cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption and reaction studies of aluminophosphate-supported Ru catalysts

Etude de l'adsorption et de l'hydrogenation du monoxyde de carbone sur le catalyseur Ru/Aluminophosphate
Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma of the ectocervix after therapy for breast cancer.

Abstract Objective. Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma is an uncommon, indolent uterine sarcoma that can arise in extrauterine locations. The objective of this study was to report on a previously unpublished site of origin for a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. Methods. A case of a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma arising in the ectocervix after goserelin hormonal therapy for breast cancer was studied. Results. Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma can arise in the ectocervix even in the absence of endometriosis. Conclusion. Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of sarcomas of the ectocervix.
Absence of dichloromethane teratogenicity with inhalation exposure in rats

Abstract Female rats were exposed by inhalation to dichloromethane (DCM) at a concentration of 4500 ppm to determine whether exposure before and during gestation is more detrimental to reproductive outcome than exposure either before or during gestation alone. Four treatment groups were utilized in a two by two factorial design: exposure to DCM for 3 weeks before and during the first 17 days of gestation; DCM before and filtered air during gestation; filtered air before and DCM during gestation; and filtered air before and during gestation. Maternal liver weights were increased and fetal body weights were decreased in the two groups exposed to DCM during gestation compared to those exposed to filtered air during gestation. The incidence of gross external, skeletal, or soft-tissue anomalies was not significantly increased in fetuses in any group. Exposure to DCM both before and during gestation resulted in the same low degree of maternal and embryotoxicity as exposure during gestation alone.
Flow-Induced Bending of Rectangular Plates

An analysis of flow-induced bending of rectangular plates simply supported on two sides and free on the leading and trailing edges, with viscous entry flows differing in flow rate on top and bottom, is presented. Viscous shear is shown to be important in modifying the plate deflection near the leading edge. The flow rate is maximized and deflection minimized by using relatively small length-to-width ratios. The results are directly applicable to stacked rectangular fuel-bearing plates in nuclear reactors.
Rotational energy expressions and least-squares fitting of backbenders and similar nuclei☆

Abstract The backbending or irregularities of band spacings of states near the yrast line were fit using simple rotational energy expressions which include band mixing of the yrast and yrare states. In our model the sharp backbending requires two large mixing terms, a spin-independent term arising from the pairing interaction and a Coriolis coupling term. Least-squares fitting of backbenders in the deformed even-even nuclei indicate a near cancellation of the mixing matrix elements near the virtual band crossing. Although the idealized and simplified expressions for the backbending spin in terms of the pairing gap Δ, high- j orbital spacing, high- j Coriolis matrix element J tT , and moment of inertia I may not be quantitatively correct, they do indicate the general conditions required for backbending.
Crystal growth and X-ray data of the lead phosphates Pb4P2O9 and Pb8P2O13

Single crystals of the title compounds have been grown by the Czochralski technique. Pb4P2O9 crystallizes in the space group P21c with the parameters a = 9.4812 A, b = 7.1303 A, c = 14.390 A, β = 104.51° and Pb8P2O13 in C2m with a = 10.641 A, b = 10.206A c = 14.342 A, β = 98.34°.
Simulation of Laser-Induced Incandescence Measurements in an Anisotropically Scattering Aerosol Through Backward Monte Carlo

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) measurements carried out in aerosols having a large particle volume fraction must be corrected to account for extinction between the energized aerosol particles and the detector, called signal trapping. While standard correction techniques have been developed for signal trapping by absorption, the effect of scattering on LII measurements requires further investigation, particularly the case of highly anisotropic scattering and along a path of relatively large optical thickness. This paper examines this phenomenon in an aerosol containing highly aggregated soot particles by simulating LII signals using a backward Monte Carlo analysis; these signals are then used to recover the soot particle temperature and soot volume fraction. The results show that inscattered radiation is a substantial component of the LII signal under high soot loading conditions, which can strongly influence properties derived from these measurements. Correction techniques based on Bouguer’s law are shown to be effective in mitigating the effect of scatter on the LII signals.
Multi-Objective Semiconductor Manufacturing Scheduling: A Random Keys Implementation of NSGA-II

We examine a complex, multi-objective semiconductor manufacturing scheduling problem involving two batch processing steps linked by a timer constraint. This constraint requires that any job completing the first processing step must be started on the succeeding second machine within some allowable time window; otherwise, the job must repeat its processing on the first step. We present a random keys implementation of NSGA-II (nondominated sorting genetic algorithm) for our problem of interest and investigate the efficacy of different batching policies in terms of the number of approximate efficient solutions that are produced by NSGA-II over a wide range of experimental problem instances. Experimental results suggest a full batch policy can produce superior solutions as compared to greedy batching policies under the experimental conditions examined
Acousto-Optic Modulators

In the preceding chapter, we have shown that modulators and switches can be made by using the electro-optic effect to produce a grating-shaped variation of the index of refraction within the waveguide. This grating structure causes diffraction of the guided optical waves, resulting in modulation or switching.
Persistence of complete spermatogenesis in the presence of low intratesticular concentrations of testosterone.

To determine if high intratesticular concentrations of testosterone are essential for completion of spermatogenesis, intact 90-day-old Charles River CD rats were treated with testosterone propionate (TP). Pilot studies indicated that sc administration of 100 /xg TP/100 g BW-day caused maximum suppression of testicular testosterone. This dose was administered for 13 days and animals were killed 24 h after the last injection. Intrastesticular levels of testosterone were reduced 30- fold from 0.295 ± 0.04 to 0.01 ± 0.001 ng/mg testis, and serum levels of FSH were suppressed 33% from 238 ± 15 to 195 ± 5 ng/ ml (P < 0.001). However, testicular weight only fell from 1.598 ± 0.058 to 1.482 ± 0.026 g, and qualitatively, spermatogenesis was normal. To examine the possibility that morphological changes failed to occur because the period of treatment was too short, a second group of animals were treated with the same dose of TP for 39 days. Once again, the intratesticular concentration of testosterone was suppressed...
HIV-1 associated dementia: symptoms and causes

Despite the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), neuronal cell death remains a problem that is frequently found in the brains of HIV-1-infected patients. HAART has successfully prevented many of the former end-stage complications of AIDS, however, with increased survival times, the prevalence of minor HIV-1 associated cognitive impairment appears to be rising among AIDS patients. Further, HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD) is still prevalent in treated patients as well as attenuated forms of HAD and CNS opportunistic disorders. HIV-associated cognitive impairment correlates with the increased presence in the CNS of activated, though not necessarily HIV-1-infected, microglia and CNS macrophages. This suggests that indirect mechanisms of neuronal injury and loss/death occur in HIV/AIDS as a basis for dementia since neurons are not themselves productively infected by HIV-1. In this review, we discussed the symptoms and causes leading to HAD. Outcome from this review will provide new information regarding mechanisms of neuronal loss in AIDS patients.
Gender-specific regulation of response to thyroid hormone in aging

Similar to other systems, the endocrine system is affected by aging. Thyroid hormone, the action of which is affected by many factors, has been shown to be associated with longevity. The most useful marker for the assessment of thyroid hormone action is TSH level. Although age and gender are believed to modify the pituitary set point or response to free thyroid hormone concentration, the precise age- and gender-dependent responses to thyroid hormone have yet to be reported. We analyzed the results of 3564 thyroid function tests obtained from patients who received medication at both out- and inpatient clinics of Shinshu University Hospital. Subjects were from among those with thyroid function test results in the normal or mildly abnormal range. Based on a log-linear relationship between the concentrations of FHs and TSH, we established the putative resistance index to assess the relation between serum FH and TSH levels. Free thyroid hormone and TSH concentration showed an inverse log-linear relation. In males, there was a negative relationship between the free T3 resistance index and age. In females, although there were no relationships between age and FHs, the indices were positively related to age. These findings indicated that there is a gender-specific response to thyroid hormone with aging. Although the TSH level is a useful marker for the assessment of peripheral thyroid hormone action, the values should be interpreted carefully, especially with regard to age- and gender-related differences.
Cash‐Flow Analysis

An objective of financial analysis is to assess a company's operating performance and financial condition. The information that is available for analysis includes economic, market, and financial information. But some of the most important financial data are provided by the company in its annual and quarterly financial statements. These choices make it quite difficult to compare financial performance and condition across companies, and also provide an opportunity for the management of financial numbers through judicious choice of accounting methods. Cash flows provide a way of transforming net income based on an accrual system to a more comparable basis. Additionally, cash flows are essential ingredients in valuation: The value of a company today is the present value of its expected future cash flows. Therefore, understanding past and current cash flows may help in forecasting future cash flows and, hence, determine the value of the company. Moreover, understanding cash flow allows the assessment of the ability of a firm to maintain current dividends and its current capital expenditure policy without relying on external financing. Keywords: cash-flow analysis; working capital concept; cash concept; direct method; indirect method; free cash flow; net free cash flow (NFCF); cash-flow interest coverage ratio; cash flow-to-capital expenditures ratio; capital expenditures coverage ratio; cash flow-to-debt ratio
Tumours of the hand

Hand tumours of soft-tissue and bony origin are frequently encountered, and clinicians must be able to distinguish typical benign entities from life-threatening or limb-threatening malignant diseases. In this Review, we present a diagnostic approach to hand tumours and describe selected cancers and their treatments. Soft-tissue tumours include ganglion cysts, giant-cell cancers and fibromas of the tendon sheath, epidermal inclusion cysts, lipomas, vascular lesions, peripheral-nerve tumours, skin cancers, and soft-tissue sarcomas. Bony tumours encompass enchondromas, aneurysmal bone cysts, osteoid osteomas, giant-cell lesions of bone, bone sarcomas, and metastases. We look at rates of recurrence and 5-year survival, and recommendations for adjunct chemotherapy and radiotherapy for malignant lesions.
Fat chance for longevity

The health benefits of specific fatty acids and physiological roles of fat metabolism are important subjects that are still poorly understood. In this issue of Genes & Development, O'Rourke and colleagues (pp. 429-440) uncovered a role for lipase-generated ω-6 fatty acids in promoting autophagy and, consequently, life span extension under both fed and fasting conditions. The impact of this finding is discussed with regard to the nutritional value of ω-6 fatty acids and regulatory functions of fat metabolism beyond its well-known role in energy storage.
Modeling 18F-FDG Kinetics during Acute Lung Injury: Experimental Data and Estimation Errors

Background: There is increasing interest in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]flouro-D-glucose ( 18 FFDG) to evaluate pulmonary inflammation during acute lung injury (ALI). We assessed the effect of extra-vascular lung water on estimates of 18 F-FDG-kinetics parameters in experimental and simulated data using the Patlak and Sokoloff methods, and our recently proposed four-compartment model. Methodology/Principal Findings: Eleven sheep underwent unilateral lung lavage and 4 h mechanical ventilation. Five sheep received intravenous endotoxin (10 ng/kg/min). Dynamic 18 F-FDG PET was performed at the end of the 4 h period. 18 F-FDG net uptake rate (Ki), phosphorylation rate (k3), and volume of distribution (Fe) were estimated in three isogravitational regions for each method. Simulations of normal and ALI 18 F-FDG-kinetics were conducted to study the dependence of estimated parameters on the transport rate constants to (k5) and from (k6) the extra-vascular extra-cellular compartment. The four-compartment model described 85.7% of the studied 18 F-FDG-kinetics better than the Sokoloff model. Relative to the four-compartment model the Sokoloff model exhibited a consistent positive bias in Ki (3.32 [1.30– 5.65] 10 24 /min, p,0.001) and showed inaccurate estimates of the parameters composing Ki (k3 and Fe), even when Ki was similar for those methods. In simulations, errors in estimates of Ki due to the extra-vascular extra-cellular compartment depended on both k5 and k5/k6, with errors for the Patlak and Sokoloff methods of 0.02 [20.01–0.18] and 0.40 [0.18–0.60] 10 23 /min for normal lungs and of 20.47 [20.89–0.72] and 2.35 [0.85–3.68] 10 23 /min in ALI. Conclusions/Significance: 18 F-FDG accumulation in lung extra-vascular fluid, which is commonly increased during lung injury, can result in substantial estimation errors using the traditional Patlak and Sokoloff methods. These errors depend on the extra-vascular extra-cellular compartment volume and its transport rates with other compartments. The fourcompartment model provides more accurate quantification of 18 F-FDG-kinetics than those methods in the presence of increased extra-vascular fluid.
Exploring the Psychological Determinants of Perceived Ease of Use and Usefulness

The question of why individuals adopt a particular information system is an important issue in IS research. While extensive prior research has established that the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) does a good job of predicting a user's intention to adopt an information system through the constructs Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU), relatively little attention has been paid to the antecedents associated with the formation of these perceptions. Understanding the determinants of PEOU and PU is essential for providing actionable recommendations for practice in order to influence ultimate system use. This paper reports on an exploratory study investigating the effect of various antecedent variables on PEOU and PU for technologies of varying complexity. The intention is to converge on an experimental model that focuses on the salient variables.
Drug Susceptibility of Matrix-Encapsulated Candida albicans Nano-Biofilms

The rise in the use of biomedical devices and implants has seen a concomitant surge in the advent of device-related nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections of bacterial and fungal origins. The most common nosocomial fungal infection is candidiasis caused mainly by Candida albicans biofilms. Candidiasis is associated with an unacceptably high mortality rate, and there is an urgent need for the discovery of new antifungal drugs that prevent or control biofilm formation. To this end, we recently developed an ultra-high-throughput microarray platform consisting of nano-scale biofilms of C. albicans encapsulated in collagen or alginate hydrogel matrices for antifungal drug screening. Here, we report that the choice of matrix influences the apparent susceptibility of C. albicans to the common antifungal drugs, amphotericin B, and caspofungin. While amphotericin B is equally effective against biofilms grown in collagen and alginate matrices, caspofungin is effective only against biofilms grown only in alginate, but not in collagen. We demonstrate differences in the distribution of the drugs in the two matrices may contribute to the susceptibility of C. albicans nano-biofilms. In a larger context, our results highlight the importance of the choice of matrix as a parameter in 3D cell encapsulation, and suggest a screening strategy to predict drug performance in vivo.
Observing knowledge clustering for educational resources using a course ontology

In this paper we present a method to represent knowledge associated with a course and observe clustering of concepts for educational resources associated with that course. Course knowledge can be represented in the form of hierarchical prerequisite relation based weighted ontology. A novel approach for selectively processing relevant parts of the ontology is given. Design and analytical information extraction from educational resources is possible using this approach. The applicability of this method is not limited to the domain of education and can be used to analyze artifacts from any domain in which knowledge can be represented as a structured hierarchy.
Rearing conditions influence quality signals but not individual identity signals in Polistes wasps

Given the diversity of animal signals, there has been recent interest in categorizing signals into probable functions according to their properties. For example, models predict that signals of quality should be costly and condition dependent, whereas signals of individual identity should be cheap and expressed independently of condition. Here, we test these predictions by comparing the condition dependence of signals of individual identity and quality in Polistes wasps. Polistes fuscatus wasps have black and yellow patterns on the face and abdomen that signal individual identity, whereas Polistes dominulus wasps have black and yellow facial patterns that signal aspects of quality related to dominance. We reared both species with and without supplemental food and examined the facial patterns of the resulting offspring. As predicted, food availability did not influence the development of identity signals in P. fuscatus. In strong contrast, P. dominulus wasps reared with supplemental food had facial patterns that signaled higher levels of quality than P. dominulus reared without supplemental food. Interestingly, the identity and quality signals have different condition dependence, despite being composed of similar pigments, suggesting that signal function has a stronger influence on signal properties than pigmentation. Because body size is often correlated with quality signal elaboration, we also tested how food supplementation influenced offspring size. In both species, supplemented colonies produced smaller offspring than nonsupplemented colonies, suggesting that queens may invest in producing fewer, larger offspring in stressful environments.
The Continuing Quest to Understand Carl Sauer

To Pass on a Good Earth: The Life and Work of Carl O. Sauer. Michael Williams, with David Lowenthal and William M. Denevan. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2014. xviii and 256 pp., i...
Electrical conductivity of sweat: a simple diagnostic test in children.

A practical and simple method for measuring conductivity of sweat has been described. A close correlation was found between the results from 367 patients tested by the routine Pilocarpine iontophoresis method with chemical determinations of the chloride, sodium, and potassium in sweat eluted from pads and by the described conductivity method. The high conductivity values noted in 40 patients with cystic fibrosis serve to distinguish these patients from all others. Only one patient given a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis gave a conductitvity scale reading of less than 100. Although this is a semi-quantitative method, it could serve a useful purpose in the small laboratory where technicians experienced in the performance of the quantitative sweat tests are not available. Standardization of equipment is essential, as is constant checking by using standard test solutions. When borderline values are encountered by the conductivity method with values between 80 and 100 scale units, quantitative electrolyte determinations may also yield borderline concentrations and are the determinations we recommend. Age is a factor in interpretation of the conductivity of sweat, as the values increase with age in parallel with the sweat electrolyte concentration. In small infants, especially those malnourished or dehydrated, one may encounter some difficulty in obtaining an adequate sweat specimen.
Observations and origin of Rayleigh-wave amplitude anomalies

SUMMARY This is a report of observations of amplitude anomalies of fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves (R1) between periods of 17 and 100 s. The anomalies are with respect to amplitudes predicted by Rayleigh-wave excitation for a reference earth model and catalogued centroid earthquake source parameters, such as are used in large-scale waveform inversions. The observations indicate that the amplitude anomalies are consistent for nearby recordings of the same event, while there is no obvious relation between the observed anomalies and the paths travelled by the waves. This is in contrast to Rayleigh-wave phase anomalies, which are consistent for similar propagation paths, and hence form the input in many inversions for along-path structure. The observations in this paper show that a similar inversion of intermediate-period amplitude anomalies for along- and near-path structure is not warranted without eliminating source eVects, since the amplitude anomalies are dominated by scattering oV near-source earth structure and by possible uncertainties in the source parameters. Sensitivity kernels that take the coupling between the moment tensor and displacement field into account demonstrate that Rayleigh-wave amplitude sensitivity is largest near the source. This report argues that the interaction between source-radiated Rayleigh waves and near-source earth structure may not be ignored in amplitude inversion procedures.
A facile one-pot synthesis of deep blue luminescent lead bromide perovskite microdisks

We report a facile one-pot synthetic method to prepare highly luminescent layered lead(II) bromide perovskite microdisks with the lateral size of a few micrometers and thickness of 100–150 nm, featuring narrow deep blue emissions with quantum yields of up to 53% in toluene solutions and thin films at room temperature.
The Influence of Gluten on Patient Medication Choices

Choosing the right medication for a patient can become a difficult decision whenever formularies (institutional or insurance-based), cost, and availability of medications are factored into the equation. However, the decision becomes even more challenging when the medication must also be gluten-free. This is a scenario that is becomingly all too familiar in today's practice of pharmacy. Complete avoidance of gluten is essential for patients with celiac sprue disease, a disease of malabsorption affecting more than 2 million people in the United States. 1,2 If gluten were to be ingested in patients with celiac sprue, the villi in the small intestine would be damaged or destroyed, leading to malabsorption of important nutrients and ultimately to malnutrition. Complete avoidance of gluten includes diet changes to avoid gliadin, a component of gluten found in wheat, barley, rye, and, in lesser amounts, oats; however dietary restriction is often not enough. Gluten is often hidden in other sources, including medications. 1,2 .
Shock compression response of magnetic nanocomposite powders

The shock compression response of magnetic Pr2Fe14B/a-Fe nanocomposite powders, pressed at different packing densities, was studied in the range of 11–23 GPa shock pressure, using a single-stage gas gun. Bulk compacts (97.5–99% dense) recovered in the form of 12 mm diameter by 4 mm thick disks, were analyzed to determine the structural changes occurring within the particles and at particle boundaries. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed presence of laminar morphology and strong interparticle bonding. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed the retention of nanoscale structure and localized grain refinement. Shear bands were observed and thought to be responsible for the grain refinement. The compact of powders pressed at the intermediate packing density (� 76% dense) showed the best densification characteristics, correspondingly, the best magnetic properties with strongest exchange coupling between hard and soft phases.
Process control and lot disposition for destructive sampling plans with predictable and unpredictable sampling accuracy

Modern manufacturing facilities are highly sophisticated, and are designed to produce lots of large sizes. Producing quality items of all types, electronic, mechanical, etc. requires effective techniques of sampling and testing. The impact of manufacturing a large number of defective items, can be very costly for both the consumer and the producer, especially if the search for the cause(s) of inaccuracies requires shutting down the facility for an unspecified period of time. In most cases inaccuracies occur due to bias, imprecision, and failure to predict the mean time before failure for items that perform in a satisfactory condition for a short period of time. In this paper all the variables specified were modified by considering all possible causes of inaccuracies that are critical in classifying the items manufactured as quality items. The Bayesian mathematical form of the cost equation was formulated as a function of the upper and lower limits relative to the quality characteristic X under investigation, the mean of X which was assumed as a variable, the variance of X, and the cost parameters. Both possibilities of predictable and unpredictable sampling accuracy were considered. The cost function was optimized to estimate the optimal sample size. The sample size was implemented together with the distribution of the fraction defective, and the two types of error I and II to estimate a set of decision points, and to construct the X~ chart for testing and for lot disposition.
Variable visual habitats may influence the spread of colourful plumage across an avian hybrid zone

Several studies have shown that hybridization can be a creative process by acting as a conduit for the spread of adaptive traits between species, but few provide the mechanism that favours this spread. In the hybrid zone between the golden- (Manacus vitellinus) and white-collared (Manacus candei) manakins, sexual selection drives the introgression of golden/yellow plumage into the white species; however, the mechanism for the yellow male's mating advantage and the reasons why yellow plumage has not swept further into the white species remain mostly speculative. We quantified the colour properties of male plumage, the background and the ambient light at the hybrid zone, and allopatric golden and white populations. As measured by the perceived difference in colour between plumage and background, we found that yellow plumage appears more conspicuous than white plumage in the hybrid zone and allopatric golden-collar habitats, whereas white plumage appears more conspicuous than yellow plumage in the allopatric white-collared habitat. These results suggest a mechanism for the unidirectional spread of yellow plumage across the hybrid zone but slowed movement beyond it.
LONG-TERM RESPONSE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS TO ELEVATED CARBON DIOXIDE IN A FLORIDA SCRUB-OAK ECOSYSTEM

The response of photosynthesis was analyzed during canopy closure in a Florida scrub-oak ecosystem exposed to elevated [CO2] (704 μmol CO2/mol air; concentration of CO2). The species were measured on six occasions, covering different seasons, during the third and fourth year of exposure to elevated [CO2]. The entire regrowth cycle of this community has been under elevated [CO2], providing a rare opportunity to assess the differential responses of species during the critical phase of canopy closure. Measurements were taken in order to determine both season-specific and species-specific differences in the response of photosynthesis to elevated [CO2]. Photosynthesis was measured with an open-gas exchange system, and in vivo rates of Rubisco carboxylation (Vc,max) and electron transport (Jmax) were derived to assess changes in the photosynthetic capacity in the codominant, evergreen oak species. Quercus myrtifolia did not show any change in photosynthetic capacity with prolonged exposure to elevated [CO2] dur...
High-resolution Land Cover and Impervious Surface Classifications in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area with NAIP Imagery

Abstract High-resolution land-use and land-cover (lulc) and impervious surface maps were traditionally created by time-consuming field surveys or aerial photo interpretation and digitizing methods. In the United States, the recent availability of 1 m digital color orthoimagery through the National Agriculture Imagery Program (naip) offers an opportunity to update land cover maps for areas of interest. In this study, an object-based feature extraction and a regression tree technique were applied to the NAIP imagery for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Areas (tcma) of Minnesota. An overall accuracy of 74 percent and 95 percent was achieved for the general LULC classification and the impervious surface map, respectively. It was found that both techniques could be used to extract impervious surfaces from the NAIP imagery with relatively high accuracy. The LULC classification results were compared to the 2006 National Land Cover Database (nlcd) and another Landsat-based 2006 classification. Implications for future classification studies were also discussed.
PP2A as a master regulator of the cell cycle

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) plays a critical multi-faceted role in the regulation of the cell cycle. It is known to dephosphorylate over 300 substrates involved in the cell cycle, regulating almost all major pathways and cell cycle checkpoints. PP2A is involved in such diverse processes by the formation of structurally distinct families of holoenzymes, which are regulated spatially and temporally by specific regulators. Here, we review the involvement of PP2A in the regulation of three cell signaling pathways: wnt, mTOR and MAP kinase, as well as the G1→S transition, DNA synthesis and mitotic initiation. These processes are all crucial for proper cell survival and proliferation and are often deregulated in cancer and other diseases.
Battery-Health Conscious Power Management for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles via Stochastic Control

This paper investigates power management algorithms that optimally manage lithium-ion battery pack health, in terms of anode-side film growth, for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Specifically, we integrate a reduced electrochemical model of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film formation into a stochastic dynamic programming formulation of the PHEV power management problem. This makes it possible to optimally trade off energy consumption cost versus battery health. A careful analysis of the resulting Pareto-optimal set of power management solutions provides two important insights into the tradeoffs between battery health and energy consumption cost in PHEVs. First, optimal power management solutions that minimize energy consumption cost tend to ration battery charge, while the solutions that minimize battery health degradation tend to deplete charge aggressively. Second, solutions that balance the needs for minimum energy cost and maximum battery health tend to aggressively deplete battery charge at high states of charge (SOCs), then blend engine and battery power at lower SOCs. These results provide insight into the fundamental tradeoffs between battery health and energy cost in PHEV power management.© 2010 ASME
Electrode design for magnetohydrodynamic power panels on reentering space vehicles

Power can be extracted from the ionized uid surrounding a re-entering space vehicle using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) principles, provided an appropriate system of magnetic elds, thermal protection, and current collection electrodes can be designed and manufactured. Given computational uid dynamics results for a re-entering spacecraft presented elsewhere (1), this paper examines possible electrode congurations and the implications that these will have for power generation. For practical electrode designs and realistic magnetic elds it is shown that current recirculation, which is detrimental to power generation and to thermal management, will generally arise. The necessity for fully-coupled CFD-MHD calculations is also demonstrated.
Encapsulated component stress testing

1. Adverse effects on embedded components appear to be mainly due to localized stresses on portions of the component and are not due to hydraulic forces; therefore, true effects of embedment stresses can only be determined on the components themselves. 2. Embedment stresses can be obtained directly from embedded components such as capacitors and ferrite cores. 3. Component embedment stress measurements can be used to directly select the best embedment materials, stress relief coatings and processing techniques and physical orientation of component. 4. Capacitor component embedment stress measurements were us ed to determine the following parameters: (a) Stresses from embedment material are reduced by many factors—among them are law modulus down to the lowest operating temperature, law coefficient of thermal expansion, law cure temperature, poor bonding to the substrate, and low compressive strength. (b) Among embedment materials producing the lowest stresses on components are urethane and silicone elastomers, foam-in-place resins, and syntactic epoxy foams. (c) Many factors are involved in the selection of conformal coatings which relieve embedment stresses. Among these factors are high coefficient of thermal expansion, law modulus of the coating down to the lowest operating temperature and poor bond of the coating to at least one interface. With a law modulus, bond to the interfaces is not detrimental. (d) Many types of conformal coatings can be used to reduce embedded component stresses to an acceptable level. Among the best coatings materials are silicone, urethane and polysulfide elastomers. Rigid conformal coatings exhibiting good bond properties increase stress effects on embedded capacitors. (e) The position of a component relative to its assembly boards is an important factor of protection from embedment stresses. The worst orientation tested was capacitors mounted perpendicular to a single board.
Outcomes with delayed dorsal vein complex ligation during robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

Introduction There are many concerns expressed by urologists performed robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) regarding management of the dorsal vein complex (DVC). We sought to examine the influence of delayed DVC ligation versus standard DVC ligation on the apical surgical margin status and other key surgical parameters following RALP. Materials and methods The Columbia University Urologic Oncology Database was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who underwent RALP between 2008-2011. Operative records were analyzed to determine whether the DVC was ligated in the 'standard' or 'delayed' manner. The standard group had the DVC ligated prior to the apical dissection; in the delayed group, the DVC was initially transected and subsequently oversewn after completion of the apical dissection. Clinical and pathologic data was retrospectively evaluated and stratified by the type of DVC ligation to compare positive apical margin rates based on DVC-control technique. Results A total of 244 patients were identified, including 118 in the standard group and 126 in the delayed group. Estimated blood loss (112 mL versus 122 mL), operative time (132 min versus 126 min), and postoperative continence rates (81% versus 84% at 3 months) were similar between the standard and delayed DVC groups (p = NS). Apical margin status was also similar in the two groups, with 3.4% having a positive surgical margin in the standard DVC ligation arm, and 1.6% having a positive margin in the delayed DVC ligation arm (p = 0.43). Conclusions Delayed DVC ligation after apical dissection is a safe approach with comparable surgical outcomes during RALP. From a technical standpoint, we feel it allows for improved visualization of the apical dissection and therefore has become standard practice at our institution.
Infektionen stoppen und Komplikationen vermeiden

Medikamente, die maligne Erkrankungen heilen, lassen gleichzeitig das Immunsystem leiden, sodass der kranke Korper uberfordert sein kann im Kampf gegen Viren, Bakterien und Pilze. Welche Therapien helfen, wenn Patienten mit Krankheitserregern infiziert sind? Wie konnen Patienten vor Infektionen geschutzt werden?
Using MPI file caching to improve parallel write performance for large-scale scientific applications

Typical large-scale scientific applications periodically write checkpoint files to save the computational state throughout execution. Existing parallel file systems improve such write-only I/O patterns through the use of client-side file caching and write-behind strategies. In distributed environments where files are rarely accessed by more than one client concurrently, file caching has achieved significant success; however, in parallel applications where multiple clients manipulate a shared file, cache coherence control can serialize I/O. We have designed a thread based caching layer for the MPI I/O library, which adds a portable caching system closer to user applications so more information about the application's I/O patterns is available for better coherence control. We demonstrate the impact of our caching solution on parallel write performance with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a set of widely used I/O benchmarks and production application I/O kernels.
Review: New simple material model versus Goldschmidt's tolerance factor formalism

ABSTRACTHigh fidelity modeling of a wide range of Perovskite material properties have recently been reported using correlated coordinated “effective” temperature dependent ion properties, radii and polarizability, as developed within an evolving “new simple” material model (NSMM). Here, we summarize NSMM developments. Within the range of NSMM reported A1+ and B5+ Perovskite ion properties, where A is Ag, Na, K, Cs, or Rb and B is Nb, Ta or U, we compare Perovskite modeling using Goldschmidt's tolerance factor (GTF) formalism, a correlation relation, with the evolving NSMM. Although spreadsheet calculations using NSMM are slightly more complicated than those for GTF, NSMM provides significant improvement with regard to fidelity of room temperature: (a) determination of lattice parameter and volume; and (b) structure determination, cubic versus non-cubic; as well as (c) extends such fidelity of (a) and (b) over large temperature ranges. Through incorporation of the Clausius – Mossotti relation (CMR), NSMM p...
Optimal Resource Allocation for Deeply Overlapped Self-Coexisting WBANs

Basically, a WBAN consists of few wearable sensors attached to body parts, clothes, implanted underneath the skins or inner body. A WBAN consists of a central hub (i.e., base station) that controls and communicates with sensors. WBANs may deeply overlap on each other in a crowded area such as hospital because of their rapid mobility, small network size, flexible topology, and higher network density. This overlapping may raise severe interference issues. This WBAN interference can be imposed on sensor-to-BS (i.e., base station), sensor-to-sensor or BS-to-BS, while in traditional networks the interference is imposed merely among few nodes and interference to BS is very rare. In case of deeply overlapping WBANs, interference avoidance employing power control schemes is plausibly unrealistic, because, nodes and hub from other network may stay much closer than nodes and hub of its own network. A possible way to avoid interference is co-existing on the limited channels by sharing the time-frames alternately which is referred to as self-coexistence. In this paper we formulate the WBAN self-coexistence problem as a linear integer programming optimization problem considering service priorities and user demands and propose a solution named Fair Frame Distribution for Self-coexistence (FDS). Comprehensive simulation results show that the proposed FDS algorithm preserves service priority and maximizes fairness.
Photoswitching FRET - A New Approach to Imaging Energy Transfer

Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is a powerful approach to study the interactions of fluorescent molecules. As it has become more commonplace in fluorescence microscopy, numerous techniques have been developed to measure FRET. Amongst them is fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) which is often considered a rigorous standard for determining the level of energy transfer from a donor to acceptor molecule. However, FLIM requires specialized equipment and expertise unavailable to many microscopists. Here, we present a new approach which can be performed on a conventional widefield or confocal microscope to image FRET between a donor photoswitchable fluorescent protein, Dronpa, and an acceptor based on a conventional fluorescent protein. It is based on Dronpa's photoswitching properties in the presence and absence of an acceptor. The technique which we call photoswitching FRET (psFRET) is similar to an established but underutilized technique called photobleaching FRET (pbFRET) with the major difference being the molecules are switched “off” rather than photobleached. Therefore, less illumination light is required to switch “off” the molecule and it can be photoswitched “on” to repeat the cycle. We will present data from experiments testing the validity of this new approach and demonstrate its utility in monitoring intracellular protein-protein interactions.
A genetic legacy of introgression confounds phylogeny and biogeography in oaks

Oaks (Quercus L.) have long been suspected to hybridize in nature, and widespread genetic exchange between morphologically defined species is well documented in two- to six-species systems, but the...
An integrated macro-financial risk-based approach to the stressed capital requirement

Abstract In order to fulfill the stressed minimum capital requirement recently implemented by the Basel III Accord, this paper proposes a risk-based approach to integrate the change of macro-financial environments in which financial institutions operate into the modeling of the new required capital charge. Particularly, using a variety of regime-switching models, I characterize the stressed minimum capital requirement from high risk regimes which are associated with economic recessions and crises. The empirical results show that the proposed approach leads to capital charges 2–3 times higher than those estimated under Basel II Accord, so as to discourage excessive risk taking and hence stabilizing banks' balance sheets. Among competing models, the regime-switching GJR − GARCH model spends the highest proportion of the out-of-sample time in the green zone, which results in the lowest penalties. The results are robust to subsamples.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder

This chapter provides background on ODD and the presentation of symptoms needed for one to qualify for a diagnosis under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5). In addition, this chapter provides information on the etiology of the disorder, developmental progression and presentation, and comorbid conditions that often exist in children and adolescents with ODD. The difficulties and impairments often observed are also discussed, as well as issues related to the treatment of ODD.
Drosophila small ovary encodes a zinc-finger repressor required for ovarian differentiation

Repression is essential for coordinated cell type-specific gene regulation and controlling the expression of transposons. In the Drosophila ovary, stem cell regeneration and differentiation requires controlled gene expression, with derepression leading to tissue degeneration and ovarian tumors. Likewise, the ovary is acutely sensitive to deleterious consequences of transposon derepression. The small ovary (sov) locus was identified in a female sterile screen, and mutants show dramatic ovarian morphogenesis defects. We mapped the locus to the uncharacterized gene CG14438, which encodes a zinc-finger protein that colocalizes with the essential Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1a). We demonstrate that Sov functions to repress inappropriate cell signaling, silence transposons, and suppress position-effect variegation in the eye, suggesting a central role in heterochromatin stabilization.
Host—Parasitoid Interactions

Arthropod predator—prey and host—parasitoid interactions are exceptionally well studied for several reasons. These are systems that can often be studied on a relatively small spatial scale. These also are interactions that can be reasonably thought of as representing tightly coupled systems of two species. Finally, these are systems of great economic importance, because often the hosts are significant pests of crops, and the parasitoids may act as control agents.
A cysteine-based molecular code informs collagen C-propeptide assembly.

Fundamental questions regarding collagen biosynthesis, especially with respect to the molecular origins of homotrimeric versus heterotrimeric assembly, remain unanswered. Here, we demonstrate that the presence or absence of a single cysteine in type-I collagen’s C-propeptide domain is a key factor governing the ability of a given collagen polypeptide to stably homotrimerize. We also identify a critical role for Ca2+ in non-covalent collagen C-propeptide trimerization, thereby priming the protein for disulfide-mediated covalent immortalization. The resulting cysteine-based code for stable assembly provides a molecular model that can be used to predict, a priori, the identity of not just collagen homotrimers, but also naturally occurring 2:1 and 1:1:1 heterotrimers. Moreover, the code applies across all of the sequence-diverse fibrillar collagens. These results provide new insight into how evolution leverages disulfide networks to fine-tune protein assembly, and will inform the ongoing development of designer proteins that assemble into specific oligomeric forms. Collagen proteins assemble into trimers from distinct monomers with high specificity, yet the molecular basis for this specificity remains unclear. Here the authors demonstrate the crucial role of conserved C-terminal domain cysteine residues and calcium in homotrimeric procollagen assembly.