cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum algorithm for energy matching in hard optimization problems

We consider the ability of local quantum dynamics to solve the ``energy-matching'' problem: given an instance of a classical optimization problem and a low-energy state, find another macroscopically distinct low-energy state. Energy matching is difficult in rugged optimization landscapes, as the given state provides little information about the distant topography. Here, we show that the introduction of quantum dynamics can provide a speedup over classical algorithms in a large class of hard optimization problems. Tunneling allows the system to explore the optimization landscape while approximately conserving the classical energy, even in the presence of large barriers. Specifically, we study energy matching in the random $p$-spin model of spin-glass theory. Using perturbation theory and exact diagonalization, we show that introducing a transverse field leads to three sharp dynamical phases, only one of which solves the matching problem: (1) a small-field ``trapped'' phase, in which tunneling is too weak for the system to escape the vicinity of the initial state; (2) a large-field ``excited'' phase, in which the field excites the system into high-energy states, effectively forgetting the initial energy; and (3) the intermediate ``tunneling'' phase, in which the system succeeds at energy matching. The rate at which distant states are found in the tunneling phase, although exponentially slow in system size, is exponentially faster than classical search algorithms.
Reversibly Switchable, pH-Dependent Peptide Ligand Binding via 3,5-Diiodotyrosine Substitutions

Cell type-specific targeting ligands utilized in drug delivery applications typically recognize receptors that are overexpressed on the cells of interest. Nonetheless, these receptors may also be expressed, to varying extents, on off-target cells, contributing to unintended side effects. For the selectivity profile of targeting ligands in cancer therapy to be improved, stimuli-responsive masking of these ligands with acid-, redox-, or enzyme-cleavable molecules has been reported, whereby the targeting ligands are exposed in specific environments, e.g., acidic tumor hypoxia. One possible drawback of these systems lies in their one-time, permanent trigger, which enables the “demasked” ligands to bind off-target cells if released back into the systemic circulation. A promising strategy to address the aforementioned problem is to design ligands that show selective binding based on ionization state, which may be microenvironment-dependent. In this study, we report a systematic strategy to engineer low pH-selec...
Student acceptance of clinical conversational Spanish in medical curriculum

There is little in the literature on the impact of student acceptance of receiving medical training under a different language other than English. In order to address a steady growing minority popu...
Precarity afoot: material performatives as evolutionary relations across deep time

This essay uses theories of materialist performativity to examine the processes of evolution and speciation. To this end, I highlight the relevance of performance theory for environmental a...
Narrating the Landscape: Print Culture and American Expansion in the Nineteenth Century

Review of: "Narrating the Landscape: Print Culture and American Expansion in the Nineteenth Century", by Matthew N. Johnston.
Producing Broth Cultures in Simple Glass Fermentors

A small glass fermentor of 2–3-liter capacity can be used to produce broth cultures to be applied as liquid inoculants in field experiments. It is also suitable for producing starter cultures for medium-sized commercial fermentors. In this chapter, a glass fermentor is assembled and then used for small-scale production of broth cultures. The broth cultures are monitored periodically for quality control, including checks for contamination and the progress of growth and cell multiplication.
Dye Binding to Polytryptophan and Lysine-Tryptophan Copolymer: Electron Transfer Quenching by Biopolymer Pendant Groups

Long range photoinduced electron transfer between potential electron donors and acceptors is of considerable current interest in terms of strategies for artificial photosynthesis and studies regarding the redox properties of proteins. Electron transfer over organized arrays of significant dimension (e.g., 10 nm) may also be important for molecule-based bistable switches or rectifiers. As part of a program of study of long range electron transfer involving biopolymers, we report the results of a study of interaction of the xanthene dye, eosin, (EY), with synthetic peptides constructed of the amino acid residues, lysine (Lys), tryptophan (Trp), and tyrosine (Tyr). The principal interest in these systems has to do with the well ordered secondary structures (e.g., α-helices) adopted by peptide polymers and the capabilities for synthetic modification of peptide side chains and end groups with chromophores or electroactive substituents. In addition to providing mechanisms of charge transport, helical biopolymer backbones may find use in the regular assembly of dipoles or charges necessary for nonlinear optical phenomena.
Long-Term Management of Sustained Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Role of Catheter Ablation

Antiarrhythmic drug treatment of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) is limited by incomplete ef~cacy, frequent side effects and a risk of proarrhythmia that may exceed the therapeutic bene~t. Consequently, there has been intense interest in non-pharmacologic methods for management of VT. The implanted de~brillator is effective for prevention of arrhythmic death. However, the device has no effect on the arrhythmia substrate, is expensive and may be poorly tolerated if frequent VT episodes require repeated shocks. Radiofrequency catheter ablation has emerged as a safe and potentially curative therapy for a subset of patients with idiopathic VT in the absence of structural heart disease. It is also used for palliation in a select group of patients with VT and left ventricular dysfunction. Studies of new ablation technologies are ongoing and will likely lead to expanded indications. This review will summarize radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques used for treatment of monomorphic VT, expected outcomes of the procedure and the current role of ablation in patient management.
Fast Low-Rank Matrix Estimation for Ill-Conditioned Matrices

We study the general problem of optimizing a convex function of a matrix-valued variable subject to low-rank constraints. This problem has attracted significant attention; however, existing first-order methods for solving such problems either are too slow to converge, or require multiple invocations of singular value decompositions. On the other hand, factorization-based non-convex algorithms, while being much faster, require stringent assumptions on the condition number of the optimum. In this paper, we provide a novel algorithmic framework that achieves the best of both worlds: as fast as factorization methods, while requiring no spectral assumptions. We instantiate our framework for the nonlinear affine rank minimization (NLARM) problem. For this problem, we derive explicit bounds on the sample complexity as well as running time of our approach, and show that it achieves the best possible bounds for both cases. We also support our proposed algorithm via several experimental results.
The Evolution of Active Shooter Response Training Protocols Since Columbine: Lessons From the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center:

On April 20, 1999, two active shooters attacked Columbine High School. This attack became a catalyst that changed the manner in which law enforcement prepared for similar attacks at schools and oth...
Malpractice litigation, quality improvement, and the University Hospitals Obstetric Quality Network:

ObjectiveA healthcare organization’s medical malpractice data can help identify patient safety risks and drive improvement. In most organizations, obstetric malpractice losses are assumed to be par...
Myeloid atg5 deletion impairs n-3 PUFA-mediated atheroprotection.

Abstract Background and aims Dietary long-chain (≥20 carbons) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce atherosclerosis and enhance macrophage autophagy activation. How macrophage autophagy impacts atherosclerotic progression, particularly when comparing dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation vs. saturated fat feeding, is unknown. Methods We generated myeloid-specific autophagy-deficient and control mice in the Ldlr−/− background by transplanting bone marrow from myeloid-specific autophagy-related (atg) 5 knockout mice and wild type controls into irradiated Ldlr−/− recipients. After 7 weeks for recovery from radiation, mice were fed an atherogenic diet containing 0.2% cholesterol and 20% calories as palm oil (PO diet), or 10% calories as PO plus 10% calories as fish oil (FO diet) for 16 weeks. Results Compared to PO, FO significantly reduced plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, hepatic neutral lipid, and aortic caspase-1 cleavage, but increased aortic efferocytosis, leading to attenuated atherosclerosis in Ldlr−/− mice receiving wild type bone marrow. Myeloid atg5 deletion had little impact on plasma lipid concentrations and hepatic neutral lipid content, regardless of diet. Myeloid atg5 deletion increased aortic caspase-1 cleavage, decreased aortic efferocytosis and worsened atherosclerosis only in the FO-fed Ldlr−/− mice. Conclusions Deficient myeloid autophagy significantly attenuated FO-induced atheroprotection, suggesting that dietary n-3 PUFAs reduce atherosclerosis, in part, by activation of macrophage autophagy.
Abdominal Vascular Injuries: Techniques

Injuries to major named vessels in the abdomen are present in 20–25% of patients undergoing laparotomy for gunshot wounds. This figure decreases to 10% in patients after stab wounds and to 5–10% in patients after blunt trauma. The management of and survival after operations for abdominal vascular injuries depend on whether the injury is tamponaded or freely bleeding and whether an artery, vein, or both are injured. Operative approaches are geographic as several vessels in each of the midline supramesocolic, midline inframesocolic, perirenal, pelvic, and portal/retrohepatic areas are approached in the same way. A few major named arteries in the abdomen (celiac, proper hepatic and branches, proximal splenic) can be ligated if necessary. In contrast, all named veins in the abdomen with the exception of the right renal (if the kidney is to be saved), suprarenal inferior vena cava (IVC), and suprahepatic IVC can be ligated, if necessary. Repairs are performed much as with peripheral vessels. The presence of an injury to a major named vessel in the abdomen decreases survival by 30% when compared to a patient without such an injury.
A Socially Distanced Robotic Menorah Set

Every Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, our team gathers with our grandparents, Fred and Marlene, to celebrate by lighting candles together. This is an interactive experience, where participants pass the Shamash candle to each other to light the next of 8 candles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing prohibits the close contact required for this interaction; therefore, we designed a pair of robotic menorahs (candelabras with 9 candle-holders) connected via Bluetooth to enable candle lighting across a distance during Hanukkah 2020. Our design incorporates existing menorahs and candles with electronic components to enable a traditional, yet socially distant experience.
Battlespace: using AI to understand friendly vs. hostile decision dynamics in MDO

Future Multi Domain Operation (MDO) wargaming will rely on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms to aid and accelerate complex Command and Control decision-making. This requires an interdisciplinary effort to develop new algorithms that can operate in dynamic environments with changing rules, uncertainty, individual biases, changing cognitive states, as well as the capability to rapidly mitigate unexpected hostile capabilities and exploit friendly technological capabilities. Building on recent advancements in AI/ML algorithms, we believe that new algorithms for learning, reasoning under uncertainty, game theory with three or more players, and interpretable AI can be developed to aid in complex MDO decision-making. To achieve these goals, we developed a new flexible MDO warfighter machine interface game, Battlespace, to investigate and understand how human decision-making principles can be leveraged by and synergized with AI. We conducted several experiments with human vs. random players operating in a fixed environment with fixed rules, where the overall goal of the human players was to collaborate to either capture the opponents’ flags or eliminate all of their units. Then, we analyzed the evolution of the games and identified key features that characterized the human players’ strategies and their overall goal. We then followed a Bayesian approach to model the human strategies and developed heuristic strategies for a simple AI agent. Preliminary analysis revealed that following the human agents’ strategy in the capture the flag games produced the greatest winning percentage and may be useful for gauging the value of intermediate game states for developing the coordinated action planning of reinforcement learning algorithms.
Light trapping transparent electrodes with a wide-angle response.

The angle dependent transmission of light trapping transparent electrodes is investigated. The electrodes consist of triangular metallic wire arrays embedded in a dielectric cover layer. Normal incidence illumination of the structure produces light trapping via total internal reflection, virtually eliminating all shadowing losses. It is found that varying the external angle of incidence can affect the light trapping efficiency ηLT due to partial loss of internal reflection and increased interaction with neighboring wires. Despite these effects, a judicious selection of geometry and materials can reduce shadowing losses by more than 85% over a surprisingly large angular range of 120°. It is demonstrated that the angle-averaged shadowing losses in an encapsulated silicon solar cell under illumination with unpolarized light can be reduced by more than a factor of two for incident angles between −60° and +60° off-normal across the entire AM1.5 solar spectrum.
Getting started and sustaining change

Abstract Enhanced Recovery Pathways (ERP) are comprehensive multidisciplinary perioperative best practices that facilitate early recovery and improved outcomes for surgical patients. Through successful implementation of a sustainable pathway, hospitals have the opportunity to improve quality of care and value of care for their patients. However, there are few comprehensive guidelines in the modern era for creating and maintaining an ERP for hospitals or personnel without prior experience in quality improvement work. This chapter provides a detail guide in ERP implementation at multiple stages, including an assessment of the current state, pre-implementation strategies, early implementation milestones, and late implementation sustainability.
Nitrogen Mineralization Rates in Long-Term ManuredFields Estimated using Lab Incubation Experiment

Land application of dairy manure is a common practice in confined dairy operations in the Pacific Northwest...
An Integrated Magnetic Structure for Bi-Directional Two-Channel Interleaved Boost Converter with Coupled Inductor

The channel current in an interleaved boost converter consists of circulating Differential Mode (DM) current and Common Mode (CM) boost current. Inverse-coupling between inductors, compared with the uncoupled case, offers reduced channel current ripple. However, its leakage inductance, that serves as boost inductor, is difficult to control. Hence, a cascade of two perfectly coupled inductors, inverse (DM inductance) and direct (CM inductance), is preferred. The DM and CM currents and their ripples depend on these inductances. Nonetheless, this approach results in increased size of magnetics. In this paper, an integrated inductor, based on gapped EE-core is proposed, that combines both CM and DM inductances in a single core. The CM and DM inductances are independent and can be controlled separately by their winding turns. A reluctance model is derived, and a design procedure is developed where core parameters are expressed in terms of converter parameters. Finally, the proposed concept is validated through a 330W, 100 V to 168 V prototype.
Multi-intelligence critical rating assessment of fusion techniques (MiCRAFT)

Assessment of multi-intelligence fusion techniques includes credibility of algorithm performance, quality of results against mission needs, and usability in a work-domain context. Situation awareness (SAW) brings together low-level information fusion (tracking and identification), high-level information fusion (threat and scenario-based assessment), and information fusion level 5 user refinement (physical, cognitive, and information tasks). To measure SAW, we discuss the SAGAT (Situational Awareness Global Assessment Technique) technique for a multi-intelligence fusion (MIF) system assessment that focuses on the advantages of MIF against single intelligence sources. Building on the NASA TLX (Task Load Index), SAGAT probes, SART (Situational Awareness Rating Technique) questionnaires, and CDM (Critical Decision Method) decision points; we highlight these tools for use in a Multi-Intelligence Critical Rating Assessment of Fusion Techniques (MiCRAFT). The focus is to measure user refinement of a situation over the information fusion quality of service (QoS) metrics: timeliness, accuracy, confidence, workload (cost), and attention (throughput). A key component of any user analysis includes correlation, association, and summarization of data; so we also seek measures of product quality and QuEST of information. Building a notion of product quality from multi-intelligence tools is typically subjective which needs to be aligned with objective machine metrics.
Response of Elastic Cylinders to Plane Shear Waves

The dynamic response of a thick-walled cylinder embedded in an infinite elastic medium is determined due to the passage of plane harmonic shear waves. The basic parameters involved in the solution are the incident wave frequency, the cylinder's radii, and the elastic constants and density of the cylinder and medium. At certain incident wave frequencies, the predominant tangential stresses are found to be 10% to 20% greater than the corresponding static values. The maximum tangential stresses produced by the incident shear wave are 40% to 60% greater than those produced by a similar compressional wave.
In an Age of Open Access to Research Policies: Physician and Public Health NGO Staff Research Use and Policy Awareness

Introduction Through funding agency and publisher policies, an increasing proportion of the health sciences literature is being made open access. Such an increase in access raises questions about the awareness and potential utilization of this literature by those working in health fields. Methods A sample of physicians (N=336) and public health non-governmental organization (NGO) staff (N=92) were provided with relatively complete access to the research literature indexed in PubMed, as well as access to the point-of-care service UpToDate, for up to one year, with their usage monitored through the tracking of web-log data. The physicians also participated in a one-month trial of relatively complete or limited access. Results The study found that participants' research interests were not satisfied by article abstracts alone nor, in the case of the physicians, by a clinical summary service such as UpToDate. On average, a third of the physicians viewed research a little more frequently than once a week, while two-thirds of the public health NGO staff viewed more than three articles a week. Those articles were published since the 2008 adoption of the NIH Public Access Policy, as well as prior to 2008 and during the maximum 12-month embargo period. A portion of the articles in each period was already open access, but complete access encouraged a viewing of more research articles. Conclusion Those working in health fields will utilize more research in the course of their work as a result of (a) increasing open access to research, (b) improving awareness of and preparation for this access, and (c) adjusting public and open access policies to maximize the extent of potential access, through reduction in embargo periods and access to pre-policy literature.
Abstract MP95: Title: Self-Reported versus Objective Sedentary Behavior Assessment in Young Adults

Background: Sedentary behavior (SED) has emerged as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality in longitudinal studies, but has almost exclusively been measured by self-reported total SED or television (TV) time. Objective: Our goal was to compare self-reported SED vs. objective SED by the BodyMedia® armband in young adults Methods: Among overweight and obese young adults (age: 31 ± 4 years, BMI: 32 ± 4 kg/m2) enrolled in a clinical weight loss trial, baseline SED was assessed by 3 methods: 1) self-reported time spent in 8 common SEDs (TV, computer, transportation, etc.) from a questionnaire adapted from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (SEDQ), 2) a single question about total SED in a ‘typical day’ from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (SEDGPAQ), and 3) objective SED was calculated as the average awake time spent at <1.5 METS over ≥4 days with ≥10 hours of wear time (SEDOBJ). Also, because it is often used as a surrogate for SED, TV time (SEDTV)...
Commitment and Diffusion: How and Why National Constitutions Incorporate International Law

This paper considers why it is that drafters of national constitutions incorporate international law, a phenomenon that is of growing importance. It argues that designers do so when they need to make credible commitments, and that international law has some unique features that render it attractive as a commitment device. The paper then considers an alternative hypothesis, namely that countries adopt such provisions as part of a process of diffusion, following other country's choices. The paper develops an empirical test of these hypotheses, and finds support for both, suggesting that commitment and diffusion operate in a complementary fashion.
New zealand triassic ammonoids

abstract Twenty–two species distributed in sixteen genera of Triassic ammonoids are now known from New Zealand, which indicate mid–Scythian, Anisian, Carnian, and Rhaetian Zones. Only the Middle and Upper Triassic forms are described. The Anisian faunas include species of Ptychites, Discoptychites, Tropigastrites, Leiophyllites, Mono–phyllites, and Parapopanoceras. The questionable Hollandses identified by Wilckens was the only Ladinian record but this specimen is now known to have come from beds of Jurassic age (Callovian) and to belong to Macrocep halites (Kamptokephalites). Carnian strata contain species of Rhacophyllites, Cladiscites, Arcestes, Pinacoceras, and Epigymnites– the Rhaetian, and Rhacophyllites. The strong affinities of these faunal .elements with similar faunas from Tethys and the north Circum-Pacific region indicate complete and free communication of Triassic seas around New Zealand to these adjoining geosynclinal belts.
Problem-Based Learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) was created at McMaster University almost 40 years ago. It has changed medical education in ways that would not have been foreseen. It has supplanted the traditional lecture-based learning model in many medical schools and has expanded around the world and beyond medical education into a host of other disciplines. It has also galvanized the push to get students out of the lecture hall and into more interactive learning settings. This chapter is designed with two purposes in mind: to help a medical teacher decide whether to use PBL in either their course or broader medical curriculum and, having decided to use PBL, help them prepare for their role as a teacher in a PBL course. Teaching in a PBL course is a much different experience than in almost any other teaching format.
A passive islanding detection approach for inverter-based distributed generation using rate of change of frequency analysis

Islanding occurs when a Distributed Generation (DG) source continues to energize an isolated section of a power system even after it was disconnected from the main power grid. Since islanding can cause hazardous conditions to people and equipment, current utility standards require that islanding be quickly detected by protective relays and inverters that are parts of the DG system. Passive islanding detection techniques, unlike their active counterparts, monitor system parameters without injecting any disturbance into the grid. Although widely used, passive detection techniques are not very effective in detecting islanding especially in cases where there is small power mismatch and they also may trigger false detection in some non-islanding cases. To address these drawbacks, a novel and effective passive islanding detection technique that conforms to standard regulations has been presented in this paper. The proposed detection technique is based on monitoring the oscillations in the Rate of Change of Frequency (ROCOF) measured at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) in the system. The proposed detection technique was developed and tested on a grid connected photovoltaic DG system using simulation. Results indicated that this technique was not only capable of detecting islanding when it occurs but also able to accurately distinguish between islanding and non-islanding under a wide range of operating conditions.
Sowing nuclear misconceptions

In its recent deliberations over the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the US Senate was not well served by the directors of the US weapons laboratories.
Green's Function Method in Lattice Dynamics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the application of the thermodynamic Green's function method to the study of problems in lattice dynamics. It serves two basic purposes. The first one is to discuss the motivation of the introduction of the concept of Green's function or correlation function from the physical point of view, and the second one is to present the computational technique by which significant physical quantities are calculated. The reason for choosing the topic of lattice dynamics is that it is one of the most fundamental and familiar problems in solid state physics. The Green's function method has become an invaluable tool in the study of complicated systems of interacting particles in statistical physics. The method provides a rigorous and systematic approach in extracting essential physical information. There exist a large number of publications dealing with various aspects of the Green's function method. The fundamental starting point of obtaining a theory to describe the dynamics of lattice vibrations is the total Hamiltonian of all the nuclei and electrons in the solid.
Unraveling violations of parton hadron duality in e p scattering

Recent studies of the Q^2 dependence of ep scattering in the large x region and in the Q^2 range: 1 2.4 GeV^2 At lower values of W^2, duality is found to be significantly violated by an amount that cannot be parametrized in terms of the first few terms of a series of power corrections. We present a dynamical model that explains the Q^2 dependence of the data: at low W^2, non-partonic components given by color neutral clusters dominate the cross section and the Q^2 dependence is governed by their mass spectrum, predicted within the preconfiment property of Q CD; at large W^2 the structure function is determined by a convolution of the cluster mass spectrum with the parton distributions.
Vitamin D3 correlates inversely with systemic dendritic cell numbers and bone erosion in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis

Vitamin D(3) (VD(3) ) is a steroid hormone that regulates bone health and numerous aspects of immune function and may play a role in respiratory health. We hypothesized that T helper type 2 (Th2) disorders, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) would have VD(3) deficiencies, resulting in increased mature dendritic cells (DCs) and bone erosion. We conducted a retrospective study examining VD(3) levels in patients with AFRS (n = 14), CRSwNP (n = 9), chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) (n = 20) and cerebrospinal fluid leak repair (non-diseased controls) (n = 14) at time of surgery. Circulating immune cell levels were determined by immunostaining and flow cytometric analysis. Plasma VD(3) and immune regulatory factors (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and prostaglandin E(2) ) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was observed that CRSwNP and AFRS demonstrated increased circulating DCs, while chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps displayed increased circulating macrophages. CRSwNP and AFRS were to found to have insufficient levels of VD(3) which correlated inversely with circulating numbers of mature DCs, DC regulatory factors and bone erosion. CRSsNP displayed no change in circulating DC numbers or VD(3) status compared to control, but did display increased numbers of circulating macrophages that was independent of VD(3) status. Lastly, VD(3) deficiency was associated with more severe bone erosion. Taken together, these results suggest support a role for VD(3) as a key player in the immunopathology of CRSwNP and AFRS.
PEG Modified Anticancer Drugs: Synthesis and Biological Activity:

Three well known anticancer drugs, doxorubicin, methotrexate and paclitaxel (taxol), have been modified by the permanent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxi...
Drilling for oxygen: angiogenesis involves proteolysis of the extracellular matrix.

All acknowledge the importance of endothelial migration and proliferation in angiogenesis. However, the sprouting of extensions of established vascular channels in most tissues requires much more. The extracellular space does not consist of a vacuum, permitting free spread of endothelial sprouts during angiogenesis. Rather, a complex and often dense extracellular matrix invests the parenchymal cells and microvascular channels of most organs. The endothelial cells must penetrate this extracellular matrix to make a new vessel (Figure 1A). Immediately surrounding the endothelial cells, a basement membrane of type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and many other matrix macromolecules presents the first obstacle to neovascular sprout formation (Figure 1B). That barrier breached, the nascent microvessel must then burrow through collagen fibrils, elastin, microfibrillar proteins, proteoglycans, and other constituents of the surrounding extracellular matrix (Figure 1C). How do the endothelial cells drill their way through these layered impediments to form a new vessel? Figure 1. Formation of neovessels. A, To form new vessels, the endothelial cell layer (typically in a venule) must break down the subjacent basement membrane, composed of a complex mixture of many extracellular matrix components including type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin. B, Local action of proteolytic enzymes such as type IV collagenase (MMP-2) activated by MT1-MMP (MMP-14) aids dissolution of a patch of basement membrane. C, Other proteinases, including the MMPs that degrade fibrillar collagen (eg, MMP-1 and MMP-13) or proteoglycan core proteins (eg, MMP-9), assist the subsequent step in which endothelial cells force a path into the perivascular extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibrils, elastic fibers, and proteoglycans. Eventually, endothelial cells form a sprouting vessel by migration, furnishing blood supply to distal tissues. To achieve …
Stochastic coalescence model for terrestrial planetary accretion

Abstract A nonequilibrium stochastic coalescence model for terrestrial planetary accretion is developed by using an approximation to the Safronov-Golovin solution for the scalar transport equation with linear kernel. According to this model, formation of comparatively massive objects occurs quite rapidly during the early stages of accretive evolution in a given terrestrial planetesimal population, while during late growth stages, an increasingly substantial fraction of total population mass becomes incorporated into progressively fewer, relatively very large bodies. The model also implies that the (conservative) growth rate of the population's largest member varies directly as its mass, and further suggests that this growth rate may not decline significantly until very nearly final planetary mass is attained.
Defining parameters for successful immunocytotherapy of persistent viral infection.

Persistent infections with viruses such as HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomelagovirus, and hepatitis B and C viruses continue to be major human health problems. Immunocytotherapy for persistent viral infections has proven successful in animal models but less effective in humans. While the requirement of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells is known, the precise role of CD4(+) T cells as regards specific priming, numbers needed, and interaction with CD8(+) T cells is less clear. To address these issues, we used a mouse model of persistent virus infection in which adoptive transfer of T cells effectively purges virus from all tissues. We demonstrate that (1) inclusion of antigen-specific CD4(+) in addition to CD8(+) T cells is mandatory for efficient and long-term virus control. Neither naive nor CD4(+) T cells with specificity for a different virus are sufficient. (2) The minimal numbers of virus-specific T cells required for virus clearance from sera and tissues are 350,000 virus-specific CD8(+) and 7000 virus-specific CD4(+) T cells or approximately 5 x 10(7) CD8(+) and as few as 1 x 10(6) CD4(+) T cells per square meter of body surface area, a CD8:CD4 ratio of 50:1. (3) Production of interferon-gamma, obligatory for resolution of persistent infection, is dependent on the interaction of virus-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. (4) Maintenance of CD8(+) T cell effector functions after adoptive transfer is directly proportional to the amount of cotransferred, virus-specific CD4(+) T cells.
Homosexual, gay, and lesbian: defining the words and sampling the populations.

The lack of both specificity and consensus about definitions for homosexual, homosexuality, gay and lesbian are first shown to confound comparative research and cumulative understanding because criteria for inclusion within the subject populations are often not consistent. The Description section examines sociolinguistic variables which determine patterns of preferred choice of terminology, and considers how these might impact gay and lesbian studies. Attitudes and style are found to influence word choice. These results are used in the second section to devise recommended definitional limits which would satisfy both communication needs and methodological purposes, especially those of sampling.
Ladder-Type Oligo(p-phenylene)s Tethered to a Poly(alkylene) Main Chain: The Orthogonal Approach to Functional Light-Emitting Polymers

We report a series of light-emitting polymers with ladder-type oligo(p-phenylene) units orthogonally and periodically tethered to a polyalkylene main chain via a substitution-type condensation polymerization reaction. This involved the reaction between lithiated fluoreneacene oligomers and a homologous series of α,ω-dibromoalkanes. The fluoreneacene oligomers were synthesized using a step-by-step procedure involving the Suzuki coupling method, Grignard reaction, and Friedel-Crafts type ring closure (alkylation). The polymerization involved lithiation of the reactive hydrogens in the middle phenyl group followed by an S N 2-type condensation polymerization with the dibromoalkanes. The oligomers have spectral properties consistent with that of other ladder-type p-pheneneylene structures. The alkylene chain length influenced the luminophore aggregation and excimer formation in the solid state. These materials showed high photoluminescence efficiencies in both solution and solid state, making them good candidates as organic materials for light-emitting devices.
The Phosphotyrosine Interaction Domain of SHC Recognizes Tyrosine-phosphorylated NPXY Motif

Reversible assembly of intracellular signaling complexes is, in some cases, mediated by direct binding of a Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of one protein to a phosphotyrosine moiety of another protein (Cantley, L. C., Auger, K. R., Carpenter, C. L., Duckworth, B., Graziani, A., Kapeller, R., and Soltoff, S. (1991) Cell 64, 281-302). Using a degenerate phosphotyrosine-containing peptide library, we showed that individual SH2 domains recognize phosphotyrosine in a specific sequence context to provide fidelity in signaling (Songyang, Z., Shoelson, S. E., Chaudhuri, M., Gish, G., Pawson, T., Haser, W. G., King, F., Roberts, T., Ratnofsky, S., Lechleider, R. J., Neel, B. G., Birge, R. B., Fajardo, J. E., Chou, M. M., Hanafusa, H., Schaffhausen, B., and Cantley, L. C. (1993) Cell 72, 767-778). Recently a second type of phosphotyrosine interaction domain (PID) or phosphotyrosine-binding domain (PTB) was discovered in the amino terminus of the SHC proto-oncoprotein (Kavanaugh, W. M., and Williams, L. (1994) Science 266, 1862-1865; Blaikie, P., Immanuel, D., Wu, J., Li, N., Yajnik, V., and Margolis, B. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 32031-32034). Here we demonstrate, using a phosphotyrosine peptide library, that the SHC PID domain preferentially binds to the sequence Asn-Pro-Xaa-phosphotyrosine. This motif is in agreement with sequences at sites implicated in in vivo SHC binding. These results indicate that while SH2 domains predominantly interact with specific residues carboxyl-terminal of phosphotyrosine, the PID domain has high specificity for residues amino-terminal of phosphotyrosine.
The spectrum of the Leray transform for convex Reinhardt domains in C2

Abstract The Leray transform and related boundary operators are studied for a class of convex Reinhardt domains in C 2 . Our class is self-dual; it contains some domains with less than C 2 -smooth boundary and also some domains with smooth boundary and degenerate Levi form. L 2 -regularity is proved, and essential spectra are computed with respect to a family of boundary measures which includes surface measure. A duality principle is established providing explicit unitary equivalence between operators on domains in our class and operators on the corresponding polar domains. Many of these results are new even for the classical case of smoothly bounded strongly convex Reinhardt domains.
Effects of β-carotene and retinol repletion on antibody production in vitamin A-deficient rats immunized with pneumococcal polysaccharide

Abstract Experiments were conducted in male Lewis rats to compare the efficacy with which β-carotene (βC) and retinol restore antibody production in the previously vitamin A-depleted rat immunized with pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III). Weanling rats were fed a semipurified vitamin A-free diet for three weeks and were then repleted with either retinol or βC provided in various doses and by different routes. Pairfed control rats were fed the same diet with adequate vitamin A. When 45–46 days old, rats were immunized with SSS-III and antibody production was measured 5 d later. In rats beginning to manifest vitamin A deficiency, the splenic antibody response was reduced significantly in comparison to that of the pairfed control group as well as to groups repleted with retinyl palmitate or with βC [1500 retinol equivalents (R.E.) each]. When βC was provided in an aqueous dispersion and delivered either orally or intravenously, the splenic antibody response of both βC-repleted groups were similar to each other and both were significantly greater than the response of the vitamin A-deficient group. The antibody response of rats repleted intravenously with βC or retinol, provided in nutritionally equivalent amounts (1000 R.E.), was also similar in magnitude. These observations indicate that βC functions approximately equally well as retinol in enabling the previously vitamin A-deficient rat to respond to pneumococcal polysaccharide; however, βC did not show any superior effect to retinol in restoring this antibody response in the previously vitamin A-depleted rat.
Self-Authorship in Pharmacy Education

The theory of self-authorship describes the developmental process students undergo in the transition away from dependence on authority figures for learning and identity. Self-authored individuals are also capable of self-directed learning, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, mature decision-making, and the development of collaborative relationships with diverse others. According to this theory, an individual's transformation to self-authorship is not instantaneous but occurs over time, and that college experiences can be designed to promote development of self-authorship. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) encourages the use of innovative instructional methods that "enable students to transition from dependent to active, self-directed, lifelong learners."(1) The developmental theory of self-authorship is a theory of cognitive and affective growth that could help pharmacy educators better examine and define the role of academia in the holistic professional development of pharmacy students. The Learning Partnerships Model, which is based on the theory of self-authorship, describes a student-centered approach to pharmacy education that promotes self-authorship.
Homogeneous Multiplex Genotyping of Hemochromatosis Mutations with Fluorescent Hybridization Probes

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction amplification and genotyping by fluorescent probe melting temperature ( T m ) was used to simultaneously detect multiple variants in the hereditary hemochromatosis gene. Homogenous real-time analysis by fluorescent melting curves has previously been used to genotype single base mismatches; however, the current method introduces a new probe design for fluorescence resonance energy transfer and demonstrates allele multiplexing by T m for the first time. The new probe design uses a 3′-fluorescein-labeled probe and a 5′-Cy5-labeled probe that are in fluorescence energy transfer when hybridized to the same strand internal to an unlabeled primer set. Two hundred and fifty samples were genotyped for the C282Y and H63D hemochromatosis causing mutations by fluorescent melting curves. Multiplexing was performed by including two primer sets and two probe sets in a single tube. In clinically defined groups of 117 patients and 56 controls, the C282Y mutation was found in 87% (204/234) of patient chromosomes, and the relative penetrance of the H63D mutation was 2.4% of the homozygous C282Y mutation. Results were confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. In addition, the probe covering the H63D mutation unexpectedly identified the A193T polymorphism in some samples. This method is amenable to multiplexing and has promise for scanning unknown mutations.
Infection Control Measures to Prevent Invasive Mould Diseases in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Invasive mould diseases, particularly aspergillosis, are important causes of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. Mould spores are ubiquitous in the environment. Guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other authoritative organizations focus on approaches to reduce exposure to mould spores. These recommendations include avoidance of areas and activities expected to result in high levels of mould spores (e.g., construction, gardening) and use of specially designed units (protected environments) where additional standards (e.g., HEPA-filtered rooms) are in place to minimize mould exposure. These recommendations are based on consensus criteria and limited clinical data largely derived from single-center retrospective studies. In addition, highly immunocompromised stem cell transplant recipients are commonly managed as outpatients, where engineering standards of the inpatient protected environment are not feasible. In the absence of an outbreak with an identified environmental source (e.g., a contaminated air vent), it is not possible to reliably distinguish community-acquired from nosocomial aspergillosis. Adherence to infection control guidelines, acknowledging their limitations, combined with evidence-based targeted antifungal prophylaxis for the highest risk transplant recipients, is likely to be the most effective approach to prevent invasive mould diseases.
Pure Long-Range Molecules

We describe a new type of molecular electronic state in which all vibrational levels occur entirely at internuclear distances large compared to ordinary chemical-bond lengths. We present explicit calculations for two such electronic states of ${0}_{\mathrm{g}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${1}_{\mathrm{u}}$ symmetry in the ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}$ molecule which are near the $\mathrm{Na}(3{P}_{\frac{3}{2}})+\mathrm{Na}(3{S}_{\frac{1}{2}})$ dissociation asymptote. We feel experimental observation of such levels is possible.
Back-contacted and small form factor GaAs solar cell

We present a newly developed microsystem enabled, back-contacted, shade-free GaAs solar cell. Using microsystem tools, we created sturdy 3 µm thick devices with lateral dimensions of 250 µm, 500 µm, 1 mm, and 2 mm. The fabrication procedure and the results of characterization tests are discussed below. The highest efficiency cell had a lateral size of 500 µm and a conversion efficiency of 10%, open circuit voltage of 0.9 V and a current density of 14.9 mA/cm2 under one-sun illumination.
A Hierarchical Framework for Demand-Side Frequency Control

With large-scale plans to integrate renewable generation, more resources will be needed to compensate for the uncertainty associated with intermittent generation resources. Under such conditions, performing frequency control using only supply-side resources become not only prohibitively expensive but also technically difficult. It is therefore important to explore how a sufficient proportion of the loads could assume a routine role in frequency control to maintain the stability of the system at an acceptable cost. In this paper, a novel hierarchical decentralized framework for frequency based load control is proposed. The framework involves two decision layers. The top decision layer determines the optimal droop gain required from the aggregated load response on each bus using a robust decentralized control approach. The second layer consists of a large number of devices, which switch probabilistically during contingencies so that the aggregated power change matches the desired droop amount according to the updated gains. The proposed framework is based on the classical nonlinear multi-machine power system model, and can deal with timevarying system operating conditions while respecting the physical constraints of individual devices. Realistic simulation results based on a 68-bus system are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Proteomic Profiles of Five Strains of Oxygenic Photosynthetic Cyanobacteria of the Genus Cyanothece

Members of the cyanobacterial genus Cyanothece exhibit considerable variation in physiological and biochemical characteristics. The comparative assessment of the genomes and the proteomes has the p...