cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In situ low temperature As-doping of Ge films using As(SiH3)3 and As(GeH3)3: Fundamental properties and device prototypes

We report the development of a new method to systematically and controllably achieve very high carrier concentrations in As-doped germanium using ultra-low temperature, high efficiency routes based on the structurally and chemically compatible inorganic hydrides As(SiH3)3 and As(GeH3)3. The Ge n-layers are grown on Ge-buffered Si(100) using in situ depositions of the compounds with Ge3H8 at 330 °C. The as-grown films are found to exhibit excellent crystallinity, defect-free interfaces, atomically smooth surfaces and flat doping profiles with abrupt edges. The active carrier densities are measured to be in the range of 1 × 1019–8.4 × 1019 cm−3 irrespective of the precursor type. These carrier densities are in close agreement with atomic As concentrations measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry, indicating that the growth mechanism promotes the nearly complete substitutional incorporation of dopant atoms while suppressing the formation of non-active clusters and defects. In spite of the lower solubility of As in Ge relative to that of P, the maximum carrier concentrations obtained with As(SiH3)3 and As(GeH3)3 are roughly 30% higher than those found with the analogous P(SiH3)3 and P(GeH3)3. This result, along with the close similarity in band gap narrowing observed for the two methods, suggests that the As-doping route may be advantageous for optical devices that require the highest possible carrier concentrations to populate the conduction band valley associated with direct gap emission. On the other hand—due to the inherently shorter carrier relaxation times in As-doped Ge—the lowest observed resistivity of 5 × 10−4 Ω cm is slightly higher than the lowest resistivity from P-doped analogs. Finally, optical responsivity, electroluminescence and I–V properties of photodiodes fabricated using As(SiH3)3 and As(GeH3)3 are found to be on par with those observed from Ge-on-Si reference analogs, indicating that the chemistry approach described here represents a viable and straightforward route to doping and activation of device-quality materials.
Application of Mixture Regression for Improved Polarimetric SAR Speckle Filtering

Speckle filtering is an indispensable operation in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image processing but one which inevitably reduces image resolution. In order to preserve the intrinsic target features, adaptive speckle filters have been developed using weighted averages commensurate with the similarity of the target statistics. The target statistics are commonly derived from a prefiltering step which suffers from residue speckle contamination and feature smearing. In this paper, we adopted finite mixture models to characterize the observed in-scene variation and proposed a rigorous and progressive mixture regression method to better estimate the target statistics. The mixture model once fitted is able to capture the statistical properties of the highly textured and heterogeneous target variation, which is often observed in high-resolution SAR images. A nonlocal mean method is used for robust similarity evaluation of the local variation patterns between small image patches. The goal is to develop an improved polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) speckle filter that can accomplish a solid balance between speckle suppression and feature preservation. With the proposed filter, distinct scattering mechanisms and small-scale target features are retained from the start, even with single-look complex PolSAR observations. We test the algorithm using simulated data and single-look high-resolution PolSAR images: one acquired by DLR's F-SAR system and one by DLR's E-SAR system.
Dead Ends and Living Currents: Distributism as a Progressive Research Program

Distributism, a social program most closely associated with Catholic social teaching, calls for widespread and decentralized property ownership. Much in distributist thought, when considered in light of standard price theory, is simply untenable. But there is also much in distributist thought that is interesting and viable. We discuss the aspects of distributism best discarded, and the aspects that can serve as the foundation for a progressive research program.
The Role of Short-Term Tests in Assessing the Human Health Hazards of Environmental Chemicals: An Overview

The problems to be addressed in this paper and in this session are twofold: first, to identify and confirm mutagenic and presumptive carcinogenic chemicals through short-term tests (based on the use of plant as well as animal materials); and second, to determine the relationship of demonstrated effects in short-term tests to actual hazards and risks to human health.
Multiple Sclerosis: Perspectives in Treatment and Pathogenesis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disorder with devastating, long-term complications. MS is incurable, and most therapies treat only the symptoms leaving the patient with a reduced quality of life for extended periods of time. Most available therapeutic strategies target symptomatology, and not the pathophysiology of the disease. This book focuses on different biological pathways associated with MS, and contains current information on the prevalence of multiple sclerosis, novel treatments that target pathophysiology, and new approaches for management of the disorder, as well as general knowledge about the disease process. Number of Chapters: 11, Contributors: 27; Figures; 14; Tables;7; Pages; 187. Electronic version is freely available. Hardcover copies are available at books@codonpublications.com
Prognostic factors affecting overall survival and local control in meningioma patients treated with radiotherapy or combined radiotherapy and surgery

Meningiomas account for 15–20% of adult primary brain neoplasms. We reviewed 142 meningioma cases treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined RT and surgery to assess prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and local control (LC). Medical records were reviewed for progesterone receptor (PR) status, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, and treatment given, and we evaluated how these factors affected OS and LC. We also assessed OS and LC in patients treated with adjuvant RT versus salvage RT. From 1997 to 2014, 142 patients with meningioma were treated with RT. The median follow-up time since the completion of RT was 4.43 years. When adjusted for age at diagnosis, there was no difference in OS for surgery + RT versus RT alone, p = 0.656. Local control at 5 years was 88.2% with adjuvant RT versus 74.9% with salvage RT, p = 0.326. Five-year OS and LC were higher for grade I (OS 92.4%, LC 80.8%) versus grade II or higher meningiomas (OS 88.0%, LC 53.7%), p < 0.05. Five-year LC was 82.9% in women and 64.2% in men, p = 0.011. Local control at 5 years was 76.1% in patients with strong PR expression versus 41.7% in patients with focal or no PR expression, p = 0.029. We confirm that meningioma grade is prognostic for OS and LC. Gender and PR status were prognostic with respect to LC, with significantly better LC in women and patients with strong PR expression.
Intra-abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome: Consequences for Mechanical Ventilation

There is growing evidence showing that intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is extremely important in the care of critically ill patients. This phenomenon can evolve to the end-stage abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) with a serious impact on the function of respiratory system and other vital organs. ACS can escalate lung injury and increase intrathoracic pressures, leading to atelectasis, airway closure, and deterioration of respiratory mechanics and gas exchange. Abdominal compartment syndrome is a particular challenge for mechanical ventilation. It is the only extrathoracic entity that can significantly decrease the compliance of the respiratory system and is increasingly recognized in critically ill patients. In this chapter we will review in detail the consequences of raised intra-abdominal pressure as a cause of respiratory failure and comment on what is known about mechanical ventilation in these patients.
Ten commandments for implementing clinical information systems

The need for electronic health care information systems is entering into public debate. In his 2004 State of the Union address, President George Bush called on the health care industry to adopt electronic medical records, stating that such technology could “avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care” (1). With its plans to spend $119 million over the next 7 years on information systems, Baylor Health Care System is joining a number of other systems around the nation that are currently involved in such efforts. For example, the Fremont Area Medical Center began implementing computerized physician order entry (CPOE) in January 2004 (2); the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System began implementing CPOE in October 2003 (3); Aurora Health Care of Milwaukee is investing $75 million over the next 3 years in technology including CPOE (4); and Athens Regional Medical Center is making CPOE a component of a decade-long technology effort (5). Overall, information technology expenditures in health care totaled $21.6 billion in 2002. Expenditures are projected to increase every year: to $23.6 billion in 2003, $25.8 billion in 2004, $28.0 billion in 2005, and $30.5 billion in 2006 (6). At Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, I have been involved in implementing clinical information systems for 10 intensive care units (ICUs), labor and delivery, and the emergency department (between 1991 and 2002), as well as a web-viewing system containing all inpatient and outpatient medical record information (in 1998). Cedars-Sinai was an early implementor of the first wireless personal digital assistant devices in 1999. All clinical data can be accessed remotely. The hospital is totally wireless with a securely encrypted system. While the hospital made an investment in technology that is very similar to what Baylor is planning, it does expect to see a cost savings from the efficiencies obtained. Nevertheless, components such as clinical information systems are planned not as cost-saving measures but as quality improvement measures. In this article, I share a summary of our experience and focus on 10 of the most important lessons, or “commandments,” learned during the implementation of our clinical systems (Table ​(Table11). Table Ten commandments for clinical information systems
Attempting to fracture the neoliberal hold on early educators’ practical conceptions of teaching: A case study:

The global shift toward neoliberalism, which frames the education of young children through markets, credentials, and individualism, creates a range of challenges for those who call for and seek ou...
Circulating Troponin I Level in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Cardiac troponin levels in the blood are an important biomarker of acute coronary events, but may also be elevated in the context of acute ischemic stroke without an obvious concurrent myocardial insult. The objective of this study and systematic review is to determine how high the circulating troponin I level can rise due to ischemic stroke. Anonymized medical records from Vanderbilt University Medical Center were reviewed identifying 151,972 unique acute ischemic stroke events, of which 1226 met criteria for inclusion in this study. Included patients had at least one measurement of troponin I level documented during the hospital visit when an acute ischemic stroke was diagnosed and were free of known cardiac/coronary disease, renal impairment, sepsis, or other confounders. In this group, 20.6% had a circulating troponin I level elevated over the reference range, but 99% were below 2.13 ng/mL. This is significantly lower than the distribution observed in a cohort of 89,423 unique cases of acute coronary syndrome (p < 2.2−16). A systematic review of published literature further supported the conclusion that troponin I level may increase due to an acute ischemic stroke, but rarely rises above 2 ng/mL. Because of the shared risk factors between stroke and coronary artery disease, clinicians caring for patients with acute ischemic stroke should always have a high index of suspicion for comorbid cardiac and cardiovascular disease. In general, troponin I levels greater than 2 ng/mL should not be attributed to an acute ischemic stroke, but should prompt a thorough evaluation for coronary artery disease.
Chronic and End-Stage Heart Failure

Chronic heart failure (HF) is a common manifestation of cardiovascular (CV) disease, affecting more than six million adults in the United States. Despite overall improvements in cardiovascular health, the incidence of HF has remained stable due to the aging of the population as well as improved survival following myocardial infarction (MI). Among patients over the age of 65, the incidence of HF is approximately 1 % annually. Major advances have occurred in the understanding of HF pathophysiology and treatment, leading to significant declines in HF-related mortality. However, it remains a cause of significant morbidity and mortality, resulting in more than one million hospitalizations and 50,000 deaths annually.
STATE GOVERNMENT State Flag, Seal, and Other Symbols: Change State Flag; Provide for an Advisory Referendum Election to Determine Whether Voters Desire a Further Change in the State Flag; Provide for Severability

The Act changes the design and the description of the Georgia state flag, replacing the official flag adopted by the Georgia General Assembly in 2001. The Act also calls for an advisory referendum in 2004 for voters to determine whether the General Assembly should keep the 2003 design or revert back to the 2001 design. The Act requires the Secretary of State to call for that referendum and to certify the results to the Governor and the General Assembly. The Act further provides that if any portion of the Act is unconstitutional, the other sections of the Act shall remain in full force.
Gene Therapy and Viral Vectors

Gene therapy is the administration of a normal gene to replace a defective gene and thus cure or alleviate suffering from genetic diseases. Researchers are currently looking at a number of genetic diseases as targets, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia, among others. In most cases, the genes are incorporated into a viral vector. These viruses may have a segment of genetic material removed and replaced with a “normal” gene, known as a “transgene.” The first clinical trial, which was a failure, was in 1980, when a small number of patients with thalassemia were treated with the human globin DNA. In 1995 the first successful trial was performed in children with a defect in adenosine deaminase (ADA) (SCID-syndrome). Treatment of SICD-X1 children, a condition leading to immunodeficiency, was also successful, but the retrovirus vector underwent integration into the host chromosome, resulting in a few cases of leukemia and one death. A large number of different viral vectors have been designed for use in gene therapy, including retrovirus, lentivirus, adenovirus and parvovirus. These are each discussed separately. Despite great efforts and a large number of clinical trials, only one vector system—AAV, Glybera—has been approved for gene therapy for the treatment of patients with lipoprotein lipase deficiency, a rare genetic disease.
Prestige or Education: College Teaching and Rigor of Courses in Prestigious and Non-Prestigious Institutions in the U.S.

It is often assumed that higher prestige colleges and universities, via the rankings, have a better quality of education. Yet, the prestige structure in U.S. higher education favors resources, research, and student selectivity over teaching and undergraduate educational practices. Using quantitative observational data from 587 courses across 9 institutions of higher education in the U.S., this study examines whether courses in high prestige institutions have stronger teaching and academic rigor than courses in lower prestige institutions. Using a broad scale observational protocol, the study provides a closer look at course practices as they unfold, while also examining trends across contexts. Findings show initial evidence that the assumption that higher prestige institutions in the U.S. have better in-class educational experiences could be re-examined.
A Tale of 2 Constituencies: Exploring Patient and Clinician Perspectives in the Age of Big Data.

BACKGROUND Patient and clinician stakeholders are inadequately engaged in key aspects of research, particularly regarding use of Big Data to study and improve patient-centered outcomes. Little is known about the attitudes, interests, and concerns of stakeholders regarding such data. RESEARCH DESIGN The New York City Clinical Data Research Network (NYC-CDRN), a collaboration of research, clinical, and community leaders built a deidentified dataset containing electronic health records from millions of New Yorkers. Guided by a patient-clinician advisory board, we developed a question guide to explore patient and clinician experiences and ideas about research using large datasets. Trained facilitators led discussions during preexisting patient, community, and clinician group meetings. The research team coded meeting notes and identified themes. RESULTS Fully 272 individuals participated in 19 listening sessions (139 patients/advocates, 133 clinicians) at 6 medical centers with diverse NYC communities: 76% were female and 63% were nonwhite. Clinicians and patients agreed on all major themes including the central role of clinicians in introducing patients to research and the need for public campaigns to inform stakeholders about Big Data. Stakeholders were interested in using granular data to compare the care and clinical outcomes of their neighborhoods with others across NYC, but were also concerned that data could not truly be deidentified. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians and patients agree on potential benefits of stakeholder-engaged Big Data research and provided suggestions for further research and building stakeholder research capacity. This evaluation demonstrated the potential of brief meetings with existing patient and clinical groups to explore barriers and facilitators to patient and clinician engagement.
Earliest plants and animals

The eukaryote cell and it’s more complicated DNA eventually gave rise to multicellular organisms with differentiated cells and segmentation. The earliest examples (the so-called Ediacaran fauna) are known from fossils of soft-bodied organisms in late Precambrian rocks. The fossil record of these creatures is good enough to indicate the existence of an ecosystem with a variety of types, and examples are known from around the world, suggesting wide dispersal. Examples of primitive sponges, jellyfish and worms, similar to modern forms, are also known from fossil remains in many locations. The Ediacarans became extinct in early Cambrian time, in one of the earliest mass extinctions, but several of the other families survived the great innovations of the Cambrian explosion.
Light-driven antimicrobial activities of vitamin K3 against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Enteritidis

Abstract Due to the lack of thermal inactivation steps, the fresh produce industry is actively looking for new, environmentally friendly and effective non-thermal control strategies to eliminate foodborne pathogens on produce surfaces and to prevent cross-contamination. Photodynamic inactivation of bacteria has emerged as a novel alternative approach to inactivate microorganisms on fresh produce. In this study, the photo-sensitizing efficacy of vitamin K3 (VK3) under UV-A and simulated sunlight and their antimicrobial efficacy against common foodborne pathogens in broth and on lemon surfaces were investigated. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of VK3 against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella Enteritidis PT30 in darkness was 625.0, 156.3, and 625.0 μg/ml, respectively. When treatments were carried out under light, the MBC values of VK3 (VK3 + light) were reduced in strain, light source, and exposure time dependent manners. The enhanced antimicrobial effect can be attributed to the production of reactive oxygen species of VK3, including hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen under light exposure. Based on scanning electron microscope examination, VK3 + light treatment damaged the cell integrity of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella; and altered the cell morphology of E. coli O157:H7 including filament formation and fewer fimbriae/flagella. When applied on artificially inoculated lemon surfaces, VK3 + light treatments at MBC levels immediately reduced the levels of L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 by more than 5.0 Log10 CFU/disk and S. Enteritidis PT30 by ∼4.0 Log10 CFU/disk. Bacterial populations of all tested strains were reduced to below the limit of detection (1.0 Log10 CFU/disk) after one day of storage at 4 °C; the numbers of positive samples after enrichment further decreased as the storage time increased, demonstrating the continuous antimicrobial effects the VK3 generated on lemon surfaces. In summary, the results of this study demonstrated the promising antimicrobial effects of VK3 + light treatments and their great application potential for fresh produce industry.
Functional Nanofibers and Their Applications

The methods to provide functions to nanofiber webs and applications, characterization, evaluation methods, market value, and future directions of nanofiber webs are summarized and presented in this...
Contemporary review in the multi-modality imaging evaluation and management of tricuspid regurgitation

The tricuspid valve has gained interest recently because of the poor outcomes with current treatments and advances in percutaneous valve interventions. A sound understanding of the anatomy and pathologies of the tricuspid valve is critical in its evaluation and management of tricuspid regurgitation (TR). A multi-modality imaging approach with transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging all have their individual and collective roles in the evaluation of TR and guidance of surgical and percutaneous procedures. This combined with clinical factors will contribute to defining timing, indications, modality selection and risk stratification for tricuspid valve interventions, which currently remains controversial.
Living with AIDS

AIDS has altered our entire conception of death as an event and our relationship to it as a force. As one teenager articulated, “our parents used condoms to prevent birth; now we use them to prevent death” (Klimek, 1988).
Clusters, phason elasticity, and entropic stabilisation: a theory perspective

Personal comments are made about the title subjects, including: the relation of Friedel oscillations to Hume-Rothery stabilisation; how calculations may resolve the random-tiling versus ideal pictures of quasicrystals; and the role of entropies apart from tile-configurational.
Transcriptomics provides a genetic signature of vineyard site with insight into vintage-independent regional wine characteristics

Abstract In wine fermentations, the metabolic activity of both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces organisms impact wine chemistry. Ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing of grape musts has demonstrated that microorganisms occur non-randomly and are associated with the vineyard of origin, suggesting a role for the vineyard, grape, and wine microbiome in shaping wine fermentation outcomes. We used ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing of grape must and RNA sequencing of primary fermentations to profile fermentations from 15 vineyards in California and Oregon across two vintages. We find that the relative abundance of fungal organisms detected by ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing did not correlate with transcript abundance from those organisms within the RNA sequencing data, suggesting that the majority of the fungi detected in must by ribosomal DNA amplicon sequencing are not active during these inoculated fermentations. Additionally, we detect genetic signatures of vineyard site and region during fermentation that are predictive for each vineyard site, identifying nitrogen, sulfur, and thiamine metabolism as important factors for distinguishing vineyard site and region. Importance The wine industry generates billions of dollars of revenue annually, and economic productivity is in part associated with regional distinctiveness of wine sensory attributes. Microorganisms associated with grapes and wineries are influenced by region of origin, and given that some microorganisms play a role in fermentation, it is thought that microbes may contribute to the regional distinctiveness of wine. We show that while the presence of microbial DNA is associated with wine region and vineyard site, the presence of microbial DNA is not associated with gene expression of those microorganisms during fermentation. We further show that detected gene expression signatures associated with wine region and vineyard site provide a means to address differences in fermentations that may drive regional distinctiveness.
Call for commentaries: Child Welfare Futures

In 2021, the Journal of Public Child Welfare launches a Child Welfare Futures Section, which will feature brief commentaries arguing for short-, mid- and longer-term research-informed strategies de...
Knowing who we teach: Tracking attitudes and expectations of first‐year postsecondary language learners

Given waning second language (L2) enrollments in K-16 contexts, L2 programs must strive to understand their learners, as changes in their sociocultural environment can impact students' attitudes and, subsequently, their desire and ability to learn an L2. Thus, the authors conducted a two-wave analysis of 68 first-year L2 students' attitudes, dispositions, and expectations of L2 learning. Findings show that, as a group, first-year students entered the postsecondary arena with positive dispositions. Analyzing students' traits and prior L2 experiences was a more illustrative way of predicting how their opinions evolved. Specifically, female gender, lack of pre-high school L2 instruction, lack of travel experience in a country where the L2 is spoken, and enrollment in a 100-level course were all found to negatively shape these attitudes over time. The authors contend that L2 programs should regularly analyze learners' dispositions along with their traits to better engage and retain first-year postsecondary L2 students.
Acoustic Remote Control of Bacterial Immunotherapy

ABSTRACT Rapid advances in synthetic biology are driving the development of genetically engineered microbes as therapeutic agents for a multitude of human diseases, including cancer. In particular, the immunosuppressive microenvironment of solid tumors creates a favorable niche for systemically administered bacteria to engraft in the tumor and release therapeutic payloads. However, such payloads can be harmful if released in healthy tissues where the bacteria also engraft in smaller numbers. To address this limitation, we engineer therapeutic bacteria to be controlled by focused ultrasound, a form of energy that can be applied noninvasively to specific anatomical sites such as solid tumors. This control is provided by a temperature-actuated genetic state switch that produces lasting therapeutic output in response to briefly applied focused ultrasound hyperthermia. Using a combination of rational design and high-throughput screening we optimized the switching circuits of engineered cells and connected their activity to the release of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In a clinically relevant cancer model, ultrasound-activated therapeutic microbes successfully turned on in situ and induced a marked suppression of tumor growth. This technology provides a critical tool for the spatiotemporal targeting of potent bacterial therapeutics in a variety of biological and clinical scenarios.
Genome-wide pleiotropy analysis identifies novel blood pressure variants and improves its polygenic risk scores

Abstract Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (S/DBP) are highly correlated modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We report here a bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) and pleiotropy analysis of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) summary statistics from the UKB-ICBP BP genome-wide association study (GWAS) and construct a composite genetic risk score (GRS) by including pleiotropic variants. The composite GRS captures greater (1.11-3.26 fold) heritability for BP traits and increases (1.09- and 2.01-fold) Nagelkerke’s R2 for hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We replicated 118 novel BP pleiotropic variants including 18 novel BP loci using summary statistics from the Million Veteran Program (MVP) study. An additional 219 novel BP signals and 40 novel loci were identified after meta-analysis of the UKB-ICBP and MVP summary statistics but without further independent replication. Our study provides further insight into BP regulation and provides a novel way to construct a GRS by including pleiotropic variants for other complex diseases.
Localization of seed-derived and externally supplied nutrients in peanut seedling root

The distribution of essential nutrients such as potassium (K), phosphorous (P), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S) and chlorine (Cl) within root tissues is crucial aspect of plant growth but nothing is known regarding this subject in seedlings of dicotyledons such as peanut (Arachis hypogaea). We used scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to analyze element distributions in developing root tissues. Distribution patterns and concentrations of endogenous K, P, S and exogenous Ca from seeds grown in water varied along the length of peanut radicle and were tissue specific. Semi-quantitative SEM/EDS data indicated 24 mM K in the cortex and 46 mM K in the stele at a distance of 5 mm from the root tip. The P concentration in the same region was 15 mM in cortex and 22 mM in stele. The concentration of K and P decreased in the more mature parts of the root. SEM–EDS element concentrations values were lower for K and higher for P when compared with the ICP-OES data of root segments. Peanut roots grown in 10 mM Ca(NO3)2 solution for hours showed tissue-specific Ca distribution at 25 mm from the root tip with the highest levels detected in portions of the cortex. The parent root cortex centrifugal to the tip of developing lateral root primordia had lower levels of calcium than could be detected by SEM/EDS.
Is Food Science Right for Me? The Transfer Student

Somewhere amongst classes, sporting events, extracurricular activities, seminars, and meetings with free pizza, college provides a time to discover your own interests. Virtually every student dreams of graduating with a degree that piques their interests and complements their career ambitions, but choosing the right academic major can be difficult, confusing, and time––consuming, but know that you are not alone.
Copper, Chromium, and Arsenic Adsorption and Equilibrium Modeling in An Iron-Oxide-Coated Sand, Background Electrolyte System

The adsorption of copper, chromate, and arsenate (CCA)onto iron-oxide-coated sand (IOCS) was examined insingle-metal and mixed-metal systems. Copper andarsenate were strongly adsorbed or formed inner-spheresurface complexes with the IOCS surface while chromatewas weakly adsorbed or formed an outer-sphere surfacecomplex with the IOCS surface. Copper adsorption byIOCS slightly increased in the presence of arsenatebut was not affected by the presence of chromate. Arsenate adsorption was not affected by the presenceof copper and/or chromate. Chromate adsorptionincreased in the presence of copper by the combinationof electrostatic effects and possiblesurface-copper-chromate ternary complex formation. The presence of arsenate significantly decreasedchromate adsorption due to competition for adsorptionsites and electrostatic effects. Using inner-spheresurface complexation constants for copper and arsenateand outer-sphere surface complexation constants forchromate, the triple-layer model (TLM) was successfulin describing adsorption of copper, chromate, andarsenate in single-solute systems. The modelindicated that each metal uses a different number ofadsorption sites. For CCA metals-IOCS systems, theequilibrium constants determined from single-solutesystems were not able to predict adsorption frommulti-solute systems. The TLM does not currentlyaccount for the heterogeneity of oxide surface sitesand the formation of ternary complexes and/or solidphases that do not exist in single-solute systems.
The Evolved Apprentice: How Evolution Made Humans Unique by Sterelny, Kim

Kim Sterelny's The Evolved Apprentice is an extraordinarily rich and readable treatment of a range of problems associated with human evolution. Many of these problems are already well known, and he...
A 1 mV MOS Comparator

A MOS comparator circuit capable of detecting + 1 mV difference signals in 3 ?s has been designed and tested. The circuit does not require high accuracy components or tight control of device parameter tolerences.
On the Laplacian inverse electrocardiography

The author introduces a concept for a new approach in inverse electrocardiography. Body surface Laplacian electrograms, instead of potential electrograms, are employed to reconstruct the epicardial equivalent source distributions. The author tested this idea by means of computer simulation studies using a concentric spheres volume conductor model. The present computer simulation results suggest that the epicardial potential inverse solution from the body surface Laplacian map has a higher reconstruction precision and a greater stability than the inverse solution from the body surface potential map for the myocardial source configurations studied. >
Living cells in wood. 1. Absence, scarcity and histology of axial parenchyma as keys to function

The diversity of expression in axial parenchyma (or lack of it) in woods is reviewed and synthesized with recent work in wood physiology, and questions and hypotheses relative to axial parenchyma anatomy are offered. Cell shape, location, abundance, size, wall characteristics and contents are all characteristics for the assessment of the physiological functions of axial parenchyma, a tissue that has been neglected in the consideration of how wood histology has evolved. Axial parenchyma occurrence should be considered with respect to mechanisms for the prevention and reversal of embolisms in tracheary elements. This mechanism complements cohesion–tension-based water movement and root pressure as a way of maintaining flow in xylem. Septate fibres can substitute for axial parenchyma (‘axial parenchyma absent’) and account for water movement in xylem and for the supply of carbohydrate abundance underlying massive and sudden events of foliation, flowering and fruiting, as can fibre dimorphism and the co-occurrence of septate fibres and axial parenchyma. Rayless woods may or may not contain axial parenchyma and are informative when analysing parenchyma function. Interconnections between ray and axial parenchyma are common, and so axial and radial parenchyma must be considered as complementary parts of a network, with distinctive but interactive functions. Upright ray cells and more numerous rays per millimetre enhance interconnection and are more often found in woods that contain tracheids. Vesselless woods in both gymnosperms and angiosperms have axial parenchyma, the distribution of which suggests a function in osmotic water shifting. Water and photosynthate storage in axial parenchyma may be associated with seasonal changes and with succulent or subsucculent modes of construction. Apotracheal axial parenchyma distribution often demonstrates storage functions that can be read independently of osmotic water shifting capabilities. Axial parenchyma may serve to both enhance mechanical strength or, when parenchyma is thin-walled, as a tissue that adapts to volume change with a change in water content. Other functions of axial parenchyma (contributing resistance to pathogens; a site for the recovery of physical damage) are considered. The diagnostic features of axial parenchyma and septate fibres are reviewed in order to clarify distinctions and to aid in cell type identification. Systematic listings are given for particular axial parenchyma conditions (e.g. axial parenchyma ‘absent’ with septate fibres substituting). A knowledge of the axial parenchyma information presented here is desirable for a full understanding of xylem function. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 177, 291–321.
The Nature of Damped Lyα Absorbing Galaxies at z ≤ 1: A Photometric Redshift Survey of Damped Lyα Absorbers*

We study the nature of damped Lyα absorption (DLA) systems at z ≤ 1 using a sample of 11 DLA galaxies, for which accurate redshift measurements are available. Five of the 11 systems are identified in our ongoing photometric redshift survey of DLA galaxies, while the remaining six systems are identified by previous groups using either spectroscopic or photometric redshift techniques. Absolute B-band magnitudes of the galaxies range from MAB(B) = -15.3 to -20.3. Impact parameter separations of the galaxy and absorber pairs range from ρ = 0.31 to 25.4 h-1 kpc. We first demonstrate that the precision of photometric redshifts is sufficient for identifying DLA galaxies because DLA systems are rare, and their intrinsically high column density implies a small impact parameter of the host galaxy to the QSO line of sight. We then adopt this first large DLA galaxy sample to study the neutral gas cross section of intermediate-redshift galaxies and examine the optical properties of DLA galaxies at z ≤ 1. The results of our study are as follows: (1) the extent of neutral gas around intermediate-redshift galaxies scales with B-band luminosity as R/R* = β with R* = 24-30 h-1 kpc and β = 0.26 at N(H ) = 1020 cm-2; (2) the observed incidence of the DLA systems versus the B-band luminosity of the DLA galaxies is consistent with models derived from adopting a known galaxy B-band luminosity function and the best-fit scaling relation of the neutral gas cross section at MAB(B) - 5 log h ≤ -17; (3) comparison of the observed and predicted number density of DLA systems supports that luminous galaxies can explain most of the DLA systems found in QSO absorption line surveys and a large contribution of dwarfs (MAB(B) - 5 log h ≥ -17) to the total neutral gas cross section is not necessary; (4) of the 11 DLA systems studied, 45% are disk dominated, 22% are bulge dominated, 11% are irregular, and 22% are in galaxy groups, indicating that galaxies that give rise to the DLA systems span a wide range of morphological types and arise in a variety of galaxy environments; and (5) galaxies that contain the bulk of neutral gas in the universe do not appear to exhibit a substantial luminosity evolution between z = 0 and 1.
Hypolipidemic Activity of 6-Substituted 6, 7-Dihydro-5H-dibenz[c,e]azepine and the effects of 6, 7-dihydro-5H-dibenz[c,e]azepine on Lipid Metabolism of Rodents

A series of 6-substituted derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenz[c,e]azepine was found to be active hypolipidemic agents in rodents at doses of mg/kg per day. The parent drug was found to suppress the enzyme activity of ATP-dependent citrate lyase, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase, and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. Treatment with 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenz[c,e]azepine resulted in a reduction of cholesterol, neutral lipid, and triglyceride content in mouse and rat liver. The agent also afforded a reduction in cholesterol, triglycerides and neutral lipids in the chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions. In the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction, the triglyceride, neutral lipids, and phospholipids were lowered but the cholesterol content was not. [H3]Cholesterol distribution studies showed that the 3H-content was lowered in the major organs but was elevated in the chyme and stomach, suggesting that the drug accelerated bile secretion of cholesterol or its metabolites.
Innate lymphocyte subsets and their immunoregulatory roles in burn injury and sepsis.

The vast majority of clinical and basic science research on the immune consequences of burn injury and sepsis conducted during the last three decades has focused mainly on the roles of macrophages, neutrophils and, to a lesser extent, conventional T lymphocytes. During recent years, however, it has become increasingly clear that minor subsets of innate immune cells, innate regulatory lymphocytes in particular, are central to processes involved in both protective immunity and immunopathology. Recent reports by our laboratory and others have just begun to shed light on the critical roles of innate lymphocyte subsets, including natural killer T cells, natural killer cells, gamma-delta T cells, and naturally occurring CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells during the immune response to burn injury and sepsis. Given their emerging importance and documented upstream regulatory capacities over macrophage, dendritic cell, and T lymphocyte functions, innate regulatory lymphocytes represent attractive new targets for therapeutic intervention for the overall immune paralysis that occurs with injury and sepsis. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of these particular cell subsets in the immune response to burn injury and sepsis.
An Experimental Study of the Compressor Rotor Blade Boundary Layer

The three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer developing on a rotor blade of an axial flow compressor was measured using a miniature 'x' configuration hot-wire probe. The measurements were carried out at nine radial locations on both surfaces of the blade at various chordwise locations. The data derived includes streamwise and radial mean velocities and turbulence intensities. The validity of conventional velocity profiles such as the 'power law profile' for the streamwise profile, and Mager and Eichelbrenner's for the radial profile, is examined. A modification to Mager's crossflow profile is proposed. Away from the blade tip, the streamwise component of the blade boundary layer seems to be mainly influenced by the streamwise pressure gradient. Near the tip of the blade, the behavior of the blade boundary layer is affected by the tip leakage flow and the annulus wall boundary layer. The 'tangential blockage' due to the blade boundary layer is derived from the data. The profile losses are found to be less than that of an equivalent cascade, except in the tip region of the blade.
High temperature creep and fracture properties of a class I solid solution alloy: Cu-2.7 at.% Sn

Abstract The high temperature creep and fracture properties of a class I solid solution alloy, Cu-2.7 at.% Sn, have been investigated. The alloy behaves as a class I solid solution in the normalized stress range: 1 × 10 −4 σ μ −3 . Above σ μ = 2.5 × 10 −3 power law breakdown occurs whereas below about σ μ = 1 × 10 −4 the alloy exhibits class II creep behavior. In spite of the viscous nature of dislocation motion in the class I regime, the alloy fractures in an intergranular manner by cavitation along grain boundaries. However, the creep ductility reaches a maximum in this regime; it decreases at both higher and lower stresses, in the power law breakdown and class II creep regimes, respectively. In the class I regime both the creep ductility and creep strength of the alloy are higher than for pure Cu. Thus, it is possible to increase both strength and ductility by forming a class I solid solution. The higher ductility of this class I solid solution is explained in terms of the difficulty of intergranular cavity nucleation.
The Effect of Experimentally Induced Prolonged Blood Clotting Time on Cecal Coccidiosis of Chicks

Abstract ONE of the most pronounced symptoms of chicks infected with Eimeria tenella is the profuse hemorrhage resulting from the rupturing of small blood vessels by the second generation merozoites passing from the tissue into the lumen of the ceca. Quick and Stefanini (1948) found the feeding of dicoumoral produced hypoprothrombinemia in chicks, which was counteracted by injecting either menadione or Vitamin K. Tarver and Harms (1956) found that a forty-eight hour feeding period was required to produce prolonged blood clotting time when using 750 mg. of dicoumoral per pound of feed with chicks four to seven weeks of age. Since the amount of bleeding is influenced by the ability of the blood to clot it was thought that experimentally induced prolonged blood clotting time might influence mortality rate and weight gains of chicks suffering from cecal coccidiosis. PROCEDURE Two hundred and twenty straight-run, (crossbred meat type) day-old chicks were placed …
Intrinsic protein disorder in human pathways

We analyze human-specific KEGG pathways trying to understand the functional role of intrinsic disorder in proteins. Pathways provide a comprehensive picture of biological processes and allow better understanding of a protein's function within the specific context of its surroundings. Our study pinpoints a few specific pathways significantly enriched in disorder-containing proteins and identifies the role of these proteins within the framework of pathway relationships. Three major categories of relations are shown to be significantly enriched in disordered proteins: gene expression, protein binding and to a lesser degree, protein phosphorylation. Finally we find that relations involving protein activation and to some extent inhibition are characterized by low disorder content.
Feminist perspectives on pastoral care: Implications for practice and theory

The article explores the debilitating consequences of patriarchal structures for women's experience and sense of self. Drawing on Nelle Morton's metaphor of “hearing into speech,” the article suggests constructive implications of feminist thought for pastoral care and counseling with women and men. Issues such as ethics and relationality, love and power, sexuality and spirituality are addressed.
Evaluation of pig lungs following an experimental challenge with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 and 5 in pigs inoculated with either hemolysin protein and/or outer membrane proteins

Histopathological changes were compared in pigs challenged with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype l and serotype 5 after inoculation with subunit vaccines. The vaccines consisted of outer membrane protein and/or hemolysin protein isolated from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype l or both subunits combined. Twenty-seven cross-bred pigs were separated into six groups: Groups I and IV were vaccinated and boostered with 1500 μg outer membrane protein; Groups II and V were vaccinated and boostered with 250 μg hemolysin protein; Groups III and VI were vaccinated and boostered with a combination of 1500 μg outer membrane protein and 250 μg hemolysin protein. Groups I, II and III were challenged with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1; and Groups IV, V and VI were challenged with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5. Groups III and VI demonstrated the least severe lung tissue damage, with significantly lower (P < 0.05) lung involvement as compared to the other groups. Lesions were noted in all six groups. These results showed that complete protection against A. pleuropneumoniae infection was not feasible using a subunit vaccine consisting of just outer membrane protein and hemolysin protein, and that some cross-protection did occur.
Peptide-Based Delivery System used for Tagging Syk Tyrosine Kinase Biomarker in Skin Cancer and Development of a Hyperspectral Imaging Device to Detect the Biomarker

We propose to design a non-invasive diagnostic method for the early detection of SCC and BCC using a hyperspectral imaging device that will detect fluorescence. The technique used to deliver the fluorescent tag will be in the form of a topical formulation consisting of a Syk-specific peptide conjugated to a fluorescent dye encapsulated in liposomes.