cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cavernous Hemangioma of the Lung: Secondary Polycythemia

Hemangioma of the lung is a rare disease. If the lesion is a large one, the arterio-venous fistula which it in effect produces, may be sufficient to cause a secondary polycythemia. Up to the writing of this paper, there were two case reports of hemangioma of the lung with secondary polycythemia. Recently a third report has been added, and for the first time, a pneumonectomy was done for the tumor, with complete disappearance of the polycythemia and the accompanying symptoms. This report is based on a case of a twenty-two year old male with a cavernous angioma causing a severe secondary polycythemia. A roentgenogram of the chest at the age of five was available showing the lung lesion present at that time. The symptoms, physical signs and course of the disease in all the reports are so similar that a clinical entity of cavernous hemangioma of the lung with secondary polycythemia can be established. In 1938, Rodes1 reported the first case of hemangioma of the lung complicated by secondary polycythemia. The patient, a twenty-five year old male, gave a history of cyanosis and dyspnea since childhood with clubbing of the fingers at the age of fifteen. His red blood cell count was 7,540,000, hemoglobin 118 per cent. A roentgenogram of the lungs showed three spherical shadows in both lower lung fields. The patient died of pulmonary hemorrhage and at postmortem there were found three hemangiomata of the lungs, two in the right side, one in the left. The diagnosis was not made antemortem. Horton and Smith2 in 1939 reported the second case. Their patient, a forty-seven year old male, gave a history of being a "blue" baby at birth. Clubbing of the fingers and cyanosis were noted at the age of twenty-four. He was first examined by Horton and Smith in 1932 when he showed cyanosis, marked clubbing of the extremities, a red blood cell count of 6,000,000 and hemoglobin of 20.6 grams. He was thought to have polycythemia vera. He was seen again in 1938, when his red blood cell count was 6,740,000, hemoglobin 23.7 grams, blood volume 121 cc. per kilogram. A bruit was heard in the base of his right lung, not heard in 1932. A roentgenogram of the chest showed an infiltration of the right postero-lateral lung field. Injection of a
Active learning with model selection

Most active learning methods avoid model selection by training models of one type (SVMs, boosted trees, etc.) using one pre-defined set of model hyperparameters. We propose an algorithm that actively samples data to simultaneously train a set of candidate models (different model types and/or different hyperparameters) and also select the best model from this set. The algorithm actively samples points for training that are most likely to improve the accuracy of the more promising candidate models, and also samples points for model selection-- all samples count against the same labeling budget. This exposes a natural trade-off between the focused active sampling that is most effective for training models, and the unbiased sampling that is better for model selection. We empirically demonstrate on six test problems that this algorithm is nearly as effective as an active learning oracle that knows the optimal model in advance.
Technology Development as an Alternative to Traditional Technology Transfer Models

By implementing a dynamic, iterative development process, technology transfer offices can earn additional value and recognition for their institution, bring commercially viable and valuable technologies to the marketplace, support local economic development, and earn funding to support future projects.
Odor concentration invariance by chemical ratio coding

Many animal species rely on chemical signals to extract ecologically important information from the environment. Yet in natural conditions chemical signals will frequently undergo concentration changes that produce differences in both level and pattern of activation of olfactory receptor neurons. Thus, a central problem in olfactory processing is how the system is able to recognize the same stimulus across different concentrations. To signal species identity for mate recognition, some insects use the ratio of two components in a binary chemical mixture to produce a code that is invariant to dilution. Here, using psychophysical methods, we show that rats also classify binary odor mixtures according to the molar ratios of their components, spontaneously generalizing over at least a tenfold concentration range. These results indicate that extracting chemical ratio information is not restricted to pheromone signaling and suggest a general solution for concentration-invariant odor recognition by the mammalian olfactory system.
Atypical presentation of late-onset Tay-sachs disease

Introduction Late-onset Tay-Sachs disease (LOTS) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient Beta-hexosaminidase A activity.
Leaf nitrogen productivity as a mechanism driving the success of invasive annual grasses under low and high nitrogen supply.

Abstract Invasion of the historically perennial-dominated landscapes in the Great Basin by exotic winter annual grasses is one of the most serious plant invasions in North America. Evidence suggests invasive annuals outperform native perennials under N-poor and N-rich conditions. The objective of this study was to identify key traits contributing to the success of invasive annual grasses in these environments. Three invasive annual grasses, two native perennial grasses and one introduced perennial grass were exposed to three levels of N supply. Root biomass, root length, root N uptake rate, root and leaf morphology, leaf nitrogen productivity (leaf NP) as well as biomass and N allocation were quantified over four harvests. Path analysis indicated that leaf NP was the key trait contributing to variation in N capture among the species. Species with a higher leaf NP produced more root length and consequently captured more N under a range of soil N availability. This suggests variation in leaf NP may be one critical trait determining the ability of the resident plant community to resist establishment of these invaders. Restoration programs may be able to increase weed resistance by specifically selecting for this trait in revegetation efforts.
Constructing and Deconstructing Stem Cell Models of Neurological Disease

Among the disciplines of medicine, the study of neurological disorders is particularly challenging. The fundamental inaccessibility of the human neural types affected by disease prevents their isolation for in vitro studies of degenerative mechanisms or for drug screening efforts. However, the ability to reprogram readily accessible tissue from patients into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may now provide a general solution to this shortage of human neurons. Gradually improving methods for directing the differentiation of patient-specific stem cells has enabled the production of several neural cell types affected by disease. Furthermore, initial studies with stem cell lines derived from individuals with pediatric, monogenic disorders have validated the stem cell approach to disease modeling, allowing relevant neural phenotypes to be observed and studied. Whether iPS cell-derived neurons will always faithfully recapitulate the same degenerative processes observed in patients and serve as platforms for drug discovery relevant to common late-onset diseases remains to be determined.
Sigma-point Kalman filtering for battery management systems of LiPB-based HEV battery packs Part 2: Simultaneous state and parameter estimation

Abstract We have previously described algorithms for a battery management system (BMS) that uses Kalman filtering (KF) techniques to estimate such quantities as: cell self-discharge rate, state-of-charge, nominal capacity, resistance, and others. Since the dynamics of electrochemical cells are not linear, we used a nonlinear extension to the original KF called the extended Kalman filter (EKF). Now, we introduce an alternative nonlinear Kalman filtering technique known as “sigma-point Kalman filtering” (SPKF), which has some theoretical advantages that manifest themselves in more accurate predictions. The computational complexity of SPKF is of the same order as EKF, so the gains are made at little or no additional cost. This paper is the second in a two-part series. The first paper explored the theoretical background to the Kalman filter, the extended Kalman filter, and the sigma-point Kalman filter. It explained why the SPKF is often superior to the EKF and applied SPKF to estimate the state of a third-generation prototype lithium-ion polymer battery (LiPB) cell in dynamic conditions, including the state-of-charge of the cell. In this paper, we first investigate the use of the SPKF method to estimate battery parameters. A numerically efficient “square-root sigma-point Kalman filter” (SR-SPKF) is introduced for this purpose. Additionally, we discuss two SPKF-based methods for simultaneous estimation of both the quickly time-varying state and slowly time-varying parameters. Results are presented for a battery pack based on a fourth-generation prototype LiPB cell, and some limitations of the current approach, based on the probability density functions of estimation error, are also discussed.
Protein turnover during maturation of mouse brain tissue.

The measurement of protein turnover involves the product of the rates of protein synthesis and degradation. It is the dynamic balance between these two components that determines the measured net rate of protein synthesis. The data reported here show that brain cells from newborn animals incorporate arginine-14C into acid-insoluble protein at a rate 10-fold greater than the rate for brain cells obtained from 15-day old animals. This difference in incorporation occurred even though the rate of arginine accumulation and the resulting pool size of radioactive precursor were similar for both ages. The measurement of protein turnover in brain cell suspensions prepared from 1-day old animals was shown to be complex and to exhibit a cyclic phenomenon in regard to arginine-14C incorporation into and release from protein. The variation in half-life calculations (0.5–3.5 hr) due to this cyclic phenomenon is discussed. Although puromycin was added in an attempt to amplify the rate of degradation by preventing the synthesis of new protein, it was found that degradation was inhibited as well, suggesting a relationship between protein synthesis and degradation.
Effect of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on HIV Production in Latently Infected, Resting CD4+ T Cells From Infected Individuals Receiving Effective Antiretroviral Therapy

The majority of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppress HIV plasma viremia for significant periods of time [1]. Nonetheless, eradication of HIV by ART alone has not been achieved, likely in part due to the persistence of infected cells in peripheral blood and tissues [2]. In particular, it has been demonstrated that a pool of latently infected CD4+ T cells persists in virtually all infected individuals receiving ART for prolonged periods of time, and it has been suggested that the existence of this pool of cells is one of the major obstacles to achieving eradication of virus [2]. In order to eliminate the latent viral reservoir, a therapeutic strategy aimed at deliberately inducing HIV expression in infected cells has been proposed [2]. Such a strategy hypothesizes that “purging” agents could stimulate HIV expression in the latent viral reservoir and lead to elimination of infected cells via virus-induced cytopathic effects while preventing spread of infection by ART [2]. Indeed, nearly a decade ago, it was demonstrated that intermittent administration of interleukin 2 (IL-2) could reduce the infectious HIV burden in patients receiving ART [3]. However, administration of IL-2 [3] or anti-CD3 antibody, a potent T-cell stimulator [4], did not lead to eradication of HIV in infected individuals receiving ART; the treatment failed to prevent plasma viral rebound upon cessation of antiretroviral drugs [5]. Subsequently, a number of studies have addressed the molecular mechanisms of HIV persistence and have suggested that repression of chromatin structure may play a role in inhibition of viral transcription [2]. More recently, it has been shown in vitro that inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACis) promote acetylation and remodeling of the chromatin structure, which in turn allow expression of HIV RNA to occur [6]. Among HDACis, valproic acid (VPA), a drug clinically used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, has been tested in humans as a potential virus “purging” agent and was shown in one study to diminish the size of the latent viral reservoir in infected individuals receiving ART [7]. However, subsequent studies have demonstrated no appreciable reduction of the latent viral reservoir following treatment with VPA [6, 8, 9]. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), another HDACi, has been shown to induce HIV expression in several in vitro and ex vivo systems [6, 10]. Given these conflicting results and considering the fact that a major thrust of HIV therapeutic research at the present time is the development of strategies for eradicating virus, it is of considerable interest and importance to carefully evaluate the capacity of HDACis to induce HIV expression in the latent viral reservoir of infected individuals receiving ART. We conducted the present study to address this issue.
A media-access protocol for time- and wavelength-division multiplexed passive star networks

A media access protocol is presented for time- and wavelength-division multiplexed optical passive star networks. The protocol is based on a bus-mesh virtual topology. The network provides minimum latency and high throughput while requiring only a single fixed wavelength transmitter and receiver at each station. The use of nonagile, fixed wavelength devices, readily available with current technology, reduces costs, improves reliability and avoids tuning delays and limitations. The multihop access protocol operates effectively in an environment with lengthy propagation delays. The wavelength-division multiplexing system is required to support only a small, easily achievable number of wavelength channels. >
Rare Muon Decays, Heavy Leptons, and CP Violation

We generalize and elaborate a model recently proposed by Cheng and Li. It is characterized by the breakdown of separate conservation laws for e and ..mu.. lepton types and allows for such processes as ..mu.. ..-->.. e + ..gamma.., ..mu.. ..-->.. 3e. Our generalization incorporates the singly charged heavy lepton discovered in e/sup +/e/sup -/ colliding-beam experiments, and it opens up the possibility of introducing CP-violating effects in lepton reactions. We analyze the ..mu.. ..-->.. 3e decay process, both with respect to rate (relative to ..mu.. ..-->.. e + ..gamma..) and spectrum, including CP-violating correlations. Other physically interesting features are also discussed for the generalized scheme: neutrino ''sharing'' and off-diagonal neutral-current effects.
The Heffalump Revisited

Professor Peter Kilby is the author of “Hunting the Heffalump,” a classic in the entrepreneurship literature. In this opening article he returns to the propositions he set forth more than 30 years ago. He refines his earlier notion of the entrepreneurial task and probes more deeply into non-economic factors that can create a deficiency of the supply of requisite entrepreneurial services at the national level. Once again, Professor Kilby provides the reader with a wealth of insights and once again his major argument is sure to stir controversy.
Emigration timing of juvenile pond-breeding amphibians in western Massachusetts

Abstract Understanding the timing of movement events of pond-breeding amphibians to and from breeding and natal ponds, respectively, is essential to implementing effective conservation and monitoring strategies for this group of vertebrates. In this study, we assessed the emigration timing of newly metamorphosed juveniles of four species of pond-breeding amphibians (Ambystoma maculatum, Ambystoma opacum, Notophthalmus viridescens, and Rana sylvatica) in western Massachusetts from data collected at 14 seasonal ponds during four consecutive years (2000–2003). Results identified emigration “windows” for juveniles of each species during each year and for all years pooled. Additionally, analyses identified considerable intraspecific variation in the timing of emigration among ponds and years for at least three of the four study species. Our results are directly applicable to management strategies (e.g., road-closures) aimed at minimizing human-related impacts (e.g., road mortality) on populations of pond-breed...
Studies on nicotine absorption during pregnancy

Abstract Pregnant and nonpregnant rats of the Osborne-Mendel strain were injected subcutaneously with heavy doses of a 2 per cent solution of pure nicotine for the purpose of determining the LD 50 for females of this strain. Pregnant rats received drug on the twenty-first day, one day before expected delivery. The LD 50 for neonates of this strain was also determined within 6 to 24 hours of normal birth. The following values were obtained:Osborne-Mendel rats LD 50 (mg./Kg.)Pregnant adults, 140 to 150 days of age27.4Nonpregnant females, 140 to 150 days of age33.5Neonates, 6 to 24 hours old14.55 Pregnant rats tend to die significantly later than nonpregnant rats, but their tolerance for nicotine is considerably less. The significance of these facts is discussed in terms of maternal-fetal relationships in drug detoxification. Pregnant versus nonpregnant differences in respect to tolerance for nicotine were the reverse of those consistently encountered with barbiturates.
Scalable process for application of stabilized lithium metal powder in Li-ion batteries

Abstract A simple solution processing method is developed to achieve a uniform and scalable stabilized lithium metal powder (SLMP) coating on a Li-ion negative electrode. A solvent and binder system for the SLMP coating is developed, including the selection of solvent, polymer binder, and optimization of polymer concentration. The optimized binder solution is a 1% concentration of polymer binder in xylene; a mixture of poly(styrene-co-butadiene) rubber (SBR) and polystyrene (PS) is chosen as the polymer binder. Results show that long-sustained, uniformly dispersed SLMP suspension can be achieved with the optimized binder solution. The uniform SLMP coating can be achieved using a simple “doctor blade” coating method, and the resulting SLMP coating can be firmly glued on the anode surface. By using SLMP to prelithiate the negative electrode, improvements in electrochemical performances are demonstrated in both graphite/NMC and SiO/NMC full cells.
Heritability estimates of wool follicle traits in sheep skin

Data were collected from 600 newborn lambs, offspring of 354 Western crossbred ewes and 26 rams, to determine heritability estimates as well as phenotypic and genetic correlations between wool follicle variables using histological techniques. Breed of sire and sire within breed were significant sources of variation in total and secondary wool follicle populations and secondary:primary (S:P) ratio. Heritability estimates calculated by regression of offspring on dam were slightly higher than by paternal half-sib correlation or regression of offspring on sire. Expressed as an average of the three methods of calculation, the heritability estimate for S:P ratio was highest (0·69), followed by estimates for secondary, total and primary wool follicles (0·52, 0·46 and 0·36, respectively). These estimates are similar to the heritabilities of fleece weight, staple length and fibre diameter. Selection for increased density, provided an accurate measure is used, is suggested as an effective means for increasing fleece weight within grade.
Cross-Coupled Iterative Learning Control for Manufacturing Applications: Design and Implementation

This paper presents an improved method for precision motion control by combining Iterative Learning Control (ILC) and Cross-Coupled Control (CCC) in a novel way that improves overall tracking performance. Previous developments in precision motion control have introduced a CCC feedback method which results in improved contour error. Contour error is a nonlinear combination of the individual axis tracking errors [1]. In this paper, ILC and CCC are combined to overcome limitations present in each technique. In this new method, multi-axis CCC is reformatted into a single-input single-output (SISO) ILC approach, in which learning of the cross-coupled error leads to a modified control signal and subsequent improvements in the trajectory tracking performance. This approach is different from multi-input multi-output (MIMO) ILC [2] approaches in that two non-coupled systems are combined into one nonlinear system in which the coupling is introduced through only the error dynamics. In this paper, sufficient stability and convergence properties are given for the proposed algorithm. A design for a Cross-Coupled ILC (CCILC) system is presented, and the performance of this system is compared to the performance of existing control systems. Computer simulation and experimental testing of this design are implemented on a microscale robotic deposition (μ - RD) system [3] to assess the overall performance benefits. It is shown through simulation and experimental testing that combining CCILC with individual axis ILC produces the greatest overall performance improvement by capitalizing on the gains acquired from each technique.© 2006 ASME
Altitude Correction of Air Gaps for the DC Interconnection Project From Qinghai to Tibet

The DC interconnection project from Qinghai to Tibet is planned to be located above the altitude of 2 880 m with the highest of 5 300 m. To ensure the safe operation of the interconnection project, the flashover voltage of the air gaps on the line tower and in the converter station devices should be revised with the consideration of altitude, or altitude correction factors should be reconsidered. In this paper the altitude correction factors were given by analyzing and comparing some test data obtained at the different altitude areas such as Beijing, Kunming, Xining, Dawu in Qinghai province and Yangbajing in Tibet autonomous region with common altitude correction methods. On the basis of above research results, and under the condition that switching overvoltage was below 1.7 pu and the altitude was from 3 000 m to 5 300 m, the minimum air gaps on the line tower and in the converter stations for DC interconnection project from Qinghai to Tibet were suggested with the rated voltage of ±400 kV and ±500 kV.
One-Sided Violence in Refugee-Populated Areas

Previous research demonstrates that refugee populations can threaten the security of receiving countries. This study, in contrast, seeks to examine the physical security challenges refugees face in host states. It utilizes a new, geographically-referenced dataset on sub-country refugee demographics to test the hypothesis that regions home to larger refugee populations are more likely to experience one-sided attacks by conflict actors. Results demonstrate that refugee accommodation is a significant predictor of one-sided violence in Africa. In particular, combatants commit significantly more acts of violence against civilians in regions home to larger numbers of self-settled refugees compared to other regions. These findings have important implications for the United Nations’ civilian protection mandate, and further suggest that scholars and practitioners account for possible dangers presented by refugee flows and threats to refugees simultaneously.
Novae Gesneriaceae Neotropicarum XVIII: Columnea carinata , a new species of Gesneriaceae from northwestern Ecuador

A new species of Columnea (Gesneriaceae, tribe Episcieae) is described from the Choco floristic region of the western Andean slopes of northern Ecuador. Columnea carinata differs from other congeners by the presence of elongate shoots, isophyllous leaves, and a uniformly bright red corolla, with nearly complete fusion of the upper two corolla lobes and an elongate keel on the dorsal surface of the corolla tube.
Some remarks on spatial uniformity of solutions of reaction–diffusion PDEs

Abstract In this paper, we present a condition which guarantees spatial uniformity for the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of a reaction–diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) with Neumann boundary conditions in one dimension, using the Jacobian matrix of the reaction term and the first Dirichlet eigenvalue of the Laplacian operator on the given spatial domain. The estimates are based on logarithmic norms in non-Hilbert spaces, which allow, in particular for a class of examples of interest in biology, tighter estimates than other previously proposed methods.
Grooming dynamic traffic in unidirectional SONET ring networks

We develop circuit assignment algorithms for dynamic traffic in SONET/WDM ring networks. We show that a significant reduction in the number of SONET multiplexers can be achieved by properly allocating SONET add drop multiplexers to nodes.
New insights on the applicability of Eringen’s nonlocal theory

Abstract New insights on the applicability of Eringen’s nonlocal theory are introduced. Eringen’s nonlocal theory which assumes the same attenuation function for all material moduli is assessed according to its ability to reflect the exact dispersions of different materials. It is revealed that Eringen’s nonlocal theory fails to, simultaneously, fit both the longitudinal and transverse (shear) acoustic dispersion curves of some materials, such as Si, Au, and Pt. In order to extend the limits of applicability of Eringen’s nonlocal theory, a general form of the nonlocal theory is developed. This general nonlocal theory considers different attenuation functions for the distinct material moduli. This makes the proposed nonlocal theory easily fits both the longitudinal and transverse acoustic dispersion curves of different materials. Moreover, unlike Eringen’s conventional form of nonlocal theory, the general nonlocal theory can reflect both hardening and softening behaviors of the material. Another contribution in this study is the determination of the nonlocal parameters for various crystal materials by fitting their dispersions with the proposed nonlocal theory. Thus, the elastic moduli and the nonlocal parameters of metallic crystals (such as Au, Ag, Cu, and Pt), diamond structure crystals (such as diamond and Si), layered structure crystals (such as graphite), Metal Oxides and Alkali Halides with Rock-Salt structures (such as BaO, NiO, LiH and LiD), and Fluorite structure crystals (such as Mg2Sn and Mg2Pb) are reported.
Temporal Marking in Korean Attributive Clauses and Linguistic Encoding of Human Memory

Subscribing to the widely held view among linguists that human language provides a window on the human mind, the present paper attempts to establish a connection between grammatical structures and the organization of human memory by looking at a set of temporal markers that appear in realis attributive clauses in Korean, namely, -(u)n, -nu-n, and -te-n. The central claim will be that the behavior of these three markers showcases how human language may encode “semantic memory” and “episodic memory” in the sense of Tulving (1972, 1983, 2002, 2005). The analysis proposed here provides indirect support for differentiating between semantic memory and episodic memory as well as dividing memory systems into sub-types. Additionally, the semantic properties of the Korean attributive clause markers uncovered here advances our understanding of the intricate relations that hold between grammatical categories that are known as Tense, Aspect, Mood, and Evidentiality (or TAME) in the linguistics literature.
The Impact of Concussion Education on the Knowledge and Perceived Expertise of Novice Health Care Professionals.

Context: Concussion legislation mandates that health care providers have experience in concussion management. Unfortunately, standards for current continuing and clinician education are ill defined. Objective: (1) Determine if a didactic-based educational intervention would increase knowledge and perceived expertise and (2) examine the correlations between the variables of knowledge, experience, and perceived expertise. Design: Prospective cohort study, level II. Patients or Other Participants: Novice health care providers were divided into 2 groups: college sophomore athletic training students (n = 16) and college sophomore medical dietetics students (n = 19). Setting: Classroom setting. Intervention(s): Both groups were administered a knowledge questionnaire before the intervention (Time 1) and again 30 weeks later (Time 3). The athletic training student group completed a didactic intervention and completed the questionnaire at the end of the quarter ∼15 weeks later (Time 2). Main Outcome Measure(s): Th...
Ultra-wide bandgap beta-Ga2O3 for deep-UV solar blind photodetectors(Conference Presentation)

Deep-ultraviolet (DUV) photodetectors based on wide bandgap (WB) semiconductor materials have attracted strong interest because of their broad applications in military surveillance, fire detection and ozone hole monitoring. Monoclinic β-Ga2O3 with ultra-wide bandgap of ~4.9 eV is a promising candidate for such application because of its high optical transparency in UV and visible wavelength region, and excellent thermal and chemical stability at elevated temperatures. Synthesis of high qualityβ-Ga2O3 thin films is still at its early stage and knowledge on the origins of defects in this material is lacking. The conventional epitaxy methods used to grow β-Ga2O3 thin films such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) still face great challenges such as limited growth rate and relatively high defects levels. In this work, we present the growth of β-Ga2O3 thin films on c-plane (0001) sapphire substrate by our recently developed low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method. The β-Ga2O3 thin films synthesized using high purity metallic gallium and oxygen as the source precursors and argon as carrier gas show controllable N-type doping and high carrier mobility. Metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors (PDs) were fabricated on the as-grown β-Ga2O3 thin films. Au/Ti thin films deposited by e-beam evaporation served as the contact metals. Optimization of the thin film growth conditions and the effects of thermal annealing on the performance of the PDs were investigated. The responsivity of devices under 250 nm UV light irradiation as well as dark light will be characterized and compared.
The effect of oxygen in static sodium on vanadium and vanadium alloys II. Alloys containing titanium and zirconium

Abstract Static capsules were used to compare the effect of oxygen in sodium on vanadium alloys with that on unalloyed vanadium. Specimens of the alloys and unalloyed vanadium were simultaneously exposed to sodium containing 2000 ppm 0. Alloys tested were: V-20%Ti, V-15%Cr-5%Ti, V-1.3%Zr, V-5%Zr, Vanstar 7, Vanstar 8, and Vanstar 9. All the alloys tested contained either titanium or zirconium and form internal oxide precipitates when they getter oxygen from the sodium. Observations on the internally oxidized alloys are discussed in terms of existing internal oxidation theory.
Association of a corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) polymorphism with carcass merit, meat quality, and stress response traits in pigs

A single-nucleotide polymorphism within the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) gene was identified and evaluated in two pig populations. The CRHR2 genotype was significantly associated with nine carcass and meat quality traits in the F2 resource population and exhibited a suggestive association with the stress response trait blotching in the halothane challenge population.
Examining Follower Responses to Transformational Leadership from a Dynamic, Person–Environment Fit Perspective

We invoke the person–environment fit paradigm to examine on a daily basis follower affective, attitudinal, and behavioral responses to transformational leadership needed and received. Results from ...
The Relation Between Age and Three-Dimensional Wisdom: Variations by Wisdom Dimensions and Education

Objectives Curvilinear relations between age and wisdom have been found in prior research with its peak either in young adulthood or in midlife. This study tested whether the association between age and three-dimensional wisdom differed for the cognitive, reflective, and compassionate (affective) wisdom dimensions and whether the results varied by education. Method OLS regression was used to analyze an online sample of 14,248 adults between the ages of 18 and 98 years (mean [M] = 36.46, standard deviation [SD] = 12.68) from four educational groups. Results The relation between age and three-dimensional wisdom was curvilinear and varied in shape by wisdom dimensions and education. The association between age and wisdom followed an inverse U-curve with the peak at midlife and almost opposing shapes for the cognitive and compassionate dimensions and an intermediate shape for the reflective dimension. Education was positively related to wisdom and affected the shape of the relationships. Discussion Because the association between age and wisdom appears to be curvilinear and varies by education, studies that test a linear association without separating the sample by education might arrive at the wrong conclusions. In general, education seems to promote the attainment of wisdom and also inoculate individuals against a decline in wisdom later in life.
Gender trouble on the German soccer field: can the growth of women’s soccer challenge hegemonic masculinity?

Soccer in Germany represents a social sphere for the expression of masculinity and features significant ideological battles over gender roles. This paper discusses whether the growth of women’s soc...
Hospice Use And End-Of-Life Spending Trajectories In Medicare Beneficiaries On Hemodialysis.

Infrequent and late referral to hospice among patients on dialysis likely reflects the impact of a Medicare payment policy that discourages the concurrent receipt of these services, but it may also reflect these patients’ less predictable illness trajectories. Among a national cohort of patients on hemodialysis, we identified four distinct spending trajectories during the last year of life that represented markedly different intensities of care. Within the cohort, 9 percent had escalating spending and 13 percent had persistently high spending throughout the last year of life, while 41 percent had relatively low spending with late escalation, and 37 percent had moderate spending with late escalation. Across the four groups, the percentages of patients enrolled in hospice at the time of death were uniformly low ranging from only 19 percent of those with persistently high costs to 21 percent of those with moderate costs and the median number of days spent in hospice during the last year of life was virtually...
Mineralogical thallium geochemistry and isotope variations from igneous, metamorphic, and metasomatic systems

Abstract This study presents new thallium (Tl) concentration and isotopic composition data for potassium feldspar (K-feldspar), micas, sulfides, and other minerals using solution multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The samples studied represent a diverse set of igneous, metamorphic, and metasomatic rock types. Purified separates of minerals anticipated to be Tl-bearing were analyzed; in many cases coexisting minerals were measured to examine the distribution of Tl and its isotopes between coexisting phases. This study is the first of its kind to document mineralogical controls on Tl chemical and isotopic fractionation. Thallium contents in rock-forming minerals and common sulfides vary from below detection limit (here, approximately 0.2 ppm Tl in the mineral utilizing an IsoProbe MC-ICP-MS) to 3200 ppm. In this present study, mica and feldspar samples can reach Tl concentrations well over 20 ppm, compared to only 0.7 ppm in average crust. In contrast, only 14 of 38 common sulfide samples contain Tl at levels above the detection limit. Measured Tl isotope ratios, reported as e205Tl relative to the NIST 997 standard solution, range from −12.1 ± 0.6 to +18.0 ±1.4 (2σ). Most samples analyzed fall within the published range of e205Tl (−20 to +15) (Nielsen et al., 2017). Although most sulfides show limited Tl enrichment, they display the highest e205Tl values among coexisting minerals, with Fe-rich micas having the lowest e205Tl values. The patterns in enrichment are best interpreted to reflect crystal chemical differences and the incompatible, dominantly lithophile nature of Tl. In turn, isotopic fractionation also reflects control by the bonding environment as well as redox conditions. The preferential distribution of Tl into micas and K-feldspar found here is consistent with the similarity in charge and ionic radius of Tl+ and K+. The higher e205Tl values in sulfides agree with previous observations and theoretical studies showing the tendency of covalent bonds, high bond strengths, and high oxidation states to favor heavy isotopes. This work highlights important areas for future research regarding the natural weathering of Tl-bearing substrates, understanding regional cycling of Tl, and potential bioremediation of Tl contamination.
Investigating Potential Bias in Patient-Reported Outcomes in Open-label Cancer Trials.

Recent legislative efforts such as the 21st Century Cures Act have emphasized capturing and communicating the patient experience. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessments are one method to measure symptoms, function, and health-related quality of life. In 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released its first guidance on PROs, which states that PRO labeling claims in open-label trials can be problematic.1 Nonetheless, because of the highly symptomatic nature of cancer and its treatment, PRO measures have been incorporated in cancer trials for many years, and these trials are increasingly single-arm or open-label comparative studies unable to be blinded owing to differing administration routes or differential overt toxic effects. A frequent concern with PROs in open-label trials is that a patient’s perception of their symptoms or function may be influenced by knowledge of their assigned treatment. In light of the anticipated growth in PRO submissions to the FDA, we outline our thoughts on the ways in which open-label bias may arise and point to areas of research that might address this challenge.
CXCR4 Cardiac Specific Knockout Mice Develop a Progressive Cardiomyopathy

Activation of multiple pathways is associated with cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. We previously published that CXCR4 negatively regulates β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling and ultimately limits β-adrenergic diastolic (Ca2+) accumulation in cardiac myocytes. In isolated adult rat cardiac myocytes; CXCL12 treatment prevented isoproterenol-induced hypertrophy and interrupted the calcineurin/NFAT pathway. Moreover; cardiac specific CXCR4 knockout mice show significant hypertrophy and develop cardiac dysfunction in response to chronic catecholamine exposure in an isoproterenol-induced (ISO) heart failure model. We set this study to determine the structural and functional consequences of CXCR4 myocardial knockout in the absence of exogenous stress. Cardiac phenotype and function were examined using (1) gated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); (2) terminal cardiac catheterization with in vivo hemodynamics; (3) histological analysis of left ventricular (LV) cardiomyocyte dimension; fibrosis; and; (4) transition electron microscopy at 2-; 6- and 12-months of age to determine the regulatory role of CXCR4 in cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyocyte specific-CXCR4 knockout (CXCR4 cKO) mice demonstrate a progressive cardiac dysfunction leading to cardiac failure by 12-months of age. Histological assessments of CXCR4 cKO at 6-months of age revealed significant tissue fibrosis in knockout mice versus wild-type. The expression of atrial naturietic factor (ANF); a marker of cardiac hypertrophy; was also increased with a subsequent increase in gross heart weights. Furthermore, there were derangements in both the number and the size of the mitochondria within CXCR4 cKO hearts. Moreover, CXCR4 cKO mice were more sensitive to catocholamines, their response to β-AR agonist challenge via acute isoproterenol (ISO) infusion demonstrated a greater increase in ejection fraction, dp/dtmax, and contractility index. Interestingly, prior to ISO infusion, there were significant differences in baseline hemodynamics between the CXCR4 cKO compared to littermate controls. However, upon administering ISO, the CXCR4 cKO responded in a robust manner overcoming the baseline hemodynamic deficits reaching WT values supporting our previous data that CXCR4 negatively regulates β-AR signaling. This further supports that, in the absence of the physiologic negative modulation, there is an overactivation of down-stream pathways, which contribute to the development and progression of contractile dysfunction. Our results demonstrated that CXCR4 plays a non-developmental role in regulating cardiac function and that CXCR4 cKO mice develop a progressive cardiomyopathy leading to clinical heart failure.
Eigenmode hybridization enables lattice-induced transparency in symmetric terahertz metasurfaces for slow light applications

Traditional lattice-induced transparency demonstrations are activated by varying the meta-atom lattice constant such that the plasmonic and lattice modes interfere. Here we report on the observation of enhanced coupling between two eigenmodes (first- and second-order) by varying the lattice parameter in a symmetric split ring resonator design. The higher-order quasi-dark mode blueshifts, introducing strong coupling with the fundamental bright mode for periods above 345 μm. Numerical simulations are verified experimentally and supplemented with a two-oscillator model showing good agreement. Furthermore, larger positive group delay values are achieved in the vicinity of the transparency window with minimal absorption, indicating a strong potential for slow light applications.
Linking transcriptome and chromatin accessibility in nanoliter droplets for single-cell sequencing

Linked profiling of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility from single cells can provide unprecedented insights into cellular status. Here we developed a droplet-based Single-Nucleus chromatin Accessibility and mRNA Expression sequencing (SNARE-seq) assay, that we used to profile neonatal and adult mouse cerebral cortices. To demonstrate the strength of single-cell dual-omics profiling, we reconstructed transcriptome and epigenetic landscapes of cell types, uncovered lineage-specific accessible sites, and connected dynamics of promoter accessibility with transcription during neurogenesis.
Lisdexamfetamine suppresses instrumental and consummatory behaviors supported by foods with varying degrees of palatability: Exploration of a binge-like eating model.

Abstract Diets high in sugar or fat are associated with multiple health conditions, including binge eating disorder (BED). BED affects approximately 2% of the US adult population, and occurs more frequently in females. It is important to develop animal models of palatable food consumption and food seeking that may have relevance for BED and other conditions associated with excessive food intake. The catecholamine uptake blocker and d-amphetamine prodrug lisdexamfetamine is used to treat BED. The present experiments studied the effect of lisdexamfetamine on food intake and food-reinforced effort-based choice in female Wistar rats. Three groups of rats received different food exposure conditions in the home cage randomly spread over several weeks: a chocolate exposure group (CE; brief access of chocolate and additional lab chow, n = 15), a lab chow exposure (LChE) group given additional access to lab chow (n = 8), and a third group given empty food dishes (n = 7). In tests of food intake under non-restricted conditions, lisdexamfetamine (0.1875–1.5 mg/kg IP) significantly reduced intake of both chocolate and chow in the CE group. In the LChE group, there was a trend towards reduced chow intake induced by lisdexamfetamine. All rats were trained on a Progressive Ratio/chow feeding choice task, in which they had a choice between working for high carbohydrate chocolate flavored pellets by lever pressing vs. approaching and consuming a concurrently available lab chow. The LChE group and the empty food dish group were combined to create one control group (n = 15). There was a significant overall dose-related suppressive effect of lisdexamfetamine on lever pressing but no group difference, and no dose x group interaction. Lisdexamfetamine significantly decreased chow intake in the CE group, but not in the control group. In conclusion, lisdexamfetamine affected both food intake and food-reinforced operant behavior, with larger effects seen in the group exposed to chocolate.
Using library programming to integrate self-directed learning into a community

Shoreline Community College is near Seattle in Washington state, a growing community that has evolving needs. The library at the college planned and implemented events for National Poetry Month to ...
Correlates of alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy receipt in medically insured patients.

Abstract Background Alcohol use disorder is a highly prevalent disease with multiple medications available for treatment. The overall prevalence of patients receiving pharmacotherapy is believed to be low and the characteristics and comorbidities that affect receipt are not well-established. Methods We created a dataset from Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database of patients with an outpatient encounter for alcohol abuse or dependence in 2014. We subsequently identified patient characteristics, comorbid medical, psychiatric, or substance use disorders, as well as encounter provider specialties and, using multivariable logistic regression, assessed which variables correlated with increased or decreased receipt of pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder for this population. Results In our dataset of 123,355 patients, patient receipt of pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder was 3.3 %, and 9.3 % when restricted to the former diagnosis of alcohol dependence only. Male sex, younger age, alcohol-related liver disease, and cannabis use disorders correlated with decreased receipt whereas comorbid major depressive disorders and anxiety disorders correlated with increased receipt. Compared to patients seen by psychiatrists, those seen by primary medical doctors had a lower odds of receiving pharmacotherapy. Conclusions Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder is an underutilized treatment modality with a low prevalence of prescription in insured individuals. Patients with specific characteristics and comorbidities are less likely to receive this treatment and greater focus on these patients and in the primary care setting can allow for increased prescribing of these medications.
Prostate Cancer Markers

According to the American Cancer Society, this year an estimated 57,000 new cases of prostate cancer (1979) will be diagnosed among American males (American Cancer Society, 1979). The Society also estimates that 20,000 lives will be lost to this form of cancer. One of the major reasons for this high mortality is that many cases are not detected until after metastases have occurred (Gittes and Chu, 1976). Therefore, markers that may serve as aids for early diagnosis of this disease and in monitoring the effectiveness of therapies have long been investigated. The purpose of this chapter is to review the prostate tumor markers that have been shown to be of significant value in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. It will include new information for old markers such as prostatic acid phosphatase, and data on new markers under investigation, such as prostate antigen. Other known markers that have been shown to be associated with cancer of the prostate are also described briefly.