cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel design for the odd-symmetric memristor from asymmetric switches

Recently-invented memristors are expected to revolutionize electrical devices, such as fast non-volatile memory for computers. However, it's a challenge to build a memristor with odd-symmetric I–V features. In this paper, a novel strategy, in which two same asymmetric switch components (possessing the A/B interface) can be combined as a symmetric A/B/A structure device, is reported to create an odd-symmetric memristor. Furthermore, with this strategy, the surface-sulphurization was performed on both sides of a Ag foil, leading to a Ag2S/Ag/Ag2S memristor consisting of two asymmetric Ag2S/Ag memristive switches. As expected, this obtained memristor exhibited a perfect odd-symmetric I–V curve with a pinched hysteresis loop. Therefore, this work provides a general approach to design and fabricate ideal odd-symmetric memristors.
Demand for cereal grains in Asia: the effect of urbanization

Abstract This paper analyzes the effects of urbanization on demand for cereal grains — rice, wheat, and coarse grains — in nine Asian countries. A complete demand system (Almost Ideal Demand System in linear form) is estimated in two stages based on aggregate time series data from 1960 to 1988. In the high-income countries, i.e. Japan and South Korea, urbanization was observed to significantly reduce demand for cereal grains. In the lower-income countries, demand for cereal grains either increased or remained the same with urbanization. Among cereal grains, urbanization has had negative effects on demand for rice and coarse grains, but consistently positive effects on demand for wheat. Only Japan and Thailand among the countries studied have negative income elasticities of demand for total cereal grains and for rice in particular. Hence, rice remains a necessity and a normal good in most Asian countries. Previous estimates of income elasticities of rice based on time-series aggregate data tend to be lower than those based on cross-section household level data. When urbanization is explicitly specified in the demand model, the estimates of income elasticities from time-series data turn out to be consistent with those from cross-section data.
Expression and activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase isoforms in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from patients with pulmonary hypertension: role for PDE1

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is associated with increased vascular resistance due to sustained contraction and enhanced proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC); the abnormal tone and remodeling in the pulmonary vasculature may relate, at least in part, to decreased cyclic nucleotide levels. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), of which 11 families have been identified, catalyze the hydrolysis of cAMP and cGMP. We tested the hypothesis that PASMC isolated from patients with PHT, either idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) or secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH), have increased expression and activity of PDE isoforms that reduce the responsiveness of agents that raise cellular cAMP. Real-time PCR and immunoblotting demonstrated that the expression of PDE1A, PDE1C, PDE3B, and PDE5A was enhanced in PASMC from both IPAH and SPH patients compared with control PASMC. Consistent with this enhanced expression of PDEs, agonist-stimulated cAMP levels were significantly reduced in IPAH and SPH PASMC unless a PDE inhibitor was present. The use of specific PDE inhibitors revealed that an increase in PDE1 and PDE3 activity largely accounted for reduced agonist-induced cAMP levels and increased proliferation in IPAH and SPH PASMC. Treatment with PDE1C-targeted small interference RNA enhanced cAMP accumulation and inhibited cellular proliferation to a greater extent in PHT PASMC than controls. The results imply that an increase in PDE isoforms, in particular PDE1C, contributes to decreased cAMP and increased proliferation of PASMC in patients with PHT. PDE1 isoforms may provide novel targets for the treatment of both primary and secondary forms of the disease.
Pulsed laser deposition of BiCuOSe thin films

Undoped and 10% Ca-doped BiCuOSe thin films are prepared by pulsed laser deposition without ex-situ processing. The influence of the preparation conditions on structure and properties of Bi0.9Ca0.1CuOSe thin films on amorphous silica substrates is studied. The highest achieved concentration and mobility of free holes (3.9×1020 cm−3 and 3.5 cm2/Vs) was close to that measured in strongly c-axis oriented samples on SrTiO3 substrates (4.0×1020 cm−3 and 7.5 cm2/Vs). The Bi0.9Ca0.1CuOSe films on SrTiO3 show almost temperature-independent Seebeck coefficient and their resistivity increases with increasing temperature. The Seebeck coefficient of undoped BiCuOSe films on SrTiO3 increases below 150°K, and the resistivity shows a flat plateau centered at this temperature. Optical measurements suggest that BiCuOSe has an indirect bandgap of 0.8 eV and a strong absorption edge at 1.45 eV. Ab-initio calculations of the electronic band structure, effective masses and optical properties of BiCuOSe are also presented.
Use of a transistor array to predict infant transistor mortality rate in InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor technology

A novel circuit for measuring current gain, β on wafer for a very large number of individual transistors in InGaP/GaAs HBT Technology is presented. The circuit allows for accurately measuring β for as many as 25,000 individual transistors on a single wafer. The circuit gives good predictive capability of the infant failure rate of a given wafer without running a costly, time consuming reliability test or burn-in screen.
Light harvesting antenna on an amyloid scaffold.

A pigment array has been constructed within a paracrystalline amyloid nanotube and Forster energy transfer along the nanotube surface has been demonstrated to self-assembled acceptor dyes.
Suprascapular neuropathy in a shoulder referral practice

Hypothesis Suprascapular neuropathy (SSN) is considered a rare condition, and few studies have analyzed how commonly it is encountered in practice. Electrophysiologic studies are the gold standard for diagnosis; however, there is no consensus on diagnostic criteria. We hypothesized that SSN would be frequently diagnosed by electrophysiologic testing in a subset of patients with specific clinical and radiographic findings suggestive of the pathology. This study characterizes SSN in an academic shoulder referral practice and documents the electrodiagnostic findings that are currently being used to diagnose the condition. Materials and methods A retrospective review of a 1-year period was used to identify all patients who completed electrodiagnostic studies to evaluate the suprascapular nerve. Clinical exam findings and associated shoulder pathology was documented. The specific electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) findings were analyzed. Results Electrodiagnostic results were available for 92 patients, and 40 (42%) had confirmed SSN. Patients with a massive rotator cuff tear were more likely to have an abnormal study than those without a tear (P = .006). The most common electrodiagnostic abnormalities were abnormal motor unit action potentials (88%), whereas only 33% had evidence of denervation. The average latency in studies reported as diagnostic of SSN was 2.90 ± 0.08 milliseconds for the supraspinatus and 3.78 ± 0.14 milliseconds for the infraspinatus. Discussion An electrodiagnostically confirmed diagnosis of SSN was seen in 4.3% of all new patients and in 43% of patients with clinical or radiographic suspicion of SSN. Clinical evaluation may be difficult because other shoulder pathology can have overlapping symptoms. Conclusion Shoulder surgeons should consider electrophysiologic evaluation of patients with clinical or radiographic signs of SSN and be cognizant of the parameters that constitute an abnormal study.
The origin of man: a chromosomal pictorial legacy

Man, gorilla, and chimpanzee likely shared an ancestor in whom the fine genetic organization of chromosomes was similar to that of present man. A comparative analysis of high-resolution chromosomes from orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and man suggests that 18 or 23 pairs of chromosomes of modern man are virtually identical to those of our "common hominoid ancestor", with the remaining pairs slightly different. From this lineage, gorilla separated fist, and three major chromosomal rearrangements presumably occurred in a progenitor of chimpanzee and man before the final divergence of these tow species. A precursor of the hominoid ancestor and orangutan is also assumed.
Schwannoma of a seminal vesicle.

Abstract We present the first reported case of a schwannoma of the seminal vesicle that occurred in a 48-year-old man who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass in the patient’s right seminal vesicle. The patient was also found to have a rising prostate-specific antigen level and underwent a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate and seminal vesicles, which revealed prostate cancer and schwannoma of the seminal vesicle, respectively. Radical prostatectomy with en bloc removal of the seminal vesicle mass was performed and the patient has been free of disease 24 months postoperatively.
Odor Analysis of Decomposing Buried Human Remains

This study, conducted at the University of Tennessee's Anthropological Research Facility (ARF), lists and ranks the primary chemical constituents which define the odor of decomposition of human remains as detected at the soil surface of shallow burial sites. Triple sorbent traps were used to collect air samples in the field and revealed eight major classes of chemicals which now contain 478 specific volatile compounds associated with burial decomposition. Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and were collected below and above the body, and at the soil surface of 1.5-3.5 ft. (0.46-1.07 m) deep burial sites of four individuals over a 4-year time span. New data were incorporated into the previously established Decompositional Odor Analysis (DOA) Database providing identification, chemical trends, and semi-quantitation of chemicals for evaluation. This research identifies the "odor signatures" unique to the decomposition of buried human remains with projected ramifications on human remains detection canine training procedures and in the development of field portable analytical instruments which can be used to locate human remains in shallow burial sites.
Estimation of singular values of very large matrices using random sampling

Abstract The singular value decomposition (SVD) has enjoyed a long and rich history. Although it was introduced in the 1870s by Beltrami and Jordan for its own intrinsic interest, it has become an invaluable tool in applied mathematics and mathematical modeling. Singular value analysis has been applied in a wide variety of disciplines, most notably for least squares fitting of data. More recently, it is being used in data mining applications and by search engines to rank documents in very large databases, including the Web. Recently, the dimensions of matrices which are used in many mathematical models are becoming so large that classical algorithms for computing the SVD cannot be used. We present a new method to determine the largest 10%–25% of the singular values of matrices which are so enormous that use of standard algorithms and computational packages will strain computational resources available to the average user. In our method, rows from the matrix are randomly selected, and a smaller matrix is constructed from the selected rows. Next, we compute the singular values of the smaller matrix. This process of random sampling and computing singular values is repeated as many times as necessary (usually a few hundred times) to generate a set of set of training data for neutral net analysis. Our method is a type of randomized algorithm, i.e., algorithms which solve problems using randomly selected samples of data which are too large to be processed by conventional means. These algorithms output correct (or nearly correct) answers most of the time as long as the input has certain desirable properties. We list these properties and show that matrices which appear in information retrieval are fairly well suited for processing using randomized algorithms. We note, however, that the probability of arriving at an incorrect answer, however small, is not naught since an unrepresentative sample may be drawn from the data.
Correlation of the monotonic and low-cycle fatiǵue properties of solder joints with phase diagrams

The monotonic and low-cycle fatigue properties of two-phase solder alloy joints based on the Pb-Sn (lead-tin) system were determined in shear and were correlated with the measured volume fractions of the phases present For monotonie loading, the shear modulus followed an inverse rule of mixtures; the stress-strain behavior a linear rule of mixtures. For the fatigue tests, the derived Coffin-Manson parameters and the strain hardening in the first cycle obeyed a linear rule of mixtures. For the present solidification conditions, the measured volume fractions of the phases were in approximate agreement with those determined from the equilibrium phase diagram at 100 °C.
Reduction in cadmium teratogenesis by prior cadmium exposure

Abstract The administration of cadmium 24–48 hr prior to an optimal teratogenic dose reduces both the number and severity of congenital malformations in hamster embryos. Intraperitoneal administration is more effective in inducing this protective effect than is the subcutaneous route. Oral administration of cadmium at the same pretreatment intervals does not seem to afford any protection. It is suggested that this protection is due to the induction of maternal synthesis of a metal-binding protein, possibly metallothionein. The significance of this protective induction as it relates to the possible role of cadmium in human malformations as well as teratogenic testing is discussed.
A Steady-State Air Motion Study in a V-6 Uniflow Scavenged Two-Stroke Diesel Engine

Etude de l'ecoulement de l'air en regime permanent dans un moteur diesel deux temps a six cylindres en V
Innovation without fracture: a study of spatial negotiation in Chinese new urbanism and traditional urbanism communities

Chinese new urbanism is changing the way people live and identify with their living spaces, shaping social identities away from tradition. As a result, new spatial practices are forming, which will have serious repercussions on the way people live together, and interact with each other, and eventually on the meaning of communal living. Through new design of communities, new/contemporary urbanism in China interrupts the traditional modes of interacting in public and private spaces, and makes communities developed as fractured entities. In particular, it fixes the boundaries between private and public spaces leaving no room for individual and collective negotiation. Traditional Chinese urbanism, instead, allows for endless negotiation between private and public spaces which permit the development of dynamic individual and collective identities. New urbanism in China should learn from tradition, and include in the design opportunities for negotiation between private and public spheres.
Scaling regression inputs by dividing by two standard deviations.

Interpretation of regression coefficients is sensitive to the scale of the inputs. One method often used to place input variables on a common scale is to divide each numeric variable by its standard deviation. Here we propose dividing each numeric variable by two times its standard deviation, so that the generic comparison is with inputs equal to the mean ±1 standard deviation. The resulting coefficients are then directly comparable for untransformed binary predictors. We have implemented the procedure as a function in R. We illustrate the method with two simple analyses that are typical of applied modeling: a linear regression of data from the National Election Study and a multilevel logistic regression of data on the prevalence of rodents in New York City apartments. We recommend our rescaling as a default option—an improvement upon the usual approach of including variables in whatever way they are coded in the data file—so that the magnitudes of coefficients can be directly compared as a matter of routine statistical practice. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
USAF cryogenic technology and future direction

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate pursues cryogenic refrigeration system and system integration technology research and development in support of the needs of the Air Force (USAF), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Department of Defense (DoD). State-of-the-art of U.S. space cryocooler systems and system integration, the research performed to improve efficiency (particle image velocimetry, computational fluid dynamics), and research that is pushing the technology envelope for future cryocooler systems is the focus. Specific strengths and weaknesses of the current state of technology are compared, as well as the quantum leaps necessary in technology to meet future requirements.
Characterization and Control of Airborne Particles Emitted During Production of Epoxy/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

This work characterized airborne particles generated from the weighing of bulk, multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the manual sanding of epoxy test samples reinforced with CNTs. It also evaluated the effectiveness of three local exhaust ventilation (LEV) conditions (no LEV, custom fume hood, and biosafety cabinet) for control of particles generated during sanding of CNT-epoxy nanocomposites. Particle number and respirable mass concentrations were measured using an optical particle counter (OPC) and a condensation particle counter (CPC), and particle morphology was assessed by transmission electron microscopy. The ratios of the geometric mean (GM) concentrations measured during the process to that measured in the background (P/B ratios) were used as indices of the impact of the process and the LEVs on observed concentrations. Processing CNT-epoxy nanocomposites materials released respirable size airborne particles (P/B ratio: weighing = 1.79; sanding = 5.90) but generally no nanoparticles (P/B ratio ∼1)...
Violence and Human Prayer to God in Q 11

The present article examines the use of κρούω in Q 11:9 against the backdrop of documentary papyri and Greek literary texts that employ the verb to evoke a stock scene of aggression and threat at the door of a house. In the unit 11:2–4, 9–13 the Sayings Gospel employs the same language and gestures in a similar rhetorical situation to advance a complex and ambiguous representation of human agency in prayer, which is not conceived as a mere passive expectancy of God’s intervention. This representation fits the socio-cultural profile of village scribes as the authors of Q, given their familiarity with administrative terminology and their acquaintance with widespread and simple rhetorical tropes. Moreover, such an ambiguous stance towards human agency is mirrored in Q’s similarly complex understanding of human participation in the establishment of God’s βασιλeία. Finally, comparable thematic and linguistic features have been detected in the ‘parable of the friend at midnight’ (Lk 11:5–8), strengthening the hypothesis that the parable might have been part of the Sayings Gospel.
Rethinking family/organization linkage in job-related transfers

This paper examines job-related transfers of corporate middle and upper management as an artifact of the values and reward systems of hierarchical organizational structures.We propose that changes in family and organizational values and structures have eroded the basis on which managerial relocation is perceived as essential to upward mobility in the modern corporation. Further, we suggest an alternative paradigm for modifying managerial relocation to better suit changing organizational and family needs.
An Alternative Derivation of the Al-Alaoui Operator

It is shown in this letter that the well-known class of first-order digital differentiators and integrators can be simply derived from a classical continuous-time approximate differentiator by using the bilinear transformation. The result obtained represents a simple and alternative method of deriving the Al-Alaoui operator (also known as Al-Alaoui's differentiator, integrator, transform).
Physiological basis for potassium (39K) magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.

Abstract—The potassium cation (K+) is fundamentally involved in myocyte metabolism. To explore the potential utility of direct MRI of the most abundant natural isotope of potassium, 39K, we compare...
Implications of nonrandom seed abscission and global stilling for migration of wind-dispersed plant species

Migration of plant populations is a potential survival response to climate change that depends critically on seed dispersal. Biological and physical factors determine dispersal and migration of wind-dispersed species. Recent field and wind tunnel studies demonstrate biological adaptations that bias seed release toward conditions of higher wind velocity, promoting longer dispersal distances and faster migration. However, another suite of international studies also recently highlighted a global decrease in near-surface wind speeds, or ‘global stilling’. This study assessed the implications of both factors on potential plant population migration rates, using a mechanistic modeling framework. Nonrandom abscission was investigated using models of three seed release mechanisms: (i) a simple drag model; (ii) a seed deflection model; and (iii) a ‘wear and tear’ model. The models generated a single functional relationship between the frequency of seed release and statistics of the near-surface wind environment, independent of the abscission mechanism. An Inertial-Particle, Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian Closure model (IP-CELC) was used to investigate abscission effects on seed dispersal kernels and plant population migration rates under contemporary and potential future wind conditions (based on reported global stilling trends). The results confirm that nonrandom seed abscission increased dispersal distances, particularly for light seeds. The increases were mitigated by two physical feedbacks: (i) although nonrandom abscission increased the initial acceleration of seeds from rest, the sensitivity of the seed dispersal to this initial condition declined as the wind speed increased; and (ii) while nonrandom abscission increased the mean dispersal length, it reduced the kurtosis of seasonal dispersal kernels, and thus the chance of long-distance dispersal. Wind stilling greatly reduced the modeled migration rates under biased seed release conditions. Thus, species that require high wind velocities for seed abscission could experience threshold-like reductions in dispersal and migration potential if near-surface wind speeds continue to decline.
Biofilm Formation by Plant-Associated Bacteria

Plants support a diverse array of bacteria, including parasites, mutualists, and commensals on and around their roots, in the vasculature, and on aerial tissues. These microbes have a profound influence on plant health and productivity. Bacteria physically interact with surfaces to form complex multicellular and often multispecies assemblies, including biofilms and smaller aggregates. There is growing appreciation that the intensity, duration, and outcome of plant-microbe interactions are significantly influenced by the conformation of adherent microbial populations. Biofilms on different tissues have unique properties, reflecting the prevailing conditions at those sites. Attachment is required for biofilm formation, and bacteria interact with plant tissues through adhesins including polysaccharides and surface proteins, with initial contact often mediated by active motility. Recognition between lectins and their cognate carbohydrates is a common means of specificity. Biofilm development and the resulting intimate interactions with plants often require cell-cell communication between colonizing bacteria.
Dispersion compensation in three-photon fluorescence microscopy at 1,700 nm

Signal generation in three-photon microscopy is proportional to the inverse-squared of the pulse width. Group velocity dispersion is anomalous for water as well as many glasses near the 1,700 nm excitation window, which makes dispersion compensation using glass prism pairs impractical. We show that the high normal dispersion of a silicon wafer can be conveniently used to compensate the dispersion of a 1,700 nm excitation three-photon microscope. We achieved over a factor of two reduction in pulse width at the sample, which corresponded to over a 4x increase in the generated three-photon signal. This signal increase was demonstrated during in vivo experiments near the surface of the mouse brain as well as 900 μm below the surface.
TonB Interacts with Nonreceptor Proteins in the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli TonB protein serves to couple the cytoplasmic membrane proton motive force to active transport of iron-siderophore complexes and vitamin B12 across the outer membrane. Consistent with this role, TonB has been demonstrated to participate in strong interactions with both the cytoplasmic and outer membranes. The cytoplasmic membrane determinants for that interaction have been previously characterized in some detail. Here we begin to examine the nature of TonB interactions with the outer membrane. Although the presence of the siderophore enterochelin (also known as enterobactin) greatly enhanced detectable cross-linking between TonB and the outer membrane receptor, FepA, the absence of enterochelin did not prevent the localization of TonB to the outer membrane. Furthermore, the absence of FepA or indeed of all the iron-responsive outer membrane receptors did not alter this association of TonB with the outer membrane. This suggested that TonB interactions with the outer membrane were not limited to the TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors. Hydrolysis of the murein layer with lysozyme did not alter the distribution of TonB, suggesting that peptidoglycan was not responsible for the outer membrane association of TonB. Conversely, the interaction of TonB with the outer membrane was disrupted by the addition of 4 M NaCl, suggesting that these interactions were proteinaceous. Subsequently, two additional contacts of TonB with the outer membrane proteins Lpp and, putatively, OmpA were identified by in vivo cross-linking. These contacts corresponded to the 43-kDa and part of the 77-kDa TonB-specific complexes described previously. Surprisingly, mutations in these proteins individually did not appear to affect TonB phenotypes. These results suggest that there may be multiple redundant sites where TonB can interact with the outer membrane prior to transducing energy to the outer membrane receptors.
Improving simulations of fine dust surface concentrations over the western United States by optimizing the particle size distribution

[1] To improve estimates of remote contributions of dust to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the western United States, new dust particle size distributions (PSDs) based upon scale-invariant fragmentation theory (Kok_PSD) with constraints from in situ measurements (IMP_PSD) are implemented in a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem). Compared to initial simulations, this leads to reductions in the mass of emitted dust particles with radii <1.8 µm by 40%–60%. Consequently, the root-mean-square error in simulated fine dust concentrations compared to springtime surface observations in the western United States is reduced by 67%–81%. The ratio of simulated fine to coarse PM mass is also improved, which is not achievable by reductions in total dust emissions. The IMP_PSD best represents the PSD of dust transported from remote sources and reduces modeled PM2.5 concentrations up to 5 µg/m3 over the western United States, which is important when considering sources contributing to nonattainment of air quality standards.
RF Tomography in Free Space: Experimental Validation of the Forward Model and an Inversion Algorithm Based on the Algebraic Reconstruction Technique

Radio-frequency tomography was originally proposed to image underground cavities. Its flexible forward model can be used in free-space by choosing an appropriate dyadic Green's function and can be translated in the microwave domain. Experimental data are used to validate a novel inversion scheme, based on the algebraic reconstruction technique. The proposed method is improved by introducing physical bounds on the solution returned. As a result, the images of the dielectric permittivity profiles obtained are superior in quality to the ones obtained using classical regularization approaches such as the truncated singular value decomposition. The results from three experimental case studies are presented and discussed.
Long-term results of adjustable suture surgery for strabismus secondary to thyroid ophthalmopathy.

Purpose: To review the results of adjustable suture surgery in patients with strabismus secondary to thyroid ophthalmopathy to determine long-term outcome and to identify postoperative complications. Methods: The records of 1524 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy were retrospectively reviewed to identify those who required treatment for strabismus in the ocular motility clinic. Treatment consisted of adjustable suture surgery, prisms, or both. Elimination of diplopia in primary and reading positions was used at the criterion for success. Results: Forty-seven patients were treated with adjustable suture surgery, with an average follow-up of 41 months. Results after 1 or more surgeries were: 47% excellent, 26% good, 19% fair, and 9% poor. Significant postoperative complications included eyelid retraction and A-pattern exodeviation. Sixteen of 18 patients with fair or poor outcomes after the initial surgery were recognized within 6 months. Postoperative changes in vertical deviation from primary position to downgaze were predictive of postoperative diplopia in downgaze. Analysis of multiple preoperative characteristics showed no statistically significant associations with outcome. Eight additional patients had adequate relief of diplopia using prisms alone, with an average follow-up of 49 months. Conclusion: Long-term symptomatic relief of diplopia was obtained in the majority of patients using adjustable suture strabismus surgery, combined occasionally with small amounts of prism postoperatively. Prisms alone provided effective long-term relief in patients with small-to-moderate deviations.
Cost of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.

The research and development costs of 93 randomly selected new chemical entities (NCEs) were obtained from a survey of 12 U.S.-owned pharmaceutical firms. These data were used to estimate the pre-tax average cost of new drug development. The costs of abandoned NCEs were linked to the costs of NCEs that obtained marketing approval. For base case parameter values, the estimated out-of-pocket cost per approved NCE is $114 million (1987 dollars). Capitalizing out-of-pocket costs to the point of marketing approval at a 9% discount rate yielded an average cost estimate of $231 million (1987 dollars).
What is a Walkable Place? The Walkability Debate in Urban Design

What exactly is meant by the term ‘walkability’? In professional, research and public debates the term is used to refer to several quite different kinds of phenomena. Some discussions focus on environmental features or means of making walkable environments, including areas being traversable, compact, physically enticing and safe. Others deal with outcomes potentially fostered by such environments, such as making places lively, enhancing sustainable transportation options and inducing exercise. Finally some use the term walkability as a proxy for better design whether composed of multiple, measurable dimensions or providing a holistic solution to urban problems. This review both problematizes the idea of walkability and proposes a conceptual framework distinguishing these definitions. This matters for urban design, because what is considered a walkable place varies substantially between definitions leading to substantially different designs. By mapping the range of definitions, this review highlights potential conflicts been forms of walkability.
Random sampling in matroids, with applications to graph connectivity and minimum spanning trees

Random sampling is a powerful way to gather information about a group by considering only a small part of it. We give a paradigm for applying this technique to optimization problems, and demonstrate its effectiveness on matroids. Matroids abstractly model many optimization problems that can be solved by greedy methods, such as the minimum spanning tree (MST) problem. Our results have several applications. We give an algorithm that uses simple data structures to construct an MST in O(m+n log n) time. We give bounds on the connectivity (minimum cut) of a graph suffering random edge failures. We give fast algorithms for packing matroid bases, with particular attention to packing spanning trees in graphs. >
Distribution of parvalbumin isotypes in adult snook and their potential applications as species-specific biomarkers

The highly stable Ca2+ binding protein, parvalbumin, is prevalent in fish white muscle tissue. The properties of this protein make it a promising antigen for use as a specific biomarker for fish identification. Parvalbumin was purified from white muscle of an adult common snook Centropomus undecimalis using ammonium sulfate precipitation, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and anion-exchange HPLC. Parvalbumins were characterized by the presence of an 11-kDa band following gradient-SDS gel electrophoresis and by their immunoreactivity against mouse anti-parvalbumin antibodies. Anion-exchange chromatography of the parvalbumin fraction separated from the SEC column yielded nine fractions. Subsequent analysis of these fractions by isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis led to a total of seven parvalbumin isotypes, which may lend themselves as biomarkers in fish identification. The presence of these seven parvalbumin isotypes was confirmed independently by reversed-phase HPLC. A dilution endpoint immunoassay was developed for C. undecimalis parvalbumin using a monoclonal antibody directed against its highly conserved calcium binding site. The utility of parvalbumin isotype distribution and specific monoclonal antibodies against fish parvalbumin in species identification is discussed.
5 GHz near-ground indoor channel measurements and models

Near-ground wireless channels are becoming increasingly important for a number of applications. In this paper we add to the body of work on this topic, by quantifying small-scale near-ground channel fading characteristics in indoor environments, at 5 GHz. Results for delay spreads, multipath component persistence, and amplitude fading are used to develop models for this channel. As expected, the near-ground channel can yield more dispersion and deeper fading than its counterpart with elevated antennas.
A Moist PBL Parameterization for Large-Scale Models and Its Application to Subtropical Cloud-Topped Marine Boundary Layers

Abstract A new general purpose boundary layer parameterization that permits realistic treatment of stratocumulus-capped boundary layers (SCBLs) with coarse vertical resolution is described. It combines a 1.5-order turbulent closure model with an entrainment closure at the boundary layer top. Three different implementations of the entrainment closure, in which the boundary layer height is respectively prognosed, reconstructed from thermodynamic values at the grid points, or restricted to lie on a flux level of the host model grid, are tested in a single-column modeling framework at both fine and coarse vertical resolution. The first two approaches permit a stratocumulus top and base to lie between grid levels and evolve continuously with time, but are more complicated to implement in a three-dimensional model. The model performs very well in cases of dry convection, whatever the inversion implementation and the vertical resolution. With 15-mb or better vertical resolution, all approaches properly simulate ...
Deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerases from murine spleen cells. Increased amounts of the nucleolar species in leukaemic tissue

1. In the spleens of infected mice, the Friend leukaemia virus induces a sharp increase in the ability of subsequently isolated nuclei to incorporate exogenous UTP into an acid-insoluble product. Inhibitor studies indicate that the incremental RNA synthesis proceeds from a DNA template and that both nucleolar and nucleoplasmic activities are involved. 2. The partially purified DNA-dependent RNA polymerases from control and virus-infected tissue are indistinguishable with respect to chromatographic mobility, dependence on bivalent cations, ionic strength, pH and their susceptibility to α-amanitin. The RNA polymerases of the murine spleen resemble the enzymes of other mammalian tissue in these properties. 3. A comparison of the amount of polymerase solubilized from normal and infected tissue correlates with the activity observed in assays of the respective nuclei. These experiments indicated that the increase in nucleolar RNA synthesis after infection is mediated by increased extractable polymerase I activity whereas the change in nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis results from an alteration of chromatin or a chromatin-associated factor.
Building the pyramid that leads to clients’ progress: Supervision, therapists’ work and client alliance

The current study examined ifMFT live supervision, utilizing praise for effort, makes a difference in the therapist’s and client’s therapeutic alliance. Three single client cases were examined usin...
Caspase-1 Plays a Critical Role in Accelerating Chronic Kidney Disease-Promoted Neointimal Hyperplasia in the Carotid Artery

To determine whether caspase-1 is critical in chronic kidney disease (CKD)-mediated arterial neointimal hyperplasia (NH), we utilized caspase(-/-) mice and induced NH in carotid artery in a CKD environment, and uremic sera-stimulated human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). We made the following findings: (1) Caspase-1 inhibition corrected uremic sera-mediated downregulation of VSMC contractile markers, (2) CKD-promoted NH was attenuated in caspase(-/-) mice, (3) CKD-mediated downregulation of contractile markers was rescued in caspase null mice, and (4) expression of VSMC migration molecule αvβ3 integrin was reduced in caspase(-/-) tissues. Our results suggested that caspase-1 pathway senses CKD metabolic danger signals. Further, CKD-mediated increase of contractile markers in VSMC and increased expression of VSMC migration molecule αvβ3 integrin in NH formation were caspase-1 dependent. Therefore, caspase-1 is a novel therapeutic target for the suppression of CKD-promoted NH.
Host Preferences and Reproduction of Four Cereal Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Some Common Weed Grasses of the Northern Plains1

We tested preferences and reproduction of the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), English grain aphid, Macrosiphum (Sitobion) avenae (F.), Rhopalosiphun padi (L.), and the com leaf aphid, R. maidis (Fitch) on the seedling and mature stages of the following weed grasses under controlled conditions in environmental chambers: Japanese chess, Sromas japonieus Thunb.; downy brome, B. feeforum L.; Kentucky bluegrass, Poa prafensis L.; stinkgrass, Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Lutati; quackgrass, Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.; wild oats, Avenafaluu L.; timothy, Phleum pratense L.; crabgrass, digitaria sanguinalis Scop.; barnyard grass, Echinoehloa crasgalli (L.) Beauv.; yellow foxtail, Setaria latescens (Weigel) Hubb.; green foxtail, S. viridis (L.) Beauv.; foxtail barley, Hordeum jubatum L.; needle and thread, Stipa comatu Trin. and Rupr.; green needlegrass, S. viridula Trin.; and witchgrass, Panieum capillare L. In the preference tests, three to five species of the grasses were as attractive (P < 0.05) to alighting aphids as the control, Hordeum vulgare L. Cereal aphid reproduction was generally higher on seedling than mature grasses. Rhopalosipham padi at least doubled its numbers in I week on II seedling and 13 mature weed grasses, whereas R. muidis did so on four seedling and three mature grasses; the other aphid species ranged between these extremes in their adaptability. Correlation coefficients showed that aphid preferences for particular grasses and their reproductive success when confined on them were often closely related.
Observations on Some of the More Important Insects Captured in Codling Moth Trap Baits

In capturing the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella L., in trap baits in orchards in the Yakima Valley of Washington, many other insects of different kinds were also taken. Records of the number of individuals of several species and groups captured are discussed and presented in tabular form.
Glomerular Filtration during Stop-Flow

SummaryThe ganglion stimulating properties of histamine and McN-A-343 were used to investigate whether the superior cervical ganglion becomes supersensitive to drugs following chronic denervation. Nictitating membrane contractions were used to measure ganglionic stimulation. The results strongly indicate that the chronically denervated superior cervical ganglion does not become supersensitive to either histamine or McN-A-343. The increased response of the chronically decentralized nictitating membrane following ganglionic stimulation by the two agents can be completely accounted for by an increased sensitivity of the membrane to relased postganglionic norepinephrine. It is suggested that the classical law of denervation supersensitivity of Cannon and Rosenblueth does not pertain to the superior cervical ganglion.
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Model for Law Enforcement: Creative Considerations for Enhancing University Campus Police Response to Mental Health Crisis

Purpose of the article American university and college campus law enforcement, like their peers in American munipal law enforcement agencies, find themselves interacting frequently with civilians experiencing mental health disturbances. An innovative model for law enforcement, the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model, has been developed to address the difficulties law enforcement professionals and civilians in mental health crisis face during encounters. (Margolis & Shtull, 2012) This article explores how CIT can enhance police response to mental health crisis on the college campus.
Bone Marrow Biopsy and Its Utility in the Diagnosis of AL Amyloidosis

A bone marrow biopsy is essential for the initial diagnosis of AL amyloidosis. A bone marrow biopsy is also important in establishing a baseline for treatment and is one of the factors in predicting prognosis. The bone marrow biopsy can be used in assessing for the presence of amyloid, estimating the plasma cell volume, and determining whether a clonal amyloidogenic plasma cell population is present or not. In tandem with other studies, bone marrow biopsies can also be used to monitor treatment and assess for complete response, partial response, or no response to the various therapies being used in AL amyloidosis. A bone marrow aspirate can supplement the biopsy for use in flow cytometry in determining the presence of a clonal plasma cell population and for use in cytogenetics. With the precedent being set with multiple myeloma, greater understanding of cytogenetic abnormalities is being discovered in AL amyloidosis and may play a role in prognosis and treatment. The following chapter will discuss the workup that we employ in bone marrow biopsies from suspected or confirmed AL amyloidosis patients and some of the new discoveries being made in AL amyloidosis using bone marrow specimens.
The Notion and Practice of Reputation and Professional Identity in Social Networking: From K-12 Through Law School

Social media users often have regrets about some of the information they post, but find themselves unable to remove information that will damage their reputations when they are seeking employment or in other important contexts. Controlling privacy in one's personal information has become nearly impossible. Digital reputations are now more prevalent than ever before, and although individuals may want to change their online persona, legal and non-legal mechanisms that could be put in place to protect them have been instituted too slowly to catch up with the plethora of issues surrounding the social media scene. Remedies to protect unsuspecting social media users are largely unavailable and new proposals aimed at protecting personally identifiable information that is aggregated by commercial entities may take years to test in the courts or to legislate. This author proposes an educational curriculum and training techniques covering the entire kindergarten through post-graduate spectrum as a starting point for discussion that could help to moderate the amount and types of personal information users place in social media settings without anticipating the consequences.
Identification of Natal Locales of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) by Trace-Element Analysis of Feathers

Presentation d'une methode permettant de determiner l'origine geographique de faucons pelerins captures lors de leur migration ou sur les lieux d'hivernage
Hypothesis Testing with Confidence Intervals and P Values in PLS-SEM

E-collaboration researchers usually employ P values for hypothesis testing, a common practice in a variety of other fields. This is also customary in many methodological contexts, such as analyses of path models with or without latent variables, as well as simpler tests that can be seen as special cases of these e.g., comparisons of means. The author discusses here how a researcher can use another major approach for hypothesis testing, the one building on confidence intervals, in analyses of path models with latent variables employing partial least squares structural equation modeling PLS-SEM. The author contrasts this approach with the one employing P values through the analysis of a simulated dataset, created based on a model grounded on past theory and empirical research. The model refers to social networking site use at work and its impact on job performance. The results of the analyses suggest that tests employing confidence intervals and P values are likely to lead to very similar outcomes in terms of acceptance or rejection of hypotheses.
Somatic Cell Genetic Research in Forestry: Integration of Cytogenetics, Tissue Culture, and Molecular Genetics

Somatic cell genetic research utilizes a combination of cytogenetic, tissue culturing, and molecular techniques to make detailed characterizations of human and mammalian genomes. In forestry, somatic cell genetic protocols can eliminate constraints that have inhibited basic research on genetic constitutions of trees. Mammalian research areas with pertinence to forest tree genetics are somatic cell hybridization, chromosome — and microcell-mediated gene transfer, and flow cytogenetics. Applications of mammalian procedures in plant genetic research are summarized, and the future use of these techniques for gene mapping in trees is elucidated. Potential applications of somatic cell genetic research in tree improvement include screening for desirable genotypes by genetic fingerprinting and parasexual synthesis of multi-parent trees.
ZINTL POLYANIONS. HOMO- AND HETEROATOMIC EXAMPLES

Abstract The synthesis and structures of homopolyatomic ‘Zintl’ anions of the group IV and V representative elements are described as well as a variety of heteropolyatomic examples. Also considered are factors important in their stabilization, electronic requirements, and evidence regarding the stability of the D3h configuration with 20-22 electrons.