cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of [beta]-conglycinin, soy isoflavones, and group B soyasaponins on plasma lipid concentrations

v GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 A Introduction 1 B Objectives of current research 2 C Dissertation organization 3 LITERATURE REVIEW 4 A Introduction to soy protein 4 B Introduction to soy isoflavones 5 C Introduction to soyasaponins 14 D Introduction to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease 22 E Link between soy components and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease 22 F Effects of soy components on plasma lipids and lipoproteins 24 G Role of soy components in other cardiovascular disease risk factors 31 H Role of soy components in atherosclerosis 34 I Literature cited 35 BETA-CONGLYCININ DEFICIENT IN SOY ISOFLAVONES AND 50 SOYASAPONINS DID NOT LOWER PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF LIPOPROTEINS AND CHOLESTEROL OVER TIME IN MILDLY HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC WOMEN
Resetting of 24-nt siRNA landscape is initiated before the first zygotic division in rice

ABSTRACT The zygote, a totipotent stem cell, constitutes a critical sage of the life cycle of sexually reproducing organisms. It is produced by the fusion of two differentiated cells, egg and sperm, that in plants have radically different siRNA transcriptomes from each other and from multicellular embryos, implying extensive reprogramming of the epigenome in plant gametes. Here, we have characterized the small RNA transcriptome of rice zygotes and found widespread distribution of 24nt siRNA loci in zygotes, the majority of which are not detected in the egg cell. These newly detected zygote siRNA loci had similar genomic distribution to canonical siRNA loci. Unlike most egg cell siRNA loci, the newly detected zygote siRNA loci had abundant CHH methylation in the embryo that was dependent on the RNA-directed DNA methyltransferase DRM2. A small fraction of siRNA loci (∼6%) called siren loci accounted for 75% of all zygote siRNAs, and corresponded to siren loci detected in egg cell and ovary, but not endosperm. The zygote siren loci likely represent maternal carryover and are not associated with embryo hypermethylation. Taken together, our results suggest that resetting of the gametic epigenome towards the canonical vegetative profile is initiated before the first embryonic division.
Motor Competence in Children with CHARGE Syndrome

Children with Coloboma, Heart defects, Atresia choanae, Restricted growth, Genital hypoplasia, and Ear abnormalities (CHARGE) syndrome have many sensory impairments that can cause delays in motor d...
Early Epidemiological Evidence of Public Health Value of WA Notify, a Smartphone-based Exposure Notification Tool: Modeling COVID-19 Cases Averted in Washington State

Abstract Background Secure and anonymous smartphone-based exposure notification tools are recently developed public health interventions that aim to reduce COVID-19 transmission and supplement traditional public health suriveillance. We assessed the impact of Washington State’s exposure notification tool, WA Notify, in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 during its first four months of implementation. Methods Due to the constraints of privacy-preservation, aggregate metrics and disparate data sources were utilized to estimate the number of COVID-19 cases averted based on a modelling approach adapted from Wymant et al (2021) using the following parameters: number of notifications generated; the probability that a notified individual goes on to become a case; expected fraction of transmissions preventable by strict quarantine after notification; actual adherence to quarantine; and expected size of the full transmission chain if a contact had not been notified. Results The model was run on a range of secondary attack rates (5.1%-13.706%) and quarantine effectiveness (53% and 64%). Assuming a 12.085% secondary attack rate and 53% quarantine effectiveness, the model shows that 5,500 cases (central 95% range of sensitivity analyses 2,800-8,200) were averted statewide during the first four months of its implementation. Based on an estimated COVID-19 case fatality of 1.4%, WA Notify saved 40-115 lives during the study period. Conclusions These findings demonstrate the value of exposure notification tools as a novel public health intervention to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. As new variants emerge and non-essential travel bans are lifted, exposure notification tools may continue to play a valuable role in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Age-related degradation of optic radiation white matter predicts visual, but not verbal executive functions

Abstract Healthy aging is accompanied by degraded white matter connectivity, which has been suggested to contribute to cognitive dysfunction observed in aging, especially in relation to fluid measures of cognition. Prior research linking white matter microstructure and cognition, however, has largely been limited to major association and heteromodal white matter tracts. The optic radiations (OR), which transfer visual sensory-perceptual information from thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus to primary visual cortex, are generally considered lower-level input-relay white matter tracts. However, the role of this prominent white-matter visual relay system in supporting higher-order cognition is understudied, especially in regard to healthy aging. The present study used deterministic tractography to isolate OR fractional anisotropy (FA) in 130 participants aged 20-94 to assess age effects on OR tract white matter. We also examined associations between age-related differences in the OR and cognitive domains involving visual processing speed, and visual- and non-visual executive function (EF). OR microstructure, as indexed by FA, exhibited a significant linear decrease across age. A significant interaction between age, FA, and cognitive domain on cognitive task performance indicated that in older age, more degraded OR white matter was associated with poorer visual EF, but no age-related association between FA in the OR and visual processing speed or verbal EF was observed. These findings suggest the optic radiations are not merely sensory-perceptual relays, but also influence higher-order visual cognition differentially with age.
A James-Stein-type adjustment to bias correction in fixed effects panel models

This paper proposes a James-Stein-type (JS) adjustment to analytical bias correction in fixed effects panel models that suffer from the incidental parameters problem. We provide high-level conditio...
Predicting Boron-10 Concentrations in Normal Brain and GBM from Blood Measurements

In boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), radiation dose delivered to the target and surrounding tissues is a complex function of neutron energies, fluxes, tissue compositions, boron concentrations and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) factors. Of these contributions, the last two are likely the cause of the greatest error in dose estimates. Current practice is to assume that 10B concentration in normal and tumor tissue following intravenous administration of 10BPA-fructose is related statically to 10B concentration in the blood. Factors of 1:1 for normal and 3.5:1 for tumor tissue to blood ratios are the typical assumption. Similarly, RBE factors for the 10B capture reaction are assumed to be static.
Electrical Analogues for Water Movement through the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum

This chapter gives the history of the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (SPAC) and tells of early researchers who pioneered the concept. The analogy for water movement through the SPAC and the flow of electricity is then presented. Ohm's law governs the movement of electricity through a circuit, and it is detailed. Electrical analogs depend upon a knowledge of the law of resistance, which is illustrated. A Wheatstone bridge is used to measure the resistance in electrical analogs, and its principle of operation is described. The unit used for electrical resistance, the ohm, and the unit used for electrical conductance, the Siemen, are presented and their relation shown. The catenary equation used for the movement of water through the SPAC, which links water movement from the soil to the plant and from the plant to the atmosphere, is presented and its proof is derived. Appendices give biographies of Ohm, Wheatstone, and members of the Siemens family.
Low voltage hot carrier effects and stress methodology

The conventional methodology to predict hot carrier device lifetime is to apply stress at high voltages and then extrapolate to lower operating voltage. In this paper hot carrier stress has been applied with different voltages both above and below the silicon to oxide hot electron barrier of 3 V. The results indicate that there is no discontinuity on either side of the barrier in the lifetime versus stress substrate current curve. This means that the methodology used for the high voltage stress can be applied to low voltage stress. This is because the hot electron distribution has a high energy tail. The characteristics of this tail does not change for all practical voltages above or below the barrier.
Discourse Context, Word Identification and Reading Ability

Summary In this paper, I have described a model of interactive processing that is useful for describing word identification processes in discourse context. It is an example of what I called the weakly interactive type, as opposed to the strongly interactive type. It does not assume that context directly alters basic identification processes but rather that it accelerates the rate of word activation given lower-level data. While more powerful models (e.g., Rumelhart & McClellandi 1981) may prove necessary, the weakly interactive model allows a systematic account for several facts concerning reading ability. Those are that skilled readers identify words more quickly, are less affected by context, and less affected by stimulus degrading compared with less skilled readers. Finally, while less skilled readers are more dependent on context to compensate for less efficient word identification skills, they are also less able to use context to predict words. These factors obviously put less skilled readers at a double disadvantage.
Prediction of Dangerousness and Release Decision Making

Although personality disorders (e.g., antisocial personality) and substance use-abuse disorders are fairly common in offender populations, most offenders do not suffer from major mental disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, affective disorders, other psychoses) (Teplin, 1991). Similarly, most persons with major mental illness are not prone to serious violence (Swanson, 1994). Nevertheless, our society is particularly sensitized to issues surrounding the treatment, management, and release from confinement of persons whose history reveals both criminal behavior and mental disorder. Consequently, a variety of special legal rules, some quite elaborate, have been established to govern the return of offenders with mental illness to the community. Such rules inevitably, but to varying degrees, involve clinical judgments about such issues as the stability of symptoms, likely compliance with community-based treatment, risk for future violence, and the type and extent of supervision needed in the community. Therefore, the mental health professionals responsible for these judgments are often under close scrutiny by the public, the press, and the legal system itself.
Range Extension of Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha) into the Lower Great Lakes

Abstract In 1979, pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) completed expansion of their range from Lake Superior into each of the other four Great Lakes. Record numbers of pink salmon were observed during the 1979 spawning migrations into Lake Superior tributaries. Although the species was introduced into Lake Superior 24 years ago, movement into the other lakes was slow and until 1979 the known range was restricted to northern portions of Lakes Michigan and Huron. Pink salmon remain the only self-sustaining species of salmon in the Great Lakes. The development of spawning populations in both even- and odd-numbered years and other adaptive biological features may have contributed to their success.
Role of the locus coeruleus in emotional activation.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses recent studies of the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) system to consider its possible roles in emotion. It describes the recent studies of the effects of manipulating LC neurons on electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and attentional behavior. Emotional responses are typically measured by EEG or autonomic arousal. Emotionally arousing stimuli produce activation of the cortical EEG, and parallel activation of autonomic measures such as blood pressure, heart rate, or galvanic skin response (as commonly used in lie detector tests). Recent results link the LC both to the EEG and autonomic responses that accompany emotionally arousing events LC neuronal projections, effects of NE on LC target cells, and discharge characteristics of LC neurons in unanesthetized, unconditioned animals are reviewed. More recent studies on the effects of stress on LC neurons, and on activity of LC neurons in behaving monkeys during a conditioned attentional task are also examined. The chapter reviews new findings on afferents to the LC that indicate the status of this key noradrenergic system in brain circuitry. Although the LC is not typically considered in the context of emotion, the analysis suggests that the LC system could play an important role in the process of emotional activation.
Differential Activity of Ras1 during Patterning of the Drosophila Dorsoventral Axis

In Drosophila, the Ras1 gene is required downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases for correct eye development, embryonic patterning, wing vein formation, and border cell migration. Here we characterize a P-element allele of Ras1, Ras1(5703), that affects viability, eye morphogenesis, and early and late stages of oogenesis. Flies transheterozgyous for Ras1(5703) and existing EMS-induced Ras1 alleles are viable and exhibit a range of eye and eggshell defects. Differences in the severity of these phenotypes in different tissues suggest that there are allele-specific effects of Ras1 in development. Analysis of rescue constructs demonstrates that these differential phenotypes are due to loss of function in Ras1 alone and not due to effects on neighboring genes. Females mutant at the Ras1 locus lay eggs with reduced or missing dorsal eggshell structures. We observe dominant interactions between Ras1 mutants and other dorsoventral pathway mutants, including Egfr(top) and gurken. Ras1 is also epistatic to K10. Unlike Egfr(top) and gurken mutants, however, Ras1 females are moderately fertile, laying eggs with ventralized eggshells that can hatch normal larvae. These results suggest that Ras1 may have a different requirement in the patterning of the eggshell axis than in the patterning of the embryonic axis during oogenesis.
Empirical models of the normalized radar cross section of monostatic freshwater clutter

Empirical models of the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) of linear co-polar monostatic freshwater clutter returns are presented. The models presented are similar to empirical models developed for sea clutter and relate the estimated NRCS to environmental conditions and scenario geometry. Model parameters are found through a least-squares fit. We compare our models to freshwater clutter data collected at S-band from an inland reservoir in eastern Massachusetts.
The effect of BODE index on quality of life and depressive symptoms in patients with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disorder leading to physical and mental impairment. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of BODE index and its components on depressive symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL). We studied 37 consecutive COPD outpatients (26 M, aged 53-86 years). COPD diagnosis was confirmed by clinical and functional assessment. The patients were classified on the basis of GOLD and BODE stages. QoL was assessed by SF-36 questionnaire through its two components: Physical Health (PCS) and Mental Health (MCS). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). 14 patients were allocated in GOLD stage I, 18 in II, and 5 in III. No patient was in GOLD stage IV. BODE index ranged 0-6. Median depression value (IQ range) was 7 (4-11). 23 subjects did not present depressive symptoms, 8 showed mild depression, and 6 moderate depression. None showed severe depression. Mean PCS and MCS were 46.4 (±10.4) and 47.5 (±9.6) respectively. PCS and MCS values lower respect to mean value of Italian general population were found in 22 and 17 subjects, respectively. A negative relationship was found between BDI-II and PCS (p=0.02). BDI-II was linearly correlated to BODE (p
Slab tears and intermediate-depth seismicity

[1] Active tectonic regions where plate boundaries transition from subduction to strike slip can take several forms, such as triple junctions, acute, and obtuse corners. Well-documented slab tears that are associated with high rates of intermediate-depth seismicity are considered here: Gibraltar arc, the southern and northern ends of the Lesser Antilles arc, and the northern end of Tonga trench. Seismicity at each of these locations occurs, at times, in the form of swarms or clusters, and various authors have proposed that each marks an active locus of tear propagation. The swarms and clusters start at the top of the slab below the asthenospheric wedge and extend 30–60 km vertically downward within the slab. We propose that these swarms and clusters are generated by fluid-related embrittlement of mantle rocks. Focal mechanisms of these swarms generally fit the shear motion that is thought to be associated with the tearing process.
Quantitative analysis of silicates by ion microprobe

Abstract For the purpose of empirical calibration of an ion microprobe, five synthetic silicate-glass standards having bulk compositions lying in or similar to compositions in the system diopside (CaMgSi 2 O 6 )-albite (NaAlSi 3 O 8 )-anorthite (CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 ) have been prepared. Each standard has been doped with 19 trace elements of geochemical importance. the trace-element concentrations ranging from 25 p.p.m. of each element to 500 p.p.m. per element by weight. These standards have been quantitatively documented for a number of trace elements by a variety of analytical techniques. In addition, data for eight natural clinopyroxenes (cpx) and 12 coexisting diopside-liquid pairs from equilibrium experiments in the system diopside-albite-anorthite (Di-Ab-An) have been used for calibration of secondary-ion intensity versus concentration. Calibration curves are presented for Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Se and Cr sputtered from cpx and glass, for Ba, Rb and Zr sputtered from glass, and for Fe sputtered from cpx. Mass interferences are suppressed by use of the energy-filtering technique of Shimizu et al. [1]. The slopes of the working curves for these elements have been determined to within = 5–12% (1σ): correlation coefficients are typically better than 0.98. Although no simple theory explains the various slopes of the calibration lines, elements are preferentially sputtered from crystals. Therefore, glass standards cannot be used for trace-element analysis of crystals.
Inter-rater agreement of the Goutallier, Patte, and Warner classification scores using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in patients with rotator cuff tears.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the interobserver reliability of 3 commonly used classification systems in describing preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of patients undergoing surgery for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods Thirty-one patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and had preoperative MRI studies available were selected over a 2-year period. Three board-certified shoulder surgeons independently reviewed these images. Each was instructed in the published method for determining the Patte score on the T2 coronal images, supraspinatus and infraspinatus atrophy on the T1 sagittal images as described by Warner et al., and the Goutallier score of fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus on the T1 coronal/sagittal images. Statistical analysis was then performed to determine the interobserver agreement using the κ statistic, with the level of significance set a priori at P Results None of the classification systems studied yielded excellent or high interobserver reliability. The strongest agreement was found with the Patte classification assessing tendon retraction in the frontal plane (κ = 0.58). The Goutallier classification, which grades fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus, showed moderate interobserver agreement (κ = 0.53) when dichotomized into none to mild (grades 0, 1, and 2) and moderate to severe (grades 3 and 4). Muscle atrophy of both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus yielded the worst interobserver reliability, with only 28% agreement. Conclusions The Goutallier, Patte, and Warner MRI classification systems for describing rotator cuff tears did not have high interobserver reliability among 3 experienced orthopaedic surgeons. Fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus and tendon retraction in the frontal planes showed only moderate reliability and moderate to high reliability, respectively. These findings have potential implications in the evaluation of the literature regarding the preoperative classification of rotator cuff tears and subsequent treatment algorithms. Level of Evidence Level III, diagnostic agreement study with nonconsecutive patients.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with low lymphocyte count

Background A peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) of greater than 5 x 10(9)/l is considered the required minimum for diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Cases with low ALC (CLL-LLC), less than 5 x 10(9)/l, have not been included in the current staging systems, and would not be suspected of having CLL, or investigated for the disease, especially in the absence of clinical manifestations. On the other hand, the diagnostic value of the differential lymphocyte counts have not been emphasized. Methods Cell suspensions from peripheral blood of previously untreated cases of CLL-LLC (n = 12) and typical CLL (n = 189) were analyzed for immunologic evaluation of surface immunoglobulin (SIg), mouse erythrocyte rosettes, CD5, CD19, CD20, CD22, and CD2, as well as cytochemical evaluation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The results in CLL-LLC were compared statistically with typical CLL. Results The ages of the 12 patients with CLL-LLC ranged from 47 to 84 years. The absolute lymphocyte counts ranged from 1.5 x 10(9)/l to 4.9 x 10(9)/l, and the percentage of lymphocytes in the differential leukocyte counts ranged from 52% to 93%. None of the patients had signs and symptoms of CLL or other conditions that may cause reactive lymphocytosis. CLL-LLC demonstrated similar characteristics to typical CLL, i.e., weak expression of monoclonal SIg, mouse rosette formation, positive CD5, high CD19 and CD20, negative CD22 and TRAP. No statistical differences existed between the immunologic markers or between SIg isotype distribution in the two groups. Conclusions Cases of CLL-LLC constituted 6% of B-CLL and would have been missed if immunologic investigation was not carried out because of the absence of absolute lymphocytosis and clinical manifestations of CLL. Persistent relative lymphocytosis of > or = 50% of the differential leukocyte count in older individuals (older than 50 years of age), is an indication for further investigation of CLL by immunophenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes and examination of bone marrow.
The Possible Role of Marigold Roots and α-Terthienyl in Mediating Host-Finding By Steinernematid Nematodes

The chemotaxis behaviour of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in the presence of germinated seeds, root pieces and root aqueous extracts of marigold and tomato was investigated. In Petri dish tests, individuals of S. carpocapsae were significantly attracted to germinated seeds of marigold and unsterilized root pieces of both marigold and tomato. No chemotaxis response was seen for germinated seeds of tomato or sterilized root pieces or root aqueous extracts of either plant. The ability of Steinernema glaseri to infect Galleria mellonella host insects through sand columns moistened with root aqueous extracts of these plants and an aqueous suspension of α-terthienyl, a root exudate of some plants including marigold, was also investigated. The root aqueous extracts of marigold and tomato did not adversely affect infectivity by the nematodes compared with the control but α-terthienyl at concentrations of 20 and 40 ppm significantly reduced the numbers of nematodes that infected insect hosts.
Teachers learn from children

In the sixties the young child was rediscovered. In the seventies play is the revelation. Most of what has been written about play is directed toward its value for the young child. Despite the lack of empirical data on play, few disagree that play is essential to the development of the child. Few disagree that play holds the potential for growth and development of the whole childsocially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. It is doubtful that even the therapeutic value of play for the child would be denied. Nursery educators have traditionally valued play as a learning media for children. But we have valued it for an additional, perhaps even more basic, reason. It is through the play of the young child that nursery school teachers come to know and understand the children they teach. A good teacher is a sensitive teacher and that sensitivity comes in large measure from being an astute observer of children.
Enhanced superradiance in epsilon-near-zero plasmonic channels

We describe the possibility of drastically boosting the spontaneous emission of a collection of two-level quantum emitters by embedding them in an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) environment, consisting of a plasmonic waveguide operated at cutoff. This phenomenon relies on the combination of Purcell enhancement and Dicke superradiance effects, exploiting the large and uniform local density of states in ENZ channels, which is shown to significantly extend the spatial extent of these quantum effects. We envision exciting applications in optical sensing, molecular detection, and low-threshold lasing.
Are Humans the Most Intelligent Species

Hunt and Jaeggi [1] nicely summarize the point that within the academic field of intelligence, we do not have a commonly understandable definition of what intelligence is. Still the term is used extensively and with consensus to the effect that humans are the most intelligent species. An example is given of this problem, and a definition and solution are suggested.
Macroergonomics: Integrating Human Factors and Organizational Behavior Approaches to Organizational Design and Management

This symposium proposes macroergonomics as a vehicle for integrating human and organizational needs. The concept is defined and differentiated from more traditional studies in organizational behavior and human factors. Specific areas of focus include: conceptuation and differentiation of the unique contributions of macroergonomics; current practices and directions; integration of human and organizational data; and contemporary issues and concerns facing researchers and writers in the field.
Multiple forms of bioactive and immunoreactive adrenocorticotropin in human pituitary and blood of patients with Nelson's syndrome.

A pool of human pituitaries obtained from allegedly healthy subjects (traffic victims) and plasma samples from patients with Nelson's syndrome were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, and the corticosteroidogenic bioactivity and ACTH immunoreactivity were measured. Three bioactive forms of ACTH were detected in plasma samples and pituitary extract. The major form (peak III) coeluted with human ACTH-(1-39), showed a bioactive to immunoreactive ratio (B/I ratio) of about 1, and represented about 80% of the total bioactivity in both the plasma samples and the pituitary extract. Peak I, with a B/I ratio greater than 1, represented about 5%, and peak II, with a highly variable B/I ratio, represented about 7% of the bioactivity in both the plasma and pituitary extracts. A fraction with a very low B/I ratio was found to coelute with corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide. These data suggest that in Nelson's syndrome, ACTH secretion by the pituitary gland does not differ from that in normal ...
A spike train analysis for detecting temporal integration in neurons

Abstract A multi-unit spike train analysis technique is developed to deduce the number of incoming spikes that are temporally integrated to produce the next spike firing by examining the dependency of spike firing in a given neuron with respect to the sequence of firings in another neuron. This analysis considers the contribution of temporal summation of multiple spikes in one neuron that is correlated to the probability of spike firing in another neuron. These simulation results show that the analysis can extract the number of spikes and the duration of temporal integration.
Design Requirements for Steeply Switching Logic Devices

Many steeply switching logic devices have recently been proposed to overcome the energy efficiency limitations of CMOS technology. In this paper, circuit-level energy-performance analysis is used to derive the design requirements for these alternative switching devices. Using a simple analytical approach, this paper shows that the optimal Ion/Ioff and Edyn/Eleak ratios are set only by circuit-level parameters as well as the device transfer characteristic off-state Soff, on -state Son, and effective Seff inverse slopes. For a wide variety of switching device characteristics and circuit parameters, the optimal Edyn/Eleak ratio is approximately (K/2)(Seff/Soff) - 0.56(Son/Soff) - 0.56, where K ranges from 6.23 to 11.9. Based upon this theoretical framework, simple requirements for Soff, Son, and Seff are established in order for an alternative switching device to be more energy efficient than a MOSFET. The results reemphasize that merely focusing on achieving the steepest local inverse slope S is insufficient, since energy dissipation is set mainly by Seff and not by S. Finally, the general shape of the energy-delay curve is also set by these inverse slopes, with its steepness directly proportional to Son/Soff. This analytical approach provides a simple method to assess the promise of any new device technology in potentially overcoming the energy efficiency limitations of CMOS technology.
Carbon scrubbers: taking CO2 out of the air

Can we undo the damage we're doing to the climate by cleaning up the mess we've already made?
Material Testing for the Prediction of the Effect of Deformation and Aging Thermal Treatments on Collapse Resistance of UOE Pipes

Oil & Gas offshore exploration and production increase continuously in deep waters. This trend requires pipes with increasing collapse pressure (pc), which is the primary design variable. The prediction of pc, based on an appropriate set of input variables, allows for the appropriate design of deep and ultra-deep water projects.Elastic and plastic material behavior is one of the main factors affecting pc. International application codes (e.g., DNV OS-F101) incorporate the yield strength into their formulas for pc. In the present work, an assessment of the requirements on material characterization tests for a reliable prediction of pc has been performed. The most appropriate testing direction is the transverse compression. Moreover, since for large diameter pipes the plastic strain levels attained at collapse are often below 0.2%, the sample should allow for an accurate determination of compression behavior in this very low deformation range. This is particularly relevant for cold-formed pipes, as with the UOE process.Based on these guidelines, a testing procedure has been designed. This analysis has been applied to the prediction of the effect of thermal cycles on pc. Calculated values show a very good agreement with experimental pc values determined for a series of UOE processed pipes that had been thermally treated and collapsed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Induction Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery for Esophageal Cancer: Survival Benefit With Downstaging

Background The impact of induction chemoradiation therapy on esophageal cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of induction chemoradiation therapy on perioperative and postoperative outcomes as well as the effect of downstaging in patients with esophageal cancer. Methods A retrospective study of a prospectively collected database uncovered 455 consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomies for esophageal cancer between 1999 and 2011 at a high-volume institution. Comparison cohorts were patients treated with induction chemoradiation followed by surgery (n = 180) or surgery only patients (n = 189). Median follow-up was 918 days and was complete in 97%. Propensity score analysis controlled for potential allocation-to-treatment bias and created matched groups. Results Clinical stage of patients in the study was as follows: stages 0 and I, 29%; stage II, 37%; stage III, 34%. Of the 369 patients, 180 (49%) patients received induction therapy and 53 (29%) achieved pathologic complete response. Induction therapy was associated with an increased need for postoperative transfusion, higher wound infection rate, and need for longer chest tube drainage. Overall, 55% of patients undergoing induction therapy were downstaged. In clinical stage III disease, patients who were downstaged were found to have a 3- and 5-year survival benefit compared with surgery alone (3-year, 51% versus 33%, p = 0.01; and 5-year, 44% versus 33%, p = 0.04). Conclusions Induction chemoradiation therapy for esophageal cancer is associated with minimal perioperative and postoperative morbidity. Downstaging of clinical stage III patients undergoing induction therapy was associated with a 3- and 5-year survival benefit compared with clinical stage III patients undergoing surgery alone.
Evaluation of procedures for measuring atmospheric nitric acid and ammonia

A field study to evaluate methods for the measurement of atmospheric HNO3 and NH3 was performed in parallel with other investigators at Claremont, CA. Our methods for HNO3 included the automated, semi-continuous tungstic acid technique (TAT) and the denuder difference method (DDM). Ammonia was measured with the TAT, a filterpack (Teflon prefilter and two oxalic acid on quartz fiber after-filters), and a manual oxalic acid-coated denuder tube collection method. The potential error in HNO3 measurement due to HNO2, NO2 and NH4NO3 retention by the TAT was assessed. The DDM for HNO2 appears to be accurate within about 20% by comparison to a spectroscopic method, while the accuracy of the TAT was subject to large variability. Daytime HNO3 results generally showed approximate agreement between the TAT and DDM, but TAT results averaged about a factor of six higher at night. The results are consistent with at least partial retention on tungstic acid-coated denuder tubes of NOx species other than HNO3 and NO2 (e.g. N2O5, NO3). Filter pack NH3 results are consistently too high by a factor of 1.5. Ammonia measurement with the TAT is subject to an error of a factor of two.
Distribution and Settling Rate of CO2-Propelled Micronized Insecticidal Dusts in Aircraft

Distribution and rate of settling of a micronized dust (42.5% DDT, 42.5% carbaryl, 15% silica) applied at rates of 1 or 2 g/1000 ft3 in the cargo compartments of aircraft to kill agricultural insects were studied. Samples of air taken at 15-, 30-, 60-, and 120-minute intervals after treatment were analyzed for both insecticides. At 30 and 60 min posttreatment, the levels of dust in the air did not differ significantly for either the 1- or the 2-g treatment rate (3.31 and 0.0 μ per liter, respectively, vs. 2.96 and 0.30 μg per liter, respectively). Circulation of air did not affect the rate of settling. Petri dishes spaced at 10-foot intervals the length of the compartment were analyzed to determine the pattern of distribution. Dust settled rapidly without air circulation, and the technique gave highly effective coverage (dust traveled at least 90 ft from the expulsion apparatus). Later tests in which air samples were collected from aircraft which had received 8–10 treatments over a 2-month interval indicated no resuspension or accumulation of dust after repeated treatment.
Ultrafast X-ray physics

Abstract Viewing ultrafast structural dynamics requires high brightness, short-pulse X-ray sources. Third generation synchrotrons provide sufficient brightness for many experiments; however, they are limited in their temporal resolution. In this paper we discuss ideas on how to extend the capabilities of the synchrotron down to picoseconds and below.
Melting of a Cylindrical Polymeric Medium Subjected to Cyclic Torsional Shear Stress

The problem of phase change in a cylindrical polymeric material subjected to a constant amplitude cyclic torsional shear stress is analyzed. The steady state as well as the transient behavior of a long solid cylinder and a cylindrical shell are examined when the hysteresis heat generation G, in the medium is spacially variable and exponentially dependent on the local temperature in the form G = y/(r)exp(A/T). f(r) accounts for the stress distribution within the solid, y and Ar are related in part to the amplitude and frequency of the cyclic torque, and T is the sample local temperature. The analysis is carried through for heat generation parameters high enough to induce melting within the medium. The onset of melting and the propagation of the solid-liquid interface (two interfaces can arise), are examined for various heat generation parameters, external and internal boundary conditions for the case of a cylindrical shell. Analytical solutions for the steady-state temperature profiles are developed, and an explicit finite difference approach is used for the study of the full transient problem.
Studies on Host Selection and Host Specificity of the Aphid Hyperparasite Charips victrix (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). 1. Review of Hyperparasitism and the Field Ecology of Charips victrix

Previous understanding of hyperparasitism is reviewed and recommendations are made for a more precise usage of the terminology associated with this phenomenon. The ecology of Charips victrix (Westwood), a cynipid secondary parasite of primary parasite larvae in aphids, was examined in an alfalfa environment. Field data strongly indicate that C. victrix prefers to attack Aphidius smithi Sharma & Subba Rao in pea aphid more readily than any of the other 8 possible hosts. New observations on the ecology and behavior of other aphidsecondary parasites also are reported.
Individual Physician versus Team-Based Medical Encounters: Maximizing the Efficiency of a Medical Relief Service in Rural Honduras

Background. For several years, the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Internal Medicine has traveled to the towns of La Hicaca and Coyoles in rural Honduras. In 2010, a new encounter method was employed during the brigade in Coyoles. Objectives. To examine the differences in clinical encounters and adherence with chronic diseases and public health screening between the traditional and team-based encounter methods. Methods. Chi-square analysis was used to determine statistical significance between encounter methods over several variables used in the standard interview form. Results. 314 patients were interviewed using the team-based approach, and 153 patients were interviewed with the traditional model. Statistically significant increases in compliance using the team-based method were observed with diabetes screening and selecting candidacy for antihelminthic therapy. Other variables with significantly increased compliance using the team-based method were compliance with checking a blood glucose value, diagnosing GERD, and prescribing medication such as analgesics and multivitamins. Conclusion. Our results show a statistically significant increase in compliance with data collection and clinical screening using the new team-based encounter method. This design provides a more goal-oriented approach to the patient interview. These data will help guide more effective delivery of health care on future medical relief trips to Honduras.
A multi-pronged search for a common structural motif in the secretion signal of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium type III effector proteins

Many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria use a type III secretion system (T3SS) to deliver effector proteins into the host cell where they reprogram host defenses and facilitate pathogenesis. The first 20–30 N-terminal residues usually contain the ‘secretion signal’ that targets effector proteins for translocation, however, a consensus sequence motif has never been discerned. Recent machine-learning approaches, such as support vector machine (SVM)-based Identification and Evaluation of Virulence Effectors (SIEVE), have improved the ability to identify effector proteins from genomics sequence information. While these methods all suggest that the T3SS secretion signal has a characteristic amino acid composition bias, it is still unclear if the amino acid pattern is important and if there are any unifying structural properties that direct recognition. To address these issues a peptide corresponding to the secretion signal for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium effector SseJ was synthesized (residues 1–30, SseJ) along with scrambled peptides of the same amino acid composition that produced high (SseJ-H) and low (SseJ-L) SIEVE scores. The secretion properties of these three peptides were tested using a secretion signal–CyaA fusion assay and their structural properties probed using circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry. The secretion predictions from SIEVE matched signal–CyaA fusion experimental results with J774 macrophages suggesting that the SseJ secretion signal has some sequence order dependence. The structural studies showed that the SseJ, SseJ-H, and SseJ-L peptides were intrinsically disordered in aqueous solution with a small predisposition to adopt nascent helical structure only in the presence of structure stabilizing agents such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol. Intrinsic disorder may be a universal feature of effector secretion signals as similar conclusions were reached following structural characterization of peptides corresponding to the N-terminal regions of the S. Typhimurium effectors SptP, SopD-2, GtgE, and the Yersinia pestis effector YopH.
Zinc potentiates agonist-lnduced currents at certain splice variants of the NMDA receptor

We have determined the gene structure for the NMDA receptor subunit gene NMDAR1. We found eight splice variants that arise from different combinations of a single 5′ terminal exon insertion and three different 3′ terminal exon deletions, relative to NMDAR1. We analyzed the modulation by Zn2+ of currents through homomeric receptors assembled from these splice variants and found that, in addition to its well-known inhibitory effect at high concentrations, Zn2+ potentiates agonist-induced currents at submicromolar concentrations (EC50 = 0.50 μM). This potentiation is observed only with a subset of NMDAR1 splice variants that show additional differences in pharmacological properties. Zn2+ potentiation is rapidly reversible, non-competitive with either glutamate or glycine, and voltage independent. Zn2+ potentiation is mimicked by Cd2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+, but not by Mn2+, Co2+, Fe3+, Sn2+, or Hg2+. Our results suggest a possible role for Zn2+ as a positive modulator of NMDA receptors in certain regions of the brain.
Alkali Halide Pellets of Deuterated Compounds for Infrared Spectrometry

Methods for preparing alkali halide pellets of compounds deuterated at active hydrogen sites were investigated and the basic underlying problems were identified. As a result, a simple technique suitable for routine laboratory use has been developed for pelletizing deuterated compounds of this type for infrared spectrometry.
The 1962 He3 Scale of Temperatures II. Derivation.

An Experimental Thermodynamic Equation (ETE) temperature scale valid from 0.2 to 2.0 °K has been calculated for He3. The scale is based on new comparisons, (P 3, P 4),of He3 and He4 vapor pressures above 0.9 °K; on the 1958 He4 temperature scale; and on the best available data for several thermodynamic properties of He3 from 0.2 to 2.0 °K. The T 62 Full-Range Working Equation (FWE) scale, ln P 3 = - 2.49174 / T + 4.80386 - 0.286001 T + 0.198608 T 2 - 0.0502237 T 3 + 0.00505486 T 4 + 2.24846 ln T fits the ETE scale and the (P 3, T 58) data and is therefore valid for use from 0.2 to the critical point, 3.324 °K. The maximum deviation from the ETE scale is 0.4 mdeg and the standard deviation from the input data is 0.25 mdeg. The fit to the seven recalculated isotherms of Keller in the range of the 1962 He3 scale can be determined by converting Keller's P 4's to equivalent P 3's, using direct P 4 to P 3 interpolation equations. The fit of the 1962 He3 scale is as good as the fit of the 1958 He4 scale to the same isotherms, the average displacements of the two scales both being 1.5 mdeg below the isotherms. The average standard deviations for (T 62-T iso) and for (T 58-T iso) are 1.2 and 1.0 mdeg, respectively, for these seven isotherms.
A class of optimal minimum odd-weight-column SEC-DED codes

The class of codes described in this paper is used for single-error correction and double-error detection (SEC-DED). It is equivalent to the Hamming SEC-DED code in the sense that for a specified number k of data bits, the same number of check bits r is used. The minimum odd-weight-column code is suitable for applications to computer memories or parallel systems. A computation indicates that this code is better in performance, cost and reliability than are conventional Hamming SEC-DED codes.
Blood pH and brain uptake of 14C-morphine.

/sup 14/C-Morphine was injected iv in control awake rats or in rats subjected to metabolic alkalosis or acidosis. Ten minutes later, radioactivity was determined within each of seven brain regions, after correction was made for intravascular tracer. In each region, parenchymal radioactivity was correlated positively and significantly (P less than 0.05) with arterial blood pH. Brain radioactivity was twofold to threefold greater in alkalotic rats (mean pH . 7.62) than in acidotic rats (mean pH . 7.16). The results are consistent with the pH-partition hypothesis for drug entry into the brain and indicate that morphine uptake can be increased by elevating the fraction of lipid-soluble uncharged morphine base in blood, by means of alkalosis. The observations may account for an exaggerated morphine-induced analgesia in alkalotic patients.
Schools and Skills in Developing Countries: Education Policies and Socioeconomic Outcomes

Abstract This paper reviews recent research on the determinants of educational outcomes, and the impact of those outcomes on other socioeconomic phenomena. It addresses three questions: 1) What sch...
Lake Trout Discovered in Yellowstone Lake Threaten Native Cutthroat Trout

Abstract On 30 July 1994, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) were discovered in Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, the core of the remaining undisturbed natural habitat for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri). Data from this and other lake trout subsequently caught by anglers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggest lake trout have reproduced in Yellowstone Lake since at least 1989 and now number in the thousands, perhaps tens of thousands. A highly piscivorous, nonnative species, lake trout will probably thrive in Yellowstone Lake and reduce the lake's cutthroat trout stocks substantially unless preventive management actions are taken. A team of scientists that convened in February 1995 to discuss the lake trout problem concluded that there is little chance lake trout can be eliminated from Yellowstone Lake. The team projected a decline of 90% or more in cutthroat trout numbers in 20 years–100 years if the lake trout population is not controlled. Th...