cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced H₂ Sensitivity in Ultraviolet-Activated Pt Nanoparticle/SWCNT/Graphene Nanohybrids

A surface engineering approach is exploited to enhance the performance of H2 sensors consisting of a single-wall carbon nanotube film/graphene 3D electrode decorated with catalytic Pt nanoparticles using atomic layer deposition (Pt-NPs/SWCNTs/Gr). Specifically, C-band ultraviolet (UVC) radiation has been applied on the Pt-NPs/SWCNTs/Gr sensors for up to 20 minutes to activate the carbon surface and enhanced H2 sensitivity and response speed have been obtained. Remarkably, at the optimal UVC irradiation of 10 minutes (intensity of 4.6 mW/cm2), the H2 gas response was enhanced by up to 4.3 fold, together with an enhanced response speed by 3.6 times as compared to that of the as-made Pt-NPs/SWCNTs/Gr sensors before the UVC irradiation. Specifically, a high H2 response up to 32% has been achieved at 10% H2 concentration. This enhancement can be attributed to desorption of residual molecules adsorbed on the SWCNTs and graphene surfaces during the sensor fabrication using UVC irradiation. This result illustrates the importance of the carbon surface activation in development of high-performance H2 sensors using carbon nanostructures. The obtained high performance in the Pt-NPs/SWCNTs/Gr sensors can be attributed to the large sensing surface area of SWCNT films with carbon surface activated using UVC treatment, the catalytic benefit of the conformally coated Pt-NPs, and high mobility signal transport through graphene. In addition, this result demonstrates that the UVC irradiation can provide an effective, non-destructive, and facile method to activate the carbon surface on sensors composed of carbon nanostructures.
Deficiency in indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase induces upregulation of guanylate binding protein 1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in the brain during cerebral infection with Toxoplasma gondii in genetically resistant BALB/c mice but not in genetically susceptible C57BL/6 mice.

Abstract We examined the roles of indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) in controlling cerebral Toxoplasma gondii infection in both genetically resistant and susceptible strains of mice. In susceptible C57BL/6 mice, IDO expression was immunohistochemically detected only in a minority (22.5 %) of tachyzoite-infected cells in their brains during the later stage of infection. When C57BL-6-background IDO1-deficient (IDO1-/-) mice were infected, their cerebral tachyzoite burden was equivalent to those of wild-type (WT) animals. In contrast, in resistant BALB/c mice, IDO expression was detected in a majority (84.0%) of tachyzoite-infected cerebral cells. However, tachyzoite burden in BALB/c-background IDO1-/- mice remained as low as that of WT mice, which was 78 times less than those of C57BL/6 mice. Of interest, IDO1-/- mice of only resistant BALB/c-background had markedly greater cerebral expressions of two other IFN-γ-mediated effector molecules, guanylate binding protein 1 (Gbp1) and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), than their WT mice. Therefore, it would be possible that IDO1 deficiency was effectively compensated by the upregulated expression of Gbp1 and NOS2 to control cerebral tachyzoite growth in genetically resistant BALB/c mice, whereas IDO1 did not significantly contribute to controlling cerebral tachyzoite growth in genetically susceptible C57BL/6 mice because of its suppressed expression in infected cells.
Enhancing the hardware design experience for computer engineers

People become engineers because they love to build things. With the recent progress in design automation tools, it is now possible to revise the core computer engineering curriculum to include realistic design experiences in virtually all courses, even those that are not usually thought of as being laboratory courses. The use of design automation makes it possible to assign a large number of simple design exercises in low-level courses, and a few more complex projects in more advanced courses. This paper describes enhancements to three core courses: logic design; computer architecture; and digital system design. These changes are based on a common set of tools that are used throughout the curriculum. Several design exercises are described, along with a suggested sequence for the various exercises. Several laboratory manuals have been developed for use with standard textbooks. The references provide pointers to web sites where the laboratory manuals and tools can be downloaded. Suggestions for textbooks for each course are provided, although the laboratory materials should be useful with a wide variety of texts. Classroom experience and student reactions are also reported.
Transition of an innovative teaching approach between two institutions

Summary form only given. This presentation describes an effort in progress to transition an innovative teaching approach from one university setting to another. The innovative approach, developed at the United States Air Force Academy, resulted from a unique funding opportunity to team instructors, educational developers and content experts. The development started with nearly a clean sheet. Its setting was to be a combined statics and mechanics of materials course, the first engineering course taken by those students. The goal of the activity was to improve motivation and retention of entering engineering students, while also improving students' subject matter abilities and retention.
Degradation of chromatin modifiers, histone deacetylases, by Spirulina platensis extracts in macrophages (1045.11)

The roles of dietary components in the modulation of chromatin modifiers, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), to control gene transcription are largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that the organic extract of Spirulina platensis (SPE), a blue-green alga, potently inhibited the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate whether SPE ameliorates inflammation through the modulation of HDACs. We found that SPE facilitated rapid degradation of HDAC2, 4 and 9 in a time and dose-dependent manner in RAW 264.7 macrophages. More specifically, HDAC4 was more labile and sensitive to SPE when compared to HDAC2. The increased HDAC degradation by SPE was not unique to RAW 264.7 macrophages, but also occurred in bone marrow-derived macrophages and other cell lines. Inhibition of proteasomes, lysosomal acidification, or calpain proteases with MG132 (10 μM), chloroquine (50 μM), or calpeptin (20 μg/mL), respectively, revealed that ...
A Review of: “Smart marriages”

Smart Marriages is a website maintained by the Coalition for Marriage, Family, and Couples Education, providing a variety of resources regarding marriage that include education classes, print mater...
Four-wave mixing of Nd 3 + -doped crystals and glasses

Degenerate four-wave-mixing measurements have been performed on a wide variety of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$-doped oxide and fluoride glasses and crystals. Crossed beams from a cw argon-ion laser were used to excite the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ ions directly and establish population gratings. Absolute measurements of the signal strengths were made, and their magnitudes were found to be sensitively influenced by the composition of the host. A theoretical model was developed to interpret the results, and it was found that the dominant contribution to the signal is associated with the difference in polarizability of the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ ions in the metastable state versus the ground state. The magnitude of the observed change in the polarizability indicates that the 4f\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5d transitions are responsible for this effect, and as a result, the value of the 〈4f\ensuremath{\Vert}r\ensuremath{\Vert}5d〉 radial integral sensitively affects the calculated polarizability change.
Degenerate versus semidegenerate transport in a correlated two-dimensional hole system

It has been puzzling that the resistivity of high-mobility two-dimensional (2D) carrier systems in semiconductors with low carrier density often exhibits a large increase followed by a decrease when the temperature $T$ is raised above a characteristic temperature comparable with the Fermi temperature ${T}_{F}$. We find that the metallic 2D hole system in a GaAs quantum well has a linear density- ($p$-) dependent conductivity $\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\approx}e{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{*}(p\ensuremath{-}{p}_{0})$ in both the degenerate ($T\ensuremath{\ll}{T}_{F}$) and semidegenerate ($T~{T}_{F}$) regimes. The $T$ dependence of $\ensuremath{\sigma}(p)$ suggests that the metallic conduction $d\ensuremath{\sigma}/\mathit{dT}l0$ at low $T$ is associated with the increase in ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{*}$, the effective mobility of itinerant carriers. However, the resistivity decrease in the semidegenerate regime $Tg{T}_{F}$ originates from the reduced ${p}_{0}$, the density of immobile carriers in a two-phase picture.
Fast regular expression matching using small TCAMs for network intrusion detection and prevention systems

Regular expression (RE) matching is a core component of deep packet inspection in modern networking and security devices. In this paper, we propose the first hardware-based RE matching approach that uses Ternary Content Addressable Memories (TCAMs), which are off-the-shelf chips and have been widely deployed in modern networking devices for packet classification. We propose three novel techniques to reduce TCAM space and improve RE matching speed: transition sharing, table consolidation, and variable striding. We tested our techniques on 8 real-world RE sets, and our results show that small TCAMs can be used to store large DFAs and achieve potentially high RE matching throughtput. For space, we were able to store each of the corresponding 8 DFAs with as many as 25,000 states in a 0.59Mb TCAM chip where the number of TCAM bits required per DFA state were 12, 12, 12, 13, 14, 26, 28, and 42. Using a different TCAM encoding scheme that facilitates processing multiple characters per transition, we were able to achieve potential RE matching throughputs of between 10 and 19 Gbps for each of the 8 DFAs using only a single 2.36 Mb TCAM chip.
Efficacy of Low-Dose Dopamine in Preventing Amphotericin B Nephrotoxicity in Bone Marrow Transplant Patients and Leukemia Patients

This study evaluated the efficacy of low-dose dopamine for prevention of amphotericin B-induced nephrotoxicity in autologous bone marrow transplant and leukemia patients. Seventy-one patients undergoing cytoreductive therapy who required amphotericin B were randomly assigned in an unblinded fashion to a group receiving continuous-infusion low-dose dopamine (3 microgram/kg/min) or a group receiving no dopamine. Amphotericin B was dosed at 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg/day based on computerized tomography scan results or presence of positive blood cultures. No patient received saline boluses. The rate of nephrotoxicity, severity as graded by Southwest Oncology Group toxicity criteria, and time to each grade of nephrotoxicity were compared between the two groups. Eighty percent of the no-dopamine group and 66.7% of the dopamine group developed nephrotoxicity, defined as a 1.5-fold or greater increase in baseline serum creatinine level (P = 0.20). No statistical difference was noted at any grade of nephrotoxicity between the two groups. Thirty-four percent of patients in the no-dopamine group versus 17.6% in the dopamine group had a 2.5-fold or greater increase in serum creatinine level, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.0888). Ten patients developed grade IV nephrotoxicity and were withdrawn from the study, 7 in the no-dopamine group and 3 in the dopamine group (P = 0.19). The time to each grade of nephrotoxicity was also not significantly different for the two groups. Eleven adverse drug reactions were reported in the dopamine group in comparison to one in the no-dopamine group. Thus, dopamine offers little in the way of prevention of nephrotoxicity associated with amphotericin B therapy. Although the significance of drug reactions in the dopamine group is not clearly established due to lack of cardiac monitoring in the no-dopamine group, dopamine therapy is not without complications.
Plasticity and adaptation of Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis in SERCA2+/− mice

Darier9s disease (DD) is a high penetrance, autosomal dominant mutation in the ATP2A2 gene, which encodes the SERCA2 Ca 2+ pump. Here we have used a mouse model of DD, a SERCA2 +/− mouse, to define the adaptation of Ca 2+ signaling and Ca 2+ ‐dependent exocytosis to a deletion of one copy of the SERCA2 gene. The [Ca 2+ ] i transient evoked by maximal agonist stimulation was shorter in cells from SERCA2 +/− mice, due to an up‐regulation of specific plasma membrane Ca 2+ pump isoforms. The change in cellular Ca 2+ handling caused ∼50% reduction in [Ca 2+ ] i oscillation frequency. Nonetheless, agonist‐stimulated exocytosis was identical in cells from wild‐type and SERCA2 +/− mice. This was due to adaptation in the levels of the Ca 2+ sensors for exocytosis synaptotagmins I and III in cells from SERCA2 +/− mice. Accordingly, exocytosis was ∼10‐fold more sensitive to Ca 2+ in cells from SERCA2 +/− mice. These findings reveal a remarkable plasticity and adaptability of Ca 2+ signaling and Ca 2+ ‐dependent cellular functions in vivo , and can explain the normal function of most physiological systems in DD patients.
Properties of 19.2% efficiency ZnO/CdS/CuInGaSe2 thin‐film solar cells

We report the growth and characterization of record-efficiency ZnO/CdS/CuInGaSe2 thin-film solar cells. Conversion efficiencies exceeding 19% have been achieved for the first time, and this result indicates that the 20% goal is within reach. Details of the experimental procedures are provided, and material and device characterization data are presented. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expanding GREENSCOPE beyond the gate: a green chemistry and life cycle perspective

Industrial processes, particularly those within the chemical industry, contribute products and services to improve and increase society’s quality of life. However, the transformation of raw materials into their respective final goods involves the consumption of mass and energy and the possible generation of by-products and releases. To address these issues, the new approach for chemical processing is focused on sustainable production: minimize raw material consumption and energy loads, minimize/eliminate releases, and increase the economic feasibility of the process. To evaluate these advances, a sustainability assessment methodology, GREENSCOPE, has been developed into a tool to evaluate and assist in the synthesis and design of chemical processes. New process sustainability indicators have been proposed based on input/output process data, and the base-case ratio approach is implemented to predict process changes from known process performance data and design relationships. In addition, a discussion regarding the implications of using sustainability evaluations beyond the process boundaries, applying the principles of green chemistry in all steps of chemical process development, and a description of their benefits to the life cycle inventory and the subsequent life cycle assessment is included. Finally, a new methodology approach to integrate GREENSCOPE into a life cycle inventory to develop sustainable systems is introduced.
A randomized trial of a reconciliation workshop with and without PTSD psychoeducation in Burundian sample

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychoeducation is increasingly offered in diverse cultural settings. As the literature offers theoretical arguments for why such information might be normalizing and distress-reducing, or might risk morbid suggestion of greater vulnerability, a two-sided hypothesis was proposed to examine the specific effect of PTSD psychoeducation. Participants of a trauma healing and reconciliation intervention in Burundi were randomized to conditions with and without PTSD psychoeducation, or to a waitlist control. Both interventions reduced symptoms more than the waitlist. Participants in the condition without psychoeducation experienced a greater reduction in PTSD symptoms relative to other conditions. Findings are discussed in relationship to intervention development for traumatic stress in nonindustrialized and culturally diverse settings.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurs in approximately 25% of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. The impact of VAP on patient outcome has been much debated; however, Fagon and colleagues reported an attributable mortality of 27%. The optimal management of patients with suspected VAP requires confirmation of the diagnosis and identification of the responsible pathogen(s) to provide appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The diagnosis of VAP remains one of the most difficult clinical dilemmas in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. Many conditions may either obscure or give rise to a clinical picture similar to that of pneumonia in the mechanically ventilated patient. A fever, pulmonary infiltrate, and purulent tracheobronchial secretions are almost diagnostic of pneumonia in a previously healthy nonintubated patient. However, this constellation of features, while suggestive, is not diagnostic of pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients. Using multivariate analysis, Fagon and colleagues demonstrated that no combination of clinical, laboratory, or radiographic findings could accurately predict which patients had VAP.
Maximally Supersymmetric String Theories in D 10

The existence of maximally supersymmetric solutions to heterotic string theory that are not toroidal compactifications of the ten-dimensional superstring is established. We construct an exact fermionic realization of an $N\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1$ supersymmetric string theory in $D\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}8$ with non-simply-laced gauge group $\mathrm{Sp}(20)$. Toroidal compactification to six and four dimensions gives maximally extended supersymmetric theories with reduced rank $(4,12)$ and $(6,14)$, respectively.
Planning farm programmes for national agricultural diversification in developing countries

Planning of a national or regional programme to achieve national diversification of commodities sold by farmers must focus on the enterprise decision-making environment of commercialising farmers (i.e., farmers moving from diversified subsistence farming towards fully commercial farming). Because the two goals of meeting family needs and maximising net cash income must be merged, this environment is unique from that of wholly subsistence and fully commercial farmers. Four areas of uniqueness have been identified. Once planners have mastered an understanding of this environment, they can proceed to develop an integrated programme which will induce farmers to make nationally desired enterprise changes. In the discussion on planning such programmes, emphasis is given to the manipulation of both technical and socio-economic environmental elements. The primary consideration in this manipulation is assumed to be the nature and level of the incentive to change offered to farmers. This can have both positive and negative components but the farmer's expectation of an attractive level of net cash income is considered to be an essential feature throughout the discussion.
Valuation effects of the FDIC Improvement Act

The FDIC Improvement Act mandated key provisions that affect the potential performance and risk of financial institutions. Our study measures how the signals pertaining to the FDIC Improvement Act affect the share prices of financial institutions. We find that the Treasury's proposal for bank reform favourably affected small and medium banks, but negatively affected large banks. The differential effects are likely attributed to the relatively lower capital ratio of large banks. A cross-sectional analysis confirms that the commercial banks with a relatively high capital ratio experienced a more favourable share price response to the Treasury's proposal.
The use of electrets in electrostatic generators for space

Electric propulsion schemes for space travel will be competitive only to the extent that electric power generation systems can be made extremely lightweight, efficient, and reliable. Electrostatic generators employing electrets have been designed and tested, with promising results. It is believed that further research in this area, particularly on new materials, will prove to be rewarding
Phosphoinositides metabolism in primary culture of dog thyroid cells: effects of thyrotropin and carbachol.

Abstract Thyrotropin (TSH) and carbachol stimulated in a dose-dependent manner the accumulation of 3 H-glycerophosphoinositol (GPI), 3 H-inositol monophosphate (IP 1 ), 3 H-inositol bisphosphate (IP 2 ) and 3 H-inositol trisphosphate (IP 3 ) in primary cultures of dog thyroid cells prelabeled with myo-[2- 3 H]inositol. TSH, 250 mU/mL, stimulated 3 H-IP 3 level after a 10-minute incubation while 10 mU/mL TSH increased it during a 60-minute incubation. The effect of carbachol was more rapid and greater than that of TSH. Carbachol, 100 μmol/L, elevated 3 H-IP 3 after a 2-minute incubation and 3 H-IP 3 formation was increased by as little as 1 μmol/L carbachol. TSH stimulation was observed only if the cells were deprived of TSH for 5 days before being labeled with 3 H-inositol. Prolongation of the labeling period or addition of TSH, (Bu) 2 cAMP or carbachol during the labeling increased 3 H-inositol incorporation into polyphoinositides (PIPs). When the cells were labeled without any other addition, control and TSH-stimulated 3 H-IP 3 levels increased in parallel with 3 H-PIP levels. However, TSH or carbachol-stimulated 3 H-IP 3 levels did not increase in proportion to 3 H-PIPs level when the cells were labeled with TSH or (Bu) 2 cAMP. Thus, the ratio of 3 H-IP 3 / 3 H-PIPsfx (both control and TSH or carbachol-stimulated) decreased in the cells labeled with TSH or (Bu) 2 cAMP, which might reflect TSH stimulation of 3 H-inositol incorporation into PIPs pool(s) that do not participate in hormone-induced hydrolysis of PIPs. Pretreatment of cells with TSH, forskolin, (Bu) 2 cAMP, or cholera toxin for 1 day before the experiment, but after the labeling period, decreased TSH and carbachol-stimulated 3 H-IP 3 accumulation indicating that activation of adenylate cyclase may affect the IP 3 -diacylglycerol (DAG) signalling system stimulated by TSH or carbachol. Pertussis toxin decreased only the carbachol-stimulated 3 H-IP 3 level. The physiologic significance of the TSH-stimulated 3 H-IP 3 formation is unknown because of the large amounts of hormone and the length of time required for the effect. In contrast, effects of carbachol on dog thyroid cells are probably mediated by this signalling system.
A second dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (Type A) of the human pathogen Enterococcus faecalis: expression, purification, and steady-state kinetic mechanism.

Abstract We report the identification, expression, and characterization of a second Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODase A) from the human pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. The enzyme consists of a polypeptide chain of 322 amino acids that shares 68% identity with the cognate type A enzyme from the bacterium Lactococcus lactis. E. faecalis DHODase A catalyzed the oxidation of l -dihydroorotate while reducing a number of substrates, including fumarate, coenzyme Q 0 , and menadione. The steady-state kinetic mechanism has been determined with menadione as an oxidizing substrate at pH 7.5. Initial velocity and product inhibition data suggest that the enzyme follows a two-site nonclassical ping-pong kinetic mechanism. The absorbance of the active site FMN cofactor is quenched in a concentration-dependent manner by titration with orotate and barbituric acid, two competitive inhibitors with respect to dihydroorotate. In contrast, titration of the enzyme with menadione had no effect on FMN absorbance, consistent with nonoverlapping binding sites for dihyroorotate and menadione, as suggested from the kinetic mechanism. The reductive half-reaction has been shown to be only partially rate limiting, and an attempt to evaluate the slow step in the overall reaction has been made by simulating orotate production under steady-state conditions. Our data indicate that the oxidative half-reaction is a rate-limiting segment, while orotate, most likely, retains significant affinity for the reduced enzyme, as suggested by the product inhibition pattern.
TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE: HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHERS’ CONCEPTIONS OF THE NATURE OF TECHNOLOGY

In-depth interviews guided by video elicitations examined 30 high school science teachers’ conceptions of technology and by extension how these conceptions reflected dimensions of nature of technology. Altogether, 64 % of the teachers characterized their schools and departments as aggressive–moderate adopters with generous access and support for technological tools. In comparison, 30 % noted that their school lagged behind due to funding and lack of infrastructure. Definitions of technology revealed emphasis on technology as artifact, overwhelming optimism on the purpose and function of technology to improve and make life easier and as representation of advancement in civilization. In tandem, teachers were most drawn to two video scenarios—medical and everyday tool videos because it reflected notions of progression and expectations of future changes; heightened awareness of the multitude of available technologies; and perceived relevance with classroom content. Perhaps most telling in these findings was that few teachers were drawn to the classroom video scenario, and only three teachers highlighted the technology–science–school science connection. These findings have implications for holistic understandings of technologies, which may inform how science teachers perceive and enact technologies in their science classrooms.
f-element/crown ether complexes. 13. Direct coordination of 12-crown-4 to hydrated terbium chloride. Synthesis and crystal structure of [Tb(OH2)5(12-crown-4)] Cl3·2H2O

Abstract The interaction of hydrated TbCl 3 with 12-crown- 4 in a 1:3 mixture of CH 3 OH:CH 3 CN produces crystalline [Tb(OH 2 ) 5 (12-crown-4)]Cl 3 ·2H 2 O. The crystal and molecular structure of this complex has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna 2 1 with a =18.758(3), b =10.080(2), c =10.242(2) A, and D calc =1.95 g cm −3 for Z =4. Least-squares refinement using 1698 independent observed [ F O ≥ 5σ( F O )] reflections led to the final conventional R value of 0.033. The Tb(III) cation is coordinated to the four crown ether oxygen atoms (TbO average 2.52(1) A and five water molecules in a capped square antiprismatic geometry. The capping water molecule is 2.504(7) A from Tb, the remaining TbOH 2 separations average 2.38(2) A. A complex network of hydrogen bonding connects the coordinated water molecules, the noncoordinated water molecules, and the chloride anions.
Inferred advantage: Using Kogan's symmetric action principle to empirically assess alternatives in complex system development

This article describes a general experimental technique to infer the potential advantages of proposed, unrealized improvements to a working system. The technique models a complex system as a function of the subsystems improved by the proposals. It emphasizes systems with components that are difficult to model, such as human operators. The inferred-advantage method explores the model of the present system by systematically restricting the performance of the system's subcomponents as if they are experimental control variables and then assessing the benefit of a proposed improvement by extrapolation. The article describes the application of the technique to an advanced telerobotic system, provides a general experimental procedure to apply the technique, and validates this procedure on a simulated design problem. The inferred-advantage technique provides experimental validation for design proposals before managers must commit resources to detail design and hardware investments.
“Who Should Receive Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and When?”

Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an exciting and rapidly evolving field. Erlotinib and gefitinib, two tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of EGFR, have demonstrated activity in advanced NSCLC in the second- and third-line settings. Subset analyses of phase II and phase III clinical trials lead to the recognition that these two agents had more activity in certain subsets of NSCLC patients including never smokers, people of Asian descent and patients with EGFR FISH-positive or mutation-positive tumors. In particular, never smokers had statistically significant improvements in survival with either erlotinib or gefitinib therapy. Patients with EGFR FISH- or mutation-positive tumors had improved response rates to TKI therapy while those with KRAS mutant tumors did not derive any benefit. In the BR.21 trial treatment with erlotinib resulted in statistically significant improvements in overall survival and quality of life. Thus, while the question of who should receive EGFR TKI therapy is still not completely answered, all patients should be considered for erlotinib therapy in the second- or third-line setting. In daily clinical practice, there is currently no data to support the use of EGFR mutation or FISH status in this decision making process. Prospective trials are ongoing to determine which patient and tumor characteristics are predictive of a clinical benefit from TKI therapy.
TCT-830 Immediate and Delayed Effects of Stent Crimping on Pericardial Leaflets of Transcatheter Valves

The effects of stent crimping on the leaflets of the transcatheter heart valves are not yet elucidated. Here, we have compared crimped pericardial leaflets with control uncrimped leaflets under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Second Harmonic Generation microscope (SHG) to characterize the
High-frequency modulation of oxide- confined vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

High-speed studies of packaged, submilliampere threshold, oxide-confined vertical cavity surface emitting lasers show modulation bandwidths > 16 GHz. Very high modulation current efficiency factors occur at low bias but decrease as the modulation bandwidth and frequency of the relative intensity noise peak saturate at higher currents.
Tensile creep of coarse-grained Ti3SiC2 in the 1000–1200 °C temperature range

Abstract The tensile creep of coarse-grained, CG, Ti3SiC2 samples, in the 1000–1200 °C temperature, T, and 10 MPa to 100 MPa stress, σ, ranges, respectively, was studied. The creep behavior is characterized by three regimes: an initial, a secondary where the creep rate is at a minimum, e min , and a tertiary regime. In the intermediate regime e min is given by: e min ( s −1 )=e o exp 17±1 σ σ o 2.0±0.1 exp −458±12 kJ/mol RT where σ0=1 MPa and e0=1 s−1. The times to failure are given by: tf (s)=exp(−2±0.3) e min −1 . The results presented herein confirm that: (a) dislocation creep is the dominant mechanism; (b) the high plastic anisotropy of Ti3SiC2 results in large internal stresses during creep; (c) the response is dictated by a competition between the rates of generation and dissipation of these internal stresses; (d) at higher temperatures and/or lower strain rates the internal stresses can dissipate and the behavior is more ductile. Furthermore, in the tertiary creep regime, the creep appears to occur by a combination of dislocation creep and the formation of cavities and cracks. The coarse-grained samples have lower creep rates than their fine-grained (3–5 μm) counterparts, and their times to failure are longer. The latter is partially attributable to the ability of the larger grains, whose basal planes are normal to the applied load, to form tenacious crack bridges by delamination and kink band formation, in addition to the bridges that occur when the basal planes are parallel to the applied load.
Causes of interestuarine variability in bay anchovy ( Anchoa mitchilli ) salinity at capture

Salinities occupied by different life stages of bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) were compared over annual cycles at 128 stations in 12 Florida estuaries. The comparison included eight stations in an oligotrophic, groundwater-based estuary in which all life stages were rare or absent. At other stations, adults, eggs, and early larvae occurred in intermediate to high salinities (10-30 psu) with no apparent central salinity tendency. The larva-juvenile transition was marked by an upstream shift to lower salinities (0-15 psu), also with no central salinity tendency. Mean salinities of the juvenile catch were strongly dependent on the salinities of the sampling effort. This dependence was strongest in estuaries that had weak horizontal salinity gradients. Weak salinity gradients were either natural or resulted from estuarine dams. After using nonlinear regression to account for the interaction between effort salinity and catch salinity, catch salinities were found to be similar from year to year within estuaries, but widely different among estuaries, with interestuarine differences ranging as high as 10–13 psu. Lower salinities were occupied by juveniles in estuaries that had long freshwater turnover times. Inherent geomorphic and inflow-related effects on the distribution of prey resources, coupled with an ontogenetic diet shift, are proposed as the explanation for both the habitat shift and the strong interestuarine variability in salinity at capture.
The road to Q-infinity

For those of us who live in the more industrialized areas of the world—particularly in the United States—it is difficult to appreciate the unique character of the industrial and social evolution in which we are participating... Out of this experience it is not surprising that we have come to regard continual growth and increase as being the normal order of things.
A Multimedia Intervention on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Advance Directives

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a multimedia educational intervention about advance directives (ADs) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the knowledge, attitude and activity toward ADs and life-sustaining treatments of elderly veterans.
Data communication in parallel architectures

Abstract In this paper we consider different methods for exchanging data among processors in parallel computers. The most common data exchange operations in parallel numerical methods are examined and different methods for performing them efficiently on each of several ensemble architectures are proposed and analyzed. Our objective is to compare the performance of each particular architecture on each of the data exchange operations.
Adding selenium‐enriched plant tissue to soil causes the accumulation of selenium in alfalfa

Abstract Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine selenium (Se) uptake by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in soils amended with Se‐laden mustard plant tissue. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with treatments consisting of 5, 10, 20, and 40 g of added dried Se‐containing mustard tissue to the soil, which resulted in soil Se concentrations of 1.0, 1.6, 3.0, and 5.7 mg Se/kg, respectively. Four clippings of alfalfa were made and the vegetative portions analyzed for dry weight and total Se. Plant dry weight yields and heights of plants were significantly reduced only at the highest Se treatment rate. Mean tissue Se concentrations increased from 1.8 mg Se/kg DM at the 5 g treatment rate to 6.0 mg Se/kg DM at the 40 g treatment rate. Based on this study, alfalfa can accumulate Se during establishment year when Se‐laden mustard plant tissue is added to the soil.
Variability in Defining T1N0 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Impacts Locoregional Failure and Survival

Background Locoregional recurrence can occur despite complete anatomic resection of T1N0 non-small cell lung cancer. That may be the result of incomplete resection or inaccurate staging. We assessed the impact of extent of nodal staging on the rate of locoregional failure and patient survival. Methods The records of 742 patients undergoing lobectomy, bilobectomy, or pneumonectomy for non-small cell lung cancer from 1996 to 2006 were reviewed. Operative reports and pathology reports were reviewed for the number of lymph nodes and the anatomic nodal stations examined. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to analyze recurrence-free survival. Results A total of 119 patients with pathologically staged Ia lung cancer were identified. Histology type included 61% (n = 73) adenocarcinoma, 27% (n = 32) squamous cell cancer, and 12% (n = 14) other. Median age was 65 years (range, 34 to 88). Mean follow-up duration was 40 months (median 47; range, 1 to 121). Locoregional recurrence occurred in 20% (n = 18). The N2 nodal stations were examined in 94% (n = 112). At least one defined N1 nodal station was examined in 70% (n = 83). Station undefined N1 nodes were examined in 27% (n = 32), and no N1 nodes were examined in 3% (n = 4). Median number of N1 lymph nodes analyzed was 5 (range, 0 to 18). The locoregional recurrence rate was 14% (12 of 83) for patients with a defined N1 station node versus 31% (11 of 36) for patients in whom there were undefined N1 nodes ( p = 0.03). Similar differences were seen in disease-free survival, 78.2% versus 62.6%, respectively ( p = 0.06). Conclusions Despite anatomic resection of stage Ia lung cancer and uniform analysis of N2 nodal stations, a high rate of locoregional recurrence occurs. Imprecise staging of N1 lymph nodes may contribute to the understaging and undertreatment of patients with early stage lung cancer.
Keeping Shari'a and Reclaiming Jihad

Ten years after 9/11, America continues to face the challenge of terrorism and Muslims are increasingly being demonized by some segments of American society. Due to constant anti-Muslim propaganda and fear-mongering by some lawmakers, political hopefuls, and others in the Christian Right, Islamophobia is on the rise. Islamic notions of shari'a and jihad have been dubbed as the source of all evil. Attempts to ban the shari'a by some states, and to equate jihad as "violent terrorism," are essentially rooted in ignorance of Islam, and a desire to construct a false sense of security. Both shari'a and jihad, considered from the mainstream Islamic perspective, are spiritual notions meant for the betterment of the soul. Their abuse and misuse by some Muslims should not be construed as equivalent to their inherent spiritual meaning. This essay suggests that shari'a is antithetical to terrorism, and jihad, far from being "holy war," implies a constant spiritual struggle to do good and to be an upright citizen.
CELLULAR RESISTANCE TO ARBOVIRUS INFECTION

When an arbovirus enters an arthropod in an infected blood meal, several mechanisms may interact to affect its life cycle and ultimate transmissibility. Intrinsic absolute failure in the establishment of infection must be contrasted with infection that is successfully established but is variably modulated in its viral yield throughout the vector's life-span. Degrees of vertebrate host resistance make this modulation a central factor in determining whether an arthropod is an important vector in nature; moreover, human intervention that affects modulating mechanisms may become a basis for disease control. In the absence of evidence of real immune resistance to arbovirus infections in arthropods, other more primitive modulating mechanisms must be considered: interferonlike substances may be formed in arthropod cells; arthropod cells may "cure" themselves by a unique endophagocytic digestion of their virus burden; homologous interference with viral replicative processes may be mediated via wild or mutant viral RNA species acting to shut down further RNA synthesis; and homologous interference may be mediated by RNA of defective-interfering virus formed earlier in infection.
A comparison of theoretical and experimental profiles for thermally-induced grain-boundary grooving

Thermally-induced grain boundary grooving has typically been characterized experimentally by either (1) optical interferometry (OI) or (2) reference line (RL) technique. For the OI technique, groove angle and groove width are reported and for the RL technique, groove angle, width and depth are reported. Even recent Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) studies of grain boundary grooving report their results in terms of groove angle, width, and depth exclusively. These measurements have been interpreted in terms of Mullins' 1957 theory on grain boundary grooving, which includes a derivation of the grain boundary groove profile. However, analyzing the groove depth, width, and angle uses only a small fraction of the groove profile information provided by Mullins' theory. In contrast to the literature, this study uses AFM data from thermal grooving in polycrystalline alumina to make a detailed comparison between Mullins' equation (and a modified form of Mullins' equation) for the entire groove profile rather than just the groove width or groove angle, thus providing a more rigorous and comprehensive test of theory. In addition, despite the wider and deeper grooves produced by microwave annealing, the modified form of Mullins' equation fits well both the microwave and conventionally annealed groove profiles.
Cavity QED with quantum dots in semiconductor microcavities

Cavity quantum electrodynamic (QED) effects are studied in semiconductor microcavities embedded with InGaAs quantum dots. Evidence of weak coupling in the form of lifetime enhancement (the Purcell effect) and inhibition is found in both oxide-apertured micropillars and photonic crystals. In addition, high-efficiency, low-threshold lasing is observed in the photonic crystal cavities where only 2-4 quantum dots exist within the cavity mode volume and are not in general spectrally resonant. The transition to lasing in these soft turn-on devices is explored in a series of nanocavities by observing the change in photon statistics of the cavity mode with increasing pump power near the threshold.
On solving sparse symmetric linear systems whose definiteness is unknown

Solving a large, sparse, symmetric linear system Ax=b iteratively must use appropriate methods. The conjugate gradient (CG) method can break down if A is indefinite while algorithms such as SYMMLQ and MINRES, though stable for indefinite systems, are computationally more expensive than CG when applied to positive definite matrices. In this paper, we present an iterative method for the case where the definiteness of A is not known a priori. We demonstrate that this method reduces to the CG method when applied to positive definite systems and is numerically stable when applied to indefinite systems.
Nilpotent maximal subgroups of GLn(D)

Abstract In [S. Akbari, J. Algebra 217 (1999) 422–433] it has been conjectured that if D is a noncommutative division ring, then D ∗ contains no nilpotent maximal subgroup. In connection with this conjecture we show that if GLn(D) contains a nilpotent maximal subgroup, say M, then M is abelian, provided D is infinite. This extends one of the main results appeared in [S. Akbari, J. Algebra 259 (2003) 201–225, Theorem 4].
Down-regulation of Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptors: Cooperativity between the Types I, II, and III Receptors and Modulation at the Cell Surface

Abstract The types I, II, and III receptors (RI, RII, RIII) for transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) become down-regulated in response to ligand, presumably via their internalization from the cell surface. This report examines the down-regulation of full-length RI, RII, and RIII in cells endogenously or transiently expressing these receptors. Down-regulation occurred rapidly (within 2 h after TGF-β1 treatment at 37°C) and showed a dose response, between 10 and 200 pM TGF-β1, in cells expressing RI, RII, and RIII (Mv1lu and A549 cells). A comparison between Mv1Lu and mutant cell derivatives R-1B (lacking RI) or DR-26 (lacking RII) indicated that all three receptors were necessary for efficient down-regulation. Down-regulation experiments, utilizing TGF-β-treated 293 cells transiently expressing different combinations of these receptors indicated that neither RII or RIII were down-regulated when expressed alone and that RI was required for maximal down-regulation of RII. RII and RIII were partially down-regulated when these receptors were coexpressed in the absence of RI (in R-1B and 293 cells). Surprisingly, TGF-β receptors were partially down-regulated in Mv1Lu, A549, and 293 cells treated with TGF-β1 at 4°C. Microscopic examination of 293 cells coexpressing RI fused to green fluorescent protein (RI–GFP) and RII indicated that, after treatment with TGF-β1 at 4°C, RI–GFP formed aggregates at the cell surface at this temperature. RI–GFP was not detected at the surface of these cells after TGF-β1 treatment at 37°C. Our results suggest a two phase mechanism for TGF-β1 receptor down-regulation involving receptor modulation (aggregation) at the cell surface and internalization.
The mismatch problem in receptor mapping studies

Abstract Light microscopic receptor mapping studies in brain have revealed that there is not a close correlation or match between the distribution of receptors and the distribution of related neurotransmitters. This discrepancy was observed in our earliest studies on cholinergic 1 and opioid systems 2 and also in those from other laboratories on neurotensin and substance-P systems in brain 3–5 . This has been referred to as the ‘mismatch' problem. Within this article, arguments are presented to, at least in part, account for this.
South Louisiana crude oil or DDE in the diet of mallard hens: effects on egg quality

Egg quality must ultimately be measured in terms of survival of successfully hatched progeny. The size and composition of the egg are directly related to the size and composition of the hatchling and influence the hatchling's ability to survive, especially in precocial birds. In this paper, we examine the effects of two environmental pollutants, crude oil or DDE, on the size and composition of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) eggs.
Richard Bradley: A Unified, Living Agent Theory of the Cause of Infectious Diseases of Plants, Animals, and Humans in the First Decades of the 18th Century

During the years 1714 to 1721, Richard Bradley, who was later to become the first Professor of Botany at Cambridge University, proposed a unified, unique, living agent theory of the cause of infectious diseases of plants and animals and the plague of humans. Bradley's agents included microscopic organisms, revealed by the studies of Robert Hooke and Antony van Leeuwenhoek. His theory derived from his experimental studies of plants and their diseases and from microscopic observation of animalcules in different naturally occurring and artificial environments. He concluded that there was a microscopic world of "insects" that lived and reproduced under the appropriate conditions, and that infectious diseases of plants were caused by such "insects." Since there are structural and functional similarities between plants and animals, Bradley concluded that microscopic organisms caused human and animal infectious diseases as well. However, his living agent cause of infectious diseases was not accepted by the contemporary scientific society.
Selection for agonistic behavior in wild female mice.

This article reports the results of 11 generations of selective breeding for isolation-induced, interfemale aggression inMus musculus. Within-family selection was used to form two high, two low, and two unselected control lines, beginning with a population of wild-trapped mice. Selection was successful in establishing the divergent lines, so that in recent generations about 50% of high-line animals attack, as do 25% of controls and 5% of lows. Realized heritabilities for eight generations of selection were 0.12 for H1, 0.14 for H2 0.34 for L1, and 0.46 for L2. Male aggression has apparently not shown a correlated response to selection for female aggression. Group housing reduces the aggression of female mice, but the order of the lines is maintained under either isolation or group housing. Practical problems encountered in this selection program are discussed.