cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On-Road Performance Evaluation of IEEE 802.11p/WAVE in BSM Signalling and Video Streaming using WSMP

Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) are used for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communications. The IEEE 802.11p/WAVE (Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment) and the recently established WAVE Short Message Protocol (WSMP) communication protocol has been proposed as the standard protocol for designing applications for VANETs. This standard must be thoroughly tested before reliable and efficient applications can be built using its protocols. In this paper, we perform on-road experiments in a variety of scenarios to evaluate the performance of the standard. We use commercial VANET devices with 802.11p/WAVE compliant chipsets for both BSM (Basic Safety Messages) as well as Video Streaming applications on WSMP communication protocol. We show that while the standard performs well for BSM application in lightly loaded conditions, the performance becomes inferior when traffic increases for WSMP protocol. Furthermore, as shown by the results, the standard is not suitable for video streaming due to the bursty nature of traffic, which is a major shortcoming for V2X applications.
Minimally invasive surgery for the management of thoracolumbar burst fractures

Abstract Percutaneous instrumentation is an effective method of managing thoracolumbar burst fractures in certain patients, including those with osteoporosis and ankylosing spinal disorders. By reducing the physiological burden on the patient compared to conventional open surgical techniques, percutaneous fixation enables faster mobilization, shorter length of stays, and decreased opioid use. Though the success of this technique is promising, it is critical to continue to practice safe surgical decision-making and to remain up to date on new advancements in percutaneous fixation of burst fractures as the literature expands.
A comparative state-of-technology review and future directions for rare earth element separation

Abstract Growing consumption of rare earth elements (REEs) due to their critical roles in various sectors (e.g., healthcare, energy, transportation, and electronics) has gained attention and stimulated research efforts in industry and academic communities. This study provides an overview of the existing REE production and recovery pathways, identifies critical challenges of the current techniques, and highlights opportunities for multidisciplinary research to achieve more effective solutions. A comprehensive classification of REE separation techniques is presented through narrative and systematic literature reviews, including qualitative analysis and classic bibliometric techniques, to assess the usefulness of identified methodologies and approaches. It is found that the top three most explored and mature separation techniques in various phases (solid and liquid) between 2015 and 2020 are leaching, solvent extraction, and plasma; and the top three study fields are chemistry, engineering, and metallurgy. It is further found that the dominant REE separation technique across over 40 fields of research is the use of acids, bases, ionic liquids, and salts for leaching REEs. It is concluded that agromining approach, using hyperaccumulator plants capable of absorbing REEs through their roots and leaves, can be a practical approach for sustainable REEs recovery from secondary sources and end-of-life products, such as electronic devices.
Participation in an Advanced Anatomy Capstone Project Facilitates Student Involvement in the Development of an Instructional Tool for Novel Dissection

Introduction. Student-driven design of instructional tools within basic sciences curricula in general, and in anatomy in particular, has been shown to be both a positive educational experience for the student developers and a viable way to create quality materials for future courses. We present here a description of a student collaboration arising from participation in an advanced anatomy capstone research project, resulting in the creation of a new dissection protocol for the thoracolumbar junction dorsal primary rami and their branches. Materials and Methods. This project was initiated by two third-year doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students and involved participation from faculty and other DPT students of varying experience levels, in order to pilot and refine the tool over a two-year period. We describe the process by which the tool was developed, from the genesis of the original idea through the piloting stage. Results and Discussion. This collaboration resulted in a new instructional tool to be launched within our first-year DPT gross anatomy labs in 2022. Evaluation of the project through qualitative interviews demonstrated the learning impact on student participants. Conclusions. The success of this project shows the potential for students to be meaningfully involved in instructional tool design. The complete dissection guide, along with photos, is included and will be of particular relevance for medical and health science educators with an interest in orthopedics, neurosurgery, pain management, or physical therapy.
Disease-free Interval Is Associated with Oncologic Outcomes in Patients with Recurrent Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) commonly recur following curative-intent resection. Patients with recurrent GIST display heterogeneous outcomes with limited prognostic tools. We investigated factors associated with post-recurrence survival (PRS) and progression-free survival (PFS). We performed a review of our institutional cancer registry from 2003 to 2018 for patients with GIST. Clinicopathologic and outcome data were collected. The disease-free interval (DFI) was calculated from the end of curative-intent oncologic therapy until recurrence. Outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Overall, 254 patients underwent resection of primary, non-metastatic GIST, with 81 (32%) recurrences. The median age was 58 years and more than half of the patients with recurrence (n = 44; 54%) received adjuvant imatinib. Recurrence was most common in the liver (n = 34, 42%), peritoneum (n = 31, 38%), or liver plus peritoneum (n = 10, 12%). The median DFI was 14 months (interquartile range 2–26 months); 51 (63%) patients had a DFI ≤24 months and 30 (37%) had a DFI > 24 months. The median post-recurrence follow-up was 46 months. Compared with a DFI ≤24 months, patients with a DFI >24 months had increased 10-year PRS (77% vs. 41%, p 24 months was independently associated with increased PRS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.24, p < 0.01) and PFS (HR 0.18, p < 0.001). The DFI is independently associated with oncologic outcomes in recurrent GIST and may be useful in treatment planning. Recurrence after 24 months may signify indolent disease biology that may benefit from additional treatment, including metastasectomy.
The proteostatic network chaperome is downregulated in F508del homozygote cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background CF patients demonstrate clinical heterogeneity and much remains unknown about how to risk stratify individuals for disease progression. The most common cystic fibrosis mutation, F508del, is a protein folding mutation that has been shown in vitro to negatively affect proteostasis and CFTR transcription. Since CFTR is expressed in the nasal epithelium, we hypothesized that by using unbiased transcriptomics we could gain clinically relevant insights about differential gene expression and heterogeneity in CF patients as well as assess proteostatic dysfunction in the nasal epithelium. Methods Using nasal curettage and RNA-seq we assessed differential gene expression in F508del homozygotes compared to healthy volunteers. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed using a list of known chaperones. Pilot and validation cohorts were studied. Results PCA analysis and gene expression heatmaps exhibited greater heterogeneity among CF than healthy volunteers. Differentially expressed genes were enriched for the downregulation of ciliary/microtubular genes and the upregulation of inflammatory/immune response genes in F508del homozygotes compared to healthy volunteers. Gene set analysis identified negative enrichment for chaperone genes and decreased CFTR transcription in the F508del homozygotes. We also found preliminary evidence for the recently identified ionocyte in the nasal specimens. Conclusion CF patients homozygous for F508del demonstrate heterogeneous gene expression profiles, proteostatic dysregulation, and reduced CFTR transcription. Larger studies are needed to determine whether nasal epithelial gene transcription profiles can be leveraged for insights into disease heterogeneity.
ENERGY SECURITY IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

The nations of the Asia-Pacific Region, including its three sub-regions of Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, face major potential dangers in securing the energy needed for their economies. This paper focuses on these dangers and discusses the future prospects for these vulnerable nations, including their need for closer cooperation. (JEL Q32, Q34, Q40)
A Study of the Rotation of the Solar Corona

Synoptic photoelectric observations of the coronal Fe xiv and Fe x emission lines at 530.3 nm and 637.4 nm, respectively, are analyzed to study the rotational behavior of the solar corona as a function of latitude, height, time and temperature between 1976 (1983 for Fe x) and 2001. An earlier similar analysis of the Fe xiv data at 1.15 R ⊙ over only one 11-year solar activity cycle (Sime, Fisher, and Altrock, 1989, Astrophys. J. 336, 454) found suggestions of solar-cycle variations in the differential (latitude-dependent) rotation. These results are tested over the longer epoch now available. In addition, the new Fe xiv 1.15 R ⊙ results are compared with those at 1.25 R ⊙ and with results from the Fe x line. I find that for long-term averages, both ions show a weakly-differential rotation period that may peak near 80° latitude and then decrease to the poles. However, this high-latitude peak may be due to sensing low-latitude streamers at higher latitudes. There is an indication that the Fe xiv rotation period may increase with height between 40° and 70° latitude. There is also some indication that Fe x may be rotating slower than Fe xiv in the mid-latitude range. This could indicate that structures with lower temperatures rotate at a slower rate. As found in the earlier study, there is very good evidence for solar-cycle-related variation in the rotation of Fe xiv. At latitudes up to about 60°, the rotation varies from essentially rigid (latitude-independent) near solar minimum to differential in the rising phase of the cycle at both 1.15 R ⊙ and 1.25 R ⊙. At latitudes above 60°, the rotation at 1.15 R ⊙ appears to be nearly rigid in the rising phase and strongly differential near solar minimum, almost exactly out of phase with the low-latitude variation.
A recombinant plasmid from which an infectious adeno-associated virus genome can be excised in vitro and its use to study viral replication.

A recombinant plasmid carrying an infectious adeno-associated viral genome was constructed that differs in several key respects from previously described recombinants. First, the vector is pEMBL8(+), which allows isolation of viral plus and minus strands. Second, the inserted viral sequences contain two XbaI cleavage sites that flank the viral coding domain. These inserts do not affect replication of the virus, and they allow nonviral sequences to be easily inserted between the cis-acting terminal repeats of adeno-associated virus. Third, the viral genome is flanked by PvuII cleavage sites that allow the entire, infectious viral chromosome to be excised from plasmid sequences in vitro. Viral DNA was replicated more efficiently within adenovirus-infected 293 cells if it was excised from the vector with PvuII before transfection. Presumably, the increased efficiency reflects bypass of the excision step which must normally precede replication when a recombinant plasmid enters the nucleus. The ability to bypass the excision step was exploited to search for a viral function required specifically for excision of the viral genome from the integrated state. None of the mutants tested identified a gene product required for excision that was not also essential for replication. The ability to produce pure populations of viral plus and minus strands was used to demonstrate that both strands are infectious. Images
Cutaneous manifestations of tuberous sclerosis.

Purpose: To describe a case of periungual masses probably related to tuberous sclerosis and to review the literature regarding tuberous sclerosis, including the historical, clinical, and diagnostic aspects. Also discussed is the long-term follow-up of the disease. Methods: Report of a case of periungual masses secondary to tuberous sclerosis and review of the literature from 1999 to 2009, with the use of MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine). Results: I describe a case of periungual masses occurring as a result of tuberous sclerosis. A literature review confirms periungual masses associated with tuberous sclerosis in most cases. Also, the observance of cutaneous manifestations is most helpful in the diagnosis of this disorder. Conclusion: Tuberous sclerosis is an uncommon disorder, which has a variable clinical presentation. Tuberous sclerosis is associated with seizures and mental retardation. In the absence of these 2 signs/symptoms, physicians should still consider the diagnosis when presented with varied dermatologic conditions.
The Principle of Indifference and Imprecise Probability

Sometimes different partitions of the same space each seem to divide that space into propositions that call for equal epistemic treatment. Famously, equal treatment in the form of equal point-valued credence leads to incoherence. Some have argued that equal treatment in the form of equal interval-valued credence solves the puzzle. This paper shows that, once we rule out intervals with extreme endpoints, this proposal also leads to incoherence.
Mathematical modelling of glycosaminoglycan production by stem cell aggregates incorporated with growth factor‐releasing polymer microspheres

Systems composed of high density cells incorporated with growth factor-releasing polymer microspheres have recently been shown to promote chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage formation. Within these systems, the effects of spatial and temporal patterning of growth factor release on hyaline cartilage-specific extracellular matrix production have been examined. However, at present, it is unclear which microsphere densities and growth factor delivery profiles are optimal for inducing human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and glycosaminoglycan production. A mathematical model to describe glycosaminoglycan production as a function of initial microsphere loading and microsphere degradation rate over a period of 3 weeks is presented. Based on predictions generated by this model, it may be feasible to design a bioactive microsphere system with specific spatiotemporal growth factor presentation characteristics to promote glycosaminoglycan production at controllable rates. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue of the salivary glands: A population‐based study from 1994 to 2009

Background Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) arising from the salivary glands is rare. Methods Five hundred seven cases were available for frequency/incidence analysis, and 712 for relative survival and regression analysis in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Results Of the total patients, 72.98% were women, 80.47% were white, and 74.75% were ≥50 years old. The parotid gland was involved in 80.87% of cases. Ann Arbor stage at diagnosis was 53.85% IE, 18.54% IIE, and 10.06% IIIE/IV. Overall, 15-year relative survival was 78.40%. Relative survival was worst among blacks and those with advanced-stage disease. No difference was noted between those treated with surgery, radiation, or both. Statistically significant poor prognosticators included black race (hazard ratio [HR], 2.3961; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–3.72; p = .0001) and stage IIIE/IV (HR, 2.3677; 95%CI, 1.36–4.11; p = .0022). Conclusion Early-stage salivary gland MALT lymphoma disease may be amenable to unimodality treatment. Even patients with advanced disease have relatively high survivals. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 18–22, 2015
The role of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis in the function of the fission yeast cdc18(+) gene product.

The fission yeast cdc18 + gene is required for both initiation of DNA replication and the mitotic checkpoint that normally inhibits mitosis in the absence of DNA replication. The cdc18 + gene product contains conserved Walker A and B box motifs. Studies of other ATPases have shown that these motifs are required for nucleotide binding and hydrolysis, respectively. We have observed that mutant strains in which either of these motifs is disrupted are inviable. The effects of these mutations were examined by determining the phenotypes of mutant strains following depletion of complementing wild-type Cdc18. In both synchronous and asynchronous cultures, the nucleotide-hydrolysis motif mutant (DE286AA) arrests with a 1C–2C DNA content, and thus exhibits no obvious defects in entry into S phase or in the mitotic checkpoint. In contrast, in cultures synchronized by hydroxyurea arrest and release, the nucleotide-binding motif mutant (K205A) exhibits the null phenotype, with 1C and
The use of communication boards in a residential setting: an evaluation.

This study examines the use of communication boards by seven nonspeaking, nonambulatory, severely mentally retarded students (all functioning at an early preoperational level cognitively) interacti...
Renormalization in the theory of a quantized scalar field interacting with a robertson-walker spacetime☆

Abstract We demonstrate the possibility of removing the divergences in the energy-momentum tensor by identifying divergent terms with renormalizations of the coupling constants in the gravitational field equation, modified to include a cosmological term and terms quadratic in the curvature. The model studied is that of a classical Robertson-Walker metric and a quantized minimally coupled neutral scalar field. The theory is constructed first with an ultraviolet cutoff as a phenomenological ansatz. The cutoff is then removed in an attempt to obtain a more fundamental theory, whereupon the question arises of the covariance and uniqueness of the resulting renormalized energy-momentum tensor. In the case of a massless field in a spatially flat universe, an apparent infrared divergence is discussed from the point of view of operational determination of the renormalized coupling constants. In the other cases, although the divergences are successfully accounted for by renormalization, we are left with finite leading terms which do not appear to be identifiable with geometrical tensors; the significance of this result is under investigation. If these anomalous terms are dropped, the renormalized energy-momentum tensor agrees with that defined by adiabatic regularization, provided that the limit of slow time variation taken in that method is generalized to a limit of “spacetime flatness.”
The dynamics of sexual selection and its pleiotropic effects

Since Darwin's formulation of the theory of sexual selection a number of population biologists have developed models that explore the genetic consequences of his theory. In all these models it is assumed that two forces act to counterbalance the runaway process of sexual selection. That is, female preference for a certain male character tends to select for extreme forms of that character until natural selection exerts its forces to maintain the optimum male phenotype that is able to survive in its environment. In this paper, an alternative explanation for the origin of secondary sexual characters is proposed. It is suggested that polymorphism in secondary sexual characters may be maintained not as a direct result of selection for these characters but by being either linked to or as pleiotropic effects of some other feature of the mate recognition pattern. While there are no genetic data to support these observations inDrosophila at this time, there appears to be compelling evidence that mating success is not wholly dependent on the presence of these characters.
Evaluation of SDS‐PAGE Method for Estimating Protein Digestibility

In a new technique digestibility of unheated and autoclaved soy protein concentrate (SPC) samples was determined in vitro by SDS-PAGE. Results were compared with those determined by the pH drop method and with apparent in vivo digestibility in rats. Results of the pH drop method correlated more highly (r = 0.95) with apparent in vivo digestibility than SDS-PAGE results (r=0.92). However, the SDS-PAGE technique had two advantages: it allowed estimation of the molecular weight(s) of polypeptides/peptides remaining in protein hydrolyzates and from densitometric analysis, visualization of the process of protein digestion.
Paroxetine and the FDA.

On June 19, 2003 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement regarding the antidepressant Paxil® for pediatric depression. The primary reason for the statement was new data indicating a possible increased risk of suicidal thinking and suicidal attempts in children and adolescents under the age of 18 treated with the drug Paxil for major depressive disorder (FDA Home Page, June 19, 2003). In the third paragraph of the statement is the sentence that three well-controlled trials in pediatric patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) failed to show that the drug (Paxil) was more effective than placebo (FDA Home Page, June 19, 2003). As far as I know, these studies have never been published and practicing clinicians remain unaware of these negative Paxil findings in youths with MDD. These three negative unpublished clinical trials are in marked contrast to the one Paxil study for pediatric MDD that has been published, is available to influence clinical practice, and indeed is frequently cited in the literature in support of SSRI efficacy for depression in youngsters (Keller et al., 2001). This study has been criticized for methodological weaknesses, particularly definitions of medication response and statements in support of the efficacy of Paxil despite negative findings on a priori defined primary response criteria (Jureidini and Tonkin, 2003). In reply, the authors have vigorously defended their study (Keller et al., 2003). As clinicians we now have available one positive published study of Paxil (albeit with marked methodological weaknesses) to guide our Paxil prescribing practices in the treatment of pediatric depression. But now we find out indirectly from the FDA that 75% (three of four studies) of the randomized controlled trials of Paxil in pediatric MDD appear to be negative and that the data remain unavailable to the practicing clinician. As physicians attempting to treat our patients with evidence-based medicine, what are we to make of this information? Would we prescribe an antidepressant drug to our young depressed patients if we knew that three quarters of the clinical trials are negative and the one published positive study appears to have major methodological weaknesses? How can we practice in the best interests of our child and adolescent patients if negative trial data are withheld from the scientific journals and only the positive studies are published?
Governmental Revenue/ Expenditure Models: a Case for the Simultane Eouation Technique

The purpose here is to demonstrate a methodology useful in revenue or expenditure models where interaction is believed present. The vehicle is a model of local educational efforts, state/federal subsidies to education, and, most important, the attempt to measure interaction between local effort and subsidies. It is argued that the correct model explaining local educational effort must be reasonably disaggregated (each subsidy or type of subsidy considered separately) and the system must be interdependent (evaluated by simultaneous equation techniques). Results of a model developed and estimated for Ohio school districts indicate that interaction is present in modest proportions at best. In this case, the one-equation model presented by earlier researchers would be accurate, but there is no guarantee that a single-equation model would generate adequate results for other states or even for other types of local expenditures in Ohio.
Transcription Start Site Sequence and Spacing between the −10 Region and the Start Site Affect Reiterative Transcription-Mediated Regulation of Gene Expression in Escherichia coli

Reiterative transcription is a reaction catalyzed by RNA polymerase, in which nucleotides are repetitively added to the 3′ end of a nascent transcript due to upstream slippage of the transcript without movement of the DNA template. In Escherichia coli, the expression of several operons is regulated through mechanisms in which high intracellular levels of UTP promote reiterative transcription that adds extra U residues to the 3′ end of a nascent transcript during transcription initiation. Immediately following the addition of one or more extra U residues, the nascent transcripts are released from the transcription initiation complex, thereby reducing the level of gene expression. Therefore, gene expression can be regulated by internal UTP levels, which reflect the availability of external pyrimidine sources. The magnitude of gene regulation by these mechanisms varies considerably, even when control mechanisms are analogous. These variations apparently are due to differences in promoter sequences. One of the operons regulated (in part) by UTP-sensitive reiterative transcription in E. coli is the carAB operon, which encodes the first enzyme in the pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway. In this study, we used the carAB operon to examine the effects of nucleotide sequence at and near the transcription start site and spacing between the start site and −10 region of the promoter on reiterative transcription and gene regulation. Our results indicate that these variables are important determinants in establishing the extent of reiterative transcription, levels of productive transcription, and range of gene regulation.
Decentralized detection with long-distance communication

We consider the well-studied decentralized Bayesian detection problem with the twist that a small subset of nodes (all arranged in a given directed network topology) may also communicate to "long-distance" neighbors via an overlay undirected network topology. Providing a certain condition on the interface between the two networks is upheld, the natural combination of the efficient team solutions already known for each type of network alone remains team-optimal in the combined network.
Emotional perception: Meta-analyses of face and natural scene processing

Functional imaging studies of emotional processing typically contain neutral control conditions that serve to remove simple effects of visual perception, thus revealing the additional emotional process. Here we seek to identify similarities and differences across 100 studies of emotional face processing and 57 studies of emotional scene processing, using a coordinate-based meta-analysis technique. The overlay of significant meta-analyses resulted in extensive overlap in clusters, coupled with offset and unique clusters of reliable activity. The area of greatest overlap is the amygdala, followed by regions of medial prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal/orbitofrontal cortex, inferior temporal cortex, and extrastriate occipital cortex. Emotional face-specific clusters were identified in regions known to be involved in face processing, including anterior fusiform gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, and emotional scene studies were uniquely associated with lateral occipital cortex, as well as pulvinar and the medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus. One global result of the meta-analysis reveals that a class of visual stimuli (faces vs. scenes) has a considerable impact on the resulting emotion effects, even after removing the basic visual perception effects through subtractive contrasts. Pure effects of emotion may thus be difficult to remove for the particular class of stimuli employed in an experimental paradigm. Whether a researcher chooses to tightly control the various elements of the emotional stimuli, as with posed face photographs, or allow variety and environmental realism into their evocative stimuli, as with natural scenes, will depend on the desired generalizability of their results.
T-cell regulation by CD28 and CTLA-4

Activation of T lymphocytes is thought to require at least two signals, one delivered by the T-cell receptor complex after antigen recognition, and one provided on engagement of co-stimulatory receptors, such as CD28. Recent studies are providing clues as to the specific signalling roles of co-stimulatory receptors. Furthermore, superimposition of inhibitory signals, such as those delivered by cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), leads to a complex network of positive and negative co-stimulatory signals, the integration of which modulates immune responses.
Precision lifetime measurements of the 6p2P1/2,3/2 states in atomic cesium.

We report measurements of the 6${\mathit{p}}^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{1/2}$ and 6${\mathit{p}}^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$ state lifetimes in the $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ atom with precisions of 0.23% and 0.27%, respectively. The results are important to the interpretation of the next generation of parity nonconservation experiments in atomic cesium. A diode laser was used to selectively excite a fast beam of neutral cesium atoms. The decay in flight of the fluorescence was observed with photon-counting detectors. The lifetime results are 34.934\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.094 ns for the 6${\mathit{p}}^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{1/2}$ state and 30.499\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.070 ns for the 6${\mathit{p}}^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$ state. We present comparisons with previous measurements and with relativistic many-body calculations of alkali-metal-atom transition matrix elements.
Implications of the meteoroid environment on the design of spacecraft.

Meteoroid protection system designs for optimum orbital space laboratories and manned interplanetary spacecraft
Study of growth defects in CZT and their influence on detector uniformity

The main problems involved in applying Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) to detectors are the crystal perfection required and the difficulty in making reliable surface electrical contacts to the material. Our efforts have focused on the development of interconnect techniques and testing methods which will allow us to explore the interaction of defects with detector properties. Local stoichiometry variations and other local disordering make it very hard to find a systematic correlation between performance and material defects in the macroscopic scale. In order to understand the factors limiting the energy resolution of CZT detectors, our efforts were directed to the area of material characterization and detector testing using the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS). NSLS provides us with a highly collimated high intensity X-ray beam, which is employed to investigate micron-scale detector performance mapping and the correlation between microscopic defects and fluctuations in collected charge. Some results were already published and more are presented and correlated to X-ray diffraction topography (XDT) measurements. XDT at the beamline X17B1 is used to investigate more systematically the origins of the mosaicity that can give us information about the defect distribution and strains in bulk CZT crystals.
Interaction of prostaglandins with adenosine diphosphate induced increase in cytosolic free calcium in human platelets.

The interaction of prostaglandins with changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) and aggregation of human platelets induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were investigated. Cytosolic [Ca2+] was measured with the fluorescent dye Quin2. Addition of ADP (0.25–2.5 μmol 1−1) to platelet suspensions produced a dose dependent increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] from a basal level of 51 ± 1 nmol 1−1 to maximum levels exceeding 1 μmol 1−1 and induced platelet aggregation. Chelation of extracellular calcium with 100 μmol 1−1 EGTA markedly reduced the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] induced by 0.25 μmol 1−1 ADP, while pretreatment with the calcium entry blocker verapamil was without effect. Stimulation of cyclic AMP with prostaglandins (PGD2, PGE1, PGE2, PGI2, but not PGF2α) and forskolin, or incubation with dibutyryl-cAMP, inhibited the rise in cytosolic [Ca2+] and platelet aggregation following ADP. We conclude that prostaglandins inhibit the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] and aggregation of human platelets induced by...
Is anti-Müllerian hormone a marker of acute cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian follicular destruction in mice pretreated with cetrorelix?

Objective To define whether anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) may be a marker of acute cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced germ cell destruction in mice pretreated with the GnRH antagonist, cetrorelix. Design Controlled, experimental study. Setting Research laboratory in a federal research facility. Animal(s) Balb/c female mice (6 weeks old). Intervention(s) Mice were treated with GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix) or saline for 15 days followed by 75 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of CTX or saline control on day 9. Main Outcome Measure(s) Number of primordial follicles (PMF), DNA damage, AMH protein expression, and AMH serum levels. Result(s) Ovaries in mice pretreated with cetrorelix had significantly more PMFs and reduced DNA damage compared with those exposed to CTX alone. Immunohistochemical staining for AMH expression and serum AMH levels did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Conclusion(s) Cetrorelix protected PMFs and reduced DNA damage in follicles of mice treated with CTX, but AMH levels in tissue and serum did not correlate with germ cell destruction. Further research is needed to determine the mechanism responsible for the protective effects on PMF counts observed with cetrorelix.
Assessing learner‐centredness through course syllabi

One attempt to revitalise undergraduate education has been by shifting the dominant pedagogy to a learner‐centred focus and supporting an emphasis on the scholarship of teaching and learning. The discussion regarding efforts to refocus undergraduate education to be more intentional by moving towards a learner‐centred paradigm is encouraging, yet it is crucial to acknowledge that most of the effort and literature on the learner‐centred paradigm and the scholarship of teaching and learning have necessarily focused on strategies for the classroom. It is equally important for administrators to consider the impact of the paradigm shift on their roles. Assessment and evaluation are the very core of the learner‐centred paradigm. Assessment is both the single‐most important gage of learning that drives the educational process and the most effective means of implementing institutional change. In this article, the authors offer a means of assessing the degree of learner‐centredness in current teaching practices thr...
Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors in sarcomas.

Purpose of reviewSarcomas are a rare malignancy accounting for less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed annually. Standard chemotherapy has a response rate of around 25% and newer agents are needed to improve the outcome in patients with advanced sarcomas. The mammalian target of rapamycin plays a cent
Progress toward the Treatment of Arthritis by Gene Therapy

Gene therapy offers several novel advantages to the treatment of arthritis and other joint diseases. Therapeutic genes may be delivered locally to diseased joints or systemically to extra-articular locations using viral or non-viral vectors by ex vivo or in vivo strategies. Pre-clinical experiments with rabbits have demonstrated the utility of using a retrovirus to deliver the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist to the synovial lining of joints. A human trial based on this principle has been approved by the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee of NIH and should begin this year.
Druckery slope controlled by mitotic rate of enzymatically-altered foci.

Data on hepatocellular foci and tumors for four hepatocarcinogens are analyzed within the framework of a two-mutation model of oncogenesis to determine the biological factor(s) that control the values of Nin Druckery's formula DTN = K, where Tis the time to 50% tumor incidence at a daily dose D. The two-mutation oncogenic model was found to adequately reproduce the empirical data for all four hepatocarcinogens. The controlling factor of the Druckery slope Nwas found to be the mitotic rate (MRI) of hepatocellular foci, where MRI = CD1/N, Cis a chemical-dependent constant, Dis dose, and Nis the Druckery slope.
Micropropagation of Cryptanthus with leaf explants with attached intercalary meristems excised from greenhouse stock plants

Abstract By using the leaves with attached intercalary meristems from greenhouse grown stock plants, five cultivars of Cryptanthus were cultured on modified MS media with 4.5 μ M NAA and IBA and 3 μ M BA to induce adventitious shoot formation from callus tissue. Contamination was 17–21% for explants taken from stock plants which were sprayed weekly with Agribrom and 27–75% for those taken from stock plants which were not treated. More than 99% true to type plantlets were obtained from non-chimeric plants. Green and albino plantlets were obtained from chimeric plants. The chimeric C . ‘Coster's Favorite’ DeCoster also produced a few chimeric plantlets with intermarginal pink stripes in addition to the green and albino plantlets. Most of the non-chimeric plants took a shorter time to produce plantlets of transplantable size (8–12 mm) than the chimeric ones. Except for albino plantlets, survival rate of plantlets exceeded 95%. A minimum average of 500 rooted plantlets can be obtained in a year from a single well-callused leaf explant. The protocol in this report should speed up the mass production and introduction of desirable new cultivars and hybrids of non-chimeric Cryptanthus .
Physicochemical properties of the deposits from the circulating water at the Zaporozhe refractory plant

The deposits in the study are multicomponent polydispersed suspensions characterized by a solid-phase concentration of 3.79–17.7% density 1–1.09 g/cm3, and a pH of 8.2–11.9. When the deposits are left to stand for 10 days they become compacted up to 40–70% of the original volume. The size of the aggregates of the dispersed phase change from 5 to 50 μm with a predominant particle size of 5 to 20 μm (64–79%). The electrokinetic potential of the phase is from −1.5 to −12.8 mV for various batches of deposits. The dispersion medium of the deposits is characterized by a pH of 8–11.5; a density of 1 g/cm3; viscosity of 0.001 Pa·sec; an electrical resistivity of 7.8·10−4 to 44·10−4Ω−1·cm−1; and a concentration of dry residue up to 1490 mg/liter. The dispersed phase of the deposits has a density of 2.16–2.52 g/cm3 and consists mainly of oxides of silicon, aluminum, calcium and a very small amount of oxides of titanium, iron, magnesium, and manganese. The addition of polyacrylamide to the original deposits in amounts of 25 to 400 mg/liter leads to a reduction in the electrokinetic potential of the particles, to their aggregation, and to spatial structure-formation. With the addition of polyacrylamide in amounts of 100–250 mg/liter to the deposits, the size of the aggregates decreases 15–30-fold by comparison with the untreated. The addition of PAA does not significantly affect the chemical composition of the dispersed phase. The data in this paper have been used to plan the cleansing equipment at the Zaporozhe Refractory Plant.
The Design of a Zoom Lens with a Large Computer

A zoom lens originally designed before the advent of large computers was redesigned using a large computer to determine how much improvement could be achieved with a modern lens design program.
Influence of delta doping on intersubband transition and absorption in AlGaN/GaN step quantum wells for terahertz applications

Abstract Effects of delta doping location and density on intersubband transitions in AlGaN/GaN step quantum wells for terahertz (THz) applications have been investigated by solving Schrodinger and Poisson equations self-consistently. It shows that delta doping near the GaN well/AlGaN step well interface causes a blue-shift, while delta doping in the barrier or near barrier/GaN well and barrier/step well interfaces cause a red-shift first and then a blue-shift with increasing doping density. The shifts are attributed to the combination of many body effect and internal field modulation effect, and can be more than 200% or 70% of the e 1 –e 2 transition energy, as for blue-shift or red-shift, respectively. In addition, the influences of delta-doping location and density on the absorption coefficient are also investigated in detail. Delta doping at the middle of a layer is found much more desirable over uniform-doping in order to improve the absorption coefficient, especially in the step well.
CPW-fed dual-annular-ring slot antennas

A new type of CPW-fed dual-annular-slot antenna operated in the 5.8 GHz band is introduced. Both the inductive and the capacitive configurations are presented. The design considerations of the antennas are discussed. Measurement shows that the antennas have a wide bandwidth of 16% with a peak gain of 5.4 dBi for the inductive configuration and 7.8% with a peak gain of 4 dBi for the capacitive configuration.
Gold charge state distributions in highly ionized, low-density beam plasmas

We present a systematic study of Au charge state distributions (CSDs) from low density, nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium plasmas created in the Livermore electron beam ion traps (EBIT-I and EBIT-II). X-ray emission from Ni-like to Kr-like Au ions has been recorded from monoenergetic electron beam plasmas having E(beam)=2.66, 2.92, 3.53, and 4.54 keV, and the CSDs of the beam plasmas have been inferred by fitting the collisionally excited line transitions and radiative recombination emission features with synthetic spectra. We have modeled the beam plasmas using a collisional-radiative code with various treatments of the atomic structure for the complex M- and N-shell ions and find that only models with extensive doubly excited states can properly account for the dielectronic recombination (DR) channels that control the CSDs. This finding would be unremarkable for plasmas with thermal electron distributions, where many such states are sampled, and the importance of DR is well established. But in an EBIT source, the beam is resonant with only a subset of such states having spectator electrons in orbitals with high principal quantum number n (8≤n≤20). The inclusion of such states in the model was also necessary to obtain agreement with observed stabilizing transitions in the x-ray spectra.
Impact of nanomanufacturing flow on systematic yield losses in nanoscale fabrics

Reliable and scalable manufacturing of nanofabrics entails significant challenges. Scalable nanomanufacturing approaches that employ the use of lithographic masks in conjunction with nanofabrication based on self-assembly have been proposed. A bottom-up fabrication of nanoelectronic circuits is expected to be subject to various defects and identifying the types of defects that may occur during each step of a manufacturing pathway is essential in any attempt to achieve reliable manufacturing. The paper proposes a methodology for analyzing the sources of defects in a nano-manufacturing flow and estimating the resulting systematic yield loss. This methodology allows analyzing the impact of the fabrication process on the systematic yield. It integrates physical fabric considerations, manufacturing sequences and the resulting defect scenarios. This is in contrast to most current approaches that use conventional defect models and assume constant defect rates without analyzing the manufacturing pathway to determine the sources of defects and their probabilities (or rates). While the focus of the paper is on estimating the mask overlay-limited yield for the NASIC nano-fabric, the proposed approach can be easily adapted to suit other structured nano-fabrics.
Recognizing Estuarine and Tidal Creek Sandbars by Biogenic Sedimentary Structures: ABSTRACT

Estuarine and tidal creek sandbars bear many similarities to fluvial channel sandbars in their physical sedimentary structures, but are considerably different with respect to biogenic sedimentary structure. Consideration of these biogenic structures with current-produced physical sedimentary structures and with facies geometry produces unique, readily recognizable, paleoenvironmental indicators. The abundant burrowing fauna collectively found in estuarine and tidal-creek bars represents species which are individually characteristic or very common in other intertidal environments, such as beach (burrowing shrimp, Callianassa major), tidal flat (burrowing shrimp, Callianassa atlantica, and polychaete worms Onuphis and Diapatria), marsh (fiddler crab, Uca), estuarine channels (burrowing shrimp, Upogebia), and sand flats (acorn worm, Balanaglossis). Other biogenic structures found in tidal creek bars include tracks, trails, and markings produced by more typical subtidal organisms such as the sand-collar snail, Polinicies; hermit crab, Clibanarius; blue crab, Callinectus; mantis shrimp, Squilla; and feeding depressions made by rays. Two subenvironments are found on most of the tidal creek sandbars studied and each contains a characteristic suite of biogenic and physical sedimentary structures. The channel side of the bar consists predominantly of sand and preserves a record of megaripples and small current ripples. Associated with these structures are burrows of Onuphis, Callianassa major, Callianassa atlantica, and Uca. Energy is less and muddy sand accumulates on the side of the bar away from the channel current. Ripple laminae generally are not developed here and bioturbated sediments comprise the principal structures. A great density of burrows is found in this subenvironment, and Upogebia, Diapatria, and the razor clam, Tagelus, are typical burrowing forms. End_of_Article - Last_Page 731------------
A sensor network for social dynamics

This paper describes the design and architecture of the UbER-Badge, a wireless sensor node and wearable display designed to facilitate group interaction in large meetings and acquire a wide range of data for analyzing social dynamics. The platform design and its application suite are described. Data is presented that shows the social patterns developing across large events and indicates that certain individual characteristics (interest, affiliation) can be determined from the sensor data from deployments of this system with groups of over 100 people.
A geometrical optics polarimetric bidirectional reflectance distribution function for dielectric and metallic surfaces

A polarimetric bidirectional reflectance distribution function (pBRDF), based on geometrical optics, is presented. The pBRDF incorporates a visibility (shadowing/masking) function and a Lambertian (diffuse) component which distinguishes it from other geometrical optics pBRDFs in literature. It is shown that these additions keep the pBRDF bounded (and thus a more realistic physical model) as the angle of incidence or observation approaches grazing and better able to model the behavior of light scattered from rough, reflective surfaces. In this paper, the theoretical development of the pBRDF is shown and discussed. Simulation results of a rough, perfect reflecting surface obtained using an exact, electromagnetic solution and experimental Mueller matrix results of two, rough metallic samples are presented to validate the pBRDF.