cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and Cloning of a Protein Kinase That Phosphorylates and Activates the Polo-Like Kinase Plx1

The Xenopus polo-like kinase 1 (Plx1) is essential during mitosis for the activation of Cdc25C, for spindle assembly, and for cyclin B degradation. Polo-like kinases from various organisms are activated by phosphorylation by an unidentified protein kinase. A protein kinase, polo-like kinase kinase 1 or xPlkk1, that phosphorylates and activates Plx1 in vitro was purified to near homogeneity and cloned. Phosphopeptide mapping of Plx1 phosphorylated in vitro by recombinant xPlkk1 or in progesterone-treated oocytes indicates that xPlkk1 may activate Plx1 in vivo. The xPlkk1 protein itself was also activated by phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues, and the kinetics of activation of xPlkk1 in vivo closely paralleled the activation of Plx1. Moreover, microinjection of xPlkk1 into Xenopus oocytes accelerated the timing of activation of Plx1 and the transition from G2 to M phase of the cell cycle. These results define a protein kinase cascade that regulates several events of mitosis.
A team field study of the appeal of megachurches: Identifying, framing, and solving personal issues

■ Through an ongoing team fieldwork project that entails ethnographic observations and interviews at multiple research sites in southern California, this study seeks an understanding of the growth of contemporary megachurches by examining how they go about the business of attracting new members and retaining old ones. In this article, we focus on how the megachurches assist members in addressing personal issues through diagnostic and prognostic framing within large congregational gatherings and problem-oriented small groups. These processes are elaborated through the intensive examination of a small group dealing with ‘the problem of same-sex attraction’. The study explains the appeal of megachurches at two levels: for individuals, megachurches sharpen and fine-tune an expanding array of personal problems or issues; and, at the organizational and institutional level, they have become major players in the self-help market.
Solvent Dependence of H-F Coupling Parameters in Fluorobenzene

Abstract Solvent dependence of NMR spectral parameters has been the object of considerable interest in recent years (see Ref. 1 for a brief summary). More recently attention has been devoted to the solvent dependence of NMR parameters in fluorine-containing compounds. In their investigation of fluorobenzene, Mohanty and Venkateswarlu observed the effect of solvents on the proton and fluorine chemical shifts, but did not report any dependence of the H-K or H-F couplings on the solvent medium.2 For 1,2-dichlorofluoroethylene Bell and Danyluk found a linear correlation between the directly bonded 13C-H and 13C-F couplings and the H-F couplings.3 These results, along with linear correlations between the 13C-H (or 13C-F) coupling and the proton (or fluorine) chemical shift, led to the inference that the medium effect acts to change the coupling parameters and shieldings by a similar mechanism.
2-micron optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier for long-wavelength driven high harmonic generation

An optical parametric chirped pulse amplification system producing high-energy, few-cycle pulses at 2.0-mum wavelength with low superfluorescence noise background for high harmonic generation in gas jets is demonstrated.
Electronic Fortification in Phoenix Surveillance Technologies and Social Regulation in Residential Communities

This article compares experiences of surveillance technologies in low-income public housing and affluent gated communities in Phoenix, Arizona. Contrary to the popular discourse of surveillance as ensuring protection from external threats, in practice, both groups feel subjected to undesired individual scrutiny and policing of their behaviors. Nonetheless, key differences exist. First, residents in gated communities possess relative mobility and minimal personal risk compared to those in public housing. Second, in public housing, the underlying logics behind surveillance are toward the enforcement of state laws, whereas in gated communities, they are toward the enforcement of conformity in appearance and behavior. The article argues that the dissonance between popular discourse and discourse of practice about surveillance technologies is representative of deeper social instabilities engendered by neoliberal forms of governance.
Electrical properties of conductive metal/insulating shell nanocluster array

We have investigated conduction in a closely packed nanocluster array of copper with a copper oxide nano shell as a function of temperature. The result is found to be nonlinear and shows a sudden increase in electrical conductivity above a critical temperature. An attempt has been made to explain this anomalous behavior in terms of electrical and physical properties of the metallic nanostructure.
The Relationship Between Organizational Characteristics and Advance Care Planning Practices.

Organizational characteristics may impede the uniform adoption of advance care planning (ACP) best practices. We conducted telephone interviews with site directors of a Midwestern state’s Medicaid waiver program administered by the Area Agencies on Aging and surveyed the 433 care managers (registered nurses and social workers) employed within these 9 agencies. Care managers at 2 agencies reported more frequent ACP discussions and higher levels of confidence. Both sites had ACP training programs, follow-up protocols, and informational packets available for consumers that were not consistently available at the other agencies. The findings point to the need for consistent educational programs and policies on ACP and more in depth examination of the values, beliefs, and resources that account for organizational differences in ACP.
Adaptive Critic Designs for Discrete-Time Zero-Sum Games With Application to $H_{\infty}$ Control

In this correspondence, adaptive critic approximate dynamic programming designs are derived to solve the discrete-time zero-sum game in which the state and action spaces are continuous. This results in a forward-in-time reinforcement learning algorithm that converges to the Nash equilibrium of the corresponding zero-sum game. The results in this correspondence can be thought of as a way to solve the Riccati equation of the well-known discrete-time Hinfin optimal control problem forward in time. Two schemes are presented, namely: 1) a heuristic dynamic programming and 2) a dual-heuristic dynamic programming, to solve for the value function and the costate of the game, respectively. An Hinfin autopilot design for an F-16 aircraft is presented to illustrate the results
Design-for-Reliability Tools for Highlyintegrated System-on-Package Technology

With the dramatic advances made in Microsystems industry, System-on-a-Package (SOP) technology holds promise in terms of reduction in size, cost, and improved performance. To be able to achieve such benefits in an integrated system, it is necessary not to compromise the overall reliability of the system. Therefore, the SOP technology will require up-front system-level design-for-reliability approaches and appropriate reliability assessment methodologies to ensure the reliability of digital, optical, and RF functions as well as their interfaces. Design-for-reliability requires (i) Mechanics-based reliability prediction models for various failure mechanisms associated with Digital, Optical, and RF Functions, and their interfaces in the system (ii) Design optimization models for the selection of suitable materials and processing conditions, for reliability as well as functionality and (iii) System-level reliability models understanding the component and functional interaction. This presentation will focus on the reliability assessment of digital, optical, and RF functions in SOP-based microsystems [1]. Upfront physics-based design-for-reliability models for various functional failure mechanisms are presented to evaluate various design options and material selection even before the prototypes are made. Advanced modeling methodologies and algorithms to accommodate material length scale effects, due to enhanced system integration and miniaturization are presented. System-level mixed-signal reliability is discussed thorough system-level reliability metrics relating component level failure mechanisms to system-level signal integrity as well as statistical aspects.
Reengineering the curriculum: design and analysis of a new undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering degree at Carnegie Mellon University

In the Fall of 1991, after approximately two years of development, the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) implemented a new curriculum that differed radically from its predecessor. Key features of this curriculum include: Engineering in the Freshman year, a small core of required classes, area requirements in place of most specific course requirements, mandated breadth, depth, design, and coverage across ECE technical areas, a relatively large fraction of free electives, and a single integrated Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In this paper we review the design of this curriculum, including a taxonomy of problems we needed to address, and a set of general principles we evolved to address them. The new curriculum is described in detail, including new data from an ongoing analysis of its impact on students' curricula choices. >
Reasoning about discrete event sources

We investigate the modelling of workflows, plans, and other event-generating processes as discrete event sources and reason about the possibility of having event sequences ending in undesirable states. In previous research, the problem is shown to be NP-Complete even if the number of events to occur is fixed in advance. In this paper, we consider possible events sequences of indefinite length and show that many interesting cases of such reasoning task are solvable in polynomial time.
A Comparative Study of Biomechanical Simulators in Deformable Registration of Brain Tumor Images

Simulating the brain tissue deformation caused by tumor growth has been found to aid the deformable registration of brain tumor images. In this paper, we evaluate the impact that different biomechanical simulators have on the accuracy of deformable registration. We use two alternative frameworks for biomechanical simulations of mass effect in 3-D magnetic resonance (MR) brain images. The first one is based on a finite-element model of nonlinear elasticity and unstructured meshes using the commercial software package ABAQUS. The second one employs incremental linear elasticity and regular grids in a fictitious domain method. In practice, biomechanical simulations via the second approach may be at least ten times faster. Landmarks error and visual examination of the coregistered images indicate that the two alternative frameworks for biomechanical simulations lead to comparable results of deformable registration. Thus, the computationally less expensive biomechanical simulator offers a practical alternative for registration purposes.
Revisiting Grade Retention: An Evaluation of Florida's Test-Based Promotion Policy

In 2002, Florida adopted a test-based promotion policy in the third grade in an attempt to end social promotion. Similar policies are currently operating in Texas, NewYorkCity,andChicagoandaffectatleast17percent of public school students nationwide. Using individuallevel data on the universe of public school students in Florida, we analyze the impact of grade retention on student proficiency in reading one and two years after the retention decision. We use an instrumental variable (IV) approach made available by the relatively objective nature of Florida’s policy. Our findings suggest that retainedstudentsslightlyoutperformedsociallypromoted students in reading in the first year after retention, and these gains increased substantially in the second year. Results were robust across two distinct IV comparisons: an across-year approach comparing students who were essentially separated by the year in which they happened to have been born, and a regression discontinuity
Efficient Prefetching with Hybrid Schemes and Use of Program Feedback to Adjust Prefetcher Aggressiveness

A set of hybrid and adaptive prefetching schemes are considered in this paper. The prefetchers are hybrid in that they use combinations of Stride, Sequential and C/DC prefetching mechanisms. The schemes are adaptive in that their aggressiveness is adjusted based on feedback metrics collected dynamically during program execution. Metrics such as prefetching accuracy and prefetching timeliness are used to vary aggressiveness in terms of prefetch distance (how far ahead of the current miss it fetches) and prefetch degree (the number of prefetches issued). The scheme is applied separately at both the L1 and L2 cache levels. We previously proposed a Hybrid Adaptive prefetcher for the Data Prefetching Competition (DPC-1) which uses a hybrid PC-based Stride/Sequential prefetcher. In this work, we also consider hybrid schemes that use the CZone with Delta Correlations (C/DC) prefetcher. Further, we breakdown the components of hybrid adaptive prefetching by evaluating the individual benefits of using hybrid schemes and using adaptivity. While hybrid prefetching improves performance over a single prefetcher, we demonstrate that the main benefit of adaptivity is the reduction in the number of prefetches without hurting performance. For a set of 18 SPEC CPU 2006 benchmarks, the best hybrid adaptive scheme achieves an average (geometric mean) CPI improvement of 35% compared to no prefetching and 19% compared to a basic Stride prefetcher. Adaptivity makes it possible to reduce the number of prefetches issued by as much as 50% in some benchmarks without sacrificing performance.
Changes in heating patterns of interstitial microwave antenna arrays at different insertion depths

The changes in heating patterns of interstitial microwave antennas at different insertion depths were investigated in a static phantom at 915 MHz. Antennas for the Clini-Therm Mark VI system were inserted 5-15 cm into muscle-equivalent material, through nylon catheters. The phantom was heated with arrays of antennas at 2 cm spacings for 60 s at 15 W per antenna. Midplane and transverse heating patterns were determined thermographically with the antennas inserted parallel or perpendicular to the split of the phantom. Hot spots, independent of heating near the junction plane, were observed in the midplane of the 2 x 2 and 2 x 4 arrays at 2.8 cm from the insertion end. The magnitudes of these hot spots were reduced by 40-45 per cent as insertion depth was increased from 7 to 10.5 cm. With insertion depths of more than 11.5 cm the hot spots gradually diminished and heating occurred mostly near the junction plane. The observed heating patterns were caused by changes in impedance of the antenna arrays at different insertion depths. The impedance mismatch had resulted in different wave propagation within the tissue material which produced different radiation patterns. During treatments, because heating varies with insertion depth, great care must be exercised in monitoring temperatures.
International medical graduates and health information technology use in the United States.

Purpose – Health information technology (HIT) holds promise for improving the quality of health care and reducing health care system inefficiencies. Numerous studies have examined HIT availability, specifically electronic health records (EHRs), and utilization among physicians in individual countries. However, no one has examined EHR use among physicians who train in one country and move to practice in another country. In the United States, physicians who complete medical school outside the country but practice within the United States are commonly referred to as International Medical Graduates (IMGs). IMGs have a growing presence in the United States, yet little is known about the availability and use of HIT among these physicians. The purpose of this study is to explore the availability and use of HIT among IMGs practicing in United States. Design/methodology/approach – The Health Tracking Physician Survey (2008) was used to examine the relationship between availability and use of HIT and IMG status controlling for several physician and practice characteristics. Our analysis included responses from 4,720 physicians, 20.7% of whom were IMGs. Findings – Using logistic regression, controlling for physician gender, specialty, years in practice, practice type, ownership status and geographical location, we found IMGs were significantly less likely to have a comprehensive EHR in their practices (OR=0.84; p=0.005). In addition, findings indicate that IMGs are more likely to have and use several so-called first generation HIT capabilities, such as reminders for clinicians about preventive services (OR=1.31; p=0.001) and other needed patient follow-up (OR=1.26; p=0.007). Originality/value – This study draws attention to the need for further research regarding barriers to HIT adoption and use among IMGs.
The structure of ψ-conhydrine

Abstract The three-dimensional structure, except for the absolute configuration, of ψ-conhydrine has been determined in an X-ray diffraction study of ψ-conhydrine hydrobromide. In agreement with recent chemical evidence, the OH and propyl groups are found to be trans to each other, and in the equatorial position relative to the saturated six-membered ring. The unit cell is orthorhombic in the space group D 4 2 -P212121, contains four C8H18NOBr, and has dimensions a = 15·15, b = 9·28, c = 7·72 A. Refinement, including anisotropic thermal motion, has yielded values of R = Σ||F0| - |Fc||/Σ|F0| = 0·109 and r = Σw(|F0|2 - |Fc|2)2/Σw|F0|4 = 0·056 for the 920 observed reflections.
Carisoprodol: reproductive assessment by continuous breeding in Swiss mice.

Abstract Carisoprodol: Reproductive Assessment by Continuous Breeding in Swiss Mice. Grizzle, T. B., George J. D., Fail, P. A., and Heindel, J. J. (1995). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.24, 132-139. Carisoprodol (CARI), a commonly prescribed neuromuscular relaxant, was evaluated for reproductive toxicity in Swiss CD-1 mice using the Reproductive Assessment by Continuous Breeding (RACB) protocol. Male and female mice were given CARI in corn oil suspension by daily garage at doses of 0, 300, 750, and 1200 mg/kg body wt/day. Clinical signs of general toxicity in F0 animals included sedation, primarily in the high-dose group during the first week of exposure, and reduced body weight in high-dose females. CARI administration for 14 weeks did not affect the ability of the F0, animals to produce litters. However, decreases in proportion of pups born alive (4%) and absolute (5%) and adjusted live pup weight (7%) were observed at 1200 mg/kg CARI when compared to controls. In a crossover mating trial to determine the affected sex, there were no significant differences in the measured reproductive parameters. CARI at the high close increased the proportion of time spent in proestrus and estrus, but cycle length was unaffected. At F0 necropsy (Week 27 of treatment), all sperm parameters were normal. Right epididymis and liver weights, relative to body weight, were increased (12 and 23%, respectively) over the control group for high-dose males. A mating trial to determine the fertility and reproductive competence of the F1 generation showed no effect of CARI on indices of mating, pregnancy, or fertility, the proportion of F2 pups born alive, the sex ratio of live F2 pups, live F2 pup weight, or gestation length. However, decreases in the number of F2 pups per litter (22%) and adjusted live F2 pup weight (80%) were observed in the high-dose group. Indications of generalized toxicity in the F1 generation included decreased survival through Postnatal Day 21 at 750 (5%) and 1200 (9%) mg/kg CARI, and transiently decreased body weights during postnatal development and as adults for males and females at all dose levels. At necropsy, there was no effect of treatment on the relative weight of any male or female reproductive organs; testicular spermatid concentration was reduced at all levels of CARI. Relative liver weight was increased for females at 300 mg/kg and for males and females at both 750 and 1200 mg/kg. In summary. CARI produced generalized toxicity and moderate effects on the reproductive processes of F0 and F1 generation Swiss mice during chronic exposures of up to 1200 mg/kg/day.
Design and Development of the ASPECT Manikin

The primary objective of the ASPECT (Automotive Seat and Package Evaluation and Comparison Tools) program was to develop a new generation of the SAE J826 Hpoint manikin. The new ASPECT manikin builds on the long-term success of the H-point manikin while adding new measurement capability and improved ease of use. The ASPECT manikin features an articulated torso linkage to measure lumbar support prominence; new contours based on human subject data; a new weighting scheme; lightweight, supplemental thigh, leg, and shoe segments; and a simpler, user-friendly installation procedure. This paper describes the new manikin in detail, including the rationale and motivation for the design features. The ASPECT manikin maintains continuity with the current SAE J826 H-point manikin in important areas while providing substantial new measurement capability.
Subatmospheric pressure-induced compartment syndrome of the entire upper extremity. A case report.

We describe the case of a patient in whom a compartment syndrome developed in the upper extremity as the result of prolonged application of considerable negative pressure, a phenomenon that we have termed subatmospheric pressure-induced compartment syndrome (SAPICS). To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a compartment syndrome that involved all compartments of the upper extremity. Our patient was informed that data concerning this case would be submitted for publication. The entire right (dominant) upper extremity of a healthy twenty-seven-year-old man became entrapped in the 20-cm-diameter intake snorkel of an industrial vacuum machine (Fig. 1) while he was cleaning debris from a demolition site. The patient was working alone at the time of the injury and estimated that his arm was in the snorkel for approximately five minutes. After the vacuum had been turned off, there was immediate pain and paresthesias throughout the limb. Fig. 1 Industrial vacuum machine with intake snorkel. The patient initially was brought to an outlying institution and then was expeditiously transferred to the trauma unit at our institution 2.5 hours after the injury. Measurement of the vital signs revealed a temperature of 99.2°F (37.2°C), a heart rate of 83 bpm, a respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min, a blood pressure of 140/86 mm Hg, and an arterial oxygen saturation of 98%. The patient remained hemodynamically stable throughout the entire treatment. Physical examination revealed that the right upper extremity was visibly swollen and that there was a sharply demarcated continuous line along the pectoral and lateral deltoid regions where the suction snorkel had become sealed against the skin (Figs. 2-A and 2-B). Inferior to this line was a uniform field of petechiae. The compartments of the upper arm, forearm, and hand were all tense. There was no active motion of the extremity, and there was excruciating …
Endogenous pH Shifts Facilitate Spreading Depression by Effect on NMDA Receptors

Endogenous pH shifts facilitate spreading depression by effect on NMDA receptors. Rapid extracellular alkalinizations accompany normal neuronal activity and have been implicated in the modulation o...
Selenoproteins and Brain Diseases

As an essential trace element, selenium (Se) is distributed throughout the body, but is taken up by the brain at a higher rate and well maintained in this organ during Se deficiency. The functions of Se are carried out mainly by selenoproteins, in which Se is specifically incorporated as selenocysteine. It was recently reported that all of the 24 murine selenoprotein mRNAs are expressed in the mouse brain. This chapter discusses the distribution and retention of Se and selenoprotein in the brain, and summarizes the protective effects of Se and selenoproteins in brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, epilepsy and neuropathogensis caused by HIV infection and methamphetamine abuse.
Insulation Coating for Oil/Chemical Storage Tanks (a)

VaporLock was a proprietary coating sold by Heinrich Chemical as a vapor barrier over polyurethane insulation on oil/chemical storage tanks. A company engineer had developed a computer program to compute the energy savings and economics of tank-insulation projects. The marketing director wondered how this computer program might be used to help sell VaporLock. This case provides the value mapping and value proposition. The A case (UVA-M-0712) provides the background. This case is one in a series of cases on value-based selling (see also UVA-M-0714 through UVA-M-0717).
Riemann Hypothesis & Zeta Function Integral Representation Integrability & Normalization Convergence Correspondences...A Happy Coincidence or a Deeper Connection

The Zeta function is of fundamental importance in number theory & beyond say Quantum field theory & so on. It is a series sum that is extended to the complex plane. This introduces non-trivial zeros. A famous hypothesis by Riemann tells us that these non-trivial zeros are on the half line. Many authors have discussed how perhaps to prove this. A more modest approach is to examine this Zeta function series for various integral & sum representation(s) & seek then to glean insight as to the range of validity & any singular behavior & divergence of such a representation(s) as this may help shed light on the hypothesis' divergence as well. We accomplish this in this first letter on this approach by the integral form of the nonextensive entropy composition derived least biased function. We show that the nonextensive parameter of q=3 which controls divergence of the Gamma function of the integral inverse normalization the partition function corresponds to s=1/2 as sought for.
Neural mechanisms of pancreatic polypeptide release in conscious dogs

L364,718, a potent and specific antagonist for peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors, was used to determine its effect on plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) after administration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG, a central vagal activator) and of bethanechol (a cholinergic receptor agonist). Six conscious dogs were used in this study. Intravenous injection of 2-DG (75 mg/kg) caused significant increases in plasma levels of PP and gastrin, but there was no significant rise in plasma levels of immunoreactive and bioactive CCK. Intravenous injection of L364,718 (20 nmol/kg) significantly inhibited the PP response stimulated by 2-DG injection by approximately 60% but did not affect gastrin. Plasma levels of PP were increased dose dependently by bethanechol infusion and were not altered significantly by injections of L364,718. The results indicate that L364,718 inhibits PP response stimulated by a central vagal activator (2-DG) but not by cholinergic receptor agonist (bethanechol). This study suggests that CCK might be involved in the neural control of PP release as a neurotransmitter but probably not as a final activator of PP cells in dogs.
Signatures of Fano interferences in the electron energy loss spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence of symmetry-broken nanorod dimers.

Through numerical simulation, we predict the existence of the Fano interference effect in the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) of symmetry-broken nanorod dimers that are heterogeneous in material composition and asymmetric in length. The differing selection rules of the electron probe in comparison to the photon of a plane wave allow for the simultaneous excitation of both optically bright and dark plasmons of each monomer unit, suggesting that Fano resonances will not arise in EELS and CL. Yet, interferences are manifested in the dimer’s scattered near- and far-fields and are evident in EELS and CL due to the rapid π-phase offset in the polarizations between super-radiant and subradiant hybridized plasmon modes of the dimer as a function of the energy loss suffered by the impinging electron. Depending upon the location of the electron beam, we demonstrate the conditions under which Fano interferences will be present in both optical and electron spectroscopies (EELS an...
The Properties of FeAl Intermetallic Compounds (Fe-40at%Al) Prepared by Injection Molding

In this paper, application of metal injection molding to FeAl intermetallic compounds and the properties of sintered FeAl compacts were described. The powder material was pre-alloyed powder(Fe-40at% Al) manufactured by SHS process, which had average particle size of 4.0μm. Consolidation process by sintering, microstructure and mechanical properties of sintered compacts were investigated. The results obtained in this study were summarized as follows:(1) Relative density of the compact sintered at 1523K for 7.2ksec in vacuum(10°Pa order) was 94%. At this sintered condition, apparent porosity was almost zero. Raising sintering temperature to 1548K, relative density was improved to 99%.(2) The sintered compact had the microstructure in which fine particles considered as aluminium oxide were dispersed in the matrix of single phase of B2(FeAl).(3) The compact sintered at 1523K for 7.2ksec gave 0.2% proof stress of 340MPa, tensile strength of 630MPa and elongation of 3.4% at room temperature.
Use of linear programming to ‐optimize the social, −environmental, and economic impacts of using woody feedstocks for pellet and ‐torrefied pellet production

Linear programming was used to optimize the economic, environmental, and social impacts of forest biomass used for bioenergy production. Sixteen scenarios (combinations of feedstocks, products, markets, and end use) were studied. Two feedstocks (roundwood and wood residues), two densified bioenergy products (white pellet, torrefied pellet), two markets (domestic, international), and two end uses (power generation, district heating) were evaluated. The social, environmental, and economic sustainability attributes were quantified and monetized using peer-reviewed literature to analyze the trade-offs. Using the economic criteria alone, the model showed that the best solution was use of 70% roundwood and 30% forest residue feedstock to produce torrefied pellets (TP) sold for district heating in the EU. The model predicts $5.4 million annual profit which is driven by the use of lower cost forest residue feedstocks, and relatively higher prices for the heating market in the EU. Inclusion of all three sustainability attributes led to a different optimized solution. TP produced from roundwood and sold to the EU market for heating was the optimum, due to the social benefits derived from increased local income to landowners and reduced shipping costs. It also had added benefits of reductions in emissions across the transportation system on an energy basis. TP consistently had higher social benefits than WP due to the need for more biomass per unit of final product, and providing more local jobs and income from feedstock production. The increasing costs of carbon emissions increased the environmental benefits of TP compared to WP or coal. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Rare Category Detection

In this chapter, we focus on rare category detection, the first task in the supervised setting. In this task, we are given an unlabeled, imbalanced data set, which is often non-separable, and have access to a labeling oracle, which is able to give us the class label of any example with a fixed cost.
3D printing of gels with living photosynthetic algae

Chlorella is a green, photosynthetic single-celled genus of algae. It can be 3D printed as a suspension in sodium alginate and gelled with calcium solutions. We have made “log pile” structures with channels between the gel lines to allow easy transport of nutrients and products. Under white light and immersed in solutions of bicarbonate and phosphate and urea “plant food” the algae multiply with the gel and produce oxygen at a rate comparable to that reported for suspensions of Chlorella. The system is stable for one or two weeks at least. In principle this can be extended to other plant tissues but there are concerns relating to bacterial and fungal infection and toxicity of the gel components. In addition a tougher gel is needed if this was to be converted to a practical bioreactor system.
Understanding Copyright Law for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Materials

ABSTRACT In the last decade the issue of copyright has become more complex for Slavic and East European librarians for a number of reasons. Technological advances have led to new forms of publication and new options for document distribution, and have also had a major impact on intellectual property law in the U.S. and abroad. As the technical means for copying and distributing materials in various formats have increased, and as electronic resources comprise a steadily increasing proportion of the material used in libraries, copyright law has become more integral to the work of librarians. In the background of technological progress, the newly independent states which emerged after the dissolution of Communism have all adopted new copyright laws within the context of global developments in intellectual property legislation. This paper provides a context for copyright as it relates to the work of Slavic and East European librarians in the U.S., by offering a framework for understanding the main issues surr...
Permanently grafted icephobic nanocomposites with high abrasion resistance

In this work, a series of copolymer/silica nanocomposites are investigated that exhibit excellent anti-icing behavior and can be covalently grafted to any substrate containing C–H bonds with high durability. The copolymers of interest consist of pendant benzophenone, hexafluorobutyl, and a variety of other comonomers that, under mild UV irradiation, can be covalently grafted on a variety of substrates and generate a densely cross-linked network of polymer and well-dispersed nanoparticles. The robustness of thin films was compared in a series of terpolymers with different acrylic comonomer content. Thin films prepared with tert-butyl ester side groups had less backbone chain scission and, therefore, a greater extent of cross-linking than films prepared with n-butyl ester side groups. The iso-butyl acrylate comonomer promotes photoreaction efficiency in terms of kinetic rate and network robustness, leading to films that can sustain high shear forces and abrasion. The anti-icing capability of the composite was investigated using the impact of supercooled water on different substrates. The composite maintains its icephobicity after modified Taber testing with multiple abrasion cycles using a 300 g load, which demonstrates excellent mechanical resistance. In addition, this study has led to rational design rules for copolymers that maximize permanent attachment of different surface functionalities in terms of both grafting density and reaction kinetics.
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Degradation

The degradation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) materials is a complex function of mechanical and chemical stresses, which surely work together to limit the useful lifetime of these devices. Both mechanical and chemical routes to PEMFC membrane failure are discussed herein. Mechanical failure can result from membrane manufacturing defects, stresses added during assembly of membrane electrode assemblies, and mechanical debris at a minimum. Chemical degradation of perfluorinated membranes are thought to largely result from polymer oxidation by hydrogen peroxide-derived radical species that can degrade both backbone chain ends and ether-base side chains. Such side chain oxidation in perfluorinated systems appears to occur via attack at ether linkages, though the intimate mechanism of such processes is not fully demonstrated. A growing number of potentially lower cost, hydrocarbon-based membranes are being evaluated as well. These hydrocarbon polymers are more prone to oxidation, but because of their superior oxygen barrier properties, they may in fact allow less peroxide to be generated by gas crossover, and in the balance may demonstrate adequate lifetimes. With the understanding of failure mechanisms comes the opportunity to improve performance and lifetime of PEMFC systems. The introduction of radical-destroying transition metal ions is a prime example of a ‘fix’ which reduces the impact of life-limiting processes inherent in fuel cell operation.
The Synthetic Pentasaccharide, Fondaparinux, Reduces Inflammation and Neutrophil Accumulation in Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Acute inflammatory diseases are often accompanied by coagulation activation leading to local thrombotic complications and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Recent studies support the concept of crosstalk between coagulation and inflammation. The synthetic pentasaccharide, fondaparinux, is a selective antithrombin-dependent inhibitor of coagulation factor Xa. In this study, we investigated the effect of fondaparinux in a lethal murine model of kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury that is associated with coagulation and inflammation. Fondaparinux treatment of I/R-injured mice significantly reduced serum creatinine levels and increased survival from 0 to 44% compared with saline treated control mice. In contrast, depletion of fibrinogen with ancrod was not protective, suggesting that fondaparinux may have additional properties beyond its anticoagulant activity. Indeed, fondaparinux significantly reduced IL-6 and MIP-2 expression but did not reduce MCP-1 expression. Furthermore, fondaparinux significantly decreased neutrophil accumulation in the injured kidneys. Finally, we showed that fondaparinux reduced recruitment of neutrophils into the peritoneum in a model of acute peritonitis and inhibited the binding of U937 cells to P-selectin in vitro. Our data indicate that fondaparinux has both anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activity reducing fibrin deposition and blocking the binding of inflammatory cells to activated endothelium. Fondaparinux may be useful in the treatment of acute inflammatory diseases.
Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism by Type of Gynecologic Malignancy and Surgical Modality in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Background Women with gynecologic cancer are at higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to malignancy, pelvic surgery, increased age, and frequently comorbidities. The rate of VTE among different gynecologic cancers and relative to benign gynecologic surgeries has not been reported in a nationally representative cohort. Methods Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, gynecologic surgeries were identified retrospectively from 2006 to 2012. Clinical characteristics, surgical procedures, and 30-day postoperative complications were abstracted. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed. Results Of all gynecologic surgeries (n = 104,368), 11,427 were performed for malignancy: 2.7% (n = 2800) for ovarian cancer, 6.8% (n = 7114) for uterine cancer, 1.0% (n = 1026) for cervical cancer, and 0.5%(n = 487) for vulvar cancer. 202 (1.8%) patients experienced a VTE. Ovarian cancer had a deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism rates of 1.6% and 1.5% compared with uterine cancer, 0.8% and 0.8%, respectively. Ovarian cancer patients were 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–2.65) times more likely to have a deep venous thrombosis and 1.7 (95% CI, 1.11–2.51) times more likely to have a pulmonary embolism than patients with uterine cancer. Compared with all gynecologic cancer surgeries, ovarian cancer patients were 1.5 times more likely to have a VTE (95% CI, 1.10–2.16). Patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery were 64% less likely to have a VTE regardless of malignancy site; however, if they had disseminated disease, they remained at higher risk of VTE (odds ratio, 5.96; P = 0.027). Conclusions Of gynecologic cancer surgeries, ovarian cancer patients had the highest rate of VTE. Venous thromboembolism rates were lower in those who had minimally invasive surgery but remained higher in those with disseminated disease.
Andexanet alfa for the reversal of anticoagulant activity in patients treated with direct and indirect factor Xa inhibitors

Andexanet alfa is a recombinant factor Xa decoy molecule that inhibits direct and indirect factor Xa inhibitors to allow the normal coagulation process to resume. Its development arises in a space where novel oral anticoagulants are receiving expanded indications yet their use is limited by the lack of an effective reversal agent. Areas covered: This article reviews the biochemical properties, mechanism of action and the preclinical and clinical trials on andexanet alfa. It additionally aims to provide expert commentary and future perspectives on the efficacy, safety and challenges facing andexanet alfa as a universal antidote for direct and indirect factor Xa inhibitors. Expert commentary: Andexanet alfa shows promise to become a highly effective, novel antidote for factor Xa anticoagulation. Its biochemical profile and mechanism of action are immediately more attractive than other drugs on the market and under development due to its inert nature within the normal coagulation cascade, with minimal intrinsic procoagulant or anticoagulant properties. The anticoagulant antidote space will continue to develop as more specific and universal options become available for reversal of the effect of DOACs. Preliminary results of a pivotal phase 3b/4 trial demonstrate a favorable efficacy and safety profile in patients with acute hemorrhage.
The relationship of education and acculturation with vigorous intensity leisure time physical activity by gender in Latinos

ABSTRACTObjectives: Latinos have poorer health outcomes among certain conditions (e.g. diabetes, obesity, mental health) compared to non-Latino Whites in the U.S., in part due to difference in the amount of physical activity, which are heavily influenced by sociocultural factors such as educational attainment and acculturation. Vigorous-intensity leisure time physical activity (VLTPA) may provide health benefits with a shorter amount of time than moderate-to-light physical activity. However, VLTPA has been significantly understudied compared to LTPA in general. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between educational attainment, acculturation, and VLTPA by gender among Latino adults in the U.S.Design: Nationally representative samples of Latino adults aged 25 years and older (n = 4393) from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. VLTPA was measured as the number of hours per week of VLTPA consisting of heavy sweating or large increases in breathing and heart rate. Accu...
Zika Virus RNA in an Asymptomatic Donor's Vitreous: Risk of Transmission?

Intense interest in the spread of Zika virus and its complications has brought Zika to the forefront of multiple areas of medicine and disease prevention.(1, 2) To date, there has been only one report of Zika virus present in human aqueous from a patient with uveitis.(1) Here we report the first finding of an asymptomatic cornea donor whose vitreous tested positive for Zika. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Design of Metastable Tin Titanium Nitride Semiconductor Alloys

We report on design of optoelectronic properties in previously unreported metastable tin titanium nitride alloys with spinel crystal structure. Theoretical calculations predict that Ti alloying in metastable Sn3N4 compound should improve hole effective mass by up to 1 order of magnitude, while other optical bandgaps remains in the 1–2 eV range up to x ∼ 0.35 Ti composition. Experimental synthesis of these metastable alloys is predicted to be challenging due to high required nitrogen chemical potential (ΔμN ≥ +1.0 eV) but proven to be possible using combinatorial cosputtering from metal targets in the presence of nitrogen plasma. Characterization experiments confirm that thin films of such (Sn1–xTix)3N4 alloys can be synthesized up to x = 0.45 composition, with suitable optical band gaps (1.5–2.0 eV), moderate electron densities (1017 to 1018 cm–3), and improved photogenerated hole transport (by 5×). Overall, this study shows that it is possible to design the metastable nitride materials with properties su...
The Neurobiology of Attachment: From Infancy to Clinical Outcomes

Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby in the 1950s. He defined attachment as a specific neurobiological system that resulted in the infant connecting to the primary caretaker in such a way to create an inner working model of relationships that continues throughout life and affects the future mental health and physical health of the infant. Given the significance of this inner working model, there has been a tremendous amount of research done in animals as well as humans to better understand the neurobiology. In this article the neurobiology of early development will be outlined with respect to the formation of attachment. This article will review what we have begun to understand as the neurobiology of attachment and will describe how the relationship with the primary caretaker affects the infant in a way leading to neurobiological changes that later in life affect emotional responses, reward, and perception difficulties that we recognize as psychiatric illness and medical morbidity.
Trends in Medicare Reimbursement and Work Relative Value Unit Production in Radiation Oncology.

Abstract Purpose Medicare payments to individual physicians are released annually by the CMS. The purpose of this study is to analyze trends in Medicare reimbursement and work relative value unit (wRVU) production to radiation oncologists. Materials and Methods The Medicare Physician Supplier and Other Provider Public Use File and the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value Files (to calculate wRVUs) for the calendar years 2012 to 2015 were used in this analysis. Medicare reimbursement was aggregated for each calendar year. Using the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value Files, the number of Medicare wRVUs was calculated for each radiation oncologist. Results In 2015, 4,323 radiation oncologists produced 12,895,298 wRVUs compared with 11,352,286 wRVUs produced in 2012. These datasets include only Medicare reimbursements and do not include wRVUs from private insurance or other payers. In 2015, radiation oncologists produced a median of 2,486 wRVUs from Medicare (range 3 to 24,349). Billing to Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Code 77427 (radiation treatment management, five treatments), a proxy for total radiation treatments, fell from 1,111,670 in 2012 to 1,039,403 in 2015, a decline of 7%. Conclusion The total number of wRVUs produced by radiation oncologists has risen by 14% from 2012 to 2015. However, the number of external beam radiation fractions has declined by approximately 7% over this same period, likely due to a trend toward hypofractionated courses of treatment and use of special treatment modalities such as proton beam therapy or stereotactic body radiation therapy.