cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of white blood cell growth factors and risk of acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome among elderly patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND. The current study was conducted to evaluate the association between colony-stimulating factor (CSF) use and the risk of developing therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML) among a large cohort of elderly patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who were treated with chemotherapy. METHODS. A total of 13,203 NHL patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database who were diagnosed from 1992 through 2002. Patients were followed from their initial chemotherapy date until the date they were diagnosed with t-MDS/AML, death, or last follow-up (October 31, 2006), whichever occurred first. RESULTS. Overall, 40% (n = 5266) of patients received CSF. During the follow-up period (median follow-up, 2.9 years [range, 1-14.7 years]), 272 (5.2%) patients who were treated with CSF developed t-MDS/AML, compared with 230 (2.9%) patients who did not (P < .0001, log-rank test). The 5-year incidence of t-MDS/AML for patients receiving CSF was 14.1 per 1000 person-years compared with 8.3 per 1000 person-years for patients not receiving CSF. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for gender, histology, stage, comorbidities, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy agent, CSF use was found to be independently associated with a 53% increased risk of t-MDS/AML (hazard ratio [HR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.26-1.84). The observed association between CSF use and t-MDS/AML persisted across histologic subgroups (ie, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and others). Patients who received both CSF and antimetabolite chemotherapy were found to have a 2.5-fold increased risk of t-MDS/AML (HR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.91-3.26) compared with patients who received neither agent. CONCLUSIONS. The current study, which to our knowledge is the first large population-based study published to date, demonstrated that the administration of CSF among elderly NHL patients receiving chemotherapy was associated with an increased risk of t-MDS/AML, although the absolute risk was low. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Can the Knowledge Norm Co‐Opt the Opt Out?

The Knowledge Norm of Assertion (KNA) claims that it is proper to assert that p only if one knows that p. Though supported by a wide range of evidence, it appears to generate incorrect verdicts when applied to utterances of “I don't know.” Instead of being an objection to KNA, I argue that this linguistic data shows that “I don't know” does not standardly function as a literal assertion about one's epistemic status; rather, it is an indirect speech act that has the primary illocutionary force of opting out of the speaker's conversational responsibilities. This explanation both reveals that the opt-out is an under-appreciated type of illocutionary act with a wide range of applications, and shows that the initial data in fact supports KNA over its rivals.
Initial serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level in prediction of pregnancy outcome in in-vitro fertilization patients

CONCLUSION: Mini incubators are convenient and economical to use and deliver results that are at least on par, if not significantly improved, over conventional Big Box incubators. They are not inexpensive and only hold about half the number of patient’s dishes, but their smaller size limits the negative effects of exposure to a degraded gas environment and slow temperature recovery each time the incubator is opened – a virtue in our opinion that results in direct improvement for patients.
Regulation of gastric somatostatin secretion in the mouse by luminal acidity: A local feedback mechanism

Abstract The present study was designed to determine whether somatostatin secretion induced by histamine or pentagastrin in the isolated luminally perfused mouse stomach was a direct effect of the secretagogues on gastric somatostatin cells or an indirect effect mediated by the increase in luminal acidity. Perfusion of the lumen with exogenous acid (80–480 nmol/min) caused an increase in somatostatin secretion in proportion to the increase in luminal acidity. The increase in somatostatin secretion was resistant to tetrodotoxin and attained maximal levels (61.6% ± 8.7% above basal level) similar to those elicited by maximal doses of secretagogues. Conversely, neutralization of basal acid secretion with bicarbonate (20–160 nmol/min) caused a decrease in somatostatin secretion in proportion to the decrease in luminal acidity. Similarly, neutralization of the secretagogue-induced increments in acid secretion with bicarbonate or inhibition of the increments with cimetidine abolished the corresponding increments in somatostatin secretion. It is proposed that acid-induced release of somatostatin in proximity to parietal cells serves as a negative feedback mechanism restraining acid secretion.
Chemical transport of neutral atmospheric constituents by waves and turbulence: Theory and observations

Vertical chemical transport occurs when the density fluctuations of a species, caused by perturbations of its chemistry, are strongly correlated with the vertical wind fluctuations. Chemical transport can exceed dynamical and eddy transport of chemically active species. Theoretical expressions are derived for the chemical fluxes and transport velocities and used to characterize the vertical transport of mesospheric O3 and meteoric Na and Fe between 85 and 100 km. Chemical transport is dependent on the intrinsic frequency spectrum of the temperature fluctuations and on the chemical cutoff periods of the species. For O3 only high-frequency fluctuations contribute to chemical transport because slower, larger-amplitude density perturbations are damped by chemistry. The cutoff periods for O3 range from ~15 min during the day when photolysis is important to ~200 min at night. The chemical transport velocities of Na and Fe are proportional to the O3, O2+, and NO+ densities above 85 km. For O3, Na, and Fe the magnitudes of the vertical transport velocity can be as large as 10 cm/s, and they exhibit strong diurnal variations. O3 chemical transport is downward at night and upward during the day. Na and Fe chemical transport are largely upward with the strongest upward velocities at night near 85 and 100 km.
DNA Viruses and Cancer: Taking a Broader Look

A variety of infectious agents, including bacteria, parasites, and viruses, contribute to oncogenesis. Not all of these pathogens produce oncoproteins that can directly transform cells by affecting major cellular growth control mechanisms. Many viruses, as well as the bacteria and parasites, function more indirectly. It is highly likely that we have only begun to discover the extent to which infections agents contribute to oncogenesis via indirect routes. Thus, it is worthwhile to take a broader look at the potential means by which mammalian DNA viruses, many of which are not known to frankly transform cells, may mediate more subtle means of manipulating cells toward oncogenesis (oncopotentiation), or tumor cells toward more serious malignancy (oncomodulation). We consider these effects for DNA viruses on the phosphotidylinositol-3′ kinase (PI3K)–Akt–tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)–mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in ways that mimic effects seen in oncogenesis. We also discuss viral alterations of cellular metabolism that also mimic what happens in tumor cells. The data suggest that while a virus may not be able to frankly transform a cell, it can alter signaling and metabolism in ways that could potentiate transformation or increase the malignancy of a cancer cell.
Perioperative pharmacotherapy for lung resection: “Going for the gold”?

From the Department of Surgery, Thoracic Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Disclosures: Authors has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Sept 22, 2015; accepted for publication Sept 23, 2015; available ahead of print Oct 27, 2015. Address for reprints: ValerieW. Rusch,MD, Department of Surgery,Miner Family Chair in Intrathoracic Cancers, Vice Chair, Clinical Research, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, NewYork, NY 10065 (E-mail: ruschv@mskcc.org). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016;151:18-9 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2016 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.09.092
Effect of Graft Thickness on Visual Acuity After Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose To assess the relationship between graft thickness and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and conference abstracts were searched for studies published up to October 2015 with standard systematic review methodology. Eligibility criteria included studies evaluating graft thickness in primary DSEK and visual outcomes. There were no restrictions to study design, study population, or language. Correlation coefficients were pooled using random-effects models. Results Of 480 articles and conference abstracts, 31 met inclusion criteria (2214 eyes) after full-text review. Twenty-three studies assessed correlations between BCVA and graft thickness, and 8 studies used different statistical methods. All associations were reported dimensionless. Studies generally had small sample sizes and were heterogeneous, especially with respect to data and analysis quality ( P = .02). Most studies did not measure BCVA in a standardized manner. The pooled correlation coefficient for graft thickness vs BCVA was 0.20 (95% CI, 0.14–0.26) for 17 studies without data concerns; this did not include 7 studies (815 eyes) that used different statistical methods and did not find significant associations. Conclusions There is insufficient evidence that graft thickness is clinically important with respect to BCVA after DSEK, with meta-analysis suggesting a weak relationship. Although well-designed longitudinal studies with standardized measurements of visual acuity and graft thickness are necessary to better characterize this relationship, current evidence suggests that graft thickness is not important for surgical planning.
Binding of the human T-cell leukemia virus Tax protein to the coactivator CBP interferes with CBP-mediated transcriptional control.

Binding of the human T-cell leukemia virus Tax protein to the coactivator CBP interferes with CBP-mediated transcriptional control
Epidemiological analysis of 217 pneumoconiosis cases in a coal mine of Quanzhou City

[Objective]To understand the incidence of pneumoconiosis in coal mine,and provide a scientific basis for the future pneumoconiosis prevention.[Methods]The health information of workers in a coal mine was collected to analyze the pneumoconiosis' onset age,patient's exposure time,impaired lung function,as well as the distribution of work's type and coal mines of patients with pneumoconiosis by statistical method.[Results] Of 217 pneumoconiosis cases in this coal mine,their average onset age was 52.53 years old,the average exposure length was 19.50 year;Patients mainly distributed in the QianKeng mine,QuDou mine and HanChun mine,with 174 cases(80.18%).Most patients were coal digger and tunneling worker,with 193 cases in total(88.89%);the diagnosis time concentrated in 2000-2011,with a total of 131 cases(60.37%).The main impaired lung function's level was mild injury,with a total of 99 cases(89.19%),the silicosis patient's injury degree is more serious than the coal workers' pneumoconiosis,the difference was significant(χ2 = 36.035,P0.01).[Conclusion]The prevalence of pneumoconiosis is serious in this coal mine.The prevention should focus on coal digger and tunneling worker in the future,the key mining areas will be QianKeng mine,QuDou mine and HanChun mine
An experimental study for pulse detonation rocket engine

The performance characteristics, structure and working cycle of pulse detonation rocket engine (PDRE) were introduced firstly.Then using kerosene as fuel, oxygen and compressed air as oxidizers,proof-of-principle experiments of PDRE were successfully conducted.The results show that the measured detonation wave pressures are close to theoretical values.It also indicate that using kerosene as the fuel of PDRE is feasible.
Use of a Wearable Activity Device in Rural Older Obese Adults: A Pilot Study

Objective: Assess the feasibility and acceptability of Fitbit for supporting behavioral change in rural, older adults with obesity. Method: Eight adults aged ≥65 with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30kg/m2 were recruited from a rural practice and provided a Fitbit Zip device for 30 days. Participants completed validated questionnaires/interviews. Results: Mean age was 73.4 ± 4.0 years (50% female) with a mean BMI of 34.5 ± 4.5kg/m2. We observed reductions in exercise confidence (sticking to it: 34.5 ± 3.3 to 30.9 ± 4.3, p = .04; making time: 18.9 ± 1.3 to 17.0 ± 2.6, p = .03) but no changes in patient activation (45.4 ± 4.3 vs. 45.0 ± 3.9). All reported high satisfaction, seven (87.5%) found Fitbit easy to use, and five (62.5%) found the feedback useful. The majority (n = 6 [75.0%]) were mostly/very satisfied with the intervention. Consistent themes emerged regarding the benefit of self-monitoring and participant motivation. Common concerns included finding time to exercise and lack of a peer group. Conclusion:...
An improved sampling strategy for global energy minimization of multi-component systems

Abstract Effective initial sampling plays an important role in capturing key details about the energy surfaces of multi-component, multi-sublattice phases for the purposes of accurate convergence toward the global minimum energy configuration of a given system. It is shown that, when using the appropriate statistical distribution, both quasi-random and pseudo-random sampling methods compare well with the standard uniform grid-based technique. Moreover, the combination of random sampling with uniform grid points, while maintaining sampling performance for equilibrium calculations in the Al-Co-Cr system, significantly increases performance for a fictive 10-component system.
A fast load-pull optimization for power-added efficiency under output power and ACPR constraints

In the future real-time optimization of reconfigurable radar transmitter power amplifiers, a typical optimization would seek the highest power-added efficiency (PAE) possible under constraints on adjacent-channel power ratio and delivered power. This paper describes a sequential, fast optimization algorithm to find the constrained optimum using experimental queries taken at sequentially selected load reflection-coefficient values. The algorithm is compared across multiple starting reflection-coefficient values on the Smith chart and convergence to similar constrained optimum impedances and PAE values is demonstrated in both simulation and measurement. This algorithm is designed to allow reconfigurable radar transmitter amplifiers to optimize in real-time, meeting dynamically changing spectral mask, power efficiency, and output power requirements.
Digital nature: Are field trips a thing of the past?

I awoke in my cabin by the pond. Weighing my options for the day, I decided to do some bird watching, winding between white pines and blackberries along the east shore of the pond. By their songs, I was able to identify a Mourning Dove, Blue Jays, an American Crow, and perhaps a Northern Cardinal. A mink, alarmed by my approach, dove into the pond and swam off. Unable to resist on such a sunny day, I waded into the pond and watched the sunlight play around me in the shallows. My mood that morning was appropriately reflected by my status indicators: moderately inspired, tired, and hungry. My hike took place in Walden, a Game , a video game recently launched on the 200th birthday of Henry David Thoreau ( 1 ). With a widening niche of such nature-themed video games and simulations and a rapidly growing audience of online/digital learners, the capacity to reach new audiences and carry environmental education beyond the confines of schools and universities may be a game changer, but one that perhaps comes with perils.
Operando X-ray tomography and sub-second radiography for characterizing transport in polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer

Abstract Utilizing hydrogen gas as an energy carrier and enabling a hydrogen economy is a promising step towards decarbonization. Water electrolysis is a key process in hydrogen generation, but electrolyzers face a couple technological hurdles before widespread integration could occur. Understanding morphology evolution and transport processes in an operating polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer is key to reducing cost and increasing efficiency. In this study, combined operando X-ray computed tomography and radiography are used to study transport and degradation in PEM electrolyzers subject to applied current densities. Tomography enables three-dimensional steady-state imaging but does not capture transport subtleties. Radiography is limited to two-dimensions but does capture transient phenomena. The tomography results depict degradation of the catalyst layer on the anode side of the electrolyzer. The rate of degradation was observed to increase as the applied current density increased. The catalyst particle detachment is due to autonomous propulsion during the oxygen evolution reaction. Particles that mechanically rip off the membrane were observed to be redeposited into the porous transport layer. During radiography, sub-second exposure time is required to capture the transient behavior of oxygen evolution, even at the lower current densities (50–200 mAcm−2). Various flow regimes were observed in the channel ranging from bubbly to slug flow depending on current density. Experimental observations agree with a model that an increase in current density increases oxygen bubble diameter and decreases bubble residence time within the electrolyzer channel.
Femorotibial kinematics in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency: a three-dimensional in-vivo fluoroscopic analysis during walking

Cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) insufficiency is a degenerative condition that is a common cause of pelvic limb lameness and osteoarthritis in dogs. Surgical therapies developed to treat dogs with naturally occurring CrCL insufficiency aim to address the resultant instability, but the in-vivo alterations in stifle kinematics associated with CrCL insufficiency have not been accurately defined. The objective of this study was to quantify the 3-dimensional femorotibial joint kinematics of dogs with naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) insufficiency during ambulation. Eighteen client-owned dogs (20–40 kg) with natural unilateral complete CrCL rupture were included. Computed tomographic scans were used to create digital 3-dimensional models of the femur and tibia bilaterally for each dog. Lateral fluoroscopic images were obtained during treadmill walking and 3 complete gait cycles were analyzed. Stifle flexion/extension angle, craniocaudal translation, and internal/external rotation were calculated throughout the gait cycle using a previously described 3D-to-2D image registration process. Results were compared between the pre-operative CrCL-deficient and 6-month post-operative contralateral stifles (control). CrCL-deficient stifles were maintained in greater flexion throughout the gait cycle. Cranial tibial subluxation was evident in CrCL-deficient stifles at all time points throughout the gait cycle [9.7 mm at mid-stance (P < 0.0001); 2.1 mm at mid-swing (P < 0.0017)], and the magnitude of cranial tibial subluxation was greater at mid-stance phase than at mid-swing phase (P < 0.0001). Greater internal tibial rotation was present in CrCL-deficient stifles during stance phase (P < 0.0022) but no difference in axial rotation was evident during swing phase. Naturally occurring CrCL rupture causes profound craniocaudal translational and axial rotational instability, which is most pronounced during the stance phase of gait. Surgical stabilization techniques should aim to resolve both craniocaudal subluxation and axial rotational instability.
Psychopharmacology in Children with PDD: Review of Current Evidence

Over the past 20 years, there has been an increase in the identification of children with autism and phenotypically related conditions, Asperger disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) (Fombonne 2005). This increased recognition has brought in its wake greater demand for interventions – educational, psychosocial and psychopharmacological. A look at the literature over the past 20 years shows a rather impressive list of medications that have been examined in children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) – albeit with varying degrees of rigor. These include antipsychotics, such as haloperidol and risperidone, alpha-2 agonists, such as clonidine and guanfacine, methylphenidate, antidepressants and the gastrointestinal hormone, secretin. In addition, medication such as fenfluramine, amantadine, and naltrexone has been examined in at least one study. To date, the best-studied medication in children with PDD is secretin, which has been examined in approximately 13 placebo-controlled trials (Levy and Hyman 2005). It has yet to show superiority to placebo. Although several medications have been evaluated for treatment of children with PDD, only a handful of trials have included more than 40 subjects. Over the past decade, however, evidence has emerged on the use of risperidone, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine and citalopram, and methylphenidate in children with PDDs. Coincidently, these three classes of medication are also among the most commonly used in this population (Aman et al. 2003; Oswald and Sonenklar 2007; Mandell et al. 2008). This chapter reviews results from recently published reports mostly from federally-funded, multi-site randomized clinical trials. The review is organized according to target symptoms for medication intervention in children with PDDs, such as hyperactivity and impulsiveness, repetitive behavior, and the triad seriously maladaptive behavior: tantrums, aggression, and self-injury.
16 Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: Management of Complications

The growing popularity of sleeve gastrectomy to treat obesity has resulted in greater awareness and reporting of the potential complications of this procedure. Every bariatric surgeon who performs sleeve gastrectomy will, at some point, be faced with an early or late sleeve complication. This chapter describes the most common complications after sleeve gastrectomy and management options.
Incorporating Gene Ontology Information in Gene Expression Data Clustering Using Multiobjective Evolutionary Optimization: Application in Yeast Cell Cycle Data

The advances in microarray technology have allowed the biologists to simultaneously study the levels of expression of a large set of genes over different time points. Clustering algorithms are used to discover groups of genes that are similarly expressed over all the experimental conditions. In this chapter, an approach for combining experimental gene expression information and biological information in the form of Gene Ontology (GO) knowledge through multiobjective clustering has been presented. The proposed method combines the expression-based and GO-based measures to compute the distances between the genes. Moreover, it simultaneously optimizes two objective functions, one from gene expression point of view and another from GO point of view. The performance of the proposed technique has been demonstrated on real-life gene expression dataset of yeast cell cycle. Moreover, biological relevance studies have been conducted for the produced clusters to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Health-Related Quality of Life Among Survivors of Cancer in Adolescence: An Integrative Literature Review.

Abstract Problem Adolescence is a critical developmental period, but little research is available on the quality of life for individuals ages 10–19, especially those who have faced a life-threatening illness. This integrative review examines factors related to quality of life among survivors of a childhood cancer that occurred during adolescence. Eligibility Criteria The Garrard Matrix Method guided this review of studies that were conducted from 1990 to 2017. Studies were eligible if participants were diagnosed with cancer during adolescence, the studies followed survivorship from cancer diagnosis to treatment completion, and health-related quality of life measures were taken. Sample Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Results Most survivors of a childhood cancer that occurred during adolescence reported physical and psychological health-related quality of life scores similar to, or higher than, healthy controls. Risk factors for poorer quality of life were type of cancer, type of treatment, late effects, and time since diagnosis. Factors for better quality of life were older age, positive feelings such as happiness and optimism, social support, and coping strategies. Most studies used the Short Form-36 and the PedsQL Generic Core Scales to measure quality of life. Conclusions Protective factors such as social support and subjective feelings positively affected quality of life. Implications In order to promote the best patient outcomes, relevant protective factors that improve quality of life should be incorporated in long-term care plans for survivors of a childhood cancer that occurred during adolescence.
SURVEY OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF FERAL HOGS FROM TEXAS

Approximately half the nation's feral hog population resides in Texas, creating a health risk for domesticated livestock and damaging ecosystems. However, biologists know little about the distribution of their intestinal helminths. We collected intestines from wild hogs slaughtered at a private livestock processing facility in South Texas that accepts hogs from over 20 holding facilities across the state. We found a 26% infection prevalence that was not related to host gender or weight. However, female hogs tended to harbor a greater parasite prevalence and diversity than males. We collected five species of nematodes: 153 Oesophagostomum dendatum, 150 Oesophagostomum quadrispinulatum, 64 Globocephalus urosubulatus, 6 Ascaris suum, and 1 Metastrongylus. We collected one species of acanthocephalan: 64 Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus. This is the first wide-scale geographic survey of intestinal parasites of feral hogs in Texas and the first published record of O. quadrispinulatum and M. hirudenaceus from feral hogs in Texas. Thus, our findings set the stage for further collaborative studies on infection patterns as they relate to feral hog control and livestock risk management.
A Benchtop Approach To Measuring S-AdenosylMethionine Metabolite Levels Using HILIC UPLC-MS

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is the most common methyl donor found in living organisms. It is the second most common cellular enzyme substrate and is an essential molecule in the carbon metabolic cycle. SAMe is widely used in both a clinical setting and as a nutritional supplement to treat a variety of disorders ranging from liver disease to osteoarthritis in both humans and animals. Demand for SAMe is rapidly expanding and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is often used as an industrial production host. Increasing clinical research into SAMe, as well as increasing commercial demand, has led to the need for rapid, accurate measurement of SAMe levels from a variety of sources. We report here a novel hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) UltraPerformance liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) benchtop method to measure intracellular levels of SAMe from S. cerevisiae. Research is ongoing to understand the cellular impact of variations in SAMe levels as well as mutation screens to identify yeast strains with increased SAMe production. This UPLC method allows researchers to measure SAMe with increased resolution, speed, and sensitivity while decreasing both cost and environmental impact, and has the potential to be adapted for the measure of many other metabolites.
Using plasmonically generated carriers as redox equivalents

Nanostructures of plasmonic metals naturally combine strong light-matter interactions with catalytic activity, enabling new opportunities for light harvesting, catalytic chemistry, and artificial photosynthesis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the optical excitation of localized surface plasmons generates hot electrons that can activate adsorbates triggering or facilitating chemical reactions on the surface of the nanoparticle. Going beyond such hot-electron-activated chemistry, a body of studies has shown that electron and hole carriers can be harvested from a plasmonically excited nanoparticle and utilized as redox equivalents for driving chemical reactions involving charge transfer. This article reviews such photoredox chemistry driven by plasmonic excitation of metal nanoparticles. Under certain conditions, a plasmonically excited nanoparticle can catalyze multielectron, multiproton transformations such as the photosynthesis of CO2 to hydrocarbons. We describe how the free energy of plasmonically generated charge carriers can be harvested and utilized for thermodynamically uphill reactions involving the formation of energy-rich chemical bonds or the development of molecular complexity. We end with a discussion of future opportunities in plasmon-excitation-driven photoredox chemistry.
Iron: zinc selenide laser, pumping with pulse width that is shorter than or comparable to the population-inversion lifetime

We investigate the requirements for the pulse width and intensity of the pump beam, for the Fe:ZnSe lasing medium to reach threshold. The rate equation is solved for the time dependence of the population density, N2 of the 5T2 manifold which includes the upper level for the lasing transition.
Investigating the potential of satellite imagery for high-throughput field phenotyping applications

High throughput phenotyping, including remote sensing, is enabling new approaches to both breeding and precision farming techniques that improve agricultural efficiency. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being widely employed to collect remote sensing data for high throughput phenotyping. This approach provides high image resolution and rapid data acquisition. However, using UAVs to collect remote sensing is a labor-intensive process as a pilot is needed for each flight. As a result, UAV based approaches face challenges in scaling data collection to large field experiments conducted across multiple geographically remote field sites. Remote sensing data collected from satellites has continually to improve with current datasets providing sub-meter spatial resolution and re-visit time as frequent as once per day. Here, we evaluate the feasibility of employing high resolution satellite imagery for phenotyping small-plot plant breeding and agronomic trials. Vegetation indices derived from satellite imagery were compared to those extracted from an UAV-based multispectral camera and the yield in a small-plot (approx. 8 sq. m) maize trial. The preliminary result indicates that there is a strong and significant correlation between data derived from satellite and UAV imagery. Satellite based phenotyping of yield trial plots would enable evaluation of new crop varieties across larger numbers of geographically distinct locations, assisting in the development of more resilient and broadly adapted crops.
Dynamic shear rheometer testing and mechanistic conversion to predict bending beam rheometer low temperature behavior of bituminous binder

Abstract The low-temperature rheology of bituminous binders is of great interest because low-temperature cracking is one of the primary failure modes of asphaltic pavements in cold-climate region. Low temperature binder characterization/grading has been primarily conducted using the bending beam rheometer (BBR) which requires much binder for specimen preparation, labor-intensive and time-consuming to conduct the testing. In contrast, the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) testing is much easier, faster, and has brought a lot attention to the community because it requires less than one gram per specimen and is applicable for both laboratory-prepared and field-extracted binder for forensic analysis. This study explored using the DSR to characterize low temperature behavior of binder. To this end, both DSR and BBR tests were conducted, and the DSR test results were mechanically converted to BBR beam deflection using the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle. Two groups of binders (i.e., twelve binders from four different sources satisfying three different low temperature grades as one group to investigate the feasibility of the concept, and seven additional binders to apply the concept to a separate group of binders as the second group) were selected and tested under the long term aged condition. More specifically, the dynamic frequency sweep test data from DSR were used to obtain the time-dependent creep compliance that is used in the analytical equation for predicting the BBR beam deflection over time. Test-analysis results demonstrate that the DSR low temperature testing and its mechanistic conversion is promising as it can predict the BBR beam deflection, while a calibration factor can improve the predicting power of creep stiffness, and an additional horizontal shifting was helpful to give a better agreement of the slope (m-value). Although actual implementation into practice requires a more careful investigation, this study infers that the DSR testing can be a good supplemental (or alternative) method to the BBR, which can benefit experimental efficiency of many state highway agencies.
Just-in-Time Imperialism: The Logistics Revolution and the Vietnam War

In this article, I argue that an important yet understudied consequence of the Vietnam War was an imperial turn toward modern logistics management. Drawing on archival documents collected from the ...
Where are the Old-Population High Velocity Stars?

To date, all of the reported high velocity stars (HVSs), which are believed to be ejected from the Galactic center, are blue and therefore almost certainly young. Old-population HVSs could be much more numerous than the young ones that have been discovered, but still have escaped detection because they are hidden in a much denser background of Galactic halo stars. Discovery of these stars would shed light on star formation at the Galactic center, the mechanism by which they are ejected from it, and, if they prove numerous, enable detailed studies of the structure of the dark halo. We analyze the problem of finding these stars and show that the search should be concentrated around the main-sequence turnoff (0.3<g-i<1.1) at relatively faint magnitudes (19.5<g<21.5). If the ratio of turnoff stars to B stars is the same for HVSs as it is in the local disk, such a search would yield about 1 old-population HVS per 10 deg^2. A telescope similar to the Sloan 2.5m could search about 20 deg^2 per night, implying that in short order such a population, should it exist, would show up in interesting numbers.
Senate V. President: A Moot Court on Treaty Withdrawal Powers

This transcript is from a plenary panel organized as a moot, “Senate v. President” at the 2019 American Society of International Law Annual Meeting. Given that former President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from several international agreements, this moot debated the President’s authority to withdraw from treaties without the Senate’s approval. Beyond the question of presidential power, the moot explored related legal questions concerning separation of powers and the justiciability and standing to litigate such matters related to treaties, foreign affairs, and political questions. This plenary session, which included former Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, was streamed online and written up in Lawfare. Organized by the Brookings Institution’s Scott Anderson, the panelists included a group of former government officials: Ginger Anders of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP; Curtis Bradley of Duke University School of Law; Christopher Fonzone of Sidley Austin LLP; Catherine Powell of Fordham University School of Law; and Donald Verrilli, Jr. of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP.
Bayesian Model Averaging and Endogeneity Under Model Uncertainty: An Application to Development Determinants

Recent approaches to development accounting reﬂect substantial model uncertainty at both the instrument and the development determinant level. Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) has been proven useful in resolving model uncertainty in economics, and we extend BMA to formally account for model uncertainty in the presence of endogeneity. The new methodology is shown to be highly eﬃcient and to reduce many instrument bias; in a simulation study we found that IVBMA estimates reduced mean squared error by 60% over standard IV estimates. We also introduce Bayesian over and under-identiﬁcation tests that are based on model averaged predictive p-values. This approach is shown to mitigate the reduction in power these tests experience as dimension increases. In a simulation study where the exogeneity of the instrument is compromised we show that the classical Sargan test has a power of 0.2% while our Bayesian over-identiﬁcation test has a power of 98% at detecting the violation of the exogeneity assumption. An application of our method to a prominent development accounting approach leads to new insights regarding the primacy of institutions. Using identical data and robustness speciﬁcations we ﬁnd support not only for institutions, but also for geography and integration, once both model uncertainty and endogeneity have been jointly addressed.
Spectral Triples and Divisibility of Non-Monic Operator Polynomials

We have seen in Chapters 2–5 how the notions of spectral pairs and triples for monic operator polynomials can be used to analyze such polynomials. In this chapter we drop the requirement that polynomials are monic and develop the calculus of spectral pairs and triples in the framework of non-monic operator polynomials. In subsequent chapters, this calculus will be used to analyze non-monic operator polynomials.
Cross-Linking of a Positive-Tone, Polynorbornene Dielectric

Dielectric films are often used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and microelectronics packaging, where good mechanical and electrical properties are desired to improve device processability and reliability. The good mechanical properties are achieved by addition of an epoxy cross-linker, which forms covalent bonds between polymer chains (cross-links) at elevated temperatures. In this study, cross-linking in a positive tone, aqueous-developable, polynorbornene (PNB) dielectric was investigated. Cross-linker loading and cure temperature were varied and their effects on residual stress and solvent swelling were measured. Residual stress in the film was confirmed to increase during the cure step, as expected. Additionally, residual stress and swelling were not affected by either cross-linker loading or cure temperature in the final film. This suggests that the maximum degree of cross-linking was obtained. Residual stress was, however, affected by cross-linker loading during some processing steps: films with lower cross-linker loadings absorbed more base during development and experienced higher stresses. This led to problems with film reliability since high-stress films tend to break apart easily. As a result, increasing cross-linker loading improves processability of the film even though the final properties are not affected.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Adenine Arabinoside Monophosphate for Chronic Type B Hepatitis

Abstract Twenty patients with chronic type B hepatitis were entered into a randomized, controlled study of adenine arabinoside monophosphate. Before entry, all patients were documented to have stable levels of hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B e antigen, serum hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid, and deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity. Ten patients received adenine arabinoside monophosphate and 10 received no treatment. The two groups were well matched with respect to age, sex, known duration of hepatitis B surface antigen, presence of symptoms, serum aminotransferase levels, and hepatic histopathoJogy. During the 4 wk of therapy, serum levels of hepatitis B virus fell dramatically. However, serum hepatitis B virus-deoxynbonucleic acid or deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity, or both, remained detectable, and levels of hepatitis B virus invariably rose once therapy was stopped. From 2 to 9 mo after therapy, 4 of the 10 treated patients became hepatitis B e antigen or hepatitis B virus-deoxyribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase negative, or both, and the results of routine serum biochemical tests improved. However, 2 of these 4 patients later relapsed. In the control group, 2 patients became seronegative for hepatitis B virus-deoxyribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase and manifested improvement in serum biochemical results by 18–24 mo after randomization. Thus, long-term improvements in clinical and serologic features of disease occurred in 20% of both treated and control patients. Side effects of adenine arabinoside monophosphate therapy were common, and 3 patients developed a severe and prolonged neuropathic pain syndrome. These results suggest that a 4-wk course of adenine arabinoside monophosphate therapy does not induce an increased rate of long-term remissions in chronic type B hepatitis.
Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase of Escherichia coli. Purification and some properties.

Abstract Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase was purified from Escherichia coli, strain B (ATCC 11303), and its properties studied. Its amino acid composition and some of its structural properties closely resemble those of the enzyme recently purified by Smith ((1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 4234–4241). Steady state kinetics, studied in the presence of the activators acetyl coenzyme A, fructose diphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, and 2-mercaptoethanol, and the inhibitor, l-aspartate, suggest an allosteric enzyme going through ligand-dependent transitions between two discrete states. This conclusion is supported by measurements of optical rotation which show two extreme values attainable in saturating activator, and inhibitor, respectively. The active (R) state is characterized by a single value for Vmax and by a Km of about 0.6 mm for phosphoenolpyruvate, approached at infinite activator concentration. The alternate (T) state, stabilized by aspartate, is catalytically completely inert. The property which distinguishes this enzyme from other phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases is that upon addition of substrate, steady state velocity develops after a lag period of variable duration. Substrate and activators shorten, but the inhibitor prolongs this lag period. Analysis of the dependence of the lag period on enzyme concentration suggests that at assay dilutions (7 µg per ml) the enzyme is present as an inactive dimer of two peptide chains (mol wt 100,000) which upon addition of substrate, or activators, associates to the active tetramer. The lag period does not completely vanish even at infinite enzyme, substrate, or activator concentrations. The residual lag period is associated with a modification of the enzyme by the substrate, for once the enzyme has reacted with substrate the residual lag period vanishes for several hours, and then gradually returns. A model, compatible with these observations, is suggested.
Fetal movements in response to sound stimulation

STUDIES OF FETAL MOVEMENT have suggested that its variations may be a useful index of fetal health.’ As in all testing, a dynamic evaluation in response to a stimulus is usually more sensitive than a static test. This study was designed to investigate the fetal movement responses to external sound stimuli. The results show that the fetus is affected by some external sounds and suggest, also, a possible dynamic fetal evaluation test. Sixty normal pregnant women in the third trimester volunteered for these studies, and they all signed informed consents approved by the University Committee on Human Experimentation. Each woman arri\,ed at the Perinatal Ultrasound Laboratory in a fasting state in the morning. They were placed at bed rest in a quiet room, and the fetus was observed continuously with a real-time ultrasound system (Seimens Vidoson 635 ST Ultrasound instrument). The fetal movements were visualized on a black-and-white television monitor by a trained ultrasonographer and recorded on a stripchart recorder with an event marker. Assessments were made for 5 continuous minutes at the control time and then at 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after the stimulus. The sound stimulus was generated by an audiometer (Zenith %A112A audiometer) applied to the maternal midline in the lower abdomen. 411 of the fetuses were in the vertex presentation. There were three subgroups in this study. The first group of 25 women served as the controls, and no sound stimulus was emitted through the system. The second subgroup of 10 women received a sound stimulus of 500 cps (110 db) for 1 minute. The third subgroup of 25 women received a stimulus of 2,000 cps (110 db) for 1 minute. The person who counted the fetal movements was unaware of the subgroup designation. After the studies tlatl been completed. the data \ve~-e placed on punch cards and analyzed with the aid of a computer. The means, standard deviations, and standard errors of the means were calculated. The postsound movements were compared to the control movements by means of Student’s t test. The probability values were taken from two-tailed tables, and only
On the electron delocalization in the radical cations formed by oxidation of MM quadruple bonds linked by oxalate and perfluoroterephthalate bridges

Electron paramagnetic resonance, electronic absorption, and resonance Raman spectroscopy reveal that in the oxalate-bridged compounds, [[(tBuCO2)3M2]2(μ-O2CCO2)]+[PF6]−, the unpaired electron is delocalized over four metal centers (M = Mo or W) as a result of M2 δ to bridge π conjugation, but in the related cationic perfluoroterephthalate-bridged species, the tungsten complex is delocalized and the molybdenum analogue valence trapped.
Comparison of ozone data derived from SBUV and SAGE with emphasis on longitudinal variations

Stratospheric ozone observations performed by the SBAV and SAGE satellite instruments in March and April 1979 are analyzed and compared to other data, where available; in the absence of ground-truth data the experimental uncertainties are modeled by intercomparison of the measurements. The signal-to-noise ratios for the detectability of longitudinal variation in ozone are estimated for both SBUV and SAGE instruments. The analysis of longitudinal variation data reveals significant differences in amplitudes obtained in individual events in which rapid amplitude changes with height were present. Finally, a systematic overestimation of ozone by 20 percent by the SAGE instrument and underestimation by SBUV by about 15 percent at 50-70 latitudes at 10 mb is noted.
Estimating Sobol sensitivity indices using correlations

Sensitivity analysis is a crucial tool in the development and evaluation of complex mathematical models. Sobol's method is a variance-based global sensitivity analysis technique that has been applied to computational models to assess the relative importance of input parameters on the output. This paper introduces new notation that describes the Sobol indices in terms of the Pearson correlation of outputs from pairs of runs, and introduces correction terms to remove some of the spurious correlation. A variety of estimation techniques are compared for accuracy and precision using the G function as a test case.