cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microscratch and load relaxation tests for ultra-thin films

The microindenter has proven to be a powerful device in the characterization of the mechanical properties of thin films. The machine has both high resolution in the applied load and penetration depth measurements, as well as the versatility to perform different types of testing. The former provides the capability to deal with extremely thin films, while the latter allows for other mechanical properties, in addition to hardness, to be acquired. Four types of tests, namely indentation, scratch, load relaxation, and indentation fatigue tests can currently be conducted using the microindenter via different operating procedures. Only the scratch and load relaxation techniques will be covered in this paper. In a microscratch test, the normal load, tangential load, scratch length, and acoustic emission are monitored simultaneously during an entire scratch process for the purposes of measuring the critical load and studying the failure mechanisms of the deposited films. The adhesion strength, scratch hardness, fracture toughness, and friction are the mechanical properties which are possible to obtain by using this technique. Results from aluminum, carbon, and zirconia coatings will be discussed. The load relaxation test provides information on the creep properties of the films and results in an empirical constitutive relation between the applied stress and plastic strain rate. The creep properties of DC sputtered Al films will be used as an illustration of this.
'That's like chopping off a finger because you're afraid it might get broken': disease and illness in women's views of prophylactic mastectomy.

Abstract While data are accumulating on the efficacy of prophylactic mastectomy as a means to reduce breast cancer risk in high risk women, the effectiveness of the procedure depends on women's interest in undergoing the procedure. We report on women's responses to this surgical option as a prevention tool. Data derive from a multi-method study of women's interest in and understandings about genetic testing for breast cancer susceptibility. The sample comprises 246 women of varying ethnicities and familial breast cancer risk from Seattle, USA. In this paper, quantitative data are presented on the sociodemographic and risk perception correlates of degree of interest in taking a genetic test for breast cancer if prophylactic mastectomy were the only treatment option. In addition, we report results of a content analysis of women's open-ended responses to the question of whether and why they could imagine undergoing prophylactic mastectomy. Our analysis of these data benefits from a central distinction in medical anthropology between the concepts of illness and disease. We suggest that while prophylactic mastectomy may prevent the “disease” of breast cancer, it may be of little interest to women who see this surgery as itself mimicking the “illness” of breast cancer.
Effects of Increasing Inlet Velocities and Side Port Air Injection on a Biomass Fluidizing Bed

Fluidized beds are being used in practice to gasify biomass to create producer gas, a flammable gas that can be used for process heating. However, recent literature has identified the need to better understand and characterize biomass fluidization hydrodynamics, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is one approach in this effort. Previous work by the authors considered the validity of using two-dimensional versus three-dimensional simulations to model a cold-flow fluidizing biomass bed configured with a single side port air injection. The side port is introduced to inject air and promote mixing within the bed. Comparisons with experiments indicated that three-dimensional simulations were necessary to capture the fluidization behavior for the more complex geometry. This paper considers the effects of increasing fluidization air flow and side port air flow on the homogeneity of the bed material in a 10.2 cm diameter fluidized bed. Two air injection ports diametrically opposed to each other are also considered to determine their effects on fluidization hydrodynamics. Whenever possible, the simulations are compared to experimental data of time-averaged local gas holdup obtained using X-ray computed tomography. This study will show that increasing the fluidization and side port air flows contribute to a more homogeneous bed. Furthermore, the introduction of two side ports results in a more symmetric gas-solid distribution.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Crystal structure of a catalytic antibody with a serine protease active site

The three-dimensional structure of an unusually active hydrolytic antibody with a phosphonate transition state analog (hapten) bound to the active site has been solved to 2.5 A resolution. The antibody (17E8) catalyzes the hydrolysis of norleucine and methionine phenyl esters and is selective for amino acid esters that have the natural alpha-carbon L configuration. A plot of the pH-dependence of the antibody-catalyzed reaction is bell-shaped with an activity maximum at pH 9.5; experiments on mechanism lend support to the formation of a covalent acyl-antibody intermediate. The structural and kinetic data are complementary and support a hydrolytic mechanism for the antibody that is remarkably similar to that of the serine proteases. The antibody active site contains a Ser-His dyad structure proximal to the phosphorous atom of the bound hapten that resembles two of the three components of the Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad of serine proteases. The antibody active site also contains a Lys residue to stabilize oxyanion formation, and a hydrophobic binding pocket for specific substrate recognition of norleucine and methionine side chains. The structure identifies active site residues that mediate catalysis and suggests specific mutations that may improve the catalytic efficiency of the antibody. This high resolution structure of a catalytic antibody-hapten complex shows that antibodies can converge on active site structures that have arisen through natural enzyme evolution.
Preparation of a diketopiperazine analog of leukotriene D4 (LTD4)

Abstract A LTD 4 analog has been synthesized in which the peptidyl fragment has been replaced by a nonionic diketopiperazine. Biological evaluation showed agonist activity, giving key information on LTD 4 geometry to the receptor.
Effect of long-range intermolecular forces on the drag of an oscillating disk and on the viscosity of gases

Abstract An experimental investigation has been made to determine the changes produced by ionization in the apparent viscosity of gases. The method used is that of the oscillating disk. In one series the gas was ionized by the gamma rays from an externally placed cesium-137 source. In the other two series of measurements the ionization was achieved with the aid of the alpha particles emitted from the surface of the oscillating disk coated with polonium 210. The measurements were made on nine gases at room temperature and in the pressure range of 1 mm Hg to 1.7 atm. The gases were: dry air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon. The experimental results showed that there is a very small change in the skin friction experienced by the disk.
Eukaryotic diversity in premise drinking water using 18S rDNA sequencing: implications for health risks.

The goal of this study was to characterize microbial eukaryotes over a 12-month period to provide insight into the occurrence of potential bacterial predators and hosts in premise plumbing. Nearly 6,300 partial 18S rRNA gene sequences from 24 hot (36.9–39.0 °C) and cold (6.8–29.1 °C) drinking water samples were analyzed and classified into major eukaryotic groups. Each major group, consisting of free-living amoebae (FLA)/protozoa, algae, copepods, dinoflagellates, fungi, nematodes, and unique uncultured eukaryotic sequences, showed limited diversity dominated by a few distinct populations, which may be characteristic of oligotrophic environments. Changes in the relative abundance of predators such as nematodes, copepods, and FLA appear to be related to temperature and seasonal changes in water quality. Sequences nearly identical to FLA such as Hartmannella vermiformis, Echinamoeba thermarmum, Pseudoparamoeba pagei, Protacanthamoeba bohemica, Platyamoeba sp., and Vannella sp. were obtained. In addition to FLA, various copepods, rotifers, and nematodes have been reported to internalize viral and bacterial pathogens within drinking water systems thus potentially serving as transport hosts; implications of which are discussed further. Increasing the knowledge of eukaryotic occurrence and their relationship with potential pathogens should aid in assessing microbial risk associated with various eukaryotic organisms in drinking water.
Enlarged cauda equina nerve roots in Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis

CXT is a rare inherited autosomal recessive lipid storage disease due to the impaired metabolic pathway of cholesterol secondary to a deficiency in 27- sterol hydroxylase, an enzyme in the synthesis of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), a primary bile acid. Abnormal bile acid synthesis leads to elevated plasma Cholestanol (a derivative of cholesterol) accumulation, especially in the lens, central nervous system (CNS) and tendons.
Desingularizing homology manifolds

We prove that if X n , n ≥ 6, is a compact ANR homology n-manifold, we can blow up the singularities of X to obtain an ANR homology n-manifold with the disjoint disks property. More precisely, we show that there is an ANR homology n-manifold Y with the disjoint disks property and a cell-like map /: Y → X.
Clinical course and predictors of pericardial effusion following cardiac transplantation.

Abstract Objective Pericardial effusions occur frequently after orthotopic heart transplantation. There have been conflicting reports describing etiology, prognosis, and outcomes associated with these early postoperative effusions. Methods A retrospective review of 91 patients transplanted between January 2001 and September 2004 was performed. Pericardial effusion was defined by serial echocardiography and graded as none, small, moderate, or large. A total of 1088 echocardiograms were evaluated during the first posttransplant year. Perioperative variables were evaluated by logistic regression analysis to define predictors for occurrence of effusions. Results Echocardiographic data were available for 88 patients. Thirty-one patients (35%) developed moderate to large effusion in the immediate postoperative period. Three patients developed hemodynamic compromise that required immediate intervention. All other effusions resolved within 3 months of heart transplantation without any specific intervention. Only prolonged donor ischemic time was associated with higher risk of occurrence of moderate to large pericardial effusions (odds ratio 1.012, 95% confidence interval 1.001 to 1.019, P = .033). There was no difference in morbidity or early mortality between patients with and without pericardial effusions. Conclusion Moderate to large pericardial effusions occur frequently after heart transplantation. In a vast majority, these effusions are not associated with any adverse clinical outcomes and resolve within 3 months postoperatively. Early postoperative close monitoring is still required to evaluate for tamponade.
Ordinal position in the serial learning of rats

Rats were runway trained on each of two, three-trial series consisting of different varieties of reward (X, Y, and Z) and nonreward (N) serving as trial outcomes. The two series are represented as XNY and ZNN. Distinguishing the two series were different brightness and texture cues on the runway floor. Transfer tests, conducted after the rats had developed faster running for rewarded trials than for nonrewarded trials and slower running on Trial 2 of ZNN than on Trial 2 of XNY, provided evidence that trial position, rather than item memories, was controlling the discriminations. In Experiment 1, reversing the floor cues completely reversed the discriminations. In Experiment 2, transfer to NNN did not change the routine patterns of approach that had been established.
Arabidopsis thaliana cytidine deaminase 1 shows more similarity to prokaryotic enzymes than to eukaryotic enzymes

Two Expressed Sequence Tagged (EST) clones were identified from the Arabidopsis database as encoding putative cytidine deaminases. Sequence analysis determined that the two clones overlapped and encoded a single cDNA. This cytidine deaminase corresponds to theArabidopsis thaliana gene,cda1. The deduced amino acid sequence was more closely related to prokaryotic cytidine deaminases than to eukaryotic enzymes. The cDNA shares 44% amino acid identity with theEscherichia coli cytidine deaminase but only 26 and 27% identity with human and yeast enzymes. A unique zinc-binding domain of the Ecoli enzyme forms the active site. A similar putative zinc-binding domain was identified in the Arabidopsis enzyme based upon primary sequence similarities. These similarities permitted us to model the active site of the Arabidopsis enzyme upon that of the Ecoli enzyme. In this model, the active site zinc is coordinated by His73, Cys103, Cys107, and an active site hydroxyl. Additional residues that participate in catalysis, Asn64, Glu66, Ala78, Glu79, and Pro102, are conserved between the Arabidopsis and Ecoli enzymes suggesting that the Arabidopsis enzyme has a catalytic mechanism similar to the Ecoli enzyme. The two overlapping ESTs were used to prepare a single, full-length clone corresponding to theA thaliana cda1 cDNA. This cDNA was subcloned into pProExHtb and expressed as a fusion protein with an N-terminal His6 tag. Following purification on a Ni-NTA-Agarose column, the protein was analyzed for its kinetic properties. The enzyme utilizes both cytidine (Km = 226 µand 2’-deoxycytidine (Km= 49 µM) as substrates. The enzyme was unable to deaminate cytosine, CMP or dCMP.
A high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism map of Xq25-q28.

Abstract A high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) map was developed for Xq25–q28 using a targeted approach to SNP discovery. This high-density map includes 217 new SNP markers, and 117 are informative in the CEPH parent population with >20% minor allele frequency. The average distance between SNP markers is 100 kb in the targeted regions. This is the densest genetic map of Xq25–q28 to date. The SNP markers are presented in order by their distance in megabases along the X chromosome, and the markers from the current genetic map are placed using the same scale to produce an integrated map of the region.
New developments in the application of scintillating fiber detectors

We review several new applications of scintillating fibers. One application is to be used in the experiment E803 at Fermilab which is designed to detect the neutrino oscillations (nu) (mu ) yields (nu) (tau ). A fiber tracker is to be used to localize the interaction inside a ton of nuclear emulsion and to help carry out real time detection of this process. Another application is to measure the emittance change of a cooling (mu) +/- beam for a (mu) +(mu) - collider that is being studied by a group of scientists from US institutions. Scintillating fiber tracking could also be used in a detector for the (mu) +(mu) - collider and for the UCLA Asymmetric (phi) Factory due to unusual requirements.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
STUDIES OF THE SUPPRESSION OF AMINONITRILE LESIONS IN RATS BY THYROXINE ANALOGUES1

In contrast with the striking suppressing effects of triiodothyronine and thyroxine on the lesions produced by aminoacetonitrile in rats, the lesions produced by β-aminopropionitrile were only slightly suppressed by these hormones. The activity of eight thyroxine analogues in the suppression of the aminoacetonitrile lesions in rats was found to be far below that of triiodothyronine. Corticosterone and cortisone suppressed only slightly the lesions produced by aminoacetonitrile in rats.
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I stimulate the proliferation of human ovarian theca-interstitial cells

Abstract Objective: To determine whether insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) affect the proliferation of human theca-interstitial cells. Design: In vitro assays. Setting: University laboratory. Patient(s): Premenopausal women undergoing oophorectomy for benign conditions. Intervention(s): Purified theca-interstitial cells were cultured in chemically defined media with or without insulin and IGF-I. Main Outcome Measure(s): The proliferation of cells was evaluated by determination of [ 3 h]thymidine incorporation and cell counting. Result(s): Insulin and IGF-I stimulated DNA synthesis by theca-interstitial cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Insulin-like growth factor I had a greater potency than did insulin. The effects of both approached, but did not reach, the level of DNA synthesis observed in cultures exposed to 10% fetal bovine serum. Direct counting of theca-interstitial cells revealed that IGF-I significantly increased the total number of cells (36% above control), whereas insulin induced a modest and statistically nonsignificant increase in the cell number (14% above control). Conclusion(s): The present results support the hypothesis that insulin and IGF-I promote the mitotic activity of the cainterstitial cells. These effects may represent mechanisms that lead to hyperplasia of the thecal/stromal compartment in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Bandwidth allocation games under budget and access constraints

We study bandwidth allocation at base stations of a wireless network as a non-cooperative game between different wireless users. A user demands bandwidth from the base stations it has access to by submitting bids. Once the bidding process is complete, a base station distributes its bandwidth to the users in proportion to their bids. Users are assumed to be budget constrained and price anticipating, and split their wealth across base stations so as to maximize their individual bandwidths. In this paper, we study the properties of Nash Equilibrium (NE) for this bandwidth allocation game. For the special case where each user can access all base stations, we argue that there exists a unique NE, at which the bandwidth obtained by any user is proportional to its wealth. For a more general scenario where a user may be able to access only a subset of all base stations, we compare the NE of the game to the max-min fair bandwidth allocation. We show that although the NE may not be max-min fair in general, the bandwidth allocation at NE becomes arbitrarily close to max-min fair allocation as the number of users is increased, while keeping the number of base stations fixed.
Stress in mothers of children with autism: Trait mindfulness as a protective factor

1. IntroductionDecades of research support thepopular opinion that parenting is extremely stressful (Abidin, 1992; Crnic & Low, 2002).Parental stress is deﬁned as an aversive or negative reaction to parenting, inﬂuenced by parenting-speciﬁc demands,parental well-being, the parent–child relationship, and child characteristics (Deater-Deckard, 1998, 2004). In addition,parenting stress has been theorized to have a bidirectional relationship with the child’s behavior, such that increasedparental stress contributes to poorer parenting and potentially more child behavior problems, and child behavior problemscontribute to increased parenting stress (Abidin, 1992; Deater-Deckard, 2004). The purpose of the present study was toexamine the relationship between trait mindfulness and stress, in mothers of children with or without ASD, taking intoaccount the severity of child behavior problems.Research suggests that parents of children with disabilities are more likely to experience elevated levels of parentingstress. A recent meta-analysis of parenting stress among parents of children with ASD found that such parents have higherlevels of parenting stress than parents of typically developing children as well as parents of children with otherdevelopmental disabilities, with large effect sizes (Hayes & Watson, 2013). Additionally, prior research has also shown thatmothers of children with ASD typically take on much of the additional strain associated with raising a child with special
Fetuin-A (α2HS-Glycoprotein) Is a Major Serum Adhesive Protein That Mediates Growth Signaling in Breast Tumor Cells

The identity of the cell adhesive factors in fetal bovine serum, commonly used to supplement growth media, remains a mystery due to the plethora of serum proteins. In the present analyses, we showed that fetuin-A, whose function in cellular attachment in tissue culture has been debated for many years, is indeed a major serum cell attachment factor particularly for tumor cells. We are able to report this because of a new purification strategy that has for the first time given us a homogeneous protein band in colloidal Coomassie-stained gels that retains biological activity. The tumor cells adhered to immobilized fetuin-A and not α2-macroglobulin, its major contaminant. The interaction of cells with fetuin-A was driven mainly by Ca2+ ions, and cells growing in regular medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum were just as sensitive to loss of extracellular Ca2+ ions as cells growing in fetuin-A. Fractionation of human serum revealed that cell attachment was confined to the fractions that had fetuin-A. Interestingly, the tumor cells also took up fetuin-A and secreted it back to the medium using an unknown mechanism that can be observed in live cells. The attachment of tumor cells to fetuin-A was accompanied by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt activation that was down-regulated in cells that lack annexin-A6, one of the cell surface receptors for fetuin-A. Taken together, our data show the significance of fetuin-A in tumor cell growth mechanisms in vitro and open new research vistas for this protein.
Viable Randall-Sundrum model for quarks and leptons with T' family symmetry

We propose a Randall-Sundrum model with a bulk family symmetry based on the double tetrahedral group, T{sup '}, which generates the tribimaximal neutrino mixing pattern and a realistic CKM matrix, including CP violation. Unlike 4D models where the generation of mass hierarchy requires additional symmetry, the warped geometry naturally gives rise to the fermion mass hierarchy through wave function localization. The T{sup '} symmetry forbids tree-level flavor-changing-neutral-currents in both the quark and lepton sectors, as different generations of fermions are unified into multiplets of T{sup '}. This results in a low first KK mass scale and thus the model can be tested at collider experiments.
Androgens potentiate the effects of erythropoietin in the treatment of anemia of end-stage renal disease.

Since androgens may increase the sensitivity of the erythroid progenitors to erythropoietin, the present studies were designed to investigate the effect of administration of androgens on the actions of exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) in hemodialysis patients. Studies were performed in a group of 15 adult male hemodialysis patients. Seven patients were treated with EPO alone at a dose of 2,000 U intravenously (IV) three times a week. An additional group of eight patients was treated with 2,000 U of EPO three times a week and also received 100 mg of nandrolone decanoate intramuscularly (IM) each week. After 12 weeks of therapy, hematocrit values increased slightly in the group receiving EPO alone, from 25.3 ± 0.8 to 27.4 ± 1.5. In contrast, EPO in combination with nandrolone decanoate resulted in a greater increase in hematocrit values, from 24.4 ± 1.4 to 32.9 ± 1.8 ( P
Decreased Infectivity of a Neutralization-Resistant Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Variant Can Be Overcome by Efficient Cell-to-Cell Spread

Two variants of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) that differed in sensitivity to broadly neutralizing antibody were tested in direct competition assays. No differences were observed in the growth curves and relative fitness scores of EIAVs of principal neutralizing domain variants of groups 1 (EIAV(PND-1)) and 5 (EIAV(PND-5)), respectively; however, the neutralization-resistant EIAV(PND-5) variant was less infectious in single-round replication assays. Infectious center assays indicated similar rates of cell-to-cell spread, which was approximately 1,000-fold more efficient than cell-free infectivity. These data indicate that efficient cell-to-cell spread can overcome the decreased infectivity that may accompany immune escape and should be considered in studies assessing the relative levels of fitness among lentivirus variants, including HIV-1.
The bronchodilator effect of intravenous glucagon in asthma exacerbation: a randomized, controlled trial.

Abstract Study Objective: Glucagon is a rapid-acting smooth muscle relaxant with a short half-life. Previous studies suggested glucagon may have bronchodilator effects. We sought to determine whether intravenous glucagon produces clinically important immediate bronchodilation in emergency department patients with asthma exacerbation. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at 2 university-affiliated community teaching hospital EDs (annual census 90,000). ED patients 18 to 50 years old with asthma exacerbation and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) less than 350 L/min were eligible. Exclusion criteria were need for intubation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, insulinoma, pheochromocytoma, pregnancy, lactation, or current oral steroid treatment. Patients were randomly assigned to receive glucagon 0.03 mg/kg or an equivalent volume of saline solution intravenously. At 10 minutes, PEFR was measured and all patients began standardized albuterol therapy. Successful bronchodilation was a PEFR increase of 60 L/min at 10 minutes. Results: Success occurred in 2 (9.5%) of 21 glucagon-treated patients and 3 (12%) of 25 placebo-treated patients (95% confidence interval [CI] for difference of –2.5% [–20.4% to 15.4%]). Mean PEFR improvement for glucagon was 2 L/min versus 9 L/min for placebo (95% CI for difference of –7 L/min [–36 L/min to 23 L/min]). Conclusion: Glucagon alone provided no clinically important immediate bronchodilation in ED patients with asthma exacerbation. [Wilber ST, Wilson JE, Blanda M, Gerson LW, Meerbaum SO, Janas G. The bronchodilator effect of intravenous glucagon in asthma exacerbation: a randomized, controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med. November 2000;36:427-431.]
Learning Set Acquisition: Problem Solving Strategies Employed by Reading Disabled and Normal Children

A number of characteristics have been attributed to reading disabled children, primarily through the use of correlational statistical techniques. This investigation looked directly at the learning process of reading disabled children, by comparison of reading disabled and normal children's responses to a conditional discrimination learning set (LS) task. Errors made by both groups were analyzed to determine if different problem -solving strategies were employed by reading disabled and normal children when attempting to solve the learning task. The results of this investigation indicate that normal children are more adept at solving the LS task than the reading disabled children. Children comprisirtg the two groups also used different strategies for solving the learning task, as the reading disabled children tended to be more rigid in their approach, while normal children were more willing to try varying responses and take chances. The results of this study offer a direction for future research leading to ...
The Response of Chicks to Dietary Animal Fat in New and Old Environments

Abstract INTRODUCTION NUMEROUS workers have obtained growth responses in chicks from dietary fat additions when nutrient balance was maintained. Rand et al. (1958) observed growth responses to corn oil which could not be attributed to variations in energy intake or intake of other nutrients. They proposed that the observed growth responses were due to one of the following: 1) increasing the efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy; 2) improving the utilization of dietary protein; and/or 3) providing an unidentified growth factor. In addition to the above explanations for fat responses, there is some evidence in the literature that fat response may be associated with type or quantity of intestinal microorganisms. Supplee (1960) reported a positive growth rate interaction in poults from the addition of corn oil and oleando-mycin to purified diets. The purpose of the experiment reported herein was to measure the growth response to dietary fat under conditions in which …
Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Germanium Alloys Grown by the Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition Technique

We successfully grow high-quality hydrogenated amorphous-silicon-germanium alloys (a-SiGe:H) by the hot-wire chemical-vapor deposition (HWCVD) technique using silane and germane gas mixtures. These alloys display electronic properties as good as those grown by the plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (PECVD) technique, when comparing materials with the same optical bandgaps. However, we grow materials with good electrical properties at high deposition rates—up to 40 A/s, compared to 1-4 A/s for PECVD materials. Our alloys exhibit similar trends with increasing Ge content to alloys grown by PECVD. The defect density, the dark conductivity, and the degree of nanostructural heterogeneity (as measured by small-angle X-ray scattering) all increase with increasing germanium content in the alloy. The nanostructural heterogeneity displays a sharp transition between 9 at.% and 14 at.% germanium. PECVD- grown a-SiGe:H alloys exhibit a similar transition at 20 at.% Ge. The photoconductivity and the ambipolar diffusion length of the alloys decrease with increasing germanium content. For a fixed silane-to-germane gas ratio, all material properties improve substantially when increasing substrate temperature (Tsub) from 220°C to 375°C. Increasing Tsub also narrows the optical bandgap and lowers the hydrogen content in the alloys for the same germane-to-silane gas ratio.
Measurement of Fish for Liberation by Weighing

Abstract Accurate measurement of fish produced is essential before the production or efficiency of hatcheries can be compared or evaluated correctly. Where large numbers of fish are liberated, a system of weighing offers an easy and accurate method. Precautions are necessary to assure accurate representative samples of the fish being counted. Large errors occur if seine samples from ponds are depended upon as average samples. Most accurate results are obtained when fish are seined into holding pens and 5- to 10-pound samples of each 100-pound load of fish are counted. Invisible losses occasioned by cannibalism, predators and unseen escapement often are unexpectedly high. Even when a very accurate record is maintained of all observed losses, the number of fish weighed out of the ponds is much less than hatchery records indicate. Conditioning of the fish before hauling is desirable when long truck hauls are necessary. This may be done by not feeding them for 24 to 36 hours. Losses occasioned by overloading ...
Two-channel Kondo physics from tunneling impurities with triangular symmetry

Tunneling impurities in metals have been known for some time to have the potential for exhibiting Kondo-like physics. However, previous models based on an impurity hopping between two equivalent positions have run into trouble due to the existence of relevant operators that drive the system away from the non-Fermi-liquid Kondo fixed point. In the case of an impurity hopping among positions with higher symmetry, such as triangular symmetry, it is shown here that the non-Fermi-liquid behavior at low temperatures can be generic. Using various bosonization techniques, the fixed point is shown to be stable. However, unlike the conventional two-channel Kondo (2CK) model, it has four leading irrelevant operators, implying that while the form of the singular temperature dependence of physical quantities is similar to the 2CK model, there will not be simple universal amplitude ratios. The phase diagram of this system is analyzed and a critical manifold is found to separate the non-Fermi-liquid from a conventional Fermi liquid fixed point. Generalization to higher symmetries, such as cubic, and the possibility of physical realizations with dynamic Jahn-Teller impurities are discussed.
Catheter electrode studies for ultra-short high-field pulses

Ultra-short (less than 30 ns) high-field (greater than 1.5 megavolt per meter (MV/m)) pulses have been shown to induce apoptosis in cultured cancer-derived cells. A potential clinical application of this phenomenon is to treat malignant and diseased tissues. This paper presents preliminary research on development and design of thin, flexible catheter electrodes to deliver nanosecond pulses for minimally invasive in vivo treatment applications. An evaluation of commercially available microwave cables and RF ablation catheters for compatibility with ultra-short pulse cancer therapy is presented. The results show that RF ablation catheters distort high frequency components of nanosecond pulses. Preliminary results of a prototype microcoaxial catheter electrode for nanosecond pulse delivery applications are presented
Characterization of CCR9 Expression and CCL25/Thymus-Expressed Chemokine Responsiveness During T Cell Development: CD3highCD69+ Thymocytes and γδTCR+ Thymocytes Preferentially Respond to CCL25

CCR9 mediates chemotaxis of thymocytes in response to CCL25/thymus-expressed chemokine, and its mRNA is selectively expressed in thymus and small intestine, the two known sites of T lymphopoiesis. To examine the expression of CCR9 during lymphocyte development, we generated polyclonal Ab that recognizes murine CCR9. CCR9 was expressed on the majority of immature CD4+CD8+ (double-positive) thymocytes, but not on immature CD4−CD8− (double-negative) thymocytes. CCR9 was down-regulated during the transition of double-positive thymocytes to the CD4+ or CD8+ (single-positive) stage, and only a minor subset of CD8+ lymph node T cells expressed CCR9. All CCR9+ thymocyte subsets migrated in response to CCL25; however, CD69+ thymocytes demonstrated enhanced CCL25-induced migration compared with CD69− thymocytes. Ab-mediated TCR stimulation also enhanced CCL25 responsiveness, indicating that CCL25-induced thymocyte migration is augmented by TCR signaling. Approximately one-half of all γδTCR+ thymocytes and peripheral γδTCR+ T cells expressed CCR9 on their surface, and these cells migrated in response to CCL25. These findings suggest that CCR9 may play an important role in the development and trafficking of both αβTCR+ and γδTCR+ T cells.
Using Duplication with Compare for On-line Error Detection in FPGA-based Designs

It is well known that SRAM-based FPGAs are susceptible to single-event upsets (SEUs) in radiation environments. A variety of mitigation strategies have been demonstrated to provide appropriate mitigation and correction of SEUs in these environments. While full mitigation of SEUs is appropriate for some situations, some systems may tolerate SEUs as long as these upsets are detected quickly and correctly. These systems require effective error detection techniques rather than costly error correction methods. This work leverages a well-known error detection technique for FPGAs called duplication with compare (DWC). This technique has been shown to be very effective at quickly and accurately detecting SEUs using fault injection and radiation testing.
Oral azathioprine for recalcitrant pediatric atopic dermatitis: clinical response and thiopurine monitoring.

Background Azathioprine is prescribed as a corticosteroid-sparing agent for many inflammatory conditions, including refractory atopic dermatitis (AD). There are limited prospective data on its appropriate use and monitoring for children with AD. Objectives This study was designed to assess clinical response to azathioprine, determine the necessity for repeated measurement of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity during treatment, and test the utility of measuring levels of the metabolites 6-thioguanine nucleotide and 6-methylmercaptopurine. Methods Twelve children with severe, recalcitrant AD were treated with oral azathioprine and followed prospectively. Disease severity was determined by the SCORing AD index. Baseline TPMT activity was measured and this was repeated along with 6-thioguanine nucleotide and 6-methylmercaptopurine measurement at times of stable improvement, inadequate response, or change in response. Results Azathioprine therapy was associated with clinical improvement in all but 1 patient. There were few adverse effects. Three patients showed a significant change in TPMT activity during treatment: 2 had a mild decrease and 1 demonstrated enzyme inducibility with an increase from the intermediate to the normal activity range. These changes, but not 6-thioguanine nucleotide or 6-methylmercaptopurine levels, inversely correlated with the clinical response to therapy. Limitations Small sample size is a limitation. Conclusions Azathioprine can be of benefit in the treatment of recalcitrant pediatric AD. Repeat assessment of TPMT activity may be helpful for evaluation of nonresponse or change in response and warrants further study. In contrast, measurement of thiopurine metabolites during treatment was not clinically useful.
The impact of repeated surgery and adjuvant therapy on survival for patients with recurrent glioblastoma

Abstract Objective Treatment of glioblastoma recurrence can have a palliative aim, after considering risks and potential benefits. The aim of this study is to verify the impact of surgery and of palliative adjuvant treatments on survival after recurrence. Methods From January 2002 to June 2008, we treated 76 consecutive patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Treatment was: 1-surgery alone – 17 patients; 2-adjuvant-therapy alone – 24 patients; 3-surgery and adjuvant therapy – 16 patients; no treatment – 19 patients. The impact on median overall-survival (OS-time between recurrence and death/last follow-up) of age, Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), resection extent and adjuvant treatment scheme (Temozolomide alone vs low-dose fractionated radiotherapy vs others) was determined. Survival curves were obtained through the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional-hazards was used for multivariate analyses. Significance was set at p Results Median OS was 7 months. At univariate analysis, patients with a KPS≥70 had a longer OS (9 months vs 5 months – p p =0.01. Patients with a KPS p =0.001. Subgroup analysis showed no significant differences between patients receiving gross total or partial tumor resection and among patients receiving different adjuvant therapy schemes. Major surgical morbidity at tumor recurrence occurred in 16 out of 33 patients (48%). Conclusion It is fundamental, before deciding to operate patients for recurrence, to carefully consider the impact of surgical morbidity on outcome.
A simulation study to investigate runway capacity using TAAM

This study outlines a method to evaluate runway layouts using simulation, to aid in the airport planning and decision making process. As a sample study, the maximum throughput capacities of proposed expansion alternatives at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), constrained at varying levels, are identified. The objective is to compare these ultimate airport capacities achievable for each of the different layouts to estimate their respective efficiencies in terms of runway system utilization. TAAM (Total Airspace and Airport Modeller) is used to simulate each proposed alternative given its capabilities for modeling at a very high level of detail and closely representing reality in terms of applicable separation standards and air traffic control procedures.
How the Conservatives Canonized Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education is the sacred cow of American constitutional law. This Article explores how Brown achieved its most-favored-opinion status. Although recent scholarship about the constitutional canon suggests that the reverence for Brown is a product of the moral force of Civil Rights Movement and the efforts of liberal academics intent on preserving the Warren Court's legacy, this Article contends that Brown's exalted place in the constitutional canon was ultimately the work of conservatives. This Article advances recent canonization scholarship in three principal ways: First, it bifurcates the constitutional canon into an upper and lower canon. Second, it argues that conservatives are chiefly responsible for moving Brown into the upper canon. Third, it chronicles Brown's canonization by employing a novel methodological device - Supreme Court confirmation hearings. The hearings of post-1954 nominees suggest that conservative affirmed Brown's validity in order to get confirmed, and as Justices, they subsequently narrowed Brown's interpretation. Chief Justice William Rehnquist's 1971 and 1986 confirmation hearings began this pattern. The controversy over a memo endorsing Plessy v. Ferguson that Rehnquist wrote as a law clerk to Justice Jackson unwittingly cast Rehnquist in a leading role among conservatives in securing Brown's hallowed place in the constitutional canon.
Identification of Cleavage Planes in an Al3Ti-Base Alloy by Electron Channeling in the SEM

Selected area electron channeling patterns were used to identify the cleavage planes in a polycrystalline Al 3 Ti-base alloy having the L 1 2 structure. In order to do this unambiguously in the scanning electron microscope (SEM), one needs to know that the cleavage facet from which any given channeling pattern is obtained is indeed normal to the electron beam. We accomplished this by utilizing a recently-developed technique in which an optical microscope with a short depth of focus is inserted in the SEM column and used to measure the elevations of several points on the cleavage facets. By appropriately tilting and rotating the sample, and using the optical microscope to measure elevations, it was possible to orient the facets normal to the beam. The cleavage planes in a cast and extruded alloy having an equiaxed grain structure were compared with those in a directionally-solidified (DS) alloy of the same composition. Of the eight cleavage facets examined in the DS material, six were of the {110} type and two were of the {111} type. Of the six facets examined in the cast and extruded material, two each were of the {110} and {111} types, and one each were of the {100} and {013} types. Although it cannot be said that all possible cleavage planes have been identified in this alloy, the availability of several low-strength cleavage planes apparently exacerbates its brittleness.
Performance of cystatin C-based equations in a pediatric cohort at high risk of kidney injury.

Limited data exist on the performance of cystatin C-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations in pediatric transplant recipients and other high-risk patients. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the performance of current cystatin C-based equations in this population. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 141 consecutive patients (58 % post-transplant) who received a nuclear medicine GFR (NucGFR) examination using 99mTc- diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid at our institution. Subjects included children receiving liver, kidney or hematopoietic stem cell transplants and patients with oncologic or urologic disease. GFR estimates using published GFR estimating equations, including those based on cystatin C (Filler, Zappitelli, Larsson, Hoek, Rule and Le Bricon equations, respectively) and on both cystatin C and creatinine (Zappitelli, Bouvet and Schwartz equations, respectively), were evaluated and compared to the NucGFR measurement using Bland–Altman analysis. The mean NucGFR was 95 (interquartile range 76–111) ml/min/1.73 m2. Of the cystatin C-based equations, the Rule, Hoek, Zappitelli and Schwartz (2009 CKiD equation) formulas provided the closest agreement to the NucGFR estimate. All other formulas overestimated the GFR in our cohort. Cystatin C-based GFR formulas can provide an accurate estimation of NucGFR in a pediatric population with a high proportion of transplant recipients and oncology patients.
Effect of bleaching permeate from microfiltered skim milk on 80% serum protein concentrate1

Abstract Whey proteins that have been removed before the cheese-making process are referred to as "native" whey protein s or milk serum protein s . Because serum proteins isolated directly from milk are not exposed to the cheese-making process, they are free from functional or sensory effects arising from this process. Whey proteins used in food and beverage applications are largely derived from annatto-colored Cheddar cheese. Some of the annatto is left in the whey and this color is converted to a colorless compound by bleaching. The effect of bleaching serum proteins on flavor and functionality of spray-dried protein provides a platform to investigate the effect of bleaching free from the confounding effects of cheese manufacture. The objective of this study was to characterize and compare the sensory and functional properties of 80% milk serum protein concentrate (SPC80) produced from bleached and unbleached microfiltration (MF) permeate made from skim milk with and without added annatto color. Colored and uncolored MF permeates were bleached with benzoyl peroxide (BP) or hydrogen peroxide (HP), ultrafiltered, diafiltered, and spray-dried. The SPC80 from unbleached colored and uncolored MF permeates were manufactured as controls. All treatments were manufactured in triplicate. All SPC80 were evaluated by sensory testing, instrumental analyses, functionality, color, and proximate analysis. The HP-bleached SPC80 was higher in lipid oxidation compounds than BP-bleached or unbleached SPC80, specifically hexanal, heptanal, nonanal, decanal, and 2,3-octadienone. The HP treatments were higher in aroma intensity and cardboard and fatty flavors compared with the unbleached and BP-bleached SPC80. The SPC80 bleached with BP had lower concentrations of norbixin compared with SPC80 bleached with HP. Functionality testing demonstrated that HP treatments had more soluble protein after 10min of heating at 90°C and pH 4.6 and pH 7 compared with the no bleach and BP treatments, regardless of additional color. Foams generated from bleached SPC80 were more stable than those from unbleached SPC80, and those bleached with HP were lower in yield stress than other SPC80. Overall, HP bleaching destroyed less norbixin and caused more lipid oxidation and subsequent off-flavors than did BP bleaching. However, the heat stability of SPC80 was enhanced by HP bleaching compared with control treatments or BP bleaching.