement of plasma aldosterone is described. Aldosterone-3-carboxymethoxime-18,21-diacetate was coupled with rabbit albumin and antibodies produced in rabbits. Five to 20 ml of plasma, with l,2-3H-aldosterone added for recovery, was extracted and purification achieved by one paper chromatography. After 20 min incubation of the antibody-steroid mixture at 37 C, bound and free fractions were separated using Florisil. The mean recovery of 3H-aldosterone, after extraction and chromatography, was 66.3 ± 13.6 (sd)%. The specificity of the method was confirmed by comparing the results obtained with those of the double isotope derivative method on the same plasma samples. The nonspecific blank was 0.088 ± 0.055 ng/sample (mean ±sd). A linear relationship between amounts of aldosterone measured and the size of the samples confirmed accuracy. Coefficients of variation of 14, 13.2 and 10.5% were obtained at levels of 4, 18 and 51 ng of aldosterone/100 ml of plasma. Results on n...
Assessment of Attention in Preschoolers

In the past two decades, there has been an increased interest in the assessment and treatment of preschool children presenting with concerns about attention problems. This article reviews the research and clinical literature involving assessment of attention and related skills in the preschool years. While inattention among preschoolers is common, symptoms alone do not necessarily indicate a disorder, and most often represent a normal variation in typical preschool child development. Thus, accurate identification of “disordered” attention in preschoolers can be challenging, and development of appropriate, norm-referenced tests of attention for preschoolers is also difficult. The current review suggests that comprehensive assessment of attention and related functions in the preschool child should include thorough review of the child’s history, planned observations, and formal psychometric testing. The three primary methods of psychometric assessment that have been used to characterize attentional functioning in preschool children include performance-based tests, structured caregiver interviews, and rating scales (parent, teacher, and clinician). Among performance-based methods for measurement of attention in the preschool years, tests have been developed to assess sustained attention, selective (focused) attention, span of attention (encoding/manipulation), and (top-down) controlled attention—including freedom from distractibility and set shifting. Many of these tests remain experimental in nature, and review of published methods yields relatively few commercially available, nationally normed tests of attention for preschoolers, and an overall dearth of reliability and validity studies on the available measures.
Structural origin of relaxor ferroelectrics—revisited

Abstract Relaxor behavior of diffuse phase transition and large frequency dispersion is found among Pb-containing complex perovskites. With slightly different compositions or structures, these same complex perovskites also exhibit normal ferroelectric (FE) or antiferroelectric (AFE) behavior. The AFE transitions involve a volume decrease and are enhanced by increasing the size mismatch between ferroelectrically active B″ cations and ferroelectrically inactive B′ cations. This is in contrast to the FE transitions which involve a volume increase and are enhanced by enlarging the space available for ferroelectrically active B″ cations. In relaxors, the size of B′ cations is always larger than that of B″ cations, so an increase in the size mismatch is accompanied by a parallel increase in the molar volume. Therefore, a competition between AFE and FE couplings is always present. Such AFE/FE competition has an analogy in magnetism: the competition between antiferromagnets and ferromagnets gives rise to a spin glass behavior in the intermediate random alloys between antiferromagnets and ferromagnets. Evidence in support of this concept is found in the structural characteristics, transformation volumes, pressure dependencies, transition/depolarization temperatures, and phase diagrams of relaxors ferroelectrics and related compounds.
Multiple Domains of Fission Yeast Cdc19p (MCM2) Are Required for Its Association with the Core MCM Complex

The members of the MCM protein family are essential eukaryotic DNA replication factors that form a six-member protein complex. In this study, we use antibodies to four MCM proteins to investigate the structure of and requirements for the formation of fission yeast MCM complexes in vivo, with particular regard to Cdc19p (MCM2). Gel filtration analysis shows that the MCM protein complexes are unstable and can be broken down to subcomplexes. Using coimmunoprecipitation, we find that Mis5p (MCM6) and Cdc21p (MCM4) are tightly associated with one another in a core complex with which Cdc19p loosely associates. Assembly of Cdc19p with the core depends upon Cdc21p. Interestingly, there is no obvious change in Cdc19p-containing MCM complexes through the cell cycle. Using a panel of Cdc19p mutants, we find that multiple domains of Cdc19p are required for MCM binding. These studies indicate that MCM complexes in fission yeast have distinct substructures, which may be relevant for function.
RF production of high density plasmas for accelerators

Preliminary experimental results are shown on the production of plasmas by low frequency helicon waves. At constant rf frequency and power, the results show a maximum in density as the dc magnetic field is varied. The measurements confirm the theoretical expectation that the plasma is ionized by Landau damping of the radiofrequency waves.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities: Microbiology, Epidemiology, and Preventive Measures

Strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become increasingly common in the United States and in many other countries since 1975. Although MRSA was recovered primarily in university and federal hospitals in this country during the late 1970s, these organisms are being encountered with increasing frequency in all types of hospitals, especially in the eastern half of the United States. Although there is a paucity of information available on the prevalence of MRSA in long-term care facilities, a few reports suggest that MRSA is also seen frequently in these settings. Because colonized patients are frequently transferred between hospitals and long-term care facilities, a continuing circuit of MRSA transmission occurs in areas where these organisms are prevalent.MRSA prevalence rates vary widely by locale and by type and size of hospital. In some geographic areas, the prevalence remains low, whereas in other areas, from 10% to 50% of all S aureus isolates recovered from patients in large medical centers are MRSA. Even within a given city, MRSA prevalence rates may vary widely among acute care hospitals.
Effect of dexamethasone or synthetic ACTH administration on endogenous ACTH concentrations in healthy dogs.

Objective—To determine the effects of dexamethasone or synthetic ACTH administration on endogenous ACTH concentrations in healthy dogs. Animals—10 healthy neutered dogs. Procedures—Each dog received dexamethasone (0.01 mg/kg), synthetic ACTH (5 μg/kg), or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.5 mL) IV at intervals of ≥ 30 days. Plasma endogenous ACTH concentrations were measured before (baseline; time 0) and 1, 8, 12, and 24 hours after drug administration; serum cortisol concentrations were measured before and 1 hour after synthetic ACTH and saline solution administration and 8 hours after dexamethasone administration. Results—Analysis of serum cortisol concentrations confirmed effects of drug administration. Dexamethasone significantly decreased the endogenous ACTH concentration from the baseline value at both 8 and 12 hours. Synthetic ACTH administration significantly decreased the endogenous ACTH concentration from the baseline value at 8 hours. Saline solution administration had no significant effect on end...
Runtime checking of serializability in software transactional memory

Attempts have been made to formally verify software transactional memories (STMs), but these are limited in the scale of systems they can handle and generally verify only a model of the system, and not the actual system. We present an alternate attack on checking the correctness of an STM implementation by verifying the execution runs of an STM using a checker that runs in parallel with the transaction memory system. A correctness criterion that is the subject of verification is the serializability of transactions. While checking transaction serializability is NP-complete, practically useful subclasses such as interchange-serializability (DSR) are efficiently computable. Checking DSR reduces to checking for cycles in a transaction ordering graph which captures the access order of objects shared between transaction instances. Doing this concurrent to the main transaction execution requires minimizing the overhead of capturing object accesses, and managing the size of the graph. We discuss techniques for minimizing the overhead of access logging which includes time-stamping, and present techniques for on-the-fly graph compaction that greatly reduce the graph size that needs to be maintained, to be no larger than the number of threads. We have implemented concurrent serializability checking in the Rochester Software Transactional Memory (RSTM) system. We present our practical experiences with this. Results for RSTM, STAMP and synthetic benchmarks are given. The overhead of concurrent checking is a strong function of the transaction length. For long transactions this is negligible. Thus, the use of the proposed method for continuous runtime checking is acceptable. For very short transactions this can be significant. In this case we see the applicability of the proposed method for debugging.
Frequency sweeping tests for stability independent of delay

In this paper we study the stability properties of linear time-invariant delay systems given in a state space form. We consider specifically the notion of asymptotic stability independent of delay. Systems with both commensurate and noncommensurate delays are investigated. We present for each class of systems a necessary and sufficient condition in terms of structured singular values, and further we demonstrate how these conditions may be extended to study stability independent of delay for uncertain systems. Our results consist of several frequency sweeping tests that can be systematically implemented and that should complement the previous work. >
Genetic structure of Graphocephala atropunctata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) populations across its natural range in California reveals isolation by distance.

ABSTRACT The genetic structure of 23 populations of Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae), a vector of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., was investigated using ribosomal 28S and mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I gene sequences. The 28S sequences were identical across all G. atropunctata specimens and populations, but 16 mitochondrial haplotypes were detected and significant interpopulation differences were found in the distribution of these haplotypes. Pairwise estimates of Fst correlated positively with geographical distance between populations, a phenomenon known as genetic isolation by distance. Thus, despite potential for widespread movement of G. atropunctata through nursery and agricultural industries, isolated populations of G. atropunctata have remained genetically distinct, suggesting that negligible numbers of G. atropunctata are actually transported or population interbreeding rarely occurs. The phylogenetic relationship b...
Patient-reported urinary incontinence following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for clinically localized prostate cancer

Purpose Urinary incontinence (UI) following prostate radiotherapy is a rare toxicity that adversely affects a patient’s quality of life. This study sought to evaluate the incidence of UI following stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer.
Impact of Duration Versus Frequency of Probing by Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Inoculation of Xylella fastidiosa

Successful infection of the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Wells) from an infected plant to a new host involves three main steps: 1) acquisition of the bacterium by a vector; 2) inoculation of a noninfected host plant by the vector; and 3) establishment of sufficient titers of X. fastidiosa in the host plant to sustain a chronic infection. Understanding the basic biology of the transmission process is a key to limiting the spread of plant diseases induced by X. fasdidiosa and reducing agricultural losses, especially those experienced in California since the introduction of a new vector, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) (formerly H. coagulata Say), the glassy-winged sharpshooter. In this study, H. vitripennis adults that acquired X. fastidiosa were allowed access to chrysanthemum plant cuttings for 30, 60, 90, or 120 min. The numbers of X. fastidiosa acquired (i.e., cells present in the insect foregut) and the number inoculated to the plant cuttings were separately determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, the number of times glassy-winged sharpshooter stylets probed plant cuttings and the amount of time glassy-winged sharpshooter spent actively ingesting were monitored using video surveillance. Linear regression did not indicate a relationship between the number of X. fastidiosa cells inoculated into the plant cutting and either the titer of pathogen present in the insect or amount of time spent ingesting per probe. However, the number of probes significantly influenced the number of X. fastidiosa cells inoculated. Due to the highly variable nature of transmission, our model could not account for all observed variation as indicated by low R2 values. However, our results suggest that the mechanism of transmission is dependent on probing behaviors more than ingestion duration.
A Dynamic Approach to Recognition Memory

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Indiana University,Psychological and Brain Sciences/Cognitive Science, 2015
Factors affecting intrauterine contraceptive device performance: I. Endometrial cavity length

The relationship of endometrial cavity length to intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) performance was evaluated in 319 patients wearing three types of devices. The rate of events, defined as pregnancy, expulsion, or medical removal, increased significantly when the length of the IUD was equal to, exceeded, or was shorter by two or more centimeters than the length of the endometrial cavity. Total uterine length was found to be a less accurate prognostic indicator of IUD performance than endometrial cavity length alone.
Production of Labyrinthine Paralysis by Application of Local Anesthetics to External and Middle Ear.

SummaryIn cats, paralysis of the labyrinth can be obtained by electrophoresis of cocain solutions from the external auditory meatus. In cats and dogs, such an effect can be produced by injection of local anesthetics into the tympanic cavity. The effect can be prolonged by combination of the local anesthetic with vasoconstrictors. The use of such intratympanic injections for the treatment of abnormal states of labyrinthine irritation is proposed.
Utilization and Effectiveness of Different Antiepileptic Drugs [AEDs] in Status Epilepticus [SE] (P06.102)

Objective: To compare the utilization of different AEDs in patients with SE, and determine if there was a significant difference in their efficacy. Background SE is a life threatening neurological emergency, and most institutions have a treatment algorithm for initial management of SE, but once SE is refractory to the first line agent, the choice of subsequent AEDs apart from anesthetics and benzodiazepines is not well established. Design/Methods: A retrospective chart analysis was performed on all patients in SE, aged 18 years and older admitted to our institution between 2005 and 2010. Data was gathered regarding etiology of status if known and response to the AED used. Patients with anoxic brain injury as a cause of the SE were excluded from analysis since these seizures are harder to treat. Results: Phenytoin is still the most commonly used first line AED in new onset SE [75/90] and 31/75 of these patients responded and did not require additional AED or sedation. Levetiracetam was the second most commonly used agent [10/90] but 70% of these patients required either additional AED or sedation. In case of SE due to sub-therapeutic AED levels [50 patients], after reloading their home medication, 50% had a cessation of SE, while the remaining 50% required an additional AED. The choice of the second AED was diverse with Levetiracetam, Topiramate and Valproic acid as the most commonly among the choices. The number of patients who received each of these was too small for statistical analysis of efficacy. Conclusions: Phenytoin remains the most common first line AED in treating SE in patients with new onset seizures. The difference in efficacy between Phenytoin and Levetiracetam was not statistically significant. For those with breakthrough seizures, resumption of their prior AED regimen was most effective. Supported by: NIH Grant Number: 5R01NS051505-05. Disclosure: Dr. Wong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gowda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vota has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Towne has nothing to disclose.
Band-Gap Energy as a Descriptor of Catalytic Activity for Propene Oxidation over Mixed Metal Oxide Catalysts

The development of a descriptor or descriptors that can relate the activity of catalysts to their physical properties is a major objective of catalysis research. In this study, we have found that the apparent activation energy for propene oxidation to acrolein over scheelite-structured, multicomponent, mixed metal oxides (Bi3FeMo2O12, Bi2Mo2.5W0.5O12, and Bi1–x/3V1–xMoxO4, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) correlates with the band gap of the catalyst measured at reaction temperature. We show through theoretical analysis of the energy components comprising the activation energy why the band-gap energy is the primary component dependent on catalyst composition and, hence, why one should expect the activation energy for propene oxidation to correlate with the band-gap energy. We also demonstrate that the change in band-gap energy with composition arises from the interplay between the sizes and energies of the V 3d, Fe 3d, Mo 4d, and W 5d orbitals, which give rise to the lowest unoccupied crystal orbitals. Both the utility of...
162 OSWESTRY DISABILITY INDEX VERSUS NECK DISABILITY INDEX SCORES IN LUMBAR AND CERVICAL PAIN PATIENTS.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to determine if the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) have enough overlap that they can both predict the same functional status in patients with either lumbar or cervical pain. Methods Patients undergoing evaluation and treatment for pain completed a self-reported survey, which included the ODI, NDI, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Fifty back pain patients and 51 neck pain patients completed the survey. They were further subdivided into groups having either no (0-7) versus possible (8-10) versus probable (11-21) anxiety or depression, based on their HADS scores. Setting UCLA Spine Center, outpatient. Statistics: SPSS independent t-test and paired t-test Results Mean ODI score in lumbar patients was 33.1 (SD = 18.7), and the mean NDI score was 29.8 (SD = 19.9). There was a significant effect for the type of survey, t(49) = 3.20, p .05; t(88) = −0.72, p > .05; significance for the NDI, t(79) = 2.38, p Summary Patients with only lumbar pain showed a significant difference in the values recorded for the ODI when compared with the NDI. The same phenomenon was demonstrated in patients with cervical pain. The mean ODI for all patients did not show a significant difference in the mean between back patients or neck patients. However, the mean NDI score reflected a significant difference in the mean between lumbar and cervical pain patients. Patients with low HADS scores showed a statistically significant difference in the mean between back patients and neck patients completing the NDI. Conclusions Patients must be assessed with the ODI for back pain and the NDI for neck pain. Although the NDI was based on the ODI, it is a better assessment of functional outcome in neck than back patients. When patients have low anxiety or depression states, the NDI is even better at predicting the functional outcome of neck versus back patients than the ODI.
Molecular and Nanoscale Sensors for Detecting Ionizing Radiation in Radiotherapy

Ever since the discovery of radioactivity, beneficial use of ionizing radiation has been pursued for the betterment of human health. In particular, fractionated radiotherapy is commonly used in the clinic for ablation of malignant tumors. Use of higher radiation dose fractions and complex dose trajectories necessitate measurements of radiation dose delivered to the target tissue and surrounding tissues in order to ensure patient safety. Traditional dosimeters including polymer gel dosimeters, radiochromic films and metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) suffer from limitations, which complicate their day-to-day use in the clinic. Molecular and nanoscale systems offer great potential for the development of effective sensors of ionizing radiation, which can lead to quantitative dosimeters in biological settings. This review discusses recent developments based on organic and inorganic molecular and nanoscale dosimeters including quantum dots, polymers and plasmonic nanoparticles as platforms for radiation sensing. Potential advantages and challenges of translating these technologies to clinical applications are also discussed.
Thermally Conductive Adhesives

The thermally conductive adhesives have become increasingly important to microelectronic packaging and thermal interface materials due to their good thermal conducting and mechanical properties.In this paper,the thermal conduc- ting mechanism and models of thermally conductive adhesive are described,the factors affecting thermal conductivity and approaches of improving thermal conducting are discussed,advances in research on thermaly conductive adhesives and thermal- ly conductive insulating adhesives are reviewed,and the applications are put forward.
A comparison of nondigestible carbohydrate and a natural and synthetic anti-inflammatory agent on azoxymethane (AOM) -induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in Fisher 344 male rats.

Fifth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Nov 12-15, 2006 A63 Colon cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Non-digestible carbohydrates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) have shown potential as chemopreventive agents. The objective of this study was to test the effect of feeding BENEO®Synergy1 (long chain inulin + oligofructose ) singly and in combination, with Aspirin and curcumin on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in Fisher 344 rats. Following a one week period of acclimatization 60 male weanling rats were divided into 6 groups and fed AIN93G (Control-C) and 7 experimental groups; C+ Synergy1, C + Aspirin, C + curcumin, C + Synergy1 + Aspirin and C + Synergy1 + Curcumin. All rats received s/c injections of AOM at 16mg/kg body weight in saline. Weekly body weights and daily feed intakes were recorded. At 17 wk of age all the rats were killed by CO2 asphyxiation. Cecal pH and cecal weight were recorded. Hepatic Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), a crucial phase II detoxification enzyme was analyzed. There were no differences in weight gain or feed intake among control and experimental groups. However there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in cecal weight and decrease in cecal pH in groups fed Synergy 1 compared to the control group. Number of ACF were significantly lower (p<0.05) in groups fed Synergy 1, Aspirin and Curcumin. The percent reduction in total ACF in dietary treatments when compared to control were 52.8 (C+ Synergy1), 50.1 (C + Aspirin ), 70.3 (C + Synergy1 + Aspirin) and 78.4 (C + Synergy1 + curcumin). The size of the ACF expressed as the number of aberrant crypts/ ACF or crypt multiplicity were significantly higher in the rats fed control compared with rats fed Synergy1, Aspirin and Curcumin singly and in combination, with the rats fed C + Synergy1 + curcumin having the lowest number of aberrant crypts/ACF. Glutathione-S- transferase activity was significantly higher in the treatment groups compared to the control. This study shows that feeding natural anti-inflammatory agent and a synthetic NSAIDs singly or in combination with Synergy1 significantly reduced the incidence of AOM-induced ACF, with the group fed C + Synergy1 + curcumin having the greatest effect. The differences in the chemopreventive mechanisms can provide additive and synergistic efficacy, hence, adequate efficacy may be observed at lower and presumably less toxic doses of the individual agents.
Least squares signal declipping for robust speech recognition.

This paper introduces a novel declipping algorithm based on constrained least-squares minimization. Digital speech signals are often sampled at 16 kHz and classic declipping algorithms fail to accurately reconstruct the signal at this sampling rate due to the scarcity of reliable samples after clipping. The Constrained Blind Amplitude Reconstruction algorithm interpolates missing data points such that the resulting function is smooth while ensuring the inferred data fall in a legitimate range. The inclusion of explicit constraints helps to guide an accurate interpolation. Evaluation of declipping performance is based on automatic speech recognition word error rate and Constrained Blind Amplitude Reconstruction is shown to outperform the current state-of-the-art declipping technology under a variety of conditions. Declipping performance in additive noise is also considered.
Usefulness and dangers of relying on grant acknowledgments in an observatory bibliography

The purpose of this paper is to present a quantitative assessment of how well grant and/or program acknowledgments reflect the science impact of Chandra observing, archive, and theory programs and to assess whether observatory acknowledgments alone are a good indicator for inclusion in an observatory bibliography. For grant citations we find that curators will often need to determine the correct grant being cited and they will need to assess relationship between the content of a paper and the grant proposal being cited for statistics to be meaningful. We also find a significant number of papers can be attributed to observing programs through grant links only and that performing full-text searches against the ADS for grant numbers can lead to additional articles for inclusion in the bibliography. When looking at acknowledgment sections as a whole, we find that using an observatory acknowledgment as the sole source for determining inclusion in a bibliography will greatly underestimate the number of science papers attributable to the observatory.
Interleukin-1: An Overview

Cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system have been shown to play an important and critical role in the host response to infectious, traumatic and inflammatory agents. One important mechanism whereby these cells play a role in the immunological, metabolic, and haematological processes that respond to such stimuli is related to the production of biological hormones termed monokines. The best characterized of these monokines is the material known as interleukin-1 (IL-1) (Dinarello, 1984). IL-1 is a term that describes the multiple biological and immunological activities that have been associated with soluble products synthesized by mononuclear phagocytes. The characteristics of the material produced by macrophages (Mϕ) or monocytes that include interleukin-1 activity can be summarized as follows: First, the biochemical characteristics of many of the IL-1 activities that have been described represent a protein or family of proteins whose molecular weight is between 12,000 and 18,000 daltons.
Use of Total Body Photography and Serial Digital Dermoscopy in Dermatology

Abstract Melanoma is estimated to make up 4.6% of all new cancer cases (76,100) and is responsible for 1.7% of all cancer deaths annually (9710) [1]. The 5-year survival rate for melanoma is currently 91.3%. However, survival varies widely based on stage at diagnosis with a 5-year survival rate of 98.1%, 62.6%, and 16.1% for individuals with localized disease (stages 0–II), regional spread to lymph nodes (stage III), and distant cancer metastasis (stage IV), respectively [1]. Despite efforts to develop new therapies, the prognosis for individuals with advance disease remains poor [2].
Signal Integration at Elongation Factor 2 Kinase THE ROLES OF CALCIUM, CALMODULIN, AND SER-500 PHOSPHORYLATION

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF-2K), the only calmodulin (CaM)-dependent member of the unique α-kinase family, impedes protein synthesis by phosphorylating eEF-2. We recently identified Thr-348 and Ser-500 as two key autophosphorylation sites within eEF-2K that regulate its activity. eEF-2K is regulated by Ca2+ ions and multiple upstream signaling pathways, but how it integrates these signals into a coherent output, i.e. phosphorylation of eEF-2, is unclear. This study focuses on understanding how the post-translational phosphorylation of Ser-500 integrates with Ca2+ and CaM to regulate eEF-2K. CaM is shown to be absolutely necessary for efficient activity of eEF-2K, and Ca2+ is shown to enhance the affinity of CaM toward eEF-2K. Ser-500 is found to undergo autophosphorylation in cells treated with ionomycin and is likely also targeted by PKA. In vitro, autophosphorylation of Ser-500 is found to require Ca2+ and CaM and is inhibited by mutations that compromise binding of phosphorylated Thr-348 to an allosteric binding pocket on the kinase domain. A phosphomimetic Ser-500 to aspartic acid mutation (eEF-2K S500D) enhances the rate of activation (Thr-348 autophosphorylation) by 6-fold and lowers the EC50 for Ca2+/CaM binding to activated eEF-2K (Thr-348 phosphorylated) by 20-fold. This is predicted to result in an elevation of the cellular fraction of active eEF-2K. In support of this mechanism, eEF-2K knock-out MCF10A cells reconstituted with eEF-2K S500D display relatively high levels of phospho-eEF-2 under basal conditions. This study reports how phosphorylation of a regulatory site (Ser-500) integrates with Ca2+ and CaM to influence eEF-2K activity.
Debating what Lü Dongbin Practiced: Why did the Yuan Daoist Miao Shanshi Denounce the Zhong-Lü Texts?

Miao Shanshi (fl. 1324), in his Chunyang dijun shenhua miaotong ji , a large collection of stories about the legendary immortal Lu Dongbin, denounces as spurious and fallacious the three so-called “Zhong-Lu texts” ( Zhong-Lu chuandao ji , Lingbao bifa, and Xishan qunxian huizhen ji ) that claim to convey the inner alchemical teachings learned and practiced by Lu Dongbin. So why did Miao Shanshi, who saw himself as a champion of Quanzhen Daoist orthodoxy and defender of Lu Dongbin’s true legacy, so disdain these texts? Clues for answering this question are to be found in the dialogue between Zhongli Quan and Lu Dongbin recorded in the Miaotong ji ’s sixth episode. Miao Shanshi’s editorial comments provide further hints as to what he objected to in the Zhong-Lu texts, as well as to how he himself may have arrived at his notion of what Lu Dongbin learned, practiced, and later taught. Attention is here also paid to another work of his, entitled Xuanjiao dagong’an . Miao Shanshi’s inner alchemical methods, which he considered the true teachings of Lu Dongbin, compared to those advocated in the Zhong-Lu texts, are much less complicated and seem to essentially consist of making the mind clear and calm while slowing down one’s breathing. Miao Shanshi (fl. 1324), denonce dans son Chunyang dijun shenhua miaotong ji ( Miaotong ji ; une vaste collection de recits sur l’immortel legendaire Lu Dongbin), les trois textes dits de la tradition “Zhong-Lu” ( Zhong-Lu chuandao ji , Lingbao bifa et Xishan qunxian huizhen ji ). Il affirme que ces textes reputes exposer les techniques d’alchimie interieure recues et pratiquees par Lu Dongbin sont en realite apocryphes et erronees. Pourquoi Miao Shanshi, qui se presente comme un pilier de l’orthodoxie du taoisme Quanzhen et un gardien de l’heritage de Lu Dongbin, rejette-t-il ces textes avec autant de virulence ? La reponse se trouve en bonne partie dans le dialogue entre Zhongli Quan et Lu Dongbin expose dans le 6e episode du Miaotong ji . Miao Shanshi dans ses commentaires a son propre recit fournit des elements supplementaires sur son opposition a ces textes et sur sa propre facon de concevoir ce que fut l’enseignement de Lu Dongbin. La vision de l’orthodoxie defendue par Miao Shanshi est encore analysee dans une autre de ses œuvres, le Xuanjiao dagong’an . L’article conclut que les methodes d’alchimie interieure defendues par Miao Shanshi (et qu’il considere comme representant l’enseignement authentique de Lu Dongbin) sont bien moins complexes techniquement que celles exposees dans les textes Zhong-Lu, et consistent essentiellement a rendre l’esprit clair et calme en ralentissant sa respiration.
Simvastatin-induced sphingosine 1−phosphate receptor 1 expression is KLF2-dependent in human lung endothelial cells

We have demonstrated that simvastatin and sphingosine 1−phosphate (S1P) both attenuate increased vascular permeability in preclinical models of acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, the und...
Fate and Effect of Dissolved Silicon within Wastewater Treatment Effluent

In large rivers, the ratios of silicon (Si)/nitrogen (N)/phosphorus (P) have changed dramatically as anthropogenic additions of N or P are not matched by Si. Wastewater effluent is a recognized source of N and P to coastal environments. Few previous studies, however, have examined the Si load of a large wastewater plant’s effluent or the molar ratios of Si/N and Si/P in effluent. We examine the annual flux of dissolved silicon (DSi) carried by effluent from the second largest treatment plant by flow in the United States (Deer Island Treatment Plant, DITP, Boston, MA). We compare treatment plant nutrient fluxes to local urban river nutrient fluxes and trace the impact of the DITP DSi loading on receiving waters. Estimates (±95% confidence interval) of treated effluent (67 800 ± 1500 kmol DSi year–1) compared to untreated (69 500 kmol DSi year–1) indicate that the process of sewage treatment at DITP likely does not remove DSi. DITP effluent was Si-limited and this Si-limitation is reflected in the receiving...
Video Games that Improve ‘Learning to Learn’: Focus on Action Video Game Play Elements

A growing body of literature demonstrates that playing action video games (AVGs) can improve attentional and cognitive abilities, thereby facilitating better learning skills that are critical to academic foundations. However, there are no evidence-based rules for selecting a game that can lead to attentional improvements. This exploratory study attempted to develop an Action Video Game Characteristics (AVGC) instrument that distinguishes AVGs from other video game genres, and examine individuals' perceptions of specific video games that were used in previous AVG training research using the AVGC instrument.