cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sub-30nm TiN/Ti/HfOx pillar formed by tone reverse processes for RRAM applications

New non-volatile memory, like RRAM, needs high aspect ratio (AR) bi-layer resist (BLR) pillar pattern to act as etch mask for sub-50 nm cell metal pillar definition [1]. HSQ/AR3 resist pillar is still not enough for patterning RRAM pillar since (1) AR is limited at ~7 which is still marginal in etching resistance, (2) BLR resist pillar CD is limited by dry development positive CD-bias, (3) BLR resist pillar is easy to collapse during venting to air, and (4) BLR resist pillar AR is lower for looser pillar densities which degrades the etching resistance. Tone reverse process flow for forming RRAM pillar is developed in this study to overcome these drawbacks. Thermal reflow assists the formation of sub-30 nm contact holes (C/Hs) on ZEP520A e-beam resist. Experimental results are summarized below. All the resolved CDs of C/H on ZEP520A with designed CD (DCD) of 40-100 nm are larger than 100 nm without proximity effect correction (PEC) on blank RRAM film stacking substrate. Smallest etched C/H on LTO after thermal reflow process is 14.4 nm. CD-bias of etched C/H on LTO relative to that of resist C/H after thermal reflow is larger for looser C/Hs. Thermal reflow of ZEP520A is C/H size before reflow, density, sidewall profile and reflow time dependent. NiOx hard mask is apparently without deposited into C/H smaller than 20 nm due to PVD deposition limit since the NiOx dot image disappeared after etching of LTO film for tone reverse. Smallest CD of TiN/Ti/HfOx RRAM pillar by tone reverse process flow is 28.8 nm using NiOx hard mask dot CD of 22.9 nm formed on 20.5 nm etched C/H on LTO after reflow. Uniform CD distribution of designed C/Hs result in uniformly distributed CDs after reflow / LTO etching / RRAM pillar formation. In summary, tone reverse process flow for RRAM pillar formation is successfully developed which has potential for patterning RRAM pillar of CD smaller than 20 nm in the help of NiOx hard mask deposition by atomic layer deposition (ALD) into oxide C/H in the future.
Commentary: How Well Do Scientists Communicate to Media?:

On the basis of a review of traditionally reported “differences” between journalists and scientists and ongoing research, the author argues that organizational or professional culture dissonance may not present an impermeable barrier to communication. Findings from application of an ethical motivation scale and interviews with environmental journalists, science writers, and their science sources suggest shared goals create the basis for a much-needed two-way conversation.
On the (Boltzmann) entropy of non-equilibrium systems

Abstract Boltzmann defined the entropy of a macroscopic system in a macrostate M as the log of the volume of phase space (number of microstates) corresponding to M . This agrees with the thermodynamic entropy of Clausius when M specifies the locally conserved quantities of a system in local thermal equilibrium (LTE). Here we discuss Boltzmann’s entropy, involving an appropriate choice of macro-variables, for systems not in LTE. We generalize the formulas of Boltzmann for dilute gases and of Resibois for hard sphere fluids and show that for macro-variables satisfying any deterministic autonomous evolution equation arising from the microscopic dynamics the corresponding Boltzmann entropy must satisfy an H -theorem.
Conservation of the commons: Effects of group cohesiveness and prior sharing

The social issue of conservation is conceptualized in terms of a commons dilemma. Both the recent experimental and theoretical literature are briefly reviewed. The author hypothesized that increasing group cohesiveness and exposing subjects to prior sharing would increase cooperative responding in a simulated commons problem. Undergraduate students (n = 60) in groups of three drew quarters from a regenerating resource pool. Groups which had previously shared a monetary reward were able to preserve the resource more effectively and earned more money than groups which had not shared a previous reward. The traditional cohesiveness manipulation was not successful. The results suggest that prior exposure to cooperative alternatives may enhance the cooperative response in later problem situations. The practical and theoretical implications for conservation strategies are mentioned.
Emission Enhancement by Surface Modification of Reticulated Vitreous Carbon (RVC)

Argon ion radiation, applied through a shadow mask, is used to induce modifications at the surface of reticulated vitreous carbon in an effort to improve field emission properties. Bond structure and other surface features were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. Results show that emission characteristics of treated samples demonstrate marked improvement over non-irradiated samples, possibly due to changes in the types of bond present at the surface
Heat capacity and phase transition of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol from 280 K to the melting point

Abstract The heat capacity of 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol was measured from 280 K to the melting point by means of an automated adiabatic calorimeter. A bifurcated solid-solid transition for the compound was found with the maxima occurring at 352.89 and 353.72 K. The enthalpy of the bifurcated transition was measured and resolved by a “distributing proportionality approach” presented by the authors of this paper, obtaining the enthalpies of the solid III → II and solid II → I transitions as 5.00 and 18.46 kJ mol −1 , respectively. The two transitions are attributed to breakage of the N-H · O and O-H · O hydrogen bonds in the low-temperature crystal phase of the compound, respectively. In addition, the melting temperature and enthalpy of the compound was measured at 384.08 K and 2.78 kJ mol −1 , respectively.
Autocrine signaling based selection of combinatorial antibodies that transdifferentiate human stem cells

We report here the generation of antibody agonists from intracellular combinatorial libraries that transdifferentiate human stem cells. Antibodies that are agonists for the granulocyte colony stimulating factor receptor were selected from intracellular libraries on the basis of their ability to activate signaling pathways in reporter cells. We used a specialized “near neighbor” approach in which the entire antibody library and its target receptor are cointegrated into the plasma membranes of a population of reporter cells. This format favors unusual interactions between receptors and their protein ligands and ensures that the antibody acts in an autocrine manner on the cells that produce it. Unlike the natural granulocyte-colony stimulating factor that activates cells to differentiate along a predetermined pathway, the isolated agonist antibodies transdifferentiated human myeloid lineage CD34+ bone marrow cells into neural progenitors. This transdifferentiation by agonist antibodies is different from more commonly used methods because initiation is agenetic. Antibodies that act at the plasma membrane may have therapeutic potential as agents that transdifferentiate autologous cells.
Effect of quantum interference on optical bistability in the three-level V-type atomic system

The phenomenon of optical bistability is studied for the three-level atomic system in V-configuration confined in a unidirectional optical ring cavity, and the effects of quantum interference and coupling field are investigated. The possibility of obtaining optical multistability in the system by controlling quantum interference and coupling field strength is also discussed.
Minimization of impact from electric vehicle supply equipment to the electric grid using a dynamically controlled battery bank for peak load shaving

This research presents a comparison of two control systems for peak load shaving using local solar power generation (i.e., photovoitaic array) and local energy storage (i.e., battery bank). The purpose is to minimize load demand of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) on the electric grid. Static and dynamic control systems are compared to decrease demand from EVSE. Static control of the battery bank is based on charging and discharging to the electric grid at fixed times. Dynamic control, with 15-minute resolution, forecasts EVSE load based on data analysis of collected data. In the proposed dynamic control system, the sigmoid function is used to shave peak loads while limiting scenarios that can quickly drain the battery bank. These control systems are applied to Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) solar-assisted electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This installation is composed of three independently grid-tied sub-systems: (1) 25 EVSE; (2) a 47 kW photovoitaic (PV) array; and (3) a 60 kWh battery bank. The dynamic control system achieved the greatest peak load shaving, up to 34% on a cloudy day and 38% on a sunny day. The static control system was not ideal; peak load shaving was 14.6% on a cloudy day and 12.7% on a sunny day. Simulations based on ORNL data show solar-assisted EV charging stations combined with the proposed dynamic battery control system can negate up to 89% of EVSE load demand on sunny days.
The compensation irradiance for phytoplankton in nature

[1] The compensation irradiance for phytoplankton is calculated from the time course of fluorescence-derived chlorophyll-a measured on moored sensors in the North Atlantic in spring. Following the initiation of the spring bloom, the time at which chlorophyll-a begins to decrease at a particular depth in a stratified water column is used to compute the compensation irradiance from the critical depth criterion. Over the depth range of 50–110 m, the compensation irradiance is estimated to be in the range from 0.1–0.3 mol photons m−2 d−1.
Influence of postnatal maternal stress on blood pressure and heart rate of juvenile and adult rat offspring.

UNLABELLED Autonomic control of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) was tested in offspring of rat dams that were unmanipulated (controls) or exposed repeatedly to either (1) Postnatal restraint, (2) Postnatal s.c. injections of alkaline saline, or (3) Prenatal s.c. alkaline saline. Under urethane anesthesia, BP was higher than control in 20-day-old offspring of restrained dams and lower at 80 days. The magnitude of the BP response to autonomic ganglionic blockade (chlorisondamine) changed in parallel; the control HR accelerator response was reversed at 20 days and enhanced at 80 days. Postnatal maternal injections increased BP in 20-day-old offspring and lowered it at 80 days. The BP response to blockade was unchanged; HR acceleration was attenuated at 20 days and increased at 80 days. No influence of Prenatal maternal injections was seen in adult offspring. CONCLUSION Post--not prenatal maternal stress disrupts BP and HR control in rat offspring; disruption is greater after restraint than injection. There is sympathetic hyperactivity in preweanlings and hypoactivity in adults.
Characterization of the cure reactions of bismaleimide composite matrices

Abstract The cure reactions of 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenyl methane (BMPM)/O, O′-diallyl bisphenol A (DABPA) bismaleimide composite matrices are characterized by systematic Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies as a function of isothermal exposures from 130 to 300°C for time periods from 1 to 14 h. The BMPM and DABPA monomers initially react to form an ‘ene’ adduct. The allyl, propenyl and maleimide double CC bonds of the ‘ene’ adduct are completely reacted after 3 h at 250°C. These cure reactions of the ‘ene’ molecule can initiate intra- or inter-molecularly and, hence, the cure path sequence is dependent on viscosity-time-temperature cure conditions. However, only 50% of the hydroxyl groups of the ‘ene’ adduct that form ether crosslinks via dehydration are reacted at 250°C, over 104 h time periods, resulting in Tg increases and mechanical property deterioration. The degree of cure, α, as determined from d.s.c. measurements is less sensitive to the dehydration reaction because of a lower heat of reaction compared to the double CC bond cure reactions. Additional BMI cure induced Tg increases in future aerospace service environments are discussed.
Structure of the Antibiotics PA114B-1 and PA114B-3

WE wish to report the partial structures of PA114B-1 and PA114B-3, members of the PA114 group of synergistic antibiotics obtained from a strain of Streptomyces 1. Other reported synergistic antibiotic groups include streptogramin2, staphylomycin3, antibiotic E1294, and mikamycin5. Bioautographic comparisons by us6 and others4,5 have indicated identities and close similarities between various members of the groups. Table 1 summarizes these comparisons and embodies a proposed universal system of designations.
THE METHOD SECTION AS CONCEPTUAL EPICENTER IN CONSTRUCTING SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH REPORTS

In this article, the author argues that Method sections in social science research reports, particularly those that employ qualitative methods, often lack sufficient detail to make any results that follow from the analytic method trustworthy. The author provides a brief review of the evolution of the Method section from the 1960s to the present, makes a case for a more robust reporting of research method, and then outlines one way to achieve the end of providing a detailed, specific account of research methods that enable readers to understand unambiguously the means by which data are rendered into results. This consideration includes attention to the reporting of data collection, data reduction, data analysis, and the context of the investigation to make it clear why an illustrative presentation of data supports the claim that it offers.
Intestinal lengthening for short bowel syndrome.

The short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a clinical condition that occurs after extensive intestinal resection when the intestinal remnant is inadequate to meet the nutritional needs of the patient. It typically occurs when the remnant length is less than 30 cm in infants and 120 cm in adults. Malabsorption of nutrients leads to diarrhea, malnutrition, and a variety of metabolic disturbances. Survival depends on long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) in many of these patients. Even with optimal medical management by a multidisciplinary team and surgical rehabilitation of the gut, many patients eventually require intestinal transplantation [1]. The intestinal remnant undergoes adaptation after intestinal resection with an increase in length and a modest increase in diameter. It is most marked in infants who also have growth potential. Many patients with SBS develop abnormally dilated intestine, which may result from neonatal obstruction, such as with intestinal atresia, or mechanical obstruction at a later time (eg, anastomotic stricture). Some patients, particularly children, develop intestinal dilation on a functional basis. The resultant stasis and bacterial overgrowth in these segments further aggravate malabsorption. These large diameter segments of intestine have low contraction pressures, which result in to-andfro motion of intestinal contents with poor propulsion. Effective peristalsis requires near closure of the lumen by the contracting intestinal wall, and tapering dilated segments should improve motility [2]. Dilated intestinal segments may be amenable to intestinal tapering and lengthening procedures. Theoretically, this has the advantage of not only improving motility and reducing stasis but also improving intestinal absorption by the increased effective absorptive area. The primary technique of longitudinal intestinal lengthening and tailoring was initially described by Bianchi [3]. More recently an alternative technique called serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) was described [4]. Using these approaches, the dilated segments are
Hemodynamic relationship between intracranial aneurysm and carotid stenosis: review of clinical cases and numerical analyses.

Abstract Objective: Coexistence of both an intracranial aneurysm and a stenosis at the same internal carotid artery is infrequent, but it may complicate therapeutic management of either disease. It is unclear if a stenosis plays any role in development of intracranial aneurysms. We study patients with intracranial aneurysms at our hospital and investigate if there is a relationship between a carotid stenosis and an intracranial aneurysm. Methods: Two hundred and nine patients who were treated for their intracranial aneurysms in a 2-year period were reviewed. Fifty-four patients were found to have at least one intracranial aneurysm and one intracranial or extracranial carotid stenosis. Ten of them had bilateral stenoses; 17 aneurysms were on the ipsilateral side of the stenosis, and eight on the contralateral side. Nineteen aneurysms were elsewhere. Two cases were selected for detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses: one with an intracranial and the other with an extracranial stenosis. Results...
Psychiatric Disorders in the Parents of Autistic Individuals

Eighty-one parents of 42 autistic probands and 34 parents of 18 Down syndrome probands were examined using a semistructured, investigator-based version of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Lifetime Version to estimate the lifetime risk of psychiatric disorder. The lifetime prevalence rate of anxiety disorder was significantly greater in parents of autistic probands than in parents of Down syndrome probands. The lifetime prevalence rate of major depressive disorder, while not significantly different in cases and controls, may be high in the parents of autistic probands (27%) in comparison with populations rates.
A Critical Evaluation of Tangential-Flow Ultrafiltration for Trace Metal Studies in Freshwater Systems. 2. Total Mercury and Methylmercury

Laboratory and field investigations of 10 kDa polyethersulfone (PES) and regenerated cellulose (RCL) membranes were conducted to evaluate the utility of ultrafiltration (UF) for low-level mercury determinations in freshwaters. Laboratory investigations focused on blank levels, sorption loss, and charge rejection; while field investigations addressed mass balance closure, replicate precision, and permeate trends in concentration. A thorough mass balance approach was used throughout the investigation, and experiments were conducted across typical gradients in freshwater pH, specific conductance, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The minimum source-water HgT concentration that could be confidently processed from a 5 L volume was 0.5 ng L-1 for PES and 1.4 ng L-1 for RCL as determined by three times the standard deviation of our method blank. The minimum source-water MeHg concentration was 0.5 ng L-1 for PES and 0.2 ng L-1 for RCL based on river-water mass balance results. Mass balance closures were general...
Water vapor in the atmosphere of Venus.

Infrared spectra of Venus produced by a Fourier spectrometer flown aboard the NASA CV 990 jet aircraft were analyzed for water-vapor content by comparison with calculated model spectra. The reflecting layer model gave an abundance of 1.6 plus or minus 0.4 micron of precipitable water for the two-way transmission of the Venus atmosphere. The scattering model resulted in a value of 0.25 plus or minus 0.10 micron of water per scattering mean free path. Neither is regarded as a definitive model, but derived mixing ratios will not be significantly in error. An abundance of CO2 using a number of bands, was determined for both models. The volume mixing ratios of H2O to CO2 obtained were 0.0000006 and 0.000001 for the reflecting layer and scattering model, respectively.
Identification of TAG and DAG and their FA Constituents in Lesquerella ( Physaria fendleri ) Oil by HPLC and MS

Castor oil has many industrial uses because of its high content (90 %) of the hydroxy fatty acid, ricinoleic acid (OH1218:19). Lesquerella oil containing lesquerolic acid (Ls, OH1420:111) is potentially useful in industry. Ten molecular species of diacylglycerols and 74 molecular species of triacylglycerols in lesquerella (Physaria fendleri) oil were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry as lithium adducts of acylglycerols in the HPLC fractions of lesquerella oil. Among them were: LsLsO, LsLsLn, LsLsL, LsLn–OH20:2, LsO–OH20:2 and LsL–OH20:2. The structures of the four new hydroxy fatty acid constituents of acylglycerols were proposed by the MS of the lithium adducts of fatty acids as (comparing to those in castor oil): OH1218:29,14 (OH1218:29,13 in castor oil), OH1218:39,14,16 (OH18:3 not detected in castor oil), diOH12,1318:29,14 (diOH11,1218:29,13 in castor oil) and diOH13,1420:111 (diOH20:1 not detected in castor oil, diOH11,1218:19 in castor oil). Trihydroxy fatty acids were not detected in lesquerella oil. The differences in the structures of these C18 hydroxy fatty acids between lesquerella and castor oils indicated that the polyhydroxy fatty acids were biosynthesized and were not the result of autoxidation products.
Using Semantic Search and Knowledge Reasoning to Improve the Discovery of Earth Science Records: An Example with the ESIP Semantic Testbed

Web resources exploration is increasingly driven by semantic web technologies with automated processing. Earth science communities generate large amounts of datasets described in hundreds of millions of metadata records. It is critical to discover the accurate data from the millions of data records based on the end user's searching intent. However, the big challenge is how to ensure that catalogs and Spatial Web Portals can understand end user's intents. To enable portals effectively â€˜understand' the meaning of user's queries and to provide a better searching experience for end users, we collaborated with Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) to develop such a capability through a semantic Testbed. We implemented a reasoning engine using similarity calculations to facilitate the meaningful discovery of Earth science data and to improve the accuracy of searching results.
High-performance network and channel-based storage

The technology trends underlying high-performance network-based storage, namely, advances in networks, storage devices, and I/O controller and server architectures, are discussed. The emphasis is on the integration of storage and network services and the challenges of managing the complex storage hierarchy of the future: file caches, online disk storage, nearline data libraries, and offline archives. Several commercial systems and research prototypes that are leading to a new approach to high-performance computing based on network-attached storage are reviewed. >
Acute toxicity and sub-lethal effects of common pesticides in post-larval and juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus

Abstract The coastal plains of the southeastern United States support extensive agricultural operations that apply pesticides and herbicides. The shallow tidal creeks and ditches that directly drain agricultural fields are home to the young of the ecologically and economically important blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896). Massive mortality observed by peeler crab fishers led us to investigate the acute toxicity of several commercial pesticide formulations and their active ingredients to blue crab megalopae and J1–J4 stage juveniles. Twenty-four hour acute toxicity assays were conducted with the organophosphate acephate (Orthene®), the carbamate aldicarb, the chloro-nicotinyl imidacloprid (Trimax™), the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin (Karate® with Zeon Technology), and the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup® Pro. LC 50 values ranged from 0.22 μg/L for megalopae exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin to 316,000 μg/L for juveniles exposed to Roundup. The acute toxicities of active ingredient insecticides to blue crabs followed the order: lambda-cyhalothrin > imidacloprid ≈ aldicarb > acephate. Megalopae were almost always more sensitive than juveniles and there was little difference between the LC 50 s of each commercial formulation and its active ingredient. Treatment of intermolt megalopae with LC 20 levels of Roundup resulted in significantly reduced time to metamorphosis (TTM) compared to estuarine water controls, while no differences resulted from treatment with the four active ingredient insecticides. Treatment with acephate, aldicarb, imidacloprid, and Roundup significantly increased the frequency of juveniles that died within 6 h of molting. The sensitivity of molting blue crabs to these pesticides makes frequently molting juveniles particularly vulnerable to pesticides in estuaries.
Roentgen treatment of asthma

Abstract The results of the roentgen treatment of 161 patients with moderately severe or severe asthma are reported. Thirty-eight patients (24 per cent) obtained marked relief; 26 (16 per cent) were moderately relieved for periods varying from one month to many months. An additional 23 patients (14 per cent) obtained marked relief, but other treatment given at about the same time may have been partially responsible for the relief apparently obtained from roentgen treatment. Seventy-four patients (46 per cent) obtained less than 50 per cent relief, and the results were classed as failure. In most of the 161 cases in this series, either no specific cause for the asthmatic attacks had been discovered or the symptoms of asthma had persisted in spite of all treatment; in all cases the asthma was moderately severe or severe. Roentgen therapy has not been used in treating patients known to be specifically hypersensitive, with the exception of a few for whom it was employed in an attempt to bring about earlier relief of symptoms. Roentgen therapy is not a method of treatment to be used indiscriminately, as considerable harm may follow overdosage or too frequent treatment. We have noted no harmful effects to date, although it is to be admitted that 5 patients thought that their asthma was worse following roentgen therapy. Even though at present we favor treatment through paravertebral fields, we do not advocate this method to the exclusion of all others. The beneficial effects from roentgen therapy are only temporary, and cures of asthma are not to be expected. We believe that the results we have obtained justify its use as an adjunct to the treatment of certain patients with severe asthma who have not been relieved by other measures.
Comment on ‘Order–disorder phase transition induced by swift ions in MgAl2O4 and ZnAl2O4 spinels’ by D. Simeone et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 300 (2002) 151–160

Abstract In this letter, structure factor calculations and computer simulated powder X-ray diffraction patterns are used to challenge conclusions reached in a recent study by D. Simeone et al. regarding radiation-induced phase transformations in MgAl2O4 spinel. Based on experimental results presented by D. Simeone et al. and previously by other researchers, and based on the structure factor results presented here, spinel most likely succumbs to a phase transformation under irradiation that involves a profound change in the arrangement of cations in the lattice. The space group is modified by the transformation and the new, metastable structure is most likely a defective rocksalt structure. These conclusions are at odds with the description of the spinel metastable phase offered by Simeone et al.
Fabrication of organic interfacial layers by molecular layer deposition: Present status and future opportunities

To keep pace with the miniaturization of next generation devices in applications such as electronics, biotechnology, and energy, their constituent polymer thin films must meet challenging requirements such as providing simultaneously ultrathin and conformal coatings. Traditional polymer deposition methods may not be suitable, and as a result, new fabrication methods are needed. Molecular layer deposition (MLD), as an analog to atomic layer deposition, provides precise control over many polymer film properties, such as thickness, composition, morphology, and conformality. Hence, MLD can be a powerful and novel method for fabrication of polymer films. This review article introduces the variety of polymer films that have been developed using MLD together with important film growth characteristics and properties. Examples of MLD polymer applications are provided as well. Finally, challenges and outlooks of the MLD technique are discussed.
Polydipsia, hyponatremia, and water intoxication among psychiatric patients.

Many psychiatric patients suffer from excessive water intake, leading to hyponatremia-lower than norma! concentrations of plasma sodium-and water intoxication, a neurologic syndrome characterized by headaches, ataxia, lethargy, confusion, slurred speech, tremors, restlessness, urinary incontinence, and, in more serious cases, by focal and generalized seizures, stupor, coma, and death. Some of the diagnostic terms applied to these disorders of water intake are compulsive polydipsia, primary polydipsia, and self-induced water intoxication. An accurate diagnosis requires careful psychiatric and neuroendocrine evaluation (1). Reported rates of polydipsia among hospitalized psychiatric patients range between 6 and 17.5 percent, differing by type of institution and case-finding method (2-4). About half of these patients develop water intoxication. A mortality rate as high as 18.5 percent due to complications of water intoxication has been reported (5). About 80 percent of psychiatric patients with polydipsia and water intoxication have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Other diagnoses asso-
Pre-dementia Alzheimer's trials: overview.

A series of negative clinical trials of disease-modifying agents for Alzheimer’s disease has increased pessimism regarding the prospects for important therapeutic advances. But limited efficacy may be attributed in part to the advanced degree of neurodegeneration present at the onset of dementia. To optimize the likelihood of success, it is essential to develop the methodology to allow testing of disease-modifying treatments at an early stage of pathology, when modulation of pathophysiologic mechanisms may yield major clinical benefits.
Conflict resolution in Mexican American adolescents' friendships: Links with culture, gender and friendship quality

This study was designed to describe the conflict resolution practices used in Mexican American adolescents’ friendships, to explore the role of cultural orientations and values and gender-typed personality qualities in conflict resolution use, and to assess the connections between conflict resolution and friendship quality. Participants were 246 Mexican American adolescents (M = 12.77 years of age) and their older siblings (M = 15.70 years of age). Results indicated that adolescents used solution-oriented strategies most frequently, followed by nonconfrontation and control strategies. Girls were more likely than boys to use solution-oriented strategies and less likely to use control strategies. Familistic values and gender-typed personality qualities were associated with solution-oriented conflict resolution strategies. Finally, conflict resolution strategies were related to overall friendship quality: solution-oriented strategies were positively linked to intimacy and negatively associated with friendship negativity, whereas nonconfrontation and control strategies were associated with greater relationship negativity.
Assessment of Computational-Fluid-Dynamics-Based Response Surface Database for Ares I Supersonic Ascent Aerodynamics

DOI: 10.2514/1.A32190 DuringthedevelopmentoftheAresIcrewlaunchvehicle,awind-tunnelmechanicalfailuredelayeddeliveryofthe ascent aerodynamics database for supersonic Mach numbers. An interim database developed from computational simulations mitigated the impact of the delay. The Ares I aerodynamics team built the interim database using radial basis functions to model the aerodynamic coefficients and also estimated the uncertainty using the computational data available at the time. The database was updated using the wind-tunnel results after the test was completed, and the team assessed the quality of the computationally based database relative to the final experimentally based database, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The computationally based database closely matched the general behavior of the experimentally based database, and the computationally based database uncertainty intervals contained nearly all of the experimentally based database data. This assessment confirms that a reasonable aerodynamic database for launch vehicles at supersonic conditions can be constructed using only computational data, provided that sufficient knowledge of the physics and expected behavior is available. The assessment also demonstrated that the nonparametric response surface model used to develop the database adequately modeled complex behavior throughout a large data space using relatively sparse data.
Alluvial sandstone composition and paleoclimate; I, Framework mineralogy

ABSTRACT Systematic variations in compositional maturity of first-cycle fluvial sandstones are found in the Cutler Formation (Permian) and Fountain Formation (Permian-Pennsylvanian) in Colorado and in the Gondwana Supergroup (Permian-Triassic) of Peninsular India. These variations reflect changing climate during deposition. Climate is considered to be the critical factor affecting maturity because source rocks (granite, granite gneiss) and tectono-environmental setting (alluvial systems associated with basement-cored block uplifts) were similar and remained relatively unchanged throughout deposition of all three of the units. The roughly 3,200-m-thick Gondwana succession, consisting of five sandstone petrofacies, is characterized by the following sequence of change (oldest to youngest) in compositional maturity expressed in Q/F/R percentages: 54:42:4 88:10:2 62:34:4 82:16:2 99:1:0. This sequence is a function of the changing paleoclimate (glacial arid temperate humid warm semiarid warm semihumid warm humid) associated with the overall global limatic change and the changing latitudinal location of India as it moved from a location close to the South Pole northward during the interval of time represented by Gondwana deposition. Lithologic and fossil evidence indicates that, during deposition of the Fountain Formation, climate gradually changed from relatively wet and warm to at least semiarid and warm. This climatic change is the main factor responsible for the difference in compositional maturity of the older Fountain sandstone (Q:F:R-65:26:9) relative to the younger (Q:F:R-54:36:10). Cutler sandstone was deposited in an arid climate and has maximum compositional immaturity (Q:F:R-49:44:7). A log/log plot of the ratio of total quartz to total feldspar plus rock fragments against the ratio of total polycrystalline quartz to to al feldspar plus rock fragments is a sensitive discriminator of first-cycle sandstones with differing climatic heritage. Bulk chemical composition data support interpretation of climate from framework mineralogy, but by themselves are not sensitive enough to be unequivocal indicators. The same is true for the ZTR index and observations of degree and abundance of solution pits/embayments on detrital quartz. Results of this study support the conclusion of earlier empirical and theoretical analyses which suggest that the optimum conditions for the production and preservation of a distinctive climatic signature on sand composition are met in extensional plate-tectonic settings. Such settings are characterized by coarse-grained crystalline parent rocks, short transport distances in low-order streams, deposition in nonroutine environments, and shallow-burial diagenesis. However, even in such optimum settings, only rarely will climate be a more important determinant of sandstone composition than the tectonic setting itself.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FREE FORM PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (f-PSA) IN SERA OF MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER

ABSTRACTPurpose: The free uncomplexed form of prostate specific antigen (f-PSA) from prostate cancer sera was partially isolated and characterized because the molecular form of f-PSA in the serum is unknown.Materials and Methods: 230 ml. of sera from 59 men with bone metastasis and individual PSA values of >2000 ng./mL were combined and centrifuged for 60 minutes at 30,000 RPM (4C). The sera were fractionated by gel filtration column chromatography (Sephacryl S-200, 2.5 cm. × 92 cm.). Free and complexed PSA in the eluted fractions were isolated by measuring immunoreactivity of PSA (Tosoh AIA[R]-600 assay); f-PSA from 23 separate runs were combined, concentrated and re-chromatographed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to immobilize the isolated proteins onto a nitrocellulose membrane and a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Monoclonal antibody (F5) was used to probe PSA on nitrocellulose membrane and the PSA band was detected by Emission Chemoluminescenc...
Xenobiotic metabolism by prostaglandin endoperoxide synthetase.

(1983). Xenobiotic Metabolism by Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Synthetase. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 1023-1053.
Multiple Clusters of Hepatitis Virus Infections Associated With Anesthesia for Outpatient Endoscopy Procedures

Background & Aims Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted during administration of intravenous anesthesia when medication vials are used for multiple patients using incorrect technique. We investigated an outbreak of acute HBV and HCV infections among patients who received anesthesia during endoscopy procedures from the same anesthesiologist (anesthesiologist 1), in 2 different gastroenterology clinics. Methods Chart reviews, patient interviews, clinic site visits and infection control assessments, and molecular sequencing of patient isolates were performed. Patients treated by anesthesiologist 1 on specific procedure days were offered testing for blood-borne pathogens. Endoscopy and anesthesia procedures were reviewed; HCV quasispecies analysis was performed. Results Six cases of outbreak-associated HCV infection and 6 cases of outbreak-associated HBV infection were identified in clinic 1. One outbreak-associated HCV infection was identified in clinic 2. HCV quasispecies sequences from the patients were nearly identical (96.9%–100%) to those from source patients with chronic viral hepatitis. All affected patients in both clinics received propofol from anesthesiologist 1, who inappropriately used a single-patient-use vial of propofol for multiple patients. Reuse of syringes to redose patients, with resulting contamination of medication vials used for subsequent patients, likely resulted in viral transmission. Conclusions Twelve persons acquired HBV and HCV infections (6 hepatitis C, 5 hepatitis B, and 1 coinfection) in 2 separate offices as a result of receiving anesthesia from anesthesiologist 1. Gastroenterologists are urged to review carefully the injection, medication handling, and other infection control practices of all staff under their supervision, including providers of anesthesia services.
Occupation and other risk factors for injury among enlisted U.S. Army Soldiers.

Abstract Objective To investigate injury risk associated with occupation and occupational physical demand levels among U.S. Army Soldiers. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Personal characteristics, physical fitness, military occupational specialty (MOS), and injury data were obtained by survey from Soldiers in an Army light infantry brigade ( n = 2101). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) from a multivariate analysis assessing injury risk were calculated. Results Injury incidence for the prior 12 months was 43%. Physical fitness and behavioral factors associated with injury risk included age 21–29 (OR [age 21–29/age ≤ 20] = 1.37, 95% CI 1.00–1.90), BMI 27.5–29.9 (high-overweight) (OR high-overweight/normal = 1.62, 95% CI 1.20–2.18); BMI >29.9 (obese) (OR obese/normal = 1.73, 95% CI 1.23–2.44), cigarette smoking (OR Smoker/Nonsmoker = 1.34, 95% CI 1.11–1.63), and poor APFT two mile run performance (OR (Q4/Q1) = 1.61, 95% CI 1.19–2.19). Higher risk of injury was associated with some MOSs (OR (Chemical, Explosives & Ammunition/Infantry) = 2.82, 95% CI 1.19–6.68; OR (Armor/Infantry) = 1.53, 95% CI 1.13–2.07). Conclusion This study identified a number of potentially modifiable risk factors for injuries including: maintenance of healthy weight, improved aerobic endurance, and reduction in smoking. Results also indicate certain Army occupations may be at higher risk of injury. Further investigation into reasons for their higher risk is warranted.
Ternary phthalocyanato Hf(IV) and Zr(IV) polyoxometalate complexes

Ternary phthalocyanine–metal–polyoxometalate (Pc–M–POM) complexes were synthesized and characterized. Group (IV) Hf or Zr ions reside outside the plane of the macrocycle and are coordinated to both the phthalocyanine and the lacunary polyoxometalate. The metal ions mediate the electronic communication between the Pc and the POM.
A generalized Galerkin's method for non-linear oscillators

By allowing for frequency variation in the virtual displacement/co-ordinates, a generalized Galerkin's procedure is developed. This leads to a compact form of Galerkin's conditions, which in turn yield as many algebraic equations as the number of unknown parameters and frequency(ies). The independence of the equations is not guaranteed, but depends on the nature of the oscillators. When they are not independent, the possible “contradiction” serves as a measure of the approximation of the solution. The two well-known non-linear oscillators (Van der Pol's and Duffing's) are used as the basic examples for the application of the method.
Near-Field Radiative Transfer, Dispersion Forces, and Dyadic Green’s Functions

Near–field force and energy exchange between two objects due to electrodynamic fluctuations give rise to dispersion forces such as Casimir and van der Waals forces, and thermal radiative transfer exceeding Plancks theory of blackbody radiation. The two phenomena dispersion forces and near–field enhancement of thermal radiation have common origins in the electromagnetic fluctuations. However, dispersion forces have contributions from quantum (zero–point) as well as thermal fluctuations whereas nearfield radiative transfer has contributions from thermal fluctuations alone. The forces are manifested through the Maxwell stress tensor of the electromagnetic field and radiative transfer through the Poynling vector. Both phenomena are elegantly described in terms of the Dyadic Greens function of the vector Helmholtz equation that governs the electromagnetic fields. In this talk, I will focus on the application of the Dyadic Greens function technique to near–field radiative transfer and dispersion forces. Despite the similarities, radiative transfer and forces have important differences that will be stressed on. I will end the talk with some open questions about the Dyadic Greens function formalism and its application to near–field radiative transfer.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Dynein light chain family in Tetrahymena thermophila.

Dyneins are large protein complexes that produce directed movement on microtubules. In situ, dyneins comprise combinations of heavy, intermediate, light-intermediate, and light chains. The light chains regulate the locations and activities of dyneins but their functions are not completely understood. We have searched the recently sequenced Tetrahymena thermophila macronuclear genome to describe the entire family of dynein light chains expressed in this organism. We identified fourteen genes encoding putative dynein light chains and seven genes encoding light chain-like proteins. RNA-directed PCR revealed that all 21 genes were expressed. Quantitative real time reverse transcription PCR showed that many of these genes were upregulated after deciliation, indicating that these proteins are present in cilia. Using the nomenclature developed in Chlamydomonas, Tetrahymena expresses two isoforms each of LC2, LC4, LC7, and Tctex1, three isoforms of p28, and six LC8/LC8-like isoforms. Tetrahymena also expresses two LC3-like genes. No Tetrahymena orthologue was found for Chlamydomonas LC5 or LC6. This study provides a complete description of the different genes and isoforms of the dynein light chains that are expressed in Tetrahymena, a model organism in which the targeted manipulation of genes is straightforward. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A probabilistic property of Katsuura's continuous nowhere differentiable function

Katsuura's example of a continuous nowhere differentiable function is based on a fixed-point method. In this paper we use probability theory to study the increments of Katsuura's function.
Degree Completers at Baccalaureate Arts and Sciences Institutions and the Contemporary U.S. Macroeconomy

Recent economic downturns have led some liberal arts institutions to consider changes to their program offerings. With this article we seek to enhance the understanding of the correlation between liberal arts and pre-professional programs with the economy in order to help inform higher education faculty and administration when exploring changes to their institutions’ identity. Our research suggests that the percentage of liberal arts degree completers is sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. While driving forces behind these results were not investigated in this study, we consider two possible causes for our findings. Specifically, we suggest a student driven and faculty/institution driven reason for our findings.
Low marine sulphate and protracted oxygenation of the Proterozoic biosphere.

Progressive oxygenation of the Earth's early biosphere is thought to have resulted in increased sulphide oxidation during continental weathering, leading to a corresponding increase in marine sulphate concentration1. Accurate reconstruction of marine sulphate reservoir size is therefore important for interpreting the oxygenation history of early Earth environments. Few data, however, specifically constrain how sulphate concentrations may have changed during the Proterozoic era (2.5–0.54 Gyr ago). Prior to 2.2 Gyr ago, when oxygen began to accumulate in the Earth's atmosphere2,3, sulphate concentrations are inferred to have been <1 mM and possibly <200 µM, on the basis of limited isotopic variability preserved in sedimentary sulphides4 and experimental data showing suppressed isotopic fractionation at extremely low sulphate concentrations1,5. By 0.8 Gyr ago, oxygen and thus sulphate levels may have risen significantly6,7. Here we report large stratigraphic variations in the sulphur isotope composition of marine carbonate-associated sulphate, and use a rate-dependent model for sulphur isotope change that allows us to track changes in marine sulphate concentrations throughout the Proterozoic. Our calculations indicate sulphate levels between 1.5 and 4.5 mM, or 5–15 per cent of modern values, for more than 1 Gyr after initial oxygenation of the Earth's biosphere. Persistence of low oceanic sulphate demonstrates the protracted nature of Earth's oxygenation. It links biospheric evolution to temporal patterns in the depositional behaviour of marine iron- and sulphur-bearing minerals4, biological cycling of redox-sensitive elements6 and availability of trace metals essential to eukaryotic development8.
Strategies to Achieve Target LDL Levels

ACCORD Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes AIM-HIGH Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome With Low HDL/ High Triglycerides and Impact on Global Health Outcomes ARBITER 6-HALTS Arterial Biology for the Investigation of the Treatment Effects of Reducing Cholesterol 6-HDL and LDL Treatment Strategies ENHANCE Effect of Combination Ezetimibe and High-Dose Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin Alone on the Atherosclerotic Process in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia FIELD Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes HPS2-THRIVE Heart Protection Study 2: Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events IMPROVE-IT Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial SANDS Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetics Study