cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guide to making XPS measurements on nanoparticles

This guide briefly summarizes issues and considerations important for the use of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for characterizing nanoparticles, which are important in many areas of science and technology. Because the surfaces play a major role in determining nanoparticle behaviors, XPS is an increasingly useful tool for understanding their properties, including addressing variations and nonreproducibility issues associated with these materials. The unusual physical and chemical behaviors of these particles must be considered in preparing and characterizing these materials. This guide is one of a series intended to highlight the best practices in the use of XPS.
Frequency of and risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Introduction. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are an urgent threat in the USA and are associated with adverse clinical and economic outcomes. Several studies have evaluated risk factors for acquiring CRE versus carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, identifying antibiotic use and length of hospital stay as major players. However, no studies have compared risk factors for CRE colonization versus infection.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Patients with CRE infection will have different risk factors and worse clinical outcomes than patients with CRE colonization.Aim. To assess clinical outcomes in patients with CRE infection versus CRE colonization.Methodology. A retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted between 1 June 2013 and 31 July 2018 with the first positive CRE culture from any source was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: CRE infection versus CRE colonization. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, past antimicrobial usage and clinical outcomes (length of stay, in-hospital mortality). The primary outcome was infection-related length of stay. Data analysis was performed utilizing SPSS with a two-sided P value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results. A total of 56 patients were included (32 with infection; 24 with colonization). Baseline characteristics were similar between both groups. Infected patients were more likely to have higher actual body weight compared to colonized patients (P=0.03). CRE-infected patients had a longer infection-related hospital stay [12 days (5-20) and 7.5 days (1-13), respectively; P=0.08], but in-hospital mortality was similar between infected and colonized patients (37.5 and 29.2 %, respectively; P=0.30). Patients with infection were more likely to have previous exposure to levofloxacin (P=0.02) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (P=0.03) for a median of 9 days compared to those with colonization. The most common source of CRE in infected patients was the blood compared to respiratory sources in colonized patients.Conclusion. CRE infection as opposed to colonization was more common in patients with previous exposure to levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and those with higher actual body weight.
Improved Electrical Properties in Nanocrystalline Si Formed by Metal Induced Growth

In recent work, the electrical properties of metal-induced-grown (MIG) Si thin films were studied by using current-voltage (I-V) data from a metal/Si Schottky contact. It was found that controlling the doping level of the films and annealing in forming gas (15% H2 and 85% N2) can improve the quality of the nc-Si films. From SIMS analysis on the nc-Si film deposited from a highly doped target, the nc-Si can duplicate the doping level of the sputtering target. Study of p-type doped nc-Si films showed that the fabrication of Schottky diodes on nc-Si films made from an extremely high-doped target (∼1020 cm-3) or low-doped target (∼1015cm-3) was not successful. For highly doped p-type films, tunneling causes Ohmic conduction instead of rectifying conduction. For the nc-Si film deposited from a low-doped p-type target, the film shows conversion to n-type characteristics when measured by a hot probe. This might be due to defects or oxygen in the film. N-type films at the middle doping level (∼1017cm-3) gave good Schottky diodes after annealing the film in forming gas at 700°C. The Schottky diodes fabricated by high work-function metal (Au) gave the rectifying ratio of ~∼103. Several techniques, e.g. slow/fast two-step sputtering at low working pressure and surface polishing, were used to improve the photo response of Schottky photodiodes. The open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.164V and short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 2.5 mA/cm2 were achieved under 100mW/cm2 illumination.
Efficacy of Office-Based Intralesional Steroid Injections in the Management of Subglottic Stenosis: A Systematic Review.

Objective To determine the efficacy of office-based intralesional steroid injections (ILSI) as a management therapy for adult subglottic stenosis (SGS). Data sources A systematic review was completed using PubMed and Science Direct for office-based management of SGS due to various etiologies. Review methods The primary end point measured was a change in surgery free interval (SFI) between endoscopic procedures due to office-based serial ILSI. The secondary end point was to determine what percentage of patients did not require further operative intervention for SGS maintenance therapy after changing management to office-based serial ILSI. Results We identified 187 abstracts, 4 of which were included in the analysis. The total number of participants was 55. The mean age was 50.4, and 78.1% were women. The etiologies were as follows: idiopathic (58.2%), postintubation/tracheotomy (29.1%), and autoimmune (12.7%). The SFI was reported in 3 of the 4 studies. The reported mean pre-ILSI SFI was 362.9 days and the post-ILSI SFI was 582.2 days. The secondary outcome was reported in 3 of the 4 studies. Forty-one of the 55 patients (74.5%) did not require further operative intervention during the duration of the study. Conclusion This review explored office-based ILSI as a potential treatment option for patients with SGS. The limited data presented found ILSI significantly lengthened SFI, potentially reducing surgical burden. In addition, ILSI was found to be safe with few reported side effects.
An improved approximate dynamic programming and its application in SVC control

The main idea of approximate dynamic programming(ADP) is approximately computing cost function to avoid the curse of dimension.However,it needs many times learning to converge due to the randomly choosing initial weights.So it is greatly limited in the application.This paper presents a direct heuristic dynamic programming(DHDP) based on an improved proportion integration differentiation PID neural network(IPIDNN).This method constructs an equivalent between the initial action network and PID controller.Therefore,well-designed PID controller can guide the initial weights choosing,so that the convergence of this algorithm will be remarkably improved.Moreover,compared with the traditional PID neural network,the configuration of IPIDNN is flexible and easy to expand,as well as a better robust performance.The simulation results show the validity of this algorithm and initial weights choosing method by the static var compensator(SVC) supplementary control in four-machine two-area system.It also has a good performance in the circumstance of partial state feedback and state delay.
Aloneness: The Capacity to Be at Home with Aloneness, Silence, and Solitude

This chapter traces the origin of the capacity to be alone to the early companionable silence experienced between primary caregiver and child. Thereafter, it evolves, in a facilitating social environment, into its mature form beginning with adolescence and young adulthood. This capacity to be alone is therefore an essential developmental achievement. Dialectically described, a healthy way of being alone is intrinsically interrelated to a healthy way of relating to others. Being able to be healthily alone is instrumental in discovering and refining one’s social and unique identity and to living up to the call of one’s potentiality to be who one truly is and to the call of one’s mature conscience.
Effects of salinity and shear stress on clay deformation: A molecular dynamics study

The deformation of clay minerals is an important phenomenon that is relevant to many problems, particularly those that occur in subsurface geological formations. The salinity of the formations and external shear stress applied to them are two important factors that contribute to the deformation of such porous media. To gain a deeper understanding of such phenomena, we have carried out extensive molecular dynamics simulations using the Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) structure as the model of clay minerals and have studied the effect of salt concentration on its swelling. As the NaCl concentration increases, so also does the basal spacing. We demonstrate the effect of the coupling between the applied shear stress and NaCl salinity on the swelling behavior of Na-MMT, namely, deformation of the interlayer space that results in swelling. According to the results, the extent of Na-MMT deformation depends on both the brine salinity and the shear rate.
Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinomas in Situ: Do They Exist?

Introduction Although precursor lesions of pulmonary squamous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and carcinoid tumor are well known and accepted entities, precursor lesions of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas, i.e., small cell lung carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, have never been identified. A small body of literature documenting intraepithelial involvement in cases of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas begs the question of whether the intraepithelial lesion represents de novo intraepithelial neoplasia or invasion by underlying tumour. Methods and materials The literature on cases of invasive neuroendocrine carcinomas with an intraepithelial component exhibiting a neuroendocrine immunophenotype was thoroughly and critically reviewed. Results The authors of the publications of cases of coexisting invasive and intraepithelial neuroendocrine carcinoma generally favour invasion as the explanation for the intraepithelial component. However, in practice, it is difficult or impossible to determine the direction of migration of tumor cells when there is both an invasive and intraepithelial component. Pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas in situ have been produced in genetically engineered mouse models. Conclusions Based on the illustrations in the literature of human cases and the production of pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas in situ in genetically engineered mice, it seems likely that these tumours also exist in humans. However, their existence and acceptance require definitive proof. Studies should be undertaken to identify bronchial and other lung biopsies with in situ carcinoma exhibiting a neuroendocrine immunophenotype and a subsequent negative resection specimen and no follow-up evidence of invasive carcinoma. Documenting such cases would provide definitive proof for the existence pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas in situ in humans.
The Winning Message: Candidate Behavior, Campaign Discourse, and Democracy

List of figures List of tables Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Dialogue: a standard for campaign discourse 3. Understanding campaigns: background, theory, and methods 4. The ventriloquist's hand: a game-theoretic model of campaigns 5. Duck or Punch? Dialogue in a California Gubernatorial Election 6. Dialogue and its effects in contemporary American elections 7. Explaining and predicting the occurrence of dialogue 8. Conclusion: toward more substantive campaign discourse Appendix A. Analysis of the model of campaigns in mass elections Appendix B. Experimental procedures References Index.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Alkali Metal Cluster Anions

We present the photoelectron (photodetacment) spectra of K2–19 recorded using 2.540 eV photons. These spectra are highly structured, providing a wealth of information about the electronic structure of alkali metal clusters, including adiabatic electron affinities and electronic splittings for each size. Spectral assignments have been made with guidance from theory. For the smaller cluster sizes, detailed assignments of the spectra were aided by ab initio quantum chemical calculations. For the larger clusters, assignments were guided by a simple shell model. A substantial correlation is found between the predicted shell model energy levels and the observed patterns and spacings in the spectra.
Announcements and the Role of Policy Guidance

By providing guidance about future economic developments, central banks can affect private sector expectations and decisions. This can improve welfare by reducing the effects of asymmetric information and by leading to smaller forecast errors. But it can also magnify the impact of noise in the central bank’s forecasts. I employ a model of heterogeneous information to compare outcomes under opaque and transparency policies. While better central bank information is always welfare improving, more central bank information may not be.
Determination of the Concentrations of Binary Mixtures of Glycerine and Water by a Transient Method

The conductivities of binary mixtures of glycerine and water were measured at 20°C by means of a transient method. The equation describing the correlation between concentration and thermal conductivity was determined. The equation can be used for determining concentrations in mixtures. The results show that (1) the error in the determination of the molar concentration of water in mixtures is less than 1%, (2) the time of measurement is 1 s, (3) this method can be used for on-line analysis in production control.
Implications for flare build-up and heating from observations made by OSO-7

The evolution of the EUV and soft X-ray emission in the event on January 19, 1972 are discussed in terms of the slow (passive) and fast (active) phases of flare evolution that were previously discussed. The implications are summarized for a flare build-up model which was derived-from these observations.
Effectiveness of implicit rating data on characterizing users in complex information systems

Most user focused data mining techniques involve purchase pattern analysis, targeted at strictly-formatted database-like transaction records. Most personalization systems employ explicitly provided user preferences rather than implicit rating data obtained automatically by collecting users' interactions. In this paper, we show that in complex information systems such as digital libraries, implicit rating data can help to characterize users' research and learning interests, and can be used to cluster users into meaningful groups. Thus, in our personalized recommender system based on collaborative filtering, we employ a user tracking system and a user modeling technique to capture and store users' implicit ratings. Also, we describe the effects (on community finding) of using four different types of implicit rating data.
A scalable method for preserving oral literature from small languages

Can the speakers of small languages, which may be remote, unwritten, and endangered, be trained to create an archival record of their oral literature, with only limited external support? This paper describes the model of "Basic Oral Language Documentation", as adapted for use in remote village locations, far from digital archives but close to endangered languages and cultures. Speakers of a small Papuan language were trained and observed during a six week period. Linguistic performances were collected using digital voice recorders. Careful speech versions of selected items, together with spontaneous oral translations into a language of wider communication, were also recorded and curated. A smaller selection was transcribed. This paper describes the method, and shows how it is able to address linguistic, technological and sociological obstacles, and how it can be used to collect a sizeable corpus. We conclude that Basic Oral Language Documentation is a promising technique for expediting the task of preserving endangered linguistic heritage.
Geographic trends in management of early-stage laryngeal cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis The goal of the study was to identify geographic trends in the primary treatment of early-stage glottic cancer. Study Design Retrospective analysis of the United States National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) database. Methods Using the most up-to-date November 2014 submission of the SEER database in addition to SEER-18 data files, a cohort was created of stage I to II squamous cell glottic cancer from 2004 to 2012. The treatment groups (radiation and surgery) were compared with respect to several pretreatment covariates including age, race, gender, state where they received treatment, year of diagnosis, and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Results In analyzing geographic trends, a statistically significant difference in treatment received by region and state was found (P < .0001.). When examining patient demographics, there was no statistically significant difference in treatment by age (P = .5206), AJCC stage (P = .4922), or year of diagnosis (P = .6593). There was a significant difference in racial distribution by treatment (P = .0038), with patients receiving surgery more likely to be black than patients receiving radiation (12% vs. 10%). In analyzing overall survival (OS), there was no significant difference in OS among the four US treatment regions (P = .2508). Conclusions Geographic factors impact overall treatment of early-stage glottic cancer. In addition, it was determined that race was a factor that correlated to differences in treatment modality. Finally, overall survival across the United States was determined to be significantly better in patients receiving radiation therapy. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2015
Reversible crystallization and the rigid-amorphous phase in semicrystalline macromolecules

Abstract Linear, flexible macromolecules in the semicrystalline state have long been recognized as being globally metastable and divided into microphases and nanophases with strong, covalent bonds crossing the phase boundaries. The different phases can be crystals, mesophases, liquids, and glasses. The glasses may have structures which correspond to liquids or mesophases and can exist even above the glass transition temperature of the mobile macrophase as rigid–amorphous fractions. This multilevel structure causes rather unique properties which vary with the thermal and mechanical history of the materials. Temperature-modulated calorimetry and related techniques which can separate equilibrium and nonequilibrium responses are ideal for the analysis of such structures. The techniques of thermal analysis needed to separate reversible from irreversible processes is described, and the transitions of the rigid–amorphous phase and the major reversible processes involving latent heats is discussed on hand of the literature. As baselines for this discussion, the vibrational heat capacity of crystals and glasses of the ATHAS Data Bank will be used.
Association of the type 1 protein phosphatase PP1 with the A-kinase anchoring protein AKAP220

Abstract The cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and the type 1 protein phosphatase (PP1) are broad-specificity signaling enzymes with opposing actions that catalyze changes in the phosphorylation state of cellular proteins. Subcellular targeting to the vicinity of preferred substrates is a means of restricting the specificity of each enzyme [1,2]. Compartmentalization of the PKA holoenzyme is mediated through association of the regulatory subunits with A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs), whereas a diverse family of phosphatase-targeting subunits directs the location of the PP1 catalytic subunit (PP1c) [3,4]. Here, we demonstrate that the PKA-anchoring protein, AKAP220, binds PP1c with a dissociation constant (K D ) of 12.1 ± 4 nM in vitro . Immunoprecipitation of PP1 from cell extracts resulted in a 10.4 ± 3.8-fold enrichment of PKA activity. AKAP220 co-purified with PP1c by affinity chromatography on microcystin sepharos Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that the kinase, the phosphatase and the anchoring protein had distinct but overlapping staining patterns in rat hippocampal neurons. Collectively, these results provide the first evidence that AKAP220 is a multivalent anchoring protein that maintains a signaling scaffold of PP1 and the PKA holoenzyme.
Integrins as developmental switches

Neuregulin (NRG) is a crucial regulator of oligodendrocyte development, strongly promoting both the proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and the survival and maturation of oligodendrocytes. How can the same growth factor mediate such different effects? New work in this issue of Nature Cell Biology implicates an integrin-mediated switch in signalling that results in the loss of the proliferative response and the enhancement of survival and maturation.
Nuclear envelope fraction proteins: Isolation and comparison with the nuclear protein of the avian erythrocyte

Abstract A nuclear envelope fraction is obtained from circulating erythrocytes of mature chickens. This fraction was characterized by chemical analysis, ultramicroscopic examination and electrophoretic analysis of the polypeptides. It is free of plasma membrane polypeptides, of hemoglobin and of deoxyribonucleohistone. Comparisons of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide-gel electropherograms of the nuclear envelope fraction polypeptides with either chromosomal fraction or the total nonhistone fraction polypeptides from Triton X-100-washed nuclei indicate that certain major polypeptides are common to all fractions. This indicates that many chicken erythrocyte nonhistone “chromosomal” polypeptides may be primarily associated with nuclear structural elements which are not, in fact, deoxyribonucleohistone. Although this finding cannot be extended per se to other cells, it does suggest that caution should be exercised in describing nuclear components as “chromosomal” when this designation is intended to imply primary association with the deoxyribonucleohistone. This analysis of the polypeptides in the nuclear envelope fraction of the erythrocyte indicates that further study of the envelope fraction will provide new insights into nuclear structure and function.
Superradiant phase transition in the Dicke Hamiltonian

The condition for a superradiant phase transition to occur in the Dicke model is shown to be a condition on the atomic density. The transition can only occur for high densities.
IN VITRO Determination of Toxic Aldehydes Formed from the Skin Lipid, Triolein, upon Ultraviolet Irradiation: Formaldehyde and Acrolein

AbstractOne of the major skin lipids, triolein, was irradiated by 300 nm ultraviolet (UV) light under conditions approximating those at the skin surface exposed to sunlight. Irradiated samples were analyzed for acrolein, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde by gas chromatography. The acrolein formed was derivatized to more stable l-methyl-2-pyrazoline with N-methylhydrazine and was analyzed by a nitrogen-phosphorus-specific detector. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde formed were reacted with cysteamine to give thiazolidine and 2-methylthia-zolidine, respectively, and were analyzed by a flame photometric sulfur-specific detector. The maximum amount of acrolein (1.05 nmol/mg triolein) formed after 6 hr of irradiation. The maximum quantities of formaldehyde (6 nmol/mg triolein) and acetaldehyde (2.71 nmol/mg triolein) formed after 12 hr of irradiation. Both formaldehyde and acrolein have been known to cause skin irritation in concentrations of 1 ppm.
Crystallization of bisphenol a polycarbonate induced by supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide readily induces crystallization in bisphenol A polycarbonate. Crystallization begins within one h of exposure to the CO2 at temperatures and pressures as low as 75°C and 100 atm. The degree of crystallinity increases sharply as the CO2 pressure is raised from 100 to 300 atm but levels off thereafter. This behavior is likely due to a minimum in the Tg of the polycarbonate/CO2 mixture owing to the opposite effects of the pressure on the Tg of the polymer and on the equilibrium weight fraction of CO2 absorbed. Percent crystallinities of over 20%, comparable to that achieved using acetone or other organic liquids, have been obtained after 2 h exposure to supercritical CO2. Since polycarbonate degasses quickly and quantitatively at ambient temperature and pressure, the high Tg of bisphenol A polycarbonate can be regained in the crystallized material without further vacuum treatment.
GPU-Based Dynamic Search on Adaptive Resolution Grids

This paper presents a GPU-based wave-front propagation technique for multi-agent path planning in extremely large, complex, dynamic environments. Our work proposes an adaptive subdivision of the environment with efficient indexing, update, and neighbor-finding operations on the GPU to address several known limitations in prior work. In particular, an adaptive environment representation reduces the device memory requirements by an order of magnitude which enables for the first time, GPU-based goal path planning in truly large-scale environments (> 2048 m) for hundreds of agents with different targets. We compare our approach to prior work that uses an uniform grid on several challenging navigation benchmarks and report significant memory savings, and up to a 1000X computational speedup.
Specificity and heregulin regulation of Ebp1 (ErbB3 binding protein 1) mediated repression of androgen receptor signalling

Although ErbB receptors have been implicated in the progression of prostate cancer, little is known about proteins that may mediate their interactions with the androgen receptor (AR). Ebp1, a protein cloned via its association with the ErbB3 receptor, binds the AR and inhibits androgen-regulated transactivation of wild-type AR in COS cells. As the complement of coregulators in different cells are important for AR activity, we determined the effect of Ebp1 on AR function in prostate cancer cell lines. In addition, we examined the regulation of Ebp1 function by the ErbB3/4 ligand heregulin (HRG). In this study, we demonstrate, using several natural AR-regulated promoters, that Ebp1 repressed transcriptional activation of wild-type AR in prostate cancer cell lines. Downregulation of Ebp1 expression in LNCaP cells using siRNA resulted in activation of AR in the absence of androgen. Ebp1 associated with ErbB3 in LNCaP cells in the absence of HRG, but HRG induced the dissociation of Ebp1 from ErbB3. In contrast, HRG treatment enhanced both the association of Ebp1 with AR and also the ability of Ebp1 to repress AR transactivation. These studies suggest that Ebp1 is an AR corepressor whose biological activity can be regulated by the ErbB3 ligand, HRG.
The health status of the 'old-old': a reconsideration.

Abstract This paper questions the universal applicability and utility of age groupings among the elderly and the predictions which result concerning health status and costs as more people live beyond age 75. Comprehensive health data from an elderly population in rural Minnesota show the ‘old-old’ to be comparable to and in some respects better off than the ‘young-old’. Drawing on the notions of ‘compression of morbidity’ and survivorship, this study suggests looking beyond simple age distinctions in order to identify groups with increased risk.
Certain heat transfer problems in a rectangular region with multiple cutouts

Abstract Employing a new class of functions, obtained from the refinement of a previous technique, the following steady-state heat transfer problems are solved: (1) A prismatic rectangular bar is cooled or heated by a fluid flowing in the circular cutouts of the bar. (2) Heat transfer in a rectangular region having uniformly distributed heat sources in the circular inserts of different thermal conductivity. (3) Heat conduction in a multiple hole rectangular bar having different inner and outer boundary temperatures. It is assumed that the properties of the materials involved are temperature independent. Numerical results for the cases of rectangular regions with 4 and 8 cavities are presented.
Stage-based tourism models and resident attitudes towards tourism in an emerging destination in the developing world.

Many researchers have used stage-based and life cycle models to describe destination development and local residents’ changing reactions to tourism. Typically, they report that resident attitudes towards tourism, and its perceived outcomes for host populations, worsen with increasing experience and involvement in tourism. However, stage-based models traditionally focus on mature destinations in developed countries. In contrast, scholarship on ecotourism derives largely from developing countries and suggests that increased participation leads to more favourable outcomes and attitudes towards tourism. This paper breaks new ground by exploring attitudes to tourism in an emerging destination in a developing country and linking that exploration to a revised stage-based model. It uses ethnographic data to evaluate responses to recent tourism development in Nicaragua. While findings are complex and do not support a linear relationship between the level of experience in tourism and the attitudes of local resident...
Behavioral and brain temperature responses to salient environmental stimuli and intravenous cocaine in rats: effects of diazepam

While diazepam is an effective anxiolytic and somnolent drug in humans, its physiological and behavioral effects in animals are often variable. Differences in basal activity state (basal arousal) may be important in determining both this response variability and the pattern of drug influence on behavioral and physiological responses to natural arousing stimuli and other drugs. To evaluate the changes in brain, muscle, and skin temperatures, and in locomotion induced in rats by several arousing stimuli and intravenous (i.v.) cocaine; and to assess how these responses are modulated by diazepam at a relatively low dose (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Male rats were implanted with thermal probes in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), temporal muscle, and subcutaneously, and equipped with a chronic i.v. catheter. They were exposed to 1-min tail-pinch, 1-min social interaction with another male and cocaine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) after administration of diazepam or saline. While the injection of either diazepam or saline resulted in similar locomotor activation and temperature responses, diazepam decreased basal brain and muscle temperatures for about 3 h; the temperature-decreasing effect of diazepam was oppositely related to basal brain temperature (r = −0.51). After diazepam, rats also showed weaker temperature and locomotor responses to both arousing stimuli; the effect was stronger for tail-pinch and for absolute temperature increases than relative changes. Although diazepam significantly decreased cocaine-induced locomotor activation, it had virtually no effects on cocaine-induced temperature responses in all locations. In accordance with the “law of initial values”, the temperature-increasing effects of all tested arousing stimuli and temperature-decreasing effect of diazepam depend upon basal brain temperature. The greatest temperature effects are seen with arousing stimuli at low basal arousal (increases) and with diazepam at high basal arousal (decreases). This is a likely explanation for the variability seen with the physiological and behavioral effects of diazepam in animals.
Quantum dots for next-generation photovoltaics

Colloidal quantum-confined semiconductor nanostructures are an emerging class of functional material that are being developed for novel solar energy conversion strategies. One of the largest losses in a bulk or thin film solar cell occurs within a few picoseconds after the photon is absorbed, as photons with energy larger than the semiconductor bandgap produce charge-carriers with excess kinetic energy, which is then dissipated via phonon emission. Semiconductor nanostructures, where at least one dimension is small enough to produce quantum confinement effects, provide new pathways for controlling energy flow and therefore have the potential to increase the efficiency of the primary photoconversion step. In this review, we provide the current status of research efforts towards utilizing the unique properties of colloidal quantum dots (nanocrystals confined in three dimensions) in prototype solar cells and demonstrate that these unique systems have the potential to bypass the Shockley-Queisser single-junction limit for solar photon conversion.
CITED2 modulates estrogen receptor transcriptional activity in breast cancer cells

Cbp/p300-interacting transactivator with Glu/Asp-rich carboxy-terminal domain 2 (CITED2) is a member of the CITED family of non-DNA binding transcriptional co-activators of the p300/CBP-mediated transcription complex. Previously, we identified CITED2 as being overexpressed in human breast tumors relative to normal mammary epithelium. Upon further investigation within the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subset of these breast tumor samples, we found that CITED2 mRNA expression was elevated in those associated with poor survival. In light of this observation, we investigated the effect of elevated CITED2 levels on ER function. While ectopic overexpression of CITED2 in three ER-positive breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, and CAMA-1) did not alter cell proliferation in complete media, growth was markedly enhanced in the absence of exogenous estrogen. Correspondingly, cells overexpressing CITED2 demonstrated reduced sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Subsequent studies revealed that basal ER transcriptional activity was elevated in CITED2-overexpressing cells and was further increased upon the addition of estrogen. Similarly, basal and estrogen-induced expression of the ER-regulated genes trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) was higher in cells overexpressing CITED2. Concordant with this observation, ChIP analysis revealed higher basal levels of CITED2 localized to the TFF-1 and PGR promoters in cells with ectopic overexpression of CITED2, and these levels were elevated further in response to estrogen stimulation. Taken together, these data indicate that CITED2 functions as a transcriptional co-activator of ER in breast cancer cells and that its increased expression in tumors may result in estrogen-independent ER activation, thereby reducing estrogen dependence and response to anti-estrogen therapy.
Pomeron: Decoupling Theorems

We investigate the hypothesis that diffractive scattering is dominated (as $s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$) by a Pomeron Regge pole [${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{P}(t)$]. This hypothesis is particularly attractive since a Regge pole and its attendant cuts satisfy $t$-channel unitarity. For a complete theory the constraints of $s$-channel unitarity must also be satisfied. In addition to Froissart's bound and its wellknown consequence, ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{P}(0)\ensuremath{\le}1$, $s$-channel unitarity implies a large number of decoupling theorems for an isolated Pomeron pole with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{P}(0)=1$. Here we systematically review these decoupling theorems. The theorems are treated in order of increasing strength so as to clearly distinguish the "strong theorems" which can be used to prove the complete decoupling of the Pomeron (e.g., ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{Tot}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$) from the "weak theorems" which cannot. This review is undertaken with two goals in view: (1) To focus attention on possible points of departure for more realistic treatments of diffractive scattering, and (2) to emphasize the importance of $s$-channel unitarity which is expected to strongly constrain diffractive production in certain regions of phase space regardless of the exact nature of the Pomeron singularity.
Destabilization of phospholipid model membranes by YplA, a phospholipase A2 secreted by Yersinia enterocolitica.

Abstract Yersinia enterocolitica produces a virulence-associated phospholipase A2 (YplA) that is secreted via its flagellar type-III secretion apparatus. When the N-terminal 59 amino acids of YplA are removed (giving YplAS), it retains phospholipase activity; however, it is altered with respect to the apparent kinetics of hydrolysis using fluorescent phospholipid substrates in micellar form. To explore the physical properties of YplA more carefully, Langmuir phospholipid monolayers were used to study the association of YplA with biological membranes. YPlA and YplAS both associate with Langmuir monolayers, but YplAS appears to interact better at low initial lipid densities while YplA interacts better at higher densities. This may indicate that the N-terminus of YplA has a role in mediating its initial interaction with compact cellular membranes, which is consistent with spectroscopic observations that fluorescein-labeled YplA may interact more readily with the nonpolar region of liposomes than does YplAS.
A Commentary on: Palaeoecological Background: Neotropics

Palaeoecological data for the neotropics are extremely few, as Van der Hammen so clearly stresses. It is only five years, for instance, since the first radiocarbon date of glacial age was published for the entire Amazon basin. Thus both the climate modelling and ecological communities should treat published reconstructions of the history of the neotropics as opinions rather than data. Van der Hammen gives a cautious, and fair, assessment of current opinions, and refers to the few data sets on which they are based.
The algebra of conditional logic

Conditional logic is the non-commutative regular extension of Boolean logic to 3 truth values; the third truth value stands for “undefined” or “non-terminating evaluation”. In conditional logic, expressions are evaluated from left to right and evaluation stops as soon as the answer may be obtained. For example, “x and y” is false wheneverx is false, undefined wheneverx is undefined and takes the value ofy wheneverx is true. In this paper we study the variety generated by the 3-element algebra associated with conditional logic. We obtain the following results for this variety: a finite complete set of laws; a detailed description of free algebras as sets of ordered, rooted, labelled, binary trees; a representation theorem for the algebras in this variety, analogous to that for Boolean algebras and a recursive formula and an asymptotic approximation for the orders of the finitely-generated free algebras.
GEOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY

“For man is not satisfied in seeing things which are, he seeks to know how things have been and and what they are to be.” James Mutton, 1788, Theory of the Earth “Geologists are not much interested in the future. They are preoccupied with what has happened….” David Kitts, 1976, Certainty and Uncertainty in Geology Geologists are increasingly interacting with public policy makers as a consequence of the growing interest of geologists in forecasting–an interest stemming both from innate curiosity and from the mandate of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The growth of interaction between geologists and policy makers places a responsibility on geologists and their institutions to analyze carefully both the effects on geologic research and the manner in which the implications of that research are translated for the policy maker. In meeting this responsibility they must recognize that their views of the social and economic system affect both the form and content of their advice to the policy makers.
Long-Term Performance of Conductive-Paint Anodes in Cathodic Protection Systems for Inland Concrete Piers in Virginia

As part of continuous efforts to identify effective and durable anodes for use in cathodic protection (CP) of reinforced concrete bridge members, a water-based, electrically conductive paint was evaluated for use as the secondary anode in CP systems for inland concrete piers. The paint was used in two CP systems—one designed and built approximately 6 years ago and the other 8 years ago—to protect the concrete piers of two pairs of twin bridges in Virginia. When adjusted properly, the two systems provided more than sufficient protection to the reinforcing steel. Natural paint deterioration occurred in both systems. In the 8-year-old system, this deterioration ranged from 0 to 0.37 percent. In the 6-year-old system, it ranged from 0 to 0.14 percent. Most of the deterioration occurred at the ends of the pier caps, where the concrete is not sheltered from rain by a deck overhang. The overall performance of the conductive paint in these CP systems was better than expected. Its effectiveness could last for at l...
Freezing of blood perfused tissue: an improved quasi-steady solution.

Abstract An approximate analytic solution is obtained for the temperature distribution and freezing front propagation in tissue. The solution accounts for blood perfusion and metabolic heat generation. The method of solution is based on the introduction of assumed temperature profiles in the frozen and unfrozen regions. The assumed profiles satisfy all boundary conditions as well as the governing heat equations at the moving interface. In addition, the steady state interface location is identically satisfied. Two cases are considered: freezing of a semi-infinite blood perfused tissue over a planar probe and around a spherical probe. The accuracy of the solution is verified in two test cases with known exact solutions: the limiting case of Neumann’s problem and a numerical solution to tissue freezing around a spherical probe. The present theory represents a significant improvement over the quasi-steady model.
On the formation of F-aggregate centers in KC1

Abstract The activation energy for motion of the α center measured at low aggregation temperatures through optical techniques is found to be 0.6 eV identical to that of the mobile defect in aggregate formation.
Dynamic spectral-domain optical coherence elastography for tissue characterization

A dynamic spectral-domain optical coherence elastography (OCE) imaging technique is reported. In this technique, audio-frequency compressive vibrations are generated by a piezoelectric stack as external excitation, and strain rates in the sample are calculated and mapped quantitatively using phase-sensitive spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. At different driving frequencies, this technique provides contrast between sample regions with different mechanical properties, and thus is used to mechanically characterize tissue. We present images of a three-layer silicone tissue phantom and rat tumor tissue ex vivo, based on quantitative strain rate. Both acquisition speed and processing speed are improved dramatically compared with previous OCE imaging techniques. With high resolution, high acquisition speed, and the ability to characterize the mechanical properties of tissue, this OCE technique has potential use in non-destructive volumetric imaging and clinical applications.
Screening for dementia of the alzheimer type in the community: the utility of the Clock Drawing Test

This study reports the sensitivity and specificity of the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) for detecting dementia of the Alzheimer type in a community-dwelling sample of elderly subjects. Forty-two patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease and 237 cognitively intact subjects were administered the CDT as part of an epidemiological study of aging and dementia. Three individual measures of clock drawing performance (quantitative score, qualitative score, and combined quantitative and qualitative score) were determined for each participant. When qualitative elements such as errors and strategies were incorporated into the CDT score, the sensitivity was 84% and the specificity was 72%. The findings suggest that a CDT score which evaluates qualitative and quantitative features provides reasonably good discrimination between normal elderly individuals and DAT patients. However, the CDT appears to have limited utility as a single screening instrument in the community. Instruments such as the Dementia Rating Scale (Mattis, 1976) provide better discrimination of DAT, indicating that functions such as memory and verbal fluency need to be assessed during screening.
Follicle stimulation as an intrinsic property of human chorionic gonadotropin

Antiserum to human chorionic gonadotropin (anti-HCG) with measured capacity to inhibit its antigen was used in conjunction with HCG in intact immature and in hypophysectomized female rats to determine if this hormone has intrinsic follicle stimulating properties. In intact rats, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 I.U. of HCG were given alone and in conjunction with anti-HCG. In hypophysectomized rats, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, and 6400 I.U. of HCG were given alone and with anti-HCG. Anti-HCG inhibited both the second rise in ovarian weight in intact females and follicular development in hypophysectomized females in a manner anticipated on the basis that these responses depended upon the HCG molecule. In hypophysectomized females inhibitition of follicular growth preceded inhibition of interstitial cell development. This result is also in accord with the view that both of these responses depend upon the HCG molecule. The anti-HCG serum did not inhibit synergism between HCG and NIH-FSH-S1, an ovine pituitary FSH, with doses of 100 and 200 I.U. of HCG combined with 240 mg of FSH. An amount of antiserum which would inhibit 500 I.U. of HCG augmented rather than inhibited the response to 1000 μg of NIH-FSH-S1 (43 mg ovarian weight as compared to 29 mg). We conclude from these data that the HCG molecule has intrinsic follicle stimulating properties.
Reexamination of functional subdivisions of the rodent prefrontal cortex.

Abstract Selective patterns of behavioral deficits were observed on tests of spatial or olfactory learning after different cortical lesions in rats. The results clearly distinguished functional subdivisions of the rodent prefrontal cortex: Rats with lesions of the prefrontal cortex that primarily involve the dorsal bank of the rhinal sulcus were impaired selectively and exhibited increased perseveration of responses in a go, no-go odor discrimination task. In contrast, rats with lesions of the region of prefrontal cortex situated along the medial cortical wall were impaired selectively and exhibited increased perseveration of responses in a spatial delayed alternation task. These behavioral deficits were similar in magnitude and quality to those found in monkeys after discrete ablations of frontal lobe regions that are argued to be homologous preforontal subdivisions.
Tidal rhythmites infine-grained Carboniferous limestones, U.S.A.

Abstract Analyses of fine-grained limestones reveals that many exhibit fine-scale laminations. Laminations can be normally graded and consist of a coarser-grained lower part and a finer-grained upper part. The upper part can also contain finely disseminated organic material. Despite the similarities of such graded laminae to yearly varves and turbidites, it can be demonstrated by use of laminae-thickness periodicities that some graded laminae are reasonably interpreted as the product of tidal processes. Within siliciclastic systems, modern analogues of such processes are available for comparisons. In fine-grained facies of the Salem Limestone (Visean; Indiana, U.S.A.), periodicities observed within sequential-laminae thicknesses indicate a dominant control by neap-spring tidal processes. Similarly, laminae within limestones of the vertebrate-bearing Hamilton paleochannel (Stephanian; Kansas, U.S.) exhibit similar features, including fine-scale tidal bundles. This limestone is noted for the abundance of articulated fish fossils. Carbonates containing articulated fish from the Wild Cow Formation (Stephanian; New Mexico, U.S.), exhibit diffuse laminations; however, closely associated siliciclastic mudstones contain laminae that exhibit tidal periodicities. There are many similarities between tidal periodicities and patterns of lamination thicknesses of these rocks. A tidal interpretation for these rocks allows for localized, very rapid rates of deposition. Such rapid deposition may, in part, help to explain how articulated fish and other vertebrates can become preserved within such fine-grained limestones.