cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of inter-crystal cross-talk on multi-element LSO/APD PET detectors

One of the most promising high resolution PET detector designs comprises an array of small, optically isolated scintillator crystals each coupled to an independent photosensor, such as an avalanche photodiode (APD). However, cross-talk between crystals (due to Compton scatter, photoelectron escape, or incomplete optical isolation) can significantly degrade performance, and is expected to increase as crystals become narrower to improve spatial resolution. Various measures of cross-talk have been determined for different configurations of 4x8 blocks of 2 mm /spl times/ 2 mm lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals coupled to matched Hamamatsu APD arrays. Results indicate that ignoring crosstalk signals could lead to a /spl sim/30% loss in coincidence sensitivity for a tomograph using these detectors, and a decrease in energy resolution of /spl sim/2 percentage points. Spatial and time resolution would not be significantly affected with most practical front-end architectures.
Electrical Potential Distribution Surrounding the Atria during Depolarization and Repolarization in the Dog

The potential distribution at the atrial surface during depolarization and repolarization was studied in intact dogs. A preparation was developed by implanting 30 to 40 miniature electrodes permanently on each atrium to record unipolar electrograms in the intact animal. Heart block was created to dissociate atrial and ventricular activity. The electrograms were recorded on magnetic tape and atrial isopotential heart maps produced with the use of a digital computer. The changing potential distribution during excitation indicated the early presence of multiple wave fronts which were related primarily to the crista terminalis, Bachmann's bundle, and a special bundle to the base of the right appendage. The interatrial septum provided a conducting bridge which had an important influence of global atrial excitation, depending on the site of impulse formation. Colliding excitation wave fronts were quite prominent. During terminal atrial excitation, repolarization maxima were present simultaneously with depolarization maxima. Repolarization was characterized by a changing potential distribution which followed the same general pattern as excitation spread; and, furthermore, the earliest areas of excitation were associated with a repolarization maximum and terminal areas of excitation were associated with repolarization minima.
The recalcitrance of overconfidence and its contribution to decision aid neglect

Three experiments tested the hypothesis that people’s overconfidence in the quality of their intuitive judgment strategies contributes to their reluctance to use helpful actuarial judgment aids. Participants engaged in a judgment task that required them to use five cues to decide whether a prospective juror favored physician-assisted suicide. Participants had the opportunity to examine the judgments of a statistical equation that correctly classified 77% of the prospective jurors. In all experiments, participants infrequently examined the equation, performed worse than the equation, and were highly overconfident. In Experiments 1 and 2, outcome feedback and calibration feedback failed to reduce overconfidence. In Experiment 3, enhanced calibration feedback reduced overconfidence and increased reliance on the equation, thus leading to improved judgment performance. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dual impacts of climate change: forest migration and turnover through life history

Tree species are predicted to track future climate by shifting their geographic distributions, but climate-mediated migrations are not apparent in a recent continental-scale analysis. To better understand the mechanisms of a possible migration lag, we analyzed relative recruitment patterns by comparing juvenile and adult tree abundances in climate space. One would expect relative recruitment to be higher in cold and dry climates as a result of tree migration with juveniles located further poleward than adults. Alternatively, relative recruitment could be higher in warm and wet climates as a result of higher tree population turnover with increased temperature and precipitation. Using the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis data at regional scales, we jointly modeled juvenile and adult abundance distributions for 65 tree species in climate space of the eastern United States. We directly compared the optimal climate conditions for juveniles and adults, identified the climates where each species has high relative recruitment, and synthesized relative recruitment patterns across species. Results suggest that for 77% and 83% of the tree species, juveniles have higher optimal temperature and optimal precipitation, respectively, than adults. Across species, the relative recruitment pattern is dominated by relatively more abundant juveniles than adults in warm and wet climates. These different abundance-climate responses through life history are consistent with faster population turnover and inconsistent with the geographic trend of large-scale tree migration. Taken together, this juvenile–adult analysis suggests that tree species might respond to climate change by having faster turnover as dynamics accelerate with longer growing seasons and higher temperatures, before there is evidence of poleward migration at biogeographic scales.
The Volcano optimizer generator: extensibility and efficient search

The Volcano project, which provides efficient, extensible tools for query and request processing, particularly for object-oriented and scientific database systems, is reviewed. In particular, one of its tools, the optimizer generator, is discussed. The data model, logical algebra, physical algebra, and optimization rules are translated by the optimizer generator into optimizer source code. It is shown that, compared with the EXODUS optimizer generator prototype, the search engine of the Volcano optimizer generator is more extensible and powerful. It provides effective support for non-trivial cost models and for physical properties such as sorting order. At the same time, it is much more efficient, as it combines dynamic programming with goal-directed searching and branch-and-bound pruning. Compared with other rule-based optimization systems, it provides complete data model independence and more natural extensibility. >
Medial and Lateral Quadriceps Muscle Activity during Weight-Bearing Knee Extension Exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of weight-bearing terminal knee extension (WBKE) on normalized mean electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) and the VMO/VL ratio. Sixteen subjects with no history of knee dysfunction participated. Surface EMG data were recorded from the VMO and VL of subjects' test legs as they performed the WBKE exercise under four conditions, three involving elastic resistance and one involving no elastic resistance. EMG data were normalized relative to a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction, and overall mean VMO and VL activity and the VMO/VL ratio were determined for all conditions. The three conditions utilizing elastic resistance showed higher mean VMO and VL activity than the no-resistance condition. The VMO/ VL ratio was not significantly altered during any exercise condition as compared to maximal, quadriceps setting exercise. WBKE against elastic resistance was superior to the same exercise without r...
Blood Lead Below 0.48 μmol/L (10 μg/dL) and Mortality Among US Adults

Background— Blood lead levels above 0.48 μmol/L (10 μg/dL) in adults have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular, cancer, and all-cause mortality. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between blood lead levels below 0.48 μmol/L and mortality in the general US population. Methods and Results— Blood lead levels were measured in a nationally representative sample of 13 946 adult participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey recruited in 1988 to 1994 and followed up for up to 12 years for all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The geometric mean blood lead level in study participants was 0.12 μmol/L (2.58 μg/dL). After multivariate adjustment, the hazard ratios (95% CI) for comparisons of participants in the highest tertile of blood lead (≥0.17 μmol/L [≥3.62 μg/dL]) with those in the lowest tertile (<0.09 μmol/L [<1.94 μg/dL]) were 1.25 (1.04 to 1.51; Ptrend across tertiles=0.002) for all-cause mortality and 1.55 (1.08 to 2.24; Ptrend...
Pollinator-mediated gene flow fosters genetic variability in a narrow alpine endemic, Abronia alpina (Nyctaginaceae).

Premise of the study For rare and endemic plants that exist in small, isolated habitats, natural selection is expected to favor self-compatibility, which can result in low genetic diversity due to inbreeding and genetic drift. Using Abronia alpina, a rare alpine endemic of the California Floristic Province, we demonstrate that there are exceptions to these predictions. Methods We present the results of both a pollination experiment and a genetic study using AFLPs (amplified fragment length polymorphisms). Using controlled hand-pollination and pollinator observations, we examined the breeding system, pollination ecology, and mechanism for self-incompatibility in A. alpina. Key results Abronia alpina exhibits an allogamous mating system with probable self-incompatibility resulting from limited growth of pollen tubes originating from self-pollination. Only xenogamous crosses and open-pollinated controls produced seed, and only xenogamous crosses produced pollen tubes that reached the ovary. The molecular study shows that A. alpina has substantial genetic diversity for a rare, endemic species, evidenced by the high percentage of polymorphic loci and average expected heterozygosity. Gene flow among subpopulations, as inferred from AFLP markers, appears to be substantial, although the Kern River is an important physical barrier. Conclusions Our results indicate that A. alpina is dependent on insects for both seed production and the maintenance of genetic diversity. This finding suggests that pollinators may be crucial to the long-term adaptive potential of rare, endemic plants and that conservation of rare endemics is, in part, dependent on community-level interactions such as plant-pollinator mutualisms.
A Typology of Men Who Are Violent Toward Their Female Partners Making Sense of the Heterogeneity in Husband Violence

Although much research on men who are violent toward their wives has involved comparisons of groups of violent and nonviolent men, there is increasing evidence that maritally violent men are not a homogeneous group. Several recent studies support a batterer typology that distinguishes maritally violent subgroups. In an effort to identify different underlying processes resulting in husband violence, this article discusses how these subgroups differ along descriptive dimensions and in terms of their correlates in a developmental model of husband violence. The results suggest the importance of at least two continua (i.e., antisociality and borderline personality features) for understanding the heterogeneity in husband violence. The results also demonstrate the necessity of further studying low levels of husbands' physical aggression and of considering batterer subtypes when designing treatment interventions.
Polyribosome and ribonucleoprotein complex redistribution of mRNA induced by GnRH involves both EIF2AK3 and MAPK signaling.

The neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulates synthesis and secretion of the glycoprotein gonadotropic hormones and activates the unfolded protein response, which causes a transient reduction of endoplasmic reticulum-associated mRNA translation. Hormone-treated cell extracts were fractionated to resolve mRNA in active polyribosomes from mRNA in inactive complexes. Quantitative real-time PCR and expression array analysis were used to determine hormone-induced redistribution of mRNAs between fractions and individual mRNAs were found to be redistributed differentially. Among the affected mRNAs relevant to gonadotropin synthesis, the luteinizing hormone subunit genes Lhb and Cga were enriched in the ribonucleoprotein pool. The MAP kinase phosphatase Dusp1 was enriched in the polyribosome pool. Enrichment of Dusp1 mRNA in the polyribosome pool was independent of the unfolded protein response, sensitive to ERK inhibition, and dependent on the 3′untranslated region. The results show that GnRH exerts translational control to modulate physiologically relevant gene expression through two distinct signaling pathways.
Blood compatibility of surfaces modified by plasma polymerization.

Tubular blood-contacting polymeric materials were modified by plasma polymerization and evaluated in the baboon with respect to their capacity to induce both acute and chronic arterial thrombosis. Polymer surface composition was determined by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. Steady-state arterial thromboembolism was initiated by introducing tubular segments into chronic arteriovenous shunts. Rates of platelet destruction induced by the test materials were calculated from 111In-platelet survival measurements. Nine plasma polymers based on tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoroethane, hexafluoroethane/H2, and methane, when deposited on silicone rubber, consumed platelets at rates ranging from 1.1-5.6 x 10(8) platelets/cm2-day. Since these values were near the lower detection limit for this test system, the plasma polymers were considered relatively nonthrombogenic. Acute thrombus formation was initiated by inserting expanded Teflon (Gore-Tex PTFE) vascular grafts into the shunt system. 111In-platelet deposition was measured by scintillation camera imaging over a 1-h exposure period. Standard PTFE grafts (10 cm x 4 mm i.d.) accumulated approximately 1 x 10(10) platelets over this interval. While modification of PTFE grafts with a plasma polymer based on hexafluoroethane/H2 did not alter graft surface morphology, platelet deposition was reduced by 87% as compared to the controls (p less than 0.001). We conclude that both the surface chemistry and texture of prosthetic materials influence thrombogenesis. The method of plasma polymerization may be useful for assessing the importance of these variables independently and, perhaps, for minimizing certain adverse blood-material interactions.
Online stochastic matching with unequal probabilities

The online stochastic matching problem is a variant of online bipartite matching in which edges are labeled with probabilities. A match will "succeed" with the probability along that edge; this models, for instance, the click of a user in search advertisement. The goal is to maximize the expected number of successful matches. This problem was introduced by Mehta and Panigrahi (FOCS 2012), who focused on the case where all probabilities in the graph are equal. They gave a 0.567-competitive algorithm for vanishing probabilities, relative to a natural benchmark, leaving the general case as an open question.This paper examines the general case where the probabilities may be unequal. We take a new algorithmic approach rather than generalizing that of Mehta and Panigrahi: Our algorithm maintains, at each time, the probability that each offline vertex has succeeded thus far, and chooses assignments so as to maximize marginal contributions to these probabilities. When the algorithm does not observe the realizations of the edges, this approach gives a 0.5-competitive algorithm, which achieves the known upper bound for such "non-adaptive" algorithms. We then modify this approach to be "semi-adaptive:" if the chosen target has already succeeded, choose the arrival's "second choice" instead (while still updating the probabilities non-adaptively). With one additional tweak to control the analysis, we show that this algorithm achieves a competitive ratio of 0.534 for the unequal, vanishing probabilities setting. A "fully-adaptive" version of this algorithm turns out to be identical to an algorithm proposed, but not analyzed, in Mehta and Panigrahi (2012); we do not manage to analyze it either since it introduces too many dependencies between the stochastic processes. Our semi-adaptive algorithm thus can be seen as allowing analysis of competitive ratio while still capturing the power of adaptivity.
A Labor Market Comparison: Why the Texas Model Supports Prosperity

The Texas model has been touted as an approach to governance that other states and Washington, D.C. would be wise to follow. This approach promotes individual freedom through lower taxes and spending, less regulation, fewer frivolous lawsuits, and reduced federal government interference. Does this Texas restatement of the unalienable rights of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” actually promote freedom, prosperity, and jobs when compared to the largest states and U.S. averages? This paper explores this question.
Endoscopic Brow and Forehead Rejuvenation

The forehead and brows are an integral part of aesthetic rejuvenation of the upper face. Traditional brow lifting procedures involve large dissections, predispose to sensory deficits, and can lead to ­visible scars. The endoscopic brow lift offers a less invasive alternative to open brow lifting procedures. With appropriate training and experience, the procedure results in reliable and reproducible surgical outcomes. A detailed knowledge of relevant anatomy, especially the temporal dissection, is critical to avoiding complications. Surgical success is dependent on appropriate patient selection, familiarity with endoscopic equipment and techniques, and an understanding of forehead/brow aesthetics. The main variable in surgery is the method of brow fixation to the calvarium. The authors prefer the bone bridge technique. The endoscopic approach to brow lifting reduces the likelihood of complications when compared to open approaches. Complications such as hematoma formation, alopecia, and sensory or motor nerve deficit can be avoided with strict maintenance of hemostasis and meticulous surgical dissection.
Varied autopsy findings in five treated patients with Gaucher disease and parkinsonism include the absence of Gaucher cells

Enzyme replacement therapy is standard of care for patients with Gaucher disease, as it significantly improves skeletal, visceral, and hematological symptoms. Few pathological studies have documented the extent of pathological findings in treated patients. Autopsy findings in five treated patients, who ultimately developed parkinsonism, ranged from the complete absence of Gaucher pathology to extensive involvement of multiple tissues, without correlation to age, genotype, spleen status, or dose/duration of therapy. Additional autopsies may elucidate modifiers and biomarkers contributing to disease burden and response to therapy.
Pharaoh: Conceptual Blending of Cognitive Scripts for Computationally Creative Agents

Improvisational acting is a creative group performance where actors co-construct stories on stage in real-time based on actors’ perceptions of the environment. The Digital Improv Project has been engaged in a multi-year study of the cognitive processes involved in improvisational acting. This better understanding of human cognition and creativity has led to formal computational models of some aspects of our findings. In this work, we consider enriching AI improv agents with the ability to improvise new nontraditional scenes based on existing social cognitive scripts. This paper shows how the use of Pharaoh -a context based structural retrieval algorithm for cognitive scripts- and simple blending rules can help digital improv agents to create new interesting scenes. The paper also provides an illustrative example at the end.
The Influence of the Structure of Interdependence on the Response to Inequity in Buyer-Supplier Relationships

AbstractThis research investigates the conditions under which inequity in a buyer–supplier relationship influences a supplier’s resource sharing with its buyer. More specifically, the authors examine the effects of both positive inequity and negative inequity under varying levels of interdependence magnitude and relative dependence. They further examine the effect of inequity on perceived relationship performance. The study includes a longitudinal survey design, with perceived relationship performance reported by a second informant. The study, conducted within the context of Japanese suppliers reporting on their relationship with U.S. buyers, takes a nuanced view of both inequity and relative dependence by employing spline variables to disentangle potentially different effects of positive and negative inequity and relative dependence of the supplier and buyer, respectively. The results reveal that firms’ reactions to positive and negative inequity vary depending on the nature of the interdependence struct...
Study on flotation process reclaiming phosphor from magnetic tailings in Liaoning

To make the best use of the mineral resource,the flotation tests were conducted on a certain magic tailings,reclaiming phosphorites.By having done the single-order single-factor conditional tests and analysis on the crossing tests,the factors which worked on the flotation were researched,such as grinding fineness,roughing pulp thickness and reagent dosage.The results showed that for the tailings which P2O5 grade was 4.21%,grinding fineness was 45% for minus 0.074 mm,worked by one roughing,two cleanings and the middlings returned in turn,the concentrate which P2O5 grade was 36.19%,recovery was 90.41% was obtained.The concentrate met the standards of HG/T 2673-1955 "Acid methods processing for phosphorus fertilizer",and the phosphorite was reclaimed availably.
Study on Distinguish Principle of Final Diagnosis of SARS

Objective To research the discriminate function of individual justified indexes on the distinguish principle of final diagnosis of SARS. Methods According to the distinguish principle of final diagnosis of SARS(2004),162 cases were categorized into the four different groups: suspected cases, clinical diagnosed cases, laboratory diagnosed cases and expelled cases. Chi-square analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the following data: gender, age, occupation, various symptoms, chest X-ray, patient contact history etc. Results Statistically significant difference was existed among subjects who had patient contact history factor(P=0.000), occupation(hospital and non-hospital) factor(P= 0.000 ), initial WBC count(P=0.025) and SARS-IgG(P=0.000). But there no statistical significant difference was observed in the remaining factors including the animal contact history( P=0.532), etc. Conclusion Epidemiology history and the laboratory results could become the main discriminate determinants of diagnosis.The clinic symptoms and animal contact history are not relevant index in differentiation of the final diagnosis.The distinguishing principle of finally diagnosis of SARS is better defined as criteria that can distinguish the different diagnosis as well.
The Problems of Suppliers Management

This paper makes a few suggestions on suppliers management after discussing suppliers evaluation, purchasing contract, purchasing price management, and management of supplier's product quality.
Small intestinal, stomach complex, and total gastrointestinal tract masses are decreased relative to body weight in high efficiency steers

Although both scientific and industry interest in feed efficiency of ruminant animals has increased greatly in recent years, physiological mechanisms underlying differences in individual feed efficiency remain largely unknown. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver are not only essential for nutrient acquisition and utilization, but also use 40 to 50% of whole body energy expenditure (Ferrell, 1988). Despite recent research in the area (Basarab et al., 2003; Mader et al., 2009; Meyer et al., 2012), the role of visceral organs, especially that of the GI tract, in feed efficiency is unclear. We hypothesize that a portion of the individual differences observed for feed efficiency can be attributed specifically to GI tract size and function through its energy use and ability to digest and absorb nutrients. The objective of this study was to investigate GI tract and other visceral organ masses in market weight steers classified as high and low efficiency based on finishing period residual feed intake (RFI).
Echo-Planar J-resolved Spectroscopic Imaging using Dual Read-outs: Implementation and Quantitation of Human Brain Metabolites.

Attempts have been made to reduce the total scan time in multi-dimensional J-resolved spectroscopic imaging (JRESI) using an echo-planar (EP) readout gradient, but acquisition duration remains a limitation for routine clinical use in the brain. We present here a significant acceleration achieved with a 4D EP-JRESI sequence that collects dual phase encoded lines within a single repetition time (TR) using two bipolar read-out trains. The performance and reliability of this novel 4D sequence, called Multi-Echo based Echo-Planar J-resolved Spectroscopic Imaging (ME-EP-JRESI), was evaluated in 10 healthy controls and a brain phantom using a 3 T MRI/MRS scanner. The prior knowledge fitting (ProFit) algorithm, with a new simulated basis set consisting of macromolecules and lipids apart from metabolites of interest, was used for quantitation. Both phantom and in-vivo data demonstrated that localization and spatial/spectral profiles of metabolites from the ME-EP-JRESI sequence were in good agreement with that of the EP-JRESI sequence. Both in the occipital and temporal lobe, metabolites with higher physiological concentrations including Glx (Glu+Gln), tNAA (NAA+NAAG), mI all had coefficient of variations between 9–25%. In summary, we have implemented, validated and tested the ME-EP-JRESI sequence, demonstrating that multi-echo acquisition can successfully reduce the total scan duration for EP-JRESI sequences.
Contracted Schrödinger equation in quantum phase-space.

The phase space formulation of quantum mechanics is equivalent to standard quantum mechanics where averages are calculated by way of phase space integration as in the case of classical statistical mechanics. We derive the quantum hierarchy equations, often called the contracted Schrodinger equation, in the phase space representation of quantum mechanics which involves quasi-distributions of position and momentum. We use the Wigner distribution for the phase space function and the Moyal phase space eigenvalue formulation to derive the hierarchy. We show that the hierarchy equations in the position, momentum, and position-momentum representations are very similar in structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Universally Applicable Methodology for the Gram-Scale Synthesis of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Phosphines

Although organophosphine syntheses have been known for the better part of a century, the synthesis of phosphines still represents an arduous task for even veteran synthetic chemists. Phosphines as a class of compounds vary greatly in their air sensitivity, and the misconception that it is trivial or even easy for a novice chemist to attempt a seemingly straightforward synthesis can have disastrous results. To simplify the task, we have previously developed a methodology that uses benchtop intermediates to access a wide variety of phosphine oxides (an immediate precursor to phosphines). This synthetic approach saves the air-free handling until the last step (reduction to and isolation of the phosphine). Presented herein is a complete general procedure for the facile reduction of phosphonates, phosphinates, and phosphine oxides to primary, secondary, and tertiary phosphines using aluminum hydride reducing agents. The electrophilic reducing agents (iBu)2AlH and AlH3 were determined to be vastly superior to L...
Association between polycystic ovary syndrome and hot flash presentation during the midlife period.

AbstractObjective:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in reproductive-aged women; however, the impact of PCOS on menopausal symptoms remains poorly understood. This study aims to determine the influence of PCOS on hot flash presentation in midlife women.Methods:Partici
Derivation and characterization of the NIH registry human stem cell line NYSCF100 line under defined feeder-free conditions

Abstract The human embryonic stem cell line NYSCFe002-A was derived from a day 6 blastocyst in feeder-free and antibiotic free conditions. The blastocyst was voluntarily donated for research as surplus after in vitro fertilization treatment following informed consent. The NYSCFe002-A line expresses all the pluripotency markers and has the potential to differentiate into all three germ layers in vitro. The line presents normal karyotype and is mycoplasma free. This line is registered as NYSCF101 on the NIH Registry.
Development and Validation of a Microtiter Plate-Based Assay for Determination of Bacteriophage Host Range and Virulence

Bacteriophages, which are the natural predators of bacteria, have re-emerged as an attractive alternative to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria. Phages are highly specific at the species and strain level and measurement of the phage host range plays an important role in utilizing the phage as antimicrobials. The most common method for phage host range determination has been to spot phage lysates on soft agar overlays and observe plaque formation. In this study, a liquid culture-based assay was developed in a 96-well microtiter plate format to measure the phage host range and virulence for a collection of 15 Salmonella phages against a panel of 20 Salmonella strains representing 11 serovars. This method was compared to a traditional spot method. The majority of the host range results from two methods were in agreement including in cases where a bacterial strain was insensitive to the phage. Each method produced a false-negative result in 19/300 (6%) of the measured phage-host combinations when compared to the other method. The spot method tended to indicate greater phage sensitivity than the microtiter assay even though direct comparisons of the response magnitude between the two methods is difficult since they operate on different mechanisms. The microtiter plate assay was able to provide data on both the phage host range and virulence in greater resolution in a high-throughput format.
Elastic properties of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene monolayers and bilayers

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides and nitrides, known as MXenes, are a large class of materials that are finding numerous applications ranging from energy storage and electromagnetic interference shielding to water purification and antibacterial coatings. Yet, despite the fact that more than 20 different MXenes have been synthesized, the mechanical properties of a MXene monolayer have not been experimentally studied. We measured the elastic properties of monolayers and bilayers of the most important MXene material to date, Ti3C2T x (T x stands for surface termination). We developed a method for preparing well-strained membranes of Ti3C2T x monolayers and bilayers, and performed their nanoindentation with the tip of an atomic force microscope to record the force-displacement curves. The effective Young's modulus of a single layer of Ti3C2T x was found to be 0.33 ± 0.03 TPa, which is the highest among the mean values reported in nanoindentation experiments for other solution-processed 2D materials, including graphene oxide. This work opens a pathway for investigating the mechanical properties of monolayers and bilayers of other MXenes and extends the already broad range of MXenes' applications to structural composites, protective coatings, nanoresonators, and membranes that require materials with exceptional mechanical properties.
Die andere Hälfte der Siliciumchemie

Wenn man bedenkt, das naturliche und synthetische Silicate seit 5000 Jahren im Gebrauch sind und die keramische Industrie in den letzten Jahrhunderten so gewaltige Fortschritte gemacht hat, erstaunt es einen, das ein vollig anderer Aspekt der Siliciumchemie so lange hat verborgen bleiben konnen. Vielleicht ist das aber gerade der Beweis dafur, wie jung die chemische Wissenschaft noch ist und wieviel noch zu erforschen bleibt! Sehr wahrscheinlich stost man bei jedem Element auf neue ebenso erstaunliche Eigenschaften und Seiten, wenn man mit genugend Phantasie an die Sache herangeht1.
[The making of hygienic modernity in Meiji Japan, 1868-1905].

This article is based on conceptual and methodological understanding of hygienic modernity in the nineteenth-century Western countries: one is the concept of modern hygiene in the context of modern state and the other is methodological relation of modern hygiene to scientific theory of germ . While modern state calls for the institutionalization of medical police as an administrative tool for consolidating the governmentality what Michel Foucault calls, scientific 'invention' of germ may be considered as 'logical, philosophical and historiographical'. Furthermore, the Meiji medicine men preferred Koch's to Pasteur's laboratory framework, not because the former was scientific than the latter but because Koch's programs were more compatible with imperial needs. The objective of this paper is to investigate four ways in which hygienic modernity had been established in Meiji Japan; (i) how Meiji imperialists perceived and managed to control Japanese hygienic condition, (ii) how Meiji-leading doctors learned about the German modern system of hygiene to consolidate Meiji empire; (iii) how modern germ theory functioned as the formation of imperial bodies in Meiji period; and (iv) how modem military hygiene contributed to Japanese defeat of Russia. Although I try to contend that modern hygiene was adopted as one of the most significant strategies for intensifying and extending the Meiji empire, this paper has some limits in not identifying how Japanese perception of infectious diseases were culturally adaptive to science-based hygienic programs the Meiji administrators had installed.
The Development of Controls for Gas-Engine-Driven Heat Pumps

ABSTRACT Aside from the design and development of a long-life engine, the development of a control system is the most challenging technical issue associated with the commercialization of a gas-engine-driven heat pump (GEHP). One of the characterstics of a variable capacity GEHP is the availability of recoverable engine heat. The control of this subsystem and other thermal subsystems to simultaneously optimize comfort, efficiency, and system reliability is, therefore, of prime interest. Consequently, the Gas Research Institute, as part of its Gas Heat Pump program, has funded the development of a heat pump control system for residential applications. The controls development approach has consisted of the following steps: (1) understanding GEHP system interactions; (2) developing control strategies to improve system efficiency and reliability while maintaining comfort; (3) development and verification of the control strategy through controlled laboratory testing; (4) refinement of the control strategy through field experimentation; and (5) design and development of a custom controller for field testing. To effect the design approach in a timely and cost-effective manner, both analytical and empirical tools were developed. These tools provided the capability to fully understand interactions and implications of a capacity modulating system and determine the most favorable control strategies to optimize the tradeoffs between performance, comfort, and reliability. Through the development and utilization of analytical tools and subsequent testing, a strong foundation of practical knowledge was accumulated and is the basis for the development of advanced GEHP control algorithms. However, hardware development has represented another challenge. Meeting the complex control requirements of the GEHP with a cost-effective solution has led to the design and development of a custom heat pump control system in which the heat pump refrigerant system, heat recovery, auxiliary heat, and safety controls are fully integrated with system diagnostics. A rigorous design approach was followed to meet aggressive goals for low cost, high reliability, functional simplicity, and ease of service. The final design features a single microprocessor with sufficient input/output capability for future expansion, a unique modular software design, and a compact, rugged enclosure.
Invivo conversion of 3-ketoceramide to ceramide in rat liver

Abstract A doubly labeled 3-ketoceramide, [1-14C] lignoceroyl [1-3H2] 3-ketosphingosine ( 3H 14 C ratio, 3.61) was injected into the left ventricle of rat heart. The ceramide isolated from the livers of the animals after 1 hr incubation contained an equal 3H > 14 C ratio of 3.60. This finding strongly supports the existence for direct conversion of 3-ketoceramide to ceramide in rat liver.
Reimagining Participation in International Institutions

The optimal design of international institutions to confront 21st century global challenges is an increasingly urgent question in areas ranging from climate change to health and security. A central issue is whether international institutions will maintain the state-centric models of governance they have inherited or expand opportunities for participation by civil society and other stakeholders. Global environmental institutions, which pioneered broadened participation, are increasingly returning to state-centric models of governance, but a new generation of global health institutions is reimagining participation, incorporating civil society representatives as direct participants in decision-making. This article explains the growing divergence between environmental and health institutions as a product of: (1) stakeholder demand for participation, (2) institutional characteristics that influence the supply of participation, and (3) path dependence. Our findings indicate that participatory institutions rarely emerge without strong civil society demand, and are more likely to emerge outside of 20th century institutions such as the United Nations and World Bank. Normatively, evidence from the new global health institutions suggests that direct civil society participation enhances institutional legitimacy, deliberation and effectiveness. Wider adoption of the new participatory model could strengthen the global response to climate change and other pressing challenges.
Computer Aided Mechanism Synthesis: A Historical Perspective

The age of computer aided mechanism synthesis began in the late 1950’s, as Freudenstein & Sandor published the first paper on the topic [14]. Many exciting developments occurred over the next 60 years, resulting in the development of multiple intriguing mechanism synthesis packages at several leading research institutions.
Increasing the Sensitivity of Functional Status Assessment in the Preclinical Range (Normal to Mild Cognitive Impairment): Exploring the IADL-Extended Approach.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Dementia exhibits an insidious onset consisting of cognitive, behavioral, and functional impairment. We explored a functional continuum that extends assessment beyond the clinical instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) range and into advanced activities of daily living. METHODS We examined the predictive power (Cox regression; n = 2,471) of a unidimensional IADL-extended (IADL-x) scale for incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We also examined "time to MCI" as an outcome measure. RESULTS Each additional task endorsed on the IADL-x hierarchy (e.g., endorsing participation in 6 vs. 5 activities) resulted in a 10% reduction in MCI risk (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.94, p < 0.001). For the fully adjusted model the risk reduction dropped to 6%. The odds of incident MCI within 2 years (for those below the median IADL-x total score) was 2.5 times higher (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.52-4.4, p < 0.001) and 2 times higher for incident MCI within the next 5 years (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.76-3.2, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION The IADL-x metric appears to be a valid approach for determining the risk of MCI based on one's position along a formal hierarchy of function.
Cell Cycle Analysis by Flow and Laser-Scanning Cytometry

Publisher Summary The cytometric methods for cell cycle analysis can be grouped into three categories. The first comprises methods that rely on a single time point measurement of the cell population. The second category is the methods that combine time-lapse measurements of populations of cells synchronized in the cycle or whose progression through the cycle was perturbed. Methods of the third category rely on analysis of DNA replication concurrent with measurement of DNA content. The time-lapse measurements of the cohort of 5’-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-labeled cells allows one to estimate their rate of progression through different points of the cell cycle. Apoptotic cells often have fractional DNA content due to the fact that the fragmented (low MW) DNA undergoes extraction during the staining procedure. Some cells may also lose DNA (chromatin) by shedding apoptotic bodies. Only a fraction of DNA thus remains within apoptotic cells. The expression of proliferation-associated proteins often varies during the cell cycle, as well as is different in cycling and quiescent cells.
Syntheses, Structures, and Characterization of Nickel(II) Stibines: Steric and Electronic Rationale for Metal Deposition.

Reactions of the homoleptic and heteroleptic antimony ligands SbiPr3, SbiPr2Ph, SbMe2Ph, and SbMePh2 with NiI2 generate rare NiII stibine complexes in either square planar or trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometries, depending on the steric size of the ligands. Tolman electronic parameters were calculated (DFT) for each antimony ligand to provide a tabulated resource for the relative strengths of simple antimony ligands. The electronic absorbance spectra of the square planar complexes exhibit characteristic bands [λmax ≈ 560 nm (17 900 cm–1), e ≈ 4330 M–1 cm–1] at lower energies compared to the reported phosphine complexes, indicating the weak donor strength of the stibine ligands and resultant low-energy ligand field d→d transitions. The square planar complex Ni(I)2(SbiPr3)2 reacts with CO to form the TBP complex Ni(I)2(SbiPr3)2(CO). Lastly, the complexes were investigated for nickel metal deposition on Si|Cu(100 nm) substrates. The complexes with the strongest donating ligand, SbiPr3, deposited the purest ...
Ecosystem-level determinants of sustained activity in open-source projects: a case study of the PyPI ecosystem

Open-source projects do not exist in a vacuum. They benefit from reusing other projects and themselves are being reused by others, creating complex networks of interdependencies, i.e., software ecosystems. Therefore, the sustainability of projects comprising ecosystems may no longer by determined solely by factors internal to the project, but rather by the ecosystem context as well. In this paper we report on a mixed-methods study of ecosystem-level factors affecting the sustainability of open-source Python projects. Quantitatively, using historical data from 46,547 projects in the PyPI ecosystem, we modeled the chances of project development entering a period of dormancy (limited activity) as a function of the projects' position in their dependency networks, organizational support, and other factors. Qualitatively, we triangulated the revealed effects and further expanded on our models through interviews with project maintainers. Results show that the number of project ties and the relative position in the dependency network have significant impact on sustained project activity, with nuanced effects early in a project's life cycle and later on.
Geospatial modeling of land cover change in the Chocó-Darien global ecoregion of South America; One of most biodiverse and rainy areas in the world.

The tropical rain forests of northwest South America fall within the Choco-Darien Global Ecoregion (CGE). The CGE is one of 25 global biodiversity hotspots prioritized for conservation due to its high biodiversity and endemism as well as threats due to deforestation. The analysis of land-use and land-cover (LULC) change within the CGE using remotely sensed imagery is challenging because this area is considered to be one of the rainiest places on the planet (hence high frequency of cloud cover). Furthermore, the availability of high-resolution remotely sensed data is low for developing countries before 2015. Using the Random Forest ensemble learning classification tree system, we developed annual LULC maps in the CGE from 2002 to 2015 using a time series of cloud-free MODIS vegetation index products. The MODIS imagery was processed through a Gaussian weighted filter to further correct for cloud pollution and matched to visual interpretations of land cover and land use from available high spatial resolution imagery (WorldView-2, Quick Bird, Ikonos and GeoEye-1). Validation of LULC maps resulted in a Kappa of 0.87 (Sd = 0.008). We detected a gradual replacement of forested areas with agriculture (mainly grassland planted to support livestock grazing), and secondary vegetation (agriculture reverting to forest) across the CGE. Forest loss was higher between 2010-2015 when compared to 2002-2010. LULC change trends, deforestation drivers, and reforestation transitions varied according to administrative organization (countries: Panamanian CGE, Colombian CGE, and Ecuadorian CGE).
Influenza virus-related critical illness: prevention, diagnosis, treatment.

Annual seasonal influenza epidemics of variable severity result in significant morbidity and mortality in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide. In temperate climate countries, including the U.S., influenza activity peaks during the winter months. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons in the U.S. aged 6 months and older, and among those at increased risk for influenza-related complications in other parts of the world (e.g. young children, elderly). Observational studies have reported effectiveness of influenza vaccination to reduce the risks of severe disease requiring hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and death. A diagnosis of influenza should be considered in critically ill patients admitted with complications such as exacerbation of underlying chronic comorbidities, community-acquired pneumonia, and respiratory failure during influenza season. Molecular tests are recommended for influenza testing of respiratory specimens in hospitalized patients. Antigen detection assays are not recommended in critically ill patients because of lower sensitivity; negative results of these tests should not be used to make clinical decisions, and respiratory specimens should be tested for influenza by molecular assays. Because critically ill patients with lower respiratory tract disease may have cleared influenza virus in the upper respiratory tract, but have prolonged influenza viral replication in the lower respiratory tract, an endotracheal aspirate (preferentially) or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimen (if collected for other diagnostic purposes) should be tested by molecular assay for detection of influenza viruses. Observational studies have reported that antiviral treatment of critically ill adult influenza patients with a neuraminidase inhibitor is associated with survival benefit. Since earlier initiation of antiviral treatment is associated with the greatest clinical benefit, standard-dose oseltamivir (75 mg twice daily in adults) for enteric administration is recommended as soon as possible as it is well absorbed in critically ill patients. Based upon observational data that suggest harms, adjunctive corticosteroid treatment is currently not recommended for children or adults hospitalized with influenza, including critically ill patients, unless clinically indicated for another reason, such as treatment of asthma or COPD exacerbation, or septic shock. A number of pharmaceutical agents are in development for treatment of severe influenza.