cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delayed germination and dispersal in desert annuals: Escape in space and time

A model is developed to consider the interplay between dispersibility and delayed germination in desert annuals. The model explores the effect of low levels of dispersal, considered realistic for annual plants, on optimal germination fraction. The model also demonstrates the effect of the amount and accuracy of "predictive" (responsive to the environment) dormancy on the optimal innate germination fraction (not responsive to environmental conditions).Optimal germination fraction is found to be very sensitive to changes in despersibility especially at the limited dispersibilities that are realistic for annual plants. As dispersibility increases, optimal germination fraction increases. If plants make two kinds of seeds with differing despersibility, reproduction is maximized if the low dispersal seeds have delayed germination and the high dispersal seeds have quick germination. If dormancy mechanisms permit seeds to germinate when environmental conditions allow successful maturation, and remain dormant when environmental conditions do not permit successful maturation, what fraction of seeds should remain dormant under predicted good conditions as a hedge against inaccurate prediction of the environment? If environmental cues that break dormancy are uncorrelated with environmental conditions that permit successful maturation, predictive dormancy has little or no effect on the optimal innate germination fraction. When predictive dormancy lowers the probability of germinating when environmental conditions preclude successful maturation, the optimal innate germination fraction increases with increasing germination control by predictive dormancy. With a moderate degree of germination control by predictive dormancy, the optimal innate dormancy is still sensitive to changes in dispersal in the low dispersal ranges characteristic of annual plants.Evidence is presented from plant species that have both dispersal and germination dimorphisms to support the predicted correlation of high germination fractions with high dispersal.
Role of the Ethics Committee: Helping To Address Value Conflicts or Uncertainties

This article addresses two basic questions about ethics committees: why we have them, and how they might be helpful to clinicians. Our answer to the first question is twofold. First, we suggest that legal, regulatory, and professional forces drove the development of ethics committees, particularly as an alternative to litigation. Second, we argue that ethics committees arose in response to a clinical need for a formal mechanism to address some of the value conflicts and uncertainties that arise in contemporary health-care settings. We argue that this need, reflected in early high-profile legal cases, stems partly from the complex value-laden nature of clinical decision making, a pluralistic societal context, a growing recognition of the rights of individuals to live by their values, and the relevance of those values for medical decision making. In answer to the second question, we draw out three ways ethics committees might be helpful to clinicians: education, policy formation or review, and consultation. We devote the majority of our discussion to ethics consultation and its relation to the emerging area of palliative care. In so doing, we highlight three important differences: (1) the scope or range of cases for which they may be appropriate, (2) focus in any particular case, and (3) general orientation—between ethics consultation and palliative care that clinicians should take into account in deciding to seek the assistance of either or both.
Thermal performance of a heated plate with open-channel infrared radiation shields

The heat transfer associated with various radiation shield designs has been investigated.Mathematical models were used to characterize the thermal performance of a vertical heated plate, with and without a continuous radiation shield, under various environmental conditions. Predictions were compared with laboratory results taken under simulated solar radiation and wind conditions. Measurements of channel temperature and velocity distributions were made to help characterize the thermal performance. Plate temperature predictions from the model, using measured power input, ambient temperature, and channel air velocities, gave results which were within 5{degrees}C of the experimental values. The infrared energy emitted in the 8--14 {mu} band was calculated as a function of the measured plate and/or screen temperatures for each set of experimental conditions. Double layers of incised radiation shields were found to have the lowest effective infrared energy emission. For the two screen incision sizes tested, the size of the incision did not significantly influence the temperature and velocity profiles or the amount of radiant energy emitted from the plate/screen combination.
Hemodynamic and Histopathologic Effects of Hydroxyethyl Starch and Superoxide Dismutase Following Splanchnic Arterial Occlusion in a Murine Model

The purpose of this study was to examine biophysical and biochemical approaches that would reduce circulatory collapse produced in a splanchnic artery occlusion (SAO) shock rat model. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: (1) control (Ctl) rats-no infusions, n=5; (2) control rats receiving 10 mg/kg superoxide dismutase (SOD), n=7; (3) SAO shock rats-no infusion, n=7; (4) SAO shock rats receiving 1.75 mL of normal saline (Sal), n=7; (5) SAO shock rats receiving 1.75 mL of hydroxyethyl starch (HES), n=7; (6) SAO shock rats receiving SOD, n=7. All animals, except controls, underwent clamping of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries for fifty minutes. Intravenous heparin (500 units/kg) was administered twenty minutes prior to clamping. Following release of the clamps mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was monitored for an additional one hundred minutes. Animals whose MABP could not be maintained above 50 mmHg at one hundred minutes after reperfusion was initiated were considered nonsurvivors. Blood chemistries and serum osmolarity were measured at the end of each experiment. HES was conjugated to 10 nm gold particles prior to infusion to allow HES location in electron micrographic (EM) studies. The following results were obtained: Tab Group 1 (Ctl) Group 2 (SAO) Group 3 (Sal) Group 4 (HES) Group 5 (SOD) Final MABP (mmHg) 120±6.14 43.5±3.5 53.3±4.8 79±8.9 51.2±5.0 Osmolarity (mOsm/kg) 304±6.3 309±10.1 306±7.1 311±9.3 306±8.0. The group 4 (HES) MABP was significantly higher than that in groups 2, 3, and 5 (P<.05), but not when compared with that in group 1 (controls). No significant differences were found in serum osmolarity. EM studies showed the HES-gold conjugate localized to the intravascular and interendothelial spaces of capillaries and postcapillary venules as compared with interstitial sites. The authors conclude that HES can maintain MABP at significantly higher levels in an SAO shock rat model, unlike the results following infusions of normal saline or SOD. HES may act as both a capillary sealant and source of oncotic pressure. The lack of efficacy of SOD in this investigation may be due to the severity of the shock model and an inadequate dosing regimen. Further studies are needed to evaluate the rode of pharmacologic agents along with fluid resuscitation and capillary sealants. Their combined use may in fact ultimately prove to be the optimal means to treat SAO shock.
Differential diagnostic problems in the radiologic evaluation of histiocytic lymphoma

Medical records, pathological records, and radiologic examinations of 112 patients with histiocytic lymphoma (HL) were reviewed. Peripheral lymph node enlargement was initially present in less than 50%, while HL presented as localized intraabdominal or intrathoracic lesions in 29% and 13%, respectively. Diagnostic problems encountered during the radiologic evaluation of patients with HL included the following: 1) Localized intraabdominal and intrathoracic lesions could mimic a variety of diseases, most often carcinoma. 2) Intercurrent (opportunistic) infections, which were commonly found in the lungs, and more rarely in the distal esophagus and bone, could easily be mistaken for HL manifestations. 3) Cytotoxic drugs and/or steroids produced pulmonary infiltrates, gastric ulcers, and collapsed vertebral bodies were often indistinguishable from an HL manifestation. 4) A second malignancy, found in 10% of patients either before or after HL was diagnosed, was difficult to differentiate from HL. 5) Aspiration biopsy of localized intraabdominal or intrathoracic HL under fluoroscopic control was unreliable in establishing the correct diagnosis.
Marketing Orders, Grading Errors, and Price Discrimination

Some marketing orders allow an agricultural industry to regulate the flow of product to market. We examine a more common, but less controversial, aspect of marketing orders, the setting and enforcement of grades, and show that purposefully introducing error into the grading process reduces farmers' incentives to produce high-quality product, thus partially sustaining the adverse selection problem that would exist in the absence of grades. Because demand for high-quality product is generally inelastic relative to demand for low-quality product, grading error can increase industry profit. In principle, an industry can achieve through grading error the same allocation of product between high- and low-quality outlets as attainable through direct volume regulation. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Estradiol regulates the thioredoxin antioxidant system in the mouse uterus.

The rodent uterus responds to acute estradiol (E2) treatment with a series of well characterized physiological responses. In a recent screen for genes involved in this response, we found that several genes in the thioredoxin (Txn) pathway were rapidly modified after E2 treatment in the mouse uterus. Txn is a 12-kDa protein with multiple roles in the cell, including protection against oxidative stress and apoptosis, regulation of transcription factor activity, and regulation of cellular proliferation. Txn in combination with Txn reductase (Txnrd) and Txn-interacting protein (Txnip) constitute the mammalianTxnpathway.Thispathwayexistsinmultiplelocationsin the cell, including the cytosol and mitochondria. To analyze the levels of Txn, Txnrd, and Txnip in the uterus, we treated ovariectomized adult mice with a time course of E2 and analyzed mRNA levels by real-time PCR. E2 rapidly decreased the expression of Txnip, but increased the levels of cytosolic Txn1 and Txnrd1 as well as mitochondrial Txn2. Using the ER antagonist, ICI 182,780, and mice lacking functional estrogen receptor (ER), we demonstrate that these E2-mediated changes require ER, but not ER. The repression of Txnip by E2 was also demonstrated in vitro in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. This repression was blocked by treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A, suggesting that repression by E2 may involve regulation of histone acetylation. We conclude that the rapid E2-mediated activation of the Txn pathway is an important step in the response of the mammalian uterus to estrogen. (Endocrinology 145: 5485–5492, 2004)
The Moviegoer's Cartesian Theater: Moviegoing as Walker Percy's Metaphor for the Cartesian Mind

Abstract Binx Bolling is the moviegoing protagonist of The Moviegoer (1961), Walker Percy's first novel. In an interview, Percy once referred to Binx as a “victim” of Descartes. Did Percy intend some connection between Binx's moviegoing and his unfortunate, Cartesian heritage? In this essay, I argue that Percy used Binx's moviegoing as a metaphor for his having a Cartesian mind. As Percy knew, many Descartes scholars regard the Cartesian self as a purely thinking thing whose mind is like a theater. Seated in that theater, the self entertains ideas, or mental objects, which stand like a solid screen between the self and the nonmental world outside. It is consistent with the two most widely held readings of Descartes on the nature of an idea to regard ideas as mental objects, as I discuss in the first section. In section two, I argue that there is ample evidence to support our seeing Binx's moviegoing as a metaphor for his Cartesian mind. In the final section, I describe how our reading The Moviegoer in thi...
A Remark on Dobrushin's Uniqueness Theorem

Ten years ago, Dobrushin [1] proved a beautiful result showing that under suitable hypotheses, a statistical mechanical lattice system interaction has a unique equilibrium state. In particular, there is no long range order, etc. see [6,7] for related material, Israel [4] for analyticity results and Gross [3] for falloff of correlations. There does not appear to have been systematic attempts to obtain very good estimates on precisely when Dobrushin's hypotheses hold, except for certain spin \ models [6,4]. Our purpose here is to note that with one simple device one can obtain extremely good estimates which are fairly close to optimal. Let Ω be a fixed compact space (single spin configuration space), dμ0 a probability measure on Ω and for each α e Z, Ωα a copy of Ω. For X a finite subset of TD', let Ω — X Ωα. An interaction is an assignment of a continuous function, ΦpO, on Ω to each finite XcTL. While it is not necessary for Dobrushin's theorem, it is convient notationally to suppose Φ translation covariant in the obvious sense.
A modified conjugate gradient method for optimization problems

An interesting refinement scheme suggested by Mehra (1909) for use with the conjugate gradient algorithm is modified and applied to both finite and infinite dimensional optimization problems in an attempt to improve the convergence rate of the algorithm. For optimal control problems, the numerical results indicate that, while the refinement scheme significantly improves the convergence rate, the improvement can often be matched by periodically restarting the algorithm.
Stratification of aerobic methane‐oxidizing organisms in Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin1

The microflora responsible for methane oxidation are stratified in a narrow band in the thermocline of Lake Mendota where dissolved oxygen is low during summer. Oxygen sensitivity of growth of these organisms or of methane oxidation cannot account for their absence from the epilimnion because oxygen does not inhibit either process under in situ conditions at concentrations exceeding those measured in natural samples. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen content of samples where methane oxidation rates were highest was >l mgeliter-’ in summer 1977. We could not obtain evidence of in situ nitrogen fixation although enrichment cultures grew on nitrogen-free media and fixed 15N2. Nitrite was present at the position in the water column of maximum methane oxidation; this suggests that methanotrophic bacteria co-oxidized ammonia. The distribution of methanotrophs in the lake indicated that their position in the water column at each time of year was determined by the concentration profiles of oxygen and methane. Methane oxidation in summer depletes the methane in the epilimnion and the absence of oxygen in the hypolimnion precludes growth of the organisms there. At other times of year the rates of oxidation of methane seem to be determined by the concentration of methane in the water. The rate of oxidation of methane by a sample was increased by additional methane when the in situ concentration was <5 PM.
Treatment of complex periorbital venolymphatic malformation in a neonate with a combination therapy of sirolimus and prednisolone.

Venolymphatic malformations (VLMs) are vascular anomalies consisting of both veins and lymph vessels. A 2-week-old newborn presented with large VLMs on the left forehead, temple, preauricular area, and orbit. Patient was at imminent risk for permanent vision loss due to a localized mass effect. Surgical excision or debulking was contraindicated due to its complexity and proximity to the left eye, and the patient failed to respond to the sildenafil treatment and sclerotherapy. Patient was subsequently started on oral sirolimus 0.8 mg/m(2) twice daily in combination with prednisolone 2 mg/kg daily. The patient had an excellent therapeutic outcome for 7 months with complete preservation of vision before treatment was discontinued. However, 2 months after the medical treatments were discontinued, her VLM rebounded. She responded to the combination therapy again after a failed treatment with the mTOR inhibitor alone. This case demonstrates that the sirolimus and prednisolone combination therapy could be beneficial for treatment of complex VLM intractable to other treatments.
Energy-Based Models in Document Recognition and Computer Vision

The machine learning and pattern recognition communities are facing two challenges: solving the normalization problem, and solving the deep learning problem. The normalization problem is related to the difficulty of training probabilistic models over large spaces while keeping them properly normalized. In recent years, the ML and natural language communities have devoted considerable efforts to circumventing this problem by developing "un-normalized" learning models for tasks in which the output is highly structured (e.g. English sentences). This class of models was in fact originally developed during the 90's in the handwriting recognition community, and includes graph transformer networks, conditional random fields, hidden Markov SVMs, and maximum margin Markov networks. We describe these models within the unifying framework of "energy-based models" (EBM). The deep learning problem is related to the issue of training all the levels of a recognition system (e.g. segmentation, feature extraction, recognition, etc) in an integrated fashion. We first consider " traditional" methods for deep learning, such as convolutional networks and back-propagation, and show that, although they produce very low error rates for handwriting and object recognition, they require many training samples. We show that using unsupervised learning to initialize the layers of a deep network dramatically reduces the required number of training samples, particularly for such tasks as the recognition of everyday objects at the category level.
Hardware-Efficient and Fully Autonomous Quantum Error Correction in Superconducting Circuits.

Superconducting qubits are among the most promising platforms for building a quantum computer. However, individual qubit coherence times are not far past the scalability threshold for quantum error correction, meaning that millions of physical devices would be required to construct a useful quantum computer. Consequently, further increases in coherence time are very desirable. In this Letter, we blueprint a simple circuit consisting of two transmon qubits and two additional lossy qubits or resonators, which is passively protected against all single-qubit quantum error channels through a combination of continuous driving and engineered dissipation. Photon losses are rapidly corrected through two-photon drive fields implemented with driven superconducting quantum interference device couplings, and dephasing from random potential fluctuations is heavily suppressed by the drive fields used to implement the multiqubit Hamiltonian. Comparing our theoretical model to published noise estimates from recent experiments on flux and transmon qubits, we find that logical state coherence could be improved by a factor of 40 or more compared to the individual qubit ${T}_{1}$ and ${T}_{2}$ using this technique. We thus demonstrate that there is substantial headroom for improving the coherence of modern superconducting qubits with a fairly modest increase in device complexity.
Analytical Studies of the Capping Layer Effect on Aluminum Induced Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon

The effect of capping layer on metal induced crystallization of amorphous silicon was studied. Three sets of samples were prepared in this study. All samples had the basic layer structure of amorphous silicon layer deposited on a glass substrate. This was followed by a thin aluminum layer deposition. The second and third sets, however, had a third layer of amorphous silicon with thicknesses of 20 and 50 nm, respectively. These layers were deposited on top of the aluminum. The samples were annealed at 400°C for 15, 30 and 45 minutes. The resultant films were characterized using X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. It was observed that the capping layer reduces protrusion formation and therefore improving the smoothness of the crystallized polysilicon films.
Inheridy of Plant Height Between Rice Line RA 73 with the New sd-r(Semi-dwarf Gene) and Maintain Lines with the sd-1 (Semi-dwarf Gene)

The parents,F1 and F2 between the crosses of the rice line RA73 with a new sd-r and 6 maintain lines(Jin23 B,Ⅱ-32B,Xieqingzao B,K17B,Yuefeng B and Longtepu B) with the sd-1 were planted to analyze its inheridy of plant height in Guiyang in 2006.The results showed that the plant height of parents and F1 was 82.4～94.5 cm and about 130 cm.respectively and the ratio among the high plant height(101～140 cm),semi-dwarf(71～100 cm) and dwarf(45～70 cm) of F2 accorded with 9∶6∶1 by the χ2-test.The inheridy of plant height was controlled by two dominate complementary high plant genes from the original varieties with the high plant height respectively.The paper discusses the application method of the sd-r gene in hybrid rice breeding also.
LATTICE: STRATEGIES FOR AND AGAINST CONTROL IN AN IMPROVISATION INSTRUMENT

Lattice is a laptop improvisation instrument designed to balance user control with unpredictable behavior. The operator triggers synthesis events, specifying their timbre, and upper and lower boundaries on their frequency and duration. The specific frequency envelope and duration of the event are then algorithmically determined, as are all other synthesis parameters relevant to the chosen timbral type. The resulting tension between performer control and algorithmic specification leads to unfamiliar and interesting improvisational situations. The implementation of Lattice also responds to design goals including portability, learnability, and expressive sound synthesis. This paper describes the instrument and its implementation.
Correlating Local Structure with Electrochemical Activity in Li2MnO3

Li2MnO3 is believed to be a critical component of the high capacity Li-rich–manganese-rich oxide materials; however, the mechanism of its electrochemical activity remains controversial. Here, Raman spectroscopy and mapping are used to follow the chemical and structural changes that occur in Li2MnO3 during electrochemical cycling. Conventional composite electrodes cast from a slurry and thin films are studied as a function of the state of charge (voltage) and cycle number. Thin films have similar electrochemical properties as electrodes prepared from slurries but enable spectroscopy of uniform samples without carbon additives and binder. First-principles density functional theory is used to calculate the phonon spectra and identify the Raman-active modes. On the basis of the calculations of phonon spectra for pristine Li2MnO3 and structures with Li vacancies, we discuss the origin of Raman-active peaks observed during the electrochemical cycling. The spectral changes correlate well with the electrochemical...
Breastfeeding mothers' use of technology while breastfeeding

Abstract This study addresses the social media and technology habits of breastfeeding mothers while they are breastfeeding. Data was collected via a Qualtrics survey. Participants were recruited via social media and by personal connections. The data collected were descriptive and provided insight on the mothers' social media and technology habits while breastfeeding. Mothers reported frequently using technology, mainly Facebook, while they were breastfeeding, with Facebook being the most widely used social media platform. Social media technologies were sought out for connection, communication, entertainment, and advice among a host of other reasons. Implications for breastfeeding mothers and lactation specialists are discussed.
The dielectric constants and loss factors of some natural waxes

Dielectric spectroscopy has been used to elucidate the essential structure of carnauba, montan and ouricuri waxes. By analysis of the dielectric constant and loss curves as determined over a broad range of temperature and frequency, it has been possible to establish the presence of permanent electric moments in the molecules and to determine that association through hydrogen bonding exists. Polar molecules may be roughly divided into two classes: amorphous and crystalline. In the former case the dielectric constant is seen to increase very slowly with temperature due to decreased viscosity and consequent ease of orientation of the molecules to an applied field. Above some temperature where the material is completely liquid, the dielectric constant decreases because of decreased density of polarizable molecules per unit volume and of the degree of orientation permitted as the thermal motion is increased. Maxima in the loss curves are caused by relaxation of polar groups and chain segments. Increased conductivity in the liquid accounts for rapid increase in the losses. A crystalline material, on the other hand, will show an abrupt rise in dielectric constant at the melting point. The waxes considered in the present study actually fall in an intermediate class which is crystalline but which has many properties like amorphous substances. In these substances, the molecules are capable of rotating in the solid state at temperatures well below the melting point without destroying the crystal structure.
Formative research with college men to inform content and messages for a web-based sexual violence prevention program

To combat the high rates of sexual violence on college campuses, prevention programming should be theoretically driven, persuasive, and salient, and should provide messages that counter negative normative beliefs supportive of sexual violence. We describe qualitative formative research that identifies themes as a means to inform messages and content for a Web-based sexual violence prevention program. To illustrate the process, we used qualitative analysis of eight focus groups (N = 48) with male undergraduates from a large urban, public, Southeastern university. Analyses focused on how men interpret sexual interest, the meaning and methods of obtaining effective consent for sex, sexual encounters that involve alcohol, barriers to and facilitators of bystander intervention, and intervening techniques. We demonstrate how positive and negative themes identified in the analysis can be incorporated into programming segments.
Development and Validation of a Preoperative Surgical Site Infection Risk Score for Primary or Revision Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication following total joint arthroplasty. Host susceptibility to infection has emerged as an important predictor of SSI. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a preoperative SSI risk-assessment tool for primary or revision knee and hip arthroplasty. Methods: Data for 6,789 patients who underwent total joint arthroplasty (from the years 2000 to 2011) were obtained from a single hospital system. SSI was defined as a superficial infection within 30 days or deep infection within 1 year. Logistic regression modeling was utilized to create a risk scoring system for a derivation sample (n = 5,789; 199 SSIs), with validation performed on a hold-out sample (a subset of observations chosen randomly from the initial sample to form a testing set; n = 1,000; 41 SSIs). Results: On the basis of logistic regression modeling, we created a scoring system to assess SSI risk (range, 0 to 35 points) that is the point sum of the following: primary hip arthroplasty (0 points); primary knee (1); revision hip (3); revision knee (3); non-insulin-dependent diabetes (1); insulin-dependent diabetes (1.5); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1); inflammatory arthropathy (1.5); tobacco use (1.5); lower-extremity osteomyelitis or pyogenic arthritis (2); pelvis, thigh, or leg traumatic fracture (2); lower-extremity pathologic fracture (2.5); morbid obesity (2.5); primary bone cancer (4); reaction to prosthesis in the last 3 years (4); and history of staphylococcal septicemia (4.5). The risk score had good discriminatory capability (area under the ROC [receiver operating characteristic] curve = 0.77) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-square test, p = 0.34) and was validated using the independent sample (area under the ROC curve = 0.72). A small subset of patients (5.9%) had a >10% estimated infection risk. Conclusions: The patient comorbidities composing the risk score heavily influenced SSI risk for primary or revision knee and hip arthroplasty. We believe that infection risk can be objectively determined in a preoperative setting with the proposed SSI risk score.
The Trade Deficit Mentality: An Accounting and Philosophical Analysis

This paper analyzes trade deficits from both an accounting and philosophical perspective. The author concludes that trade deficits are considered to be undesirable because of faulty accounting and philosophical analysis and that global economic progress will continue if free trade expands regardless of whether particular nations have a trade deficit or surplus.
InGaAsP solar cells grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy

Hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) has recently reemerged as a low-cost, high-throughput alternative to metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for the growth of high-efficiency III-V solar cells. Quaternary InGaAsP solar cells in the bandgap range of ∼1.7–1.8 eV are promising top-cell candidates for integration in Ill-V/Si tandem cells with projected one-sun efficiencies exceeding 30%. In this work, we report on the development of lattice-matched InGaAsP solar cells grown on GaAs substrates via HVPE at very high growth rates of ∼ 0.7 μm/min. We demonstrate prototype 1.7 eV InGaAsP solar cells with an open-circuit voltage of 1.11 V. The short-circuit current is limited by the lack of a window layer in these early stage devices. The photo response of 1.7 InGaAsP solar cell with ∼1.1 μm thick base layer is found to be nearly insensitive to variation in p-type base doping concentration in the range from N a — 4×1016 to − 1×1017 cm−3, indicating an effective carrier collection length on the order of − 1.1 μm or higher in our devices. These initial InGaAsP cell results are encouraging and highlight the viability of HVPE to produce mixed arsenide-phosphide solar cells grown lattice-matched on GaAs.
Intercultural/Multilingual Couples

The present qualitative study aimed to better understand common themes in the experiences of intercultural/multilingual couples through a phenomenological approach. Saturation was reached after interviewing eight couples (16 participants in total). Eight common themes related to cultural differences and four related to language differences were found to influence couples’ relationships and communication in this qualitative study. Affection expression, gender roles, religious preferences, importance of food, residency decisions, child-rearing practices, extended family, and handling of finances were all emerged themes of cultural negotiations. In terms of language, communicating with extended family, expressing self and communicating in second language, learning a different language, and lost in translation emerged as themes. Finally, implications for family and couples’ counselors are reviewed.
Recursive Partitioning Analysis Identifies Pretreatment Risk Groups for the Utility of Induction Chemotherapy Before Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy in Esophageal Cancer.

Purpose To assess the contribution of induction chemotherapy (IC) before definitive chemoradiation therapy (dCRT) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) based on recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). Methods and Materials A total of 496 eligible patients with EC staged by positron emission tomography (PET) who received dCRT from 1998 to 2015 were included, 162 (32.7%) of whom underwent IC before dCRT. RPA was used to risk-stratify patients on the basis of independent prognostic factors to predict progression-free survival (PFS). Outcomes were compared between treatment groups. Results The median follow-up time was 49.1 months (range, 7.0-155.9 months) for survivors. Compared with the non-IC group, the IC group had a comparable 5-year PFS rate (21.0% vs 23.4%; P=.726) in the whole cohort. Multivariate analysis identified age, performance status, primary tumor length, baseline PET maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), and maximum lymph node diameter as independent prognostic factors for PFS. RPA segregated patients into 3 prognostic groups: low-risk group (PET SUVmax 5 cm, or PET SUVmax ≥9.7 and age Conclusions The RPA prognostic grouping provides a useful method of selecting high-risk EC patients who may benefit from IC before receiving dCRT. Prospective validation is warranted.
Carbon dioxide fixation and the synthesis of aspartate by Microbacterium thermosphactum

Abstract Carbon dioxide was fixed by Microbacterium thermosphactum . The primary amino acid synthesized was aspartic acid. Microbacterium thermosphactum was originally isolated from pork sausages in 1953 (9) and has since been observed as one of the prominent bacteria in packaged pork (4). Davidson et al. (2) has reviewed the pragmatic importance of this bacterium in pork and other meats. Gardner and Carson (3) in 1967 showed that the growth of M. thermosphactum was stimulated by low concentrations of CO2. Such stimulation suggests the possible fixation of CO2 as the method of selectively favoring its growth on meats. Despite this observation the fixation of CO2 by M. thermosphactum has not been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to show CO2 fixation and the mode of fixation as a preliminary step in a more detailed study of the mechanism of fixation.
Electrochemical Detection of Nucleic Acids Using Graphene-Based Electrodes

We showcase the variation of a popular technique for the detection of nucleic acids that involves differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). We fabricated an electrochemical sensor using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) for the sensitive detection of nucleic acids. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrated the electrochemical detection of deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP). The dGTP, along with other nucleotides, are detectable with DPV because of their inherent electroactive nature. Each nucleotide has a characteristic redox peak that can be observed with DPV or cyclic voltammetry. The magnitude of each peak, which is measured in current, is proportional to the concentration of the nucleotide in solution. We observed the peaks between 0.7 and 1.0V, which is a characteristic range for dGTP, meaning that the RGO is a viable substrate for future use in rapidly detecting nucleic acids. This work shows the potential capabilities of the RGO as a material useful for a wide range of diagnostic applications, including on-chip real-time polymerase chain reaction for viral load detection and genotyping.
Synchronous primary lung adenocarcinomas harboring distinct MET Exon 14 splice site mutations.

Abstract When a patient is found to have multiple lung tumors, distinguishing whether they represent metastatic nodules or separate primary cancers is crucial for staging and therapy. We report the case of a 79-year-old patient with two surgically resected synchronous left upper lobe adenocarcinomas initially pathologically staged as T3 (IIB), indicating adjuvant chemotherapy should be recommended. However, the tumors appeared radiographically distinct, so next-generation sequencing was performed on each nodule. Each tumor harbored a different mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping mutation, an emerging targetable mutation, suggestive of distinct clonality. While the in frame protein deletion was the same in each tumor, the nucleotide base substitutions were different. Thus, the patient was down-staged to having two separate IA tumors, spared of adjuvant chemotherapy, and routine surveillance was recommended. This case highlights the utility of using molecular analysis in diagnosing and treating multifocal lung tumors, and the process of convergent molecular evolution toward a common oncogenic driver mutation. This is the first case of multiple synchronous lung tumors each harboring a distinct MET exon 14 splice site mutation.
Mass and Lifetime Enhancement due to Disorder on Ag c Pd 1 − c Alloys

Residual resistivities of ${\mathrm{Ag}}_{c}{\mathrm{Pd}}_{1\ensuremath{-}c}$ alloys for $0.2l~cl~0.8$ were calculated from first principles using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential approximation and yielded quantitiative agreement with experiment with no adjustable parameters. Some aspects of Mott's $\mathrm{sd}$ model are confirmed, but the $s$ sheet velocities and lifetimes vary in a surprising manner with concentration because of the energy dependence of the disorder self-energy at the top of the $d$-band complex. These variations are analogous to electron-phonon mass and lifetime renormalization.
Nephrogenous cyclic AMP, adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity, and the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses nephrogenous cyclic AMP (NcAMP), adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA), and the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). Clinical HHM is a pathophysiologic syndrome which can be readily distinguished from 1°HPT group and local osteolytic hypercalcemia. Human HHM and animal models of HHM are associated with increases in NcAMP or UcAMP excretion. In contrast, NcAMP or UcAMP excretion is normal in humans and animals with HHM. These observations, and the findings that humans with MAHC can be divided into clinically and pathophysiologically distinct groups based upon NcAMP excretion, lead inescapably to the conclusion that the observed elevations in NcAMP are related mechanistically to hypercalcemia in patients with HHM. The ACSA that is present in human and animal HHM-associated tumors is not typically present in tumors derived from normocalcemic patients or animals. This ACSA can be prepared in highly purified form from human and animal tumors and can be shown to result from a basic protein with a molecular weight of approximately 30,000. This highly purified material contains potent in vitro bone-resorbing activity. These observations provide strong evidence that this PTH-like ACSA is related mechanistically to HHM. Human and animal HHM-associated tumors contain mRNA which encodes for a secretary protein which is closely related or identical to the ACSA found in tumor extracts.
Mechanistic in vitro studies: What they have told us about carcinogenic properties of elongated mineral particles (EMPs).

Abstract In vitro studies using target and effecter cells of mineral-induced cancers have been critical in determining the mechanisms of pathogenesis as well as the properties of elongated mineral particles (EMPs) important in eliciting these responses. Historically, in vitro models of ‘mutagenesis’ and immortalized cell lines were first used to test the theory that EMPs were mutagenic to cells, and ‘genotoxicity’, as defined as damage to DNA often culminating in cell death, was observed in a dose-dependent fashion as responses of many cell types to a number of EMPs. As two-stage and multi-step models of cancer development emerged in the 1970s and 1980s, differentiated 3D organ cultures and monolayers of lung epithelial and mesothelial cells were used to probe the mechanisms of cancer development. These studies demonstrated a spectrum of pre-neoplastic changes, including hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia, in response to long (>5 μm in length) needlelike EMPs whereas long, curly chrysotile fibers caused acute cytotoxicity. Shorter fibers of many types were taken up by cells and encompassed in phagolysosomes. Comparative studies using chemical carcinogens showed that chemical agents interacted directly with DNA whereas long EMPs appeared to be promoters of cancers via a number of mechanisms such as inflammation, generation of oxidants, and instigation of cell division. The multitude of these signaling cascades and epigenetic mechanisms of both lung cancers and mesotheliomas have been most recently studied in normal or telomerase immortalized human cells. Importantly, many of these pathways are elicited by long, straight amphibole asbestos fibers or carbon nanotubes in rodents and not by short (
Exploring the Consistency of the Quality Scores with Machine Learning for Next-Generation Sequencing Experiments.

Background Next-generation sequencing enables massively parallel processing, allowing lower cost than the other sequencing technologies. In the subsequent analysis with the NGS data, one of the major concerns is the reliability of variant calls. Although researchers can utilize raw quality scores of variant calling, they are forced to start the further analysis without any preevaluation of the quality scores. Method We presented a machine learning approach for estimating quality scores of variant calls derived from BWA+GATK. We analyzed correlations between the quality score and these annotations, specifying informative annotations which were used as features to predict variant quality scores. To test the predictive models, we simulated 24 paired-end Illumina sequencing reads with 30x coverage base. Also, twenty-four human genome sequencing reads resulting from Illumina paired-end sequencing with at least 30x coverage were secured from the Sequence Read Archive. Results Using BWA+GATK, VCFs were derived from simulated and real sequencing reads. We observed that the prediction models learned by RFR outperformed other algorithms in both simulated and real data. The quality scores of variant calls were highly predictable from informative features of GATK Annotation Modules in the simulated human genome VCF data (R2: 96.7%, 94.4%, and 89.8% for RFR, MLR, and NNR, respectively). The robustness of the proposed data-driven models was consistently maintained in the real human genome VCF data (R2: 97.8% and 96.5% for RFR and MLR, respectively).
The effects of in utero exposure of lambs to a beta-adrenergic agonist on prenatal and postnatal muscle growth, carcass cutability, and meat tenderness.

The objectives of the present experiment were to examine the effects of in utero exposure to a beta-adrenergic agonist (L644,969) on prenatal and postnatal muscle growth and meat tenderness of lambs. Thirty twin-pregnant Composite IV (1/2 Finnsheep, 1/8 Dorset, 1/8 Rambouillet, 1/8 Targhee, 1/8 Suffolk) ewe lambs were used for this experiment. All ewes were fed an alfalfa hay-corn-based diet throughout gestation and lactation. From d 25 to 95 of gestation, the diet of one-half of the ewes contained 2 ppm of L644,969 on an as-fed basis. Treatment did not ( P > .05) affect lamb weights at any point in the growth cycle (birth to 43 kg). Heart weights of neonatal and market lambs were increased ( P .05). Additionally, treatment did not alter the activities of any of the components of the calpain proteolytic system in neonatal or market lambs. Concomitantly, there was no effect of treatment on myofibril fragmentation index or Warner-Bratzler shear force. Moreover, there was no effect of treatment on muscle fiber type distributions, fiber sizes, or apparent fiber number. It seems that the lack of an effect of treatment on apparent fiber number would explain the lack of an effect on muscle weight. Thus, in utero exposure to L644,969 does not seem to have promise as a method for improving lamb carcass cutability. Other methods of improving the rate and composition of lamb carcass growth while maintaining acceptable meat tenderness must be developed.
Low Tidal Volumes for Everyone

Since the first description of mechanical ventilation, our understanding of the positive and negative effects of this form of life support has continued to evolve. To maintain "normal" aeration of the lungs and "normal" blood gas measurements, patients often require much higher airway pressures and tidal volumes than would be expected in a healthy, spontaneously breathing adult. In the early days of mechanical ventilation, the goal was to normalize the blood gas levels, but over the last several decades, we have developed a much better appreciation for the deleterious effects of mechanical ventilation. We have found that lower tidal volumes, which may actually worsen oxygenation and reduce clearance of CO2, can decrease the level of harm caused by mechanical ventilation. This scenario is best described and agreed upon in the setting of ARDS, but a growing body of evidence suggests that the use of higher tidal volumes is harmful in patients with normal lungs undergoing general anesthesia or in patients with lung diseases other than ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation. Finally, the concept of self-induced lung injury has emerged as a mechanism through which patients generating large negative intrathoracic pressures to achieve larger tidal volumes can contribute to worsened lung injury. Given a growing supportive evidence base, we suggest that efforts be made to achieve low tidal volume ventilation in all patients with lung injury or undergoing mechanical ventilation for any reason.
Microfluidic Gasketless Interconnects Sealed by Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Existing methods for sealing chip-to-chip (or module-to-motherboard) microfluidic interconnects commonly use additional interconnect components (O-rings, gaskets, and tubing), and manual handling expertise for assembly. Novel gasketless superhydrophobic fluidic interconnects (GSFIs) sealed by transparent superhydrophobic surfaces, forming liquid bridges between the fluidic ports for fluidic passages were demonstrated. Two test platforms were designed, fabricated, and evaluated, a multi-port chip system (ten interconnects) and a modules-on-a-motherboard system (four interconnects). System assembly in less than 3 sec was done by embedded magnets and pin-in-V-groove structures. Flow tests with deionized (DI) water, ethanol/water mixture, and plasma confirmed no leakage through the gasketless interconnects up to a maximum flow rate of $100~\mu \text{L}$ /min for the multi-port chip system. The modules-on-a-motherboard system showed no leakage of water at a flow rate of $20~\mu \text{L}$ /min and a pressure drop of 3.71 psi. Characterization of the leakage pressure as a function of the surface tension of the sample liquid in the multi-port chip system revealed that lower surface tension of the liquid led to lower static water contact angles on the superhydrophobic-coated substrate and lower leakage pressures. The high-density, rapidly assembled, gasketless interconnect technology will open up new avenues for chip-to-chip fluid transport in complex microfluidic modular systems. [2020-0168]
Characteristics of subclinical Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in a captive white-tailed deer herd:

Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) is caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP), and affects both domestic and wild ruminants, including cattle, goats, sheep, and deer. In cattle, m...